Increased plasma free tryptophan levels in human cancer: a tumor related effect?

High free tryptophan (F-TRP) plasma levels are found in cancer patients (CP). F-TRP plasma concentrations are affected by the levels of its carrier, albumin (ALB), and free fatty acids (FFA) competing with TRP for ALB binding sites. The lack of correlation between F-TRP, ALB and FFA in CP suggests a tumor-dependent effect on the rise in F-TRP. To verify this hypothesis, F-TRP, ALB and FFA levels were assayed in 12 lung and 16 breast CP susceptible to radical surgery, before and 15 days after surgical removal of the tumor. F-TRP levels significantly decreased after tumor ablation. Since no correlation was found between F-TRP, ALB and FFA variations, it is conceivable that the tumor itself may be responsible for the high F-TRP levels in CP.     

Increasingly distant from life: problem setting in the organization of home care

Abstract The analysis undertaken in this paper explores the significance of a central finding from a recent field study of home care case management practice: a notable feature of case management work is the preparation of an orderly, ordered space where care may be offered. However, out of their encounters with an almost endless variety of situations, out of people's diverse narratives of need, case managers seem able to pick out only limited range of recognized needs to which to respond and demonstrate a series of responses themselves equally limited. Though this observation suggests a kind of efficiency that is currently highly valued within healthcare systems, it also underlines the system's inability to engage difference and variability in a meaningful way. This inability or limitation in effectively engaging difference is conceptualized here as, in some sense, a problem, and the nature of this problem is explored through the rhetorical process of problem setting. The central question becomes how might we develop and deploy an orderly and coherent system of care without essentializing people's experiences, without treating these experiences reductively, without, in a Foucaultian frame of reference, allowing what can be understood as similarity or resemblance among clients and situations to be folded back into sameness? As we encounter complexity, variability and difference in practice, how should we treat it?     

Acute reversible reduction of PGI2 platelet receptors after iloprost infusion in man

Platelet sensitivity to PGI2 and platelet PGI2 receptors were investigated in eight subjects with peripheral artery disease (stage IV according to Fontaine) treated for 14 consecutive days with six hour iv infusion of Iloprost (Schering, FRG) 2 ng/Kg/min. Platelet studies were performed on the 1st, the 2nd, the 7th and the 14th day of therapy, immediately before infusion (between 8.00 and 9.00 a.m.), at the end and 6 and 18 hours (the following morning) after the end of the infusion. Platelet sensitivity to PGI2 was assessed by determining the PGI2 inhibitory dose 50(ID 50) on platelet aggregation induced by 5 μM ADP. PGI2 platelet receptors were investigated by a direct radioligand binding assay.

PGI2 ID 50 after the infusion was significantly higher than that at baseline(p<0.01) and six hours later the baseline sensitivity was restored. After the six hour Iloprost iv infusion a significant reduction in the number of high affinity PGI2 platelet receptor (HAR) was observed (p<0.005) without any change in their affinity for the ligand. Six hours after the end of the infusion the number of the HAR was still significantly reduced (p<0.05). The following morning the receptor number of HAR was restored. The baseline values of PGI2 HAR, when reassessed after seven and fourteen days of treatment, were not significantly different from those recorded on the first day of therapy. These data indicate that the reduction of platelet PGI2 sensitivity following short-term Iloprost infusion is rapidly reversible and is related to a contemporary down-regulation of PGI2 platelet receptors. However the observed decrease of the number of PGI2 receptors, in the absence of any changes in affinity for the ligand, seems unable to explain the reduced biological effects so that the existence of other post-binding alterations could be postulated.     

Fantasy Sports: A Growing Concern Among College Student-Athletes

Participation in fantasy sports has become increasingly popular. Typical gambling activities such as poker, sports wagering and, sports lotteries, share many similar characteristics with fantasy sports playing. Research has shown that not only are college students more likely to partake in risky behaviors (gambling, alcohol and drug use), but those who partake in fantasy sports are also more likely to experience gambling-related problems. However, no published studies have examined the relationship between student-athletes and fantasy sports participation. Using data from the 2004, 2008 and 2012 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) studies assessing gambling behaviors and problems among U.S college student-athletes, this study aims to explore the prevalence and growth in fantasy sports among student-athletes. Further, it examines whether, in the 2012 study, student-athletes qualifying as at-risk or having gambling problems participate more often in fantasy sports. Overall a steady increase in fantasy sports participation (for money or fun) in college was found looking at these three cross-sectional studies. Additionally, approximately half of college student-athletes who qualified as at risk or having gambling problems were found to have participated in fantasy sports wagering.     

