Exaggerated blood pressure response to exercise is associated with inflammatory markers

PURPOSE: An exaggerated blood pressure (EBP) response to exercise has been shown to be a predictor of future hypertension and risk of cardiovascular mortality. Although EBP is associated with endothelial dysfunction and increased left ventricular hypertrophy, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Inflammatory markers, C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cells (WBCs), were predictive of future hypertension. The objective of this study was to examine the hypothesis that increasing levels of CRP and WBCs would be related to an EBP response during exercise. METHODS: Inflammatory markers were compared in 43 males with an EBP (systolic blood pressure [SBP] >or=210 mm Hg) response during maximal treadmill testing to an age and resting SBP-matched group of 42 males with a normal blood pressure response to exercise. RESULTS: There were significant group differences in maximal SBP and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), exercise induced increases in SBP and DBP (P <.01), and WBCs (P <.01), but CRP did not differ between groups (P =.39). White blood cells were significantly associated with maximal SBP (r = 0.31), and the exercise-induced increase in SBP (r = 0.34). However, CRP did not correlate with the maximal blood pressure response to exercise (r = 0.11, P =.33). In a stepwise multiple regression analysis, WBC was independently associated with the exercise-induced increase in SBP (beta = 0.256, P =.011). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that inflammation may be associated with an EBP response during exercise testing.     

PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF GREEN TEA FROM PAF-INDUCED NEUROTOXITY

Objective The protective effect of chinese green tea from PAF-induced neurotoxity was investigated Method LaN1 ( neuroblastoma cell line) was used as neuron. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) -release was an indicator of cell death. Cytoplasmic calcium was measured with Aequouin-loaded method. Results When applied to LaN1 cells, green tea in concentration 2mg/ml or stronger obviously damaged cells. If lower concentration (0. 5mg/ml and l.Omg/ml) of green tea were applied, green tea inhibited the elevation of intracellular calcium and reduced the cytotoxity induced by PAF in neurons. Conclusion PAF plays an important role in brain injury and stroke, the protective effect of green tea could be a basis to explore weather green tea or its derivative may have preventive and therapeutic potential for neuronal injury.     

Role of surgical salvage for regional recurrence in laryngeal cancer

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to analyze the pattern of regional recurrence in laryngeal cancer, evaluate the role of surgical salvage, and identify factors affecting salvage outcome. METHODS: Retrospective analysis was conducted on medical records from a 16-year period. Of 463 patients diagnosed with laryngeal cancer, 25 patients with regional recurrence managed with salvage neck dissection were identified and subject to study. Isolated local recurrences and all distant metastases were excluded. RESULTS: All patients were male with a median age of 61 years. The overall rate of regional recurrence was 5.4%. Median time to regional recurrence was 13 months. Isolated regional recurrence occurred in 76% of cases, whereas locoregional recurrence occurred in 24%. A 5-year survival rate for patients undergoing neck dissection as salvage management was 61.2%. Patients with recurrence in the contralateral neck were definitely associated with poor prognosis. Although standard statistical significance was not met, trends for poorer salvage result were identified in patients with a history of local recurrence before regional recurrence, recurrence in a previously dissected neck, and recurred node size of 3 cm or above. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that salvage neck dissection for regional recurrence in laryngeal cancer is an acceptable approach. Surgical eradication of disease should be warranted whenever possible. Prudent planning of management is mandatory in the presence of history of local recurrence before regional recurrence, previously dissected neck, large size of recurrent node, and contralateral neck recurrence.     

Current status of pediatric umbilical cord blood transplantation in Korea: a multicenter retrospective analysis of 236 cases

We report the outcome of 236 pediatric umbilical cord blood transplantations (UCBT) performed in Korea. Given that the sources of the grafts were mostly unrelated donors (n = 226; 95.8%), only the results of unrelated UCBT were included for all statistics. The most frequent primary disease was acute leukemia (n = 167). In total, 91.7% of recipients were seropositive for cytomegalovirus (CMV). The median doses of nucleated cells and CD34+ cells were 4.84 × 10(7)/kg and 2.00 × 10(5)/kg, respectively. The median times to neutrophil (>0.5 × 10(9)/L) and platelet recovery (>20 × 10(9)/L) were 18 and 45 days, respectively. Grade 2-4 acute graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) and chronic GVHD developed in 41.1 and 36.1% of cases, respectively. Forty-five patients developed CMV disease. The 5-year overall and event-free survival were 47.5 and 36.9%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that adverse factors for survival of the whole cohort were total body irradiation-based conditioning (P = 0.007), salvage transplant (P = 0.001), failure to achieve early complete chimerism (P < 0.0005), and CMV disease (P = 0.001). The outcomes of the single- and double-unit UCBT (n = 64) were similar, while double-unit recipients were heavier (P < 0.0005) and older (P < 0.0005). We conclude that double-unit UCBT is a reasonable option for older or heavier children and that the thorough surveillance of CMV infection and the development of an effective CMV therapeutic strategy may be especially important for Korean children, whose CMV seroprevalence exceeds 90%.     

Correlation between computed tomography imaging and histopathology in pleomorphic adenoma of parotid gland

Objective

The purpose of this study was to correlate the CT imaging features and histopathological findings of pleomorphic adenomas (PA), and also try to identify its clinical significance.

Chemocauterization of second branchial cleft fistula using trichloroacetic acid: A preliminary report

Objective

Although second branchial cleft fistula (BCF) can be well treated with surgical excision, neck scarring is unavoidable. We previously reported chemocauterization with trichloroacetic acid (TCA) to close various fistulas. Here, we report chemocauterization of a second BCF without a consequent incision scar.

Relation of cardiorespiratory fitness to inflammatory markers, fibrinolytic factors, and lipoprotein(a) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Increased inflammation, fibrinolytic factors, and lipoprotein(a) (LP[a]) were associated with increased cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes, whereas higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) were associated with a lower incidence of cardiovascular mortality. Whether CRF is associated with inflammatory markers, fibrinolytic factors, and LP(a) in patients with type 2 diabetes was investigated. A total of 425 men with type 2 diabetes (mean age 55 +/- 8 years) who participated in a medical screening program were studied. CRF was measured using peak oxygen uptake with expired gas analysis during a symptom-limited exercise test. CRF inversely correlated with C-reactive protein (CRP; r = -0.27, p <0.05), white blood cell count (r = -0.13, p <0.05), fibrinogen (r = -0.28, p <0.05), LP(a) (r = -0.53, p <0.05), tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) antigen (r = -0.65, p <0.05), and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 activity (r = -0.17, p <0.05). Men in the highest tertile of CRF had significantly lower CRP, white blood cell count, fibrinogen, LP(a), and t-PA than men in the lowest tertile of CRF (all p <0.05). In separate multivariable linear regression models that adjusted for age, body mass index, smoking, lipid profiles, glucose, and systolic blood pressure, CRP (beta = -0.23, p <0.05), white blood cell count (beta = -0.16, p <0.05), fibrinogen (beta = -0.24, p <0.05), LP(a) (beta = -0.28, p <0.05), and t-PA (beta = -0.69, p <0.05) were each inversely associated with CRF. Each MET increment higher peak oxygen uptake was associated with a lower odds ratio of having abnormal LP(a) (odds ratio 0.43, 95% confidence interval 0.20 to 0.91) in a multivariate logistic regression model. In conclusion, CRF was inversely associated with inflammatory markers, fibrinolytic factors, and LP(a) in men with type 2 diabetes.