Maintenance of physical activity in breast cancer survivors after a randomized trial

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the longer-term effects of pedometers and print materials on changes in physical activity (PA) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in breast cancer survivors who participated in a 3-month behavior change intervention. METHODS: Breast cancer survivors (N = 377) were randomly assigned to receive either (a) a standard public health recommendation for PA (SR), (b) previously developed breast cancer-specific PA print materials (PM), (c) a step pedometer (PED), or (d) a combination of the two (COM). The primary endpoint was self-reported moderate/vigorous PA minutes per week at 6-month follow-up after the initial 3-month intervention period. RESULTS: Seventy-one percent (266/377) of participants completed the 6-month follow-up assessment. According to intention-to-treat linear mixed-model analyses, self-reported moderate to vigorous PA increased by 9 min x wk(-1) in the SR group compared with 39 min x wk(-1) in the PM group (mean difference = 30 min x wk(-1); 95% CI = -44 to 104; P = 0.425), 69 min x wk(-1) in the PED group (mean difference = 60 min x wk(-1); 95% CI = -13 to 132; P = 0.107), and 56 min x wk(-1) in the COM group (mean difference = 47 min x wk(-1); 95% CI = -26 to 119; P = 0.210). The same pattern was observed for self-reported, brisk walking. No differences were found for HRQoL or fatigue. CONCLUSION(S): Breast cancer-specific PM and PED did not maintain significantly higher PA or HRQoL at 6-month follow-up in breast cancer survivors, but the magnitude of the effect on PA (30-60 min x wk(-1)) was consistent with the immediate postintervention effect observed at the 3-month postintervention time point. Issues of power resulting from additional loss to follow-up may account for the failure to achieve statistical significance. Additional research with larger sample sizes and more complete follow-up is warranted.     

Extracellular trypsin increases ASIC1a selectivity for monovalent versus divalent cations

Sustained proton activation of native ASIC channels in primary sensory neurons or HEK293 cells leads to a reduction in the peak amplitude of transient inward currents and the progressive development of a persistent component, which hinders titration experiments in pharmacological studies. Here we report that extracellular trypsin applied for 5 min at 10-45 microg/ml and/or a short exposure to high Ca2+ (75 mM for less than 1 min) alleviate the persistent component, improving reproducibility of acid-elicited transients. Selectivity measurements performed in current clamp mode, in essentially bi-ionic conditions, prove that these two treatments decrease hASIC1a permeability for divalent but not for monovalent cations, producing a significant change in P(Na)/P(Ca) from 8.2+/-2.1 (mean+/-S.D.) to 26.0+/-7.8 (trypsin) or 24.5+/-11.1 (high Ca2+). The slope conductance of the unit inward Ca2+ transient was also lowered from 5.7 to 2.7 pS after trypsin.     

Enregistrements vidéos et moments de force mesurés sur cycloergomètre : étude du transfert d'énergie entre membre inférieur et manivelle à vitesse élevée

In the field of radiation measurements the energy transfering mechanism has not been described in the case of liquid scintillators containing naphtalene. However, now, this one is an usual component of scintillating solutions. The experiments related in this paper show that naphtalene acts like an intermediate and a secondary solvent. The transfer processes chain is not the same when the energy transfer from the solvent to the primary solute is slow or when it is rapid. The quenching law is still linear with regard to quencher concentration when the scintillator contains naphtalene. But the quenching constant of many quenchers is smaller than the one measured when naphtalene is absent.

Abstract

B oблacти иэмepeний иэлyхeния (дoэимeтpии) нe был oпиcaн мeхaниэм пepeдaхи знepгии для cлyхaeв, кoгдa жидкocтныe cцинтиллятopы coдepжaт. нaфтaлин. oднaкo тeпepь oн являeтcя oбыхным кoмпoнeнтoм cцинтиллиpyыщих pacтвopoв. Упoминaeмыe в зтox cтaтвe oпыты пoкaзывaют, хтo нaфтaлин дexcтвyeт, кaк пpoмeжyтoхныx и втopихныx pacтвopитeль. Цeпь пpoцeccoв пepeдaхи нe являeтcя oдинaкoвox в cлyхaях мeдлeннox или быcтpox пepeдaхи знepгии oт paтвopитeля к пepвихнoмy pacтвopoннoмy вeщeтвy. Пpи coдepжaнии нaфтaлинa в cцинтиллятope зaкoн тyшeния ocтaeтcя в линexнoм cooтнoшeнии c кoнцeнтpaциex ингибитopa. Ho кoнcтaнтa тyшeния мнoгих ингибитopoв нижe, хeм кoнcтaнтa пpи иэмepeниях, кoгдa нoгдa нaфтaлин oтcyтcтвycт.

Zusammenfassung

Auf dem Gebiete der Strahlungsmessungen ist der Energieübertragungs-mechanismus mit einem Naphtalingehalt noch nicht beschrieben worden. Dies ist jedoch nunmehr ein üblicher Bestandteil der Szintillator-lösungen. Die in diesem Beitrag beschriebenen Versuche zeigen, dass Naphtalin wie ein Zwischen- und ein Sekundär-Lösungsmittel wirkt. Die Kette der Übertragungsvorgänge ist nicht dieselbe bei einer langsamen Energieübertragung vom Lösungsmittel auf die gelöste Substanz wie bei einer schnellen Übertragung. Das Lchgesetz ist immer noch linear mit Bezug auf die Löschmittelkonzentration, wenn der Szintillator Naphtalin enthält. Die Löschkonstante vieler Löschmittel ist jedoch kleiner als bei Abwesenheit von Naphtalin gemessen.

