OVERHEATING IN BED AS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN MANY COMMON DERMATOSES

Background. Extensive questioning of patients with a wide variety of skin disorders led to the impression that nocturnal overheating was probably an important factor in the initiation and the perpetuation of many skin disorders. Methods. In order to test the hypothesis, 12 “clean-skinned” subjects (6M/6F) aged 18 to 45 years were monitored electronically every 30 seconds during an 8 hour sleep period (2300 to 0700 hours), sleeping under a standard 10 tog duvet. Results. All the subjects were too hot by 3 to 4°C. All showed changes in their EEG patterns with reduced REM sleep, increased awakenings, and all showed changes in their sleep stage patterns. In addition, they all showed evidence of increased sweating in the “heat-sink” area. Conclusions. The mechanisms where by such changes could be implicated in the precipitation and perpetuation of skin disease are discussed. “Lifestyle” modification as a very effective, noninvasive, therapeutic regime is recommended. Further research along these lines would probably be very valuable and instructive.     

Aortopulmonary window with patent ductus arteriosus and interrupted aortic arch: A case report

Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery -     

Physical training programs for public safety personnel

The nature of public safety jobs often reflects sudden strenuous exertion at a moment's notice. In the 1970s, police and fire departments became acutely aware of high numbers of on-the-job injuries and illnesses related to coronary heart disease. Disability payments for premature cardiovascular problems were being linked to cardiovascular risk factors accrued while on the job. This prompted public safety departments to initiate fitness programs for their employees. The fitness level of public safety personnel is not high. Job-related benefits have been linked to consistent physical training; high aerobic capacity, high muscular strength and endurance, above-average lean body weight, and minimal body fat are necessary for efficient job performance. In light of the physical benefits gained through regular exercise, pioneer departments began exercise programs for their personnel. These included the fire departments in Lawrence, Kansas, Alexandria, Virginia and Los Angeles, and the Dallas police department. Mealey documents psychologic improvements with exercise. Pioneer fitness programs such as that of the Los Angeles fire department have noted evidence of risk-factor reduction following institution of a mandatory program. The Alexandria department has instituted mandatory entrance requirements for their recruits, such as a no-smoking policy while on the job and mandatory exercise participation. Many community departments are not able to justify the institution of fitness programs. They may cite cost, lack of space, or lack of administrative support for the inability to initiate these programs. Legal and union ramifications may also deter the effort of program implementation. Considerations when implementing programs should involve cost of equipment, space, employee input, and determination of mandatory versus voluntary status. Preliminary medical screening and fitness evaluations should reliably evaluate an employee's physical ability to perform job-related tasks. The tests should be performed on a regular basis during employment. It is important, therefore, to convey the benefits of exercise to administrators. Frequent exercise testing should record progress of participants during exercise training and goals should be constantly updated. Pioneer programs should be used as models to follow when implementing a public safety physical training program. However, individual departments should evaluate the needs of their own personnel with respect to equipment, exercise schedule and type, and place of training.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Decreased inducibility of TNF expression in lipid-loaded macrophages

Background  

Inflammation and immune responses are considered to be very important in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Lipid accumulation in macrophages of the arterial intima is a characteristic feature of atherosclerosis which can influence the inflammatory potential of macrophages. We studied the effects of lipid loading on the regulation of TNF expression in human monocyte-derived macrophages.     

Mouse homologues of the human AZF candidate gene RBM are expressed in spermatogonia and spermatids, and map to a Y chromosome deletion interval associated with a high incidence of sperm abnormalities

An RNA-binding motif (RBM) gene family has been identified on the human Y chromosome that maps to the same deletion interval as the 'azoospermia factor' (AZF). We have identified the homologous gene family (Rbm) on the mouse Y with a view to investigating the proposal that this gene family plays a role in spermatogenesis. At least 25 and probably >50 copies of Rbm are present on the mouse Y chromosome short arm located between Sry and the centromere. As in the human, a role in spermatogenesis is indicated by a germ cell-specific pattern of expression in the testis, but there are distinct differences in the pattern of expression between the two species. Mice carrying the deletion Yd1, that maps to the proximal Y short arm, are female due to a position effect resulting in non-expression of Sry ; sex-reversing such mice with an Sry transgene produces males with a high incidence of abnormal sperm, making this the third deletion interval on the mouse Y that affects some aspect of spermatogenesis. Most of the copies of Rbm map to this deletion interval, and the Yd1males have markedly reduced Rbm expression, suggesting that RBM deficiency may be responsible for, or contribute to, the abnormal sperm development. In man, deletion of the functional copies of RBM is associated with meiotic arrest rather than sperm anomalies; however, the different effects of deletion are consistent with the differences in expression between the two species.