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Phenotyping of CYP2C19 with enantiospecific HPLC-quantification of R- and S-mephenytoin and comparison with the intron4/exon5 G-->A-splice site mutation.

S-Mephenytoin 4'-hydroxylase (CYP2C19) is a genetically polymorphic cytochrome P450. A modified method for CYP2C19 phenotyping was evaluated in 174 healthy German volunteers and the results were compared with genotyping for the intron4/exon5 G-->A splice site mutation (m1) of CYP2C19, associated with the poor metabolizer (PM) phenotype. A smaller than usual test-dose of 50 mg (R,S)-mephenytoin was used and urine samples were collected from 0 to 5 h and from 5 to 8 h after administration. Trait measurements included the mephenytoin S/R enantiomeric ratio and the hydroxylation index (i.e. the molar ratio of 4'-hydroxy-mephenytoin urinary recovery to the administered S-mephenytoin dose). S- and R-mephenytoin were quantified by isocratic HPLC with a Chiraspher column and 80% n-hexane and 20% dioxane as the mobile phase. All individuals from whom DNA was available (n = 140, including six phenotypically identified PMs) were analysed for the m1 mutation. The population frequency of this CYP2C19 mutation was 0.15. Four individuals were homozygous for m1 having S/R ratios of 0.9 or greater in both intervals of urine collection. Thus, individuals with an S/R ratio > or = 0.9 were classified as PMs and seven of all 174 phenotyped individuals were PMs (4%; 95% confidence limits: 1.6-8.1%). Heterozygous carriers of m1 (n = 34) had a median S/R ratio (5-8 h urine) of 0.06 compared to 0.01 in individuals without this mutation (n = 102; p = 0.0005, Mann-Whitney U-test). No such gene-dose relation was apparent with the hydroxylation index.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenine↗

Cancer II. Distortions in standardized rates.

Age-adjustment (standardization), the statistical method most used by cancer epidemiologists to express incidence and mortality rates, makes use of an arbitrarily chosen "standard" population to calculate rates that are in reality only abstract index numbers. It is generally known that the "age" of any standard population affects the magnitude of the index, but it is not widely recognized that the use of U.S. Censuses as standards, possibly excepting the 1930 U.S. Census population, distorts the index number. The greater the disparity between the numbers of males and females in middle-aged groups and older, the greater is the distortion. Hence sex as well as age distribution in a standard must be considered if rates are to be expressed in terms of sex. Trends of cancer incidence or mortality will have different slopes depending on the census year chosen as a standard; yet no standard can arbitrarily be called the "correct" one. Age-, race-, and sex-specific rates are more precise and can be made to give considerably more meaningful description of cancer trends, albeit their use requires scrutiny of a greater assortment of numbers.

Actuarial Analysis↗

Long-term survivors in chronic granulocytic leukaemia: a study by the International CGL Prognosis Study Group. Italian Cooperative CML Study Group.

The purpose of the present work were to identify the initial characteristics associated with long-term survival in chronic granulocytic leukaemia (CGL) and to analyse the accuracy of prognostic models in identifying long-term survivors. 813 Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome-positive, nonblastic CGL patients from six American and European institutions, the majority treated conventionally, with a minimum follow-up > 10 years, were studied. Stepwise logistic regression was performed to ascertain the association between the initial clinicohaematological variables and survival > or = 8 years, and a prognostic index was derived. The usefulness of both Sokal's and the new prognostic index to identify long-term survivors was assessed by calculating their positive and negative predictive accuracies, sensitivity and specificity. Median survival of the series was 45 months (range 1-255), with 784 patients (96.4%) having died and 109 (13.4%) surviving 8 years or longer. Younger age, smaller spleen, platelets < or = 600 x 10(9)/l, and lower blood blast percentage were associated with survival > or = 8 years; platelets < or = 600 x 10(9)/l and lower blood blast percentage were the predictive factors in patients 50 years old or younger. Two-thirds of long survivors belonged to Sokal's low-risk group, but the positive predictive accuracy and specificity for prolonged survival of Sokal's index were very low. This was also the case for the new predictive index.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Relationship of protein calorie malnutrition to alcoholic liver disease: a reexamination of data from two Veterans Administration Cooperative Studies.

