Effect of moderate red wine intake on cardiac prognosis after recent acute myocardial infarction of subjects with Type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background Oxidative stress and increased inflammation have been reported to be increased in subjects with diabetes and to be involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular complications after myocardial infarction (MI). It is well recognized that red wine has antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory activities. We examined the effects of moderate red wine intake on echocardiographic parameters of functional cardiac outcome in addition to inflammatory cytokines and nitrotyrosine (oxidative stress marker), in subjects with diabetes after a first uncomplicated MI. Methods One hundred and fifteen subjects with diabetes who had sustained a first non‐fatal MI were randomized to receive a moderate daily amount of red wine (intervention group) or not (control group). Echocardiographic parameters of ventricular dys‐synchrony, circulating levels of nitrotyrosine, tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), interleukin‐18 (IL‐18) and C‐reactive protein (CRP) were investigated at baseline and 12 months after randomization. Results After 1 year of diet intervention, concentrations of nitrotyrosine (P < 0.01), CRP (P < 0.01), TNF‐α (P < 0.01), IL‐6 (P < 0.01) and IL‐18 (P < 0.01) were increased in the control group compared with the intervention group. In addition, myocardial performance index (P < 0.02) was higher, and transmitral Doppler flow (P < 0.05), pulmonary venous flow analysis (P < 0.02) and ejection fraction (P < 0.05) were lower in the control group, indicating ventricular dys‐synchrony. The concentrations of nitrotyrosine, CRP, TNF‐α and IL‐6 were related to echocardiographic parameters of ventricular dys‐synchrony. Conclusions In subjects with diabetes, red wine consumption, taken with meals, significantly reduces oxidative stress and pro‐inflammatory cytokines as well as improving cardiac function after MI. Moderate red wine intake with meals may have a beneficial effect in the prevention of cardiovascular complications after MI in subjects with diabetes.     

Lithium for irritability in Post-Traumatic stress disorder

Irritability is often a problem for patients with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). We describe two cases that illustrate the use of lithium in the treatment of veterans with PTSD who complained of serious problems with irritability or angry outbursts. These cases are discussed in the context of evidence that lithium may be useful in other patients with disorders of impulse control. The evidence linking disorders of anger and impulse control to a dysregulation in neurotransmitter regulation, particularly in serotonergic pathways, supports a psychopharmacologic approach to treatment. These findings should lead to further study of the role of lithium in the treatment of this symptom complex in patients with PTSD.     

Immunohistochemical expression of C-myc oncogene,heat shock protein 70 and HLA-DR molecules in malignant cutaneous melanoma

The clinical course of malignant melanomas is frequently unpredictable, although a number of prognostically useful variables can be identified. There is a need for additional markers of prognostic value. In a series of 60 malignant cutaneous melanomas, we analysed the immunohistochemical expression of c-myc proto-oncogene, heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and HLA-DR molecules in order to investigate their prognostic significance. C-myc, HSP70 and HLA-DR were expressed in 43.3%, 56.6% and 38.3% of all melanoma cases, respectively. Advanced Clark levels (Clark III–V) were significantly associated with c-myc expression rate (P<0.05), HSP70 detection (P<0.01) and HLA-DR positivity (P<0.01). Increased Breslow thickness (>1.5 mm) was related to HLA-DR expression (P<0.05). High mitotic rate was closely associated with c-myc positivity (P<0.05), while HSP70 and HLA-DR expression separately correlated to clinical stage of the disease (P<0.05). The evaluation of these variables may be of immunological and prognostic significance. They were found to be associated with melanocyte subpopulations of the vertical growth phase which are arguably characterized by an increased invasive potential.     

Nerve growth factor and p75NGFR factor receptor mRNA change in rodent CNS following stress activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical axis

The synthesis of nerve growth factor (NGF) by the hippocampus raises the possibility that NGF may play a role in the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA). Subchronic cold stress has been shown to activate the HPAA in a mild noninvasive manner, to stimulate serum glucocorticoid levels, and to perturb NGF binding in hippocampus and basal forebrain. One or repeated episodes of cold stress increased NGF mRNA levels in the hippocampus and p75^NGFR mRNA levels in the basal forebrain. These changes were not due to elevated serum glucocorticoid levels since treatment with exogenous corticosterone had no effect on NGF and p75^NGFR mRNA levels. Adrenalectomy did not prevent the stress induced increases in NGF and p75^NGFR mRNA. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Changes of circulating TNF and its effects on Pseudomonas aeruginosa septic shock in rabbits

Itiswellknownthatcertaincytokinesplayapivotalroleinthedevelopmentoftraumaandshock.Tumornecrosisfactor(TNF)isapolypep-tiedcytokinesynthesizedinmonocytesandmacrophagesinresponsetolipopolysaccharide(LPS)stimulation-TherelationshipbetweenTNFandendotoxic-septicshockbecomesafocusoftheresearchofshockmediators[1'2].Alargeamountofexperimentalandclinicaldata[3-9JsuggestthatTNFplaysanimportantroleinthepathogenesisofendotoxic-septicshockbuttheprecisemechanismandtherelationshipofTNFtoshockseverityrem…     

