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Background and aim: General population awareness about cardiovascular risk factors is usually low. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the vascular aging of subjects aware and not aware to be hypertensive, hypercholesterolemic, hypertriglyceridemic or diabetics in a general population sample. Methods and results: We interviewed 1652 subjects without atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (M: 46.6%, F: 53.4%) about their awareness of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia or type 2 diabetes. Then we compared the augmentation index and pulse wave velocity of subjects aware and not aware of the investigated cardiovascular risk factors. 1049 participants declared not to be hypertensive, while 32 were not sure. Among them, respectively, 23.5% and 50% were hypertensive. Subjects not aware of their hypertension had significantly higher aortic blood pressure than aware ones (p < 0.001). 841 participants declared not to be hypercholesterolemic, while 60 were not sure. Among them, respectively, 18.1% and 40% were hypercholesterolemic. Subjects not aware of their hypercholesterolemia had significantly higher augmentation index than the aware ones (p < 0.05). 1226 participants declared not to be hypertriglyceridemic, while 200 were not sure. Among them, respectively, 19.2% and 44% were hypertriglyceridemic. Subjects not aware of their hypertriglyceridemia had significantly higher TG levels aware ones (p < 0.05), although this seemed to not related to increased arterial stiffness. 1472 participants declared not to be diabetic, while 20 were not sure. Among them, respectively, 2.0% and 25.0% were diabetics. Subjects not aware of their diabetes had significantly higher augmentation index than the aware ones (p < 0.05). Conclusions: In conclusion, the lack of awareness of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia is relatively frequent in the general population and is associated to significantly higher arterial stiffness.

Particulate matter (PM) and soot emissions from aviation are a major source of pollution. Reference soot is needed for calibration of optical instruments used for measurements of non-volatile PM (nvPM) from jet engines with average mobility, d ¯ m , and primary particle, d ¯ p , diameters less than 70 and 20 nm , respectively, mass mobility exponent ( D f m ) of 2.5 ± 0.15 , elemental to total carbon ratio (EC/TC) larger than 0.8, and mass absorption cross section (MAC) of 7.46 ± 0.27 m 2 / g at 532 nm . Such particles are difficult to make with gas-fueled soot generators using laminar flames with high temperature particle residence times quite different from those of jet engine combustors. Here, a flame spray pyrolysis (FSP) burner is used to generate soot agglomerates from turbulent flames made by spraying liquid jet fuel. The d ¯ m of FSP-made soot agglomerates is modified from less than 13 to more than 91 nm by changing common process parameters while agglomerates maintain EC/TC > 0.8. The FSP-made soot agglomerates with D f m ~ 2.52 ± 0.2 have effective densities similar to emissions from turbofan and turboshaft engines and M A C = 8.23 and 5.21 ( m 2 / g ) at 532 and 870 nm , respectively, in excellent agreement with recent measurements of nvPM emissions from jet engine turbines.

Objective: To determine whether angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition by perindopril can reduce cardiac transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) and therefore control collagen accumulation in an animal model with the metabolic syndrome such as the obese Zucker rat (OZR). Animals: Male OZR (group 1, n = 10); OZR treated with perindopril (group 2, n = 10); and lean Zucker rats (group 3, n = 10). Methods: During six months, group 2 received 3 mg/kg/day of perindopril orally and group 1 and group 3 were given a vehicle. Hearts were processed for pathology studies including immunohistochemical analysis with antibodies to PAI-1, TGFβ1, collagen type I, and collagen type III. Results: Group 2 had lower blood pressure (126.7 (2) v 148.6 (2.7) mm Hg, p < 0.01) than untreated OZR and had decreased cardiac PAI-1 (3.6 (0.4) v 13.5 (1.7)% of positive area/field, p < 0.01), TGFβ1 in myocytes (0.13 (0.1) v 9.14 (4.7)%/area, p < 0.01) and in interstitium (19.8 (6.8) v 178.9 (27.4) positive cells/area, p < 0.01), collagen I (3 (0.8) v 13.3 (1)%/area, p < 0.01), collagen III (5 (0.6) v 9.5 (0.9)%/area, p < 0.01), and collagen I to collagen III ratio (0.59 (0.13) v 1.40 (0.15) p < 0.01) compared with untreated OZR. Conclusion: These results suggest that perindopril reduces cardiac PAI-1 and TGFβ1 and ameliorates cardiac fibrosis in a rat model with multiple cardiovascular risk factors.

