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At least 649 records · Page 36Linked to original sources

PubMed2006

Human immunodeficiency virus-mononuclear phagocyte interactions: emerging avenues of biomarker discovery, modes of viral persistence and disease pathogenesis.

Mononuclear phagocytes (MP; bone marrow monocyte-derived macrophages, histiocytes, alveolar macrophages, Kupffer cells, perivascular macrophages, and microglia) function as sentry and surveillance cells by acting as debris scavengers, killers of microbial pathogens, and regulators of immune responses. Interestingly, these same cells are reservoirs and vehicles of dissemination for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). How virus alters the MP immunoregulatory activities so it can complete its own life cycle and affect disease is only recently being unravelled. Physiologic, anatomic and functional changes also underlie virus-MP interactions and include multinucleated giant cell formation, changes in ion channel expression and cell volume, and robust secretory responses with the production of numerous secretory factors affecting tissue injury. The balance between such MP activities and ability to both mobilize an adaptive immune response to thwart viral growth underlies the progression of viral infection and clinical disease. This review serves to discuss the functions of MP in HIV disease by bringing together what is known with what remains unknown. The advent of functional genomics and proteomics has opened the ways to address the intricacies of viral-host interactions and has provided new avenues for therapeutic interventions and disease monitoring that takes advantage of specific intracellular relationships between the virus and its host cell.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗

PubMed2004

Relative acidifying activity of anionic salts commonly used to prevent milk fever.

High cation diets can cause milk fever in dairy cows as they induce a metabolic alkalosis reducing the ability of the cow to maintain calcium homeostasis at the onset of lactation. Adding anions to the diet can offset the effect of the high cation forages by inducing a mild metabolic acidosis, restoring the ability to maintain calcium homeostasis. The difference in mEq of dietary cations and anions (DCAD) is most often expressed as (Na(+) + K+) - (Cl- + S(--)). This equation implies that a mEq of chloride and a mEq of sulfate are equipotent in their ability to alter acid-base balance of the cow. Using blood and urine pH to monitor effects on acid-base balance, experiments were conducted to test the relative acidifying activity of various sulfate and chloride anion sources in nonpregnant, nonlactating Jersey cows. Across all experiments, chloride proved to have about 1.6 times the acidifying activity of sulfate. Calcium and magnesium, ignored by the common DCAD equation, had a small but significant alkalinizing effect when accompanying chloride or sulfate. The ranking of the anion sources tested at a dose of 2 Eq/d, from most to least potent urine acidifier, was hydrochloric acid, ammonium chloride, calcium chloride, calcium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, and sulfur. These data should allow more accurate prediction of the response of late gestation cows to dietary cation-anion manipulation.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Reactive oxygen species in choline deficiency induced carcinogenesis and nitrone inhibition.

Reactive oxygen species and free radical processes have been considered important in cancer development for many years. Much research demonstrates that the choline-deficiency induced hepatocarcinogenesis model prominently involves reactive oxygen species. We present a summary of results obtained in our original studies of this model over the last 4 years. We have shown that alpha-phenyl-tert-butyl nitrone (PBN) and some of its hydroxylated derivatives (the 4- and 3-hydroxylated compounds) prevent hepatocarcinogenesis in this model. Mechanistic studies have demonstrated that isolated mitochondria from the livers of rats fed the choline-deficiency defined amino acid diet produce significantly much more H2O2 per NADH reducing equivalents oxidized. Based on these observations, we postulate that H2O2 is a primary carcinogenic factor in this model. Based on studies of the action of PBN on isolated mitochondria, we postulate that the inhibiting action of PBN involves suppression of H2O2 production of mitochondria and generally decreasing the oxidative stress within the preneoplastic lesions. The net effect of the activity of the nitrone compounds appears to be due to their ability to shift the apoptosis/neoplastic tendency balance toward apoptosis of the cells within the preneoplastic lesions. This is considered to be the primary reason the size of the preneoplastic lesions are significantly decreased and why the nitrones are potent anti-carcinogenic agents in this model.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Barcelona 2002: law, ethics, and human rights. Juggling individual and collective concerns with respect to HIV/AIDS policies.

