Serum leptin levels in male marathon athletes before and after the marathon run

Leptin is a hormone produced by the adipocytes to regulate food intake and energy expenditure at the hypothalamic level. It is commonly accepted that the main determinants of leptin secretion are the net amount of body fat and the mean size of adipocytes. On the contrary, important vectors of energy flux in the organism, such as food intake and energy expended on exercise, are not thought to be regulators of that secretion. To understand whether leptin is regulated by an acute energy expenditure such as strenuous exercise, 29 male athletes who had trained for marathon running were studied before and after a marathon run and compared with 22 nonobese, age-, sex-, and body mass index (BMI)-matched sedentary controls. Controls and marathon athletes showed no differences in BMI or fat-free mass. Marathon runners showed a strong reduction in total fat mass (6.2 +/- 0.4 kg; 9.1 +/- 0.5% of body fat) compared with controls (12.3 +/- 0.5 kg; 16.1 +/- 0.5% of body fat; P < 0.05). This difference in body composition was paralleled by a mean serum leptin level that in marathonians (2.9 +/- 0.2 micrograms/L) was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced compared with that in controls (5.1 +/- 0.6 micrograms/L). It is remarkable that the ratio of leptin per kg body fat, showed a very good agreement between the two groups, 0.40 +/- 0.04 microgram/L.kg for controls and 0.46 +/- 0.03 microgram/L.kg for marathonians. In the two groups, leptin was correlated with both body weight, BMI, and fat mass (P < 0.001). The marathon trajectory was the standard 42.195 km accomplished in an average time of 3 h, 17 min, 7 s, with a calculated energy expenditure of over 2800 Cal. After the marathon run, a water imbalance occurred, with a significant decrease in body weight and an increase in serum albumin. A significant (P < 0.05) reduction in leptin values was observed after the run (2.6 +/- 0.2 micrograms/L) compared with before (2.9 +/- 0.2 micrograms/L), which was more relevant considering the relative hemoconcentration. In conclusion, 1) compared with sedentary subjects, leptin levels are reduced in male marathon runners in parallel with the relevant reduction in total body fat; 2) expressed as a ratio of leptin per kg body fat, no differences were observed between marathonians and controls; and 3) after an energy expenditure of 2800 Cal in the marathon run, a reduction in leptin levels occurred. Strong changes in energy expenditure may regulate serum leptin levels in man.     

Immunization of bovines with an aspartic proteinase precursor isolated from Boophilus microplus eggs

The capacity of the Boophilus Yolk pro-Cathepsin (BYC) to induce a protective immune response in cattle against Boophilus microplus infestation was tested by vaccination experiments and by inoculation of monoclonal antibody (MAb) against BYC into fully engorged tick females. In immunization experiments the measurement of various biological parameters demonstrated a partial protection against B. microplus. A continuous decrease in the levels of specific antibodies was observed over 11 months when six bovines were maintained in field conditions. The inoculation of the MAb into tick females produced a dose-dependent decrease in oviposition and survival of the ectoparasite compared to the control.     

Comparison of the in vitro and in vivo effects of meropenem and ciprofloxacin on the morphology of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus

Second-semester ultrasonography of a female fetus documented short femora and humeri and dislocation of the radii. Based on the clinical and postmortem radiological findings, autosomal-recessive omodysplasia was diagnosed. The physeal plates of the long tubular bones were assessed by computer-assisted image analysis. The dimensions and orientation of the chondrocytic lacunae in the physeal plates of the omodysplastic fetus were compared with those in the physeal plates of fetuses without gross limb abnormalities (oligohydramnios, n = 2; hydrocephalus, n = 2; Down syndrome, n = 1). The pathological characteristics of the omodysplastic physeal plates were an expanded zone of proliferating cartilage and an increased number of closely packed, small chondrocytes. We propose that a genetic, functional deficiency of the physeal cells, underlying the short-limbed dwarfism of autosomal-recessive omodysplasia, is partially compensated, albeit ineffectively, by an increased number of small chondrocytes in the proliferating zone of the physeal plate.     

