Effect of free radical scavengers on myocardial function and Na+, K+-ATPase activity in stunned rabbit myocardium

OBJECTIVES: The role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the mechanism of myocardial stunning was investigated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Isolated Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts were subjected to 15 min normothermic ischemia followed by 10 min reperfusion with Krebs-Henseleit solution+/-mannitol or histidine. RESULTS: In hearts reperfused without free radical scavenger the left ventricular developed pressure as well as its maximal positive and negative first derivatives (+dP/dt, -dP/dt) was significantly depressed, whereas end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) increased when compared to preischemic values. Treatment with mannitol had little protective effects, whereas singlet oxygen scavenger histidine significantly improved the recovery of LVEDP and -dP/dt. Sarcolemmal Na+, K+-ATPase activity (control, 400+/-41 nmol Pi.min-1.mg-1) was depressed in untreated stunned hearts (260+/-27 nmol Pi.min-1.mg-1), but was almost completely recovered in hearts pretreated with histidine (364+/-27 nmol Pi.min-1.mg-1). The inhibition of Na+, K+-ATPase was only slightly prevented by mannitol (302+/-29 nmol Pi.min-1.mg-1l). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that ROS-induced inhibition of Na+, K+-ATPase activity is involved in the mechanism of postischemic contractile dysfunction and support the view that singlet oxygen may be one of the major causes of oxidative injury during ischemia and reperfusion.     

Symptomatic pulmonary embolism and the risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism

BACKGROUND: In patients with a first symptomatic pulmonary embolism (PE), the risk of recurrence is unknown. We therefore investigated the risk of recurrence among patients with spontaneous symptomatic PE and among those with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) without symptoms of PE. METHODS: After discontinuation of secondary thromboprophylaxis for a first venous thromboembolism (VTE), we prospectively observed 436 patients for an average of 30 months. Patients with secondary VTE, natural inhibitor deficiencies, lupus anticoagulant, cancer, long-term antithrombotic therapy, vena cava filters, or pregnancy were excluded. The study outcome was objectively documented recurrent symptomatic VTE. RESULTS: Recurrent VTE was seen among 28 (17.3%) of 162 patients with symptomatic PE and among 26 (9.5%) of 274 patients with DVT without symptoms of PE. Compared with patients with DVT, the relative risk of recurrent VTE among patients with symptomatic PE was 2.2 (95% confidence interval, 1.3-3.7; P =.005). The relative risk was not affected by age, sex, presence of factor V Leiden or prothrombin G20210A, hyperhomocysteinemia, or high factor VIII levels. Compared with patients with DVT without symptoms of PE, patients with symptomatic PE had an adjusted relative risk of PE at recurrence of 4.0 (95% confidence interval, 1.3-12.3; P =.03). CONCLUSION: Patients with a first symptomatic PE not only have a higher risk of recurrent VTE than those with DVT without symptoms of PE, but are also at high risk of symptomatic PE at recurrence.     

Cadmium specific proteomic responses of a highly resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa san ai

Pseudomonas aeruginosa san ai is a promising candidate for bioremediation of cadmium pollution, as it resists a high concentration of up to 7.2 mM of cadmium. Leaving biomass of P. aeruginosa san ai exposed to cadmium has a large biosorption potential, implying its capacity to extract heavy metal from contaminated medium. In the present study, we investigated tolerance and accumulation of cadmium on protein level by shotgun proteomics approach based on liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry coupled with bioinformatics to identify proteins. Size exclusion chromatography was used for protein prefractionation to preserve native forms of metalloproteins and protein complexes. Using this approach a total of 60 proteins were observed as up-regulated in cadmium-amended culture. Almost a third of the total numbers of up-regulated were metalloproteins. Particularly interesting are denitrification proteins which are over expressed but not active, suggesting their protective role in conditions of heavy metal exposure. P. aeruginosa san ai developed a complex mechanism to adapt to cadmium, based on: extracellular biosorption, bioaccumulation, the formation of biofilm, controlled siderophore production, enhanced respiration and modified protein profile. An increased abundance of proteins involved in: cell energy metabolism, including denitrification proteins; amino acid metabolism; cell motility and posttranslational modifications, primarily based on thiol-disulfide exchange, were observed. Enhanced oxygen consumption of biomass in cadmium-amended culture versus control was found. Our results signify that P. aeruginosa san ai is naturally well equipped to overcome and survive high doses of cadmium and, as such, has a great potential for application in bioremediation of cadmium polluted sites.

