Unmappable ventricular tachycardia after an old myocardial infarction. Long-term results of substrate modification in patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator

Purpose  

The frequent occurrence of ventricular tachycardia can create a serious problem in patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator. We assessed the long-term efficacy of catheter-based substrate modification using the voltage mapping technique of infarct-related ventricular tachycardia and recurrent device therapy.     

Access to contraceptive services among unmarried young people in the north-east of China

Objective The concerns about the potential threats of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) have increased, since, in China, there is a lack of sexual education and condom use is rare. A community-based survey was conducted in September 2001 in Changchun city among 1227 unmarried young people aged 15-24 years (619 males and 608 females) to assess risky sexual practices and the obstacles to accessing appropriate contraceptive and other services. Method The study comprised a survey employing self-administered questionnaires, as well as key informant interviews, focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. This paper investigates the factors associated with young people's access to contraceptive services. Results Results showed that 16% of young people had experienced premarital sexual intercourse and, among them, only 48.2% used contraceptive methods during the first sexual intercourse; 29.9% used a condom. Drug stores were the main source of contraceptives. Conclusions While data are sparse, findings suggest that the hostile and judgmental attitudes of providers, as well as the lack of counseling and privacy, were the key obstacles that unmarried youth encountered in their search for contraceptive services. Findings suggest the need for a reorientation of the contraceptive services to focus on unmarried youth, and generally to make contraceptive services more accessible to young people.     

Toxicity of Toxaphene in the Rat and Beagle Dog

Toxicity of Toxaphene in the Rat and Beagle Dog. CHU, I., VILLENEUVE,D.C, SUN, C., SECOURS, V., PROCTER, B., ARNOLD, E., CLEGG, D.,REYNOLDS, L., AND VALLI, V.E. (1986). Fundam Appl. Toxicol.7, 406-418. Residues of the insecticidal mixture, toxaphene,have been found in Great Lakes fish. The purpose of the presentstudy was to assess the subchronic toxicity of toxaphene inthe rat and beagle dog. In the rat study, groups of 10 maleand 10 female animals were fed diets containing 0, 4, 20, 100,or 500 ppm of the test compound for 13 weeks. No clinical signsof toxicity or spontaneous deaths were observed. Toxaphene treatmentup to 500 ppm had no effects on weight gain or food consumption.The liver/body weight ratio and hepatic microsomal enzyme activities(phenobarbital type) were increased in both sexes fed 500 ppmof the test compound. Toxaphene at the highest dose also causedkidney enlargement in male but not in female rats. Dose-dependenthistological changes were seen in the kidney, thyroid, and liver.Changes in the liver and thyroid were considered to be adaptativebut the injury in the proximal tubules of the kidney was focallysevere. Groups of six male and six female beagle dogs were fedtoxaphene in gelatin capsules at 0, 0.2, 2.0, and 5.0 mg/kgbody wt/day for 13 weeks. Food consumption and growth rate werenot affected. All animals survived the entire treatment period.No clinical signs of toxicity were observed. The liver/bodyweight ratio and serum alkaline phosphatase were increased indogs of both sexes fed 5.0 mg/kg. Mild to moderate dose-dependenthistological changes were observed in the liver and thyroid.Toxaphene was accumulated in a dose-dependent manner in thefat and liver of dogs and rats. Based on the biochemical, histological,and residue data, it was concluded that the no-adverse-effectlevels of the pesticide were 4.0 ppm (0.35 mg/kg) for the ratand 0.2 mg/kg for the dog.     

Inter-observer agreement in GTV delineation of bone metastases on CT and impact of MR imaging: A multicenter study

Background and purpose

The use of Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) for bone metastases is increasing rapidly. Therefore, knowledge of the inter-observer differences in tumor volume delineation is essential to guarantee precise dose delivery. The aim of this study is to compare inter-observer agreement in bone metastases delineated on different imaging modalities.

Therapeutic effects of Delta9-THC and modafinil in a marmoset Parkinson model.

