Reduced oxidative susceptibility of LDL from patients participating in an intensive atherosclerosis treatment program

The goal of this investigation was to determine whether participation in an atherosclerosis treatment program would reduce the oxidative susceptibility of LDL from patients with coronary artery disease. The treatment program included intensive exercise therapy, stress management, and consumption of a diet containing 10% fat. The size and antioxidant and lipid contents of LDL particles from 25 patients were analyzed at baseline and after 3 mo of therapy. The susceptibility of LDL to copper-mediated oxidation was measured by a conjugated diene assay and headspace gas chromatography (HSGC). Atherosclerosis treatment significantly reduced plasma total cholesterol and apolipoprotein B concentrations and the molar ratio of LDL cholesterol ester to apolipoprotein B (P < 0.01). The LDL content of alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene was increased (27% and 17%, respectively, P < 0.04) and the molar ratio of LDL cholesterol ester the sum of LDL alpha-tocopherol and LDL beta-carotene decreased from 159 at baseline to 122 at 3 mo (P < 0.01). The lag phase of LDL conjugated diene formation increased 24%, whereas the maximum rate of oxidation slowed 29% (P < 0.01). As assessed by HSGC, copper-catalyzed formation of volatile lipid oxidation products was reduced 15% (P < 0.007); the reduction in volatiles was correlated with an increase in the alpha-tocopherol content of LDL (r=-0.48, P < 0.01). The principal determinants of reduced LDL oxidative susceptibility were the particle contents of alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene. To our knowledge, this is the first report to document a reduction in LDL oxidation in coronary artery disease patients undergoing atherosclerosis-reversal therapy.     

Incidence of apoptotic bodies in membrana granulosa of the patients participating in an in vitro fertilization program

Vagal primary afferent neurons have their cell bodies located in the nodose (inferior) and jugular (superior) vagal ganglia and send terminals into the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) which lies in the dorsomedial medulla. The presence of glutamate (Glu)-containing neurons in the rat nodose ganglion was investigated using immunohistochemistry. Glu-immunoreactivity on nodose sections was found in neuronal perikarya and nerve fibers, but not in non-neuronal elements such as Schwann cells and satellite cells. Both immunoreactive and non-immunoreactive ganglion cells were observed. The immunoreactive ganglion cells amounted to about 60% of the nodose population. No specific intraganglionic localization was observed for the non-immunoreactive cells. Immunoreactive perikarya were slightly smaller than the non-immunoreactive ones, but no relationship was found between size and staining intensities of immunoreactive neurons. The present data indicate that immunodetectable Glu is present in a large population of vagal afferent neurons. They therefore add to a growing body of evidence suggesting that Glu may be the main neurotransmitter released by vagal afferent terminals within the nucleus tractus solitarii.     

Differences between African American and Caucasian men participating in a community-based prostate cancer screening program

Prostate cancer is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality in the male population, but public awareness of the cancer has been reported as minimal. We evaluated the effectiveness of an educational prostate cancer screening program on 944 men in a midwest urban community. Digital rectal examinations and PSA blood tests were provided at no charge to participants with a grant from the Michigan Department of Community Health. An educational intervention that stressed the importance of prostate cancer early detection and treatment was conducted before screenings. A brief questionnaire administered before and after the videotape and screenings, targeted both knowledge and attitudes concerning prostate cancer. Pre-test results revealed that African American men were significantly (t = 3.7, P = .00) less likely then white men to correctly identify early symptoms of prostate cancer and the basic components of a prostate checkup. Following program involvement, scores significantly improved in all areas and differences were no longer significant between the races. Racial differences were also found for screening preferences and modes of reaching men to participate in screening. African American men were twice as likely as white men to choose private appointments over mass screening (OR = 2.2, P = .00). Radio reached the most African Americans (25%) while newspaper reached the most Caucasians (34%). The decreased level of knowledge among African Americans regarding prostate etiology and clinical factors highlights the need for educational programs to target minority populations. The need for discretion also applies by providing minority-favored access with screening through private appointments.     