To evaluate the effects of 1-year treatment with orlistat plus L-carnitine compared to orlistat alone on body weight, glycemic and lipid control, and inflammatory parameters in obese type 2 diabetic patients. Two hundred and fifty-eight patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) [glycated hemoglobin (HbA(1c)) > 8.0%] in therapy with different oral hypoglycemic agents or insulin were enrolled in this study and randomized to take orlistat 120 mg three times a day plus L-carnitine 2 g one time a day or orlistat 120 mg three times a day. We evaluated the following parameters at baseline and after 3, 6, 9, and 12 months: body weight, body mass index (BMI), glycated hemoglobin (HbA(1c) ), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), postprandial plasma glucose (PPG), fasting plasma insulin (FPI), homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (Tg), adiponectin (ADN), leptin, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), vaspin, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP). We observed a better decrease in body weight, glycemic profile, HOMA-IR, LDL-C, and ADN and a faster improvement in FPI, TC, Tg, leptin, TNF-α, Hs-CRP with orlistat plus L-carnitine compared to orlistat alone. We also recorded an improvement in vaspin with orlistat plus l-carnitine not reached with orlistat alone. Orlistat plus L-carnitine gave a better improvement in body weight, glycemic and lipid profile compared to orlistat alone; furthermore, a faster and better improvement in inflammatory parameters was observed with orlistat plus L-carnitine compared to orlistat alone.

WHAT IS KNOWN: The increased risk of cardiovascular events in diabetic patients has been related to numerous metabolic and haemoreological factors. Some of these factors appear to be particularly evident during the post-prandial phases and to be related to peak plasma glucose level. AIM: To compare the effect of addition of pioglitazone and acarbose to sulphonylureas and metformin therapy on metabolic parameters and on markers of endothelial dysfunction and vascular inflammation in type 2 diabetic patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled 473 caucasian type 2 diabetic patients. All patients underwent measurements of height and body weight, body mass index (BMI), glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) , fasting plasma glucose (FPG), post-prandial plasma glucose (PPG), fasting plasma insulin (FPI), post-prandial plasma insulin (PPI), homeostasis model assessment (HOMA index), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (Tg), sICAM-1, IL-6, high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hsCRP), sVCAM-1, sE-selectin and tumour necrosis factor (TNF-α). Assessments were made at start of titration, after 3 months [before a first oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)], after 6 months and at the study end (before a second OGTT). RESULTS: Two-hundred and seventy four patients completed the study: 138 were randomized to double-blind treatment with pioglitazone and 136 with acarbose. Significant BMI and weight increase were observed after full treatment in the pioglitazone group relative to the acarbose group. A decrease in glycated haemoglobin was observed after the titration period in the pioglitazone group compared to both baseline value and the acarbose group. A decrease in glycated haemoglobin was also obtained after full treatment in the pioglitazone group when compared to the end of titration period and to the acarbose group. Significant decrease in FPG was obtained in the pioglitazone group after full treatment compared to the end of titration period. Post-prandial plasma glucose decrease was observed in acarbose group compared to the baseline value and to the end of titration period. Fasting plasma insulin decreased in the pioglitazone group after both the titration period and the full treatment period compared to both the baseline value and the acarbose group. The HOMA index decreased significantly after the full treatment in pioglitazone group compared to the end of titration period and to the acarbose group. Interleukin-6 and tumour necrosis factor-α decreased after full treatment in the pioglitazone group relative to the end of titration period. Significant hsCRP decrease was obtained after the titration period when compared to the baseline value in the pioglitazone group. High-sensitivity C reactive protein decreased in the pioglitazone group after full treatment compared to the end of titration period and to the acarbose group. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: Pioglitazone reduces the inflammatory response to a glucose challenge more than acarbose in type 2 diabetic patients, already treated with maximal doses of sulphonylureas and metformin.

