Exhaled nitric oxide and its long‐term variation in healthy non‐smoking subjects

Exhaled nitric oxide (NOexp) is an indicator of inflammation in the airways. Reference values obtained from healthy adults or information on long‐term variation of NOexp are not yet available. The aims of this pilot study were to collect values of NOexp from a selected group of healthy adults and to assess their long‐term variation. We studied 26 healthy subjects (age 21–48, 16 male, 10 female) with normal findings in flow‐volume spirometry, pulmonary diffusing capacity, relative amount of blood eosinophils, chest X‐ray and ECG at rest. NOexp was determined according to the European Respiratory Society guidelines during slow expiration against an airflow resistance. The measurements were repeated after 7 (n=13) and 23 days (n=17). The mean value of NOexp (n=26) was 6·9 ng g^–1 (95% confidence interval, 6·0–7·9 ng g^–1). The upper limit of intra‐individual variation (+2 SD) was 11·9 ng g^–1 and the lower limit (–2 SD) 1·9 ng g^–1, respectively. The mean (SD) value of NO production (NO output) was 39·1 pmol s^–1 (20 pmol s^–1). We found no correlation between NOexp and age (r=–0·06, P=0·78) and no association of NOexp with the gender (male vs. female, P=0·40). The intraindividual coefficient of variation (CoV) was 15·8% of NOexp and 20·7% of NO output within the interval of 7 days. CoV was 16·8% of NOexp and 18% of NO output within the interval 23 days. The results suggest that NOexp values over 12 ng g^–1 are abnormally high in healthy subjects. According to the results the change of NOexp by 30–35% or more within the interval of 1–3 weeks would be abnormal.     

Binding of serotonergic ligands to brain membranes of alcohol-preferring AA and alcohol-avoiding ANA rats.

The alcohol-preferring AA rats have higher concentration of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in the brain than the alcohol-avoiding ANA rats. In the present study, the 5-HT1, 5-HT2, and 5-HT3 receptors were studied with [3H]5-HT, [3H]ketanserin, and [3H]LY278584, respectively, in membrane homogenates from different brain regions of both rat lines using in vitro binding assays. No differences in the 5-HT1 and 5-HT2 receptor binding in the brainstem, hippocampus, frontal cortex, and hypothalamus or in the 5-HT3 receptor binding in the nucleus accumbens, amygdala, hippocampus, and frontal cortex were observed between the ethanol-naive animals of the rat lines. In rats given the opportunity to voluntarily consume alcohol, there was a tendency to increase 5-HT1 binding in the ANA rats, which tendency was, however, also found in their ethanol-naive controls subjected to the same handling and behavioral tests as the ethanol-experienced animals. The results do not, however, indicate that any genetic modifications of the 5-HT receptor-binding sites have occurred in the process of the selective breeding of AA and ANA rats for alcohol preference and avoidance, respectively.     

Injuries in national karate competitions in Finland

The injuries sustained in 6 national karate competitions in Finland were studied by analyzing data from 450 bouts during the season 1991–1992. The analyzed data included a personal interview with each competitor and detailed information on the bouts and any injuries sustained. The overall probability of injury was 0.28 per bout. These injuries occurred to 16% of the 647 competitors. Occurrence of injury was greatest among adult men, which was pronounced in final bouts. Of all injuries diagnosed by the physicians for the competitions, more than 95% were localized to the head. The majority of these were minor injuries. Experienced competitors were more injury-prone than beginners. On the other hand, none of the background factors studied significantly affected the probability of injuring one's opponent. Most injuries and penalties, as well as full scores, were caused by direct punches to the head. From these findings it was concluded that a protective guard for the head together with modification of competition rules could significantly reduce injuries.     

Effect of nitecapone and clorgyline, given intracerebro-ventricularly on L-dopa metabolism in the rat brain.

A new COMT inhibitor, nitecapone (OR-462) or clorgyline, a MAO-A inhibitor, was infused into the 3rd brain ventricle (i.c.v.) of conscious male rats. None of the enzyme inhibitors given alone alter hypothalamic or striatal levels of L-dopa, dopamine or their metabolites. Most of the rats were pretreated with levodopa/carbidopa (LD/CD, 15/30 mg kg-1 intraperitoneally). Now, the action of nitecapone is localized in the hypothalamus since homovanillic acid (HVA) is decreased there, not in the striatum. The levels of 3-O-methyldopa (3-OMD) are not changed in either brain region, suggesting a lack of the peripheral leakage of nitecapone. Clorgyline (3 and 10 micrograms rat-1) elevates hypothalamic and dopamine levels. Nitecapone and clorgyline decrease prolactin (PRL) levels below those reduced by LD/CD treatment.     

Haemodynamic changes during spinal anaesthesia with slow continuous infusion or single dose of plain bupivacaine

Forty elderly patients, scheduled for orthopaedic surgery of the hip or knee were studied. Twenty patients received a single-dose spinal anaesthesia with 3 ml of plain 0.5% bupivacaine (SDSA group). Twenty patients received continuous spinal anaesthesia using a 32- or 22-gauge catheter. A bolus of 1.0 ml of plain 0.5% bupivacaine was given to ten patients and 0.5 ml to another ten, continued by an infusion at a rate of 2 ml/h. The spread of analgesia and haemodynamic changes (central venous pressure, arterial pressures, need for sympathomimetic medication) were registered. The mean dose of bupivacaine was 2.9 ml (range 1.5-5 ml) in the CSA group (3.0 ml in the SDSA group). Eight patients in the CSA group needed medication for pain during surgery compared to five patients in the SDSA group (n.s.). The median level of pinprick analgesia at 60 min was T11 in the CSA and T6.5 in the SDSA group (P less than 0.01). The mean maximum decreases in CVP and MAP were quite similar in the CSA and SDSA group (2.1 vs 2.8 mmHg (0.3 vs 0.4 kPa) and 17 vs 21 mmHg (2.3 vs 2.8 kPa), respectively) (n.s.). Six patients in the SDSA group and four patients in the CSA group needed sympathomimetic medication. It is concluded that titration of bupivacaine for spinal anaesthesia caused only minor haemodynamic changes which were similar to those after single-dose spinal bupivacaine.     

