Serum albumin and self-reported prevalence of stroke: a population-based, cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Since information about the association between serum albumin and risk of stroke is limited the purpose of the present paper was to re-investigate this relationship. DESIGN: The study followed a cross-sectional design. METHODS: In the cross-sectional Norwegian Oslo Health Study the concentration of serum albumin and blood pressure was determined in a random sample of 5071 men and women, 30-75 years of age. Logistic regression was used to study the association between the serum albumin concentration and self-reported prevalence of stroke. In the sample there were 122 subjects with a history of stroke and 4949 subjects without. RESULTS: Low albumin (i.e. < or =47 versus >47 g/l) was associated with increased prevalence of self-reported stroke (odds ratio 1.83; 95% confidence interval, 1.20-2.78; P=0.005), after adjusting for age (< or =45 versus > or =59 years) and sex. Including smoking, blood pressure and length of education into the model did not have any major influence on the result. CONCLUSION: Low serum albumin is associated with increased prevalence of self-reported stroke.     

Light microscopic morphometric analysis of castration effects in the different lobes of the rat prostate

The morphologic effects of androgen deprivation in the different lobes of the rat prostate were examined by light microscopic morphometry. The prostates of Wistar male rats (260-340 g) were fixed in situ by glutaraldehyde perfusion in castrated animals 1 week after gonadectomy and in intact animals. The ventral (VP), dorsal (DP), and lateral (LP) lobes as well as the coagulating gland (CG) were dissected out, weighed, and processed for light microscopy. Using stereologic methods the following parameters were estimated for each lobe: volume fraction of connective tissue, epithelium and glandular lumina, average epithelial height, average epithelial cell volume, and total number of epithelial cells. Castration leads to a 58-76% reduction of the wet weight of all prostatic lobes. The decrease of glandular tissue is greater in VP than in LP, DP, and CG. In VP and LP, there is a 39-45% reduction of the epithelial height, and this effect is less pronounced in DP and CG. For all lobes, the shrinkage of average epithelial cell volume is in the same range (25-30%). Moreover, in VP and LP, there is a 70% reduction of the total number of cells, whereas the reduction is less in DP and CG. It thus seems that the reduction of prostatic epithelial tissue mass upon castration is due to a reduction of the number of cells as well as a reduction of the volume of individual cells. VP and LP appear to be more androgen-dependent than DP and CG.     

A Norwegian nationwide quality assurance project in nuclear medicine: total performance in bone scintigraphy measured with a new transmission phantom

A prototype version of a recently developed transmission phantom for simulation of radionuclide bone studies was used in a Norwegian nationwide quality assurance project. The design of the phantom made it possible to perform a receiver operation characteristic (ROC) examination with respect to the detection of radionuclide accumulation in the ribs. The participants were also asked to report accumulation in the spinal column. Images obtained by means of a uniform source and a four-quadrant bar pattern were used to judge resolution and homogeneity with the collimator used in the bone studies. The overall performance of the laboratories was satisfactory, but considerable variations were found. There was a marked correlation between the physician's performance and the resolution and homogeneity of the camera. Reports from stationary imaging were generally better than those that were based on whole-body scans.     

Cortisol moderates the relationship between testosterone and aggression in delinquent male adolescents.

BACKGROUND: In animals, strong evidence exists for an association between testosterone and aggression. In humans, and particularly in children and adolescents, findings have been less consistent. Previous research has suggested that this may partly be due to moderating effects of other factors, e.g., hormones. This study aims to investigate the moderating effect of cortisol on the relationship between testosterone and subtypes of aggression in delinquent male adolescents. METHODS: Participants were 103 boys (mean age 13.7) referred to a delinquency diversion program. Testosterone and cortisol levels were determined from saliva samples collected during resting conditions and related to self-report scores on overt and covert aggression. RESULTS: Linear regression analyses revealed a significant interaction between cortisol and testosterone in relation to overt aggression, with a significant positive relationship between testosterone and overt aggression in subjects with low cortisol levels but not in subjects with high cortisol levels. Using the same model for covert aggression, no significant effects of testosterone, cortisol, or testosterone x cortisol interaction were found. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate a moderating effect of cortisol on the relationship between testosterone and overt aggression in delinquent male adolescents. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.     

Retrograde flush following topical cooling is superior to preserve the non-heart-beating donor lung

