Acute hypervolemia does not improve arterial oxygenation in maximally exercising thoroughbred horses

Recently, it was reported that acute hypervolemia improves arterial oxygen tension in human athletes known to experience exercise-induced arterial hypoxemia. Since exercise-induced arterial hypoxemia is routinely observed in racehorses and is known to limit performance, we examined whether pre-exercise induction of acute hypervolemia would similarly benefit arterial oxygenation in maximally exercising thoroughbred horses. Two sets of experiments, namely, placebo [intravenous (IV) physiological saline] and acute hypervolemia (IV 7.2% NaCl, causing an 18.2% expansion of plasma volume) studies were carried out in random order on 13 healthy, exercise-trained thoroughbred horses, 7 days apart. An incremental exercise protocol leading to 120 s of galloping at 14 m s^–1 on a 3.5% uphill incline was used. Galloping at this workload elicited maximal heart rate and induced pulmonary hemorrhage in all horses in both treatments. In the placebo study, arterial oxygen tension decreased to 76.1 (2) mmHg (P<0.0001) at 30 s of maximal exertion, but further significant changes did not occur as exercise duration increased to 120 s [arterial oxygen tension 72.4 (2) mmHg]. A significant arterial hypoxemia also developed in galloping horses in the acute hypervolemia study [arterial oxygen tension at 30 and 120 s was 76.7 (1.7) and 71.9 (1.6) mmHg, respectively], but significant differences between treatments could not be demonstrated. In both treatments, a similar desaturation of arterial hemoglobin was also observed at 30 s of maximal exercise, which intensified with increasing exercise duration as hyperthermia, acidosis and hypercapnia intensified. Thus, acute expansion of plasma volume did not benefit arterial oxygenation in maximally exercising thoroughbred horses.     

Body weight set point studies in weanling rats with dorsomedial hypothalamic lesions (DMNL rats)

In order to further characterize a previously postulated "organismic" set point, weanling DMNL and control (CON) rats were maintained on lab chow ad lib (AL) for 55 post-operative days. Subsequently, some DMNL and CON rats were food-restricted (REST) to 80% of the food intake of their AL-fed counterparts for 24 days. At this point, representative rats from each group were killed by decapitation and the remaining animals were re-fed AL and killed 7 and 22 days thereafter. At the end of REST, both DMNL and CON showed significant weight loss, which was greater in CON than in DMNL rats. After 7 days of refeeding, DMNL rats normalized their body weights but re-fed CON still weighed less than AL-fed CON 22 days after refeeding. Food intake in formerly REST groups overshot on refeeding for 7 days, but this was significant only in DMNL rats. Notably, during this time formerly REST-DMNL ate as much as AL-fed CON. Efficiency of food utilization was normal in DMNL during AL feeding and became reduced on REST as it did in REST-CON. Notably, on refeeding formerly REST-DMNL rats overshot that of AL-fed DMNL rats by the same magnitude as previously REST-CON overshot the values of AL-fed CON. After 22 days of refeeding, this overshoot was still evident in DMNL but not in CON. At the end of the REST period, plasma insulin and glucose were similar in AL-fed DMNL and AL-fed CON. They were significantly and comparably reduced in both REST-DMNL and REST-CON compared to the AL-fed DMNL and AL-fed CON. On refeeding these changes normalized within seven days. At the end of REST, plasma free fatty acid concentrations were higher in REST-DMNL and REST-CON than in AL-fed DMNL and AL-fed CON. After seven days of refeeding they normalized only in formerly REST-CON. Plasma glycerol and total protein were normal throughout all groups, as was carcass protein. Carcass fat was equivalently reduced in both DMNL and CON at the end of REST and normalized 7 days after refeeding. AL-DMNL had the same carcass fat as AL-CON and REST-DMNL had the same carcass fat as REST-CON. In conjunction with previously reported normal anabolic hormone levels the data suggest that DMNL rats are not growth-retarded but are merely scaled down in size without compromise of their homeostatic competence. We take this as strong evidence for the existence of an "organismic" set point.     

