Structural and functional changes in the liver of pregnant rats and their fetuses exposed to cadmium, benzol and lead nitrate

Lead nitrate administered to noninbred rats with drinking water on the level of IO MAC (0.3 mg/l) during the whole period of gestation lead to the strengthening of hepatotoxic effect of cadmium chloride (7.5 and 15 mg/kg daily by gavage from the 1st to 20th day of gestation), manifest in significant increase of the hepatocytes alteration index, increase of the number of the pyknotic cells of reticuloendothelial system, increase of the degree of dams' liver hepatocytes dystrophy, decrease in the specific volume of megakaryocytes in the liver of their fetuses.     

Protein quality and quantity influence free amino acid levels in the brain and serum of rats during lactation

Diets containing 11 or 21% protein supplied by wheat, wheat + lysine + threonine or casein + methionine were fed to pregnant rats from conception until d 4 or 8 of lactation. Dams then were decapitated, serum was collected and brains and left inguinal-abdominal mammary glands were quickly excised and weighed. Serum and brains were frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at -70 degrees C. Free amino acids in either serum or brain were not significantly different on d 8 as compared with d 4 of lactation. Increasing dietary protein quality or quantity increased concentrations of most essential amino acids in serum and brain. Changes in the concentrations of nonessential amino acids in serum or brain associated with increases in protein quality or quantity were variable. For all 16 amino acids measured, brain free amino acids were highly correlated with serum levels. In this experiment, pup growth varied from 0.3 g/d for the offspring of dams fed 11% wheat to 1.4 g/d for the offspring of dams fed 21% wheat + lysine + threonine. Concentrations of lysine and threonine in the brain were more than twice as high under the latter as compared with the former condition, but differences in all other amino acids among the dietary groups were small, ranging from -20% for glycine to +21% for leucine and isoleucine.     

Physical-activity-assessment measures compared in a biethnic rural population: the San Luis Valley Diabetes Study

We evaluated the consistency of three questionnaire methods of assessing work and leisure activity in the rural biethnic population of the San Luis Valley Diabetes Study. A 7-d physical activity recall (PAR), a ranking of usual activity, and a history of usual participation in vigorous activity were used. Energy expenditure (kJ.kg-1.wk-1) (EE) was estimated from PAR. Subjects were 503 adults [49% non-Hispanic white (NHW), 51% Hispanic]. Physical activity at work rather than leisure-time activity largely determined total energy expenditure. Average EE at work increased with work rank for all subjects combined [mean EE (SEE) for rank 1 (low) = 324.2 (24.4), rank 4 (high) = 874.0 (102.1)] and within sex, ethnic, and occupational subgroups. Leisure EE increased with leisure rank only for NHW men and employed women. Similar patterns were observed in comparisons of PAR data with history of vigorous activity. Further development and validation of instruments appropriate for use across population subgroups are needed.     

Human immunodeficiency virus infection in disadvantaged adolescents. Findings from the US Job Corps

OBJECTIVE--To describe the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic among socially and educationally disadvantaged young persons in the United States. DESIGN.-We analyzed demographic and geographic findings from the screening of Job Corps students for antibody to HIV. SETTING--The Job Corps is a federal training program for disadvantaged, out-of-school youth. POPULATION SCREENED--Residential students aged 16 to 21 years who entered the Job Corps from October 1987 through February 1990. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE--Rates of observed HIV infection in entering students, stratified by demographic and geographic features. RESULTS--Of 137,209 Job Corps students screened, 488 were HIV seropositive (3.6 per 1000), a seroprevalence rate higher than that among military applicants of the same age. Overall seroprevalence was slightly higher in male (3.7 per 1000) than in female (3.2 per 1000) Job Corps students, but among those students aged 16 and 17 years, seroprevalence was higher among females (2.3 per 1000) than among males (1.5 per 1000) (P less than .05). For students aged 16 to 21 years, seroprevalence increased with year of age: 1.8 per 1000 per year for males and 0.7 per 1000 per year for females. Among those aged 21 years, HIV prevalence was 8.9 per 1000. For black and Hispanic students from large Northeastern cities, seroprevalence increased by 4.3 per 1000 per year of age and reached 24.8 per 1000 (one of 40) in students aged 21 years. However, among students from rural areas and small towns, HIV seroprevalence was disproportionately high in the Southeast. Compared with recently described US patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, HIV-infected students who entered the Job Corps were much more likely to be female. CONCLUSIONS--These findings show that disadvantaged, out-of-school adolescents are at high risk for HIV infection. The screening results identified surprisingly high seroprevalence in the southeastern United States and demonstrated a marked shift in the HIV epidemic to young women. Controlling the HIV epidemic among teenagers must include interventions that will reach adolescents early and outside of the formal educational system.     

