Association between phase angle,anthropometric measurements,and lipid profile in HCV-infected patients

OBJECTIVE:

The objective of this study was to investigate the associations between phase angle, anthropometric measurements, and lipid profile in patients chronically infected with the hepatitis C virus.

METHODS:

A total of 160 consecutive patients chronically infected with the hepatitis C virus and who received treatment at the hepatitis C outpatient unit of our hospital from April 2010 to May 2011 were prospectively evaluated. Bioelectrical impedance analysis, anthropometric measurements, and serum lipid profile analysis were performed.

RESULTS:

Twenty-five patients were excluded. A total of 135 patients with a mean age of 49.8±11.4 years were studied. Among these patients, 60% were male. The phase angle and BMI means were 6.5±0.8° and 26.5±4.8 kg/m², respectively. Regarding anthropometric variables, mid-arm circumference, mid-arm muscle circumference, and arm muscle area had a positive correlation with phase angle. In contrast, when analyzing the lipid profile, only HDL was inversely correlated with phase angle. However, in multiple regression models adjusted for age and gender, only mid-arm circumference (p = 0.005), mid-arm muscle circumference (p = 0.003), and arm muscle circumference (p = 0.001) were associated with phase angle in hepatitis C virus-infected patients.

CONCLUSIONS:

In conclusion, phase angle is positively correlated with anthropometric measures in our study. However, there is no association between phase angle and lipid profile in these patients. Our results suggest that phase angle is related to lean body mass in patients chronically infected with hepatitis C virus.     

Influence of silane and solvated bonding agents on the bond strength to glass‐fibre posts

The combined use of silane and solvated bonding agents on the bond strength to glass‐fibre posts was investigated. A model Bis‐GMA/HEMA adhesive was formulated with no solvent, 30% of ethanol or 80% of acetone. The surfaces of rectangular‐shaped posts were silanated or not and one of the agents was applied, except for the control group. Cylinders of resin cement (RelyX ARC, 3M ESPE, Saint Paul, MN, USA) were built‐up on the surfaces (n = 20) and submitted to shear testing. All groups showed higher bond strengths when the surfaces were silanated. When no silanization was carried out, the use of bonding agents, either solvated or non‐solvated, increased the bond strengths. All groups treated with both silane and bonding agent showed higher bond strengths than the group that was only silanated. Control and ethanol‐based adhesives were similar, whereas the acetone‐based agent yielded higher bond strengths. Adhesive failures were predominant. Combination of silane and adhesive enhanced the bond to fibre posts.     

The role of pro/anti-inflammatory adipokines on bone metabolism in NAFLD obese adolescents: effects of long-term interdisciplinary therapy

To investigate the role of pro- and anti-inflammatory adipokines in the bone metabolism of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) obese adolescents as well as the effects of long-term interdisciplinary therapy on metabolic-related risk factors. Forty post-puberty obese adolescents were randomly assigned into two groups: (1) NAFLD group and (2) non-NAFLD group (diagnosis by ultrasonography) and submitted to a weight loss therapy. Body composition was analyzed by air displacement plethysmography, bone mineral density (BMD) and content by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, blood samples were collected to measure lipid profile, hepatic enzymes, and adipokines. Leptin and adiponectin concentrations were measured by ELISA. A decrease in total body mass, BMI, body fat, visceral and subcutaneous fat, insulin concentration, HOMA-IR, total cholesterol and an increase in lean body mass were observed in both groups after therapy. It was found positive correlation between the Δ BMD and the Δ fat mass (%) (r = 0.31, P = 0.01) and negative correlations between Δ BMC with Δ HOMA-IR (r = -0.34, P = 0.02) and Δ HOMA-IR with Δ leptin (r = -0.34, P = 0.02). In addition, increased levels of adiponectin and reduction in leptin concentrations were observed in NAFLD group. In the simple regression analysis, the HOMA-IR was an independent predictor changes in BMC in total obese adolescents and in the non-NAFLD group. One year of interdisciplinary weight loss therapy for obese adolescents with or without NAFLD, could regulate bone mineral metabolism as result of an increased BMC and improved inflammatory state.     

Validity of malnutrition scores for predicting mortality in chronic hemodialysis patients

Purpose

Malnutrition is a strong predictor of mortality in hemodialysis patients. Several scoring systems for evaluating nutritional status have been proposed. However, they rely on different sets of anthropometric and laboratory markers to make a diagnosis of malnutrition and assess its impact on prognosis. To validate them, nutritional scores should be compared with clinical outcomes. Thus, the purpose of this study was to assess malnutrition by three different nutrition scoring systems and determine which best predicts mortality in hemodialysis patients.

