Histochemically demonstrable sodium-potassium-activated adenosine triphosphatase (Na-K-ATPase) activity in the rat lens

The rat lens epithelium was subjected to histochemical examination in order to demonstrate sodium-potassium-activated adenosine triphosphatase reaction. The histochemical technique was specifically adapted to demonstrate the sodium-potassium activated fraction of the enzyme activity. The precise localization of the enzyme activity in the lens epithelium was demonstrated.It was found that fixation in 2·5% glutaraldehyde for 30 min gave relatively good cytological preservation, but did not unduly inhibit the enzyme activity. The incubation solution contained 3 mm-ATP, lead and magnesium as well as 70 mm-sodium and potassium. When the inhibitory effect of ouabain was to be demonstrated, this treatment had to be carried out prior to fixation.Sodium-potassium-activated adenosine triphosphatase activity was localized on the epithelial cell membranes of the lens. The precipitate was observed on those parts of cell membranes where two adjoining cells were in contact with each other. The cytoplasm of the epithelial cells was negative, whereas the lens fibres seemed to contain some precipitation, which, however, did not fulfill the specifications for the enzyme and was thus considered not to demonstrate the real activity.The results obtained indicated that sodium-potassium activated ATPase, which has been supposed to be responsible at least partly for the ion and water transport of the lens, acts on the epithelial cell mambranes, but what direction this pumping mechanism takes is not yet clear.     

EMG,muscle fibre and force production characteristics during a 1 year training period in elite weight-lifters

Summary The effects of a 1 year training period on 13 elite weight-lifters were investigated by periodical tests of electromyographic, muscle fibre and force production characteristics. A statistically non-significant increase of 3.5% in maximal isometric strength of the leg extensors, from 4841±1104 to 5010±1012 N, occured over the year. Individual changes in the high force portions of the force-velocity curve correlated (p<0.05–0.01) with changes in weight-lifting performance. Training months 5–8 were characterized by the lowest average training intensity (77.1+2.0%), and this resulted in a significant (p<0.05) decrease in maximal neural activation (IEMG) of the muscles, while the last four month period, with only a slightly higher average training intensity (79.1±3.0%), led to a significant (p<0.01) increase in maximum IEMG. Individual increases in training intensity between these two training periods correlated with individual increases both in muscular strength (p<0.05) and in the weight lifted in the clean & jerk (p<0.05). A non-significant increase of 3.9% in total mean muscle fibre area occurred over the year. The present findings demonstrate the limited potential for strength development in elite strength athletes, and suggest that the magnitudes and time courses of neural and hypertrophic adaptations in the neuromuscular system during their training may differ from those reported for previously untrained subjects. The findings additionally indicate the importance of training intensity for modifying training responses in elite strength athletes.     

Moderate running exercise augments glycosaminoglycans and thickness of articular cartilage in the knee joint of young beagle dogs

The local influences of physical exercise on thickness and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content of canine articular cartilage were measured by microspectrophotometry of Safranin O- and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS)-stained tissue sections. Female Beagle dogs were housed in individual cages (bottom 0.9 × 1.2 m) and divided into runner (n = 6) and control (n = 8) groups. The trainig program started at the age of 15 weeks. During the subsequent 10 weeks, the dogs were accustomed to running on a treadmill inclined 15° uphill. Thereafter, the dogs ran 1 h daily, 5 days a week, at a speed of 4 km/h for 15 weeks. At the age of 40 weeks, the dogs were killed, and the samples for histology were taken from 11 different anatomical locations of the right knee (stifle) joint. The thickness of the uncalcified cartilage increased 19–23% on the lateral condyle and patellar surface of the femur, whereas the enhancement was smaller in other parts of the trained cartilage. The calcified cartilage did not show thickness alterations. Total GAGs were augmented by 28% in the summits on the femoral condyles, more on the medial than lateral side. The increased GAGs appeared to be predominantly chondroitin sulphates and were localized in the intermediate, deep, and even in the calcified zones, whereas the superficial zone did not show changes. There was a concomitant increase of non-GAG oligosaccharides in the intermediate and deep zones, but not in the calcified cartilage. As judged from the enhanced GAG content and thickness, it is considered that moderate running exercise locally alters the biological properties of young articular cartilage at regions bearing the highest loading surplus.     

