ABSTRACT Background and Aims: An association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has been previously suggested. This study aims at ...investigating this association and at identifying potential links between variables of the NAFLD spectrum and PDAC. Methods: A cross-sectional case-matched analytical and comparative study was carried out to analyze patients undergoing surgical resection of PDAC and compare them to a control group of individuals undergoing cholecystectomy at a public tertiary teaching hospital, matched by sex, age and BMI. Hepatic histopathological examinations were compared between cases and controls. Results: Of 56 individuals, 36 were male (64.3%) and the median age was 61.5 years old (interquartile range: 57.5 - 70). The participants’ median BMI was 24.3 kg/m2 (interquartile range: 22.1-26.2 kg/m2). Microvesicular steatosis (p=0.04), hepatocellular ballooning (p=0.02), fibrosis (p=0.0003) and steatohepatitis (p=0.03) were significantly more frequent in the group of cases. Odds ratios for hepatocellular ballooning (6.2; 95%CI: 1.2-31.8; p=0.03), fibrosis (9.3; 95%CI: 2.5-34.1; p=0.0008) and steatohepatitis (3.9; 95%CI: 1.1-14.3; p=0.04) were statistically significant in relation to the PDAC prevalence. Conclusions: Significant associations were identified between histopathological aspects of NAFLD (microvesicular steatosis, hepatocellular ballooning, fibrosis, and steatohepatitis) and PDAC.
RESUMO Histórico e objetivos: a associação entre a doença hepática gordurosa não alcoólica (DHGNA) e o adenocarcinoma ductal pancreático (ACDP) foi sugerida anteriormente. Este estudo visa investigar esta associação e identificar possíveis ligações entre as variáveis do espectro da DHGNA e o ACDP. Métodos: foi realizado estudo transversal caso-controle analítico e comparativo para analisar pacientes submetidos a ressecção cirúrgica de ACDP e compará-los a grupo controle de indivíduos submetidos a colecistectomia em hospital público terciário de ensino, pareados por sexo, idade e IMC. Os exames histopatológicos hepáticos foram comparados entre casos e controles. Resultados: dos 56 indivíduos, 36 eram do sexo masculino (64,3%) e a idade mediana era de 61,5 anos de idade (intervalo interquartil 57,5-70). A mediana do IMC dos participantes foi de 24,3 kg/m2 (intervalo interquartil 22,1 26,2). Esteatose microvesicular (p = 0,04), balonização hepatocelular (p = 0,02), fibrose (p = 0,0003) e esteato-hepatite (p = 0,03) foram significativamente mais frequentes no grupo de casos. As razões de chances para balonização hepatocelular (6,2; IC 95%: 1,2 - 31,8; p = 0,03), fibrose (9,3; IC 95%: 2,5 - 34,1; p = 0,0008) e esteato-hepatite (3,9; IC 95%: 1,1 - 14,3; p = 0,04) foram estatisticamente significativas em relação à prevalência de ACDP. Conclusões: houve associações significativas entre aspectos histopatológicos de DHGNA (esteatose microvesicular, balonização hepatocelular, fibrose e esteato-hepatite) e a ocorrência de ACDP.
Highlights • 38% of Native Hawaiian, 34% of Japanese, 33% of Filipino, 23% of Chinese and 19% of White inpatients had diagnosed diabetes. • 3% Native Hawaiian, 3% Japanese, 4% Filipino, 4% Chinese ...and 4% White inpatients had potentially undiagnosed diabetes. • Few potentially undiagnosed diabetes cases were found. Prospective methods are recommended. • Potentially undiagnosed diabetes was associated with a longer hospital stay and higher mortality. • Inpatient diabetes screening with HbA1c is suggested, which should be evaluated prospectively for improved outcomes.
ABSTRACT With a binary ice mixture of benzene (C6H6) and carbon dioxide (CO2) at 10 K under contamination-free ultrahigh vacuum conditions, the formation of benzene carboxylic acids in interstellar ...ice grains was studied. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to probe for the formation of new species during the chemical processing of the ice mixture and during the following temperature-programmed desorption. Newly formed benzene carboxylic acid species, i.e., benzoic acid, as well as meta- and para-benzene dicarboxylic acid, were assigned using newly emerging bands in the infrared spectrum; a reaction mechanism, along with rate constants, was proposed utilizing the kinetic fitting of the coupled differential equations.