The Washington University-Barnes Hospital experience with lung transplantation. Washington University Lung Transplantation Group

OBJECTIVE.--To review our experience with lung transplantation, emphasizing recipient selection, choice of procedure, functional results, and outcome. DESIGN.--Retrospective review of patients who received lung transplants at Barnes Hospital, St Louis, Mo, between July 1, 1988, and January 31, 1991. SETTING.--Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo, and Barnes Hospital, a medical school and its affiliated referral hospital, respectively. PATIENTS.--Sixty-nine lung transplant procedures were performed in 66 recipients. Patients with clinically and physiologically severe lung disease were selected according to predetermined guidelines. Underlying diseases in the recipients included chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency emphysema, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, primary pulmonary hypertension, Eisenmenger's syndrome associated with an atrial septal defect, bronchiectasis, eosinophilic granuloma, and lymphangiomyomatosis. INTERVENTION.--Double-lung, bilateral sequential, and single-lung transplantations were performed. Eight patients underwent en bloc double-lung transplantations or a modification of this procedure with separate bronchial anastomoses. Thereafter, the bilateral sequential approach to replacement of both lungs was performed in 26 patients. Thirty-two patients underwent single-lung transplantations. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES.--Pulmonary function tests, arterial blood gas levels, pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance, and actuarial survival. RESULTS.--Actuarial survival at 1 year for the 66 lung transplant recipients was 79%. Actuarial survival at 1 year was 82% for the bilateral lung transplant recipients and was 90% for the single-lung transplant recipients. In patients with either restrictive or obstructive lung disease, pulmonary function tests and arterial blood gas levels improved markedly after lung transplantation. In patients with primary pulmonary hypertension or Eisenmenger's syndrome, the pulmonary artery pressure decreased and the cardiac index increased into the normal range after single-lung transplantation. CONCLUSIONS.--In carefully selected patients with end-stage lung disease, single-lung and bilateral lung transplantations can significantly improve functional capacity, with promising early actuarial survival statistics after 1 year.     

Variations in length of stay and outcomes for six medical and surgical conditions in Massachusetts and California

OBJECTIVES.--To determine the extent to which interinstitutional variations in length of stay are explained by differences in patient characteristics and to determine whether patients in hospitals with shorter lengths of stay had worse outcomes. DESIGN.--We reviewed patients' medical records and surveyed patients between 3 and 12 months after hospital discharge using a questionnaire. SETTING.--Six teaching hospitals in California and Massachusetts. PATIENTS.--A cohort of 2484 selected patients who had been hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction or to rule out acute myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass graft surgery, total hip replacement, cholecystectomy, or transurethral prostatectomy. Between 73% and 84% of the patients with each condition completed a follow-up questionnaire. OUTCOME MEASURES.--In-hospital complications, deaths, length of stay, functional status after hospital discharge, readmission, and patient satisfaction with hospital care were analyzed. RESULTS.--Significant interinstitutional differences in length of stay were noted for all conditions except rule-out acute myocardial infarction. Statistical adjustment for case-mix differences accounted for most of the interinstitutional differences in length of stay for total hip replacement but explained little of the differences in the other conditions. When we controlled statistically for other predictors, length of stay did not have a significant impact on deaths, functional status after hospital discharge, the probability of readmission, or patient satisfaction with hospital care. CONCLUSION.--More research is needed to determine the medical practices that are related to variations in lengths of stay. Routinely available outcome data may help preserve quality in the face of efforts to decrease costs by effecting more standardized practices of care.