Dietary fructose in relation to blood pressure and serum uric acid in adolescent boys and girls

Evidence that fructose intake may modify blood pressure is generally limited to adult populations. This study examined cross-sectional associations between dietary intake of fructose, serum uric acid and blood pressure in 814 adolescents aged 13–15 years participating in the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study. Energy-adjusted fructose intake was derived from 3-day food records, serum uric acid concentration was assessed using fasting blood and resting blood pressure was determined using repeated oscillometric readings. In multivariate linear regression models, we did not see a significant association between fructose and blood pressure in boys or girls. In boys, fructose intake was independently associated with serum uric acid (P<0.01), and serum uric acid was independently associated with systolic blood pressure (P<0.01) and mean arterial pressure (P<0.001). Although there are independent associations, there is no direct relationship between fructose intake and blood pressure. Our data suggest that gender may influence these relationships in adolescence, with significant associations observed more frequently in boys than girls

Urine alkalization facilitates uric acid excretion

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Increase in the incidence of hyperuricemia associated with gout as well as hypertension, renal diseases and cardiovascular diseases has been a public health concern. We examined the possibility of facilitated excretion of uric acid by change in urine pH by managing food materials.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Within the framework of the Japanese government's health promotion program, we made recipes which consist of protein-rich and less vegetable-fruit food materials for H⁺-load (acid diet) and others composed of less protein but vegetable-fruit rich food materials (alkali diet). Healthy female students were enrolled in this consecutive 5-day study for each test. From whole-day collected urine, total volume, pH, organic acid, creatinine, uric acid and all cations (Na⁺,K⁺,Ca²⁺,Mg²⁺,NH₄⁺) and anions (Cl^-,SO₄^2-,PO₄^-) necessary for the estimation of acid-base balance were measured.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Urine pH reached a steady state 3 days after switching from ordinary daily diets to specified regimens. The amount of acid generated ([SO₄^2-] +organic acid-gut alkai) were linearly related with those of the excretion of acid (titratable acidity+ [NH₄⁺] - [HCO₃^-]), indicating that H⁺in urine is generated by the metabolic degradation of food materials. Uric acid and excreted urine pH retained a linear relationship, where uric acid excretion increased from 302 mg/day at pH 5.9 to 413 mg/day at pH 6.5, despite the fact that the alkali diet contained a smaller purine load than the acid diet.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We conclude that alkalization of urine by eating nutritionally well-designed food is effective for removing uric acid from the body.</p

Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, and Safety of Lisinopril in Pediatric Kidney Transplant Patients: Implications for Starting Dose Selection

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/111964/1/cpt127.pd

Reply: KRAS status analysis and anti-EGFR therapies: is comprehensiveness a biologist's fancy or a clinical necessity?

We thank Dr Lopez-Crapez et al 2010 to have taken cue fro

Implicit modeling to detail the Temporal Conceptual Model of a Complex Area with remediation of Combined Plumes in the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo

There are contaminated properties and regions that have been named abroad as Complex Areas due to the existence of technical or non-technical challenges that require atypical strategies and timelines for their restoration. One such study area, with more than 20 years of environmental management, was subjected to Implicit Modelling to assist in the detailing and evaluation of its Temporal Conceptual Model. The results reinforced a clear and holistic understanding of its evolution and challenges, including the existence of Combined Plumes generated from distinctly source areas. Interventions in the area were confirmed to have benefited from regional understandings and aspects of Adaptive Management, such as the definition of intermediate objectives, continuous refinement of the conceptual model and remediation. It was concluded that recognizing Complex Areas and applying Adaptive Management has the potential to assist the management of more sites in Brazil. This is recommended to be done while taking into account local adaptations and considerations, such as: including in the definition of Complex Areas that the challenges should demonstrably present high complexity and require atypical times for restoration or rehabilitation (more than 15 years, in São Paulo); considering as a technical challenge the extensive mantle of weathering of humid tropical regions; considering as a technical and non-technical challenge the high number of unregistered catchment wells; considering as a non-technical challenge the existence of socioeconomic conflicts; evaluating, including with isotopic studies, the possible presence of Combined Plumes.Existem propriedades e regiões contaminadas que têm sido denominadas no exterior como Áreas Complexas em virtude de desafios técnicos ou não técnicos que requerem estratégias e prazos atípicos para sua restauração. Uma área de estudo desse tipo, com mais de 20 anos de gerenciamento ambiental, foi objeto de modelagem implícita para auxiliar no detalhamento e avaliação do seu Modelo Conceitual Temporal. Os resultados reforçaram o entendimento claro e holístico sobre sua evolução e seus desafios, incluindo Plumas Combinadas geradas de fontes com localização distinta. Foi confirmado que as intervenções na área se beneficiaram de entendimentos regionais e aspectos de Gerenciamento Adaptativo, tais como a definição de objetivos intermediários e o contínuo aperfeiçoamento do modelo conceitual e da remediação. Concluiu-se que o reconhecimento de Áreas Complexas e a aplicação de Gerenciamento Adaptativo têm o potencial de auxiliar no gerenciamento de mais locais no Brasil. Recomenda-se que isso seja feito contemplando adaptações e considerações locais, tais como: englobar, na definição de Áreas Complexas, que os desafios devem, comprovadamente, apresentar alta complexidade e requerer tempos atípicos para sua restauração ou reabilitação (mais de 15 anos, em São Paulo); considerar como desafio técnico o extenso manto de intemperismo de regiões tropicais úmidas; apreciar como desafio técnico e não técnico o alto número de poços de captação não outorgados; considerar como desafio não técnico a existência de conflitos socioeconômicos; e avaliar, inclusive com estudos isotópicos, a possível presença de Plumas Combinadas