A 5-year retrospective analysis of employer-provided dental care for Finnish male industrial workers

Abstract The treatment-mix, treatment time, and dental status of 268 male industrial workers entitled to employer-provided dental care were studied. The data were collected from treatment records of the covered workers over the 5-year period 1989-93. Treatment time was based on clinical treatment time recorded per patient visit, and the treatment procedure codes were reclassified into a treatment-mix according to American Dental Association categories, with a modification combining endodontics and restorative treatment. The mean number of check-ups followed by prescribed treatment (treatment courses) during the 5 years was 3.7 among those who had entered the in-house dental care program prior to the monitored period (old attenders). Their treatment time was stable, 57–63 min per year, while the first-year mean treatment time (170 min) of those who had entered the program during the study period (new attenders) was significantly higher (P<0.01) than the 5-year mean of the old attenders (61 min). Over the first 2 years, the treatment-mix of the new attenders showed a rise in diagnostic and preventive procedures from one-third to about one-half of all procedures, as it was for the old attenders. The new attenders' mean number of carious teeth (2.7), registered at the initial check-up visit, paralleled the mean recently demonstrated in the similar non-covered population. It was significantly higher than the 5-year mean of the old attenders (0.5) (P<0.001), but declined to the same level after the first year of treatment. It was concluded that the studied program seemed to contribute to a stabilization of treatment-mix, and to the establishment of a shorter annual treatment time within the first 2 years of treatment.     

Behavior of 3-year-old children in a prospective randomized trial of reduced saturated fat and cholesterol diet since infancy: The strip baby project

Interventions aimed at decreased exposure of children to known atherosclerosis risk factors may have untoward behavioral side effects. We examined how children’s behavior or parent’s perception of the behavior of the children at 3 years of age was influenced by the intervention in a prospective randomized trial that began in infancy and effectively decreased scrum cholesterol concentration. This Special Turku coronary Risk factor Intervention Project for babies (STRIP) began when the infant was 7 months old. Half of 1.062 children received individualized dietary counseling at 1-to 3-month intervals during the first 2 years of age and then half-yearly; the other half had an unrestricted diet. At 3 years of age a standardized questionnaire of the child’s behavior was sent to 791 families (76% returned the questionnaire). At the onset of the trial the sociodemographic data of the families and scrum lipid values of the intervention and control children were similar. Later, mean serum cholesterol values of the intervention children remained constantly at a level 6% to 10% below the values of the control children. At 3 years of age the parental perceptions of the child’s behavior suggested minimal differences between the intervention and control children. The intervention children were slightly less jealous and more active and creative, but showed slightly more negative signs of behavior (bed-wetting, problems in falling asleep, fears) than the controls. We conclude that long-term, individualized dietary and lifestyle intervention that begins in infancy slightly influences children’s behavior or parent’s recognition of the behavior of the children at the age of 3 years. This work was supported in part by grants from the Varsinais-Suomi Regional Fund of the Finnish Cultural Foundation, the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare, the Academy of Finland, and the Alli Paasikivi Foundation.     

Lack of effects of handling habituation and swimming stress on ethanol-induced motor impairment and GABAA receptor function.

The effects of handling habituation and swimming stress on ethanol-induced motor impairment and the GABAA receptor function were studied in adult male Wistar rats. Daily handling for 3 to 5 weeks had no significant effect on ethanol-induced motor impairment in the tilting plane test or on the activity of the rats in the elevated plus-maze test of anxiety. Plasma corticosterone concentrations were greatly elevated by the tilting plane test procedure, irrespective of handling habituation. Acute, 10-min swimming stress at +25 degrees C produced an elevated plasma corticosterone concentration comparable to that produced by the tilting plane test, again irrespective of handling habituation. In cerebrocortical homogenates, short-term swimming stress had no statistically significant effect on the muscimol stimulation of the GABAA receptor-mediated 36Cl- flux in handled and non-handled animals. Thus, handling habituation and stress had only minor effects on the activity of the central GABAergic systems in acute tests at behavioural and biochemical levels.     

Antigenic sites of coxsackie A9 virus inducing neutralizing monoclonal antibodies protective in mice

A panel of murine IgG monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) was produced against coxsackievirus A9 (CAV9). Fifty-nine MAbs reactive in ELISA with purified CAV9 were identified. Eighteen of them could efficiently inhibit infection by CAV9 but not coxsackieviruses B. Neutralization-resistant CAV9 variants to four different MAbs were isolated and tested for resistance to neutralization by other MAbs of the panel. Three groups of reactivity including 10, 7, and 1 MAbs were thus identified. Sequencing of neutralization-escape virus mutants showed that neutralization by one MAb group was affected by change of VP3 amino acids 62 or 69. For the second group of reactivity, mutations included amino acids 154 or 165 of VP2. The only MAb of the third group selected for a change at residue 70 of VP2. Protection studies in a newborn mouse model of myositis suggested that either epitopes in VP2 or in VP3 mediate protection from CAV9 infection in vivo.