Dietary Plant Sterol Esters Must Be Hydrolyzed to Reduce Intestinal Cholesterol Absorption in Hamsters

Background: Elevated concentrations of LDL cholesterol are associated with the development of atherosclerosis and therefore are considered an important target for intervention to prevent cardiovascular diseases. The inhibition of cholesterol absorption in the small intestine is an attractive approach to lowering plasma cholesterol, one that is addressed by drug therapy as well as dietary supplementation with plant sterols and plant sterol esters (PSEs). Objective: This study was conducted to test the hypothesis that the cholesterol-lowering effects of PSE require hydrolysis to free sterols (FSs). Methods: Male Syrian hamsters were fed atherogenic diets (AIN-93M purified diet containing 0.12% cholesterol and 8% coconut oil) to which one of the following was added: no PSEs or ethers (control), 5% sterol stearate esters, 5% sterol palmitate esters (PEs), 5% sterol oleate esters (OEs), 5% sterol stearate ethers (STs; to mimic nonhydrolyzable PSE), or 3% FSs plus 2% sunflower oil. The treatments effectively created a spectrum of PSE hydrolysis across which cholesterol metabolism could be compared. Metabolic measurements included cholesterol absorption, plasma and liver lipid concentration, and fecal neutral sterol and bile acid excretion. Results: The STs and the PEs and SEs were poorly hydrolyzed (1.69–4.12%). In contrast,OEs were 88.3% hydrolyzed. The percent hydrolysis was negatively correlated with cholesterol absorption (r=20.85; P \u3c 0.0001) and positively correlated with fecal cholesterol excretion (r = 0.92; P \u3c 0.0001), suggesting that PSE hydrolysis plays a central role in the cholesterol-lowering properties of PSE. Conclusions: Our data on hamsters suggest that PSE hydrolysis and the presence of FSs is necessary to induce an optimum cholesterol-lowering effect and that poorly hydrolyzed PSEs may lower cholesterol through an alternative mechanism than that of competition with cholesterol for micelle incorporation

Design and Synthesis of a New Class of Twin-Chain Amphiphiles for Self-Assembled Monolayer-based Electrochemical Biosensor Applications

A new class of twin-chain hydroxyalkylthiols (mercaptoalkanols) featuring a nearly constant cross-section and the potential for modification of one or both termini are available with complete regioselectivity through Pd-mediated couplings of benzene diiododitriflate, including an example of a previously unreported coupling to generate an ortho-substituted arene bis acetic acid. Selfassembled monolayers (SAMs) prepared from the new amphiphiles demonstrate improved stability in an electrochemical sensor system compared with monolayers prepared from analogous single chain thiols

Estimating sex among South African groups using the dentition

this process as other aspects of the biological profile such as age-at-death, population affinity and stature depend on accurate sex estimates. While the pelvis and long bones, respectively, take preference over the dentition and cranium for sex estimation, dentition remains a good proxy for this parameter due to their post-mortem longevity. The purpose of this study is to examine dental size variation in incisors, canines, premolars and molars of black, white and coloured South Africans and to use discriminant function statistics (LDA) to develop population-specific formulae for the estimation of sex. A total of 906 adult crania were analysed. Measurements included four permanent tooth crown dimensions: maximum mesiodistal, maximum buccolingual and molar diagonal diameters (mesio-buccal – disto-lingual and mesio-lingual – disto-buccal). Statistical analyses included TEM, Student’s t-test, ANOVA, and discriminant function analysis (DFA). Dental dimensions are repeatable with low intra and inter-observer errors ranging from 0.09% to 4.17% and 0.18–6.17%, respectively. Of the 36 dental variables, 26 were statistically significant for biological sex and 17 for population affinity, and included all tooth types. Stepwise discriminant functions with a LOOCV provided correct classification rates of up to 86% for sex.The National Research Foundation (NRF), South Africahttp://www.elsevier.com/locate/fsiram2022Anatom

O conhecimento sobre o medicamento e literacia em saúde. Um estudo em adultos utentes de farmácias do concelho de Lisboa

