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“Background: Nephrolithiasis is more frequent and severe in obese patients from different western nations. This may be supported by higher calcium, urate, oxalate excretion in obese stone formers. Except these parameters, clinical characteristics of obese stone formers were not extensively explored. Aims: In the present paper we studied the relationship between obesity and its metabolic check details correlates and nephrolithiasis.

Materials and methods: We studied 478 Caucasian subjects having BMI bigger than = 25 kg/m(2). The presence of nephrolithiasis, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome were noted. They underwent measurements of anthropometry (BMI and waist circumference, body composition), serum variables (fasting glucose, serum lipids and serum enzymes) and Mediterranean

diet (MedDiet) nutritional questionnaire. Results: 45 (9.4%) participants were stone formers. Subjects with high serum concentrations of triglycerides ( bigger than = 150 mg/dl), fasting glucose ( bigger than 100 mg/dl) and AST ( bigger than 30 U/I in F or bigger than 40 U/I in M) were more frequent among stone formers than non-stone formers. Multinomial logistic regression confirmed that kidney stone production was associated with high fasting glucose (OR = 2.6, 95% CI 1.2-5.2, P = 0.011), AST (OR = 4.3, 95% CI 1.1-16.7, P = 0.033) and triglycerides (OR = 2.7, 95% CI 1.3-5.7, P = 0.01). MedDiet score was not different in stone formers and non-stone formers. However, stone formers had a lower selleck inhibitor consumption frequency of olive oil and nuts, and higher consumption frequency of wine compared with non-stone formers. Conclusions: Overweight and obese stone SBE-β-CD cost formers may have a defect in glucose metabolism and a potential liver damage. Some foods typical of Mediterranean diet may protect against nephrolithiasis.”
“Rationale The risk of developing active tuberculosis in persons with latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis

infection is substantially increased shortly after HIV-1 seroconversion. Immune responses in the lung are important to restrict the growth of M. tuberculosis to prevent the development of disease.\n\nObjectives: To investigate innate and adaptive immune responses to M. tuberculosis in bronchoalveolar lavage from HIV-1-infected persons without active tuberculosis.\n\nMethods: Peripheral blood was drawn and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) performed on healthy, HIV-1-uninfected (n = 21) and HIV-1-infected (n = 15) adults. Growth of M. tuberculosis was assessed in monocytes and alveolar macrophages. Cytokine expression by mycobacteria-specific CD4 and CD8 T cells was measured by intracellular cytokine staining or IFN-gamma ELISpot.\n\nMeasurements and Main Results: Mycobacterial growth in monocytes or alveolar macrophages from HIV-1-infected and -uninfected persons did not differ. Total CD4 T-cell frequencies in BAL were lower in HIV-1-infected than in HIV-1-uninfected persons (P < 0.001).