Association of physiologic responses to metabolic changes in exhaustive physical exercise

The purpose of this work was to identify changes in some hematic variables in recreational athletes of middle level competition exposed to exhaustive physical exercise, as well as the association among physiologic changes, personal characteristics, and physical level produced by marathon running. Ten healthy males participated (20-55 years of age). Blood cell count, blood chemistry, lipids, and enzymes were determined. Exercise produced hemoconcentration by reduction in plasma volume (8%; p<0.05). There was significant increment in leukocytes (149%) by neutrophilia (64%) and decrease in lymphocytes (74%). Fibrinogen increased 10.7% (p<0.05). Lipids (CT, C-HDL) did not modify, except C-LDL, which increased significantly (71%), attributing this response to stress of the marathon. Triglyceride decreased 47%. Enzymes increased significantly, particularly CK. Age and physical activity were related with physiologic and metabolic variables, as demonstrated by multivariate analysis. These data contributed to new knowledge in physiologic responses of our ethnic race when exposed to exhaustive exercise such as a marathon. To these results new approaches of risk and different schedules of intervention programs could be generated for better and effective practice of physical exercise in our population.     

Qualitative Methodologies and Community Participation in Examining Reproductive Experiences: The Harlem Birth Right Project

Objectives: Racial disparities in health present a challenge to public health because of the complexity of interacting social forces. The Harlem Birth Right Project sought to improve understanding of these forces by using qualitative and community participatory methods. In this paper we 1) describe the process of qualitative inquiry and community involvement, 2) evaluate the impact of community participation, and 3) present a brief summary of the findings on social context as it relates to pregnancy outcomes of women in Harlem. Methods: We operationalized the qualitative method by combining participant observation, longitudinal case studies, and focus groups. An ethnographic survey was used to verify and triangulate findings across methods of data collection. We involved the community in the design, implementation, and analysis by collaborating with community-based organizations, setting up a community advisory board, and the use of dialogue groups and community meetings. Results: The use of qualitative methods and community partnership uncovered important aspects of the social context of women's lives that may not have emerged through traditional epidemiologic research. We found that pregnancy may serve as a catalyst to increase perception of the magnitude of preexisting social stressors. Several stressors and chronic strains associated with structural forces were identified. For example, the high percentage of households headed by women is seen as one consequence of larger structural forces. While social support networks serve as an important coping mechanism to buffer against the stress caused by these structural forces, the types of support women seek differs by social strata, and some strategies were identified as being substantially more effective than others. Conclusions: Qualitative and community participatory research can be successfully conducted to support public health goals and can derive important new information on the social context of women's lives.     

Effect of various trophic factors on bacterial translocation in experimental short bowel syndrome

Massive bowel resection triggers an adaptive process in the remaining intestine in spite of which, bacterial translocation (BT) is frequent under these conditions. Several trophic factors, including growth hormone (GH), epidermal growth factor (EGF) and insuline (INS) are involved in the process of adaptation in short bowel syndrome (SBS). However, the effect of GH, EGF or INS on BT has not been investigated experimentally. The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that GH, EGF or INS administration prevents BT in rats with SBS receiving only parenteral nutrition (PN). Thirty-seven adult Wistar rats underwent central venous cannulation and were randomly assigned to one of two groups receiving for ten days four treatment regimes: PN group (N = 10) fasting, all-in-one PN solution (300 mL/kg/24 h, 280 kcal/kg/24 h), 80% gut resection including ileo-cecal valve. GH group (N = 9) fasting, same PN regime and resection plus GH (1 mg/kg/d, s.c.). EGF group (N = 9): same PN regime and resection plus EGF (150 microgr/24 h, e.v.) INS group(N = 9): same PN regime and resection plus INS (1 U.I./100 g/24 h s.c.) At the end of the experiment the rats were exanguinated and mesenteric lymph nodes and samples of systemic and portal blood were obtained and cultured. Several samples of full-thickness jejunal wall were taken for measuring cell proliferation index (PCNA) and mucosal thickness. Jejunal mucosal thickness increased by 30%, 28% and 29% and PCNA index by 21%, 20% and 25% in GH, EGF and INS, treated rats respectively in comparison with those treated with PN alone. However, contrary to our expectations, BT expressed by positive culture of intestinal germs in systemic blood was demonstrated respectively in 44%, 40% and 28% of GH, EGF and INS animals, respectively, and in 0% of PN-only rats. Although exogenous GH, EGF or INS improves gut mucosal structure in rats with SBS treated with PN, it seems to increase rather than decrease mucosal permeability to intestinal germs in them.     