Efforts to prevent the spread of HIV infection sometimes give rise to tensions between individual and collective rights. This article, based on a presentation by Nelson Varas-Díaz (abstract TuOrG1171), explores these tensions in the context of the laws and policies of eight Latin American countries: Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, and Puerto Rico. The article describes five elements of the response to HIV/AIDS in which tensions between individual and collective rights have surfaced: the participation of people living with HIV/AIDS on national commissions; the ability of HIV-positive persons to access antiretroviral medications; HIV-antibody testing practices; the confidentiality of health information; and the rights and duties of people living with HIV/AIDS. The article concludes that the success of programs designed to prevent the spread of HIV infection depends on the ability of societies and governments to balance the tensions between individual and collective rights.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Discharge from the geriatric clinic: factors predicting independent living at home].

This article presents the predictors for living at home 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months after hospitalization in a geriatric clinic. The multivariate regression analysis revealed the predictive factors for living at home after 3 months: Incontinence, functional status judged by the physician, and balance performance. For living at home at 6 months, balance performance, handgrip were predictive, and at 12 months, balance performance, physicians judgement of functional abilities and Barthel-Index had the most predictive value. The only factor that was recognized to be predictive for living at home at 24 months was the physician's judgement of the functional abilities of the patient. It is concluded that the functional status measured by observation but preferably by performance is of predictive value for living at home from 6 months to 12 months after acute hospitalization.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed1995

Endothelial cell activation in shock.

Some pathological conditions including shock, induce focal activation, degeneration, necrosis and desquamation of endothelial cells. These changes cause disturbances of endothelial functions which include expression of adhesive molecules resulting in rolling of the leukocytes along endothelial surface, loss of endothelial adhesiveness to subendothelial matrix resulting in cell desquamation, dysfunction of endothelial anticoagulation/coagulation balance and disturbances of endothelial vasomotor abilities. Above mentioned imbalance of endothelial functions are discussed in aspects of shock.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

The gynecologic oncology model: research.

Research in gynecologic oncology has been increasingly emphasized over the last decade. The formal training within this subspecialty has expanded to include quality research, both clinical and laboratory science, as an integral part. There have also been recent major advances in the laboratory and clinical based understanding of the genetics, biology, and treatment of gynecologic cancers. Despite the fiscal constraints of the 1990s that have impacted the ability of the clinician scientist to balance the responsibilities of research, teaching, and patient care, there are ongoing attempts to improve the research environment for physician scientists in this field.

Certification↗

PubMed1997

Surfactant convertase action is not essential for surfactant film formation.

A serine-active enzyme, "surfactant convertase", is required for the conversion of surfactant from the tubular myelin (TM) form to the small vesicular (SV) form. This transformation involves at least two steps, the conversion of TM to a surface-active film at the air-fluid interface and the reorientation of the film into the surface-inactive SV form; we asked if convertase was required for the first of these steps. Rat and mouse TMs were pretreated with diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP) to inactivate endogenous convertase activity or with vehicle and then were analyzed for their ability to lower surface tension in vitro as an index of the conversion of TM to a surface film. DFP pretreatment did not alter the ability of TM preparations to lower surface tension, as assessed by pulsating bubble, and it did not affect the behavior of TM in a surface balance. In an experiment designed to test the ability of TM to feed a surface film to exhaustion, TMs that had been pretreated with DFP or vehicle performed similarly. These experiments show that convertase activity is not required for the conversion of TM to a monolayer and suggest, instead, that convertase acts at a post surface film stage.

Animals↗

PubMed1985

Acid-base and electrolyte balance after exhausting exercise in endurance-trained and sprint-trained subjects.