Current therapies for Parkinson's disease (PD) like l-dopa and dopamine (DA) agonists have declined efficacy after long term use. Therefore, research towards supplementary or alternative medication is needed. The implementation in PD can be expedited by application of compounds already used in the clinic. In this study the therapeutic effects of the psychoactive compounds Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta(9)-THC) and modafinil were tested in the 1-methyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-marmoset model for PD. The anti-parkinson effects of Delta(9)-THC (4 mg/kg) and modafinil (100 mg/kg) in parkinsonian marmosets were assessed with two behavioral rating scales covering parkinsonian symptoms and involuntary movements and two test systems assessing the locomotor activity and hand-eye coordination. Delta(9)-THC improved activity and hand-eye coordination, but induced compound-related side-effects. Modafinil improved activity and observed parkinsonian symptoms but not hand-eye coordination. It can be concluded that both compounds have therapeutic values and could supplement existing therapies for PD.     

Cystatin C and carotid intima-media thickness in asymptomatic adults: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

BACKGROUND: Persons with early kidney disease have an increased risk of cardiovascular events and mortality, but the importance of accelerated atherosclerosis in promoting these outcomes is unclear. We therefore explored whether serum cystatin C level is associated with carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in ambulatory adults without clinical heart disease. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: We evaluated 6,557 ethnically diverse persons free of clinical cardiovascular disease aged 45 to 84 years at the baseline visit of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. PREDICTORS: Kidney function was estimated by using 2 methods: serum cystatin C level and estimated glomerular filtration rate, based on creatinine and cystatin C levels. OUTCOMES & MEASUREMENTS: Study outcomes were internal and common carotid IMT, measured by using high-resolution B-mode ultrasound. Multivariate linear and logistic regressions were used to evaluate the independent association of kidney function with carotid IMT. RESULTS: In unadjusted linear analysis, each SD (0.23 mg/L) greater cystatin C level was associated with 0.091-mm greater internal carotid IMT (P < 0.001), but this association was diminished by 70% after adjustment for age, sex, and race/ethnicity (0.027 mm; P < 0.001) and was no longer significant after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors (0.005 mm; P = 0.5). Similarly, the strong unadjusted associations of cystatin C level with common carotid IMT disappeared after adjustment. Chronic kidney disease, defined by using either creatinine level or cystatin C-based estimated glomerular filtration rate less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2), had no independent association with internal and common carotid IMT. LIMITATIONS: There were few participants with severe kidney disease. CONCLUSIONS: Cystatin C level had no independent association with carotid IMT in a population free of clinical heart disease. This observation suggests that accelerated atherosclerosis is unlikely to be the primary mechanism explaining the independent association of cystatin C level with cardiovascular risk.     

Conditional associative learning examined in a paralyzed patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis using brain-computer interface technology

Background

Neonatal colon irritation (CI; pain or inflammation) given for 2 weeks prior to postnatal day 22 (PND22), causes long-lasting functional disorders in rats that can be seen 6 months after the initial insult. This study looked at the effect of varying the frequency and duration of neonatal CI on the rate of growth, digestive outcomes, exploratory activity, and colon and skin sensitivity in adult rats.

Methods

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were given CI using repeated colorectal distension (CRD) at different time intervals and for varying durations starting at PND 8, 10 or 14. Control rats were handled by the investigator without any intracolonic insertion. Further experiments were done on adult rats. Digestive outcomes (food and water consumption, fecal and urinary outputs) were measured using metabolic cages. Exploratory behavior was measured using digital video tracking in an open field. Cutaneous sensitivity was assessed by measuring the responses to mechanical and heat stimuli applied to the shaved abdomen or hind paws. Visceral sensitivity was measured by recording electromyographic responses, under light isoflurane anesthesia, from the external oblique muscles in response to CRD.

Results

No significant weight differences were observed between CI and control rats. Exploratory behavior was reduced in rats with neonatal CI compared to control. Digestive outputs and somatic and visceral sensitivity changed between different treatment groups with earlier and more frequent insults yielding a higher deviation from normal.

Conclusion

The diversity of behavioral and digestive symptoms in these rats parallels the diversity of symptoms in patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders and is consistent with global plastic changes affecting more than one system in the organism.