Doping test for racehorses in Japan]

The doping test method used in a horse race requires the accurate detection of a wide variety of drugs and metabolites as well as the rapidity in order to examine a large number of samples within a limited time. For this purpose, the routine method consists of a preliminary screening and a confirmatory test. In this paper, a historical review for the development of the doping test method in Japan is described. The metabolism and pharmacology of drugs in horses are also discussed.     

Developmental variation in lumbosacropelvic anatomy of thoroughbred racehorses

OBJECTIVE: To describe the incidence and types of gross osseous developmental variations and ages of physeal closure in the caudal portion of the thoracic and lumbosacral spine and the pelvis in a sample of Thoroughbred racehorses. ANIMALS: Thoroughbred racehorses (n = 36) that died or were euthanatized at California racetracks between October 1993 and July 1994. PROCEDURE: Lumbosacropelvic specimens were collected, and all soft tissues were removed. The osseous specimens were visually examined. RESULTS: Only 22 (61%) specimens had the expected number of 6 lumbar and 5 sacral vertebrae. Eight (22%) specimens had thoracolumbar transitional vertebrae, and 13 (36%) had sacrocaudal transitional vertebrae. Articular process asymmetries were present at 1 or more vertebral segments in 30 (83%) specimens. Intertransverse joints (2 to 4 pairs/specimen) were bilaterally distributed in the caudal portion of the lumbar spine and the lumbosacral joint in 31 (86%) specimens. Five (14%) specimens had asymmetric distribution of the intertransverse joints. Intertransverse joint ankylosis was found in 10 (28%) specimens. Lumbosacral vertebral body physeal closure occurred between 4.9 and 6.7 years of age; pelvic physeal closure occurred between 5.2 and 5.8 years of age. Iliac crest and ischial arch epiphyseal formation was evaluated, using a grading system, and fusion to the underlying bone occurred at 7.2 years and 5.4 years of age, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Numerous vertebral anatomic variations were commonly found in a sample of Thoroughbred racehorses. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Normal anatomic variations and ages of skeletal maturity need to be considered in clinical evaluation of the equine spine and pelvis for differentiation from pathologic findings.     

Ultrasound in an in vitro fertilization program

Ultrasound examinations of the preovulatory follicle were performed on 39 patients in 58 consecutive spontaneous cycles in which ovum aspiration for in vitro fertilization was planned. Examinations during the follicular phase helped to indicate when patients should be admitted for intensive monitoring of urinary luteinizing hormone (LH) levels and as a means of lateralizing the side of follicular development in those patients in whom one ovary was known to be inaccessible to laparoscopic aspiration. The technique was also of value in determining whether ovulation had occurred in those patients in whom the anticipated midcycle LH surge was not detected and as a routine measure prior to laparoscopy to ensure the continuing presence of the follicle.     

Using the Nutrition Screening Initiative to survey the nutritional status of clients participating in a home delivered meals program

A large percentage of older Americans are at risk for malnutrition. This puts them at risk for premature institutionalization, creating a financial burden. The objective of this survey was to determine the nutritional health of clients receiving home delivered meals in Lake County, Indiana and the impact that home delivered meals had on them. Nutrition Screening Initiative (NSI) Determine Your Nutritional Health Checklists were mailed to recipients of meals; 58.3% were returned. Twenty-eight percent were found to be at no nutritional risk, 39% at moderate nutritional risk and 33% at high nutritional risk. One-hundred-thirty clients that scored three or more on the "Checklist" were visited by a Registered Dietitian for further screening using the NSI Level I Screen. This screen found many nutritional problems but the fact that the clients did receive home delivered meals decreased the risk. It was determined by the author that 68% of these clients could not function in their own homes without home delivered meals.     

Chronopharmacology of furosemide in the elderly

The authors have previously reported the time-dependent change in the diuretic effects of furosemide, a loop diuretic agent, in young and middle-aged subjects. The current study was undertaken to examine an influence of aging on this chronopharmacologic phenomenon. Ten milligrams furosemide was given intravenously to 12 elderly subjects (greater than 70 years of age) at 9:00 AM (day trial) or at 9:00 PM (night trial) by a cross-over design. One-hour urine samples were collected for 3 hours after each administration, and urine volume and urinary excretions of sodium and furosemide were determined. Urine volume and urinary sodium excretion increased after furosemide administration. Contrary to the findings in the young and middle-aged subjects, no significant differences were observed in these parameters at any observation period between the day and night trials in the elderly subjects. Urinary furosemide excretion of the day and night trials did not significantly differ. These results suggest that the chronopharmacologic profiles of furosemide are altered in the elderly.     

