42 research outputs found
Rosiglitazone decreases intra- to extramyocellular fat ratio in obese non-diabetic adults with metabolic syndrome
Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientĂfico e TecnolĂłgico (CNPq)Background Insulin resistance is intrinsically related to intramyocellular (IMCL) rather than extramyocellular (EMCL) triglyceride content. Conflicting results have been reported on the ability of insulin sensitizer agents, such as thiazolidinediones, to modify muscle fat distribution. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of rosiglitazone on muscle fat compartment distribution in an adult population of obese non-diabetic metabolic syndrome patients. Patients and methods Fifteen obese, non-diabetic, metabolic syndrome patients were studied by means of proton nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)H-NMR) spectroscopy before and after treatment with rosiglitazone 8 mg/day for 6 months. Anthropometrical and metabolic variables were assessed. Results After rosiglitazone, body weight and hip circumference increased [100.9 (91.12-138.7) vs. 107.0 (79.6-142.8) kg and 118 (107-126) vs. 122 (110-131) cm]; while waist-hip ratio (WHR) decreased from 0.93 (0.87-1.00) to 0.89 (0.82-0.97) (P < 0.001 for all). Additionally, fasting plasma glucose, insulin and homeostatis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) significantly decreased while adiponectin increased over threefold [9.7 (3.7-17.7) vs. 38.0 (19.3-42.4) mu g/ml] without any changes in resistin. Finally, the IMCL did not change [267.54 (213.94-297.94) vs. 305.75 (230.80-424.75) arbitrary units (AU), P = 0.15] while the EMCL increased [275.53 (210.39-436.66) vs. 411.39 (279.92-556.59) AU; P < 0.01] therefore decreasing the IMCL-to-EMCL (IMCL/EMCL) ratio [1.07 (0.78-1.23) vs. 0.71 (0.53-0.96); P < 0.01]. Conclusion Rosiglitazone treatment increased body weight and hip circumference and decreased WHR. More importantly, it decreased the IMCL/EMCL ratio by increasing the EMCL without any significant change on the IMCL.2712329Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientĂfico e TecnolĂłgico (CNPq)Research Supporting Agency of Rio de Janeiro State [E-26/150.141/99, E-26/170.522/00]Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientĂfico e TecnolĂłgico (CNPq)CNPq [CNPq 52 1850/96-7]Research Supporting Agency of Rio de Janeiro State [E-26/150.141/99, E-26/170.522/00
Measurement and valuation of health providers' time for the management of childhood pneumonia in rural Malawi - An empirical study
Background: Human resources are a major cost driver in childhood pneumonia case management. Introduction of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-13) in Malawi can lead to savings on staff time and salaries due to reductions in pneumonia cases requiring admission. Reliable estimates of human resource costs are vital for use in economic evaluations of PCV-13 introduction. Methods: Twenty-eight severe and twenty-four very severe pneumonia inpatients under the age of five were tracked from admission to discharge by paediatric ward staff using self-administered timesheets at Mchinji District Hospital between June and August 2012. All activities performed and the time spent on each activity were recorded. A monetary value was assigned to the time by allocating a corresponding percentage of the health workers' salary. All costs are reported in 2012 US 2 per bed-day and, on average, US 37.7 per very severe admission. Conclusions: Self-reporting was successfully used in this context to generate reliable estimates of human resource time and costs of childhood pneumonia treatment. Assuming vaccine efficacy of 41 % and 90 % coverage, PCV-13 introduction in Malawi can save over US$ 2 million per year in staff costs alone
Transcription profiles of non-immortalized breast cancer cell lines
BACKGROUND: Searches for differentially expressed genes in tumours have made extensive use of array technology. Most samples have been obtained from tumour biopsies or from established tumour-derived cell lines. Here we compare cultures of non-immortalized breast cancer cells, normal non-immortalized breast cells and immortalized normal and breast cancer cells to identify which elements of a defined set of well-known cancer-related genes are differentially expressed. METHODS: Cultures of cells from pleural effusions or ascitic fluids from breast cancer patients (MSSMs) were used in addition to commercially-available normal breast epithelial cells (HMECs), established breast cancer cell lines (T-est) and established normal breast cells (N-est). The Atlas Human Cancer 1.2 cDNA expression array was employed. The data obtained were analysed using widely-available statistical and clustering software and further validated through real-time PCR. RESULTS: According to Significance Analysis of Microarray (SAM) and AtlasImage software, 48 genes differed at least 2-fold in adjusted intensities between HMECs and MSSMs (p < 0.01). Some