High ability to perform strenuous exercise of short duration is accompanied by a large lactate formation in the exercising muscles, but the disturbances in extracellular acid-base and electrolyte balance might be attenuated compared to subjects with less ability to perform intense exercise. To study this, oxygen deficit, changes in arterial blood acid-base status and plasma electrolytes were studied in six-endurance trained (ET) and six sprint-trained (ST) subjects who exercised on a treadmill at a speed which led to exhaustion within 1 min. During exercise the ET and ST subjects developed an oxygen deficit of 41 and 56 ml oxygen units kg-1 respectively, whereas peak blood lactate concentration post exercise averaged 12.5 and 16.7 mmol l-1. Blood pH followed lactate concentration closely, reaching nadir values of 7.175 and 7.065 for ET and ST subjects respectively. Respiratory compensation and changes in blood bicarbonate and standard base deficit (SBD) concentrations for a given lactate concentration were the same for the two groups, amounting to a change in PCO2 of 0.12 kPa, in bicarbonate concentration of 1.09 mmol l-1 and in SBD of 1.44 mmol l-1 mM-1 change in blood lactate concentration. During exercise the increase in haematocrit, from to 43 to 45% for the ET subjects and from 46 to 50% for the ST subjects, was accompanied by almost parallel relative changes in plasma chloride and sodium concentrations. Whereas haematocrit continued to increase post exercise and followed blood lactate concentration closely, plasma sodium and chloride concentrations decreased to pre-exercise values within 9 min of recovery. The anion gap increased significantly more than blood lactate concentration. Thus, ST subjects were capable of accumulating more lactate in blood compared with ET subjects, but at the expense of a lower pH, since the buffer capacity seemed to be the same for the two groups. The acidosis, which was larger than could be accounted for by lactic acid, was associated with an inexplicably large anion gap.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗

PubMed2006

Team-based work and work system balance in the context of agile manufacturing.

Manufacturing agility is the ability to prosper in an environment characterized by constant and unpredictable change. The purpose of this paper is to analyze team attributes necessary to facilitate agile manufacturing, and using Balance Theory as a framework, it evaluates the potential positive and negative impacts related to these team attributes that could alter the balance of work system elements and resulting "stress load" experienced by persons working on agile teams. Teams operating within the context of agile manufacturing are characterized as multifunctional, dynamic, cooperative, and virtual. A review of the literature relevant to each of these attributes is provided, as well as suggestions for future research.

Cooperative Behavior↗

PubMed1997

Synthetic Glycolipids Monolayer and Related Langmuir-Blodgett Films: Importance of the Amphipathic Balance

Synthetic glycolipids were chosen on account of their ability to form a monolayer at the air/water interface. The first (G1) is a 1,3-dialkyl glycerol constituted by two identical C11 hydrocarbon chains and a hydrophilic N-acetyl glucosamine in position 2. The saccharidic moiety was separated from the glycerol backbone by an ethylene glycol spacer. The second molecule (G2) has the same structure but without the spacer. The G1 isotherm is smooth and continuous. The G2 isotherm is characterized by an atypical discontinuity. The study of the compression mode, the temperature variations, and compression-decompression cycle experiments allowed the characterization of this discontinuity. It corresponds to a supersaturation in the monolayer; it is related to a low relaxation speed and it occurs just before the transition phase. On CaF2 surfaces, the G1 and G2 monolayers were transferred but they were not firmly retained. Hydrophilic surfaces constituted by the carboxylic head groups of behenic acid LB films allowed the retention of the glycolipid layers. On such surfaces, only two G1 layers could be transferred, whereas G2 Langmuir-Blodgett films were built up with an XY stacking. These results are discussed with respect to the amphipathic balance within the glycolipid molecules.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1996

The relative importance of strength and balance in chair rise by functionally impaired older individuals.

