Chronic alterations in energy metabolism in the burned rat

Growth rates and food consumption were measured in rats following a non lethal scald burn on 26–28 per cent body surface to develop an animal model for studies of chronic metabolic alterations in the post burn recovery period. The injury was produced by immersing the dorsum of 235–260 g rats in 90°C water for 10 seconds. The burned animals grew at an attenuated rate compared to controls. At 11 weeks post burn, prior to the wound healing of the first rat, the burned animals weighed only 394 ± 10 g v. 494 ± 9 g (mean ± s.e.) in controls. At 42 weeks, when half of the animals healed, the body weight of healed rats (547 ± 16 g) was lower (P<0·05) than that of controls (618 ± 14 g), but greater (P<0·001) than that of their unhealed counterparts (426 ± 13 g). During the period from 42 to 63 weeks the weight of healed rats gradually approached that of controls (P<0·3) while the growth of unhealed animals was virtually arrested. During the first 10 days post burn, food consumption was diminished. However, in the subsequent period food intake per unit of body weight or body surface, which were linearly related for the weight range studied, was elevated in burned rats. At 11 weeks the corrected food consumption of burned animals was elevated 30 per cent (P<0·001). At 42 and 63 weeks, unhealed rats consumed 32 per cent (P<0·001) and 43 per cent (P<0·001) more per unit body weight or surface than corresponding controls. During this later period, the relative food consumption of healed animals became equal to that of controls. The persistently elevated food consumption per unit of body weight or surface suggests the development of hypermetabolism in burned rats. This similarity to burned patients may permit elucidation of factors controlling energy metabolism after thermal injury.     

Toxicological comments to the discussion about REACH

It is the ultimate goal of the intended REACH process (Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals) of the European Union to identify substances of hazardous properties and to evaluate the risks of human and environmental exposure. During the last few months there has been a controversial discussion as to what extent in vitro studies and consideration of structure activity relationship provide sufficient information to waive repeated exposure studies. Industry as well as certain regulatory agencies or NGOs support this approach and propose that repeated dose studies may only be required beyond 100 t/a. From a toxicological point of view it has to be stressed that this discussion primarily considers the cost reduction and protection of animals, whereas protection of human health and the environment are secondary. In vitro studies only allow identification of specific hazardous properties which can be detected by the specific test system. Moreover, appropriate information on the dose response of adverse effects, identification of thresholds and NOELs that are essential for risk characterization cannot be obtained from these studies. Consequently, identification of all relevant hazardous properties and endpoints of adverse effects can only be determined in the intact animal by repeated dose studies such as 28-day or 90-day studies. In the absence of such information the hazard identification is incomplete and there is no basis for appropriate risk assessment of human exposure. Thus, any waiving of repeated dose studies in animals bears the probability of unforeseen effects in case of acute or continuous human exposure. From this the undersigning European Toxicologists conclude: 1. The intention of REACH is to identify hazardous properties in order that a reliable risk assessment can be made and measures taken to deal with chemicals posing a significant risk. 2. The recent debate has centered on ways in which the well established in vivo methods for risk assessment can be bypassed. 3. The evidence that the available alternatives would support such replacement is weak. Progress to improve their value for risk assessment purposes is bound to be slow because the issues are very complex. As a group of European Toxicologists we strongly support the need for more research support in these areas, but we believe that over claims for progress is damaging their development. 4. Under the circumstances only two options are available: to reduce very substantially the estimation of hazard and risk with inevitable adverse consequences for human health and environmental protection, or to continue the existing methods until properly validated new methods are available.     

Access to water in the countries of the former Soviet Union

BACKGROUND: During the Soviet period, authorities in the USSR invested heavily in collective farming and modernization of living conditions in rural areas. However, many problems remained, including poor access to many basic amenities such as water. Since then, the situation is likely to have changed; economic decline has coincided with migration and widening social inequalities, potentially increasing disparities within and between countries. AIM: To examine access to water and sanitation and its determinants in urban and rural areas of eight former Soviet countries. METHODS: A series of nationally representative surveys in Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Ukraine was undertaken in 2001, covering 18,428 individuals (aged 18+ years). RESULTS: The percentage of respondents living in rural areas varied between 27 and 59% among countries. There are wide urban-rural differences in access to amenities. Even in urban areas, only about 90% of respondents had access to cold running water in their home (60% in Kyrgyzstan). In rural areas, less than one-third had cold running water in their homes (44% in Russia, under 10% in Kyrgyzstan and Moldova). Between one-third and one-half of rural respondents in some countries (such as Belarus, Kazakhstan and Moldova) obtained their water from wells and similar sources. Access to hot running water inside the homes was an exception in rural households, reflecting the lack of modern heating methods in villages. Similarly, indoor access to toilets is common in urban areas but rare in rural areas. Access to all amenities was better in Russia compared with elsewhere in the region. Indoor access to cold water was significantly more common among rural residents living in apartments, and in settlements served by asphalt roads rather than dirt roads. People with more assets or income and living with other people were significantly more likely to have water on tap. In addition, people who had moved in more recently were more likely to have an indoor water supply. CONCLUSIONS: This was the largest single study of its kind undertaken in this region, and demonstrates that a significant number of people living in rural parts of the former Soviet Union do not have indoor access to running water and sanitation. There are significant variations among countries, with the worse situation in central Asia and the Caucasus, and the best situation in Russia. Access to water strongly correlates with socio-economic characteristics. These findings suggest a need for sustained investment in rebuilding basic infrastructure in the region, and monitoring the impact of living conditions on health.     

