Human metabolism of arsenobetaine ingested with fish

1. Six volunteers ingested 74As-labelled arsenobetaine with a fish meal. The retention and distribution of the tracer were studied by body radioactivity measurements. 2. The tracer became rapidly dispersed in soft tissues, with no major concentration in any localized organ or region. 3. In all subjects less than 1% of the ingested activity remained in the body after 24 days. 4. Any losses from the skin were minor in relation to those by other routes of excretion.     

News for the Practitioner

News for the Practitioner     

Effects of Positive and Negative Mood on Sexual Arousal in Sexually Functional Males

Effects of positive and negative musical mood induction on subjective and objective sexual arousal were examined in a group of sexually functional males (N = 24). Subjects evidenced significantly greater objective and subjective sexual response in the positive mood induction condition relative to both baseline and a neutral control condition. In contrast, the negative mood induction condition yielded significantly less objective sexual arousal than baseline and a neutral control condition. Data provide additional empirical support for the hypothesized impact of mood on sexual arousal.     

Effects of posture on stimulated ventilation in quadriplegia

Quadriplegics are able to compensate for alterations of operational length of the diaphragm by reflexly increasing neural drive to the diaphragm. This increase in neural drive is adequate to maintain required tidal volume and minute ventilation during quiet breathing in these patients with limited inspiratory muscle function. It is not known, however, if this neural compensation is sufficient to preserve ventilation when the diaphragm is stressed by simultaneously changing its operational length and increasing ventilatory demands. This issue was explored in 7 quadriplegics whose vital capacity was reduced to 15 to 53% of predicted. The diaphragm was stressed by shortening its length from the supine to a 60 degree tilted position, and also by inducing hyperventilation by having the subjects rebreathe 7% CO2. Response to this stress was recorded by monitoring the ventilatory response to rebreathing CO2 (delta VE/delta PCO2), and also by measuring mouth pressure 0.1 s after occluding the airway at the start of inspiration during CO2 rebreathing (delta P0.1/delta PCO2). A change from the supine to the tilted position caused an increase in resting end-expiratory volume of 0.8 +/- 0.2 L (SD) and therefore shortened the diaphragm. Despite this shortening of diaphragm length and the stress of CO2 rebreathing, there was no significant change in delta VE/delta PCO2 and delta P0.1/delta PCO2 with changes in posture. The delta VE/delta PCO2 was 0.82 +/- 0.42 L/min/mm Hg supine versus 0.95 +/- 0.65 L/min/mm Hg when tilted. The delta P0.1/delta PCO2 was 0.18 +/- 0.08 cm H2O/mm Hg supine versus 0.20 +/- 0.10 cm H2O/mm Hg tilted.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Use of fibronectin and somatomedin-C as markers of enteral nutrition support in traumatized patients using a modified amino acid formula

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of serum fibronectin and serum somatomedin-C as nutritional markers during enteral nutrition support (ENS) of critically ill, traumatized patients using an enteral product containing high concentrations of branched-chain amino acids. Twelve critically injured patients received a standard enteral formula with 30 g of a 44% branched-chain amino acid supplement added to each liter of formula. Fibronectin concentration, somatomedin-C concentration, and nitrogen balance were measured on study days 1, 4, 7, 14, 21, 28 or until adequate oral intake began. Both fibronectin and somatomedin-C concentrations increased significantly from baseline by day 7 of ENS. Nitrogen balance increased significantly from baseline by day 4. On days 14 and 21, only somatomedin-C and nitrogen balance increased significantly from baseline. Nitrogen balance was significantly correlated with somatomedin-C concentration (r = 0.53, p less than 0.01), cumulative caloric intake (r = 0.68, p less than 0.01), and cumulative nitrogen intake (r = 0.72, p less than 0.01). The results of this study suggest that serum somatomedin-C is useful and serum fibronectin has potential in monitoring nutrition support response in critically ill, traumatized patients.     

Patient access to psychiatric records: the patients'' view.

The passing of legislation relating to subject access to personal health data has been accompanied by concern about the possible harmful effects of this development on patients. Despite the lack of substantive evidence psychiatric patients have been regarded as the group most at risk. This study investigates the subjective views of patients on access to records on two psychiatric wards.     