Posterior ischemic optic neuropathy after hemodialysis

PURPOSE: To report a case of visual loss from posterior ischemic optic neuropathy (PION) after hemodialysis. DESIGN: Observational case report. METHODS: Neuro-ophthalmic examination, neuro-imaging including computed tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head and orbits, and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) of the neck and cerebral vasculature, as well as electrophysiologic testing including electroretinogram (ERG) and visually evoked response (VER) were performed. RESULTS: Acute onset of painless bilateral no light perception vision with absent pupillary response to light and normal funduscopic examination occurred shortly after completion of hemodialysis. Computed tomography scan and MRA results were normal. Magnetic resonance imaging scan showed small vessel ischemic white matter changes. Electroretinogram results were normal and the VER was unrecordable. CONCLUSIONS: Visual loss after hemodialysis is a rare complication and is associated with anemia and hypotensive events. The visual loss is usually a result of anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. We were unable to find another instance in the literature of visual loss after hemodialysis resulting from PION.     

Incisional hernia repair using full-thickness intraperitoneal mesh

Prosthetic materials proved to be a real success for incisional hernia repair, still there is a strong debate regarding the best mesh and procedure to be used. Most surgeons avoid full-thickness replacement with intraperitoneal mesh because, occasionally, an intense inflammatory response may lead to severe adhesions or enterocutaneous fistula. Still, interposition of the omentum between the abdominal contents and the mesh is a safe and natural method of visceral protection. Since July 1998, we used this technique in 33 cases treated for antero-lateral abdominal defects, operations that were followed by only 15% early and 3% late complications. Monofilament polypropylene meshes (Bard, Davol Inc.) were used in most cases. Although our results need further evaluation, may be considered favourable on short and medium term comparing to Romanian experience, which is based mainly on extraperitoneal placement of the mesh. The study is a good opportunity to review the literature regarding this issue.     

Sympathetic ophthalmia, case report

We present the case of a 61 years old male, who developed symphathetic ophthalmia, following a penetrating injury in one eye. After the injury had been sutured, the traumatized eye was red and painful. Considering the risk of sympathetic ophthalmia, the doctor decided the enucleation of the injured eye, but the patient refused and he had not come back to the recommended follow-ups. He returned to the hospital seven months later with decreased visual acuity in both eyes, caused by bilateral uveitis. The diagnosis was sympathetic ophthalmia. He improved and recovered an acceptable visual acuity after enucleation of the injured eye and the administration of both topical and systemic steroids. But the premature stopping of the maintenance therapy with low-dose systemic steroids, results in a relapse--a worse uveitis.     

Fetal Umbilical Arterial Pulsatility Correlates With 2-Year Growth and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Congenital Heart Disease

BackgroundChildren with congenital heart disease (CHD) are at risk of adverse long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes, believed to be, in part, secondary to prenatal insults. Placental pathology and altered fetal middle cerebral arterial (MCA) flow suggestive of brain sparing have been documented in fetal CHD. In the present study we investigated the relationship between MCA and umbilical arterial (UA) flow patterns in fetal transposition of the great arteries (d-TGA) and hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) and growth and 2-year neurodevelopmental outcomes.MethodsWe included children with d-TGA and HLHS who had third-trimester fetal echocardiograms between 2004 and 2014, at which time umbilical artery (UA) and MCA pulsatility indices (PIs) were measured, and who underwent 2-year growth and neurodevelopmental assessments.ResultsWe identified 24 children with d-TGA and 36 with HLHS. Mean age at fetal echocardiography was 33.8 ± 3.5 weeks. At 2-year follow-up, head circumference z score (standard deviation [SD]) was –0.09 (1.07) and 0.17 (1.7) for the d-TGA and HLHS groups, respectively. Bayley III mean (SD) cognitive, language, and motor scores were 97.7 (10.8), 94.7 (13.4), and 98.6 (8.6) for the d-TGA group and 90.3 (13.9), 87.2 (17.5), and 85.3 (16.2) for the HLHS group. On multivariate linear regression analysis, UA-PI was associated (effect sizes [95% CI]) with length (–1.45 [–2.7, –0.17], P = 0.027), weight (–1.46 [–2.6 to –0.30], P = 0.015) and cognitive scores (–14.86 [–29.95 to 0.23], P = 0.05) at 2 years of age. MCA PI showed no statistically significant correlation.ConclusionsIn fetal d-TGA and HLHS, a higher UA-PI in the third trimester, suggestive of placental insufficiency—but not MCA-PI—is associated with worse 2-year growth and neurodevelopment.     

Whooping cough in South-East Romania: a 1-year study

The incidence of whooping cough in Romania is substantially underestimated, and, as noted by the health authorities, this is mostly due to the lack of both awareness and biological diagnosis. We conducted a 1-year study in Bucharest in order to assess the circulation of Bordetella pertussis, the main etiological agent of whooping cough. Fifty-one subjects suspected of whooping cough were enrolled. Culture, real-time PCR, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used for laboratory diagnosis. Whooping cough patients (63%) were distributed among all age groups, and most were unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or had been vaccinated more than 5 years previously. Bordetella holmesii DNA was detected in 22% of the bordetellosis cases; these patients included adults; teenagers; and, surprisingly, young children. B. pertussis isolates were similar to the clinical isolates currently circulating elsewhere in Europe. One isolate does not express pertactin, an antigen included in some acellular pertussis vaccines.