Estudos recentes realizados nas farmácias portuguesas evidenciaram elevadas percentagens de indivíduos que não aderem à terapêutica. Em consequência, não controlam adequadamente o seu problema de saúde e geram desperdício do medicamento. A utilização do medicamento requer conhecimento, competências e motivação por parte do indivíduo/utilizador. A informação sobre o medicamento é disponibilizada de forma verbal e escrita, desconhecendo-se até hoje, na população portuguesa, em que medida as competências de literacia em saúde permitem a sua obtenção, o uso e a compreensão quando perante a necessidade de utilizar medicamentos. Foi objetivo do presente estudo a medição do conhecimento sobre o medicamento numa amostra de utentes de farmácia com idades compreendidas entre os 45 e os 64 anos, analisando de que forma está associado a competências de literacia em saúde. Realizou-se um estudo descritivo transversal com a colaboração voluntária de farmácias do concelho de Lisboa, que recolheram os dados mediante inquérito por entrevista quando o utente se encontrava na farmácia a adquirir a sua terapêutica. A amostra estudada foi constituída por 233 utentes com uma idade média de 57 anos (dp = 5,7), maioritariamente do género feminino, ativos, com uma escolaridade igual ou inferior ao 9.º ano e com hábitos gerais de leitura referindo ler frequentemente (26 por cento) ou muito frequentemente (30 por cento). Em média responderam corretamente a 10,48 perguntas num total de 13 (dp = 1,779), sendo este conhecimento independente do sexo (p = 0,791) e da idade (p = 0,131). O número de respostas corretas é, no entanto, maior quanto mais elevado o grau de escolaridade (p = 0,000), a categoria profissional exercida (p=0,000), os hábitos de leitura (p=0,000), o índice de compreensão de informação (p = 0,003), a intensidade de leitura de informação sobre saúde ou medicamento (p = 0,005), a facilidade de utilização do folheto informativo do medicamento (p = 0,027), a intensidade de cálculo (p = 0,018) e o tempo de utilização do medicamento (p = 0,047). Do conjunto de indicadores de literacia analisados, o grau de escolaridade, o índice de compreensão da informação transmitida pelos profissionais de saúde e a intensidade de leitura de materiais escritos relacionados com o medicamento ou saúde são os que mais contribuem para o conhecimento sobre o medicamento, embora se revelem fracamente preditivos do nível de conhecimento (r2 = 0,013). Evidencia-se neste estudo que o conhecimento que os indivíduos possuem sobre o medicamento é influenciado de forma positiva por competências de literacia em saúde. Em consequência, as intervenções que visam melhorar a utilização do medicamento e as estratégias de comunicação em saúde, tanto verbal como escrita, devem ter em consideração o nível de literacia em saúde da população.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

m7824 msb0011359c a bifunctional fusion protein targeting pd l1 and tgf β in patients with post platinum esophageal adenocarcinoma eac preliminary results from a phase i cohort

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Design and Synthesis of a New Class of Twin-Chain Amphiphiles for Self-Assembled Monolayer-based Electrochemical Biosensor Applications

A new class of twin-chain hydroxyalkylthiols (mercaptoalkanols) featuring a nearly constant cross-section and the potential for modification of one or both termini are available with complete regioselectivity through Pd-mediated couplings of benzene diiododitriflate, including an example of a previously unreported coupling to generate an ortho-substituted arene bis acetic acid. Selfassembled monolayers (SAMs) prepared from the new amphiphiles demonstrate improved stability in an electrochemical sensor system compared with monolayers prepared from analogous single chain thiols

Internship workplace preferences of final-year medical students at Zagreb University Medical School, Croatia: all roads lead to Zagreb

BACKGROUND: Human resources management in health often encounters problems related to workforce geographical distribution. The aim of this study was to investigate the internship workplace preferences of final-year medical students and the reasons associated with their choices. METHOD: A total of 204 out of 240 final-year medical students at Zagreb University Medical School, Croatia, were surveyed a few months before graduation. We collected data on each student's background, workplace preference, academic performance and emigration preferences. Logistic regression was used to analyse the factors underlying internship workplace preference, classified into two categories: Zagreb versus other areas. RESULTS: Only 39 respondents (19.1%) wanted to obtain internships outside Zagreb, the Croatian capital. Gender and age were not significantly associated with internship workplace preference. A single predictor variable significantly contributed to the logistic regression model: students who believed they would not get the desired specialty more often chose Zagreb as a preferred internship workplace (odds ratio 0.32, 95% CI 0.12–0.86). CONCLUSION: A strong preference for Zagreb as an internship workplace was recorded. Uncertainty about getting the desired specialty was associated with choosing Zagreb as a workplace, possibly due to more extensive and diverse job opportunities