The aim of the study was to compare the effects of the addition of sitagliptin or metformin to pioglitazone monotherapy in poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus patients on body weight, glycemic control, beta-cell function, insulin resistance, and inflammatory state parameters. One hundred fifty-one patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus (glycated hemoglobin [HbA(1c)] >7.5%) in therapy with pioglitazone 30 mg/d were enrolled in this study. We randomized patients to take pioglitazone 30 mg plus sitagliptin 100 mg once a day, or pioglitazone 15 mg plus metformin 850 mg twice a day. We evaluated at baseline and after 3, 6, 9, and 12 months these parameters: body weight, body mass index, HbA(1c), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), postprandial plasma glucose (PPG), fasting plasma insulin (FPI), homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), homeostasis model assessment beta-cell function index, fasting plasma proinsulin (Pr), Pr/FPI ratio, adiponectin, resistin (R), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. A decrease of body weight and body mass index was observed with metformin, but not with sitagliptin, at the end of the study. We observed a comparable significant decrease of HbA(1c), FPG, and PPG and a significant increase of homeostasis model assessment beta-cell function index compared with baseline in both groups without any significant differences between the 2 groups. Fasting plasma insulin, fasting plasma Pr, Pr/FPI ratio, and HOMA-IR values were decreased in both groups even if the values obtained with metformin were significantly lower than the values obtained with sitagliptin. There were no significant variations of ADN, R, or TNF-alpha with sitagliptin, whereas a significant increase of ADN and a significant decrease of R and TNF-alpha values were recorded with metformin. A significant decrease of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein value was obtained in both groups without any significant differences between the 2 groups. There was a significant correlation between HOMA-IR decrease and ADN increase, and between HOMA-IR decrease and R and TNF-alpha decrease in pioglitazone plus metformin group after the treatment. The addition of both sitagliptin or metformin to pioglitazone gave an improvement of HbA(1c), FPG, and PPG; but metformin led also to a decrease of body weight and to a faster and better improvement of insulin resistance and inflammatory state parameters, even if sitagliptin produced a better protection of beta-cell function.

In the framework of the Phase 2 of the NEMO neutrino telescope project, a tower with 32 optical modules is being operated since march 2013. A new scalable Trigger and Data Acquisition System (TriDAS) has been developed and extensively tested with the data from this tower. Adopting the all-data-to-shore concept, the NEMO TriDAS is optimized to deal with a continuous data-stream from off-shore to on-shore with a large bandwidth. The TriDAS consists of four computing layers: (i) data aggregation of isochronal hits from all optical modules; (ii) data filtering by means of concurrent trigger algorithms; (iii) composition of the filtered events into post-trigger files; (iv) persistent data storage. The TriDAS implementation is reported together with a review of dedicated on-line monitoring tools.

Intestinal microsporidiosis by Enterocytozoon bieneusi is an increasingly recognized infection in AIDS patients. We report eight cases of microsporidiosis. All patients were severely immunodepressed. Clinical features were highly variable. Patients were followed up for a mean period of 7.8 months. All patients had persistent infection during the follow-up and spore excretion remained constant. Two patients became asymptomatic during the follow-up. None of the patients presented clinical and echographic signs of biliary involvement. Treatment with albendazole, metronidazole or paromomycin failed to produce a durable clinical response or to eradicate the organism. Cases were identified by stool examination and additionally investigated with light and electron microscopy. It was found that light microscopy was a sensitive method, while electron microscopy was less sensitive but allowed the definition of the infecting species. The modified trichrome stain was a satisfactory method for diagnosis on fecal smears. The calcofluor stain and the combination of DAPI with calcofluor was a rapid and simple staining method for screening.

To quantify how much exenatide added to metformin improves β-cell function, and to evaluate the impact on glycaemic control, insulin resistance and inflammation compared with metformin alone.A total of 174 patients with Type 2 diabetes with poor glycaemic control were instructed to take metformin for 8 ± 2 months, then they were randomly assigned to exenatide (5 μg twice a day for the first 4 weeks and forced titration to 10 μg twice a day thereafter) or placebo for 12 months. At 12 months we evaluated anthropometric measurements, glycaemic control, insulin resistance and β-cell function variables, glucagon, adiponectin, high sensitivity-C reactive protein and tumour necrosis factor-α. Before and after 12 months, patients underwent a combined euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic and hyperglycaemic clamp, with subsequent arginine stimulation.Exenatide + metformin gave a greater decrease in body weight, glycaemic control, fasting plasma proinsulin and insulin and their ratio, homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and glucagon values and a greater increase in C-peptide levels, homeostasis model assessment β-cell function index (HOMA-β) and adiponectin compared with placebo + metformin. Exenatide + metformin decreased waist and hip circumference, and reduced concentrations of high sensitivity-C reactive protein and tumour necrosis factor-α. Exenatide + metformin gave a greater increase in M value (+34%), and disposition index (+55%) compared with placebo + metformin; first (+21%) and second phase (+34%) C-peptide response to glucose and C-peptide response to arginine (+25%) were also improved by exenatide + metformin treatment, but not by placebo + metformin.Exenatide is effective not only on glycaemic control, but also in protecting β-cells and in reducing inflammation.

