Determinants and significance of declining blood pressure in old age. A prospective birth cohort study

AIMS: To investigate the changes in blood pressure and their causes in an elderly population. METHODS: Orthostatic blood pressure measurements were performed in randomly in four birth cohorts (years 65-, 75-, 80- and 85, n=773) at 5-year intervals. RESULTS: Both systolic and diastolic blood pressures decreased in both genders and all age groups. The falls in blood pressure related closely to initial blood pressure values and to the thickness of the left ventricular posterior wall of the heart. The changes in supine (r=0.118, P=0.007) and standing systolic blood pressure (r=0.123, P=0.005), as well as supine (r=0.148, P<0.001) and standing diastolic blood pressure (r=0.186, P<0.001) correlated with changes in body weight. Changes in supine diastolic blood pressure also related to changes in serum cholesterol (r=0.207, P=0.002) and triglycerides (r=0.160, P=0.016). Changes in supine and standing systolic and standing diastolic blood pressures also related to changes in dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (r=0.161, P<0.05; r=0.205, P<0.01; r=0.140, P<0.05, respectively). Changes in blood pressure also correlated with self-estimated poor health after 5 years (r for supine systolic blood pressure= -0.133, P<0.001, for standing systolic blood pressure= -0.135, P<0.001, for supine diastolic blood pressure= -0.111, P<0.002). PATIENTS: who were institutionalized during the follow-up or who had severely impaired performance capacity after 5 years, displayed the most marked decline in blood pressure. Declining systolic blood pressure was also related to impaired survival prognosis. According to the logistic regression analyses the baseline blood pressure, antihypertensive drugs and changes in dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate and cholesterol explained over 30% of the changes in blood pressure. In the logistic models, declining blood pressure was associated with baseline blood pressure, antihypertensive treatment, poor health after 5 years, and decreasing cholesterol and triglycerides. CONCLUSION: Decline in blood pressure in old age is associated with deteriorating health and is only partly explained by the use of antihypertensive drugs.     

Long-term treatment of ulcerative colitis with ciprofloxacin: a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Although bacterial bowel flora may be one of the contributing factors in the pathogenesis of chronic mucosal inflammation, antibiotic treatment has no established role in ulcerative colitis. The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of ciprofloxacin in the induction and maintenance of remission in ulcerative colitis in patients responding poorly to conventional therapy with steroids and mesalamine. METHODS: Ciprofloxacin (n = 38; 500-750 mg twice a day) or placebo (n = 45) was administered for 6 months in a double-blind, randomized study with a high but decreasing dose of prednisone and maintenance treatment with mesalamine including follow-up for the next 6 months. Clinical assessment and colonoscopic evaluation were performed at 0, 3, 6, and 12 months. Treatment failure, the primary end point, was defined as both symptomatic and endoscopic failure to respond. RESULTS: During the first 6 months, the treatment-failure rate was 21% in the ciprofloxacin-treated group and 44% in the placebo group (P = 0.02). Endoscopic and histological findings were used as secondary end points and showed better results in the ciprofloxacin group at 3 months but not at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Addition of a 6-month ciprofloxacin treatment for ulcerative colitis improved the results of conventional therapy with mesalamine and prednisone.     

The structure and strength of first-year ice ridges in the Baltic Sea

Sea ice ridges are typical features in the Baltic Sea ice pack accounting for on average up to one-third of the total ice mass. They are difficult obstacles to winter navigation and cause large forces on ships and offshore structures. However, the internal structure and strength properties of ice ridges are quite poorly known. This paper presents the results of an experimental project on the structure and strength of first-year ice ridges in the Baltic Sea carried through during 1987–1989. Altogether, six freely floating ridges were investigated. Their total thickness ranges from 4 to 17 m. Valuable field data about the size and shape of ridges, consolidated and unconsolidated parts, block size and porosity have been obtained by drilling and sampling. Divers and underwater video cameras have been used for observing the ridge keel structure. The totally consolidated layer within the ridges was 1–2 times the thickness of the surrounding level ice. The average porosity was 29%. The strength of the keel part has been measured with a full scale loading test. The force required to shear the keel was determined as a function of the normal force, the settlement rate, and the porosity of the keel. The shear strength of the ridge keels was from 1.7 up to more than 4.0 kPa. Also small scale tests were conducted in an ice tank giving results in agreement with the full scale tests.     

Suppression of antitumor lymphocyte mediated cytotoxicity by human chorionic gonadotropins

Thirty new patients in a psychiatric outpatient clinic rated the friendliness, interest, politeness, and informativeness of three functionally distinct groups of support employees. Following a personnel workshop, designed to increase the ability to relate to clients and the understanding of patient problems, ratings were obtained from 30 additional new patients. The overall ratings were favorable, both before and after the workshop, for all employee groups on all behavior variables. One employee group received higher ratings than the other two, and the staff members were perceived by the patients as more informative than congenial. The workshop resulted in increased amicability and decreased informativeness.     

