Red blood cell cation transports in uraemic anaemia: evidence for an increased K/CI co-transport activity. Effects of dialysis and erythropoietin treatment*

Abstract. This study examines the role of uraemia and the effect of different dialysis treatments on red cell cation transport. We evaluated the main cation transport systems in erythrocytes of non-dialysed end-stage renal disease (ESRD) subjects, of patients undergoing haemodialysis (HD) and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), as well as the changes induced by human recombinant erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) administration. In uraemic undialysed and dialysed patients, we observed an increase in K/Cl co-transport activity and in shrinkage-induced amiloride-sensitive (HMA-sensitive) Na efflux (Na/H exchange) and a decrease in Na/K pump and Na/K/Cl co-transport activity, while Na/Li exchange was increased only in dialysed patients. In uraemic erythrocytes, we showed for the first time an increased K/Cl co-transport activity, which was cell age independent. Generally, the different method of dialysis (CAPD or HD) did not modify the cation transport abnormalities observed. During the treatment with r-HuEPO, all the systems, with the exception of the Na/K pump and Na/K/Cl co-transport, increased their activities following the increase of circulating young red cells. The changes produced under r-HuEPO administration were transient and cation transports returned to the baseline values within 100 days of treatment, indicating a primary and prominent pathogenetic role of uraemia in modulating the red cell membrane cation transport activities.     

The rate of OH− ion release from lining materials containing calcium hydroxide

summary Four light-cured calcium hydroxide and three chemically cured resin-based lining materials were compared for hydoxil ion (OH) release. Results indicated that the chemically cured calcium hydroxide cements were capable of OH− release for a longer period than the light-cured resin bases. Alkaliner (a chemically cured liner) produced and maintained the highest alkaline environment in the long-term, whereas calcium fluoride liner and Basic-L (both resin-based) showed the lowest values of OH− ion release.     

Differences in Prepuberal Neonatally Estrogenized or Androgenized Male Rats

The main objective of this work was to analyze the different effects produced in prepuberal male rats by neonatal androgenization or estrogenization. For this purpose male Wistar rats were injected on day one of life with 500 micrograms of estradiol benzoate (estrogenized animals), 500 micrograms of testosterone propionate (androgenized animals) or olive oil (control animals) and decapitated on day 15. At the moment of decapitation estrogenized animals showed decreases in body, testes, prostate and adrenal weights, increases in pituitary, seminal vesicles and epididymis weights, an increase in prolactin plasma levels and a decrease in those of androgens. Androgenized animals showed only decreased testes and epididymis weights and androgen plasma levels. These results evidence the presence of important qualitative differences in prepuberal neonatally estrogenized or androgenized rats, especially in the accessory sex organs.     

Comparison of Smooth-Gel Hyaluronic Acid Dermal Fillers with Cross-linked Bovine Collagen: A Multicenter, Double-Masked, Randomized, Within-Subject Study

BACKGROUND A new family of next-generation non-animal hyaluronic acid (HA) dermal fillers was approved by the FDA in June 2006. Compared with other HA fillers available in the United States at the time of writing, these new fillers have a higher concentration of HA, higher concentration of cross-linked HA, and a smooth consistency—which should promote long-lasting corrections and a smooth, natural look and feel postinjection.
OBJECTIVE The objective was to compare the effectiveness and safety of these smooth-gel HA dermal fillers with bovine collagen for nasolabial fold (NLF) correction.
METHODS AND MATERIALS A total of 439 subjects with moderate or severe NLFs received one of three types of smooth-gel HA dermal filler (in one NLF) and cross-linked bovine collagen (in the other NLF) and were evaluated for ≤24 weeks.
RESULTS All three HA dermal fillers achieved considerably longer-lasting clinical correction than bovine collagen; 81% to 90% of HA dermal filler–treated NLFs maintained a clinically significant improvement from baseline for ≥6 months. Up to 88% of subjects preferred the HA dermal fillers over bovine collagen. All fillers were similarly well tolerated.
CONCLUSION The smooth-gel HA dermal fillers offer longer-lasting correction than bovine collagen—which may lessen the frequency that repeat treatments are needed. Also, they were preferred by the vast majority of subjects—which should promote patient satisfaction.