Recovery from infectious mononucleosis after altitude training in an elite middle distance runner.

OBJECTIVES: This investigation was designed to monitor altitude acclimatisation in an elite cohort of distance runners and follow the subsequent recovery from infectious mononucleosis which developed in one of these athletes. METHODS: Twenty six national standard distance runners performed treadmill tests 24 days before they travelled to an altitude camp (1500 to 2000 m). One of these athletes was diagnosed as suffering from infectious mononucleosis 14 days after return to sea level. A physician prescribed an individualised training programme which was designed to maximise recovery from the condition, which was monitored on days 16 and 147 after altitude training. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that the athlete was in a state of over-reaching during the altitude sojourn. After return to sea level, the early stages of infectious mononucleosis resulted in a marked impairment in physiological response to endurance exercise, which improved over time. Longitudinal physiological monitoring in conjunction with a carefully prescribed training programme made recovery from this condition possible.     

Increased heritability for lower IQ levels?

Dettermanet al. (1990) presented evidence based on twins that the heritability of IQ may be higher in the lower part of the IQ range. We first offer an alternative test for differential heritability across the IQ range, based on the analysis of absolute intrapair differences of monozygotic versus dizygotic twins. We then review two previous studies, each containing more twins than the sample of Dettermanea al., which examined the distribution of intrapair absolute differences. In contrast to the study of Dettermanet al., both yielded results more compatible with higher heritability in the upper range of IQ. We discuss various interpretations of these findings and show how our proposed test might aid in distinguishing among them.     

A high performance liquid chromatography method for the detection of brodifacoum in serum

A procedure for the detection of brodifacoum (BDF) in serum was developed. Extraction of BDF was achieved by acidification of 2 ml of serum with 1 ml of 1.5% acetic acid followed by dual extractions with 10 ml diethyl ether and ether: acetonitrile [1:1]. In spiking experiments, 68 +/- 3, 61 +/- 4 and 65 +/- 5% of added BDF was recovered from serum containing 1000, 100 and 25 ng BDF/ml, respectively. Two high performance liquid chromatography solvent systems were used for chromatographic separation (A: 1.5% acetic acid, pH 4.5: acetonitrile [1:2] with 1% dibutylamine; and B:O.2 M tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane, pH 7.5:acetonitrile [1:3]). Detection limits were 75 and 3 ng BDF/ml of serum using ultraviolet absorption (254 nm) and fluorescence measurement (313 nm excitation, 375 nm emission), respectively. This method has been used successfully to monitor serum concentrations of BDF in experimental and field cases of exposure.     

Calciphylaxis – a topical overview

'Calciphylaxis', a calcification syndrome associated with ischaemic cutaneous necrosis, is acquired naturally in humans in disease states. It is a life and limb-threatening complication, usually observed in patients with renal disease and secondary hyperparathyroidism, but known to occur in the absence of renal or parathyroid disease. The reported mortality rate, which ranges from 60-80%, relates to wound infection, sepsis and organ failure. It is a small-vessel vasculopathy, which is estimated to occur in about 4% of haemodialysis patients. Clinically, violaceous, reticulate areas of cutaneous necrosis and eschar may be evident, particularly in the extremities. In addition to the clinical picture, a raised calcium phosphorous product, an elevated parathyroid hormone level, radiographic evidence of vessel and soft-tissue calcification and the finding of mural calcification affecting small arteries and arterioles on histopathology help to confirm the diagnosis of this entity which generally has a poor prognosis. A high index of suspicion and an active multidisciplinary management approach, with rigorous attention to wound care and prevention of sepsis, are vital in the management of these patients. In this overview, we discuss the pathophysiology, clinical features and associations, risk factors, diagnosis and management issues relating to calciphylaxis.     

On the dual structure of the auditory brainstem response in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To use the over-complete discrete wavelet transform (OCDWT) to further examine the dual structure of auditory brainstem response (ABR) in the dog. METHODS: ABR waveforms recorded from 20 adult dogs at supra-threshold (90 and 70dBnHL) and threshold (0-15dBSL) levels were decomposed using a six level OCDWT and reconstructed at individual scales (frequency ranges) A6 (0-391Hz), D6 (391-781Hz), and D5 (781-1563Hz). RESULTS: At supra-threshold stimulus levels, the A6 scale (0-391Hz) showed a large amplitude waveform with its prominent wave corresponding in latency with ABR waves II/III; the D6 scale (391-781Hz) showed a small amplitude waveform with its first four waves corresponding in latency to ABR waves I, II/III, V, and VI; and the D5 scale (781-1563Hz) showed a large amplitude, multiple peaked waveform with its first six waves corresponding in latency to ABR waves I, II, III, IV, V, and VI. At threshold stimulus levels (0-15dBSL), the A6 scale (0-391Hz) continued to show a relatively large amplitude waveform, but both the D6 and D5 scales (391-781 and 781-1563Hz, respectively) now showed relatively small amplitude waveforms. CONCLUSIONS: A dual structure exists within the ABR of the dog, but its relative structure changes with stimulus level. SIGNIFICANCE: The ABR in the dog differs from that in the human both in the relative contributions made by its different frequency components, and the way these components change with stimulus level.     

Propylene glycol as a vehicle for percutaneous absorption of therapeutic agents.

Propylene glycol (PG) was evaluated as a vehicle for the in vivo percutaneous absorption of the hydrochloride salts of desipramine, nortriptyline, procainamide, and N-acetyl-procainamide. Each drug was administered topically to hairless (hr-1/hr-1) mice in water and in aqueous 10% and 50% PG. Mean drug concentrations in blood, brain, heart, liver, and lung were measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography after either two or three hours of topical absorption. The presence of PG generally enhanced the absorption of each drug, and the degree of enhancement appeared to be related to the percentage of PG in the dosing solution.