Role of omega-3 ethyl ester concentrate in reducing sudden cardiac death following myocardial infarction and in management of hypertriglyceridemia: An Indian consensus statement

IntroductionSudden cardiac death (SCD) is the most lethal manifestation of heart disease. In an Indian study the SCDs contribute about 10% of the total mortality and SCD post ST elevation myocardial infarction (MI) constitutes for about half of total deaths.ObjectiveGiven the limitations of existing therapy there is a need for an effective, easy to use, broadly applicable and affordable intervention to prevent SCD post MI. Leading cardiologists from all over India came together to discuss the potential role of n-3 acid ethyl esters (90%) of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) 460 mg & docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) 380 mg in the management of post MI patients and those with hypertriglyceridemia.RecommendationsHighly purified & concentrated omega-3 ethyl esters (90%) of EPA (460 mg) & DHA (380 mg) has clinically proven benefits in improving post MI outcomes (significant 15% risk reduction for all-cause mortality, 20% risk reduction for CVD and 45% risk reduction in SCD in GISSI-Prevenzione trial) and in reducing hypertriglyceridemia, and hence, represent an interesting option adding to the treatment armamentarium in the secondary prevention after MI based on its anti-arrhythmogenic effects and also in reducing hypertriglyceridemia.     

大学生饮酒模式调查分析

目的分析影响大学生饮酒模式的因素,针对饮酒教育及酒精政策提出建议。方法采用整群抽样方法,选择来自北京和郑州的530名大学生完成有效问卷调查。采用 Epidata 录入数据,SAS 12.0和 R 2.7.2进行数据描述和分析。结果74.5%的大学生在过去1年内饮过酒,啤酒是饮酒者的主要选择（85.9%）,餐馆和家里是饮酒比较频繁的场所,饮用酒多来自同学/朋友及家庭成员提供,25.3%饮酒者并无特别原因饮酒,各有约1/5的饮酒者是出于社交目的或喜欢饮酒的感觉。认为“饮酒有助于社交暠或“饮酒促进交流暠者、父母及同学/朋友饮酒者、来自农村地区或小城镇者及吸烟者更容易发生饮酒行为（均 P 〈0.05）,男生大学生、规律饮酒者更容易遭遇强迫劝酒场面、更易发生醉酒（均 P 〈0.05）。超过一半饮酒者出现酒后脸红、肌肉软弱无力等生理反应,饮酒对被调查大学生产生的社会心理影响依次是记忆丧失（23.9%）、宿醉（14.6%）、做了后悔的事（低于10%）等。结论目前大学生仍保持着一种低风险饮酒模式。大学生饮酒教育应提供关于饮酒利弊的科学信息,使其对饮酒保持一种现实的期望。应制定针对性酒精政策和教育鼓励和支持低风险且满足社交功能的饮酒模式,控制高风险饮酒模式。     

Surface-active phospholipid as the lubricating component of lubricin

To resolve the apparent conflict between a lubricating glycoprotein, 'lubricin', as the active ingredient in synovial fluid (SF) and surface- active phospholipid (SAPL) present in SF (and adsorbed to articular cartilage) as the boundary lubricant reducing friction to such low physiological levels, lubricin was isolated from bovine SF following the original procedure of Swann et al. (Arthritis Rheum 1981;24:22-30). Analysis of the lipid extract by thin-layer chromatography and phosphorus determination demonstrated a phospholipid component of 11.1 +/- 1.7% (N = 5) which corresponds very closely to the 9.2-13.0% of lubricin which had hitherto remained unidentified and which has previously been shown to be transferable to the articular surface to impart lubrication. These results would appear to resolve any theoretical conflict in that lubricin is, indeed, an active ingredient within SF. Yet, as a large water-soluble molecule, it really functions as a carrier for the highly insoluble SAPL which it deposits on the articular surface as the oligolamellar layer visualized in previous studies. However, it is this deposited SAPL, rather than lubricin, which actually lubricates.      

Study of the pituitary-thyroid functions at high altitude in man.

The alterations in serum levels of T3, T4, TSH and TBG, TSH response to 100 mug iv TRH, and urinary excretion of T3 and T4 were studied in 8 healthy men at sea level (SL), on days 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 after arrival by air at high altitude (3,700 m, HA), and during days 5 to 7 after their return to SL. No significant alterations in serum levels of TSH and TBG or TSH response to TRH were observed during exposure to HA or on return to SL. There was, however, an acute elevation in both serum total T3 and T4. Serum total T3 from a mean basal+/-SE value of 128+/-13 ng/dl increased to 320+/-18 on day 1 and remained significantly elevated at 225+/-48 up to day 8 after arrival at high altitude. Similarly serum total T4 increased from basal level of 9+/-0.92 mug/dl to 15.2+/-1.2 and remained elevated till day 16 and it was 11+/-1.19 mug/dl during days 5 to 7 after return to SL. The urinary excretion of both T3 and T4 was decreased. These changes perhaps were the result of complex physiologic adjustments on acute exposure to high altitude, like shrinkage of the T3 and T4 distribution pools, altered binding capacities of thyroid hormones binding proteins, and a reduction in clearance of thyroid hormones from the plasma compartment; and were probably not suggestive of an enhanced thyroid activity. Their actual significance in high altitude adaptation in man is not clearly understood.