Investigating stress effect patterns in hospital staff nurses: Results of a cluster analysis

A comprehensive and reliable assessment of work stress, burnout, affective, and physical symptomatology was conducted with 260 hospital nurses. As previous attempts to categorize nursing stress and burnout by ward type have yielded inconsistent results, an alternative method for grouping nursing stress effects was sought. Cluster analysis was chosen as it offers a statistically sound means of delineating natural groupings within data. Sets of questionnaires measuring burnout, work stressors, and physical and emotional symptomatology were sent to all staff nurses at a large university hospital. Of 709 nurses employed there, a total of 260 nurses returned completed questionnaire packets. These nurses were separated into two equal groups using random sampling procedures. Cluster analysis of this data revealed groupings which were based on nursing stressors (particularly workload and conflict with physicians), social support, and patient loads. These cluster-analytic findings were replicated on both samples, and validated using data not used in the original cluster analysis. Results suggest that the effects of stress have more to do with the characteristics of the work environment and overall workload than with the degree of specialization on the unit. Results also suggest that intraprofessional conflict (i.e. with other nurses) is less psychologically damaging than is interprofessional conflict (i.e. conflict with physicians). Findings are discussed with respect to the burnout process and possible interventions.     

Induction of HSP72 in Rat Liver by Chronic Ethanol Consumption Combined with Exercise: Association with the Prevention of Ethanol-Induced Fatty Liver by Exercise

Ethanol-induced fatty liver in rats was attenuated by repeated running exercise, and the protective effect of exercise was associated with the synergistic expression of heat shock proteins (HSP72). Rats were placed in four groups of six. The two ethanol-fed groups of rats received a liquid diet (Lieber-DeCarli formulation) in which 36% of the calories were derived from ethanol. One group remained sedentary (S/E), whereas the other was trained to run on a rodent treadmill at a speed of 27 m/min, 1 hr/day, 5 days/week, for 7 weeks (R/E). Two other groups–one exercised as previously mentioned (R/C) and one sedentary (S/C)–received control-liquid diets in which the ethanol was isocalorically substituted with a dextran/maltose mixture. The degree of fatty infiltration in liver sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin was graded on a 0–4 scale and the data analyzed by ANOVA on ranks. Ethanol significantly induced fatty infiltration in the S/E group, whereas fatty infiltration in the livers of the R/E group was not different from the S/C group. Electrophoresis and Western blotting of liver homogenates demonstrated that HSP72 was not expressed in either the S/C or S/E groups and was only slightly expressed in the R/C group. The combination of exercise and ethanol, however, resulted in an elevated expression of HSP72 in the R/E group. The content of HSP73 was unaffected by any treatment.     

Elevation of plasma thioredoxin levels in HIV-infected individuals

Thioredoxin (Trx), a ubiquitous protein intimately involvedin redox and protein disulfide reductions, has been shown tobe released from cells and to have cytokine-like activities.In addition, Trx has been implicated in the redox regulationof immunological responses and shown to be deficient in tissuesfrom AIDS patients. In studies presented here, plasma Trx levelswere measured by ELISA in plasma samples from HIV-infected individuals(n = 136) and HIV-negative controls (n = 47). To account forthe release of Trx into plasma due to hemolysis, the Trx measurementswere corrected according to the level of hemoglobin in the plasmasample. Data presented show that, in contrast to tissue Trxlevels, corrected plasma Trx levels are significantly higherin HIV-infected individuals than in controls (P < 0.0001).Furthermore, {small tilde}25% of the HIV-infected individualsstudied have plasma Trx levels greater than the highest levelfound in controls (37 ng/ml). Detailed multiparameter FACS analysisof peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from the infectedindividuals demonstrates that those with higher plasma Trx levels(37 ng/ml or greater) tend to have lower overall CD4 counts.In addition, increases in plasma Trx levels correlate with decreasesin monochlorobimane staining (indicative of lower intracellularglutathione levels in PBMC) and with changes in surface antigenexpression (CD62L, CD38 and CD20) that occur in the later stagesof HIV infection. These correlations suggest that elevationof plasma Trx levels may be an important component of advancedHIV disease, perhaps related to the oxidative stress that oftenoccurs at this stage.     

热休克反应对大鼠感染性脑水肿脑组织诱生型一氧化氮合酶mRNA表达的影响

:探讨热休克反应 (HSR)对百日咳杆菌所致的大鼠感染性脑水肿诱生型一氧化氮合酶 (iNOS)mRNA表达的影响。方法 :从大鼠左侧颈内动脉注入百日咳菌液制备感染性脑水肿 (感脑 )模型 ,采用组织细胞原位杂交技术检测脑组织iNOSmRNA的表达。结果 :生理盐水组、4h感脑组及 4h热休克处理组均未见iNOSmRNA表达 ,8h ,2 4h时感染性脑水肿组均有明显的杂交信号 ,以 2 4h更为明显 ;而 8h ,2 4h热休克处理组仅有少数细胞有阳性信号。结论 :热休克反应对感染性脑水肿的保护作用可能与抑制iNOSmRNA的表达有关