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[Valproate-dependent changes in the spectrum of free amino acids in rats: l-carnitine effects].

The effect of L-camitine (LC) in a dose of 100 mg/kg on the spectrum of free amino acids in the tissues and blood plasma was studied in rats pretreated for 8 days with valproic acid (VA) in a dose of 200 mg/kg. The VA treatment led to a decrease in the concentration of Ser, Gln, and Ala in the blood plasma and of Gln, Cys, Phe, and His in the liver, and to an increase in the level of Tau, Thr, Gly, alpha-Aba, Ile, and Tyr in the liver. In the rat brain, the concentration of PEA, urea, Ile, Val, Tyr, Phe, and alpha-Aba increased, while the Orn level decreased. The introduction of LC led to correction of the dysbalance of free amino acids, whereby the levels of Asp, Ctn, and Orn in the blood plasma and the levels of Cys and Tyr in the liver were increased, while the levels of Thr, Cly, alpha-Aba, and Ile in the liver and the levels of alpha-Aba, Val, and Phe in the brain were decreased. The character of variation of the spectrum of free amino acids and their derivatives in the tissues and blood plasma of rats confirms the toxicity of VA and shows the ability of LC to normalize (to a certain extent) the balance violated by the VA-induced LC insufficiency.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed2005

[Effects of Alternaria azukiae on physiological metabolism and active oxygen-eliminating enzyme activities of Trifolium repens].

A pot experiment was installed to study the effects of Alternaria azukiae inoculation on the cell membrane permeability, pigment and MDA contents, and activities of SOD, POD and CAT of Trifolium repens. The results showed that A. azukiae infection made T. repens leaf tissue increase its cell membrane permeability, electric conductivity, over-oxidation and MDA content, but decrease its pigment content. The electric conductivity and MDA content were positively related with infection time, whereas the pigment content was negatively related with it. Due to the stimulation by A. azukiae, the over-oxidation of cell membrane was intensified, which resulted in a large amount of active oxygen accumulated and beyond the defense ability, the active oxygen metabolism system was destroyed, and the balance of protective enzyme system was broken. After 12 days of A. azukiae inoculation, the activities of SOD and CAT decreased by 55.2% and 37.8%, respectively, while the POD activity increased by 1.6 times.

Alternaria↗
PubMed2005

[Significance of MDM2 protein in the cell cycle].

The basis of oncogenesis underlies the modification of the control of the cell cycle, which leads to disturb balance between proliferation and apoptosis. The MDM2 protein suppresses the ability of p53 to activate genes responsible for repairing or apoptosis, but also promotes p53 degradation by ubiquitination. MDM2 inhibits tumor suppressor property of pRb, by releasing E2F1, which stimulates DNA synthesis in S-phase. MDM2 influences on the neuronal and muscle differentiation. Quantity and stability of the MDM2 protein is regulated by p73, p53, TSG101, p14ARF and Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK pathway. Changes of the level of the MDM2 can disturb control of cell cycle and contribute to oncogenesis.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed1990

Low fluid intake lowers stool output in healthy male volunteers.

Inadequate fluid intake is though to be one frequent cause of chronic constipation, although this has never been shown. In order to test whether fluid deprivation has an influence on colonic function, we studied eight healthy male volunteers (median age 23 y, range 21-28 y) with respect to stool frequency, stool weight and mean oroanal transit of radiopaque markers in a control week with a fluid intake of more than 2500 ml beverages per day and in a week with a fluid intake of less than 500 ml beverages per day. The two weeks followed each other in randomised order (with a wash out week in-between) and were standardised as to nutrition and physical activity. Stool frequency diminished from 6.9 +/- 0.9 to 4.9 +/- 0.3 (mean +/- SEM) defaecations per week (p = 0.041) and stool weight from 1.29 +/- 0.20 to 0.94 +/- 0.17 kg per week (p = 0.048) during fluid restriction. Mean oroanal transit times were similar in the two weeks. In conclusion, our study shows that a relatively short period of fluid deprivation decreases stool frequency and stool weight in healthy volunteers. Therefore, a low fluid intake may well be an aetiologic factor for chronic constipation in some patients and too low a fluid intake should be corrected. There is no evidence, however, that an increase of fluid intake within feasible limits has a beneficial effect on chronic constipation.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[A fundamental study on the influence of posterior artificial tooth forms on denture movements during mastication].