Organisational factors in relation to control of blood pressure: an observational study

BACKGROUND: Studies show that 60-75% of treated patients with hypertension in general practice, still do not reach the recommended blood pressure targets of <150/90 mmHg. AIM: To investigate aspects of hypertension management in relation to sociodemographic variables, antihypertensive drug treatment, and organisational factors in primary care. DESIGN OF STUDY: Observational study over 3 years. SETTING: Eight general practices in Tayside, UK. METHOD: Participants were 560 randomly selected patients aged 40-79 years receiving treatment for hypertension. The outcome measurement was blood pressure control, expressed in binary form based on the British Hypertension Society audit standard of <150/90 mmHg. RESULTS: Of 536 eligible patients, 261 (49%) were defined as having inadequate blood pressure control at the end of the study period. No significant associations were discovered with sex, age, deprivation score and comorbidity. In those patients with inadequate control, 30% had no modifications to their drug treatment during the study period. Blood pressure control at the end of the study period was not associated with number of antihypertensive drugs taken or number of antihypertensive drug modifications. The mean number of clinician contacts was 11 (standard deviation = 8), and mean continuity in primary care was high, although this was not associated with improved blood pressure control. A higher proportion of hypertension-related consultations were associated with increased odds of having inadequate blood pressure control. CONCLUSION: Achieving adequate blood pressure control continues to represent a substantial health problem in a significant proportion of the hypertensive population. Patient, physician and organisational elements play a role in ensuring effective delivery of hypertension care in the community.     

Factors causing interrupted delivery of enteral nutrition in trauma intensive care unit patients.

BACKGROUND: The intent of this study was to ascertain the adequacy of delivery of enteral nutrition (EN) to critically ill adult multiple trauma patients and to identify potential detrimental factors that affect EN delivery. METHODS: Retrospective observational study. Trauma intensive care unit (TICU) in a university-affiliated hospital. Adult patients (>/=18 years of age) admitted to the TICU who received enteral feeding. RESULTS: Fifty-six adult patients were enrolled for study. Patients received, on average, 67% +/- 19% of what was prescribed for 5.7 +/- 2.0 days. A total of 222 occurrences for temporary discontinuation of tube feeding were identified. Gastrointestinal intolerance, as defined by a gastric residual volume of >150 mL, abdominal pain, or >3 liquid stools per day, accounted for only 11% of the occurrences for discontinuation of feeding. Surgery (27%) and diagnostic procedures (15%) represented the majority of reasons for inadequate nutrient delivery. Minor factors for EN interruptions were mechanical feeding tube problems (8%), pharmacy delivery delay (4%), and miscellaneous factors (3%). Multiple and unknown reasons contributed to 14% and 18% of the occurrences, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery and diagnostic procedures accounted for the largest factor in enteral feeding discontinuations in our critically ill trauma patients. Gastrointestinal intolerance contributed a minor role in the temporary discontinuation of enteral feeding.     

Lipoprotein (a) levels in those with high molecular weight apo (a) isoforms may remain low in a significant proportion of patients with end-stage renal disease.

BACKGROUND: Studies have reported an increase in median Lipoprotein (Lp) (a) in patients with high molecular weight (HMW) apolipoprotein (apo) (a) isoforms and renal impairment. Some studies identify Lp (a) levels as a risk factor for vascular disease in renal failure whilst others have demonstrated an association with apo (a) isoform type and vascular disease. METHODS: A total of 239 patients at end-stage renal failure (ESRF) were studied prior to the initiation of dialysis. Blood was taken for Lp (a) levels and apo (a) isoforms. Clinical vascular disease (CVD) was assessed on the basis of clinical history and Rose questionnaire. The control group for Lp (a) levels consisted of 228 healthy volunteers. RESULTS: Despite a higher median Lp (a) level in those with HMW isoforms, 30% of patients had Lp (a) levels <10 mg/dl. Overall, 49% patients were identified as having CVD. Diabetes, smoking history and Lp (a) levels were significantly associated with CVD in logistic regression analysis, although when patients with low molecular weight (LMW) and HMW isoforms were analysed separately, Lp (a) levels were not significantly associated with CVD in those with LMW isoforms. The rates of CVD in those with HMW isoform and low Lp (a) levels were significantly lower than those with HMW isoforms and elevated Lp (a) levels, 34 vs 57% (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Although median Lp (a) levels in those patients at ESRF with HMW isoforms are higher than controls, in a third of such patients Lp (a) levels remain relatively low. These patients have lower rates of CVD than those with high levels of Lp (a).