Disseny d'un programa educatiu per prevenir les complicacions associades a l'alteració del perfil lipídic durant la gestació

L’embaràs és una situació especial en la vida de la dona que condiciona canvis en la seva fisiologia i en el desenvolupament d’un nou ésser. Entre aquests canvis fisiològics trobem l’augment dels nivells de colesterol i triglicèrids degut, majoritàriament, a l’augment de les hormones sexuals esteroidees i al metabolisme hepàtic i adipós alterat. Ara bé, cal mantenir aquests nivells dins d’uns límits per tal que no esdevinguin factor de risc de malalties futures, tant en la dona gestant com en el futur nadó.

Pauson-Khand Adducts of N-Boc-propargylamine: A New Approach to 4,5-Disubstituted Cyclopentenones

A new approach to the synthesis of 4,5-disubstituted cyclopentenones is described. The strategy is based on the Pauson-Khand (PK) reaction of norbornadiene and N-Boc-propargylamine as alkyne with a masked leaving group, which can be eliminated at will. This approach to the synthesis of 4,5-disubstituted cyclopentenones overcomes the problem of using the alkylation to introduce the alpha-side-chain. As an example, prostane 13-epi-12-oxo-phytodienoic acid (13-epi-12-oxo-PDA) methyl ester was synthesized.

Els agressors domèstics tenen un desequilibri hormonal

Un estudi de la Universitat de València amb homes condemnats per violència de gènere permet detectar anomalies en la producció de testosterona i cortisol

Fetal testosterone (2D:4D) as predictor of cognitive reflection

The Cognitive Reflection Test (CRT) is a test introduced by S. Frederick (2005) Cognitive reflection and decision making, J Econ Perspect 19(4): 25-42. The task is designed to measure the tendency to override an intuitive response that is incorrect and to engage in further reflection that leads to the correct response. The consistent sex differences in CRT performance may suggest a role for gonadal hormones, particularly testosterone. A now widely studied putative marker for fetal testosterone is the second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D:4D). This paper tests to what extent 2D:4D, as a proxy for prenatal exposure to testosterone, can predict CRT scores in a sample of 623 students. After controlling for sex, we observe that a lower 2D:4D (reflecting a higher exposure to testosterone) is significantly associated with a higher number of correct answers. The result holds for both hands? 2D:4Ds. In addition, the effect appears to be sharper for females than for males. We also control for patience and math proficiency, which are significantly related to performance in the CRT. But the effect of 2D:4D on performance in CRT is not reduced with these controls, implying that these variables are not mediating the relationship between digit ratio and CRT.

Modulation in Wistar rats of blood corticosterone compartmentation by sex and prior exposure to a cafeteria diet

In the metabolic syndrome, glucocorticoid activity is increased, but circulating levels show little change. Most of blood glucocorticoids are bound to corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG), which liver expression and circulating levels are higher in females than in males. Since blood hormones are also bound to blood cells, and the size of this compartment is considerable for androgens and estrogens, we analyzed whether sex or eating a cafeteria diet altered the compartmentation of corticosterone in rat blood. The main corticosterone compartment in rat blood is that specifically bound to plasma proteins, with smaller compartments bound to blood cells or free. Cafeteria diet increased the expression of liver CBG gene, binding plasma capacity and the proportion of blood cell-bound corticosterone. There were marked sex differences in blood corticosterone compartmentation in rats, which were unrelated to testosterone. The use of a monoclonal antibody ELISA and a polyclonal Western blot for plasma CBG compared with both specific plasma binding of corticosterone and CBG gene expression suggested the existence of different forms of CBG, with varying affinities for corticosterone in males and females, since ELISA data showed higher plasma CBG for males, but binding and Western blot analyses (plus liver gene expression) and higher physiological effectiveness for females. Good cross- reactivity to the antigen for polyclonal CBG antibody suggests that in all cases we were measuring CBG.The different immunoreactivity and binding affinity may help explain the marked sex-related differences in plasma hormone binding as sex-linked different proportions of CBG forms.

Structural Insight into the Mode of Action of a Direct Inhibitor of Coregulator Binding to the Thyroid Hormone Receptor.