Loss of susceptibility to complement lysis in Entamoeba histolytica HM1 by treatment with human serum.

Following immunization with various lambda Bence-Jones proteins, over 100 hybridomas were established. A majority of the monoclonal antibodies (McAb) produced were demonstrated to recognize epitopes common to all lambda chains or unique to the immunogen. Twenty-nine McAb exhibited profiles of 'restricted' reactivity. Analysis with a panel of serologically defined antigens allowed McAb recognizing the lambda II subgroup to be identified. Other McAb recognized epitopes selectively expressed by lambda II and lambda III subgroup proteins. A further twenty-one McAb exhibited individual specificity profiles, some of which detect minor lambda chain subpopulations. Several of these McAb have potential for analysis of the clonality of specific antibody responses and for detecting monoclonal B-cell proliferations.     

Microwave fixation of whole peripheral nerve for rapid and efficient enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) screening of monoclonal antibodies

Testing hybridoma supernatants for antibodies of interest involves extensive screening, particularly when the immunogen comprises whole cells. The number of different screening procedures is often large and unmanageable and depends on whether one is interested in, for example, cell surface or intracellular binding. This paper describes an initial screening technique using whole tissue homogenate rather than the individual tissue components. The tissue is fixed to the surface of 96-well microtitre plates by microwaves using a conventional microwave oven. This technique provides a rapid and cost-effective means of screening large numbers of monoclonal antibodies.     

Characterization by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of the humoral immune response in patients with neurocysticercosis and its application in immunodiagnosis.

The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was standardized for the search for specific antibodies in human neurocysticercosis. A crude cysticercal extract and two partially purified antigenic fractions were used, as well as serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of different groups of subjects. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies were detected in serum and CSF, with a sensitivity of 85 and 90%, respectively. Specificity was 96% with a partially purified antigen and 100% with the crude cysticercal extract. IgM and IgA antibodies were detected less frequently, and IgE was detected only occasionally, both in serum and CSF. Analysis of serum and CSF samples drawn from the same patient did not always reveal the presence of anticysticercus antibodies in both samples. A significant correlation was found between the presence or absence of IgG antibodies in the CSF and the morphological appearance of the parasite (undamaged or calcified). Variations in the humoral response were not found to correlate with clinical and laboratory findings.     

The Test of Orientation for Rehabilitation Patients: interrater reliability

The Test of Orientation for Rehabilitation Patients (TORP) (Deitz, Beeman, & Thorn, in press) was developed for use with patients with brain injuries in inpatient rehabilitation settings. It was designed to assess orientation to person and personal situation, place, time, schedule, and temporal continuity. Interrater reliability for the TORP was examined with the use of 34 brain-injured and 35 non-brain-injured patients. Two occupational therapists trained in administering the TORP, as specified in the test manual (Dietz et al., in press), served as the examiners. One therapist administered and scored the test while the second therapist observed and scored the test for the same subject. Intraclass correlation coefficients, used as indexes of reliability for the scoring of the total test and subtests, ranged from .89 to 1.00 for the non-brain-injured group and from .94 to .99 for the brain-injured group. These findings suggest that an occupational therapist can reliably score the TORP for patients both with and without brain injuries.