Risk factors in multiple sclerosis: a population-based case–control study in Sicily. Background and methods

Incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS) has steeply increased over time during the last 30 years in the city of Catania. We carried out a population-based case–control study to evaluate the possible role of both environmental and genetic factors. From 1975 to 2004 in Catania, 367 MS patients diagnosed according to the Poser’s criteria had the onset of disease. A sample of MS patients was randomly selected from this incident cohort. Three controls matched by age and sex were randomly selected from the rosters of 14 GPs. Controls were proportionally selected according to the distribution by municipality of the target population using a multistage sampling methods. All cases and controls underwent a face-to-face interview to record information concerning environmental factors and a blood sample was taken for serological and genetic analysis. 164 MS patients (64 % women; mean age of 46.4 ± 10.7) and 481 controls (69 % women; mean age of 47.7 ± 14.8) were enrolled in the study. The distribution of the whole population and the selected controls by municipalities was similar. A blood sample was taken from 150 MS cases and from 337 controls. At the end of the enrolment, we obtained a representative sample of the MS cases and population controls avoiding possible selection bias. Participation rate was very high also concerning the collection of biological specimens.     

Effect of HAART on SEN virus infected HIV positive patients

Since it has been demonstrated that concomitant infections could influence the outcome of antiviral treatment, we investigated whether the presence of SENV infection may interfere with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in HIV+ coinfected patients. In spite of persistent fluctuations in SENV-A positivity we could not find any correlation between SENV-DNA and the immunological and virologic parameters found in the patients, suggesting SENV has no apparent clinical relevance during highly active antiretroviral therapy.     

Multicenter trial on prognostic value of inducible ischaemia, assessed by dobutamine stress echocardiography and exercise electrocardiography test, in patients with uncomplicated myocardial infarction, treated with thrombolytic therapy

Background. Thrombolysis has reduced early and longterm mortality by about 20%; sometimes, however, there is a re-occlusion of the infarct related artery or an unsuccessful thrombolysis. In these situations, there is a possible increase in detrimental events in the follow-up. Objectives. The aim of the study was to compare the prognostic value of dobutamine echocardiography (DET) and ECG exercise test (EET)in pts submitted to thrombolysis. Methods. One hundred and fifty-one pts, with acute uncomplicated myocardial infarction, were enrolled. The pts were able to perform EET and had a sufficient echocardiographic window; 58 had anterior myocardial infarction (38%), 79 had inferior (52%), 2 had lateral (1%), 12 had non-Q (8%). EET was performed with an initial load of 25 Watt, and thereafter, 25 W every two minutes. DET was performed with step-wise infusion every three minutes (5, 10, 20, 30 and 40 mcg/kg/min.). If the target heart rate was not reached, a further dose of 40 mcg/kg/min. together with atropine 0.25-1 mg was administered, in the absence of signs and symptoms of ischemia. Results. During a mean (± SD) follow-up period of 8 ± 4.5 months (range 1–23), 16 spontaneous events happened (4 deaths, 5 non-fatal re-infarctions, 7 unstable angina). One-hundred and three EET (68%) were negative for ongoing ischaemia, while 48 were positive, 79 DET (52%) were negative for ongoing ischaemia and 72 were positive (48%). Statistical results: DET and EET had a sensitivity of 41% and 54%, a specificity of 57% and 74%, a positive predictive value of 7% and 14%, a negative predictive value of 91% and 95%, an accuracy of 56% and 73%. Kaplan-Maier survival curves demonstrated that patients with Peak Wall motion > 1.8 and EET score > 3, had the higher risk of spontaneous events. Conclusion. A few spontaneous events happened in the follow-up. These data demonstrate that patients treated with thrombolysis are not at high risk of spontaneous events. DET and EET, therefore, have had a high negative predictive value. For this reason, we can conclude that pts with negative tests can be considered at low risk and do not need any further investigations.     

Seniors,risk and rehabilitation: broadening our thinking

Purpose: Conceptualizations of risk in seniors’ rehabilitation emphasize potential physical injury, functional independence and cost containment, shifting rehabilitation from other considerations essential to promoting a satisfying life. In a two-day multidisciplinary planning meeting we critically examined and discussed alternatives to dominant conceptualizations.

Method: Invitees reflected on conceptualizations of risk in stroke rehabilitation and low vision rehabilitation, identified and explored positive and negative implications and generated alternative perspectives to support rehabilitation approaches related to living a good life.

Results: Current risk conceptualizations help focus rehabilitation teamwork and make this work publically recognizable and valued. However, they also lead to practice that is depersonalized, decontextualized and restrictive. Further research and practice development initiatives should include the voices of clinicians and seniors to more adequately support meaningfully living, and foster safe spaces for seniors and clinicians to speak candidly, comprehensively and respectfully about risk. To ensure that seniors’ rehabilitation targets a satisfying life as defined by seniors, increased focus on the environment and more explicit examination of how cost containment concerns are driving services is also necessary.

Conclusion: This work reinforced current concerns about conceptualizations of risk in seniors’ rehabilitation and generated ways forward that re-focus rehabilitation more on promoting a satisfying life.

• Implications for rehabilitation

• In seniors’ rehabilitation, considerations of risk focus on physical injury, functional dependence and cost containment.

• Focus on provider-defined risk of physical injury limits examination of patient goals and patients’ histories of judging and dealing with risk.

• Focus on functional dependence and cost containment may lead to practice that is depersonalized and decontextualized.

• Abandonment of ableist and ageist thinking and an explicit focus on person-centered definitions of risk and a satisfying life are recommended.