The form of posterior artificial tooth is an essential factor related to denture stability during mastication and to masticatory ability. Generally, cusp teeth are selected out of consideration for balance during eccentric occlusion. From another viewpoint, cuspless teeth are selected to ensure stability and to prevent the occurrence of lateral vectors caused by the inclination of the occlusal facet. It has been reported, however, that the counterbalance phenomenon occurring between occlusal facets decreases the lateral vector. Moreover, cusp teeth are useful in increasing the possibility of establishing bilateral balance. Guidelines for selecting posterior artificial teeth in the production of functional dentures are diverse and cannot be said to have been firmly established yet. This model experiment, which employed complete lower dentures, was designed to provide basic information for discussing the influence of occlusal facets of cusp teeth on denture movements during mastication and to arrive at some clinical suggestions for selecting posterior artificial teeth. Artificial teeth with cusp angles of 0 degrees, 10 degrees, 20 degrees, and 30 degrees were made by adjusting setting conditions on a condylar type articulator. Four kinds of experimental dentures were made and used in measuring horizontal movements of lower dentures during the crushing of experimental food. Final phase of chewing stroke was taken into consideration in establishing two types of loading direction. One type was at 70 degrees (DL 70 degrees) to the occlusal plane on the frontal plane and from the outer side (the working side). The other type was 90 degrees (DL 90 degrees) to the occlusal plane. Maximum load was 15kg and the denture displacement was analyzed at 2kg, 4kg, 8kg and 15kg. Experimental foods were smoked cuttlefish (sectile food), raisins (food flattened under pressure), and peanuts (crushable food). Analyses were made of experimental denture movement patterns and denture displacement amounts. Results 1. Experimental denture movement patterns differed according to the nature of the experimental food. The pattern in the case of smoked cuttlefish was mainly of the C type; that is, primarily motion first to the balancing side and then to the working side. The pattern for raisins was mainly of the S type; that is, primarily motion first to the working side, then to the balancing side, and then to the working side again. Several patterns appeared in the case of peanuts.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Bicuspid↗
PubMed1980

[The application in cancerology of continuous pump-tube enteric alimentation (author's transl)].

Malnutrition and cachexia are major consequences of neoplastic diseases. When a response to one or more forms of oncologic therapy is expected, simultaneous application of artificial nutrition is often needed. Continuous pump-tube enteric alimentation is an efficient, well tolerated method which is easy to perform in a medical ward. We fed 29 patients with this technique during a mean of 43,6 days and a daily intake of more than 3500 Kcal. We noticed the following observations: -- when out of the impact of any therapy directed against the tumor the 21 patients with advanced cancers demonstrated an ability to gain weight and to achieve a positive nitrogen balance equivalent to that performed by the 8 non tumor-bearing patients; -- radiation therapy, administered to the head, neck and thorax resulted in an increase of energetic expenditure; -- chemotherapy impairs for a few days the benefits of the enteric alimentation. This paper underlines the possibility of nutritional rehabilitation of patients with a cancer cachexia. The metabolic injury produced by chemotherapy and radiation therapy increases the need for an afficient treatment of the malnutrition in cancer.

Body Weight↗
PubMed1993

Skin surface pH, moisture, and pruritus in haemodialysis patients.

Pruritus is one of the most common complaints of haemodialysed patients. However, its pathogenesis remains unclear. Dryness of the skin and the effects of pH changes on the nerve endings in the skin have been suggested as related factors. In the present study we measured skin pH using a skin pH meter and skin moisture using a corneometer at four different sites in 41 haemodialysis patients, before and after dialysis, and in 40 healthy controls. Thirty patients (73%) complained of pruritus, six severe constant, 12 moderate and 12 mild. Skin surface pH was higher in patients than in controls in the upper back (5.54 +/- 0.14 versus 5.22 +/- 0.08, P < 0.02), forearm (5.5 +/- 0.1 versus 5.13 +/- 0.1, P < 0.01) and forehead (5.35 +/- 0.08 versus 5.04 +/- 0.07, P < 0.004), whereas there was no difference in the axilla. Haemodialysis had no effect on skin pH, and there was no correlation with blood pH, blood bicarbonate and serum electrolytes. There was no correlation between skin surface pH and pruritus. Skin moisture was lower in haemodialysis patients than in controls in the forehead and axilla. There was no correlation with pruritus. Skin surface pH is higher in haemodialysed patients than in healthy controls in most areas of the body, despite the fact that these patients have a decreased blood pH. Thus, the skin pH is not related to systemic acid-base balance. It is possible that the uraemic state affects the ability of the dermal cells to secrete acid, making the skin more susceptible to bacterial and fungal infections.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Human cytomegalovirus alters interleukin-6 production by endothelial cells.