OBJECTIVE: The ability to stand independently and safely from the seated position is essential for independent function. This investigation determined the relative contributions of measures of lower extremity strength and measures of balance control in explaining the performance characteristics of sitting-to-standing. Variables analyzed included those related to success of the activity (e.g., time to rise, lowest chair height) and to biomechanical characteristics of performance (e.g., how fast specific body segments moved). SETTING: Durham Veteran's Affairs Medical Center motion analysis laboratory. DESIGN: Cross-sectional correlational study. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-eight men and women aged 66 to 96 (mean = 77) with functional limitations. MEASUREMENTS: Predictor variables were lower extremity strength (isometric) and balance (functional reach and sway). The outcome variable, chair rise performance, was quantified by: lowest successful chair height (chairs at 33 to 58 cm); time to rise; maximum hip flexion angular velocity; and the maximum horizontal and vertical velocities of the motion of the body center of mass (COM). Covariates were lower extremity range of motion and sensory status. RESULTS: With bivariate analysis, lower extremity strength demonstrated relationships with the lowest chair height (r = -0.639) and maximum vertical velocity of the COM (r = .389); functional reach was associated with three variables (lowest chair height r = .374; time to rise r = .297; and maximum horizontal velocity of the COM r = .251). Using a multivariate regression analysis (including lower extremity strength, functional reach, sensory loss, and lower extremity range of motion), the model accounted for 47% of the variance in lowest chair height; lower extremity strength was the only significant predictor (P < .001). The model also accounted for 20% of the variance in maximum horizontal velocity of the COM; lower extremity strength was a significant predictor (P = .006). CONCLUSIONS: Lower extremity strength and balance control both play a role in performance of chair rise; lower extremity strength is the stronger predictor of success for functionally impaired older adults.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A power-assisted arm balancer.

The design described in this paper arose from the need of a polio victim to be able to feed himself. The patient was confined to a wheelchair. His right arm was completely paralysed, but he had limited ability to move his left arm. The arm balancer described allows the patient to swing his left arm freely in a horizontal plane, and also enables him to move his arm vertically, with power assistance under his own control.

Arm↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Angiotensin and osmoreceptor inputs to the area postrema: role in long-term control of fluid homeostasis and arterial pressure.

1. The role of the area postrema (AP) in the long-term control of body fluid homeostasis and arterial pressure under conditions of increased dietary salt intake is reviewed. A model is proposed in which sympathetic nerve activity is suppressed when dietary salt is increased. It is hypothesized that the AP acts as an essential integrative site in the hind-brain for this response. 2. An essential component of the hypothesis is that basal levels of circulating angiotensin II support arterial pressure in animals consuming a normal salt diet by acting on the AP to drive sympathetic nerve activity. This hypothesis is supported by the observation that the long-term hypotensive response to losartan, the AT1 receptor antagonist, is attenuated in AP-lesioned (APx) rats. 3. The role of hepatoportal sodium receptors in signalling the AP about changes in dietary salt intake is discussed. Intragastric hypertonic saline infusion increases portal venous, but not systemic plasma, osmolality and increases Fos-like immunoreactivity in the AP, nucleus tractus solitarius and the supraoptic, paraventricular and lateral parabrachial nuclei. Other studies have shown that stimulation of these receptors decreases renal sympathetic nerve activity. 4. The hypothesis that the AP is critical in long-term control of arterial pressure and body fluid homeostasis under conditions of altered dietary salt intake was studied. The responses of arterial pressure and sodium and water balance to changes in dietary salt intake were measured in intact and APx rats. Contrary to the hypothesis, APx rats did not exhibit impaired regulation of arterial pressure or water balance. However, APx rats did demonstrate an impaired ability to excrete sodium when salt intake was elevated. 5. Based on these observations, it is concluded that the AP is important in the control of sodium balance, but not arterial pressure, when dietary salt intake is altered.

Angiotensin II↗

PubMed2006

Oral condition and health status of elderly 8020 achievers in Aichi Prefecture.

The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in oral condition and health status between persons with 20 or more teeth at the age of 80 (8020 elderly) and persons of the same age with less than 20 teeth (non-8020 elderly). This study was conducted by a team belonging to the Aichi Dental Association. Number of remaining teeth, Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN), salivary blood test, masticatory ability, bone mineral density (BMD), grip strength, balance test (length of time one can stand on one leg with eyes open), height, weight and body mass index (BMI) were all examined. The percentages of CPITN code 0, 1 and 2 were 68% in the 8020 male elderly and 72% in the 8020 female elderly. The positive percentage in the salivary blood test in the 8020 elderly was lower than that in the non-8020 elderly. Masticatory ability was 1.55 g in the 8020 male elderly, and 1.53 g in the 8020 female elderly. Relative masticatory ability in the 8020 female elderly was 20% higher than that in the non-8020 female elderly. BMD in the 8020 female elderly was significantly higher than that in the non-8020 female elderly. Grip strength in the 8020 elderly was also significantly higher than that in the non-8020 elderly. The duration of balance test in the 8020 male elderly was 2.2 times longer than that in the non-8020 male elderly. The 8020 elderly showed good oral condition and health status was found to be better in the 8020 elderly than in the non-8020 elderly.

