Prevention of Mrp2 activity impairment in ethinylestradiol-induced cholestasis by ursodeoxycholate in the rat.

Ethinylestradiol (EE) induces cholestasis by affecting bile salt-dependent and -independent fractions of the bile flow. The decrease in bile salt-independent flow is thought to be due, in part, to a reduction in the expression of the canalicular transporter Mrp2. The impact of modulation of Mrp2 function by sodium ursodeoxycholate (UDC) in EE cholestasis is unknown. We evaluated the protective effect of UDC on EE-induced impairment of Mrp2 activity in vivo and in isolated hepatocytes, by using the substrate dinitrophenyl S-glutathione (DNP-SG). EE was administered to male Wistar rats at a dose of 5 mg/kg s.c. for 5 days. UDC was coadministered with EE at a dose of 25 mg/kg b.wt. i.p. for the same period. EE alone reduced DNP-SG biliary excretion by 55% when compared with controls. Coadministration with UDC partially restored the alteration. Secretion rate of DNP-SG was decreased by 30% in isolated hepatocytes from EE-treated rats, but, contrary to in vivo results, UDC coadministration did not restore DNP-SG transport, likely as a consequence of bile salt washout resulting from the isolation procedure. As a confirmation, tauroursodeoxycholate hepatocyte preloading significantly increased Mrp2 activity. Western blotting analysis of Mrp2 indicated that EE administration significantly reduced its level in total and plasma membranes and that UDC coadministration failed to revert this alteration. In conclusion, UDC improvement in Mrp2 transport activity in vivo likely derived from a direct enhancement of Mrp2 function rather than from a restoration of its expression levels. This provides a novel mechanism explaining the beneficial effects of UDC in EE-induced cholestasis.     

Preliminary study on the role of the human IZUMO gene in oocyte-spermatozoa fusion failure

We studied the IZUMO gene 9 coding exons sequence in four groups of patients including those with fertilization failure by conventional IVF. We observed in our populations two combinations of four polymorphisms that appeared to be preferentially linked (CGG-CG and TAA-TT) without any significant difference between different genotype repartitions.     

Apathy and impulsiveness in Parkinson disease: Two faces of the same coin?

Apathy and impulsiveness are 2 common non-motor symptoms in Parkinson disease that could occur in different periods or simultaneously. Apathy and impulsiveness could be interpreted as opposite extremes of a spectrum of motivated behavior dependent on dopaminergic dysfunction, in which, impulsivity, is a result of a hyperdopaminergic state, whereas apathy is viewed as a hypodopaminergic. The study aimed to investigate the presence of impulsiveness and other neuropsychiatric symptoms in Parkinson disease patients with apathy symptoms.Eighty-one patients with Parkinson disease were enrolled in this retrospective study. All subjects were evaluated by the Italian version of the Dimensional Apathy Scale and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-version 11, to assess, respectively, apathy and impulsiveness; they were divided into 2 groups (apathy and no apathy). All patients were administered also with questionnaires assessing depressive and anxious symptoms.Statistical analyses showed relevant results. In no-apathy group, education was a significant predictor on impulsiveness (attentional and motor) and apathy (executive and emotional); depression was a significant predictor on planning impulsivity and apathy.This study aimed to consider the importance of apathy and impulsivity in Parkinson disease. Although these are considered as opposite extremes of a spectrum of motivated behavior dependent on dopaminergic dysfunction, these can also occur separately. Moreover, several variables could represent important predictors of apathy and impulsiveness, such as depression. Future investigations should deepen the role of other demographics and psychological variables.     

XPS Study on Calcining Mixtures of Brucite with Titania

In this work, we studied the phases in a Mg-Ti-O system using a 1:1 formulation of MgO:TiO₂, mixing synthetic brucite of Mexican origin with TiO₂ microparticles of high purity, with a heat treatment at 1100 °C for 1 h. Due to its valence electrons, TiO₂ can contribute to the sintering process to improve density in MgO products. The raw materials and formulation by XPS and X-RD techniques were characterized. The results demonstrate the presence of different oxidation states in titania and the formation of different oxides in the Mg-Ti-O system when mixed and calcined at 1100 °C; additionally, we estimated the formation of vacancies in the crystal lattice during the transformation from hexagonal brucite to magnesia with a cubic structure centered on the faces. Its thermal behavior is indicated by the MgO-TiO₂ phase diagram.     

Internet como fuente de información sobre salud en pacientes de atención primaria y su influencia en la relación médico-paciente

ObjectiveTo describe the use of the Internet by primary care patients to seek health related information, understand how they are influenced by this information, and evaluate its impact on the doctor-patient relationship.DesignCross sectional study, through self-administered survey.SettingOne urban health center in Madrid.ParticipantsA total of 323 questionnaires were collected from patients between 14 and 75 years old who attended a physician's office for any reason, excluding illiterate patients and those with neurological or psychiatric problems preventing them from completing the survey.MeasurementsInternet usage, ability of the internet to clarify doubts regarding health issues, patient lifestyle changes, socio-demographic variables, and physician's receptivity to the use of internet by patients.Results61% (CI 95%: 56%-67%) of patients used the Internet as a source of health information: Internet queries were able to address health doubts in 92.4% of users, 53.5% reported that the Internet changed their thinking about their health in at least one instance, 30% made behavioral changes (of which 60.1% discussed these changes with their physician), 44.3% had more questions at the physician's office, and 80.8% believe that the doctor would be willing to talk about the information found on the internet.ConclusionsUsing the Internet to find information about health is very common, with positive influence on physician-patient relationship. This may be useful for achieving behavioral changes in patients and can be used as a tool in medical practice.     

Changes in the prevalence and severity of recurrent wheezing in infants: The results of two surveys administered 7 years apart

Objective:To identify changes in the prevalence and severity of recurrent wheezing (RW) in infants using data obtained from two surveys administered seven years apart. Methods: A cross-sectional, international, population-based study in infants aged 12–15 months was conducted. Data were obtained from two surveys (S1 and S2, in 2005 and 2012, respectively) using the same methodology in three large Latin American cities: Curitiba (Brazil), São Paulo (Brazil), and Santiago (Chile). Results: A decrease in the overall prevalence of RW was identified between S1 (23.3%) and S2 (20.4%), p = 0.004, but it was mainly driven by the reduction observed in São Paulo; in Curitiba and Santiago, this change was not significant. The mean prevalence of the following RW severity indicators remained high and stable: severe wheezing episodes (56.9% in S1 and 54.2% in S2, p = 0.32) and emergency department (ED) visits for wheezing (S1 = 68.1%, S2 70.9%, p = 0.21). A significant increase in admissions for wheezing (21.1% to 26.7%, p = 0.004) was observed. In Curitiba and São Paulo, there were significant increases in the prevalence of physician-diagnosed asthma and in the use of inhaled corticosteroids and oral antileukotrienes. Conclusions: The prevalence and severity of RW during the first year of life remained high over time, with remarkably high rates of ED visits, admissions for wheezing and use of asthma medications. This study suggests the need for considering early asthma diagnosis and to establish an appropriate treatment in infants with recurrent and severe asthma-like symptoms.