Effect of gender and estrous cycle on the pharmacokinetics of ethanol in the rat brain

BACKGROUND: Aspects of ethanol pharmacokinetics in the blood, such as elimination, are known to vary by gender in the rat. Ethanol concentrations reaching the brain, which are relevant in affecting behavior, have not been measured rigorously by gender. This study used quantitative microdialysis to measure ethanol pharmacokinetics in the nucleus accumbens after a moderate dose of ethanol, comparing males with females and females across the estrous cycle. METHODS: We administered 1 g/kg ethanol intravenously or intragastrically to male and female rats. We measured ethanol concentrations in the nucleus accumbens by use of microdialysis with in vivo probe calibration and compared them with concentrations in jugular venous blood. RESULTS: After intravenous delivery, apparent ethanol elimination was approximately 15% faster in females than males from both brain and blood. After intragastric delivery, blood ethanol concentrations peaked faster in females than males by approximately 20 min, suggesting faster absorption or diffusion from the stomach. Likewise, accumbal ethanol concentrations peaked faster in females than males by approximately 25 min, indicating faster distribution to the brain. These pharmacokinetic parameters did not vary across the estrous cycle, nor were they influenced significantly by body water. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides the first quantitative measurement of ethanol concentrations and, thus, pharmacokinetics in the brain of awake rats. If ethanol distribution to the brain varies between genders, as these results suggest, then differences in the pharmacological response to ethanol can be expected, providing a rationale for studying the pharmacodynamics of ethanol in the brain of the self-administering rat.     

Patient activation,knowledge, and health literacy association with self-management behaviors in persons with heart failure

Background

More evidence is needed about factors that influence self-management behaviors in persons with heart failure.

Cell cycle kinetics of hematopoiesis before and after in vivo administration of GM-CSF in refractory anemia: Evidence for a shortening of the granulocyte release time

Summary GM-CSF administration to patients with refractory anemia (RA) induces an increase in neutrophils and eosinophils. We studied cell kinetic mechanisms underlying this observation using clonogenic assays and in vivo iododeoxyuridine labeling of bone marrow cells. Cell cycle kinetics were studied in three patients before and during GM-CSF administration (two daily subcutaneous injections of 54 or 108 g). No consistent effect on the relative number of bone marrow CFU-GM was noticed. The DNA synthesis time and potential doubling time of low-density bone marrow cells remained essentially the same. A slight decrease (1.5–3.7%) in labeling index was found, originating from the myelo(-mono)cytic lineage. In all three patients the release time of labeled granulocytes from the bone marrow into the peripheral blood was shortened (before GM-CSF treatment 5–7 days and during GM-CSF 3–4 days). Cell cycle kinetics of CD34⁺ cells were studied in order to obtain kinetic information on immature precursor and progenitor cells. The DNA synthesis time of the CD34⁺ cells was shortened during GM-CSF therapy, resulting in a shorter potential doubling time. GM-CSF administration to patients with RA results in a rise in granulocytes that might be due partly to an accelerated release of granulocytes from the bone marrow compartment into the circulating blood and partly to an increased proliferative activity of the immature precursor and progenitor cells.     

Phenylketonuric diet negatively impacts on butyrate production

Background and aims

Phenylalanine (Phe) restricted diet, combined with Phe-free l-amino acid supplementation, is the mainstay of treatment for phenylketonuria (PKU). Being the diet a key factor modulating gut microbiota composition, the aim of the present paper was to compare dietary intakes, gut microbiota biodiversity and short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production in children with PKU, on low-Phe diet, and in children with mild hyperphenylalaninemia (MHP), on unrestricted diet.

Health Literacy and 1-Year Mortality: Mechanisms of Association in Adults Hospitalized for Cardiovascular Disease

Objective

To test theorized patient-level mediators in the causal pathway between health literacy (HL) and 1-year mortality in adults with cardiovascular disease (CVD).

立体定向放射治疗胰腺癌的疗效分析

目的探讨立体定向放疗(体部伽玛刀)治疗胰腺癌的疗效。方法采用立体定向放射治疗58例胰腺癌患者,给予等剂量曲线50%～90%,周边照射总剂量3000～4800 cGy,分割处方剂量300～600cGy,重复治疗10～15次。结果 58例胰腺癌患者在治疗后3个月,完全缓解5例(8.6%),部分缓解22例(37.9%),稳定25例(43.1%),进展6例(10.3%)。1年生存率为62.2%。结论立体定向放疗治疗胰腺癌,安全有效,可以提高患者的生存期。     

The weight of US residence among immigrants: a systematic review

As the number of immigrants in the USA continues to rise, it becomes increasingly important to understand how their health differs from native‐born individuals. Obesity is a public health concern and a component of health that may differ and change in important ways in immigrants. This research synthesizes the current literature on the relationship between immigrant duration of residence in the USA and body weight. Five databases from the health and social sciences were searched for all pertinent publications. Fifteen articles met inclusion criteria, 14 of which reported a significant, positive relationship between body mass index and duration of residence in the USA (all P‐values <0.10). Two studies reported a threshold effect of weight gain after 10 years of US residence, and another study reported that body mass index peaks after 21 years of duration for men and after 15 years for women. The results of this review suggest that weight gain prevention programmes would be beneficial for many immigrants within the first decade of residence in the USA. Prevention efforts may be more successful if nativity and acculturation are considered in addition to race/ethnicity. Future research is needed to identify the specific mechanisms through which living in the USA may adversely affect health outcomes.     

精神病未治疗期对首发未服药精神分裂症脑白质完整性的影响

目的 探讨精神病未治疗期(DUP)对首发未服药精神分裂症患者脑白质完整性的影响.方法 应用汉化的诺丁汉发病症状量表评定39例首发未服药精神分裂症患者的DUP,以其中位数为界将患者分为长DUP组和短DUP组,同时比较两组患者的性别构成、年龄、受教育年限、阳性和阴性症状量表总分.采用自旋回波序列得到弥散张量磁共振成像资料,以DTI-Studi0软件和统计参数图软件(SPM5)对所得图像进行预处理,得到的分子各向异性分数(FA)图像在SPM5软件中进行两样本t检验,获得两组FA差异统计参数图.结果 两组患者性别构成、年龄、受教育年限、阳性和阴性症状量表总分比较差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).在P值小于0.001(未校正)水平下,长DUP组患者大脑右侧前扣带束(x=8,y=40,z=24)和左侧前额叶白质(x=32,y=34,z=4)FA值较短DUP组降低.结论 延长的DUP会降低首发未服药精神分裂症患者脑白质的完整性.