Almonds decrease postprandial glycemia, insulinemia, and oxidative damage in healthy individuals

Strategies that decrease postprandial glucose excursions, including digestive enzyme inhibition, and low glycemic index diets result in lower diabetes incidence and coronary heart disease (CHD) risk, possibly through lower postprandial oxidative damage to lipids and proteins. We therefore assessed the effect of decreasing postprandial glucose excursions on measures of oxidative damage. Fifteen healthy subjects ate 2 bread control meals and 3 test meals: almonds and bread; parboiled rice; and instant mashed potatoes, balanced in carbohydrate, fat, and protein, using butter and cheese. We obtained blood samples at baseline and for 4 h postprandially. Glycemic indices for the rice (38 +/- 6) and almond meals (55 +/- 7) were less than for the potato meal (94 +/- 11) (P < 0.003), as were the postprandial areas under the insulin concentration time curve (P < 0.001). No postmeal treatment differences were seen in total antioxidant capacity. However, the serum protein thiol concentration increased following the almond meal (15 +/- 14 mmol/L), indicating less oxidative protein damage, and decreased after the control bread, rice, and potato meals (-10 +/- 8 mmol/L), when data from these 3 meals were pooled (P = 0.021). The change in protein thiols was also negatively related to the postprandial incremental peak glucose (r = -0.29, n = 60 observations, P = 0.026) and peak insulin responses (r = -0.26, n = 60 observations, P = 0.046). Therefore, lowering postprandial glucose excursions may decrease the risk of oxidative damage to proteins. Almonds are likely to lower this risk by decreasing the glycemic excursion and by providing antioxidants. These actions may relate to mechanisms by which nuts are associated with a decreased risk of CHD.     

Relevant behavioural and social science for medical undergraduates: a comparison of specialist and non-specialist educators

AIM: To compare what medical educators who are specialists in the behavioural and social sciences and their non-specialist counterparts consider to be core concepts that medical graduates should understand. BACKGROUND: Previously perceived as 'nice to know' rather than 'need to know', the General Medical Council (GMC) now places behavioural and social sciences on the same need-to-know basis as clinical and basic sciences. Attempts have been made to identify what components of these topics medical students need to know; however, it remains unknown if decisions over programme content differ depending on whether or not educationalists have specialist knowledge of the behavioural and social sciences. METHODS: In a survey of medical educationalists within all UK medical schools, respondents were asked to indicate from a comprehensive list of psychological, sociological and anthropological concepts what they considered a minimally competent graduate should understand. Comparisons were made between the concepts identified by specialist behavioural and social science (BSS) educators and those without such training. RESULTS: Despite different disciplinary backgrounds, non-specialist educators largely concurred with BSS specialist educators in the concepts they considered tomorrow's doctors should know about. However, among BSS specialists there remained disagreement on what BSS content was relevant for graduates. Differences reflect specialist knowledge and recognition of the role of theoretical underpinning of BSS and reveal gaps in non-specialists knowledge. CONCLUSIONS: Educationalists with formal training in the full range of behavioural and social sciences should be involved in the development of BSS curriculum content at both national and school levels.     

The use of a test battery in marine ecotoxicology: the acute toxicity of sodium dodecyl sulfate

For a toxicity assessment of substances entering the marine environment, it is preferable to carry out ecotoxicological tests on a base-set of taxa utilizing target species belonging to different trophic levels. In this study a battery composed of Vibrio fischeri (bacteria), Dunaliella tertiolecta (algae), Tigriopus fulvus (crustacea), Paracentrotus lividus (echinodermata), and Dicentrarchus labrax (pisces) was used for acute toxicity testing of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). SDS is an anionic surfactant widely employed in industry, agriculture, and domestic usage and therefore is found in abundance in the environment, particularly in the sea. The mean values of EC50 obtained were 2.6, 4.8, 7.4, 3.2, 7.3 mg L(-1), respectively, for V. fischeri, D. tertiolecta, T. fulvus, P. lividus, and D. labrax. The results indicate the high acute toxicity of SDS with respect to all the trophic levels represented by the target species. In addition, they highlight the usefulness of employing a base-set of taxa rather than a single species in toxicological tests, in order to obtain more reliable information for the evaluation of toxicity and potential hazards to the marine environment of selected substances.     

Central acute D2 stimulation worsens bladder function in patients with mild Parkinson's disease

PURPOSE: The different roles of D1 and D2 dopamine receptors in LUT behavior have been demonstrated in animal studies. In particular D2 selective agonists and D1 selective antagonists seem to produce a reduction of the bladder capacity in conscious rats. This finding has never been confirmed in human studies. Thus, in this study we investigated the role of D1 and D2 agonists/antagonists on LUT behavior in patients with PD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 87 patients with mild PD were evaluated. Patients were evaluated with urodynamic studies (cystometry followed by a pressure flow study with perineal floor electromyography) performed in off status and after oral administration of 250 mg of LD. In 70 patients a third urodynamic evaluation was conducted in one of the following conditions: after simultaneous administration of 250 mg oral LD and 60 or 120 mg oral domperidone (D2 peripheral antagonist); after simultaneous administration of 250 mg oral LD and 25, 50 or 150 mg intramuscular L-sulpiride (D2 central and peripheral antagonist). Several urodynamic parameters were evaluated and results obtained in different conditions compared. RESULTS: LD alone worsened detrusor overactivity: in particular, a reduction of first urinary sensation, involuntary detrusor contraction threshold (reflex volume) and bladder capacity was observed. L-sulpiride (central and peripheral D2 antagonist) coadministration counteracted the worsening in a dose dependent manner. Domperidone (peripheral D2 antagonist) coadministration failed to determine the same counteraction. CONCLUSIONS: According to our results, a central acute D2 stimulation seems to be responsible of a reduction of bladder capacity with worsening of detrusor overactivity in patients with mild PD.     

