Metabolic remodeling in chronic heart failure

Although the management of chronic heart failure (CHF) has made enormous progress over the past decades, CHF is still a tremendous medical and societal burden. Metabolic remodeling might play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of CHF. The characteristics and mechanisms of metabolic remodeling remained unclear, and the main hypothesis might include the changes in the availability of metabolic substrate and the decline of metabolic capability. In the early phases of the disease, metabolism shifts toward carbohydrate utilization from fatty acids (FAs) oxidation. Along with the progress of the disease, the increasing level of the hyperadrenergic state and insulin resistance cause the changes that shift back to a greater FA uptake and oxidation. In addition, a growing body of experimental and clinical evidence suggests that the improvement in the metabolic capability is likely to be more significant than the selection of the substrate.     

Association of hyperhomocysteinemia to alcohol withdrawal in chronic alcoholics

This study is conducted in chronic alcoholics to assess the association of an Individual’s level of serum homocysteine with the success of achieving alcohol deaddiction in the patient. The patients’ nutrition status is also assessed. 50 chronic alcoholics admitted to a deaddiction center were inducted into the study. Patients underwent an 8 weeks holistic program to promote rehabilitation from alcoholism. All the patients were addicted to alcohol for 8 – 10 years. Of the 50 patients enrolled, 39 of them completed the 8 weeks program including complete abstinence from alcohol during this period. Fasting blood samples were collected on admission and again after 8 weeks of alcohol abstinence for analyses of serum homocysteine and serum prealbumin, transferrin, total proteins and albumin, gammaglutamyl transferase (GGT) and alanine transaminase (ALT). Of the 50 patients enrolled in the study, 39 completed the 8 weeks rehabilitation program. 11 patients discontinued within 2 weeks of admission. During the 8 weeks of complete alcohol abstinence, patients were given a balanced diet and multivitamin supplements. A significant improvement in their nutritional status was noted by the elevation of serum levels of prealbumin, transferrin, total proteins and albumin. Serum homocysteine levels decreased significantly (p<0.002) to normal levels from previous hyperhomocytenemia. This was accompanied by decrease in serum GGT and ALT levels indicating improved liver functions. Serum estimation of homocysteine in chronic alcoholics is important to assess whether the patient will have a successful rehabilitation. Normal homocysteine levels are achieved after dietary changes and abstinence from alcohol. Timely correction of hyperhomocysteinemia also provides successful rehabilitation.     

Modified uremic rat model — A tool for uremic studies in rats

Experimental model of chronic renal failure in rats have been described by many authors and has also been widely used in various studies. Many of these methods used highly sophisticated instruments which was difficult in our settings. The resection model was ideal in our experimental set-up, but this model had the risk of excessive bleeding and hypovolemia. In our study we used a combination of partial resection and ligation of the renal artery to create two models of stable uremia A and Moderate uremia B. Severe uremia. Both these models were compared with a sham operated group which served as controls. Following surgical procedure, the development of uremia was monitored by serial estimation of blood urea and serum creatinine levels that were measured at regular intervals (bi-weekly). From two weeks onwards the animals in the experimental group showed a significant elevation in the serum urea levels and a consistent elevation in the serum creatinine levels upto eight weeks when compared to the animals in the sham operated group. We established a modified method of producing renal failure which can be maintained for a period of six weeks. This model is simple, reproducible and less complicated that can be used for several studies relating to renal failure in the field of research.     

The experience and communicative management of identity threats among people with Parkinson's disease: Implications for health communication theory and practice

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive, neurodegenerative illness that can yield a host of well-documented physical and psychosocial challenges; however, the impact of the disease on the identity of persons with PD (PWPs) is not well understood. Based on a constructivist grounded theory approach, data gathered from in-depth interviews with 47 PWPs were analyzed using constant comparison. The resulting theoretical structure related to identity and communication states that (a) PD threatens identity in several significant ways; (b) PWPs communicatively manage threats to identity; and (c) communicatively managing threats to identity is a complex, varied process. Results offer a theoretical understanding of the ways in which identity, communication, and PD are linked, and can inform interventions and care for this population.     

Chronic neglect and aggression/delinquency: A longitudinal examination

Neglect is the most common form of maltreatment in the United States, yet its impact on development remains understudied, especially for chronic neglect. Chronic neglect is also one of the most costly burdens on child welfare systems. This study examines the effects of chronic neglect, including two subtypes (Failure to Provide and Lack of Supervision) on adolescent aggression and delinquency using a diverse longitudinal sample of youth. Chronic neglect and chronic failure to provide (ages 0–12) predicted aggression/delinquency (age 14) even after controlling for the effects of other maltreatment (ages 0–12). Chronic lack of supervision, however, did not. Gender significantly moderated these effects, suggesting that males are more likely to respond to neglect by becoming aggressive/delinquent. Finally, social problems (age 12) partially mediated for boys, and fully mediated for girls, the connections between chronic neglect and aggression/delinquency, bolstering theorizing that neglect impairs social functioning broadly. Implications include the need for further research on chronic neglect, especially in providing guidance for child welfare systems. Interventions for chronically neglected youth should include social skill development.     

