Leukocyte Interferon-alpha in the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C in Finland

Background: Food intake, accompanied by systemic and splanchnic haemodynamic changes, has only been studied in males. The extent to which splanchnic postprandial hyperaemia shows gender differences is unknown. Methods: We tested 1) the splanchnic hyperaemic response to food in females and 2) whether postprandial haemodynamic changes show gender differences. Twenty-four healthy women (aged 20-35 years) and 20 healthy men (aged 21-34 years) participated in the study. A liquid test meal (Ensure plus, 1.5 kcal/ml) was perfused intraduodenally for 75 min through an enteral feeding tube at a rate of 3 ml/min after a 45-min basal period. Blood flow parameters were measured using Echo-Doppler technology. Results: Basal diastolic arterial blood pressure was significantly (P     

Argininic acid alters markers of cellular oxidative damage in vitro: Protective role of antioxidants

We, herein, investigated the in vitro effects of argininic acid on thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBA-RS), total sulfhydryl content and on the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the blood, kidney and liver of 60-day-old rats. We also verified the influence of the antioxidants (each at 1.0 mM) trolox and ascorbic acid, as well as of N^G-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) at 1.0 mM, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, on the effects elicited by argininic acid on the parameters tested. The liver, renal cortex and renal medulla were homogenized in 10 vol (1:10w/v) of 20 mM sodium phosphate buffer, pH 7.4, containing 140 mM KCl; and erythrocytes and plasma were prepared from whole blood samples obtained from rats. For in vitro experiments, the samples were pre-incubated for 1 h at 37 °C in the presence of argininic acid at final concentrations of 0.1, 1.0 and 5.0 μM. Control experiments were performed without the addition of argininic acid. Results showed that argininic acid (5.0 μM) enhanced CAT and SOD activities and decreased GSH-Px activity in the erythrocytes, increased CAT and decreased GSH-Px activities in the renal cortex and decreased CAT and SOD activities in the renal medulla of 60-day-old rats, as compared to the control group. Antioxidants and/or L-NAME prevented most of the alterations caused by argininic acid on the oxidative stress parameters evaluated. Data suggest that argininic acid alters antioxidant defenses in the blood and kidney of rats; however, in the presence of antioxidants and L-NAME, most of these alterations in oxidative stress were prevented. These findings suggest that oxidative stress may be make an important contribution to the damage caused by argininic acid in hyperargininemic patients and that treatment with antioxidants may be beneficial in this pathology.     

Sun‐exposure knowledge and protection behavior in a North Chinese population: a questionnaire‐based study

Background: Sun exposure can cause a range of skin disorders. Skin damage can be prevented by following certain sun‐protection measures. However, the majority of reported studies regarding sun‐exposure knowledge and behavior have involved Caucasian populations. Methods: A self‐administered multiple‐choice questionnaire was administered. The questionnaire consisted of 13 questions aimed at evaluating people's knowledge, awareness, and protection behavior regarding sun exposure, and their knowledge of sunscreens and sunscreen use. Results: A total of 623 volunteers were enrolled, including 238 men (38.2%) and 385 women (61.8%). The percentages of correct answers regarding sun‐exposure knowledge and awareness ranged from 50% to 80%. Overall, 58.8% used sunscreen as a sun‐protection measure in daily life, followed by use of protective clothes (49.3%), sun umbrella (45.4%), sunglasses (45.3%), and hat (42.2%). Fifty‐two percent thought that suntan was harmful or not attractive. The mean sun‐protection factor (SPF) of the sunscreens used was 27.7 ± 9.2 and the mean UVA protection grade (PA) was 2.3 ± 0.6. Conclusions: Knowledge and awareness concerning the harmful effects of sun exposure are widespread among the Chinese population. Sunscreens with high SPF and PA are the most commonly used among Chinese people. Clear sex differences were observed. There is a significant difference in the attitude toward suntan between Chinese and Caucasian populations.     

