Effects of a 10-week exercise intervention programme on exercise and work capacities in Belfast's ambulancemen

The objective of the present study was to investigate the occupationalbenefits of an exercise intervention programme, including changesin physical working capacity and other physical fitness measureson a group of Belfast ambulancemen. Physical training was performedtwice weekly for 10 weeks and consisted primarily of indoorsoccer and circuit-training sessions. Both experimental (n=8)and control subjects (n=6) were assessed for height (HT), weight(WT), body composition (percentage fat), standing broad jump(SBJ), flexibility (Flex), and sit-up performance (SU). Theexperimental group was further assessed for blood pressure (BP),hand grip strength (HGS), maximal oxygen consumption ($$$O₂max), end lactate concentration (EL), anaerobic threshold (AT)and leg strength (LS). Working capacity was also assessed duringa staged emergency incident, using a portable telemetric gasanalyser. Significant changes in the experimental group werefound following training for Flex, SU, SBJ, $$$O₂ max (all P<0.05),EL and AT (P<0.01). A significant drop in the metabolic costof the simulated emergency incident was also noted followingtraining. No significant differences were found for the controlgroup over the experimental period. The present study indicatedthat a twice-weekly exercise intervention programme was effectivein improving the physical fitness of Belfast's ambulancemen.Such a programme could prove cost-effective by increasing workcapacity and decreasing absenteeism related to musculoskeletalinjury.     

Partner acceptance of health department notification of HIV exposure, South Carolina

To determine the acceptability of health department notification of sex and needle-sharing partners of persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), we administered an anonymous questionnaire to partners notified of their exposure to HIV during the previous 2 years. Of the 202 partners notified, 132 (65%) were locatable and completed the questionnaire. Only 12 (9%) thought they may have been exposed to HIV before health department notification. When the 132 partners were asked if they thought the health department did the right thing in telling them about their exposure, 87% responded "yes;" when asked if the health department should keep notifying persons exposed to HIV, 92% responded "yes." Responses were similar for homosexual-bisexual men, heterosexuals, and intravenous drug users; men and women; and whites and blacks. We conclude that health department notification is acceptable to persons exposed to HIV in this rural South Carolina district.     

Characterisation of a myofibroblast-like cell line from an angiosarcoma

We have isolated a cell line (ASMM) by serial passage of cells from explant cultures of an angiosarcoma resected from the calf of a 62 year old female. ASMM has been in continuous culture for over eighteen months (>150 population doublings) and has a Fibroblast-like morphology with a doubling time of approximately 72 h. ASMM has a normal diploid karyology and is unable to generate tumors in nude mice or produce colonies in soft agar. Examination of the cytoskeletal proteins shows both desmin and vimentin and a low level of alpha-smooth muscle actin, which can be upregulated by treatment with TGF beta. Low levels of basal VCAM-1 are significantly upregulated with TNF alpha and reduced by the presence of TCF beta. Basal ICAM-1 is also upregulated with TNF alpha and we show an additional upregulation through TGF beta. ASMM expresses high levels of the hyaluronate receptor CD44, including the variant exons 6, 8 and 10. In addition, ASMM synthesises high levels of hyaluronate (HA), as did the original tumor. Unlike human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) these cells were unable to generate capillary-like tubes when seeded onto basement membrane gels, and generated cords of cells containing many synthetic organelles and intermediate filaments. We were unable to detect the expression of factor VIII-related antigen, von Willebrand factor (vWF), CD31 or CD34, and were not able to induce expression of E-selectin after TNF alpha stimulation. In conclusion, this cell line represents a partially transformed population of cells which show characteristics consistent with myofibroblast-like cells. The production of high levels of HA and expression of CD44 may help to explain the high degree of agressiveness of the tumor from which ASMM was derived, as these molecules have been shown to play a role in cell motility and adhesion.     

Disposition and metabolic fate of atomoxetine hydrochloride: pharmacokinetics, metabolism, and excretion in the Fischer 344 rat and beagle dog.

These studies were designed to characterize the disposition and metabolism of atomoxetine hydrochloride [(-)-N-methyl-gamma-(2-methylphenoxy)benzenepropanamine hydrochloride; formerly know as tomoxetine hydrochloride] in Fischer 344 rats and beagle dogs. Atomoxetine was well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and cleared primarily by metabolism with the majority of its metabolites being excreted into the urine, 66% of the total dose in the rat and 48% in the dog. Fecal excretion, 32% of the total dose in the rat and 42% in the dog, appears to be due to biliary elimination and not due to unabsorbed dose. Nearly the entire dose was excreted within 24 h in both species. In the rat, low oral bioavailability was observed (F = 4%) compared with the high oral bioavailability in dog (F = 74%). These differences appear to be almost purely mediated by the efficient first-pass hepatic clearance of atomoxetine in rat. The biotransformation of atomoxetine was similar in the rat and dog, undergoing aromatic ring hydroxylation, benzylic oxidation (rat only), and N-demethylation. The primary oxidative metabolite of atomoxetine was 4-hydroxyatomoxetine, which was subsequently conjugated forming O-glucuronide and O-sulfate (dog only) metabolites. Although subtle differences were observed in the excretion and biotransformation of atomoxetine in rats and dogs, the primary difference observed between these species was the extent of first-pass metabolism and the degree of systemic exposure to atomoxetine and its metabolites.     

The Australian First‐time Grandparents Study: Time spent with the grandchild and its predictors

Aim: This paper presents data on the amount of contact a large cohort of first‐time Australian grandparents have with their grandchild, and the amount of child care they provide. It compares these with grandparents' expectations and desired levels. Method: Prospective grandparents were assessed on multiple measures before the birth of their grandchild, and at 6, 12, 24 and 36 months thereafter. Results: At the 12‐month assessment, grandmothers had approximately 15 hours per week contact, and provided approximately 7.5 hours per week of child care. The corresponding figures for grandfathers were 9.5 hours and 5 hours respectively. Approximately 10% of grandparents reported no contact with their grandchild, and 30–40% reported undertaking no child care. Almost half the grandparents desired more contact than they were actually getting. Conclusion: Accurate quantification of contact and care is a prerequisite for investigation of the impact of the transition to grandparenthood on health and well‐being.