Effects of configuration on the myocardial uptake of radioiodinated 3(R)-BMIPP and 3(S)-BMIPP in rats

Radioiodinated 3(R)-(+)- and 3(S)-(-)-15-(p-iodophenyl)-3-(R,S)-methylpentadecanoic acid (BMIPP) were prepared and evaluated in rats to investigate the effects of absolute configuration of the 3(beta)-methyl group on myocardial uptake and release kinetics. METHODS: The 3(R)-(+)-BMIPP analog was synthesized by initial acylation of a thiophene template with the acid chloride of ethyl 3(R)-methylglutarate. 3(S)-(-)-BMIPP was obtained by separation from the mixture of diastereomeric amides prepared from reaction of the acid chloride of racemic BMIPP with the S-(-)-alpha-methylbenzylamine. The amide of synthetic 3(R)-BMIPP prepared from S-(-)-alpha-methylbenzylamine was identical to the chromatographically more polar isomer. Free acids were obtained by acid hydrolysis of the amides, fully characterized and then converted to the radioiodinated BMIPP isomers. RESULTS: Biodistribution studies in rats with the dual-labeled [(131)I]-3(S)-BMIPP/[(125)I]-3(R)-BMIPP mixture demonstrated greater myocardial uptake of 3(R)-BMIPP compared with the 3(S)-BMIPP isomer [60 min: 3(R)-BMIPP = 4.37 %ID/g; 3(S)-BMIPP = 3.44; p < 0.05; 180 min, 2.31 and 1.78 %ID/G, respectively, p < 0.01], although both isomers had similar myocardial washout curves (5-180 min). Percent ID/g values for other tissues which were examined (blood, lungs, thyroid) were similar. CONCLUSION: Higher myocardial uptake of the 3(R)-BMIPP isomer observed in these animal studies may suggest differences in carrier-mediated myocyte uptake of the two isomers. These studies suggest that [(123)I]-3(R)-BMIPP is a candidate for clinical evaluation and may show greater myocardial uptake than the 3(S)-BMIPP isomer and may thus require reduced injected dose.     

Anticarcinogenic effect of palustran on development of tumors induced by 3-(1-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl)-1-methyl-1-nitrosourea (AMNU) in rats

Clinical manifestations of superior sagittal sinus (SSS) thrombosis are nonspecific but characterized by headache, papilledema, seizures, focal deficits, progressive coma and death. Recurrent transient focal neurologic deficit is an extremely rare manifestation in superior sagittal sinus thrombosis and the mechanism is unknown. A 45-year-old man presented with headache for two weeks and four episodes of transient (5-10 minutes) right or left hemiparesis for two days. Magnetic resonance image and transfemoral cerebral angiography revealed superior sagittal sinus thrombosis with numerous prominent collateral venous channels. There was no parenchymal lesion. After four days of heparinization, no further transient focal neurologic deficits developed. Follow-up angiography showed partial recanalization of the SSS. Possible mechanism of transient ischemic attacks in this patient is thought to be a transient functional disturbance due to a temporal reduction of tissue perfusion in the process of operating fully-enough collateral channels.     

Feasibility of contour mapping epidemiological data with missing values

Data of epidemiologic interest often occur as spatial information during each of several time periods. In most cases data are available from a set of regions or localities which can be viewed as points in a plane. Although contour mapping is useful for displaying these data, the lack of data for all data points in a region may lead to erroneous interpretation. In this paper we use stimulation to investigate the impact of missing data points for contour mapping using two distinct simulated spatial-time distributions for epidemiologic variables. A model for the occurrence of malaria in localities randomly distributed in one region is chosen as the prototype for data generation.     

Instrumentation and setup for endoscopic plastic surgery

The use of endoscopic techniques mandates the need for basic understanding of endoscopic instrumentation and operating room setup in order to avoid procedural delays and surgeon frustration. The electronic systems for endoscopic surgery-cameras, light sources, monitors, and so on-have been well developed for other specialties and are fully adaptable to endoscopic plastic surgical procedures. Hand instruments, however, are in the early phases of refinement for subcutaneous plastic surgical procedures and will undoubtedly improve over the next several years. Adaptation of existing instrumentation and development of new operating tools continue and promise to make endoscopic plastic surgical procedures of the future more ergonomic and efficient. Similarly, while operating room setup for endoscopic plastic surgical procedures varies depending on individual circumstances, application of a few basic principles will help in making this step quick and simple. The knowledge and experience of scrub technicians and nurses experienced in endoscopic techniques can be invaluable to the surgeon just beginning to use endoscopic techniques in plastic and reconstructive surgery.     

Quantitative determination of thebaine in Papaver bracteatum by high-pressure liquid chromatography

A method is described for the quantitative analysis of thebaine from Papaver bracteatum, using a single high-pressure liquid chromatographic column. The procedure gives base-line separation of thebaine without the need for gradient elution equipment, and can be completed within 12 min. Thebaine isolated by this technique was shown to be pure, regardless of the age of plant or plant part from which it was obtained.