Different degrees of malnutrition and immunological alterations according to the aetiology of cirrhosis: a prospective and sequential study

Objectives

In this work we investigated how immunological dysfunction and malnutrition interact in alcoholic and viral aetiologies of cirrhosis.

Methods

To investigate the matter, 77 cirrhotic patients divided in three aetiologies [Alcohol, HCV and Alcohol + HCV) and 32 controls were prospectivelly and sequentially studied. Parameters of humoral immunity (Components 3 and 4 of seric complement and immunoglobulins A M, G and E) and of cellular immunity (total leukocytes and lymphocytes in peripheral blood, T lymphocytes subpopulations, CD4+ and CD8+, CD4+/CD8+ ratio and intradermic tests of delayed hypersensitivity), as well as nutrititional parameters: anthropometric measures, serum albumin and transferrin were evaluated.

Results

Multiple statistical comparisons showed that IgM was higher in HCV group; IgG was significantly elevated in both HCV and Alcohol + HCV, whereas for the Alcohol group, IgE was found at higher titles. The analysis of T- lymphocytes subpopulations showed no aetiologic differences, but intradermic tests of delayed hypersensitivity did show greater frequency of anergy in the Alcohol group. For anthropometric parameters, the Alcohol +HCV group displayed the lowest triceps skinfold whereas creatinine – height index evaluation was more preserved in the HCV group. Body mass index, arm muscle area and arm fat area showed that differently from alcohol group, the HCV group was similar to control.

Conclusion

Significant differences were found among the main aetiologies of cirrhosis concerning immunological alterations and nutritional status: better nutrition and worse immunology for HCV and vice-versa for alcohol.

     

Novel lanthanide salicylaldimine complexes with unusual coordination mode

The one-step metal promoted reaction between salicylaldehyde and 4-methyl-1,3-phenylenediamine in the presence of lanthanum(III) or gadolinium(III) nitrate yields new salicylaldimine complexes containing N,N′-bis(salicylidene)-4-methyl-1,3-phenylenediamine as a result of the [2 + 1] Schiff base condensation. The crystal structure of the gadolinium complex reveals a dinuclear species with four unionized ligands coordinating in the monodentate and bridging bidentate fashion, using exclusively the oxygens as donor atoms with the nitrogen atoms not being involved in coordination. The coordination number of nine is achieved by involving three bidentate nitrate counterions in the coordination sphere.     

Use of Repetitive Sequences for Molecular and Cytogenetic Characterization of Avena Species from Portugal

Genomic diversity of Portuguese accessions of Avena species—diploid A. strigosa and hexaploids A. sativa and A. sterilis—was evaluated through molecular and cytological analysis of 45S rDNA, and other repetitive sequences previously studied in cereal species—rye subtelomeric sequence (pSc200) and cereal centromeric sequence (CCS1). Additionally, retrotransposons and microsatellites targeting methodologies—IRAP (inter-retrotransposon amplified polymorphism) and REMAP (retrotransposon-microsatellite amplified polymorphism)—were performed. A very high homology was detected for ribosomal internal transcribed sequences (ITS1 and ITS2) between the species analyzed, although nucleolar organizing regions (NOR) fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis revealed distinct number of Nor loci between diploid and hexaploid species. Moreover, morphological diversity, evidenced by FISH signals with different sizes, was observed between distinct accessions within each species. pSc200 sequences were for the first time isolated from Avena species but proven to be highly similar in all genotypes analyzed. The use of primers designed for CCS1 unraveled a sequence homologous to the Ty3/gypsy retrotransposon Cereba, that was mapped to centromeric regions of diploid and hexaploid species, being however restricted to the more related A and D haplomes. Retrotransposon-based methodologies disclosed species- and accessions-specific bands essential for the accurate discrimination of all genotypes studied. Centromeric, IRAP and REMAP profiles therefore allowed accurate assessment of inter and intraspecific variability, demonstrating the potential of these molecular markers on future oat breeding programs.     

Use of the radiofrequency-intermodulation distortion technique to investigate intrinsic nonlinearity at the electrode-electrolyte interface

We report on investigations of nonlinear radiofrequency responses of electrolytes with Na(+) and Cl(-) ions placed within gold electrodes of a capacitor. The sample was part of a frequency-adjustable inductance-capacitance-resistance (LCR) parallel resonant circuit, and measurements were carried out using the two frequencies intermodulation distortion technique. We employed double layer model to analyze the observed nonlinearities and their dependence on ionic concentration. Electrode-electrolyte interface polarization was found to be a predominant cause of this intrinsic nonlinearity and to be dependent on electrolytic ion concentration. We also measured and calculated coefficients of resistive and capacitive components of the observed nonlinearity.     

