Effect of hypothermia on lactate acidosis in experimental ischemia of rat brain]

The aim of the work was to evaluate the effect of hypothermia on lactate level in the rat cerebral ischaemia. Adult male Wistar rats were subjected to injection of 0.05 ml of air into the ligation of left common carotid artery. Lactate level increased in cerebral hemispheres after 4 hours following air emboli. Mild hypothermia (28 degrees-31 degrees C) continued for 4 hours of cerebral ischaemia, and its beneficial effect was observed. A statistically significant decrease of lactate concentration was noted. The above phenomenon was confirmed by the increase of cerebral acidosis after 24 hours when mild hypothermia was interrupted from the 4th hour of the experiment on. It seems to be of a great importance to adjust proper time of initiation and a duration of hypothermia in cerebral ischaemia treatment.     

Oral pilocarpine HCl stimulates labial (minor) salivary gland flow in patients with Sjögren's syndrome

Pilocarpine HCl has been shown to stimulate parotid and submandibular gland salivary flow. The purpose of this study was to determine whether this cholinergic-muscarinic drug also stimulates labial (minor) salivary gland (LSG) flow and to relate that with whole unstimulated salivary (WUS) flow rateS. Subjects diagnosed with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS-1; n = 9) or secondary Sjögren's syndrome (SS-2; n = 9) were enrolled in this study after meeting stringent enrollment criteria. An age-gender matched control group was also enrolled. The labial saliva was collected in a standardized manner on Per-iopaper® for 5 min and the volume was analysed by the Periotron®.Whole unstimulated salivary samples were collected for 5 min by the method of Mandel and Wot-man (1976).Each subject was dosed with pilocarpine HCl (5 mg; tablets; p.o.).After 60 min the LSG flow as well as the WUS flow was determined again as previously. The results indicated a significant (>180%) increase in both labial salivary gland flow as well as whole salivary flow in the SS-1 and SS-2 subjects (mean ± S. e.m.): [SS-1: WUS = 0.1080 ± 0.03 vs 0.2242 ± 0.03 ml per 5 min; LSG = 93.1 ± 22.2 vs 167.8 ± 15.9 μl/5 min; P < 0.001; SS-2: WUS = 0.1384 ± 0.02 vs 0.2775 ± 0.09 ml per 5 min; LSG = 97.7 ± 20.2 vs 182.8 ± 17.9 μl per 5 min; P < 0.001]. These results indicate a significant increase in labial salivary gland flow as well as whole salivary flow as stimulated by pilocarpine HCI in Sjögren's syndrome patients.     

Endolymphatic sac-vein decompression for intractable Meniere's disease: long term treatment results.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine the long-term efficacy of endolymphatic sac-vein decompression surgery on patients with classic Meniere's disease. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Using the 1995 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Committee on Hearing and Equilibrium criteria, starting stage, functional level, vertigo class, and hearing results were addressed. We studied 68 patients with classic Meniere's disease from a tertiary, private otology-neurotology practice. Patient data were gathered by retrospective chart review, questionnaire, and patient interview. All patients underwent endolymphatic sac-vein decompression with an average follow-up period of 55 months. RESULTS: Median functional level before surgery was level 4, improving to level 2 after surgery. Eighty-one percent of patients showed improvement in functional level, 12% remained stable, and 7% declined. Long-term vertigo control was 47% in class A, 25% in class B, 9% in class C, 3% in class D, and 16% in class F. Twenty percent of patients were in hearing stage I Meniere's disease; 31%, stage II; 44%, stage III; and 5%, stage IV. Eighteen percent of patients showed improvement in hearing class, 64% were stable, and 18% declined. CONCLUSION: Endolymphatic sac-vein decompression surgery is a safe, nondestructive surgical option for Meniere's disease that offers durable control of vertigo and stabilization of hearing for the majority of symptomatic patients. SIGNIFICANCE: The beneficial long-term outcome of the endolymphatic sac-vein decompression supports its continued use as a first-line treatment option in intractable Meniere's disease.     

Physical activity and plasma interleukin-6 in humans – effect of intensity of exercise

The present study included data from three marathon races to investigate the hypothesis that a relationship exists between running intensity and elevated concentrations of interleukin (IL)-6 in plasma. The study included a total of 53 subjects whose mean age was 30.6 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.4] years, mean body mass 77.7 (95%CI 2.0) kg, mean maximal oxygen uptake (V˙O_2max) 59.3 (95%CI 1.4) ml · min⁻¹ · kg⁻¹, and who had participated in the Copenhagen Marathons of 1996, 1997 or 1998, achieving a mean running time of 206 (95%CI 7) min. Running intensity was calculated as running speed divided by V˙O_2max. The concentration of IL-6 in plasma peaked immediately after the run. There was a negative correlation between peak IL-6 concentration and running time (r=−0.30, P < 0.05) and a positive correlation between peak IL-6 concentration and running intensity (r=0.32, P < 0.05). The IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) plasma concentration peaked 1.5 h after the run and there was a positive correlation between the peak plasma concentrations of IL-6 and IL-1ra (r=0.39, P < 0.01). Creatine kinase (CK) plasma concentration peaked on the 1st day after the run, but no association was found between peak concentrations of IL-6 and CK. In conclusion, the results confirmed the hypothesized association between plasma IL-6 concentration and running intensity, but did not confirm the previous finding of a connection between IL-6 plasma concentration and muscle damage. Accepted: 6 August 2000     

Helicobacter pylori protein oxidation influences the colonization process

Dsb proteins control the formation and rearrangement of disulfide bonds during the folding of membrane and exported proteins. Here we examined the role of DsbI protein in Helicobacter pylori pathogenesis and demonstrated that a dsbI mutant impaired in disulfide bond formation revealed a greatly reduced ability to colonize mice gastric mucosa.     

Recently Certified Athletic Trainers' Undergraduate Educational Preparation in Psychosocial Intervention and Referral

Context:

“Psychosocial Intervention and Referral” is one of the 12 content areas established by the National Athletic Trainers'' Association Education Council and is required to be taught in athletic training education programs (ATEPs). The perceived preparation of athletic trainers (ATs) in this content area has not been evaluated.

Objective:

To explore the preparation level of recently certified ATs within the content area of “Psychosocial Intervention and Referral.”

Design:

Qualitative design involving semistructured, in-depth, focus group interviews.

Setting:

Interviews were conducted at 2 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I institutions in 2 regions of the United States.

Patients or Other Participants:

A total of 11 recently certified ATs who met predetermined criteria were recruited. The ATs represented a range of undergraduate ATEPs and current employment settings.

Data Collection and Analysis:

Focus group interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed deductively. Peer debriefing and member checks were used to ensure trustworthiness.

Results:

The ATEPs are doing an adequate job of preparing ATs for many common communication and interpersonal issues, but ATs report being underprepared to deal with athlete-related issues in the areas of motivation and adherence, counseling and social support, mental skills training, and psychosocial referral.

Conclusions:

Limitations of undergraduate ATEPs regarding preparation of athletic training students within the “Psychosocial Intervention and Referral” content area were identified, with the goal of improving athletic training education. The more we know about the issues that entry-level ATs face, the more effectively we can structure athletic training education.