Modification of gonadectomy-induced increases in brain monoamine metabolism by steroid hormones in male and female rats

Concentrations of monoamines (dopamine, DA; serotonin, 5-HT) and their major metabolites (homovanillic acid — HVA; dihydroxyphenylacetic acid — DOPAC; 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid — 5-HIAA) were measured in selected brain areas of chronically gonadectomized, steroid- or oil-treated male and female rats. Concentrations of DOPAC and HVA were markedly increased in the hypothalamus (male, female), striatum (male, female) and brainstem (male) following gonadectomy, whereas the levels of DA remained unaltered in most of the brain areas examined. Most of the changes were reversed or attenuated by chronic estradiol (EB) substitution. In contrast, chronic treatment with physiological concentrations of testosterone (TP) reduced indexes of DA turnover only in the striatum of ovariectomized (OVX) and brainstem of orchidectomized (ORDX) rats. ORDX-related increases in striatal levels of DOPAC and HVA were not reversed by either EB or TP. ORDX increased the levels of 5-HIAA (hypothalamus, striatum) and decreased those of 5-HT (hypothalamus, hippocampus). These changes were reversed by chronic treatment with either TP or EB. Brain metabolism of 5-HT remained unaltered following OVX.

Gonadectomy and chronic steroid replacement therapy appear to alter brain monoamine metabolism in a brain region and sex-dependent manner. Our data demonstrate that gonadectomy-related increases in the activity of brain monoaminergic neurons in both male and female rats was attenuated more effectively with physiological concentrations of estradiol than with testosterone. Insensitivity of monoaminergic neurons in a number of brain areas (e.g., hypothalamus, striatum) to the action of testosterone was evident in both sexes.     

Studies of carcino-fetal proteins: physical and chemical properties of human alpha-fetoprotein

To obtain information on the relationship between a carcino-fetal protein, α-fetoprotein, fetal proteins from other species and other human serum proteins including the fetoprotein in patients with hepatocellular cancer, α-fetoprotein was purified and characterized from the serum of human fetuses. The protein is composed of a single polypeptide chain. A molecular weight of 70,000 was obtained by gel electrophoresis in the presence of SDS and by gel filtration. The isoelectric point of α-fetoprotein was found to be 4.75. It contains 4.3% carbohydrate with 2 moles of sialic acid per mole of protein. The amino acid composition of α-fetoprotein was determined.     

Incidence and Prognosis of Ischemic Heart Disease with Respect to Geographical Area

ABSTRACT. Ischemic heart disease is more common in East Finland than in West Finland, but systematic comparison and follow-up of incidence figures have not been possible. In 1972 the personal identification number became included in the hospital discharge records, which made it possible to link death certificate data with hospital records from the whole country. The results of this study suggest that high mortality from IHD in some regions is more closely associated with high incidence than a high fatality rate. The proportion of deaths outside hospitals showed large variation by province but this had rather little effect on the total one-year survival rates.     

Adhesion-related readmissions after surgery for deep endometriosis with the use of icodextrin—long-term results

Icodextrin (Adept®) has been shown to prevent postoperative adhesions in experimental and laparoscopic adhesiolysis surgery. However, the role of icodextrin in the prevention of adhesions in extensive gynecological surgery is unclear. The present study evaluated the effect of icodextrin on adhesion-related readmissions after extensive gynecological surgery. The hospital readmissions of 140 endometriosis patients operated on at Päijät-Häme Central Hospital in 2004–2008 with the use of icodextrin were retrospectively reviewed. The evaluation of readmissions focused on adhesion-related disorders and reoperations. If an abdominal or pelvic reoperation was performed, the extent of the adhesions was classified. The mean follow-up time was 6.53 years (range 0.21–9.83). After initial surgery, one patient (0.7 %) had adhesive small bowel obstruction. Another directly adhesion-related readmission occurred in two patients (1.4 %). The number of readmissions possibly related to adhesions was 3 (2.1 %). Abdominal or pelvic reoperation was performed on 54 patients (38.6 %): 4 in the open surgery group and 50 in the laparoscopic surgery group. The extent of the adhesions among the 54 reoperated patients was as follows: not mentioned in 16 patients, no adhesions in 14, mild in 18, moderate in 5, and severe in 1. There were two (3.7 %) bowel injuries (one enterotomy and one serosal lesion) in reoperations. The incidence of adhesion-related readmissions after the use of icodextrin is relatively low. This favorable result may be partly related to the laparoscopic technique. Despite the use of an anti-adhesion agent, in some patients, the extent of postoperative adhesions is severe.     

Prevalence of oral mucosal lesions associated with wearing removable dentures in Finnish adults

Of a representative sample of 8000 persons aged 30 and over living in Finland, 3875 users of removable dentures were examined. The condition of the oral mucosa was recorded during clinical examinations. The prevalence of oral mucosal lesions associated with removable dentures was analyzed according to age, sex, place of residence, geographical region of living, and type and location of prosthesis. Lesions were found in about 50% of the denture wearers. Women were affected more often than men. The prevalence of lesions decreased with age and differed slightly according to region of living and place of residence. Compared with the wearing of partial dentures, wearing complete dentures increased the risk of lesions. Only one of the 72 denture users who wore a denture with metallic base plate had oral mucosal lesions associated with wearing a denture.