In an effort to study whether human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) can disrupt the balanced cytokine network that controls human hematopoiesis, we investigated the ability of a laboratory strain HCMV (AD169) to alter the production of interleukin-6 (IL-6) by cultured endothelial cells (HUVECs). ECs are important components of human bone marrow stroma and produce factors that stimulate the proliferation and differentiation of human hematopoietic progenitors. HCMV was able to greatly increase production of both mRNA and protein for IL-6 in unprimed HUVECs. When we discriminated between viral pellet and cleared viral supernatants, the supernatants induced an increase in mRNA at 30 minutes and protein by 2 hours, whereas an increase in IL-6 caused by virus itself did not become evident until 12 hours. The possibility that IL-6 induction was simply caused by the presence in the viral stock of endotoxin, IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor alpha, or IL-4, all known inducers of IL-6 in HUVECs, was ruled out by the addition of polymyxin B and appropriate neutralizing antibodies. These findings show that HCMV is capable of directly and indirectly modulating the production by HUVECs of IL-6, one of the cytokines involved in the process of hematopoiesis.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1993

The response to particulate debris.

The most common cause of failure of total hip and other arthroplasties is aseptic loosening of the prosthesis. Substantial evidence suggests that the adverse tissue response to prosthesis wear particles is an important contributor to bone loss around implants. The results may be an increased risk of loosening and severe bone loss, which makes revision surgery more difficult. Studies in humans have demonstrated that the appearances of the periprosthetic tissues are related to the type, number, and size of wear particles. The appearance and tissue response around any given prosthesis is related to the balance among the rate of production of wear particles, the ability of the tissues to deal with the particles, and the rate of clearance of the particles from the joint. Prosthesis wear particles may be produced by wear at the articulating surface, particularly if there is three-body wear, by abrasion due to movement at the prosthesis-bone interface of uncemented prostheses, by abrasion at the prosthesis-cement and cement-bone interfaces of cemented prostheses, or at any articulation of the components of modular prostheses. Future in vivo and in vitro studies of the effects of wear particles should focus on quantitative measurement of the effects of particles and on the use of particles of comparable size and in concentrations similar to those found in the tissues surrounding failed prostheses.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Needs assessment: taking stock.

In 1994, the Scottish Needs Assessment Programme (SNAP) carried out a stocktaking review of all needs assessment reports in 14 topic areas produced in Scotland on the previous three years. National needs assessment documents from England in the relevant topic areas were also reviewed. The review identified two particular points for comment. First, in respect of content, the definition of need as "the ability to benefit'-while appropriate for NHS purchasing- must be balanced by a greater emphasis on the wider concerns for the public's health. At the same time, relevant economic and costing information should be incorporated. Secondly, the process of information collation for purchasing could be made more efficient. Closer links between clinical experts and public health specialists would ensure assessments based on timely opportunities for change. National reviews should provide generally applicable intelligence and comparative analyses; short local reports can then focus on local quantification and priority setting.

Contract Services↗
PubMed1996

[The influence of local anesthetics on human leukocyte functions studied by micro whole blood collection and flowcytometry].

The influence of local anesthetics (pure bupivacaine and lidocaine with no preservative) on human leukocyte functions was examined. (a) The effect of bupivacaine on the phagocytosis of granulocyte was studied by bioassay. (b) The effect of lidocaine on the appearance of iC3b receptor (CR3) of granulocyte and monocyte (which is an important cell-adhesion-factor) was examined using flowcytometry. (c) The influence of lidocaine on phagocytosis of granulocyte and monocyte and on respiratory burst of granulocyte was examined using flowcytometry. (d) The influence of lidocaine on phagocytosis and that on respiratory burst were compared. These studies revealed that both phagocytosis and respiratory burst were inhibited by lidocaine, and the inhibition of respiratory burst was stronger than the inhibition of phagocytosis by local anesthetics' immunosuppressive effects. It was concluded that the balance of immunosuppressive action due to antimicrobial action and bactericidal ability of local anesthetics determined the occurrence of local bacterial infection.