none 104 The selection of the photomultiplier plays a crucial role in the R&D activity related to a large-scale underwater neutrino telescope. This paper illustrates the main procedures and facilities used to characterize the performances of 72 large area photomultipliers, Hamamatsu model R7081 sel. The voltage to achieve a gain of 5×107, dark count rate and single photoelectron time and charge properties of the overall response were measured with a properly attenuated 410 nm pulsed laser. A dedicated study of the spurious pulses was also performed. The results prove that the photomultipliers comply with the general requirements imposed by the project. ISSN 0168-9002 doi:10.1016/j.nima.2009.12.040 none S. AIELLO; A. ALOISIO; F. AMELI; I.AMORE; M. ANGHINOLFI; A. ANZALONE; G. BARBARINO; E. BARBARITO; M.BATTAGLIERI; M.BAZZOTTI; R. BELLOTTI; A. BERSANI; N. BEVERINI; S. BIAGI; M. BONORI; B. BOUHDAEF; M. BRESCIA; G. CACOPARDO; C. CALÌ; A. CAPONE; L. CAPONETTO; G. CARMINATI; B. CASSANO; E. CASTORINA; A. CERES; T. CHIARUSI; M. CIRCELLA; R. COCIMANO; R. CONIGLIONE; M. CORDELLI; M. COSTA; A. DAMICO; C. DAMATO; V. DAMATO; G. DE BONIS; G. DE ROSA; G. DE RUVO; R. DE VITA; C. DISTEFANO; E. FALCHINI; V. FLAMINIO; K. FRATINI; GABRIELLI A; S. GALEOTTI; E. GANDOLFI; G. GIACOMELLI; F. GIORGI; G. GIOVANETTI; A. GRIMALDI; A. GRMEK; R. HABEL; E. LEONORA; A. LONARDO; G. LONGO; D. LO PRESTI; F. LUCARELLI; L. MACCIONE; A. MARGIOTTA; A. MARTINI; R. MASULLO; F. MAUGERI; R. MEGNA; E. MIGNECO; S. MINUTOLI; M. MONGELLI; T. MONTARULI; M. MORGANTI; P. MUSICO; M. MUSUMECI; C.A. NICOLAU; A. ORLANDO; M. OSIPENKO; G. OSTERIA; R. PAPALEO; V. PAPPALARDO; C. PETTA; P. PIATTELLI; D. PIOMBO; G. RAIA; N. RANDAZZO; S. REITO; G. RICCO; G. RICCOBENE; M. RIPANI; A. ROVELLI; M. RUPPI; G.V. RUSSO; S. RUSSO; P. SAPIENZA; M. SEDITA; E. SHIROKOV; F. SIMEONE; V. SIPALA; C. SOLLIMA; F. SPEZIALE; M. SPURIO; M. TAIUTI; G. TERRENI; L. TRASATTI; S. URSO; V. VALENTE; M. VECCHI; P. VICINI; R. WISCHNEWSKI S. AIELLO; A. ALOISIO; F. AMELI; I.AMORE; M. ANGHINOLFI; A. ANZALONE; G. BARBARINO; E. BARBARITO; M.BATTAGLIERI; M.BAZZOTTI; R. BELLOTTI; A. BERSANI; N. BEVERINI; S. BIAGI; M. BONORI; B. BOUHDAEF; M. BRESCIA; G. CACOPARDO; C. CALÌ; A. CAPONE; L. CAPONETTO; G. CARMINATI; B. CASSANO; E. CASTORINA; A. CERES; T. CHIARUSI; M. CIRCELLA; R. COCIMANO; R. CONIGLIONE; M. CORDELLI; M. COSTA; A. DAMICO; C. DAMATO; V. DAMATO; G. DE BONIS; G. DE ROSA; G. DE RUVO; R. DE VITA; C. DISTEFANO; E. FALCHINI; V. FLAMINIO; K. FRATINI; GABRIELLI A; S. GALEOTTI; E. GANDOLFI; G. GIACOMELLI; F. GIORGI; G. GIOVANETTI; A. GRIMALDI; A. GRMEK; R. HABEL; E. LEONORA; A. LONARDO; G. LONGO; D. LO PRESTI; F. LUCARELLI; L. MACCIONE; A. MARGIOTTA; A. MARTINI; R. MASULLO; F. MAUGERI; R. MEGNA; E. MIGNECO; S. MINUTOLI; M. MONGELLI; T. MONTARULI; M. MORGANTI; P. MUSICO; M. MUSUMECI; C.A. NICOLAU; A. ORLANDO; M. OSIPENKO; G. OSTERIA; R. PAPALEO; V. PAPPALARDO; C. PETTA; P. PIATTELLI; D. PIOMBO; G. RAIA; N. RANDAZZO; S. REITO; G. RICCO; G. RICCOBENE; M. RIPANI; A. ROVELLI; M. RUPPI; G.V. RUSSO; S. RUSSO; P. SAPIENZA; M. SEDITA; E. SHIROKOV; F. SIMEONE; V. SIPALA; C. SOLLIMA; F. SPEZIALE; M. SPURIO; M. TAIUTI; G. TERRENI; L. TRASATTI; S. URSO; V. VALENTE; M. VECCHI; P. VICINI; R. WISCHNEWSKI

