Isomer specificity of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA): 9E,11E-CLA

Conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) were identified in 1980's, since then it has been intensively studied due to its various beneficial health effects such as anti-inflammatory, anti-atherogenic, anti-carcinogenic and anti-diabetic/obesity effects. Isomer specificity of a number of CLA isomers, especially predominant isomer 9Z,11E- and 10E,12Z-CLA, is now recognized. However, the less prevalent CLA isomers have not been well characterized. Recently, studies have reported the distinctively different effects of 9E,11E-CLA in colon cancer cells, endothelial cells, and macrophage cells compared to the rest of CLA isomers. In this review, various effects of CLAs, especially anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic effects, will be discussed with focusing on the isomer-specific effects and potential mechanism of action of CLA. At last, recent studies about 9E,11E-CLA in in vitro and animal models will be discussed

Challenges that opioid-dependent women present to the obstetric anaesthetist

A retrospective casenote review was performed to identify anaesthetic challenges relevant to the opioid-dependent obstetric population. Medical records showed that of the 7,449 deliveries during a 24 month period, 85 women (1.1%) were taking regular opioids such as methadone and/or heroin. Of these 67 (79%) received anaesthetic services, ten of whom (11.7%) were referred antenatally. Forty opioid-dependent women (47%) received epidural analgesia in labour compared with the overall hospital rate of 38%. Twenty-three women (27%) delivered by caesarean section: five received general anaesthesia, five combined spinal anaesthesia, five spinal anaesthesia and eight epidural anaesthesia. Twenty opioid-dependent women (23.5%) had documented problems related to labour analgesia and 17 (74%) had problems with analgesia after caesarean section. A variety of postoperative analgesia methods were administered in addition to maintenance methadone. Fourteen patients (16.5%) had difficult intravenous access and seven arrest calls were documented. One anaesthetist was exposed to hepatitis C. This review demonstrates the demands placed on obstetric anaesthetic services by opioid-dependent women. Early antenatal referral for anaesthetic review is recommended.B Cassidy and A M Cyn

Synergistic activation of the <em>mkp-1</em> gene by protein kinase A signaling and USF, but not c-Myc

AbstractMitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase 1 (MKP-1) is negatively regulating mitogen-activated protein kinases and is therefore involved in early signaling processes. The expression of the mkp-1 gene is induced by growth factors and stress. The promoters of the human and murine mkp-1 genes contain several conserved DNA binding elements, including two cAMP response elements and an E box. We observed that the upstream stimulatory factor (USF), but not c-Myc, activated mkp-1. USF synergized with protein kinase A, thus providing evidence for a role of the E box, during signal-regulated stimulation of mkp-1

Biological effects of conjugated linoleic acids supplementation

Conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) are a group of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) with a single pair of conjugated double bonds. The major natural CLA isomer is 18:2 cis-9, trans-11 (c9, t11) linoleic acid, or rumenic acid (RA). Chemically synthesized CLA is also available, mostly as a mixture of RA and 18:2 trans-10, cis-12 (t10, c12) isomers in equal amounts (50:50). Consumption of ruminant meat (beef and lamb) and dairy products (milk and cheese) is the main source of dietary exposure to CLA. Despite numerous studies on animal and human models (tumorigenesis, obesity, immune response) it has not been established whether additional supplementation of CLA is of benefit. Moreover, some studies, conducted both in animals and in humans, reveal that CLA isomers may induce insulin resistance. Presently, balanced diet rich in CLA from natural sources is recommended. The purpose of this review was to sum up the results available in the literature