myo-Inositol and sorbitol in erythrocytes from diabetic patients before and after sorbinil treatment

Summary Erythrocytes from diabetic patients before and after treatment with the aldose reductase inhibitor, sorbinil, were analyzed by a capillary gas chromatographic method for sorbitol and myo-inositol. The mean erythrocyte sorbitol level in the diabetic patients was significantly higher than in the control subjects (13.1±0.9 and 5.2±0.3 nmol/ml erythrocytes, respectively, mean±SEM, p< 0.001). The mean erythrocyte myo-inositol level in diabetic patients was not different from that in control subjects (43.2±2.9 and 40.5±1.9nmol/ ml erythrocytes, respectively). Sorbinil treatment reduced the elevated sorbitol levels in the diabetic patients to normal or slightly below normal, but did not affect the erythrocyte myo-inositol concentration. It is concluded that the erythrocyte is not a suitable model to monitor a possible effect of sorbinil on myo-inositol concentration in less accessible tissues.     

Habitual physical activity, strenuous exercise, and salivary immunoglobulin A levels in young adults: the Amsterdam Growth and Health Study

Secretory IgA (S-IgA) levels in stimulated salvia were measured before and after a maximal treadmill test in a population of 175 young adults (84 men, 91 women). Habitual physical activity levels of this population were measured by a standardized interview, and scores were obtained for the amount of time and intensity of sports activities and total activity. Before the maximal treadmill test, men and women showed no statistically significant differences in the salivary concentrations of S-IgA, but the concentration of S-IgA in women decreased and in men increased statistically significantly (P less than 0.05) after the treadmill test. Only women showed a significant correlation between absolute values of S-IgA and the weekly amount of time spent on sports activity measured by a standardized interview expressed in minutes per week.     

Course of mental fatigue and motivation in breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to determine the course of fatigue referring to cognitive symptoms (scale 'mental fatigue') as well as the motivation to start any activity (scale 'reduced motivation'), as a function of chemotherapy, in breast cancer patients undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a prospective cohort study a sample of 157 patients with breast cancer was interviewed at the first, third and fifth cycle of adjuvant chemotherapy as well as 4 and 12 weeks after completion of adjuvant chemotherapy. Patients were treated with standard adjuvant chemotherapy, either a doxorubicin containing schedule or CMF (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and fluorouracil). The psychological dimensions of fatigue were measured by the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory. A linear multilevel model was used for analysing the courses. RESULTS: The course of mental fatigue and motivation were not affected by the type of chemotherapy. The course of mental fatigue and motivation varied, but seemed to be stable during the treatment of chemotherapy. After the completion of chemotherapy, a weak improvement was seen. Relatively many patients experienced depressive symptoms during the study. These symptoms were correlated with both dimensions of fatigue. At all measurements mental fatigue was influenced by type of operation where women with a mastectomy were significantly more mentally fatigued than women that had undergone a lumpectomy, but nevertheless they were significantly more motivated to start any activity. Age, marital status, number of treatments and the interval between the operation and the first treatment of chemotherapy also seemed to be important determinants. CONCLUSIONS: An unequivocal pattern of mental fatigue and reduced motivation during as well as after adjuvant chemotherapy was not found. Depressive symptoms were definitely related to these variables. Type of operation had a significant impact on mental fatigue and motivation to start any activity. Health care providers should be aware of the high rate of patients who experience depressive symptoms during and after the treatment of chemotherapy. Further research should include the trajectory preceding adjuvant chemotherapy and a longer study period afterwards. Moreover, the exact influence of the variables 'age', 'marital status', 'number of treatments' and 'the interval between the operation and the first treatment of chemotherapy' on fatigue is unclear and needs further study.     

Thermal discrimination thresholds in normal subjects and in patients with diabetic neuropathy.

Using two identical thermostimulators which operated on the Peltier principle, thermal cutaneous sensation of the hand and the foot was investigated in 36 normal subjects and in 20 patients with diabetic neuropathy. Using a two-alternative forced-choice testing procedure, thermal discrimination thresholds were determined twice. The values found in normal subjects are comparable with data from the literature. It was confirmed that thermal discrimination of the foot decreased with increasing age. In patients with diabetic neuropathy the increased thresholds for the foot could be correlated with length-dependent degeneration of small nerve fibres.     

Interferons and bronchogenic carcinoma in juvenile laryngeal papillomatosis

A squamous cell carcinoma of the bronchus developed in a patient during the course of juvenile laryngeal papillomatosis. This patient had received interferon treatment, which caused regression of the papillomas, but apparently had no influence on the progression of the bronchogenic squamous cell carcinoma. This suggests that interferons have an antiviral effect, but not an antitumor effect in the dosage used. No radiation therapy had been given in the past and no other carcinogenic factors are obvious. However, human papilloma viruses, which cause juvenile laryngeal papillomatosis, have been incriminated in the genesis of squamous cell carcinomas.     

Serological differentiation of the potato-cyst nematodes Globodera pallida and G. rostochiensis: II. Preparation and characterization of species specific monoclonal antibodies

Hybridomas producing antibodies which react with thermostable protein antigens isolated from the potato cyst nematode species Globodera rostochiensis (TSRoP) and G. pallida (TSPaP) were isolated. Three of the isolated hybridomas (WGP 1, WGP 2 and WGP 3) produce antibodies that react with preferent affinity with protein antigens isolated from G. pallida, and two (WGR 11 and WGR 12) produce antibodies which bind preferentially to G. rostochiensis. Binding constants were determined to quantitate the differences in affinity of WGP 1, WGP 2, WGP 3, WGR 11 and WGR 12 for the protein antigens from both nematode species, and to asses the similarity in affinity for either protein antigen with respect to the other non-specific antibodies. In immunoblotting experiments a binding could be demonstrated, for most antibodies, to two thermostable proteins with apparent molecular weights of 20.6/20.8 kD for G. rostochiensis and 20.5/21.0 kD for G. pallida. the reactivity of the monoclonal antibodies with thermostable protein antigens from other common cyst nematodes was also investigated. All monoclonal antibodies, which are not specific for TSRoP or TSPaP, bind to thermostable proteins of these cyst nematode species. The use of some of the isolated monoclonal antibodies to improve the diagnosis of potato cyst nematodes in soil samples is discussed.