Edge enhancement of ECG-gated cardiac images using directional masks

ECG-gated images were processed by a computer using a nonlinear digital filter and directional masks to improve delineation of cardiac chamber boundaries and identification of the aortic and mitral valve planes. This technique proved to be satisfactory in 30 patients with documented coronary or valvular heart disease.     

Premenstrual syndrome

Until relatively recently there has been a reluctance to accept premenstrual syndrome as a serious condition. Premenstrual symptoms occur in 95% of all women of reproductive age. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) occurs in about 5% of those women. PMS patients appear more susceptible to their normal ovarian hormone cycle. The increased sensitivity may be due to neurotransmitter dysfunction (possibly serotonin). However, the definitive aetiology is not known. PMS results from ovulation and appears to be caused directly by the progesterone produced following ovulation in women who have enhanced sensitivity to this progesterone. Treatment can thus be achieved by suppression of ovulation or reducing progesterone sensitivity; the latter seems achievable by the administration of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors. Ovulation can be suppressed by a variety of methods, and oestrogen is frequently employed with success. Here, the authors describe an evidence-based approach to the management of PMS.     

Evaluation of mental health recovery and Wellness Recovery Action Planning education in Ireland: a mixed methods pre-postevaluation

higgins a., callaghan p., devries j., keogh b., morrissey j., nash m., ryan d., gijbels h. & carter t. (2012)?Evaluation of mental health recovery and Wellness Recovery Action Planning education in Ireland: a mixed methods pre-postevaluation. Journal of Advanced Nursing68(11), 2418-2428. ABSTRACT: Aim. To report a study evaluating the effectiveness of a Wellness Recovery Action Planning education programme. Background. Internationally, mental health policy is advocating using recovery approaches to care. Underpinning these approaches is investment in education in recovery principles and methods and a need to provide evidence of the impact of this education. Design. The study design employed a mixed methods approach. Methods. Using questionnaires and focus groups, we evaluated 2- and 5-day Wellness Recovery Action Planning Education Programmes and assessed participants' attitudes towards recovery, knowledge of recovery and Wellness Recovery Action Planning beliefs. Data were collected between 2009 and 2010. Participants were people with personal experience of mental health problems, practitioners in mental health services and family members/carers of those with mental health problems. Results. Comparing the pre and postmeasures showed that the programme increased participants' knowledge of and attitudes towards recovery and Wellness Recovery Action Planning. Although this increase was statistically significant for the 2-day programme, it was not so for the 5-day programme. Participants reported being very positive and enthusiastic about the programme and the benefits they had achieved personally and professionally as a result of participating. Conclusions. This exploratory study shows that providing mental health practitioners and people with personal experience of mental health problems with a systematic education and training in recovery principles using the Wellness Recovery Action Planning approach leads to positive changes in people's knowledge, skills and attitudes towards recovery. This education appeared to inspire, invigorate and empower people, and for many, it was a life changing experience.     

Synergistic action of calcium ionophore A23187 and phorbol ester TPA on B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells

The peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 16 patients with B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL, n = 13), B-prolymphocytic leukemia (B-PLL, n = 2) or hairy cell leukemia (n = 1) were incubated in the presence of the phorbol ester 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and the calcium ionophore A23187. A synergy between these inducers was found with respect to morphological changes and B cell proliferation and differentiation. A23187 used alone did not activate the cells. B-CLL cells treated with the double stimulus acquired a plasmacytoid morphology, showed significantly higher incorporation of 3H-thymidine and 3H-uridine, and produced significantly higher amounts of monoclonal immunoglobulin compared with the same cells exposed to either of the inducers alone. These results indicate that phorbol ester and calcium ionophore act synergistically on B-CLL cells to induce proliferation and differentiation. B-PLL cells responded more vigorously to the signals provided by TPA and A23187. Previous studies showed that TPA and A23187 can mimic the two physiological second messengers diacylglycerol and inositol trisphosphate in the transduction of signals leading to cell activation, proliferation, and differentiation in normal B cells. The present findings suggest that the capacity of B- CLL and B-PLL cells to differentiate in response to signals of the second messenger pathway is intact.     

17beta-estradiol supplementation decreases glucose rate of appearance and disappearance with no effect on glycogen utilization during moderate intensity exercise in men

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Women use less carbohydrate during endurance exercise, as compared with men. In rodents, 17beta-estradiol (E2) supplementation robustly increases lipid use and lowers muscle and liver glycogen use during exercise. E2 supplementation has been found to influence substrate selection by decreasing glucose rate of appearance (Ra), disappearance (Rd), and metabolic clearance rate during exercise in humans; however, neither a change in total carbohydrate use nor a sparing of muscle glycogen was demonstrated. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We investigated the effect of 8 d of E2 (2 mg/d) supplementation on glucose turnover and net muscle glycogen use in 11 men using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design. Subjects underwent primed constant infusion of [6,6-(2)H]glucose, and muscle biopsies were taken before and after 90 min of cycling at 65% maximal oxygen uptake. RESULTS: E2 supplementation decreased the respiratory exchange ratio (P = 0.03) and glucose Ra and Rd (both P = 0.04) during exercise, as compared with placebo. E2 supplementation lowered proglycogen (P < 0.05) and total glycogen (P = 0.04) concentration, as compared with placebo; however, there was no effect of E2 on net muscle glycogen use during exercise. CONCLUSIONS: These findings show that E2 supplementation alters fuel selection in exercising men by increasing lipid use and reducing carbohydrate use, glucose Ra (primarily liver glucose production), and Rd (primarily muscle glucose uptake). Furthermore, E2 reduces the basal level of total muscle glycogen, particularly the proglycogen form.