Physical exercise, oxidative stress and muscle damage in racehorses

Since it has been suggested that lipid peroxidation following free radical overproduction may be one of the causes of physical exercise-induced myopathies and hemolysis in horses, we looked for the possible relationships between these phenomena and muscle fiber damage. We use a homogeneous group of Maremmana stallions which, after a 3-month training period, underwent a series of physical exercises of increasing intensity. We determined the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), one of the main lipid peroxidation end-products, and glutathione the substrate of one of the most important free radical scavenger enzymes. We also measured creatine phosphokinase and serum lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme activities whose modification may be indicative of muscle fiber damage. The results obtained indicated that the physical exercise we adopted was able to modify both MDA and glutathione contents in blood. However, its effect on some LDH isoenzyme activities suggested possible damage to tissues other than muscle.     

Comparison of chronic neutral endopeptidase inhibition and furosemide in an ovine model of heart failure

OBJECTIVE: Due to the elevated levels of hematopoietically active cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GMCSF) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) serum and synovium, the increased bone marrow activity in RA, and the effectiveness of GMCSF in mobilizing progenitor cell release from the bone marrow into the periphery, we hypothesized that hematopoietic progenitors are altered in the peripheral blood (PB) of patients with RA. METHODS: Flow cytometry assisted cell surface analysis was employed to compare the distribution of myeloid (CD34+CD33+), B lymphoid (CD34+CD10+), and erythroid (CD34+CD71+) committed progenitor cell subsets in the PB of healthy controls and patients with RA. Since RA and Sjogren's syndrome (SS) are related autoimmune disorders, primary SS PB was also investigated. RESULTS: Only those patients with RA exhibiting clinically active disease (RA-A) demonstrated increases in myeloid and B lymphoid progenitor cell subsets. Growth of RA-A progenitors in cytokines promoting myelopoiesis (GMCSF, TNF, stem cell factor) produced increased monocyte and dendritic cell progeny, in support of the flow cytometry data. Lineage committed (CD34+CD38+) progenitors were increased in SS PB (p <0.03). However, these did not correlate with either the myeloid, erythroid, or B lymphoid lineages. CONCLUSION: Distinct alterations in the distribution of PB progenitors are present in RA and primary SS. Since progenitor cells retain a proliferative capacity, their infiltration into the synovial/glandular environment may contribute to the accumulation of inflammatory cells within these sites. We propose that PB progenitors enter the diseased microenvironment through similar mechanisms as mature hematopoietic elements.     

Interaction between cephaloridine and furosemide in man

The effect of intravenous somatostatin on basal and gastrin-stimulated human lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LESP) was examined with the rapid pull-through technique. In a group of 7 healthy volunteers LESP was not influenced under basal conditions, but there was an augmented response to pulse-doses of pentagastrin (0.6 mug/kg) during infusion of somatostatin (250 mug/kg-h). The physiological importance of these findings still has to be evaluated.     

Biliary excretion of furosemide glucuronide in rabbits

Furosemide (F) was administered to rabbits intravenously and intraduodenaly and the biliary excretion was studied. The major metabolite excreted in bile was furosemide glucuronide (FG). F and acyl migration isomers of FG (FG-iso) were also excreted in bile. The biliary excretion rates of total F (F+FG+FG-iso) following intraduodenal administration of F were much smaller than those following intravenous administration. The fraction of (F+FG-iso) in bile following intraduodenal administration of F were larger than those following intravenous administration. Stability of FG or FG-iso in bile and supernatant solution of the duodenum homogenate of rabbits was studied. FG was unstable in both media and its degradation followed apparent first-order kinetics in both media. In bile, FG degraded to produce several FG-iso and F, while in the supernatant solution of the duodenum homogenate, it hydrolyzed immediately to F. FG-iso were hardly detected in the supernatant solution. These results indicated that FG excreted in bile degraded easily to FG-iso and F. FG might easily hydrolyze to F enzymatically in the duodenum, and the resultant F might be reabsorbed from the intestinal tract. Unabsorbed FG-iso and F might be excreted in the feces.     