Duration of benzodiazepine clinical activity: Lack of direct relationship with plasma half-life

The anxiolytic activity and tolerance of two dosage schedules of prazepam, a long plasma half-life benzodiazepine, were compared under double-blind conditions in two groups of 10 inpatients each who met Research Diagnostic Criteria for Generalized Anxiety Disorder and presented chronic and severe symptomatology. Patients received prazepam 40 mg per day on one of two dosage schedules: 1) divided dosage (DD) - 10 mg in the morning and at noon and 20 mg in the evening; or 2) single dosage (SD) - 40 mg in the evening. The 3 weeks of therapy were preceded and followed by 1 week of wash-out for baseline and follow-up assessments, which were performed weekly with the Hamilton Anxiety Scale, Clinical Global Impression, rating of morning drowsiness and evening worsening of symptoms, and patient self-rating of anxiety by means of a visual analogue scale performed both in the morning and in the afternoon. The results showed a clear superiority of the DD over the SD schedule: better anxiolytic efficacy on the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (P<0.0005) and on both morning and afternoon visual analogue scales (P<0.01 andP<0.0002); less morning drowsiness (P<0.0001); and steadier anxiolytic effect during the daytime, as globally rated by the investigator (P<0.0001) or measured by morning-afternoon differences on the visual analogue scale (P<0.005). These results suggest that plasma pharmacokinetics alone may not be sufficient to predict the duration of benzodiazepine anxiolytic activity.     

The effects of CaEDTA injection on lead,zinc, copper and ALAD in erythrocyte,plasma and urine in lead-exposed workers: a 24-h observation

Summary To evaluate the effects of calcium disodium ethylenediamine tetraacetate (CaEDTA) on the concentrations of lead, zinc and copper in plasma, erythrocyte and urine, and the delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity in erytrocyte, we administered CaEDTA in 1-h intravenous infusion to ten male gun metal founders with blood-lead concentration of 39 to 64 g/dl (mean 49 g/dl). We found that the plasma concentration of lead, following a rapid rise within the first 3 h, fell temporarily to the level significantly lower than the initial level 19 h after start of the infusion. The plasma concentration of zinc fell to the minimal level 5 h after the infusion; and the erythrocyte concentration of zinc and the ALAD activity concurrently rose to the maximal level 5 h after the infusion. By contrast, no significant alteration was observed in the concentrations of copper in plasma and erythrocyte. The maximal level of urinary metal excretion was attained during the period between 1 and 2 h after start of CaEDTA infusion for lead; within 2 h for zinc; and between 2 and 4 h for copper. The urinary metal excretion returned to the initial level 14 to 24 h after infusion for zinc and copper; but lead excretion was still higher than the initial level during this period. The difference in the kinetics of the three metals following CaEDTA injection is discussed in the light of these findings.     

Plasma fibronectin in psoriatic arthritis subgroups

Summary Plasma from 38 patients suffering from one of the five broad clinical subgroups of Psoriatic Arthritis (PA) were studied for soluble plasma Fibronectin (pFn). The mean total concentration of pFn was 453.03g/ml ± 142.83 SD, with a significant statistical difference (p<0.01) versus a healthy control group matched with respect to sex and age. In order to evaluate the biological role that pFn might play in this pathological condition, observed concentrations were correlated with the degree and duration of the psoriasis and arthritis. In addition, pFn was correlated to some biohumoral parameters that are modified during inflammatory processes (ESR, CRP, sCu, sFe, Hb) and to uric acid levels. Tissue typing (HLA) was done where possible. From our observations, we suggest that pFn most likely is not an acute phase protein and rather than having specificity for a particular disease, might, in widespread and severe cases be,a general and useful marker of the connective-tissue organizing and repairing response, following its injury.     