Current approaches to pharmacotherapy of type 2 diabetes focus on two key aspects of hyperglycaemia - insulin secretory dysfunction and insulin resistance. Combining drugs that target both these defects via different mechanisms of action improves long-term glycaemic control and offers a number of additional benefits. A fixed-dose combination of pioglitazone and glimepiride in a single tablet is now available in the US (Duetact(TM)). Both pioglitazone and glimepiride are glucose-lowering agents with distinct mechanisms of action. Pioglitazone is a potent and selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma agonist that improves whole-body insulin sensitivity and augments hepatic glucose uptake. On the other hand, glimepiride acts by releasing insulin from pancreatic beta-cells and improves both first and second phases of insulin secretion. These two therapies have been shown to act synergistically to treat type 2 diabetes - glimepiride therapy achieves rapid reductions in glycated haemaglobin (HbA(1c)), whereas pioglitazone sustains glycaemic control in the longer term. Furthermore, pioglitazone and glimepiride affect a number of pleiotropic markers. In particular, pioglitazone has beneficial effects on the atherogenic diabetic dyslipidaemia that are greater than those seen with rosiglitazone and other oral glucose-lowering agents. This advantage is also seen when comparing pioglitazone and rosiglitazone in combination with glimepiride. In addition, pioglitazone also improves a number of atherosclerotic risk markers that appear to translate into clinical benefits on macrovascular outcomes. Glimepiride may also improve several atherosclerotic risk markers and lipoproteins. This review discusses the potential benefits of combining pioglitazone plus glimepiride on patient compliance, targeting the dual effects of insulin resistance and beta-cell dysfunction and affecting a number of metabolic and cardiovascular parameters.

Although controversial, chronic uric acid nephropathy is a tubulointerstitial disease capable of developing renal function loss. On the other hand, potassium citrate (KCi) administration has demonstrated to be effective in calcium as well as uric acid nephrolithiasis therapy. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible benefit of KCi treatment in the prevention or amelioration of renal interstitial damage in uric acid nephropathy. Two-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups: G1 hyperuricemic (HU), G2 hyperuricemic + KCi (HU+KCi), and G3 KCi. G1 and G2 were fed on oxonic acid (inhibitor of rat liver uricase), and a uric acid supplement, during 4 weeks. G2 and G3 were given 2% KCi in drinking water, and G1 regular tap water and standard rat chow. At the end of the study, renal tissue was processed for light and electron microscopy and immunostaining by alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA). Tubulointerstitial lesions and the amount of alpha-SMA immunostaining in renal tissue were evaluated by histomorphometric quantitation. Rats belonging to the hyperuricemic groups treated with KCi (G2) showed fewer tubulointerstitial lesions as follows: % tubular atrophy: 1.7 +/- 0.3 versus 7.2 +/- 1.2, p0.05; inflammatory cells infiltrate (number of cells/area): 0.6 +/- 0.1 versus 2.4 +/- 0.2, p0.01; % interstitial fibrosis (cortex): 3.3 +/- 0.3 versus 9.3 +/- 0.5, p0.05; % interstitial fibrosis (medulla): 5.2 +/- 0.3 versus 21.9 +/- 1.2, p0.01, lower albuminuria (32.8 +/- 11.2 mg/day versus 128.5 +/- 10.4, p0.01), higher creatinine clearance ( 1.36 +/- 0.02 ml/min versus 0.74 +/- 0.01, p0.01 ) and less percentage of alpha-SMA in renal tissue (1.8 +/- 0.1 versus 10.5 +/- 1.4, p0.05), when compared with the hyperuricemic group not treated with KCi (G1). These data suggest that KCi administration could provide a substantial benefit in the regard to tubulointerstitial lesion and progressive renal damage.