The development of nuclear hormone receptor antagonists that directly inhibit the association of the receptor with its essential coactivators would allow useful manipulation of nuclear hormone receptor signaling. We previously identified 3-(dibutylamino)-1-(4-hexylphenyl)-propan-1-one (DHPPA), an aromatic β-amino ketone that inhibits coactivator recruitment to thyroid hormone receptor β (TRβ), in a high-throughput screen. Initial evidence suggested that the aromatic β-enone 1-(4-hexylphenyl)-prop-2-en-1-one (HPPE), which alkylates a specific cysteine residue on the TRβ surface, is liberated from DHPPA. Nevertheless, aspects of the mechanism and specificity of action of DHPPA remained unclear. Here, we report an x-ray structure of TRβ with the inhibitor HPPE at 2.3-Å resolution. Unreacted HPPE is located at the interface that normally mediates binding between TRβ and its coactivator. Several lines of evidence, including experiments with TRβ mutants and mass spectroscopic analysis, showed that HPPE specifically alkylates cysteine residue 298 of TRβ, which is located near the activation function-2 pocket. We propose that this covalent adduct formation proceeds through a two-step mechanism: 1) β-elimination to form HPPE; and 2) a covalent bond slowly forms between HPPE and TRβ. DHPPA represents a novel class of potent TRβ antagonist, and its crystal structure suggests new ways to design antagonists that target the assembly of nuclear hormone receptor gene-regulatory complexes and block transcription.

Pneumococcal penumonia presenting with septic shock: host-ant pathogen-related factors and outcomes

BACKGROUND: Host- and pathogen-related factors associated with septic shock in pneumococcal pneumonia are not well defined. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for septic shock and to ascertain patient outcomes. Serotypes, genotypes and antibiotic resistance of isolated strains were also analysed. METHODS: Observational analysis of a prospective cohort of non-severely immunosuppressed hospitalised adults with pneumococcal pneumonia. Septic shock was defined as a systolic blood pressure of <90 mm Hg and peripheral hypoperfusion with the need for vasopressors for >4 h after fluid replacement. RESULTS: 1041 patients with pneumococcal pneumonia diagnosed by Gram stain and culture of appropriate samples and/or urine antigen test were documented, of whom 114 (10.9%) had septic shock at admission. After adjustment, independent risk factors for shock were current tobacco smoking (OR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.02 to 4.34; p = 0.044), chronic corticosteroid treatment (OR, 4.45; 95% CI, 1.75 to 11.32; p = 0.002) and serotype 3 (OR, 2.24; 95% CI, 1.12 to 4.475; p = 0.022). No significant differences were found in genotypes and rates of antibiotic resistance. Compared with the remaining patients, patients with septic shock required mechanical ventilation more frequently (37% vs 4%; p<0.001) and had longer length of stay (11 vs 8 days; p<0.001). The early (10% vs 1%; p<0.001) and overall case fatality rates (25% vs 5%; p<0.001) were higher in patients with shock. CONCLUSIONS: Septic shock is a frequent complication of pneumococcal pneumonia and causes high morbidity and mortality. Current tobacco smoking, chronic corticosteroid treatment and infection caused by serotype 3 are independent risk factors for this complication.

Pauson-Khand Adducts of N-Boc-propargylamine: A New Approach to 4,5-Disubstituted Cyclopentenones

A new approach to the synthesis of 4,5-disubstituted cyclopentenones is described. The strategy is based on the Pauson-Khand (PK) reaction of norbornadiene and N-Boc-propargylamine as alkyne with a masked leaving group, which can be eliminated at will. This approach to the synthesis of 4,5-disubstituted cyclopentenones overcomes the problem of using the alkylation to introduce the alpha-side-chain. As an example, prostane 13-epi-12-oxo-phytodienoic acid (13-epi-12-oxo-PDA) methyl ester was synthesized.

