Effects of a High Dose,Aglycone-Rich Soy Extract on Prostate-Specific Antigen and Serum Isoflavone Concentrations in Men With Localized Prostate Cancer

The efficacy and safety of consuming high-dose isoflavone supplements for prostate cancer is not clear. A double-blind, placebo controlled, randomized trial was conducted in 53 men with prostate cancer enrolled in an active surveillance program. The treatment group consumed a supplement containing 450 mg genistein, 300 mg daidzein, and other isoflavones daily for 6 mo. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was measured in both groups at baseline, 3 mo, and 6 mo, and serum concentrations of genistein, daidzein, and equol were assessed at baseline and 6 mo in the treatment group. Following the completion of the 6-mo double-blind study, men were enrolled in a 6-mo open label trial with the same isoflavone-rich supplement, and PSA was measured at 3 and 6 mo. PSA concentrations did not change in either group after 6 mo or after 12 mo when the open-label study was included. The 6 mo serum concentrations of genistein and daidzein (39.85 and 45.59 μmol/l, respectively) were significantly greater than baseline values and substantially higher than levels previously reported in other studies. Equol levels did not change. Although high amounts of aglycone isoflavones may result in significantly elevated serum concentrations of genistein and daidzein, these dietary supplements alone did not lower PSA levels in men with low-volume prostate cancer.     

Influence of maternal labor time on delta-aminolevulinate dehydratase enzyme activity and markers of oxidative stress in newborns

Abstract

The purpose is to determine markers of oxidative stress related to the longer and shorter duration of labor (DOL) of pregnant women in the umbilical cord blood of neonates, not yet studied. Blood samples from the umbilical cord were collected from pregnant women with normal delivery and classified according to DOL in two groups: a group with DOL less than 310?min (n?=?33) and a group with DOL greater than or equal to 310?min (n?=?35). The oxidative stress parameters were analyzed by the quantification of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), nitrate/nitrite (NOx), protein thiol groups (P-SH) and non-protein (NP-SH), vitamin C and plasma iron reduction capacity (FRAP), in addition to the activity of the enzyme delta-aminolevulinate dehydratase (δ-ALA-D). The activity of the δ-ALA-D enzyme was shown to be decreased in longer DOL, however, the oxidant parameters and antioxidants were higher in the longer DOL, with the exception of NP-SH that was lower. The longer maternal DOL time is related to the alteration of δ-ALA-D enzyme activity and other parameters in neonates, suggesting an increase in the passage of maternal oxidative markers by umbilical cord blood.     

Conduire les premières consultations pour obésité en médecine générale. De l’analyse d’une demande à une proposition d’un suivi pour obésité: points forts et pièges à éviter

The quality of healthcare support about obese patients needs to customize rightly the basics of the healthcare plan. The challenges of the first consultations, for the general practitioner and his/her patient are even more important as they engage usually on a long term relationship. The therapeutic management of obese patients cannot be summed up as an energy imbalance between inputs and expenditures. The involved elements in this process are multiple and subtle. There are errors to avoid in order keeping off an impairment of the care relationship for a long time.     

Two cases of Kallmann syndrome associated with empty sella

Kallmann syndrome (KS) is a developmental disease characterized by the association of isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and anosmia/hyposmia. We report an unusual presentation of two females with KS and empty sella. These females, aged at 20 and 29-year-old, presented primary amenorrhea with prepubertal estradiol and low gonadotropin levels. No other significant clinical signs were observed. Empty sella was observed on MRI in both cases. Sequencing of FGFR1 gene, recently implicated in autosomal form of KS, was performed and one splicing mutation (IVS14 + 1G > A) was identified in one patient.     

Monocyte and Lymphocyte Activation in Bipolar Disorder: A New Piece in the Puzzle of Immune Dysfunction in Mood Disorders

Background:

This study tested the hypothesis that the low-grade inflammation presented in patients with bipolar disorder (BD) is associated with expansion of activated T cells, and this activated state may be due to a lack of peripheral regulatory cells.

Methods:

Specifically, we investigated the distribution of monocytes and lymphocyte subsets, and investigated Th1/Th2/Th17 cytokines in plasma by flow cytometry. Twenty-one BD type I patients and 21 age- and sex-matched controls were recruited for this study.

Results:

BD patients had increased proportions of monocytes (CD14+). Regarding lymphocyte populations, BD patients presented reduced proportions of T cells (CD3+) and cytotoxic T cells (CD3+CD8+). BD patients also exhibited a higher percentage of activated T CD4+CD25+ cells, and a lower percentage of IL-10 expressing Treg cells.

Conclusions:

Our data shed some light into the underlying mechanisms involved with the chronic low-grade inflammatory profile described in BD patients.