BMX‐001, a novel redox‐active metalloporphyrin,improves islet function and engraftment in a murine transplant model

Islet transplantation has become a well‐established therapy for select patients with type 1 diabetes. Viability and engraftment can be compromised by the generation of oxidative stress encountered during isolation and culture. We evaluated whether the administration of BMX‐001 (MnTnBuOE‐2‐PyP⁵⁺ [Mn(III) meso‐tetrakis‐(N‐ b ‐butoxyethylpyridinium‐2‐yl)porphyrin]) and its earlier derivative, BMX‐010 (MnTE‐2‐PyP [Mn(III) meso‐tetrakis‐(N‐methylpyridinium‐2‐yl)porphyrin]) could improve islet function and engraftment outcomes. Long‐term culture of human islets with BMX‐001, but not BMX‐010, exhibited preserved in vitro viability. Murine islets isolated and cultured for 24 hours with 34 μmol/L BMX‐001 exhibited improved insulin secretion (n = 3 isolations, P < .05) in response to glucose relative to control islets. In addition, 34 μmol/L BMX‐001–supplemented murine islets exhibited significantly reduced apoptosis as indicated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling, compared with nontreated control islets (P < .05). Murine syngeneic islets transplanted under the kidney capsule at a marginal dose of 150 islets revealed 58% of 34 μmol/L BMX‐001–treated islet recipients became euglycemic (n = 11 of 19) compared with 19% of nontreated control islet recipients (n = 3 of 19, P < .05). Of murine recipients receiving a marginal dose of human islets cultured with 34 μmol/L BMX‐001, 92% (n = 12 of 13) achieved euglycemia compared with 57% of control recipients (n = 8 of 14, P = .11). These results demonstrate that the administration of BMX‐001 enhances in vitro viability and augments murine marginal islet mass engraftment.     

Brazilian Intragastric Balloon Consensus Statement (BIBC): practical guidelines based on experience of over 40,000 cases

Background

Intragastric balloons (IGBs) are a minimally invasive option for obesity treatment, acting as a space-occupying device and leading to weight loss through increased satiety. This device has been growing in popularity owing to its safety profile and good weight loss results. However, there are no published guidelines that standardize the technical aspects of the procedure.

Health care priorities for menopausal women with a history of breast cancer

BACKGROUND: The opinion of breast cancer survivors and their physicians about long-term health, especially menopause, is not well understood. METHODS: Seventy-three patients and 22 physicians answered questions regarding medical follow-up and menopause. RESULTS: One third of specialists preferred follow-up of 5 years or less, while 59% preferred 10 years or longer; 46% of patients preferred follow-up for 10 years or longer. Physicians preferred that primary care physicians supervise menopausal health (55%), but patients disagreed (30%). Physicians cited heart health most important, followed by skeletal health and climacteric symptoms. Physicians believed that climacteric symptoms were patients' leading concern, but patients cited heart health, followed by skeletal health and cognitive dysfunction. Neither patients nor physicians advocated estrogen use. CONCLUSIONS: Differences of opinion exist between breast cancer patients and specialists regarding follow-up and management of menopause. However, both patients and physicians prefer prolonged surveillance by a cancer specialist, with attention to heart and skeletal health issues.     

Behavioral self-regulation for weight loss in young adults: a randomized controlled trial

Objective  

To determine the feasibility of recruiting and retaining young adults in a brief behavioral weight loss intervention tailored for this age group, and to assess the preliminary efficacy of an intervention that emphasizes daily self-weighing within the context of a self-regulation model.     

Evaluating the patient presenting with hyperhidrosis

Hyperhidrosis is a debilitating condition that affects approximately 2.8% of the population. Patients experience reduced quality of life and face significantly impairment in social interactions and occupational activities. Primary focal hyperhidrosis stems from neurogenic overactivity involving normal eccrine glands, while secondary generalized hyperhidrosis is due to any one of a number of causes. Patient history, physical examination, and appropriate laboratory tests should rule out secondary causes of hyperhidrosis. For primary hyperhidrosis, rate and volume of sweat production and quality of life assessment can be determined.     

Alveolar capillary dysplasia associated with duodenal atresia: ultrasonographic findings of enlarged, highly echogenic lungs and gastric dilatation in a third-trimester fetus

We report a case of alveolar capillary dysplasia, wherein duodenal atresia was diagnosed during the third trimester. A 36-year-old mother was referred to our hospital for polyhydramnios at 31 weeks' gestation. Duodenal atresia was suspected from the ultrasonographic findings, which showed gastric dilation. Other findings noted were enlarged, highly echogenic lungs, a spherical heart and an increased lung-thorax transverse area ratio. A male infant was born at 37 weeks' gestation. The findings of serial radiography of the infant's upper gastrointestinal tract were compatible with the diagnosis of duodenal atresia; however, he developed persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn eight hours after birth and died at five days of age. The autopsy revealed alveolar capillary dysplasia and duodenal obstruction. We propose that the detection of duodenal atresia should prompt the physician to conduct a thorough ultrasonographic examination to rule out associated anomalies, such as alveolar capillary dysplasia, which can be detected by the presence of highly echogenic lungs.