Modelagem implícita para detalhamento do Modelo Conceitual Temporal de Área Complexa com remediação de Plumas Combinadas na Região Metropolitana de São Paulo

Existem propriedades e regiões contaminadas que têm sido denominadas no exterior como Áreas Complexas em virtude de desafios técnicos ou não técnicos que requerem estratégias e prazos atípicos para sua restauração. Uma área de estudo desse tipo, com mais de 20 anos de gerenciamento ambiental, foi objeto de modelagem implícita para auxiliar no detalhamento e avaliação do seu Modelo Conceitual Temporal. Os resultados reforçaram o entendimento claro e holístico sobre sua evolução e seus desafios, incluindo Plumas Combinadas geradas de fontes com localização distinta. Foi confirmado que as intervenções na área se beneficiaram de entendimentos regionais e aspectos de Gerenciamento Adaptativo, tais como a definição de objetivos intermediários e o contínuo aperfeiçoamento do modelo conceitual e da remediação. Concluiu-se que o reconhecimento de Áreas Complexas e a aplicação de Gerenciamento Adaptativo têm o potencial de auxiliar no gerenciamento de mais locais no Brasil. Recomenda-se que isso seja feito contemplando adaptações e considerações locais, tais como: englobar, na definição de Áreas Complexas, que os desafios devem, comprovadamente, apresentar alta complexidade e requerer tempos atípicos para sua restauração ou reabilitação (mais de 15 anos, em São Paulo); considerar como desafio técnico o extenso manto de intemperismo de regiões tropicais úmidas; apreciar como desafio técnico e não técnico o alto número de poços de captação não outorgados; considerar como desafio não técnico a existência de conflitos socioeconômicos; e avaliar, inclusive com estudos isotópicos, a possível presença de Plumas Combinadas

Xanthine oxidase inhibition for the treatment of cardiovascular disease: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Previous studies have shown that xanthine oxidase inhibitors (XOI) might improve outcome for patients with cardiovascular disease. However, more evidence is required. Methods and results: We published a meta‐analysis of trials conducted before 2014 examining the effects of XOI on mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease. At least two further trials (N = 323 patients) have since been published. Accordingly, we repeated our analysis after a further search for randomized controlled trials of XOI in PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Databases. We identified eight relevant trials with 1031 patients. The average age of the patients was 61 years and 68% were men (one study did not report gender). There were 57 deaths in these eight trials, 26 in those assigned to XOI, and 31 in those assigned to the control. The updated meta‐analysis could not confirm a reduction in mortality for patients assigned to XOI compared with placebo (odds ratio 0.84) but 95% confidence intervals were wide (0.48–1.47). Conclusions: This updated meta‐analysis does not suggest that XOI exert a large reduction in mortality but also cannot exclude the possibility of substantial harm or benefit

Cancer associated fibroblasts: the architects of stroma remodelling

Fibroblasts have exceptional phenotypic plasticity and capability to secrete vast amount of soluble factors, ECM components and extracellular vesicles. While in physiological conditions this makes fibroblasts master regulators of tissue homeostasis and healing of injured tissues, in solid tumours cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) co-evolve with the disease, and alter the biochemical and physical structure of the tumour microenvironment, as well as the behaviour of the surrounding stromal and cancer cells. Thus CAFs are fundamental regulators of tumour progression and influence response to therapeutic treatments. Increasing efforts are devoted to better understand the biology of CAFs to bring insights to develop complementary strategies to target this cell type in cancer. Here we highlight components of the tumour microenvironment that play key roles in cancer progression and invasion, and provide an extensive overview of past and emerging understanding of CAF biology as well as the contribution that mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics has made to this field