Anesthetics, Local↗
PubMed1998

Continuous renal replacement therapy: continuous blood purification in the intensive care unit.

Severe acute renal failure (SARF) occurs when renal dysfunction is such that haemodialysis or haemofiltration becomes necessary to maintain homeostasis. SARF is increasingly seen in association with multiorgan failure and has become a predominantly Intensive Care Unit disorder. Because of this change in epidemiology, the treatment of SARF has evolved from being exclusively nephrologist and intermittent haemodialysis-based to being mostly intensivist and continuous haemofiltration-based, particularly in European countries with a strong ICU tradition and in Australia. Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) has several advantages in critically ill patients, including greater flexibility, excellent haemodynamic tolerance, outstanding fluid balance control, excellent control of uraemia, prevention of cerebral oedema, ability to provide full and aggressive nutrition, and a possible anti-inflammatory effect. The blood purification effect of CRRT may, in fact, go beyond the simple control of uraemia. Several animal studies have now shown that CRRT attenuates the haemodynamic consequences of bacteraemia or endotoxaemia. Such studies have also shown that increasing the intensity of fluid exchange may offer further beneficial effects in the setting of sepsis. In the light of these findings, CRRT is moving into the area of adjuvant treatment of sepsis, and pilot randomized controlled trials are being conducted to test the hypothesis that CRRT, either in standard or high fluid exchange volumes, attenuates the inflammatory effects of sepsis in humans. In the future, the use of CRRT may extend beyond its initial scope into the area of adjuvant management of sepsis and continuous blood purification may become part of a complex multifaceted approach to multiorgan dysfunction.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed2004

Developing a national performance indicator framework for the Dutch health system.

OBJECTIVE: To report on the first phase of the development of a national performance indicator framework for the Dutch health system. METHODS: In January 2002, we initiated an informed interactive process with the intended users-policymakers at the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport-and academics to develop both the conceptual framework and its content. Decisions were based on consensus after discussing strategic goals of the health system, information needs of policy makers at the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, and studying existing theory and international experiences with national performance indicator frameworks. We identified objectives and criteria for a framework at the national level, constructed a conceptual model, and selected indicator areas. RESULTS: As a starting point we chose a balanced scorecard reflecting four perspectives towards health system management information at the national level. These perspectives are consumer orientation, finances, delivery of high quality care, and the ability to learn and grow. We then linked the Lalonde model for population health to a balanced scorecard model. The constructed model makes the relationship between population health and health system management apparent, and facilitates the presentation of performance information from various perspectives. The model reflects the strategic goals of the Dutch health system, i.e. contributing to the production of health by providing necessary health care of good quality that is accessible for all Dutch citizens while simultaneously informing policy makers about the performance of the entire health system in all sectors (care, cure, prevention, and social services). The selected indicator areas for health system management information (20 in total) reflect the policy and management functions of the government and the defined public goals of the health system. The model was formally adopted by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport in February 2003, and since then individual indicator areas have been operationalized by 30 representatives of various departments at the Ministry with continuous external research support. CONCLUSION: The merit of linking the balanced scorecard inspired model to public health data is that it facilitates the visualization of the contribution of the health system to the improvement of population health. The method of an intensive interactive indicator development process between policy makers and researchers has so far proven successful.

Delivery of Health Care↗
PubMed2006

Maintaining osmotic balance with an aglomerular kidney.

The gulf toadfish, Opsanus beta, is a marine teleost fish with an aglomerular kidney that is highly specialized to conserve water. Despite this adaptation, toadfish have the ability to survive when in dilute hypoosmotic seawater environments. The objectives of this study were to determine the joint role of the kidney and intestine in maintaining osmotic and ionic balance and to investigate whether toadfish take advantage of their urea production ability and use urea as an osmolyte. Toadfish were gradually acclimated to different salinities (0.5, 2.5, 5, 10, 15, 22, 33, 50 and 70 ppt (1.5%, 7.5%, 15%, 30%, 45%, 67%, 100%, 151% and 212% seawater)) and muscle tissue, urine, blood and intestinal fluids were analyzed for ion and in some cases urea concentration. The renal and intestinal ionoregulatory processes of toadfish responded to changes in salinity and when gradually acclimated, toadfish maintain a relatively constant plasma osmolality at environmental salinities of 5 to 50 ppt. However, at salinities lower (2.5 ppt) or higher (70 ppt) than this range, a significant deviation from resting plasma and urine osmolality as well as changes in muscle water content was measured, suggesting osmoregulatory difficulties at these salinities. The renal system compensates for dilute seawater by reducing Na+ reabsorption by the bladder, which allowed excess water to be excreted. In the case of hypersalinity, Na+ reabsorption was increased, which resulted in a conservation of water and the concentration of Mg2+, Cl-, SO(4)2- and urea. A similar pattern was observed within the gastrointestinal system. Notably, Mg2+, HCO3- and SO4(2-) were the dominant ions in the intestinal fluid under control and hypersaline conditions due to the absorption of Na+, Cl- and water. When exposed to dilute seawater conditions, the absorption of Na+ was greatly reduced which likely increased water elimination. As a result of decreased environmental levels and a reduction in drinking rate, Mg2+ and SO4(2-) in intestinal fluids under hypoosmotic conditions were greatly reduced. While urea did play a minor role in renal osmoregulation, toadfish appear to preferentially regulate Na+ and to some extend Cl- in urine and intestinal fluids.