Methods

This prospective study included 106 adult chronic hemodialysis patients. Their mean age was 56.3 ± 14.9 years and mean body mass index 24.8 (21.8–28.9); 52 % were men and they had been on dialysis for 24 (5–55) months. Nutritional status was classified according to the diagnostic systems proposed by Wolfson et al. (Am J Clin Nutr 39(4):547–555, 1984), International Society of Renal Nutrition and Metabolism (ISRNM) (Fouque et al. in Kidney Int 73(4):391–398, 2008), and Beberashvili et al. (Nephrol Dial Transplant 25(8):2662–2671, 2010). During about 2 years of follow-up, mortality was assessed by Kaplan–Meier curves, log-rank, and Cox’s models adjusted for diabetes, sex, C-reactive protein, time on dialysis, age, and fractional urea clearance.

Results

Twenty-three deaths (21.5 %) occurred during the study period. According to the systems of Wolfson, Beberashvili, and the ISRNM, 54, 32, and 20 % of patients, respectively, had malnutrition. Both univariate and multivariate analyses showed that the ISRNM system was the only one that predicted poorer survival (fourfold higher death risk) in malnourished patients.

Conclusions

The scoring system proposed by the ISRNM most accurately identifies patients at higher risk of death.     

Ausência de associação entre os polimorfismos do gene interleucina-18 e artrite reumatoide

ObjectiveTo assess the association of the polymorphisms of the interleukin-18 (IL-18) gene with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and with risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD).MethodsThis sample comprised 97 patients with RA and 151 healthy controls. In the patients, risk factors for CVD were analyzed, such as cholesterol levels, arterial hypertension, smoking habit, C-reactive protein (CRP) level, and rheumatoid factor. DNA was extracted and the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) at the ?607C/A and ?137G/C positions of the IL-18 gene were assessed in both groups. The Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) was calculated and the odds ratio (OR) test performed, considering a 95% CI and P < 0.05.ResultsThe frequencies of the ?607A allele in patients with RA and in controls were 0,443 and 0.424, respectively, and of the ?137C allele, 0.304 and 0.291, respectively. The genotype frequencies were in HWE, except for controls in the ?137 locus (P = 0.006). Association of the polymorphisms of the IL-18 gene was found with neither RA nor risk factors for CVD, including cholesterol level and CRP (P > 0.05). In addition, more smokers were found among patients with RA as compared with controls (OR = 1.691; P = 0.088), and the CRP levels were slightly higher in patients who smoked than in patients who did not (OR = 2.673; P = 0.061).ConclusionsIn this sample of patients with RA in the South of Brazil, association of the polymorphisms of the IL-18 gene was observed with neither RA nor risk factors for CVD.     

Direct binding of GABAA receptor β2 and β3 subunits to gephyrin

GABAergic transmission is essential to brain function, and a large repertoire of GABA type A receptor (GABA_AR) subunits is at a neuron's disposition to serve this function. The glycine receptor (GlyR)‐associated protein gephyrin has been shown to be essential for the clustering of a subset of GABA_AR. Despite recent progress in the field of gephyrin‐dependent mechanisms of postsynaptic GABA_AR stabilisation, the role of gephyrin in synaptic GABA_AR localisation has remained a complex matter with many open questions. Here, we analysed comparatively the interaction of purified rat gephyrin and mouse brain gephyrin with the large cytoplasmic loops of GABA_AR α1, α2, β2 and β3 subunits. Binding affinities were determined using surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy, and showed an ~ 20‐fold lower affinity of the β2 loop to gephyrin as compared to the GlyR β loop–gephyrin interaction. We also probed in vivo binding in primary cortical neurons by the well‐established use of chimaeras of GlyR α1 that harbour respective gephyrin‐binding motifs derived from the different GABA_AR subunits. These studies identify a novel gephyrin‐binding motif in GABA_AR β2 and β3 large cytoplasmic loops.     

Overview of Dietary Supplements in Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is a key health concern for men with its etiology still under investigation. Recently, the role of dietary supplements has been noted to have a major inhibitory effect on prostate cancer and numerous studies have been conducted in this regard. This review provides a summary on numerous recent studies conducted in this field. Some of the studies reviewed revealed a protective role for supplements, and others showed no correlation while some even had an adverse effect. The mechanism of how these supplements act on the prostate is still not clear. Further studies are warranted especially for supplements that have been shown to have a potential inhibitory role in prostate cancer.     

Effects of multivitamin supplementation on DNA damage in lymphocytes from elderly volunteers

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a mixture of vitamins and minerals on oxidative DNA damage and the resistance of DNA to H(2)O(2)-induced DNA strand breaks in lymphocytes from 80 elderly volunteers ex vivo by means of Comet assay. The intervention with vitamin complex decreased significantly the levels of DNA damage. Our results demonstrate that the vitamin complex was able to decrease H(2)O(2)-induced DNA breakage. Our data suggest that the consumption of some vitamins may reduce the effects of oxidative DNA damage and may be useful for attaining healthy aging.