When exposed to cadmium a highly resistant strain P. aeruginosa san ai responds by an increased metalloprotein expression (particularly denitrification proteins), an enhanced respiration, and a pronounced thiol-disulfide protein modifications.     

A Multidisciplinary Approach to Treating Obesity in a Community Health Centre

Objectives

The aim of the study is to assess the weight loss programme with regards to the long-term effectiveness of weight reduction and weight maintenance, using completion rate and BMI, blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure levels as outcomes. The aim of the study also includes identifying the factors associated with adherence to the programme.

Methods

The programme was developed by a multidisciplinary team. It included 6 months of introduction and another 18 months of maintenance. The data for 397 participants was collected after 24 months.

Results

346 participants have completed the introduction and 123 have completed the programme. In the introduction, the average weight loss was 12% of the initial weight. The participants, who completed the full programme, lost 9.4% of their initial weight. The participants also significantly (p<0.05) reduced their blood sugar and cholesterol levels, as well as their blood pressure. The factors associated with adherence to the programme are: age over 50, lower educational levels, lower initial weight and higher weight loss in the introduction.

Conclusions

The multi-disciplinary approach to obesity treatment was effective for a selected group of people. The proportion of dropouts was relatively high, but still low compared to similar programmes. Group treatment and mutual support are of a great importance in bringing about and maintaining the changes.     

Expressed emotion and family burden in relatives of patients in first-episode psychosis

BACKGROUND

Evidence suggests that expressed emotion (EE) and family burden (FB) are phenomena that interact, but there is a lack of studies that analyze this association in patients in first-episode psychosis.

Osteoinductive 3D scaffolds prepared by blend centrifugal spinning for long-term delivery of osteogenic supplements

Bone regeneration is a long-term process requiring proper scaffolding and drug delivery systems. The current study delivers a three-dimensional (3D) scaffold prepared by blend centrifugal spinning loaded with the osteogenic supplements (OS) β-glycerol phosphate, ascorbate-2-phosphate and dexamethasone. The OS were successfully encapsulated into a fibrous scaffold and showed sustained release for 30 days. Furthermore, biological testing showed the osteoinductive properties of the scaffolds on a model of human mesenchymal stem cells and stimulatory effect on a model of osteoblasts. The osteoinductive properties were further proved in vivo in critical size defects of rabbits. The amount of bone trabecules was bigger compared to control fibers without OS. The results indicate that due to its long-term drug releasing properties, single step fabrication process and 3D structure, the system shows ideal properties for use as a cell-free bone implant in tissue-engineering.

Bone regeneration is a long-term process requiring proper scaffolding and drug delivery systems.     

Sagittal spine shape literacy in the general adult population,assessed by a novel,simple graphical tool

[Purpose] The sagittal shape of the spine is associated with back-pain, balance and quality of life. We developed, evaluated and report the responses of a graphical tool to assess sagittal spine shape knowledge (literacy). [Participants and Methods] Two hundred and fifty adults were randomly assigned, in a cross-sectional crossover study, to free-hand draw and select the “ideal” sagittal spine shape. We evaluated the inter and intra-rater reliability and agreement between tests and the sagittal and lordotic spine literacy between the drawing and selection test versions. [Results] Drawing test inter- and intra-rater agreement was 79% and 80% respectively. Drawing vs. selection agreement was 43%. More participants drew than selected the correct spine (30% vs. 21%) (p<0.001) and lumbar lordosis shape (56% vs. 42%) (p<0.001). Test order did not affect spine shape literacy scores. A significantly poorer literacy trend was observed with spine pain presence (p=0.02). [Conclusion] We developed a reliable method to evaluate spine shape literacy and established that only 21% and 42% of our sample demonstrated correct sagittal spine and lordotic spine shape literacy, respectively. The low literacy scores suggests that consideration of including spine shape literacy in health literacy and self-management programs may be warranted, especially in ageing populations.