The effect of maximal exertion on the levels of plasma peptides in cyclists with different physical working capacities

Abstract. The studies were carried out on thirty-one sportsmen, cyclists aged 21–28 years, after the termination of a training course just before the start of their season. They exercised on a bicycle ergometer according to the following schedule: 30 N at 60 rev/min for 6 min, 40 N at 70 rev/min for 5 min, 50 N at 80 rev/min for 5 min and 50 N at 90 rev/min until exhaustion. According to the level of training the subjects were divided into three groups. In the three groups of cyclists were determined the concentrations of total plasma peptides and their individual fractions obtained by gel-filtration on Sephadex G-10.
It was found that the total plasma peptide concentration varied with the level of fitness. The lowest plasma peptide concentration was observed in cyclists with the lowest level of fitness and it differed from those observed in cyclists with intermediary and high levels of fitness. After exercise the biggest increase in plasma peptide concentration was found in the cyclists with the low level of fitness, and the lowest one in those with the high level of fitness.
Individual plasma peptide fractions also revealed differences before and after exercise depending on the level of fitness.     

The effect of maximal exertion on the levels of plasma peptides in cyclists with different physical working capacities

Abstract The studies were carried out on thirty-one sportsmen, cyclists aged 21–28 years, after the termination of a training course just before the start of their season. They exercised on a bicycle ergometer according to the following schedule: 30 N at 60 rev/min for 6 min, 40 N at 70 rev/min for 5 min, 50 N at 80 rev/min for 5 min and 50 N at 90 rev/min until exhaustion. According to the level of training the subjects were divided into three groups. In the three groups of cyclists were determined the concentrations of total plasma peptides and their individual fractions obtained by gel-filtration on Sephadex G-10.
It was found that the total plasma peptide concentration varied with the level of fitness. The lowest plasma peptide concentration was observed in cyclists with the lowest level of fitness and it differed from those observed in cyclists with intermediary and high levels of fitness. After exercise the biggest increase in plasma peptide concentration was found in the cyclists with the low level of fitness, and the lowest one in those with the high level of fitness.
Individual plasma peptide fractions also revealed differences before and after exercise depending on the level of fitness.     

Hepatic Amebiasis, Analysis of 56 Cases

The clinical findings in 56 patients with hepatic amebiasis are reviewed. This illness was most frequent in male black patients, 20–39 years old. The clinical picture is dominated by upper right quadrant abdominal pain, general malaise, pain on percussion of the right hypochondrium and tender hepatomegaly. Jaundice is not rare and appears to have no prognostic significance. The importance of early diagnosis is emphasized.     

Autologous Cultured Melanocytes in Vitiligo Treatment

BACKGROUND: Surgical treatment of vitiligo is indicated when lesions are localized in poorly responding areas. OBJECTIVES: The objectives were: (1) to establish the melanocyte culture obtained from the epidermis of vitiligo patients for future treatment; (2) to estimate the influence of selected factors on the formation of suction blisters and the results of culture; and (3) to compare the results of treatment of vitiliginous macules localized in the dorsum of the hands and lower limbs by transplantation of cultured autologous melanocytes plus psoralen and ultraviolet A (PUVA) therapy (CMP), suction blister transplantation plus PUVA therapy (SBP), cryotherapy plus PUVA-therapy (CP), and only PUVA therapy (OP). METHODS: Forty patients were qualified for the study. The roofs of the suction blisters were used as a melanocyte source for culture establishment or were directly transplanted. RESULTS: The CMP procedure was successfully performed on only 10 of 20 patients because of the difficulties in cell culture establishment. The SBP method was carried out on all 20 patients. A total lack of effectiveness was found in CP and OP methods. CONCLUSIONS: The effectiveness of culture depends on time of suction blister forming, phototype, and previous PUVA therapy. This study demonstrated the advantage of the SBP over the CMP method.     