Thrombin induced pulmonary insufficiency

We determined the effects of thrombin infusion alone and thrombin infusion during the inhibition of fibrinolytic activity by tranexamic acid on the pulmonary hemodynamics and gas exchange. The results indicated marked intravascular coagulation and pulmonary thromboembolization as determined by pre-injection with ¹²⁵I-fibrinogen only in dogs in which fibrinolytic activity was simultaneously inhibited. The increased pulmonary localization of ¹²⁵I-activity was associated with progressive hypoxemia, increase in pulmonary vascular resistance and development of pulmonary edema. Therefore, pulmonary insufficiency developed following thrombin infusion only when the fibrinolytic activity was inhibited.     

Adaptation to high altitude hypoxia as a factor preventing development of myocardial ischemic necrosis

Adaptation to high altitude hypoxia reduces the mortality rate in rats with a ligated coronary artery by 5 or 6 times and the size of ischemic necrosis by 35 percent. This adaptation also minimizes the disturbances of the heart's contractile function in ischemic myocardial necrosis. The deficit in the contractile force during maximal load on the heart is 4.4 times smaller in rats adapted to hypoxia than in rats not so adapted. The primary factor contributing to the preventive effect of adaptation to high altitude hypoxia in ischemic necrosis is an increased capacity of the oxygen transport and utilization (mitochondrial) systems in the heart muscle of the adapted animals.     

Ovarian cancer in Europe: Cross-sectional trends in incidence and mortality in 28 countries, 1953-2000

We have considered trends in incidence and mortality in 28 European countries using incidence data from successive volumes of Cancer Incidence in Five Continents and mortality from the WHO database. Countries with the highest rates in the early 1960s included the Nordic countries, Austria, Germany and the United Kingdom, but trends in these areas have tended to decline over recent calendar periods, particularly with regard to mortality. Southern European countries showed upward trends, at least until the early 1980s for France and Italy. Likewise, in most central and eastern European countries, ovarian cancer incidence and mortality rates were originally relatively low, but tended to rise over time. Falls in mortality, but not in incidence, over recent years were observed in the Czech Republic and Hungary. In several countries, mainly in northern Europe, trends were more favorable at younger age (25-49 years) than in the subsequent age groups. Thus, recent trends in ovarian cancer have led to a leveling of rates across various areas of the continent, although a 2.5-fold variation was still observed in the late 1990s between the highest mortality rate of 9.3/100,000 in Denmark and the lowest one of 3.6 in Portugal. These patterns should be viewed in the light of an observed reduction in parity, mainly in southern and eastern Europe, and the spread of oral contraceptive use, mainly in northern Europe, since these are the best recognized protective factors with regard to ovarian carcinogenesis. The declining mortality trends can also in part be ascribed to improvements in treatment.     

Rap system of stress stimulation can promote bone union after lower tibial bone fracture: a clinical research

Background Lower tibial bone fracture may easily cause bone delayed union or nonunion because of lacking of dynamic mechanical load.Objective Research Group would design a new instrument as Rap System of Stress Stimulation (RSSS) to provide dynamic mechanical load which would promote lower tibial bone union postoperatively.Methods This clinical research was conducted from January 2008 to December 2010, 92 patients(male 61/female 31, age 16-70years, mean 36.3years) who suffered lower tibial bone closed fracture were given intramedullary nail fixation and randomly averagely separated into experimental group and control group(according to the successively order when patients went for the admission procedure). Then researchers analysed the clinical healing time, full weight bearing time, VAS (Visual Analogue Scales) score and callus growth score of Lane-Sandhu in 3,6,12 months postoperatively. The delayed union and nonunion rates were compared at 6 and 12 months separately.Results All the 92 patients had been followed up (mean 14 months). Clinical bone healing time in experimental group was 88.78±8.80 days but control group was 107.91±9.03days. Full weight bearing time in experimental group was 94.07±9.81 days but control group was 113.24±13.37 days respectively (P<0.05). The delayed union rate in 6 months was 4.3% in experimental group but 10.9% in control group(P<0.05). The nonunion rate in 12 months was 6.5% in experimental group but 19.6% in control group(P<0.05). In 3, 6, 12 months postoperatively, VAS score and Lane-Sandhu score in experimental group had more significantly difference than them in control group.Conclusions RSSS can intermittently provide dynamic mechanical load and stimulate callus formation, promote lower tibial bone union, reduce bone delayed union or nonunion rate. It is an adjuvant therapy for promoting bone union after lower tibial bone fracture.