Deconditioning reduces mineral content of the third metacarpal bone in horses

Diet and exercise are two management factors that affect bone density and strength. We proposed that bone density and calcium status would be affected by deconditioning for 12 wk and by dietary Ca concentration. Eleven highly conditioned Arabian horses were taken out of training and placed in stalls for 12 wk. Horses were walked on a mechanical walker in two 30-min sessions, 7 d/wk. Diets were designated CC (.36% Ca) and HC (.62% Ca). Data were collected every 21 d. Serum or plasma were analyzed for total and ionized Ca, parathyroid hormone, osteocalcin, hydroxyproline, electrolytes, and blood gases. Bone mineral content (BMC) of the left third metacarpal bone was estimated by radiographic photometry using an aluminum step wedge, which was exposed in each radiograph, as a reference standard for an image analysis system. During deconditioning, BMC decreased by approximately 1.1 g/2 cm, or .45% per week. This decrease was unaffected by dietary Ca. Serum Ca concentration increased with deconditioning. The results suggest that dietary Ca at twice the currently recommended level did not prevent the loss of BMC in response to deconditioning. Loss of BMC during 12 wk of stall confinement may weaken bones, increasing the risk of skeletal injuries when training is resumed.     

Treatment with progesterone and 17 beta-oestradiol to induce emergence of a newly-recruited dominant ovulatory follicle during oestrus synchronisation with long-term use of norgestomet in Brahman heifers

The aim of this study was to determine the effect on ovarian follicular growth and atresia, of acute treatment with either 100 mg of progesterone (n = 10), 200 mg of progesterone (n = 10), 10 mg of oestradiol + 100 mg of progesterone (n = 10), 10 mg of oestradiol (n = 10) or no treatment (n = 10), given on Day 10 of a 17-day treatment with a norgestomet implant in randomly cycling Bos indicus heifers. The fate of the dominant follicle on Day 10, emergence of the new cohort of follicles and the intervals from implant removal to ovulation were recorded by ultrasonography. Plasma concentrations of Luteinizing hormone (LH), progesterone and oestradiol were determined during the time when the norgestomet implant was in place. All treatments resulted in the emergence of a new cohort of follicles within 5 days of administration. The day of emergence of the ovulatory follicle tended to be delayed after treatment with 100 mg of progesterone (2.7 +/- 0.3 days after treatment), 200 mg of progesterone (3.7 +/- 0.5 days after treatment), 10 mg of oestradiol + 100 mg of progesterone (4.4 +/- 0.2 days after treatment) and 10 mg of oestradiol (4.6 +/- 0.4 days after treatment) compared to control heifers (1.4 +/- 1.4 days after time of treatment). The mean interval from implant removal to onset of oestrus was significantly shorter after treatment with 100 mg of progesterone (38.4 +/- 2.6 h) than after treatment with 200 mg of progesterone (61.5 +/- 3.9 h) but otherwise, the mean interval from implant removal to onset of oestrus did not differ. Oestrus synchrony, measured by the sample standard deviation of oestrus onset, was tighter in all treatment groups compared to untreated control heifers. The mean interval from implant removal to ovulation did not differ significantly between groups. The synchrony of ovulation, measured by the sample standard deviation of the interval from implant removal to ovulation, was significantly tighter after treatment with 100 mg of progesterone, 200 mg of progesterone and 10 mg of oestradiol compared to control heifers. Treatment with 10 mg of oestradiol resulted in ovulation in seven of 10 heifers before implant removal, three of which failed to ovulate after implant removal. Progesterone administered on Day 10 lowered plasma LH concentrations (P < 0.05), whereas treatment with oestradiol caused a surge of LH and ovulation. Progesterone administered with oestradiol prevented the LH surge. A combination treatment of oestradiol and progesterone given on Day 10 of a 17-day norgestomet treatment in a range of follicular states resulted in the consistent emergence of a new cohort of follicles which included the eventual ovulatory follicle.     

