Protective effect of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) against oxidative DNA damage and mutagenesis.

Mutagenic and antimutagenic properties of essential oil (EO) of basil and its major constituent Linalool, reported to possess antioxidative properties, were examined in microbial tests. In Salmonella/microsome and Escherichia. coli WP2 reversion assays both derivatives (0.25–2.0 μl/plate) showed no mutagenic effect. Salmonella. typhimurium TA98, TA100 and TA102 strains displayed similar sensitivity to both basil derivatives as non-permeable E. coli WP2 strains IC185 and IC202 oxyR. Moreover, the toxicity of basil derivatives to WP2 strains did not depend on OxyR function. The reduction of t-BOOH-induced mutagenesis by EO and Linalool (30–60%) was obtained in repair proficient strains of the E. coli K12 assay (Nikoli?, B., Stanojevi?, J., Miti?, D., Vukovi?-Ga?i?, B., Kne?evi?-Vuk?evi?, J., Simi?, D., 2004. Comparative study of the antimutagenic potential of vitamin E in different E. coli strains. Mutat. Res. 564, 31–38), as well as in E. coli WP2 IC202 strain. EO and Linalool reduced spontaneous mutagenesis in mismatch repair deficient E. coli K12 strains (27–44%). In all tests, antimutagenic effect of basil derivatives was comparable with that obtained with model antioxidant vitamin E. Linalool and vitamin E induced DNA strand breaks in Comet assay on S. cerevisiae 3A cells, but at non-genotoxic concentrations (0.075 and 0.025 μg/ml, respectively) they reduced the number of H₂O₂-induced comets (45–70% Linalool and 80–93% vitamin E). Obtained results indicate that antigenotoxic potential of basil derivatives could be attributed to their antioxidative properties.     

Total body fat does not influence maximal aerobic capacity

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine the influence of body weight and body composition on aspects of aerobic fitness. Our hypothesis was that increased body weight, specifically increased fat mass (FM), would not limit VO2max relative to fat-free mass (FFM), but would reduce maximal and sub-maximal VO2max relative to body weight. DESIGN: We used data from two ongoing studies. In Study 1 a cross-sectional analysis of 129 children across a wide spectrum of body composition was performed. In Study 2 we examined data from 31 overweight women before and after weight loss. METHODS: VO2max was measured using a treadmill test. Sub-maximal aerobic capacity was evaluated with respiratory exchange ratio (RER), heart-rate (HR), and oxygen uptake relative to VO2max at a given workload (%VO2max). Body composition was assessed using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) (Study 1) and a four-compartment model (Study 2). RESULTS: In Study 1, FFM was the strongest determinant of VO2max (r=0.87; P<0.0001). After adjusting for FFM, there was no significant influence of FM on VO2max. After separating children into lean and obese sub-groups, absolute VO2max was significantly higher in the obese (1.24+/-0.27 vs 1.56+/-0.40) and VO2max relative to body weight was significantly lower (44.2+/-3.2 vs 32.0+/-4.1 ml/(kg-min)), whereas there was no significant difference when expressed relative to FFM (57.9+/-5.8 vs 59.2+/-4.9 ml/(kgFFM-min)). Sub-maximal aerobic capacity was significantly lower in the obese children, as indicated by a higher HR and %VO2max; time to exhaustion was significantly lower in the obese children (15.3+/-2.9 vs 11.1+/-2.1 min). In Study 2, FFM was also the strongest determinant of VO2max before and after weight loss. The relationship between VO2max and FFM was identical before and after weight loss so that VO2max relative to FFM was identical before and after weight loss (43.8+/-4.9 vs 45.5+/-6.4 ml/(kgFFM-min)). However, sub-maximal aerobic capacity was lower in the obese state, as indicated by a significantly higher RER (0.85+/-0.06 vs 0.79+/-0.05), HR (124+/-14 vs 102+/-11 bpm), and %VO2max (44% vs 36%). CONCLUSION: The major influence of body weight on VO2max is explained by FFM; FM does not have any effect on VO2max. Fatness and excess body weight do not necessarily imply a reduced ability to maximally consume oxygen, but excess fatness does have a detrimental effect on submaximal aerobic capacity. Thus, fatness and VO2max should be considered independent entities.     

Cancer risk after renal transplantation in the nordic countries, 1964–1986

The theory that cancer may arise under conditions of reduced immune capacity is supported by observations of humans with immune deficiencies such as occur following organ transplants. However, no study on humans has been done in which the reference population was the same as that in which the cancer cases arose and in which there was a sufficiently long period of follow-up. Information on 5,692 Nordic recipients of renal transplants in 1964–1982 was linked with the national cancer registries (1964-1986) and population registries. Person-years at risk were calculated from the date of first transplantation until death or the end of the study period and were multiplied by the appropriate age- and calender-specific incidence rates to obtain the expected numbers of cancers. Standardized incidence ratios (SIR) were calculated after stratification by a number of recorded variables. Altogether, 32,392 person-years were accrued, and 471 cancers occurred, yielding overall SIR of 4.6 (95% CI, 4.0 to 5.2) for males and 4.5 (95% CI, 4.0 to 5.2) for females. Significant overall 2- to 5-fold excess risks in both sexes were seen for cancers of the colon, larynx, lung and bladder, and in men also for cancers of the prostate and testis. Notably high risks, 10-fold to 30-fold above expectation, were associated with cancers of the lip, skin (non-melanoma), kidney and endocrine glands, also with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and in women also with cancers of the cervix and vulva-vagina. Among a number of donor and recipient variables studied, including tissue types and compatibility (ABO, HLA, DR), age below 45 years at the time of transplantation was the most important determinant for increased risk at most sites. Kidney transplantation increases the risk of cancer in the short and in the long term, consistent with the theory that an impaired immune system allows carcinogenic factors to act. The tumor risk is small in comparison with the benefits of transplants, but patients should be followed up for signs of cancer. © 1995 Wiley-Liss. Inc.     