We report the ability of hydrophobically modified polypeptoids (HMPs), which are amphiphilic pseudopeptidic macromolecules, to connect across lipid bilayers and thus form layered structures on ...liposomes. The HMPs are obtained by attaching hydrophobic decyl groups at random points along the polypeptoid backbone. Although native polypeptoids (with no hydrophobes) have no effect on liposomal structure, the HMPs remodel the unilamellar liposomes into structures with comparable diameters but with multiple concentric bilayers. The transition from single-bilayer to multiple-bilayer structures is revealed by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) and cryo-transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). The spacing between bilayers is found to be relatively uniform at ∼6.7 nm. We suggest that the amphiphilic nature of the HMPs explains the formation of multibilayered liposomes; i.e., the HMPs insert their hydrophobic tails into adjacent bilayers and thereby serve as the connective glue between bilayers. At higher HMP concentrations, the liposomes are entirely disrupted into much smaller micellelike structures through extensive hydrophobe insertion. Interestingly, these small structures can reattach to fresh unilamellar liposomes and self-assemble to form new two-bilayer liposomes. The two-bilayer liposomes in our study are reminiscent of two-bilayer organelles such as the nucleus in eukaryotic cells. The observations have significance in designing new nanoscale drug delivery carriers with multiple drugs on separate lipid bilayers and extending liposome circulation times with entirely biocompatible materials.
•Epidemiology of Trypanosoma evansi in horses.•Preservation of genetic resources in locally adapted equine breeds.•Diagnosis of Trypanosoma evansi by polymerase chain reaction and indirect ...immunofluorescence antibody test.•Factors associated with Trypanosoma evansi infection in horses.
Campeiro horse is a breed locally adapted to the Santa Catarina plateau region and its main characteristic is the gait, it is known as “Marchador das Araucárias.” It is a breed considered in danger of extinction, being fundamental the search for the preservation of this important genetic resource. Surra, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma evansi, is among the diseases that affect horses. However, there are no data on the prevalence of infection in Campeiro horses. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of T. evansi in Campeiro horses, correlate hematology and serum biochemistry, and identify possible risk factors. Blood samples were collected by venipuncture of 214 Campeiro horses, 50 males and 164 females, aged between 3 months and 27 years, from 16 properties located in the States of Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul, and Paraná. An epidemiological questionnaire was carried out with the owners to analyze the associated risk factors. The blood samples were submitted to polymerase chain reaction, immunofluorescence antibody test, complete blood count, and serum biochemistry. The prevalence was 14% of positive animals by polymerase chain reaction and 59% by immunofluorescence antibody test . There was an increase in hematocrit, and in the number of basophils, a decrease in plasmatic fibrinogen, and in the enzymatic activity of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and urea, and an increase in creatine phosphokinase and creatinine in positive animals, which is possibly unrelated to the infection. The data obtained through the epidemiological questionnaires showed no difference. Therefore, T. evansi is present in the South of Brazil, with a high prevalence in Campeiro horses.
IntroductionThere is growing social concern about the expanding socioeconomic and health disparities that have occurred in Japan in the past 3 decades. We investigated if Japanese geographic and ...socioeconomic disparities in life expectancy at birth (LE) have widened in this period.MethodsWe used data on the LE of municipalities calculated every 5 years between 1985 and 2005. The municipality is the smallest administrative unit, for which LE data are available. Sample sizes varied from 1963 to 3354 across years due to nationwide municipality mergers undertaken after 2000. We also gathered information on the unemployment rates and other socio-demographic characteristics of municipalities. We used the relative index of inequality (RII) of LE (which corresponds closely to the relative LE gap between the top vs bottom municipalities in terms of LE or socioeconomic status, accounting for the variations in population size across all municipalities).ResultsAmong men, in 1985, the LE gap was 4.2% when municipalities were ranked by LE and 1.6% when ranked by the unemployment rate (as ordered from the lowest to the highest). Among women, these gaps were 2.6% and 0.4%, respectively. These values changed only slightly over time, showing a tendency for a slight increase among men after 2000 and a decrease in women after 1995.ConclusionIn Japan, during the period 1985–2005 geographic and socioeconomic disparities in municipal LE were larger in men than women. However, the LE disparity has been relatively small and stable despite the increase in income inequality since the 1980s.
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