Pyrazoline bisphosphonate esters as novel antiinflammatory and antiarthritic agents

Vinylidenebisphosphonic acid tetraethyl ester (1) and diazo ketones 7a-1 in ether at 22 degrees C yield pyrazoline bisphosphonate tetraethyl esters 8a-1 in moderate to good yield. These compounds were evaluated in animal models of arthritis: rat adjuvant-induced polyarthritis (AIP) and murine antigen-induced arthritis (AIA) and a murine model of chronic inflammation, the delayed type hypersensitivity granuloma reaction (DTH-GRA). (5-Benzoyl-2,4-dihydro-3H-pyrazol-3-ylidene)-bisphosphonic acid tetraethyl ester (8a), and [5-(3-fluorobenzoyl)-2,4-dihydro-3H-pyraxol-3-ylidene]- bisphosphonic acid tetraethyl ester (8d) significantly inhibited the arthritis models, AIP (15 mg/kg) and AIA (25 mg/kg), as well as the DTH-GRA (25 mg/kg). Conversion of 8a to the corresponding bisphosphonic acid, 10a, resulted in loss of activity. Compounds with alkyl substituents on the pyrazoline nitrogen, 9a-d, were inactive in the DTH-GRA. These results show that 8a and 8d have novel antiinflammatory activity and are capable of inhibiting chronic arthritis and inflammation in animals. Such compounds might be useful in man for treating chronic tissue injury associated with arthropathies such as inflammatory joint disease as well as other chronic inflammatory diseases.     

The toxicological problems of disaster medicine in the Navy Fleet]

From position of the uniform concept of the accident medicine the problems of toxicological supply of the ships of MNF are considered. Peculiarities of chemical accidents in the ship conditions are marked. The question about principles of harmful chemical substances regulating, forming air environment of ship living quarters is discussed. The prospects of practical use of antidotal means, intended for protection of personnel from toxic action of carbon dioxide and chemical combinations, causing development of toxic edema of lungs are given.     

Diabetic foot ulcers: prevention, diagnosis and classification

Diabetic ulcers are the most common foot injuries leading to lower extremity amputation. Family physicians have a pivotal role in the prevention or early diagnosis of diabetic foot complications. Management of the diabetic foot requires a thorough knowledge of the major risk factors for amputation, frequent routine evaluation and meticulous preventive maintenance. The most common risk factors for ulcer formation include diabetic neuropathy, structural foot deformity and peripheral arterial occlusive disease. A careful physical examination, buttressed by monofilament testing for neuropathy and noninvasive testing for arterial insufficiency, can identify patients at risk for foot ulcers and appropriately classify patients who already have ulcers or other diabetic foot complications. Patient education regarding foot hygiene, nail care and proper footwear is crucial to reducing the risk of an injury that can lead to ulcer formation. Adherence to a systematic regimen of diagnosis and classification can improve communication between family physicians and diabetes subspecialists and facilitate appropriate treatment of complications. This team approach may ultimately lead to a reduction in lower extremity amputations related to diabetes.     

Is oral clonidine effective in modifying the acute hemodynamic response during electroconvulsive therapy?

The -514 polymorphism in the hepatic lipase gene (LIPC) is associated with decreased hepatic lipase activity. In the present study, the interaction between body mass index (BMI), the -514 polymorphism, and hepatic lipase activity was examined in 118 white men and in 51 African American men. BMI was significantly positively correlated with hepatic lipase activity in both populations. BMI was similar in men with genetic differences in hepatic lipase activity, indicating that high hepatic lipase activity did not cause increased BMI. The data therefore suggest that high BMI leads to increased hepatic lipase activity. The actions of BMI and the -514 polymorphism on hepatic lipase activity appear to be additive and independent, rather than synergistic. This finding indicates that hepatic lipase activity is a multifactorial trait, determined in part by polymorphism within the LIPC gene as well as by factors that influence BMI.     