The relationship of protein calorie malnutrition (PCM) to alcoholic liver disease was studied in 666 patients enrolled in two Veterans Administration Cooperative Studies. Some findings of malnutrition could be detected early in 62% of the comparison patients (43 subjects who were alcoholic, but had not yet developed clinical or laboratory evidence of liver injury). In those who had progressed to the stage of liver injury sufficient to manifest clinical jaundice (536 patients), some findings of malnutrition were present in every patient (100%). The degree of malnutrition correlated closely with the development of all the serious complications of the liver disease (ascites, encephalopathy, and hepatorenal syndrome), as well as the overall mortality. The degree of malnutrition was also important in predicting response to some forms of treatment. When prednisolone, a catabolic adrenal steroid, was used, efficacy was independent of the level of malnutrition. However, a relationship was observed with the severity of the liver injury [quantified by the level of jaundice and coagulopathy, i.e., Maddrey's discriminant function (DF(Maddrey)]. For prednisolone, the response was seen only when the DF was 81-100 reducing mortality 45% When oxandrolone, an androgenic anabolic steroid treatment was given, efficacy was observed only in those with moderate malnutrition (PCM score 60-79% of normal) and maximized with adequate caloric intake reducing mortality 86%. To simplify the method of calculating the PCM score for predicting response to anabolic therapy, a multiple logistic regression model was developed from the parameters used to assess nutritional status: DF(PCM) = 0.098 (peripheral blood lymphocytes) + 0.078 (creatinine height index).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

[Epidemiological study of the prevalence of influenza in Japan--regional differences in terms of three indices (development of epidemic outbreak, viral isolation, peak of prevalence)].

The prevalence of influenza in Japan was studied, dividing the whole country into six sections such as Tohoku, Hokkaido and Kanto, to determine regional differences from the nationwide viewpoint. This study was based on data obtained from a total of 720 prefectures where three of the first index (the time the epidemic outbreak developed), second index (the time the virus was isolated) and third index (the time the prevalence reached its peak) were determined for the 16 prevalence periods of influenza between 1976 and 1993. The mean value (standard deviation) of each index was obtained for each year of prevalence and for each area. The differences obtained were analyzed statistically, and the following results were obtained: 1. There was a marked regional difference in the development of epidemic outbreak of cold; it was earliest in the Kanto and Kinki areas (late November to early December) and latest in the Kyushu area (mid January). 2. Isolation of the virus was earliest in the Kanto and Kinki area (mid January) and latest in the Chugoku and Shikoku areas (late January to early February), showing a regional difference. 3. The peak of prevalence was earliest in the Kanto area (early February) and latest in the Tohoku, Hokkaido, Chugoku and Shinkoku areas (mid February), showing a regional difference. 4. The difference between the earliest and latest areas was 4.2 weeks regarding the first index, while it was decreased to 1.8 weeks for the second index and to 0.8 weeks for the third index.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Disease Outbreaks↗

Investigation of the role of oxidative stress in amiodarone-induced pulmonary toxicity in the hamster.

Associated with amiodarone (AM) therapy is pneumonitis, which may progress to life-threatening pulmonary fibrosis. Although the etiology of amiodarone-induced pulmonary toxicity (AIPT) is unknown, a role for direct toxicity by oxidative stress has been proposed. We have used a single intratracheal administration of AM (1.8 mg (2.64 mumol)) to male golden Syrian hamsters to investigate the role of oxidative stress in AIPT. The antioxidant capacity of the lung was assessed following AM administration by evaluating glutathione status and antioxidant enzyme activities. The efficacy of treatment with the antioxidant agents butylated hydroxyanisole, diallyl sulfide, and N-acetylcysteine, in attenuation of AM-induced pulmonary fibrosis was also investigated. AM significantly (p < 0.05) increased the ratio of oxidized to total lung glutathione both 30 min (control, 0.93 +/- 0.23%; AM, 2.06 +/- 0.26%) and 120 min (control, 0.90 +/- 0.21%; AM, 3.58 +/- 1.34%) post administration. AM also increased activities of glutathione reductase (by 89%) 3 days post administration, and glutathione peroxidase (by 110 and 45%, respectively) and total superoxide dismutase (by 58 and 35%, respectively) both 3 and 7 days post administration. However, treatment of hamsters with butylated hydroxyanisole (150 mg.kg-1.day-1 s.c.) or diallyl sulfide (200 mg.kg-1.day-1, p.o.) for 3 days prior to AM, or treatment with N-acetylcysteine (10 mg intratracheally) 10 min prior to AM had no effect on pulmonary fibrosis 21 days post treatment, as determined by lung wet weight and hydroxyproline content, and had inconsistent effects on histologically determined disease index.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acetylcysteine↗

Cross-correlation analysis of inhibitory interactions in dorsal cochlear nucleus.