Body composition in an employee health improvement program

We checked the change in health status of employees of an Austrian company over a period of one year. In June 1995 medical and anthropometric tests were carried out. From the results of the tests, we made individual recommendations for training and nutrition. Lectures, demonstration sessions and regular sessions in gymnastics were held during the year. In June 1996 a re-test was carried out. In 1995, 95 men and 27 women, in 1996, 62 men and 27 women participated in the investigation. A comparative statistical analysis was carried out for the group of men. Body fat tissue decreased and fat free mass increased highly significantly (p = 0.000), systolic blood pressure decreased about 10 mmHg on average (p = 0.000), exhalation volume as well as the relative physical work capacity increased very high significantly (p = 0.000 for both parameters). There were no significant changes of diastolic blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride levels.     

Retention in an aftercare program for recovering women

Examining the correlates of aftercare participation is critical to program development and successful relapse prevention. This study assesses retention in an aftercare program of case management and peer support for formerly homeless recovering mothers. Length of residential drug treatment, length of sobriety, strong support networks, and concerns about housing and parenting predicted completion of the case management component. Emotional instability and the severity of problems were found to be correlated with participation in the peer support group. Sociodemographic characteristics were not related to program retention. The findings illustrate the need to tailor aftercare services to the level of clients' recovery and the need for female-only aftercare groups where women can safely discuss physical and sexual abuse issues related to their misuse of drugs.     

A comparative study of interval and conventional training in thoroughbred racehorses

Eight horses with previous racing experience were used in a comparative study of training methods for Thoroughbred racehorses. They were randomly assigned to two groups of four horses each. One group was trained using an interval training method (IT) and the other using conventional training (CT) methods. Peak heart rates, heart rate recovery curves, peak plasma lactate levels, plasma lactate clearance rates and run times were used to evaluate differences in the training methods. Peak heart rates, heart rate recovery curves, and run times were not significantly different between the groups. However, higher lactate production and increased plasma lactate clearance by the IT group demonstrated an increased anaerobic capacity.     

Addition of a thiazide: an effective remedy for furosemide resistance after cardiac operations

BACKGROUND: The frequent use of diuretic drugs in cardiac surgical practice contrasts with the lack of documentation regarding diuretic treatment in this setting. The aims of this study were to delineate the need for diuretic drugs in adult cardiac surgical practice and to evaluate the impact of adding a combination of 50 mg hydrochlorothiazide and 5 mg amiloride orally to patients responding poorly to furosemide. METHODS: Two hundred ten consecutive patients, 159 undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting procedures and 51 having valve operations, were studied. RESULTS: Seventy-seven patients received large doses of furosemide (> or = 80 mg/24 h) at some time during the postoperative course, and of these 20 responded poorly to furosemide (weight loss 0.3 +/- 0.2 kg) despite considerable fluid retention. The addition of hydrochlorothiazide and amiloride provided a prompt and effective remedy to relative furosemide resistance. Average weight loss was 2.3 +/- 0.2 kg (p < 0.01 compared with response to furosemide) and average diuresis was 2,949 +/- 156 mL in the following 24 hours. CONCLUSIONS: Relative furosemide resistance is common after cardiac operations. Thiazides, although they are mild diuretic agents, may serve as useful adjuncts in this setting.     

Social skill training in an integrated preschool program.

This study examined the effectiveness of a commercially available social skills training program plus classroom reinforcement for use with preschoolers with developmental delays. Two groups of 19 participants (mean age 49.73–52.9 mo old) each received either the combined treatment package or classroom reinforcement of target behaviors only. An additional 20 participants served as a control group. The combination of social skills training plus classroom reinforcement of target behaviors resulted in statistically significant increases in sharing behavior over those obtained by both control participants and participants receiving reinforcement of classroom behavior alone. Group behavior was increased over that shown by control participants through the use of either the social skills plus classroom reinforcement treatment package or classroom reinforcement alone. Social skills interventions were viewed favorably by both classroom teachers and preschool participants. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)