Daily cycle of bHLH-PAS proteins, Ah receptor and Arnt, in multiple tissues of female Sprague-Dawley rats

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) shares a common PAS domain with a number of genes that exhibit a pronounced circadian rhythm. Therefore, this study examined the daily cycle of AhR and AhR nuclear translocator (Arnt) protein expression in multiple tissues of female Sprague-Dawley rats. Rats were euthanized at 4, 7, and 11 am and 4, 7, and 11 pm after which whole tissue homogenates were made from multiple tissues. Western blot analysis showed that the daily cycle of relative AhR protein expression exhibits a similar oscillation pattern in the liver, lungs, and thymus. The daily cycle of relative Arnt protein expression exhibits a similar oscillation pattern in the liver and lungs. The apparent daily cycle of AhR and Arnt protein expression in multiple tissues was not observed within the spleen. This preliminary report is the first study to suggest that the PAS proteins, AhR and Arnt, exhibit a daily oscillation pattern within multiple target tissues which may give insight into the tissue-specific toxic and biochemical responses mediated through this dimerization pair, as well as the physiological function of these proteins.     

Peptidergic mechanisms in the parasympathetic regulation of the heart rate

Besides the classic cholinergic and adrenergic mechanisms, the regulatory peptides involve in regulating the cardiac rhythm. The localization of the latter in neurons of intracardiac nervous system as well as the possibility of releasing the regulatory peptides, individually or in combination with the classic mediators, during extracardiac nerves is found. The regulatory peptides are capable of affecting the heart autonomy directly or in a mediated way via modulation of the vegetative effects. The paper contains data on the cardiotropic activity of various peptides and direction of their effects relating to parasympathetic control a cardiac rhythm. There is a suggestion concerning an existence of different ways of realization of peptidergic vagotropic effect that presupposes not only variation of severity of parasympathetic chronotropic effect but also a change in its functional organization.     

The formalized functional features of an automated system for managing the public health of an individual region

During 1994-1996 at the Clinic of Cardiovascular and Transplantation Surgery of IKEM 17 patients were operated with acute dissection of the thoracic aorta type A. Based on the applied surgical tactics the patients were retrospectively divided into two groups. The first included 8 patients where surgical reconstruction of the ascending aorta was implemented in the standard way, the second group comprised 9 patients where the method of deep hypothermia and circulatory arrest were used. Three operated patients died, all from the group with deep hypothermia. The cause of death was twice multiorgan failure and once haemorrhage in a female patient with cardiac tamponade before surgery. The authors discuss the advantages and some pitfalls of surgery in deep hypothermia and circulatory arrest and maintain that neurological disorders are most serious. In the conclusion they draw attention to some possible ways how to improve hitherto achieved results. They include e.g. reduction of the time interval between the development of symptoms of dissection and surgery, careful checking of the cooling and heating when using deep hypothermia, as well as better prevention of cerebral embolic attacks.     

Fruit consumption, fitness, and cardiovascular health in female adolescents: the Penn State Young Women''s Health Study

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the outcome of early and late suture removal after the triple procedure (i.e., penetrating keratoplasty, cataract extraction, lens implant). DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: The refractive and keratometric results of 106 eyes undergoing the triple procedure were reviewed. The target postoperative refractive error was -1 diopter (D). RESULTS: Average length of follow-up was 40.3 months. Twenty eyes had sutures removed early (<18 months after surgery), 39 had sutures removed late (> or = 18 months after surgery), and 47 had sutures still intact at last follow-up. A best spectacle-corrected visual acuity of 20/40 or better was achieved in 90% of eyes with sutures removed early, 82.1% with sutures removed late, and 70.2% with sutures in place. For all eyes, the mean spherical equivalent at last follow-up was -2.50 D, with 75% of eyes falling between -4 and +2 D. The mean final refractive error was -3.40 +/- 3.53 D for eyes with sutures removed early and -1.79 +/- 3.99 D for eyes with sutures removed late. Eyes with sutures remaining had a mean final refractive error of -0.33 +/- 2.25 D. There was an overall decrease in refractive and keratometric astigmatism after both early and late suture removal with no significant difference between groups. However, there was a wide range of change with some eyes experiencing a decrease and others an increase in astigmatism. Mean postoperative K readings increased significantly for both groups after suture removal (final mean K, 47.00 D) but remained stable for eyes with sutures in. CONCLUSION: The authors data suggest that the final refractive error and net change in refractive and keratometric astigmatism after the triple procedure are not dependent on the timing of suture removal.     

Coffin-Siris syndrome. Review of the literature

A great deal of new information has become available in the field of hypertension since the JNC report of 1988. The JNC V report has changed the categorization of blood pressure, modified suggested drugs for initial therapy, and recommended that diuretics or beta blockers be considered the first-line drugs of choice. Information concerning the J curve and end-stage renal disease has made therapeutic goals more challenging. One of the most important additions to this report is the new information on treating elderly patients, which had been lacking until last year. The report calls on pharmacists to assist with detecting, evaluating, and referring hypertensive patients. Pharmacists must take a leadership role in promoting compliance with antihypertensive therapy and can assist other health-care professionals by suggesting therapeutic alternatives to improve efficacy, reduce the frequency of administration, and lower costs. The complete JNC V report is an essential reference for the files of any pharmacist who is responsible for the care of hypertensive patients.