Discrepancies in normative data between Lunar and Hologic DXA systems

Many studies have shown the high correlation between Lunar and Hologic DXA bone mineral density (BMD) measurements despite differences in absolute calibration. However, in clinical practice, raw BMD values (in g/cm2) are not normally used for assessing skeletal status and fracture risk. Instead, the BMD values are expressed in terms of the number of standard deviations above or below the young normal value (commonly referred to as the T-score). If the normative populations of the various systems are consistent, the standard deviation scores should also be consistent. For this reason, the World Health Organization (WHO) recently established diagnostic criteria for osteoporosis based on T-scores and not BMD. However, few studies have compared the instruments in terms of their standard deviation scores. In this study, we used linear regression to compare T-scores in 83 women at L1-4 and 120 women at the femoral neck obtained on a Lunar DPX and a Hologic QDR-1000/W system. patient BMD and T-score measurements were highly correlated between the two systems (r > 0.95). No clinically significant difference in L1-4 T-scores was seen (less than 0.1 SD). However, linear regression analysis confirmed a systematic difference of 0.9 SD between the femoral neck T-scores. This discrepancy is caused by: (1) differences in the normal populations, and (2) differences in statistical models used to determine the young normal mean and standard deviation. In an attempt to correct the discrepancy, the female young normal mean and standard deviation were recalculated for the femoral neck using published epidemiological data from NHANES and existing DXA cross-calibration equations. The Hologic young normal value (mean +/- SD) was redefined as 0.85 +/- 0.11 g/cm2, while the Lunar value was redefined as 1.00 +/- 0.11 g/cm2. When the femoral neck T-scores for the study population were recalculated on the basis of these new values, the results were equivalent between manufactures, effectively eliminating the discrepancy. However, the revised values should be confirmed by additional measurements in young normal adults.     

Encircling overlapping multipulse shock waveforms for transthoracic defibrillation

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to determine the efficacy of new encircling overlapping multipulse, multipathway waveforms for transthoracic defibrillation. BACKGROUND: Alternative waveforms for transthoracic defibrillation may improve shock success. METHODS: First, we determined the shock success achieved by three different waveforms at varying energies (18-150 J) in 21 mongrel dogs after short-duration ventricular fibrillation. The waveforms tested included the traditional damped sinusoidal waveform, a single pathway biphasic waveform, and a new encircling overlapping multipulse waveform delivered from six electrode pads oriented circumferentially. Second, in 11 swine we compared the efficacy of encircling overlapping multipulse shocks given from six electrode pads and three capacitors versus encircling overlapping shocks given from a device utilizing three electrodes and one capacitor. RESULTS: In the first experiment, the encircling overlapping waveform performed significantly better than biphasic and damped sinusoidal waveforms at lower energies. The shock success rate of the overlapping waveform (six pads) ranged from 67+/-4% (at 18-49 J energy) to 99+/-3% at > or = 150 J; at comparable energies biphasic waveform shock success ranged from 26+/-5% (p < 0.01 vs. encircling overlapping waveforms) to 99+/-5% (p = NS). Damped sinusoidal waveform shock success ranged from 4+/-1% (p < 0.01 vs. encircling overlapping waveform) to 73+/-9% (p = NS). In the second experiment the three electrode pads, one capacitor encircling waveform achieved shock success rates comparable with the six-pad, three-capacitor waveform; at 18-49 J, success rates were 45+/-15% versus 57+/-12%, respectively (p = NS). At 100 J, success rates for both were 100%. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that encircling overlapping multipulse multipathway waveforms facilitate transthoracic defibrillation at low energies. These waveforms can be generated from a device that requires only three electrodes and one capacitor.     

Mapping of Ras-related GTP-binding proteins by GTP overlay following two-dimensional gel electrophoresis

For identification of Rab, Rac, Rho, Ral, Rap, and Arf proteins on two-dimensional polyacrylamide gels, we have expressed full-length cDNAs of members of these protein families with the T7 RNA polymerase-recombinant vaccinia virus expression system. Membrane preparations from cells expressing the cDNAs were subjected to high-resolution two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by [alpha-32P]GTP ligand blotting. We have mapped 28 small GTP-binding proteins relative to their isoelectric points and according to their molecular weights and by immunoblotting with specific antibodies. Rab and Rho proteins could be specifically identified by extraction of streptolysin O-permeabilized Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells with Rab- and Rho-GDP dissociation inhibitor. We applied the reference mapping to analyze the GTP-binding patterns of synaptosome fractions from rat brain. The purified synaptosomes exhibited specific enrichment of Rab3a, Rab5a, Ral, and several other GTPases. This approach and the map we have produced should provide a useful aid for the analysis of the expression and localization of members of all families of small GTP-binding proteins in various cell types and subcellular fractions.