维生素B12联合叶酸治疗缺血性脑卒中的疗效及对血浆Hcy水平的影响

目的：探讨维生素B12联合叶酸治疗缺血性脑卒中的临床疗效及对血浆同型半胱氨酸（Hcy）水平的影响。方法：选取2020年7月至2022年3月三门峡市中心医院收治的缺血性脑卒中患者136例为研究对象,依据治疗方式不同分为常规组（66例）和联合组（70例）,常规组患者接受缺血性脑血管病的规范化治疗,联合组在常规组基础上服用维生素B12片和叶酸片,两组患者均治疗4周,比较治疗前后两组患者的血浆Hcy、叶酸和维生素B12水平,神经功能缺损量表（NIHSS）和日常生活活动能力评定量表（ADL）评分,并记录随访期内的脑卒中事件复发情况。结果：两组患者治疗前血浆Hcy、叶酸、维生素B12水平、NIHSS、ADL评分比较,差异均无统计学意义（P> 0.05）,治疗后联合组血浆Hcy水平低于常规组,血浆叶酸和维生素B12水平高于常规组,差异具有统计学意义（P <0.05）。治疗后联合组患者ADL评分高于常规组,NIHSS评分低于常规组,差异具有统计学意义（P <0.05）。随访期间联合组患者复发率为6.67%,低于常规组的26.67%,差异具有统计学意义（P <0.05）。结论：在...     

血浆粘度与胃粘膜血流关系的研究

目的　研究血浆粘度对胃粘膜血流的影响。方法　选择无心血管、肝、肾及内分泌系统疾病的慢性胃炎患者 80例 ,用激光多普勒血流仪测定病人胃粘膜血流 (GMBF) ,同时检测病人血流变学各指标。结果　老年人GMBF明显低于年轻人 (P<0 .0 1) ,老年人血浆粘度 (BV)比年轻人高 (P<0 .0 5 ) ,且与胃粘膜血流呈负相关。结论　血浆粘度直接影响胃微循环灌注 ,且随年龄增加而升高 ,这可间接影响胃粘膜的修复和愈合 ,在胃肠疾病的治疗中 ,血浆粘度不容忽视 ,它是引起老年人胃粘膜血流下降的原因之一。     

Determination of oxidative stress parameters and DNA fragmentation on post-thawed buck semen in the presence of ram seminal plasma and fetal calf serum

The aim of the study was to investigate the efficiency of ram seminal plasma and fetal calf serum on freezing of buck semen. Twenty ejaculates were collected using an electro-ejaculator and split into six groups. While FCS additive was not used in A1, A2 and A3 groups, 10% FCS was added to B1, B2 and B3 groups. These groups were then edited according to whether the buck or ram SP was involved. The design of the groups was done as follows: Group A1 (control 1), group A2 without buck SP, group A3 containing ram SP instead of buck SP. Groups B1 (control 2), B2 and B3 were the FCS added forms of these groups. Progressive sperm motility percentages in Group A1 and Group B2 were found to be higher when compared to the lowest Group B3. There were no significant differences between the groups in neither the levels of reactive oxygen species nor the enzyme and glutathione activities. In conclusion, the lack of statistical difference between the groups suggested that despite the supplements used but only when the buck spermatozoa structure was healthy, the cell could preserve acrosome, DNA and the integrity of membrane.     

Effects of combined Pulsed Dye Laser and Fractional CO2 Laser treatment of burn scars and correlation with plasma levels of collagen type I,MMP-2 and TIMP-1

Hypertrophic burn scars remain a significant burden for patients and a challenge for clinicians.The aimAssessement of the efficacy of combined Pulsed Dye Laser and Ablative Fractional CO₂ Laser therapy on hyperthophic scars and correlation with plasma levels of MMP-2, TIMP-1 and alpha-1 type I collagen.Patients and methodsTwenty five pediatric subjects were enrolled into the study. Control group consisted of age-matched subjects admitted for surgical repair of inguinal hernia. For the assessment of the results of laser treatment we used the Vancouver scar scale (VSS), and Patient-Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS). We also correlated clinical results with plasma levels of MMP-2, TIMP-1 and alpha-1 type I collagen.ResultsAll subjects reported the laser treatment resulted in improvement and were somewhat satisfied or very satisfied with their experience. No adverse events were reported. The levels of MMP-2, TIMP-1 and alpha-1 type I collagen in our patients with scars before laser threatment were higher in comparison to controls. We also found statistically significant decrease in the levels of MMP-2, TIMP-1 and alpha-1 type I collagen after laser treatment of burn scarsConclusionsOur study clearly shows that combined CO2-AFL treatment for burn scars improve texture, colour, function and alleviate pruritus. We believe that decrease in the levels of MMP-2, TIMP-1 and alpha-1 type I collagen after laser treatment of burn scars, reflects reduced dynamic of scar.