of these genes have already been directly linked with breast cancer, metastasis and malignant progression, whilst others encode receptors linked to signal transduction pathways or are otherwise related to cell proliferation. Fifty genes showed at least a 2.5-fold difference between MSSMs and T-est cells according to AtlasImage, 2-fold according to SAM. Most of these classified as genes related to metabolism and cell communication. CONCLUSION: The expression profiles of 1176 genes were determined in finite life-span cultures of metastatic breast cancer cells and of normal breast cells. Significant differences were detected between the finite life-span breast cancer cell cultures and the established breast cancer cell lines. These data suggest caution in extrapolating information from established lines for application to clinical cancer research
Holmium Laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) versus Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP)
Profile of Central and Effector Memory T Cells in the Progression of Chronic Human Chagas Disease
Chagas disease is a parasitic infection caused by protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi that affects approximately 11 million people in Latin America. The involvement of the host's immune response on the development of severe forms of Chagas disease has not been fully elucidated. Studies on the immune response against T. cruzi infection show that the immunoregulatory mechanisms are necessary to prevent the deleterious effect of excessive immune response stimulation and consequently the fatal outcome of the disease. A recall response against parasite antigens observed in in vitro peripheral blood cell culture clearly demonstrates that memory response is generated during infection. Memory T cells are heterogeneous and differ in both the ability to migrate and exert their effector function. This heterogeneity is reflected in the definition of central (TCM) and effector memory (TEM) T cells. Our results suggest that a balance between regulatory and effectors T cells may be important for the progression and development of the disease. Furthermore, the high percentage of central memory CD4+ T cells in indeterminate patients after stimulation suggests that these cells may modulate host's inflammatory response by controlling cell migration to tissues and their effector role during chronic phase of the disease
Soroepidemiologia de Toxoplasma gondii em idosos atendidos pela EstratĂ©gia SaĂşde da FamĂlia, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
Conference Highlights of the 16th International Conference on Human Retrovirology: HTLV and Related Retroviruses, 26–30 June 2013, Montreal, Canada
Adiponectin is related to intramyocellular lipid content in non-diabetic adults
Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientĂfico e TecnolĂłgico (CNPq)Objective: Insulin resistance (IR) is associated with intramyocellular lipid (IMCL) content and low serum adiponectin (ADP) levels and ADP is also involved in muscle fat oxidation. However, the relationship between ADP and IMCL content is still controversial and in this study we explored it further in non-diabetic adults. Design: Cross-sectional clinical study. Subjects: Thirty-three adult subjects, 24 obese non-diabetic patients with metabolic syndrome (MS) and 9 lean healthy controls. Measurements: Proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-NMRS) was performed to quantify IMCL content. The latter plus serum ADP, anthropometrics and biochemical parameters were evaluated and compared in these 2 groups. Results: MS patients had higher body mass index, waist, waist-to-hip ratio, glucose, insulin, and triglycerides and lower HDL cholesterol (HDL(c)) compared to controls. Homeostasis model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR) [3.25 (2.58-4.13) vs 1.02 (0.73-1.29); p<0.0001] and IMCL content [266.1 (189.9-296.3) vs 72.85 (55.3-109.4) AU, p<0.0001] were higher, and quantitative insulin-sensitivity check index (QUICK!) [0.32 (0.31-0.33) vs 0.38 (0.37-0.40); p<0.0001] and ADP [8.6 (4.05-15.95) vs 21.1 (12.9-24.4) mu g/ml; p=0.02] were lower in MS subjects compared to controls. IMCL content was directly associated to glucose, insulin, triglycerides, and HOMA-IR and inversely to HDLc, QUICK! and, more importantly, to ADP (r=-0.41; p<0.05). Only in the MS group, ADP partially influenced IMCL content. Conclusion: ADP is inversely related to IMCL content in non-diabetic adults. This finding has possible implications for the role of ADP in muscle fat oxidation, IR, and MS. (J. Endocrinol. Invest. 33: 382-387, 2010) (C)2010, Editrice Kurtis336382387Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientĂfico e TecnolĂłgico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo Ă Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientĂfico e TecnolĂłgico (CNPq)CNPq [CNPq]Research Supporting Agency of Rio de Janeiro State (FAPERJ) [E-26/150.141/99, E-26/170.522/00