Profile and professional expectations of medical students in Mozambique: a longitudinal study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>This paper compares the socioeconomic profile of medical students registered at the Faculty of Medicine of Universidade Eduardo Mondlane (FM-UEM), Maputo, for the years 1998/99 and 2007/08.</p> <p>Case study</p> <p>The objective is to describe the medical students' social and geographical origins, expectations and perceived difficulties regarding their education and professional future. Data were collected through questionnaires administered to all medical students.</p> <p>Discussion and evaluation</p> <p>The response rate in 1998/99 was 51% (227/441) and 50% in 2007/08 (484/968).</p> <p>The main results reflect a doubling of the number of students enrolled for medical studies at the FM-UEM, associated with improved student performance (as reflected by failure rates). Nevertheless, satisfaction with the training received remains low and, now as before, students still identify lack of access to books or learning technology and inadequate teacher preparedness as major problems.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>There is a high level of commitment to public sector service. However, students, as future doctors, have very high salary expectations that will not be met by current public sector salary scales. This is reflected in an increasing degree of orientation to double sector employment after graduation.</p

Observational Study of PD-L1, TGF-β, and Immune Cell Infiltrates in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Introduction: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) typically develops in cirrhotic livers, with increased programed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) activity implicated in immunosuppression.Methods: In an observational study of HCC liver samples, we determined the incidence of PD-L1 and immune cell (IC) infiltrates, and signs of TGF-β activity. HCCs were characterized by the incidence and distribution of PD-L1+ cells, and CD8+, CD68+, and FoxP3+ infiltrating ICs in HCC and surrounding liver. Gene expression signatures (GESs) associated with TGF-β activity and ICs were evaluated by RNAseq.Results: In non-neoplastic cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic liver, PD-L1 occurred on sinusoidal lining cells (mostly Kupffer cells), endothelial cells and ICs. In HCC, PD-L1+ tumor cells were rare. Most PD-L1+ cells were identified as ICs. CD8+, CD68+, and FoxP3+ ICs were associated with HCC, particularly in the invasive margin. CD8+ cell incidence correlated with PD-L1+ cells, consistent with PD-L1 being upregulated in response to pre-existing cytotoxic T-lymphocyte activity. TGFB1 mRNA levels and TGF-β activation GES correlated with the strength of the tumor-associated macrophage GES.Conclusion: Inhibition of PD-L1+ ICs and TGF-β activity and their respective immunomodulatory pathways may contribute to antitumor effects in HCC

Dietary Plant Sterol Esters Must Be Hydrolyzed to Reduce Intestinal Cholesterol Absorption in Hamsters

Background: Elevated concentrations of LDL cholesterol are associated with the development of atherosclerosis and therefore are considered an important target for intervention to prevent cardiovascular diseases. The inhibition of cholesterol absorption in the small intestine is an attractive approach to lowering plasma cholesterol, one that is addressed by drug therapy as well as dietary supplementation with plant sterols and plant sterol esters (PSEs). Objective: This study was conducted to test the hypothesis that the cholesterol-lowering effects of PSE require hydrolysis to free sterols (FSs). Methods: Male Syrian hamsters were fed atherogenic diets (AIN-93M purified diet containing 0.12% cholesterol and 8% coconut oil) to which one of the following was added: no PSEs or ethers (control), 5% sterol stearate esters, 5% sterol palmitate esters (PEs), 5% sterol oleate esters (OEs), 5% sterol stearate ethers (STs; to mimic nonhydrolyzable PSE), or 3% FSs plus 2% sunflower oil. The treatments effectively created a spectrum of PSE hydrolysis across which cholesterol metabolism could be compared. Metabolic measurements included cholesterol absorption, plasma and liver lipid concentration, and fecal neutral sterol and bile acid excretion. Results: The STs and the PEs and SEs were poorly hydrolyzed (1.69–4.12%). In contrast,OEs were 88.3% hydrolyzed. The percent hydrolysis was negatively correlated with cholesterol absorption (r=20.85; P \u3c 0.0001) and positively correlated with fecal cholesterol excretion (r = 0.92; P \u3c 0.0001), suggesting that PSE hydrolysis plays a central role in the cholesterol-lowering properties of PSE. Conclusions: Our data on hamsters suggest that PSE hydrolysis and the presence of FSs is necessary to induce an optimum cholesterol-lowering effect and that poorly hydrolyzed PSEs may lower cholesterol through an alternative mechanism than that of competition with cholesterol for micelle incorporation