Trastuzumab in combination with gemcitabine and vinorelbine as second-line therapy for HER-2/neu overexpressing metastatic breast cancer

The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of combined treatment with trastuzumab (T), gemcitabine (gem) and vinorelbine (vin) as second-line therapy for HER-2 overexpressing metastatic breast cancer, pretreated with anthracyclines and/or taxanes and/or trastuzumab. Eligible patients had HER-2/neu-positive disease (IHC 2+ or 3+), performance status (PS) or=2 metastatic sites. Of the patients, 7 (23.3%) had received trastuzumab as first-line therapy. Treatment was well-tolerated with grade 4 neutropenia in 6 patients, grade 3 thrombocytopenia and grade 3 anemia in 1 patient, and grade 3 asthenia in 4 patients. Fifteen patients obtained an objective response (response rate, 50%; C.I. 95%, range, 31.3-68.7%). Among the patients with HER-2/neu 3+, the response rate was 73.3%. Noteworthy were 4 objective responses observed in patients with brain metastasis. Also, 7 patients had stable disease (23.3%). Median progression-free survival was 7 months (range 5-10), and median overall survival was 15 months (range 5-33). T-gem-vin is a safe and active regimen in this subgroup of patients with poor prognosis, and the efficacy of such a schedule was particularly satisfactory in patients with HercepTest 3+.     

Reactive oxygen species in cardiac signalling: from mitochondria to plasma membrane ion channels

1. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been considered deleterious to cell function and there is good evidence to suggest that they play a role in the pathophysiology of a number of cardiac disease states. However, ROS are also now being recognized as important regulators of cell function by altering the redox state of proteins. 2. Possible sources of production of ROS in cardiac myocytes are the mitochondria and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-oxidase. The generation of ROS and anti-oxidant defence mechanisms in the heart are discussed. 3. The evidence for a role for ROS in the development of disease states, such as atherosclerosis, ischaemia, cardiac hypertrophy and hypertension, is presented. It is now recognized that cardiac ion channel function is regulated by ROS. Implications with respect to cardiac arrhythmia are discussed.     

In vitro interaction of human fibroblasts and platelets with a shape-memory polyurethane

Physicochemical and mechanical properties, in vitro cytotoxicity, cytocompatibility, and platelet adhesion were investigated on a shape-memory polyether-based polyurethane (MM-5520 SMPu) using the polyether-based Pellethane 2363-80AE (Pell-2363 SPU) as reference. MM-5520 SMPu and Pell-2363 SPU showed similar average molecular weights and different surface properties, with a higher hydrophilicity and roughness for the SMPu. By tensile tests and dynamic mechanical analysis, the peculiar characteristics of the MM-5520 SMPu were evidenced: strong temperature-dependent behavior for SMPu compared with SPU, and a high shape recovery. MM-5520 SMPu did not show any cytotoxic effect on the adhesion and proliferation of human skin fibroblasts and gingival fibroblasts, and a good cytocompatibility was observed with both cell types, as demonstrated by cell counting and scanning electron microscopy observations. SMPu compared with SPU showed higher adsorption of extracellular matrix proteins such as fibronectin, fibrinogen, and collagens. Proteins adsorbed onto SMPu significantly enhanced the adhesion and proliferation of human fibroblasts. The interaction of SMPu with platelets was studied with platelet rich plasma. Fewer platelets adhered to the SMPu, with minor morphological variations than onto the SPU. The cytocompatibility and hemocompatibility of MM-5520 SMPu combined with its unique properties such as change in shape or in stiffness, depending on practical requirements, make this shape-memory material potentially advantageous for biomedical applications.     

Molecular methodology in determining vaginal flora in health and disease: Its time has come

The microbial flora of the human vagina can affect the health of women, their fetuses, and newborns. Conventional cultivation methods fail to detect some fastidious vaginal bacteria, leading to an incomplete census. Recent advances in molecular biology have facilitated the detection and identification of bacteria without cultivation, and the advantages and limitations of this approach are described. Molecular studies of the vaginal flora have discovered many uncultivated bacterial species. For instance, several novel bacteria in the Clostridiales order are highly specific indicators of bacterial vaginosis, and bacteria related to Megasphaera, Leptotrichia, Atopobium, and Dialister species are commonly found in subjects with bacterial vaginosis. A more complete understanding of vaginal microbial populations resulting from the adoption of molecular tools may lead to better strategies to maintain healthy vaginal floras and will create opportunities to explore the role of novel bacteria in reproductive tract diseases.