Objective: The use of non-heart-beating donors (NHBD) has been propagated as an alternative to overcome the scarcity of pulmonary grafts. Formation of microthrombi after circulatory arrest, however, is a major concern for the development of reperfusion injury. We looked at the effect and the best route of pulmonary flush following topical cooling in NHBD. Methods: Non-heparinized pigs were sacrificed by ventricular fibrillation and divided into three groups (n = 6 per group). After 1 h of in situ warm ischaemia and 2.5 h of topical cooling, lungs in group I were retrieved unflushed (NF). In group II, lungs were explanted following an anterograde flush (AF) through the pulmonary artery with 50 ml/kg Perfadex^® (6 °C). Finally, in group III, lungs were retrieved after an identical but retrograde flush (RF) via the left atrium. Flush effluent was sampled at intervals to measure haemoglobin concentration. Performance of the left lung was assessed during 60 min in our ex vivo reperfusion model. Wet-to-dry weight ratio (W/D) of both lungs was calculated as an index of pulmonary oedema. IL-1ß and TNF- protein levels in bronchial lavage fluid from both lungs were compared between groups. Results: Haemoglobin concentration (g/dl) was higher in the first effluent in RF versus AF (3.4 ± 1.1 vs 0.6 ± 0.1; p < 0.05). Pulmonary vascular resistance (dynes × s × cm⁻⁵) was 975 ± 85 RF versus 1567 ± 98 AF and 1576 ± 88 NF at 60 min of reperfusion (p < 0.001). Oxygenation (mmHg) and compliance (ml/cmH₂O) were higher (491 ± 44 vs 472 ± 61 and 430 ± 33 NS, 22 ± 3 vs 19 ± 3 and 14 ± 1 NS, respectively) and plateau airway pressure (cmH₂O) was lower (11 ± 1 vs 13 ± 1 and 13 ± 1 NS) after RF versus AF and NF, respectively. No differences in cytokine levels or in W/D ratios were observed between groups after reperfusion. Histology demonstrated microthrombi more often present after AF and NF compared to RF. Conclusion: Retrograde flush of the lung following topical cooling in the NHBD results in a better washout of residual blood and microthrombi and subsequent reduced pulmonary vascular resistance upon reperfusion.     

Growth Modulating Effects of Chlorinated Oleic Acid in Cell Cultures

Abstract: Chlorinated fatty acids represent a major fraction of extractable, organically bound chlorine in fish. After dietary intake such fatty acids may be transferred from the mother to the foetus through the placenta, and via breast milk to the child. In the present work we have studied the effect of chlorinated oleic acid on the growth of three widely differing types of cells in culture. Chlorinated oleic acid inhibited growth of Human Microvascular Endothelial Cells (HMVEC), Immortilized Human Kidney Epithelial (IHKE) cells, and human Hepatoma cells (HepG2). The order of potency was: HMVEC > IHKE > HepG2. Vitamin E counteracted the inhibitory effect of chlorinated oleic acid on HepG2 cells, but did not significantly affect the fatty acid effect on HMVEC or IHKE. Defatted serum albumin stimulated the growth of HMVEC and IHKE. With HMVEC there was no major interaction between the effect of albumin and chlorinated oleic acid on cell growth. In contrast, with IHKE albumin at low concentration abolished the growth inhibiting effect of chlorinated oleic acid and appreciably counteracted growth inhibition by the fatty acid of HepG2 . We conclude that the growth modulation by chlorinated oleic acid and its interaction with vitamin E and albumin are cell specific.     

Antimuscarinic Effects of (R)- and (S)-Oxyphencyclimine Hydrochloride

The (R)-( + )- and (S)-( – )-enantiomers of the anticholinergic compound, oxyphencyclimine, were synthesized from (R)-( – )- and (S)-( + )-2-cyclohexyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethanoic acid, respectively. The potencies of the enantiomers were compared using a cholinergic receptor binding assay. The (R)-( + )-enantiomer inhibited binding 29 times more potently than the (S)-( – )-enantiomer.     

Expression of CD83 in the murine immune system

CD83 is used as a marker for mature dendritic cells (DC) in man. We have developed a new monoclonal antibody (mAb), Michel-17, that specifically recognizes mouse CD83. We show that murine CD83 is expressed mainly on mature DC and on activated T cells. Histological analysis of serial spleen sections revealed a CD83 expression pattern resembling that of MIDC-8, a known murine DC marker molecule. In contrast to other costimulatory receptors, cross-linking of CD83 with the mAb Michel-17 on DC or T cells does not induce any activation signals. Our data describe for the first time the expression pattern of murine CD83, which is comparable to that of human CD83.The unique mAb Michel-17 will help to elucidate the biological functions of the CD83 molecule in more detail.     

The geographical distribution in Sweden of viruses belonging to the Russian spring-summer-louping Ill group

Conclusions NT antibodies to LI virus were found in the sera of Swedish cows from many parts of the country although only exceptionally in the north. The prevalence of positive specimens increased markedly towards the southeast. This geographic distribution apparently fits well with the occurrence of ticks in the country. An analysis, now in progress, of RSSE-LI antibodies in human cases of meningoencephalomyelitis seems to indicate a closely similar distribution of the human RSSE infections. It is thus obvious that the screening of cow sera for LI antibodies provides reliable information as to endemic regions of RSSE-LI-like viruses. There was nothing to suggest that nonspecific reactions occurred or impaired the results; in fact the very uneven geographic distribution of positive specimens, of high as well as low titers, should argue for specificity of the reaction.Aided by a grant from the Swedish National Association against Poliomyelitis.The skilful technical assistance of MissSiri Austrin, MissIngrid Lövhvist, MissBrita Gustafson and Mr.Nils Lundh is gratefully acknowledged.