Aged, 80 and over↗

PubMed2004

Pop-top tibial component: elimination of back-side wear with potential modularity.

Survivorship analysis has demonstrated the excellent long-term clinical success of total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Despite multiple attempts to enhance fixation with cementless technology, cemented TKA continues to be the "gold standard." The rate of loosening has diminished as the accuracy of implantation has been improved through sophisticated instrumentation and enhanced experience. Current technology with respect to computer-assisted surgery serves only to improve the accuracy of implantation, leaving materials as the weakest link in the long-term survivorship of TKA. Failure secondary to polyethylene wear has ranked as one of the most frequent causes for revision. Many issues have been identified as contributory to polyethylene wear and include the quality of the polyethylene, manufacturing process, nature of the tibial-femoral or patellofemoral articulation, area of contact, sterilization process, and issues pertaining to modularity and so-called backside wear. Long-term clinical studies have documented the success of direct compression-molded monoblock tibial components. However, the benefits of modularity are widely recognized and include the ability to fine tune soft-tissue balance after implantation of metallic devices. In an effort to combine the long-term success of direct compression molded monoblock tibial components with the occasional need for modularity, a convertible tibial component has been introduced. This device is manufactured as a direct compression-molded monoblock tibial component. The surgeon has the ability at the time of the surgical intervention, or any subsequent intervention, to convert the tibial component into a modular device. Therefore, this device addresses, in the majority of cases, the concerns that arise from backside wear.

Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee↗

PubMed2004

Effects of specific rehabilitation for dizziness among patients in primary health care. A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether specific rehabilitation for patients with dizziness has any effect on clinical balance measures and/or the apprehension of dizziness measured with a visual analogue scale (VAS). DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SUBJECTS: Forty-two patients, 50 years or older with dizziness of central or age-related origin, identified in primary health care. METHOD: The patients were randomized to either an intervention or a control group. The intervention included balance training and vestibular rehabilitation in group sessions twice a week for six weeks. All patients were assessed at baseline, after six weeks and after three months with five different balance measures and visual analogue scale. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were found between the two groups comparing results at baseline and after six weeks regarding standing one leg eyes closed (SOLEC) on right foot (p =0.011). Results of SOLEC right foot after three months differed significantly between the groups (p=0.033) as did SOLEC left foot (p=0.035). No difference between the groups were found in the Romberg test, figure of eight, walking heel to toe, 'stops walking when talking', standing one leg eyes open or estimating the experience of dizziness measured with visual analogue scale. CONCLUSIONS: Balance training and vestibular rehabilitation improved the ability to stand on one leg with eyes closed in persons with dizziness aged 50 years or over.

Aged↗

PubMed2004

Occupational balance of women with rheumatoid arthritis: a qualitative study.

OBJECTIVE: Occupational balance has been shown to be an important factor in maintaining health. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) reduces functional ability and quality of life and may thus reduce occupational balance. The aim of this qualitative pilot study was to explore occupational balance in women who have RA. METHODS: Nine women with RA with past, but not current, paid work experience, no other confounding neuro-motor disease and with disease duration of 0.75-31 years were selected from an Austrian rheumatology outpatient clinic. Age range of the participants was 28-68 years. A semi-structured interview was conducted with each participant and transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed by the constant comparative method from an occupational perspective. RESULTS: Three main categories emerged: (1) The participants experienced a process of change that affected their occupational balance. (2) This new state of occupational balance was characterized by changed levels of involvement in physical, mental, social and rest occupations and by a certain level of unpredictability of symptoms. (3) Overall, the new state of occupational balance was valued differently: positively, indifferently or negatively. CONCLUSION: RA was found to have a considerable impact on occupational balance. The experience is not invariably seen as negative as previous literature would suggest. Further research should explore the longitudinal dimension of occupational balance in people with RA.

Journal Article↗