Hydrogenated fat diet intake during pregnancy and lactation modifies the PAI-1 gene expression in white adipose tissue of offspring in adult life

We examine whether feeding pregnant and lactating rats hydrogenated fats rich in trans fatty acids modifies the plasma lipid profiles and the expression of adipokines involved with insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease in their 90-day-old offspring. Pregnant and lactating Wistar rats were fed with either a control diet (C group) or one enriched with hydrogenated vegetable fat (T group). Upon weaning, the male pups were sorted into four groups: CC, mothers were receiving C and pups were kept on C; CT, mothers were receiving C and pups were fed with T; TT, mothers were receiving T and pups were kept on T; TC, mothers were receiving T and pups were fed with C. Pups' food intake and body weight were quantified weekly and the pups were killed at day 90 of life by decapitation. Blood and carcass as well as retroperitoneal, epididymal, and subcutaneous white adipose tissues were collected. Food intake and body weight were lower in TC and TT, and metabolic efficiency was reduced in TT. Offspring of TT and TC rats had increased white adipose tissue PAI-1 gene expression. Insulin receptor was higher in TT than other groups. Ingestion of hydrogenated vegetable fat by the mother during gestation and lactation could promote deleterious consequences, even after the withdrawal of the causal factor.     

Longitudinal growth pattern of children during pre-school age and its relationship with different socio-economic classes

Summary This report deals with the study of longitudinal growth of pre-school children from different socio-economic classes in the urban community of Delhi. The role of socio-economic factors which affect the growth standards of weight, height, circumference of head, chest, arm, calf and pelvic width of these children at different ages from birth up to 5 years is discussed. It is observed that in malnutrition resulting from an adverse effect of poor socio-economic status, all measurements of the body are affected, the height and the head being the least and the weight, the circumferences of the chest, arm and calf the most. From the Longitudinal Morbidity and Mortality Survey of Children’s Unit, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi.     

A content validity analysis of neoplastic items of the national board of medical examiners part II examination

As part of its evaluation of the Clinical Cancer Education Program (CCEP) at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, the Office of Educational Research and Evaluation analyzed student performance on neoplastic items of the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) Examination Part II. The evaluation provided a successful application of the American Association for Cancer Education (AACE) coding schema for analysis of neoplastic items. Two examinations were analyzed in order to determine the frequency with which specific disease sites, treatment modalities, and question emphasis items appeared. With reference to disease site, the greatest number of questions on both examinations dealt with gynecological issues while the fewest dealt with lung and hematologic-related disease. A breakdown of questions into various treatment modalities indicated that of items that could be categorized, most dealt with surgical treatment, while other therapeutic modalities were given little or no emphasis. Looking at question emphases, the most frequently asked questions referred to diagnostic tests and stratagems, whereas the least amount of emphasis was placed on rehabilitative and psychosocial aspects of the disease. These findings corroborate those reported by Ruckdeschel and his associates and point out several limitations to the content validity of the neoplastic items on NBME Part II.     

Effect of Preoperative Antibiotic Regimen on Development of Infection after Intestinal Surgery: Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind Study

A prospective, randomized, double-blind study was performed to compare preoperative antibiotic preparation with neomycin (group 1), neomycin and tetracycline (group 2), and placebo (group 3) in patients undergoing elective intestinal surgery. The 196 patients were approximately equally distributed among the three study groups, which proved similar to each other in terms of age, sex, diagnosis, site of lesion, and operative procedure. There were significantly (P < 0.01) fewer patients with postoperative wound sepsis in the neomycin-tetracycline group (group 2) than in either of the two other groups. Postoperative wound infection rates in groups 1 and 3 were nearly identical. Most infections contained both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Eight of nine episodes of septicemia due to Bacteroides fragilis occurred in patients in groups 1 and 3.     

Cancer patients' information needs across the cancer care continuum: evidence from the cancer information service

This study examines the information needs of cancer patients who contacted the National Cancer Institute's (NCI's) Cancer Information Service (CIS) via a toll-free telephone number. Records from 19,030 calls received from cancer patients between September 2002 and August 2003 were analyzed to determine differences in subjects of interaction (main topics of inquiry and discussion) for subgroups of patients based on demographic characteristics and stage along the cancer care continuum (pretreatment, in-treatment, post-treatment, recurrence). Females were more likely than males to inquire about cancer screening/diagnosis, support services, psychosocial issues, and general cancer site information, but they were less likely to seek specific cancer treatment information. Older patients were more likely than younger patients to seek specific treatment information, but they were less interested in support services, psychosocial issues, and prevention/risk factors. Compared with White callers, Hispanics and most minorities were more likely to seek support service information, and African Americans were more likely to have questions related to psychosocial issues. Compared with patients in treatment, patients in recurrence were more likely to seek specific treatment information; patients not in treatment were more likely to seek medical referral information; and patients in post-treatment were more likely to seek screening/diagnosis and prevention/risk factor information. Findings will help the CIS and other cancer-focused organizations address the distinct information needs of different subsets of cancer patients.     