Comparison of two filter combinations for low-density lipoprotein apheresis by membrane differential filtration: a prospective crossover controlled clinical study

Membrane differential filtration is an accepted procedure for the extracorporeal removal of low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Reduction rates largely depend on the nature of the membranes and are ideally evaluated in a crossover study design. Four patients who had been treated by LDL apheresis for at least 6 months were included. Six consecutive weekly sessions (40 ml plasma/kg body weight) were scheduled per system (Plasmacure PS06/Evaflux Eval 5A [Kuraray] versus Plasmaflo OP05W/Cascadeflo AC1770 [Asahi]). Laboratory measurements indicated reductions of plasma concentrations for fibrinogen (37% [Kuraray] versus 44% [Asahi]), IgG (15% versus 20%), IgA (24% versus 28%), IgM (63% versus 53%), and total protein (11% versus 16%). Total cholesterol was eliminated by 52% versus 49%, LDL by 67% versus 66%, triglycerides by 56% versus 41%, and high-density lipoprotein by 10% versus 20%. Three therapies employing the Asahi filter combination were terminated prematurely due to saturation of the plasma fractionator. In conclusion, despite similar physical properties, the membranes differ significantly concerning selectivity and sensitivity to saturation.     

Cerebellar speech representation: lesion topography in dysarthria as derived from cerebellar ischemia and functional magnetic resonance imaging

BACKGROUND: Lesion topography and the pathophysiological background of dysarthria due to focal cerebellar lesions have not yet been fully clarified. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the lesion topography of dysarthria due to cerebellar ischemia and evaluate brainstem functions. DESIGN: Case studies. PATIENTS: Eighteen right-handed patients with sudden-onset dysarthria and cerebellar ischemia with and without brainstem involvement and 19 healthy, right-handed, monolingual, German-speaking volunteers. METHODS: In patients, we used multimodal electrophysiologic techniques to investigate brainstem functions. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in the 19 healthy volunteers. Activation tasks consisted of repetitive vertical silent movements of the tongue and lips at a self-paced rhythm. RESULTS: Cerebellar lesions and additional signs of brainstem involvement were observed in 11 patients with posterior inferior cerebellar artery, anterior inferior cerebellar artery, and superior cerebellar artery infarctions, respectively. In all other patients with isolated cerebellar infarction (n = 7), only the superior cerebellar artery territory (6 right-sided, 1 left-sided) was affected, and the common lesion site was the rostral paravermal region of the anterior lobe. Functional MRI in healthy volunteers indicated that the cerebellar representation of the tongue and orofacial muscles corresponds to that of the area involved in patients with cerebellar dysarthria. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study demonstrate that articulatory movements of the tongue and orofacial muscles are involved in the activation of the rostral paravermal area of the anterior lobe. This location corresponds to the area involved in cerebellar ischemia in patients with dysarthria. Lesions in the upper paravermal area of the right cerebellar hemisphere, the site of coordination of articulatory movements of the tongue and orofacial muscles, may lead to the development of dysarthria that is unrelated to (often concomitant) brainstem infarctions.     

Popliteal traumatic arteriovenous fistulas

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this report is to analyze the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and outcome of surgical treatment in patients with popliteal arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) in order to make trauma surgeons aware of the various issues patients with popliteal AVFs might present. METHODS: From 1991 to 2000, 49 patients were treated for traumatic AVF. Among these patients, seven suffered from popliteal AVF of various durations. The patients were men and ranged in age from 17 to 27 years, with a mean age of 22.4 years. The time from injury to admission to our institutions varied from 5 days to 2 years. A diagnosis of popliteal AVF was made after clinical examinations revealed thrill and bruit over the injury sites. The diagnosis was confirmed in four of the patients after they underwent angiography. Patients with long-standing popliteal AVF underwent cardiology examinations to check for signs of heart failure. All patients with popliteal AVF received surgical treatment. Five patients had major blood vessels reconstructed, one patient had a minor blood vessel ligated, and another patient had a minor blood vessel reconstructed. RESULTS: Five of the seven patients experienced no postoperative difficulties. No serious heart failure occurred; however, there were signs of cardiac overload in three of the five patients. The two remaining patients of the seven underwent leg amputations. However, one of the two patients had a gangrenous foot at admission to our institution, and vascular reconstruction on the other patient was unsuccessful. For all seven patients, the average hospital stay in the vascular surgery department was 16.2 days and the follow-up ranged from 2 to 44 months, with a mean of 21.5 months. CONCLUSION: Trauma of the popliteal space requires special attention, since blood vessel injuries in that zone might result in serious complications. Popliteal traumatic AVFs result in a high rate of leg amputation and long-standing fistulas produce cardiac overload. The presence of thrill and bruit over the injury site should alert the examiner to consider the existence of AVF. Angiography is a reliable diagnostic tool, and should be used in all vitally stable patients. Surgical or nonsurgical closure of AVF will prevent local and systemic complications that might be irreversible in long-standing fistulas.