Control of the Amount of Free Molecular Iodine in Iodine Germicides

Horseradish peroxidase has been used to generate iodine compositions that comprised principally free molecular iodine. The concentration of free molecular iodine in these enzyme-based compositions ranged from 44 to 63% of the thiosulphate titratable iodine; this is substantially higher than the corresponding value for the povidoneiodine preparation betadine. The biocidal efficacy of these compositions was proportional to the concentration of free molecular iodine. Iodine compositions with relatively low total iodine concentrations but high levels of free molecular iodine (20–175 ppm) killed Staphylococcus aureus and spores of Bacillus subtilis more rapidly than betadine. The effects of normal saline and these enzyme-based iodine compositions on the rate of epidermal regeneration in superficial swine wounds were comparable. These results suggest that an effective germicide containing a high level of molecular iodine need not be irritating or toxic.     

Microbiology: Rapid Killing of Mycobacterium terrae by N-Chlorotaurine in the Presence of Ammonium is Caused by the Reaction Product Monochloramine

We have studied the activity of the weak endogenous oxidant N-chlorotaurine against Mycobacterium terrae. The study revealed slow killing of more than 2 h duration by 1% (55 mM) N-chlorotaurine. In the presence of ammonium chloride, however, killing times decreased to a few minutes, even by 0.1% N-chlorotaurine. This phenomenon is explained by formation of the lipophilic and therefore more bactericidal monochloramine as a result of transhalogenation of ammonia by N-chlorotaurine.     

Plasma ANP and Cyclic GMP Levels Versus Left Ventricular Performance at Different AV Delays in AV Sequential Pacing

Eleven resting patients with an implanted DDD pacemaker were studied. After 30 minutes of AV sequentiai pacing at a rate of 80 beats/min with three consecutive atrioventricular delays (AVDs; 100, 150, and 200 msec) peripheral venous blood was drawn for further analyses by specific radioimmunoassays of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and the ANP second messenger, cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). Relative changes in left ventricular (LV) stroke volume following alterations of AVD were assessed by means of pulsed-Doppler echocardiography through measurement of LV outflow time-velocity integrals (TVI). The optimal AVD (oA VD) was defined in individual patients as that which was associated with the greatest TVI and with improvement over both other AVDs of more than 4%. The oA VD was found in nine patients. For these nine patients no significant differences in either plasma ANP or cGMP between various AVDs were observed. However, we found such differences with respect to values measured at oAVD; both ANP and cGMP levels were lowest at oAVD. Pooling together the data obtained in 11 patients at three AVDs, a positive correlation between ANP and cGMP levels was found (r = 0.7, P < 0.0001. n = 33). Moreover, changes of plasma ANP and cGMP induced by every A VD increment of 50 msec were also correlated (r = 0.6, P < 0.01, n = 22). It is concluded that in AV sequential pacing at rest piasma ANP reaches minimal levels at the AVD, which provides the best LV performance. Although levels of cGMP changed in parallel with those of ANP, low relative values of cGMP differences may limit the usefulness of cGMP assays in optimization of the AVD.     

ASSESSMENT OF DIAZEPAM LOADING DOSE THERAPY OF DELIRIUM TREMENS

The efficacy of the diazepam loading dose method of treatmentof delirium tremens was assessed in comparison with the traditionaltherapy. The experimental group and the control group comprised51 and 45 patients respectively. The clinical institute withdrawalassessment for alcohol (CIWA-A) scale was applied to assessthe intensity of the symptoms. Diazepam doses in the experimentalgroup oscillated from 40 to 210 mg (mean 86.9±47.2 mg).The control group was receiving diazepam and other psychotropicdrugs in divided doses. In the experimental group deliric symptomswere present from 2 to 24 h (mean 6.9±4.8 h), and inthe control group from 2 to 123 h (mean 33.8±25.7 h).The results show a large efficacy of the loading dose methodcorresponding to substantial reduction of the psychosis duration(fivefold in comparison to the control group). The method provedto be safe, with no significant complications.     

Hepatic Amebiasis—Analysis of 56 Cases

Laboratory and chest x-ray findings in 56 cases of hepatic amebiasis previously reported are described.
Anemia and an elevated E.S.R., frequently without an elevated leucocyte count, were the most frequent hematologic findings.
Abnormalities of liver function tests were mild and nonspecific. The most frequent abnormalities seen in chest x-ray were an elevated right hemidiaphragm whose motility on fluoroscopy was reduced or abolished.
These abnormalities may be of great help in diagnosis in endemic areas where more sophisticated facilities may not be available.