Pauson-Khand Adducts of N-Boc-propargylamine: A New Approach to 4,5-Disubstituted Cyclopentenones

A new approach to the synthesis of 4,5-disubstituted cyclopentenones is described. The strategy is based on the Pauson-Khand (PK) reaction of norbornadiene and N-Boc-propargylamine as alkyne with a masked leaving group, which can be eliminated at will. This approach to the synthesis of 4,5-disubstituted cyclopentenones overcomes the problem of using the alkylation to introduce the alpha-side-chain. As an example, prostane 13-epi-12-oxo-phytodienoic acid (13-epi-12-oxo-PDA) methyl ester was synthesized.

Evolución de distintos marcadores del remodelado óseo en pacientes hiperparatiroideos sometidos a exéresis quirúrgica de la glándula paratiroides

El exceso de paratirina (PTH) en el hiperparatiroidismo primario (HPTP) provoca un aumento del remodelado óseo con pérdida de densidad mineral en el hueso. El presente estudio pretende evaluar la evoluctón de distintos Marcadores del remodelado óseo (MRO): fosfatasa alcalina (FA) y osteocalcina...

Seguimiento de marcadores óseos en pacientes con hiperparatiroidismo primario sometidos a paratiroidectomía

La paratirina actúa sobre el hueso, aumentando su resorción y movilizando iones calcio. En pacientes con hiperparatiroidismo primario (HPTP) se produce un aumento excesivo de la resorción del hueso con pérdida de la densidad mineral ósea. Por ello, para un control evolutivo más exhaustivo del paciente paratiroidectomizado puede hacerse uso, además de la medición de las concentraciones de paratirina y calcio (II), de marcadores óseos como: osteocalcina (OC), C-telopéptido isomerizado del colágeno de tipo I (CTx), fosfatasa alcalina (ALP), el propéptido aminoterminal del colágeno de tipo I {P1NP), entre otros.

Asociación de polimorfismos del gen del receptor de la vitamina D (VDR) con el hiperparatiroidismo

El hiperparatiroidismo (HPT) se caracteriza por el aumento de la secreción de la paratirina (PTH) y se manifiesta por la descalcificación ósea e hipercalcemia. Aunque se desconocen la mayoría de los procesos implicados en la patogenia de esta lesión, diversos autores han descrito una asociación entre los polimorfismos del gen VDR con la presencia de esta enfermedad. El objetivo de este trabajo es comprobar si los polimorfismos del gen VDR se asocian a la presencia de HPT.

Neuroendocrinología y conducta (I)

En este artículo se proporciona una revisión exhaustiva (en dos partes) de la investigación realizada en los 70 sobre andrógenos y conducta agresiva, tanto en animales como en humanos (1ª parte). Se propone que se adopte el modelo de la "Psicopatología de la Desinhibición" de Gorestein y Newman (1980) para el estudio de la personalidad agresiva y desinhibida caracterizada por la impulsividad y búsqueda de sensaciones novedosas entre la que es prototípica la psicopatía. Este modelo permite incluir la hipótesis aminérgica del rasgo de personalidad denominado "Búsqueda de sensaciones" que postula que los individuos desinhibidos tienen niveles bajos en la actividad MAO plaquetar, enzima que es inhibido por los estrogenos y andrógenos (2ªparte)

Neuroendocrinología y conducta (II)

En este artículo se proporciona una revisión exhaustiva (en dos partes) de la investigación realizada en los 70 sobre andrógenos y conducta agresiva, tanto en animales como en humanos (1ª parte). Se propone que se adopte el modelo de la "Psicopatología de la Desinhibición" de Gorestein y Newman (1980) para el estudio de la personalidad agresiva y desinhibida caracterizada por la impulsividad y búsqueda de sensaciones novedosas entre la que es prototípica la psicopatía. Este modelo permite incluir la hipótesis aminérgica del rasgo de personalidad denominado "Búsqueda de sensaciones" que postula que los individuos desinhibidos tienen niveles bajos en la actividad MAO plaquetar, enzima que es inhibido por los estrogenos y andrógenos (2ªparte).

L'oxitocina estimula l'aprenetatge en nens autistes

Científics nord-americans creuen que aquesta hormona podria utilitzar-se durant les sessions de teràpia cognitiva per millorar-ne els resultats