A method for detecting microfilaraemia, filarial specific antigens and antibodies and typing of parasites for drug resistance and genotypes using finger prick blood sample

Monitoring and evaluation of programme to eliminate lymphatic filariasis (LF) depends on epidemiological assessment using appropriate indicators. Minimum efforts using reliable tests are necessary to guide the programme managers in decision-making. Impact of Mass Drug Administration (MDA) towards filariasis elimination can be assessed by the detection of microfilariae (mf) or parasite DNA (infective), filarial antigens (infected) and antibodies (exposure). It is also important to monitor drug resistance and variation in genetic structure of parasite populations using molecular markers. We developed a method to carry out parasitological, molecular, immunological and genetic analysis from a minimum volume of blood sample (about 150 μl) drawn from finger tip of an individual residing in LF endemic area. The method involves separation of sera for immunological assays and isolation of mf of Wuchereria bancrofti from the blood clots for counting, which were then used for W. bancrofti specific PCR, screening for albendazole sensitivity/resistance alleles by AS-PCR, RAPD profiling and ITS 2 PCR for genotyping. A protocol is also suggested for the separation of sera for assays to detect antigen and antibodies and isolation of mf from clots for genetic analysis. The protocol developed has shown potential application in monitoring several immunological, parasitological and molecular parameters from a limited amount of blood sample collected by finger prick, in large-scale operations.     

Inflammatory, haemostatic, and rheological markers for incident peripheral arterial disease: Edinburgh Artery Study.

AIMS: Recently, markers of inflammation, haemostasis, and blood rheology have received much attention as risk factors for coronary heart disease and stroke. However, their role in peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is not well established and some of them, including the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6), have not been examined before in prospective epidemiological studies. METHODS AND RESULTS: In the Edinburgh Artery Study, we studied the development of PAD in the general population and evaluated 17 potential blood markers as predictors of incident PAD. At baseline (1987), 1519 men and women free of PAD aged 55-74 were recruited. After 17 years, 208 subjects had developed symptomatic PAD. In analysis adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors and baseline cardiovascular disease (CVD), only C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, lipoprotein (a), and haematocrit [hazard ratio (95% CI) corresponding to an increase equal to the inter-tertile range 1.30 (1.08, 1.56), 1.16 (1.05, 1.17), 1.22 (1.04, 1.44), 1.22 (1.08, 1.38)] were significantly (P < 0.01) associated with PAD. However, these markers provided very little prognostic information for incident PAD to that obtained by cardiovascular risk factors and the ankle brachial index. Other markers including IL-6, intracellular adhesion molecule 1, d-dimer, tissue plasminogen activator antigen, and plasma and blood viscosities showed weak associations, which were considerably attenuated when CVD risk factors were accounted for. CONCLUSIONS: Our prospective data showed that several inflammatory, haemostatic, and rheological markers are associated with incident PAD; however, their clinical utility is likely to be limited. Future research is necessary to validate the importance of these biomarkers explicitly on PAD and to address the causality of the reported associations.     

The effect of exercise on regional adipose tissue and splanchnic lipid metabolism in overweight Type 2 diabetic subjects

Aims/hypothesis To test the hypothesis that adipose tissue lipolysis is enhanced in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus, we examined the effect of exercise on regional adipose tissue lipolysis and fatty acid mobilisation and measured the acute effects of exercise on the co-ordination of adipose tissue and splanchnic lipid metabolism.Methods Abdominal, subcutaneous adipose tissue and splanchnic lipid metabolism were studied by conducting measurements of arterio-venous concentrations and regional blood flow in six overweight Type 2 diabetic subjects before, during and after exercise.Results Exercise induced an increase in adipose tissue lipolysis and fatty acid release. However, the increase in adipose tissue blood flow was small, limiting fatty acid mobilisation from this tissue. Some of the fatty acids were released in excess in the post-exercise phase. The splanchnic fatty acid uptake was unchanged during the experiment but splanchnic ketogenesis increased in the post-exercise phase. The arterial glucose concentration decreased during exercise and continued to decrease afterwards, indicating an imbalance between splanchnic glucose production and whole-body glucose utilisation.Conclusions/interpretation Regional subcutaneous, abdominal adipose tissue lipolysis is no higher in patients with Type 2 diabetes than in young, healthy subjects. Exercise stimulates adipose tissue lipolysis, but due to an insufficient increase in blood flow, a high fraction of the fatty acids liberated by lipolysis cannot be released to the blood. Splanchnic glucose release is smaller than whole-body glucose utilisation during exercise and post-exercise recovery.Abbreviations ICG indocyanine green - 3-OHB 3-hydroxybutyrate - TAG triacylglycerol - VO_2,max peak oxygen consumption     

Assessment of cardiovascular risk and social framework of Cape Verdean university students studying in Portugal

Introduction

The migration of African populations to Europe poses problems of adaptation that may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. We assessed the cardiovascular risk of Cape Verdean university students studying in Portugal (CV-PT) compared to Cape Verdean university students in Cape Verde (CV-CV) and to Caucasian university students in Portugal (PT-PT).