国内慢性荨麻疹临床疗效评价标准的调查

目的：调查分析国内慢性荨麻疹临床疗效判断标准。方法：采用频数分析、K－均值聚类分析等方法,分析目前国内慢性荨麻疹相关疗效判断标准的使用情况与适用范围。结果：符合纳入标准的文献857篇,文献中症状评估指标和疗效评价标准各不相同,采用症状体征下降指数（ SSRI）四级分级法的文献549篇（占64．17％）。采用K－均值聚类统计分析后发现,以治愈（100％≥SSRI＞90％）、好转（90％≥SSRI＞60％）、显效（60％≥SSRI＞20％）、无效（20％≥SSRI≥0％）为标准的四级疗效分级法适用范围较广。结论：慢性荨麻疹临床评估和药物疗效判断标准亟待统一和标准化。     

中医药对COPD大鼠模型作用机理的研究进展

通过对近年来中医药对COPD大鼠模型作用机理有关文献资料进行归纳和分析,探讨中医药在动物实验方面研究的进展,为进一步研究中医药提供借鉴。     

长期运动对增龄大鼠血浆胸主动脉内皮素-1的影响

为探讨长期不同持续时间和频率的游泳运动对增龄大鼠血浆、胸主动脉ET-1分泌的影响,选取2月龄雄性SD大鼠作为青年安静对照组,9-10月龄大鼠作为增龄组。增龄组又分为安静对照组和运动组,运动方式为无负重游泳,运动时间分别为每次1h和2h,运动频率为每周6次和3次,游泳运动周数总计14周。采用放免方法测定血浆、胸主动脉ET-1浓度。结果:⑴增龄时血浆ET-1的变化没有显著性;而胸主动脉ET-1随着增龄而升高(P<0 01)。⑵不同游泳运动后增龄大鼠血浆ET-1有升高的趋势,但差异无统计学意义,运动组之间的差异也没有显著性;运动后,胸主动脉ET-1的含量均下降(P<0 01)。结论:①增龄时胸主动脉ET-1水平明显升高,可能与增龄导致的内皮细胞损伤有关;增龄时血浆ET-1水平没有变化,提示血浆ET-1浓度不能准确地反应胸主动脉ET-1水平;②当增龄诱导的胸主动脉ET-1明显升高时,运动可以有效地降低其浓度,从而减弱ET-1的致病作用;③运动后各组血浆ET-1浓度适度升高可能有助于加强心肌收缩力。     

Oxidative stress and damage induced by abnormal free radical reactions and IgA nephropathy

Objective: To estimate the oxidative stress and oxidative damage induced by abnormal free radical reactions in IgA nephropathy (IgAN) patients' bodies. Methods: Seventy-two IgA N patients (IgANP) and 72 healthy adult volunteers (HAV) were enrolled in a random control study design, in which the levels of nitric oxide (NO) in plasma, lipoperoxide (LPO) in plasma and in erythrocytes, and vitamin C (VC), vitamin E (VE) and β-carotene (β-CAR) in plasma as well as the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) in erythrocytes were determined with spectrophotometric mothods. Results: Compared with the HAV group, the averages of NO in plasma, and LPO in plasma and in erythrocytes in the IgANP group were significantly increased (P＜0.0001), while those ofVC, VE and β-CAR in plasma as well as those of SOD, CAT and GPX in erythrocytes in the IgANP group were significantly decreased (P＜0.0001). Linear correlation analysis showed that with the increase of the values of NO, and LPO in plasma and in erythrocytes, and with the decrease of those ofVC, VE, β-CAR,SOD, CAT and GPX in the IgAN patients, the degree of histological damage of tubulointerstitial regions was increased gradually (P＜0.0001); and that with the prolongation of the duration of disease the values of NO, and LPO in plasma and erythrocytes were increased gradually, while those of VC, VE, β-CAR, SOD, CAT and GPX were decreased gradually (P＜0.005). The discriminatory correct rates of the above biochemical parameters reflecting oxidative damage of the IgAN patients were 73.8%-92.5%, and the correct rates for the HAV were 70.0%-91.3% when independent discriminant analysis was used; and the correct rate for the IgAN patients was increased to 98.8%, the correct rate for the HAV was increased to 100% when stepwise discriminant analysis was used. The above biochemical parameters' reliability coefficient (alpha) were used to estimate the oxidative damage of the IgAN patients as 0.8145, the standardized item alpha=0.9730, F=53273.5681, P＜0.0001. Conclusions: A series of free radical chain reactions caused serious pathological aggravation in the IgANP' bodies, thus resulting in oxidative damage in their bodies. In treating IgANP, therefore, it is necessary that suitable dose antioxidants should be supplemented to them so as to alleviate the oxidative damage in their bodies.