Gauging food and nutritional care quality in hospitals

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Food and nutritional care quality must be assessed and scored, so as to improve health institution efficacy. This study aimed to detect and compare actions related to food and nutritional care quality in public and private hospitals. METHODS: Investigation of the Hospital Food and Nutrition Service (HFNS) of 37 hospitals by means of structured interviews assessing two quality control corpora, namely nutritional care quality (NCQ) and hospital food service quality (FSQ). HFNS was also evaluated with respect to human resources per hospital bed and per produced meal. RESULTS: Comparison between public and private institutions revealed that there was a statistically significant difference between the number of hospital beds per HFNS staff member (p = 0.02) and per dietitian (p < 0.01). The mean compliance with NCQ criteria in public and private institutions was 51.8% and 41.6%, respectively. The percentage of public and private health institutions in conformity with FSQ criteria was 42.4% and 49.1%, respectively. Most of the actions comprising each corpus, NCQ and FSQ, varied considerably between the two types of institution. NCQ was positively influenced by hospital type (general) and presence of a clinical dietitian. FSQ was affected by institution size: large and medium-sized hospitals were significantly better than small ones. CONCLUSIONS: Food and nutritional care in hospital is still incipient, and actions concerning both nutritional care and food service take place on an irregular basis. It is clear that the design of food and nutritional care in hospital indicators is mandatory, and that guidelines for the development of actions as well as qualification and assessment of nutritional care are urgent.     

Molecular Basis of Taste Sense: Involvement of GPCR Receptors

Taste perception is one of the senses crucial for many organisms. There are five basic tastes, i.e., sweet, bitter, salty, sour, and umami, and it is suggested that the taste of fat should be included in this list. This paper reviews the current state of knowledge about the involvement of G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) in taste sensing and intracellular signaling. GPCR receptors are focal point of interest for pharmaceutical industry. However, their ability to interact with a variety of taste substances makes these receptors interesting target for food and nutrient companies.     

The binding mode of progesterone to its receptor deduced from molecular dynamics simulations

An unambiguous understanding of the binding mode of human progesterone to its receptor still eludes experimental search. According to the X-ray structure of the ligand-binding domain, only one (O3) of the two keto groups at the ligand ends (O3 and O20) should play a role. This result is in conflict with chemical intuition and the results of site-directed mutagenesis experiments. Herein, we report classical molecular dynamics simulations that reveal the dynamic nature of the binding in solution, elucidate the reasons why X-ray studies failed to determine the role of O20, and clarify the effects of the mutations. The predictive power of the force field is ensured by the consistent introduction of a first-principles representation of the ligand.     

Linear polythioesters. XV. Products of interfacial polycondensation of 1,4-dimercapto-tetramethylbenzene with some aliphatic and aromatic acid dichlorides

New polythioesters by interfacial polycondensation of 1,4-dimercaptomethyl–tetramethylbenzene with oxalyl, succinyl, adipoyl, suberoyl, sebacoyl, and isomeric phthaloyl dichlorides were obtained. To define the optimal conditions for interfacial polycondensation, the influence of the following factors on yield and value of reduced viscosity were studied: type of organic phase, concentration of hydrogen chloride acceptor, the quantitative ratio of aqueous to organic phase, molar ratio of reagents rate of acid chloride addition, contribution of benzyltriethylammonium chloride as a catalyst, and the temperature of the reaction. Thorough studies were carried out only for polycondensation of the dithiol with adipoyl, sebacoyl, and isophthaloyl chlorides. The structure of polythioesters obtained under the model conditions was determined by elementary analysis and infrared spectra. Initial decomposition temperature, mass loss in percentage at the same temperature, maximum rate of decomposition, and mass loss percentage at 100–400°C were defined from the curves of thermogravimetric analysis. Chemical resistance of the polythioesters was determined by treatment with some organic solvents, mineral acids (concentrated and 10%) and sodium hydroxide (10% and 50%). The molecular weight was not measured because of the low solubility of the polythioesters.     

Consideration of Consulting Psychology/Organizational Educational Principles as they relate to the practice of industrial-organizational psychology and the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology's Education and Training Guidelines.

This article is written on behalf of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) to present its reactions to the "Principles for Education and Training at the Doctoral and Postdoctoral Level in Consulting Psychology/Organizational" (R. L. Lowman et al, Education and Training Committee, see record 2003-04049-003). An overview of the history and practice of industrial-organizational psychology is provided. The Consulting Principles are then compared with SIOP Education and Training Guidelines (SIOP Guidelines, 1985 and 1999), and recommendations are made for enhancements to the Consulting Principles. The primary recommendation is for the addition of a second tier of competencies focusing on the knowledge, skill, and abilities that underlie the types of work described in the Individual-, Group-, and Organizational-Level Competencies. As an alternative, the Consulting Principles could focus on consulting skills and refer to the appropriate APA divisions regarding specialty areas. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)