Freeze-fracture and immunomorphological analysis of spiral ganglion cells

Freeze-fracture analysis of adult spiral ganglion cells of CBA/CBA mice revealed two types of membrane specializations. Most cells (type I) had a smooth surface and were surrounded by Schwann cells. Type II spiral ganglion cells showed numerous membrane specializations with well-delineated indentations similar to those previously found on hair cells adjacent to afferent and efferent nerve endings. Immunomorphological analysis (using well-defined monoclonal antibodies directed against different subclasses of intermediate filament proteins) revealed a unique co-expression of neurofilaments, vimentin and cytokeratins in spiral ganglion cells of 8-to 22-week human fetuses.     

A single-chip CMOS transceiver for 802.11a/b/g wireless LANs

A dual-band trimode radio fully compliant with the IEEE 802.11a, b, and g standards is implemented in a 0.18-/spl mu/m CMOS process and packaged in a 48-pin QFN package. The transceiver achieves a receiver noise figure of 4.9/5.6 dB for the 2.4-GHz/5-GHz bands, respectively, and a transmit error vector magnitude (EVM) of 2.5% for both bands. The transmit output power is digitally controlled, allowing per-packet power control as required by the forthcoming 802.11 h standard. A quadrature accuracy of 0.3/spl deg/ in phase and 0.05 dB in amplitude is achieved through careful analysis and design of the I/Q generation parts of the local oscillator. The local oscillators achieve a total integrated phase noise of better than -34 dBc. Compatibility with multiple baseband chips is ensured by flexible interfaces toward the A/D and D/A converters, as well as a calibration scheme not requiring any baseband support. The chip passes /spl plusmn/2 kV human body model ESD testing on all pins, including the RF pins. The total die area is 12 mm/sup 2/. The power consumption is 207 mW in the receive mode and 247 mW in the transmit mode using a 1.8-V supply.     

Dispersion compensation technologies for femtosecond fiber system

Developed highly chirped broadband fiber Bragg gratings and suspended-core fibers are shown to offer flexible dispersion management and allow for femtosecond oscillators with transform-limited pulse quality. Such dispersion compensators could have potential, particularly for all-fiber chirped-pulse amplification systems.     

Elasticity of ion‐exchange resin beads in solvent mixtures

The effect of the solvent composition on the elasticity of strong and weak cation‐ and anion‐exchange resin beads was studied. Poly(styrene‐co‐divinylbenzene) resins containing sulfonic acid or quaternary ammonium groups and an acrylic acid resin crosslinked with divinylbenzene were immersed in water, NaCl solutions, or aqueous alcohol solutions and the shear modulus was measured with a uniaxial compression method. The elastic data were compared with the swelling properties. In pure water the shear moduli increased when the crosslink density, counterion valence, counterion size, and functional group size increased. Two additional phenomena in the elastic behavior were observed when the swelling degree of the resins was changed by the addition of alcohol or salt. A decrease of the modulus was observed when moving from the fully swollen state to a less swollen state, and a steep upturn of the modulus took place at a characteristic swelling region. The depth of the minimum and the location of the transition from the rubbery to the glassy state depended on the characteristics of the resins. The finite expansibility of the polymer chains and the glass transition explained these findings. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 82: 1256–1264, 2001     

Physical and nutritional properties of edamame seeds as influenced by stage of development

Changes in physical, chemical and anti-nutritional characteristics of two vegetable soybean varieties (‘Asmara’ and ‘Mooncake’) during seed development were investigated. Pods were sampled weekly for 6 weeks starting from developmental stage 5 (R5) to 8 (R8). Changes over time in measured attributes were similar but the rate of change differed among the two varieties. In both varieties seed moisture content and intensity of green color decreased as seed developed with the most significant decline observed in the last 2 weeks of sampling. Seed weight peaked at R6 then gradually decreased thereafter, while seed hardness increased throughout the sampling period with ‘Asmara’ recording significantly higher seed hardness at R8. For both varieties, protein accumulation occurred mostly in the later stages, while significant lipid accumulation was observed in the early stages of development. Among the sugars, fructose content decreased with seed development, sucrose content increased to R6 before decreasing, and there was rapid accumulation of raffinose and stachyose in the last 2 weeks of sampling. Total phenolic content decreased between R5 and R6 but increased with further seed development. Tannin and phytate content in seed increased throughout the sampling period. Changes in trypsin inhibitory activity varied with variety reaching a maximum at R6 for ‘Asmara, and closer to maturation for “Mooncake’. Our data provide physical, chemical and anti-nutritional basis for harvesting vegetable soybean at R6 namely: peak seed weight and sucrose content, lower oligosaccharide and anti-nutrients values and intense green color.     

Headspace volatiles from frozen berries of sea buckthorn (Hippophaë rhamnoides L.) varieties

The volatile compounds of frozen berries of seven sea buckthorn (Hippophaë rhamnoides L.) varieties of two growing seasons were isolated with solid phase microextraction (SPME), and analyzed with gas chromatography mass spectrometry. A total of 45 volatiles were identified from the headspace. The most numerous compounds found were esters of short chain normal or branched alcohols and acids. Ethyl 2-methylbutanoate, ethyl 3-methylbutanoate, ethyl hexanoate, 3-methylbutyl 3-methylbutanoate, ethyl octanoate and 3-methylbutyl hexanoate were the most abundant compounds identified, and they contribute over 70% of the total peak area found in samples. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed differences between the years studied as well as between varieties. Raisa of ssp. rhamnoides origin had the highest variance in the volatile profile compared to the varieties of ssp. mongolica origin.