C-reactive protein and outcome after ischemic stroke

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Elevated concentrations of the acute-phase reactant C-reactive protein (CRP) predict ischemic cardiac events in both hospital- and population-based studies and may signify a role for inflammation in the destabilization of cardiovascular disease. We examined the relationship between CRP and outcome after acute ischemic stroke. METHODS: This was a subgroup analysis from a prospective observational study based in a University Hospital Acute Stroke Unit serving a population of approximately 260 000. Survival time and cause of death for up to 4 years after the index stroke were determined and related to CRP concentration within 72 hours of stroke and known prognostic variables by a Cox proportional hazards regression model. RESULTS: Ischemic stroke was diagnosed in 228 of 283 consecutive admissions. Median follow-up was 959 days. Geometric mean CRP concentration was 10.1 mg/L. Survival in those with CRP >10.1 mg/L was significantly worse than in those with CRP 10.1 mg/L and 63% of deaths in those with CRP 相似文献   

Motor unit potential abnormalities in multiple sclerosis: further evidence for a peripheral nervous system defect.

We have recently reported abnormalities of single fibre EMG in patients with multiple sclerosis. The present study applies quantitative electrophysiological techniques to the same group of patients. The number of motor units in the extensor digitorum brevis muscle was measured and their characteristics recorded. Also the shortest distal motor latency and fastest motor conduction velocities were estimated. Abnormalities suggesting a patchy denervating/reinnervating process due to pathology in the intramuscular nerve network or at the endplate were found in a number of patients. There was a good correlation between patients with abnormal motor unit potentials and those with abnormal single fibre EMG "jitter".     

Somatostatin neutralization stimulates glucagon and insulin secretion from the avian pancreas

Using the isolated perfused chicken pancreas, somatostatin antiserum was infused to neutralize the effects of endogenous somatostatin secretion on neighboring endocrine cells. At normal and high glucose concentrations, somatostatin antiserum significantly stimulated both glucagon and insulin secretion. These findings suggest that somatostatin continuously inhibits A and B cell output, and that glucose suppression of glucagon release is partially dependent upon local somatostatin secretion.     

The Lysyl Oxidase Inhibitor, β-Aminopropionitrile, Diminishes the Metastatic Colonization Potential of Circulating Breast Cancer Cells

Lysyl oxidase (LOX), an extracellular matrix remodeling enzyme, appears to have a role in promoting breast cancer cell motility and invasiveness. In addition, increased LOX expression has been correlated with decreases in both metastases-free, and overall survival in breast cancer patients. With this background, we studied the ability of β-aminopropionitrile (BAPN), an irreversible inhibitor of LOX, to regulate the metastatic colonization potential of the human breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB-231. BAPN was administered daily to mice starting either 1 day prior, on the same day as, or 7 days after intracardiac injection of luciferase expressing MDA-MB-231-Luc2 cells. Development of metastases was monitored by in vivo bioluminescence imaging, and tumor-induced osteolysis was assessed by micro-computed tomography (μCT). We found that BAPN administration was able to reduce the frequency of metastases. Thus, when BAPN treatment was initiated the day before, or on the same day as the intra-cardiac injection of tumor cells, the number of metastases was decreased by 44%, and 27%, and whole-body photon emission rates (reflective of total tumor burden) were diminished by 78%, and 45%, respectively. In contrast, BAPN had no effect on the growth of established metastases. Our findings suggest that LOX activity is required during extravasation and/or initial tissue colonization by circulating MDA-MB-231 cells, lending support to the idea that LOX inhibition might be useful in metastasis prevention.     

Evaluation of a needle-free delivery platform for prime-boost immunization with DNA and modified vaccinia virus ankara vectors expressing herpes simplex virus 2 glycoprotein D

A previous report described a prime-boost immunization strategy using plasmid and modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) vectors expressing herpes simplex virus 2 glycoprotein D (gD). Enhanced humoral and cellular immune responses were elicited by the prime-boost combination compared to plasmid DNA immunization alone. Surprisingly, a more diverse antibody isotype response, and a greater antibody and cellular immune response, was obtained if the gD MVA vector was used as the priming immunization rather than the gD plasmid vector. The present report evaluates the use of a needle-free delivery platform (Biojector) for delivery of plasmid and MVA gD-expressing vectors in a prime-boost immunization strategy. Needle-free delivery of both plasmid and MVA gD expression vectors was efficient, reproducible, and elicited a strong immune response in immunized mice. Biojector delivery of plasmid DNA was able to evoke a broader isotype response and cellular immune response than that obtained by gene gun delivered plasmid DNA. Further, DNA priming by Biojector delivery as part of a prime-boost procedure with MVA-gD2 resulted in a diverse antibody isotype distribution and enhanced cellular immune responses, similar to the responses obtained when MVA-gD2 was used as the priming immunization. Thus, needle-free delivery of plasmid DNA may provide additional flexibility and options for effective prime-boost vaccination.     

Relationship of critical velocity to marathon running performance

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the critical velocity (CV) test for prediction of marathon running performance. Twelve subjects [mean age (SD) = 29 (4) years; mean body mass = 63 (13) kg] were tested for CV and completed the 1994 New York City Marathon. The CV (m?·?s^?1) was determined from times to exhaustion at four treadmill running velocities. In addition, peak oxygen consumption ( O _{2 peak}; ml?·?kg^?1?·?min^?1) and ventilatory threshold (Th_vent) were determined from an incremental treadmill test. The Th_vent was calculated using bi-segmental linear regression and was expressed as the velocity (m?·?s^?1) at Th_vent. Separate simple linear regression analyses showed that marathon time [MT; mean (SD) = 231.9 (27.4) min] correlated more highly with CV [MT = 445.3 – 50.3 (CV); r ² = 0.76, SEE = 14.1 min] than either O_2peak [MT = 390.7 – 2.7 ( O_2peak); r ² = 0.51, SEE = 20.1 min] or Th_vent [MT = 353.5 – 30.1 (Th_vent) r ² = 0.28, SEE = 27.4 min]. A stepwise regression analysis resulted in CV (entered first) and Th_vent being included in the prediction equation [MT = 443.5 – 78.9 (CV) + 34.3 (Th_vent), R ² = 0.88, SEE = 10.7 min], while O_2peak was not included. These preliminary data indicate that the CV test may be an attractive field test for assessing marathon performance capabilities.     

Effect of an aerobic training program on physical working capacity at heart rate threshold

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effect of an aerobic training program on physical working capacity at the heart rate threshold (PWC_HRT). A total of 19 subjects volunteered for this investigation. The control group (CG) consisted of three females and four males, while the training group (TG) included four females and eight males. All subjects were pretested and posttested for maximal oxygen consumption rate ( $\dot V$ O_2max) and PWC_HRT. The training consisted of riding a cycle ergometer for 30 min at 85% of maximal heart rate (HR) three times per week for 8 weeks. Two univariate ( $\dot V$ O_2max and PWC_HRT) 2?×?2 mixed factorial analyses of variance [group (CG, TG)?×?time (pretraining, posttraining)] were used to analyze the data. A significant (P?<?0.05) group by time interaction for PWC_HRT was followed by paired t-tests to analyze the simple main effects. The PWC_HRT for the TG increased significantly (P?<?0.05) as a result of the training program, whereas no change occurred for the CG. The $\dot V$ O_2max did not change significantly for either the TG or the CG. The results of this investigation demonstrate that PWC_HRT was sensitive to the effects of an 8-week aerobic training program.