The authors describe a novel pathogenic G5540A transition in the mitochondrial transfer RNA (tRNA)Trp gene of a sporadic encephalomyopathy characterized by spinocerebellar ataxia. Clinical features also included neurosensorial deafness, peripheral neuropathy, and dementia. Biochemistry revealed a severe reduction of cytochrome c oxidase (COX) activity. Single-fiber PCR demonstrated higher levels of mutant genomes in COX-negative ragged red fibers than in normal fibers. These findings confirm that COX is more susceptible than other respiratory chain complexes to mutations in the mitochondrial tRNATrp gene.

Recently, herpes-virus like DNA sequences defining a new herpes virus termed human herpes virus 8 (HHV8), were detected in Kaposi's sarcoma of AIDS and non-AIDS patients. We describe the successful detection of HHV8 DNA in archival skin biopsies of the various forms of Kaposi's sarcoma. DNA was extracted from archival skin biopsies of Kaposi's sarcoma, other mesenchymal skin tumors and various inflammatory skin lesion of HIV seropositive and negative patients. The extracted DNA was analyzed for the presence of HHV8 DNA using a nested PCR assay. All samples were tested for the presence of appropriate DNA using a internal cellular control PCR-reaction. A total of 23 Kaposi's sarcoma were analyzed, including 12 of the endemic type, 9 HIV-associated and 2 transplant related. HHV8 DNA was detected by nested PCR in all forms of Kaposi's sarcoma. In contrast, no HHV8 DNA could be found in 17 mesenchymal, especially vascular skin tumors or in 7 biopsies with unspecific inflammatory skin lesions of HIV seropositive and negative patients. HHV8 DNA was present in all forms of Kaposi's sarcoma tested but not in other mesenchymal tumors or unspecific inflammatory lesions of the skin. This data support the idea of a strong association of HHV8 and Kaposi's sarcoma.

elderly and patients with metabolic syndrome. HCT was not modified by physical training. FBG decreased only in elderly patients after the whole training period. hsCRP improved in women and patients with metabolic syndrome, only. Conclusion: The physical training modulate the prothrombotic and microinflammatory patterns of overweight hypertensive patients, depending on the sex and the condition of metabolic syndrome.

The distribution of alanine aminotransferase isozymes in several tissues from several species has been studied. In glycolytic tissues, such as skeletal and cardiac muscle, cytosolic alanine aminotransferase was the predominant form. In gluconeogenic tissues, such as liver and kidney, the concentration of the cytosolic alanine aminotransferase was much more variable; its presence, however, may be correlated with the presence of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in the same compartment. The particulate enzyme was found associated only with the matrix of the mitochondria. It was present only in those gluconeogenic tissues that can utilize alanine for glucose production, e.g. rat liver and pig liver and kidney; it was absent from rat kidney which cannot convert alanine to glucose. These observations, together with the kinetic parameters of the two isozymes, suggest that in vivo, mitochondrial alanine aminotransferase is involved in the conversion of alanine to pyruvate, while the cytosolic isoenzyme is mainly involved in the formation of alanine from pyruvate.

The distribution of alanine aminotransferase isozymes in several tissues from several species has been studied. In glycolytic tissues, such as skeletal and cardiac muscle, cytosolic alanine aminotransferase was the predominant form. In gluconeogenic tissues, such as liver and kidney, the concentration of the cytosolic alanine aminotransferase was much more variable; its presence, however, may be correlated with the presence of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in the same compartment. The particulate enzyme was found associated only with the matrix of the mitochondria. It was present only in those gluconeogenic tissues that can utilize alanine for glucose production, e.g. rat liver and pig liver and kidney; it was absent from rat kidney which cannot convert alanine to glucose. These observations, together with the kinetic parameters of the two isozymes, suggest that in vivo, mitochondrial alanine aminotransferase is involved in the conversion of alanine to pyruvate, while the cytosolic isoenzyme is mainly involved in the formation of alanine from pyruvate.