Twice-weekly progressive resistance training decreases abdominal fat and improves insulin sensitivity in older men with type 2 diabetes

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of a twice-weekly progressive resistance training (PRT) program, without a concomitant weight loss diet, on abdominal fat and insulin sensitivity in older men with type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Nine older men (aged 66.6 +/- 3.1) with type 2 diabetes participated in a 16-week PRT supervised program (50-80% of the one repetition maximum), for all main muscle groups. Basal glycemia, HbA(1c), diet, habitual physical activity, body composition, and upper/lower maximal strength were measured. Insulin sensitivity was determined according to Bergman's minimal model procedure and abdominal fat was obtained by computed tomography. The measurements were taken 4 weeks before training (-4), immediately before training (0), and at 8-week intervals (i.e., weeks 8 and 16) during the 16-week training period. RESULTS: No significant variation was observed in any of the above selected parameters during the 4-week control period. After PRT, both leg and arm maximal strength increased significantly by 17.1 and 18.2%, respectively. Visceral and subcutaneous abdominal fat decreased significantly by 10.3% (from 249.5 +/- 97.9 to 225.6 +/- 96.6 cm(3), P < 0.01) and by 11.2% (from 356.0 +/- 127.5 to 308.6 +/- 118.8 cm(3), P < 0.01), respectively, while no changes were observed in body mass. PRT significantly increased insulin sensitivity by 46.3% (from 2.0 +/- 1.2 to 2.8 +/- 1.6 . 10(4) . min(-1) . muU(-1) . ml(-1), P < 0.01), whereas it significantly decreased (-7.1%, P < 0.05) fasting blood glucose (from 146.6 +/- 28.3 to 135.0 +/- 29.3 mg/dl). Finally, a 15.5% increase in energy intake (from 2,287.1 +/- 354.7 to 2,619.0 +/- 472.1 kcal/day, P < 0.05) was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Two sessions per week of PRT, without a concomitant weight loss diet, significantly improves insulin sensitivity and fasting glycemia and decreases abdominal fat in older men with type 2 diabetes.     

Analysis of SCA-2 and SCA-3 repeats in Parkinsonism: evidence of SCA-2 expansion in a family with autosomal dominant Parkinson's disease

The spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are progressive neurodegenerative disorders linked to more than 20 genetic loci. Most often, these diseases are caused by expansion of triplet repeats encoding polyglutamine (polyQ) tracts. The phenotype is variable and can cause a disease that overlaps clinically with Parkinson's disease (PD). l-Dopa-responsive parkinsonism with minimal cerebellar deficits has been described in SCA2 and SCA3. In order to define if mutation at these loci is a common cause of clinically defined parkinsonism we typed the SCA-2 and SCA-3 repeats for expansion in a series of 280 patients diagnosed with PD or parkinsonism. We identified one pathogenic expansion in SCA-2 in a North American family with autosomal dominant parkinsonism.     

Female pseudohermaphroditism with phallic urethra in the offspring of a mother with an adrenal tumor

BACKGROUND: Female pseudohermaphroditism is a disorder in which 46,XX females with ovaries do not develop as normal women. This disorder is caused by overexposure of a female fetus to androgens during intrauterine life. We describe a masculinized female infant who was born to a mother who had virilizing signs. PATIENT REPORT: The patient had a normally formed phallus and a completely fused scrotum. Baseline as well as stimulated adrenal hormones and testosterone values were in the normal range in the infant. No androgens were given to the mother during pregnancy. Serum 17-OHP, DHEA-S, and testosterone levels were all elevated in the mother. Imaging studies revealed a tumor mass over the left kidney pole. Histologically it was an adrenal tumor. CONCLUSIONS: Although a maternal adrenal tumor is a rare cause of female pseudohermaphroditism, the physician must bear this in mind when confronted with a newborn or infant with 46,XX karyotype and cryptorchidism with a phallic urethra.