Effects of dietary vitamin E and high supplementation of vitamin C on plasma glucose and cholesterol levels

Weanling male Sprague Dawley rats were fed ad libitum a purified basal diet free of vitamins E and C. In Experiment I (4 weeks), 24 rats were divided into four groups with 2×2 factorial design. They were supplemented with 0 or 45 IU/kg diet of vitamin E, and O or 2.0 g/kg diet of vitamin C. In Experiment II (16 weeks), 36 rats were divided into six groups with 2×3 factorial design. Vitamin E was supplemented at the level of O or 45 IU/kg diet, and vitamin C was supplemented at the level of O, 1.5, or 3.0 g/kg diet, respectively. Plasma glucose level and cholesterol level were determined in both experiments. The plasma levels of glucose and cholesterol were significantly and negatively correlated. Plasma glucose level was significantly increased and plasma cholesterol level significantly decreased by the high supplementation of vitamin C with or without vitamin E in the diet. Vitamin E deficiency decreased plasma glucose level and increased plasma cholesterol level significantly with or without vitamin C supplementation. The groups with adequate level of vitamin E (45 IU/kg diet) and no vitamin C showed moderate plasma glucose and cholesterol levels.     

Medication induced gingival overgrowth

A number of idiopathic, pathological and pharmacological reactions may result in an overgrowth of the gingiva. This review concentrates on those overgrowths associated with various pharmacological agents. The pharmacokinetics and side effects of each drug associated with gingival overgrowth are discussed along with the clinical and histological features and treatment. By examining the possible pathogeneses for these overgrowths we propose a unifying hypothesis for the causation based around inhibition of apoptosis and decreased collagenase activity modulated by cytoplasmic calcium.     

Influence of food restriction coupled with weight cycling on carcass energy restoration during ad-libitum refeeding

Mature (450 g) rats were subjected to food restriction (60 percent of usual intake) with or without weight cycling (produced by cycles of 3 days of fasting followed by 7 days of refeeding). Weight cycling did not affect body weight, body composition, or food efficiency during the restriction period. However, the group subjected to weight cycling (WC) had an elevated level of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity in the epididymal adipose tissue as compared to the group receiving a constant amount of food each day (CO). After 40 days (four 10-day cycles) of food restriction, rats were allowed ad-libitum access to a stock diet for 18 days. WC rats restored carcass energy more rapidly, with a greater food efficiency than CO rats. Carcass energy was not totally restored at the end of the 18-day period, but WC rats had regained significantly more total carcass energy and total fat-free dry weight (FFDW) than CO rats. Food intake during refeeding did not differ significantly between WC and CO rats. These results suggest that weight cycling in a food-restricted program has the potential to increase food efficiency during a subsequent refeeding period.     

A clinical,epidemiological and genetic study of hereditary motor neuropathies in Benghazi,Libya

Summary A 4-year-search for spinal muscular atrophies (hereditary motor neuropathies, HMN) in Benghazi, Libya, yielded a total of 24 patients, among whom 18 were index cases. This group comprised 6 acute infantile, 12 chronic childhood, and 3 each with adult-onset proximal, and distal forms of the disorder. Distal HMN constituted 12.5% of the total cases. The crude average annual incidence of acute infantile HMN was 0.3/100,000 total population and 1/12,500 births in Benghazi. The crude prevalence rates of chronic childhood, adult-onset proximal, and distal types of HMN were 2.3, 0.6, and 0.6/100,000 respectively. The segregation ratios, 0.26 for acute infantile HMN and 0.24 for chronic childhood HMN, suggested autosomal recessive inheritance. The consanguinity rates among parents of cases and the population did not differ significantly.     

A new porous cohesive support bandage

A new support bandage has been developed that is cohesive, sticking only to itself without adhering to the skin. It is warpknit product, impregnated with an acrylic compound, that consists of individual panels connected by a hinge stitch. It exhibits moderate extensibility under low loads which allows the health professional to apply the bandage so that it gives firm support to the underlying tissue without constriction. Its macroporous structure permits sufficient water vapor transmission to allow the underlying skin and/or wound to remain dry.     

The Living Organ Donor Network: a model registry for living kidney donors

Abstract:  The South-Eastern Organ Procurement Foundation presents the first report on a programme to track donors through questionnaires completed at the time of donation, 3 months, 6 months, and yearly thereafter. Donors at participating centres were eligible for an insurance policy with a total benefit of $250 000, covering accidental death related to donation, surgery, medical expenses of complications, and disability income. The four participating centres have registered 104 donors. Response rate to the questionnaires was 90.91%. The majority of the donors come from the immediate family (81.62%), either by blood or marriage. The majority of donors are employed full time, with income ranges similar to the national census. Donors rely on employer-provided vacation time and sick leave to recuperate, but the average donor required 12 days of unpaid leave before returning to work. Donors also experienced costs of transportation, lodging, and childcare. Anti-depressants were prescribed to 10.58% of donors, and 4.8% of donors reported they are treated for hypertension. Complications were reported by 37.5% of the donors, but only 7.6% of the complications were serious enough to require hospitalization or surgery. Donors reported higher complication rates than reported by the centres and experience financial burdens afterwards.