The effect of acute hyperglycaemia on QTc duration in healthy man

Aims/hypothesis. Prolongation of heart rate-adjusted QT (QTc) is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease and sudden death. The objective of this study was to investigate whether acute increases of plasma glucose concentrations in healthy subjects could influence QTc and QTc dispersion. Methods. Plasma glucose concentrations were quickly raised to 15 mmol/l in 20 healthy subjects (10 men/10 women) and maintained for 2 h. On another occasion, and in random order, all subjects underwent the same hyperglycaemic clamp as above and an infusion of the somatostatin analogue octreotide (25 μg as iv bolus followed by a 0.5 g/min infusion) to block the release of endogenous insulin. Results. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures, heart rate and plasma catecholamine concentrations showed significant increases (p < 0.05) starting after 60 min of hyperglycaemia. QTc, QTc dispersion and PR interval also showed significant increments at 120 min of the hyperglycaemic clamp. The infusion of octreotide did not influence QTc duration, QTc dispersion, PR interval and the haemodynamic effects of acute hyperglycaemia. Conclusion/interpretation. The results show that acute hyperglycaemia produces significant increments of QTc and QTc dispersion in normal subjects. In this context, endogenously released insulin during acute hyperglycaemia seems to play a minor part. [Diabetologia (2000) 43: 571–575] Received: 12 October 1999 and in revised form: 24 January 2000     

Clinical and histological features of cytomegalovirus hepatitis in previously healthy adults

Abstract: It is well known that cytomegalovirus infection is often accompanied by hepatitis, but there have been few comparative studies with respect to clinical features of cytomegalovirus-associated hepatitis and other acute viral hepatitides. In the present study, clinical and pathological features of 11 acute sporadic cytomegalovirus hepatitis infections in previously healthy adults were compared with those of 45 acute sporadic viral hepatitis, including type A, type B and type C. As a result, the characteristics of cytomegalovirus hepatitis were a long-lasting fever, splenomegaly, atypical lymphocytosis, a mild transaminasemia, a low ratio of alanine aminotransferase level to lactate dehydrogenase level, and mild hepatic histopathological changes.     

IgG Against Dengue Virus in Healthy Blood Donors,Zanzibar, Tanzania

We conducted a seroprevalence survey among 500 healthy adult donors at Zanzibar National Blood Transfusion Services. Dengue virus IgG seroprevalence was 50.6% and independently associated with age and urban residence. These data will aid in building a surveillance, preparedness, and response plan for dengue virus infections in the Zanzibar Archipelago.Key words: dengue, seroprevalence, Zanzibar, viruses, vector-borne infections     

沧州地区健康人群尿液有形成分参考值调查

目的：测定沦州地区健康人群尿液有形成分参考值范围。方法：用UF-100尿沉渣分析仪对沦州地区1800名体检正常的健康人的随机尿进行检测分析。结果：（1）对红细胞、白细胞、上皮细胞数目进行比较发现,3～7岁组与8～17岁组、18～60岁组、61～73岁组相比,差异具有显著统计学意义,P均〈O．05;男女各组间红细胞、白细胞、上皮细胞之间具有显著统计学意义,P〈0．05。（2）用UF～100尿沉渣分析仪检测健康人尿沉渣参考值范围,结果显示红细胞、白细胞、上皮细胞正常范围分别为：3～7岁组男孩O～8．2、O～7．3、O～4．5个／μL,女孩O～16．3、0～11．4、O～6．9个／μL;7～17岁组男性0～9．7、0～8．7、0～7．7个／μL,女性O～24．9、O～21．7、O～20．3个／μL;18～60岁组男性O～11．8、O～12．0、0～8．8个／μL,女性O～26．1、O～29．1、O～9．7个／μL;61～73岁组男性O～17．9、O～14．6、O～O．86个／μL,女性0～35．5、0～33．9、0～30．9个／IxL。结论：UF-100尿沉渣分析仪测定健康人尿液红细胞、白细胞、上皮细胞、管型、细菌结果与性别有关,其参考值范围的确立有助于临床医师诊断疾病和观察治疗效果。     

Treatment Retention Satisfaction,and Therapeutic Progress for Justice-Involved Individuals Referred to Community-Based Medication-Assisted Treatment

Background: Limited research has examined factors associated with medication-assisted treatment for justice-involved individuals. Objectives: The current study used a mixed-method design to examine the influence of client- and counselor-level factors on 90-day treatment retention, satisfaction, and progress for justice-involved individuals referred to medication-assisted treatment. Methods: The effects of co-occurring disorders (i.e., psychiatric symptoms, anxiety, depression), social functioning (i.e., social support, self-esteem), substance use severity, and treatment motivation on treatment retention, treatment satisfaction, and treatment progress while controlling for counselor-level variance were assessed through multilevel modeling. Results: Fewer co-occurring disorders and more social support were related to greater treatment satisfaction and progress. A higher level of treatment motivation was associated with greater treatment progress. Mediation of treatment satisfaction on the relationship between client-level factors and treatment progress also was tested. Depression was negatively associated with treatment satisfaction, which in turn led to lower ratings of treatment progress. Social support was positively correlated with treatment satisfaction, which in turn was positively correlated with treatment progress. The association of client substance use severity with treatment retention differed between counselors, so did the association of co-occurring disorders and treatment motivation with treatment satisfaction. Qualitative analyses that were derived from counselors’ perception of factors relating to recovery success underscored the importance of integrated interventions, social support, treatment motivation, and therapeutic alliance, and their associations with treatment outcomes. Conclusions/Importance: The current findings highlight the importance of integrated treatment services, collaborating with community corrections, and teaching clients strategies for dealing with deviant peers as to facilitating recovery.     

A review of the nutritional composition,organoleptic characteristics and biological effects of the high oleic peanut

A growing body of literature has been published on the health benefits of peanuts, but the potential biological effects of high-oleic (HO) peanuts, along with their organoleptic characteristics have not been reviewed to date. In this paper, examination of evidence showed that HO peanuts provide a spectrum of nutrients and have improved sensory properties and technological advances, such as enhanced shelf life, beyond that of conventional peanuts. This may be attributed to their oleic to linoleic ratio (OL ratio) which is substantially (around 10 times) higher than normal peanuts. In terms of their biological effects, HO peanuts appear to be no more allergenic, and could even be less allergenic than conventional peanuts. There is also emerging evidence that HO peanuts may improve lipid profile and markers of glycemic control. Further randomized controlled human trials are now needed to build on animal and in vitro studies.