Acclimatization↗
PubMed1996

Effects of elevated CO(2) and light availability on the photosynthetic light response of trees of contrasting shade tolerance.

Photosynthetic light response curves (A/PPFD), leaf N concentration and content, and relative leaf absorbance (alpha(r)) were measured in 1-year-old seedlings of shade-intolerant Betula papyrifera Marsh., moderately shade-tolerant Quercus rubra L. and shade-tolerant Acer rubrum L. Seedlings were grown in full sun or 26% of full sun (shade) and in ambient (350 ppm) or elevated (714 ppm) CO(2) for 80 days. In the shade treatments, 80% of the daily PPFD on cloud-free days was provided by two 30-min sun patches at midday. In Q. rubra and A. rubrum, leaf N concentration and alpha(r) were significantly higher in seedlings in the shade treatments than in the sun treatments, and leaf N concentration was lower in seedlings in the ambient CO(2) treatments than in the elevated CO(2) treatments. Changes in alpha(r) and leaf N content suggest that reapportionment of leaf N into light harvesting machinery in response to shade and elevated CO(2) tended to increase with increasing shade tolerance of the plant. Shifts induced by elevated CO(2) in the A/PPFD relationship in sun plants were largest in B. papyrifera and least in A. rubrum: the reverse was true for shade plants. Elevated CO(2) resulted in increased light-saturated A in every species x light treatment combination, except in shaded B. papyrifera. The light compensation point (Gamma) decreased in response to shade in all species, and in response to elevated CO(2) in A. rubrum and Q. rubra. Acer rubrum had the greatest increases in apparent quantum yield (phi) in response to shade and elevated CO(2). To illustrate the effects of shifts in A, Gamma and phi on daily C gain, daily integrated C balance was calculated for individual sun and shade leaves. Ignoring possible stomatal effects, estimated daily (24 h) leaf C balance was 218 to 442% higher in the elevated CO(2) treatments than in the ambient CO(2) treatments in both sun and shade seedlings of Q. rubra and A. rubrum. These results suggest that the ability of species to acclimate photosynthetically to elevated CO(2) may, in part, be related to their ability to adapt to low irradiance. Such a relationship has implications for altered C balance and nitrogen use efficiency of understory seedlings.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

Nutrition and feed management strategies to reduce nutrient excretions and odors from swine manure.

Manipulation of the pig's diet to reduce nutrient excretions and odors is feasible and practical. Avoiding excessive dietary protein, using high quality protein sources, and feeding low protein, amino acid supplemented diets are practices that will reduce the N in excreta. Avoiding excessive overages of dietary P, balancing diets on an available P basis, and use of phytase as a dietary supplement offers potential for further reducing the P in manure. Use of reduced or organic forms of Cu, Zn, Fe and Mg will reduce excretion of these nutrients in manure. Feeding management technologies that will enhance feed efficiencies and reduce nutrient excretion include feeding for phase, sex and genetic ability of the animal. Reducing the intact protein levels in diets and balancing with synthetic amino acids, use of low levels of specific non-starch polysaccharides (NSP; soybean hulls, sugar beet pulp), and maintaining the proper acid-base balance and buffering in the diet can significantly reduce odorous compounds. Greater nutrient reductions may be possible through the development of specialty feed ingredients that will be used for specific animal diets. Research to fine-tune the diets for production systems is needed.

Animal Feed↗