1. Cross-correlation analysis was used to study the organization of inhibitory connections between type II or type III units and type IV principal cells in cat dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN). Pairs of units were isolated using two microelectrodes so that information about the distance over which connections are made could be analyzed. Data were obtained from 51 pairs consisting of a type II and a type IV unit and from 22 pairs consisting of a type III and a type IV unit. The analyses in this paper concentrate on type II-type IV pairs. 2. Inhibitory troughs (ITs) are observed in the cross-correlograms of type II-type IV pairs (21/51 cases). An IT is a transient decrease in discharge probability in the postsynaptic (type IV) unit immediately after spikes in the presynaptic unit (type II). The average latency to the start of ITs is 0.73 ms, and the troughs are asymmetric with a faster leading phase. Small excitatory peaks accompany the ITs in type II units, but these are probably secondary effects associated with the IT. ITs are consistent with a monosynaptic, inhibitory connection between type II and type IV units. A variety of evidence suggests that type II responses are recorded from vertical cells, an interneuron in the deep layer of the DCN that may be glycinergic. 3. The cross-correlograms of type III-type IV pairs are more complex and variable than those of type II-type IV pairs--ITs are seen in 4/22 cases, and peaks of correlation that are symmetrically located around the origin (central mound or CM) are seen in 4/22 cases; two cases have both an IT and a CM. CMs result from shared sources of input. Whereas type II-type IV correlogram features change primarily in amplitude as stimulus conditions change, correlogram features in some type III-type IV pairs change qualitatively with stimulus conditions; correlograms are flat for some stimuli and show ITs or CMs or mixtures of the two for others. This variability suggests that the circuitry associated with type III-type IV pairs is more complex than a monosynaptic connection, and further analysis of type III-type IV pairs was not done. 4. The strength of inhibition for an IT is measured as the area under the IT (effectiveness) and as effectiveness divided by the postsynaptic discharge rate (association index).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

Echocardiographic and ultrasonographic evaluation of cardiac and vascular hypertrophy in patients with essential hypertension.

High-resolution ultrasonography is a noninvasive technique that allows to investigate the cardiovascular system, in particular the wall thickness and the lumen diameter of the arteries with accuracy and reproducibility. We measured the intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery (CCA) and of its bifurcation (BIF) in 40 patients with essential hypertension, 20 of them with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH; age 42 +/- 10 years) and 20 without LVH (age 44 +/- 12 years); no other major cardiovascular risk factor was present in all the patients. Both carotid axes have been scanned from different views (anterior, lateral, posterior) on a transversal and longitudinal section using a high-resolution steerable linear array of 5.0 MHz. Carotid diameter and thickness were measured in the longitudinal section. CCA parameters were assessed 20 mm caudally to the flow divider. In patients with LVH, blood pressure (172 +/- 21/108 +/- 9 mm Hg) and left ventricular mass index (156 +/- 38 g/m2) were significantly (p < 0.01) higher than in patients without LVH (blood pressure: 158 +/- 11/99 +/- 12 mm Hg; left ventricular mass index: 98 +/- 10 g/m2), while there was no difference in serum glycemia, triglycerides, total and fractioned cholesterol levels. The intima-media thickness of both the CCA and BIF was significantly higher in the hypertensives with LVH (CCA: 0.85 +/- 0.02 vs. 0.65 +/- 0.02 mm; BIF: 0.93 +/- 0.04 vs. 0.70 +/- 0.03 mm, p < 0.01). There was a statistically significant correlation between the carotid wall thickness and the left ventricular mass index.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

The influence of preload and heart rate on Doppler echocardiographic indexes of left ventricular performance: comparison with invasive indexes in an experimental preparation.

We evaluated the ability of Doppler echocardiography to assess left ventricular performance in six open-chest dogs studied under various conditions. Intravenous infusions of nitroglycerin were used to vary preload, atrial pacing was used to control heart rate, and changes in inotropic state were induced by two different doses of dobutamine (5 and 10 micrograms/kg/min iv) and by administration of propranolol (1 mg/kg iv). Left ventricular anterior wall myocardial segment length was used as an index of preload. Maximum aortic blood flow, peak acceleration of aortic blood flow, and dP/dt were measured with an electromagnetic flow probe around the ascending aorta and a high-fidelity pressure transducer in the left ventricle. A continuous-wave Doppler transducer applied to the aortic arch was used to measure peak aortic blood velocity, mean acceleration, time to peak velocity, and the systolic velocity integral. The differences between mean values obtained under different inotropic conditions were significant at the p less than .01 level for peak velocity and at the p less than .05 level for mean acceleration. Within a given animal, Doppler measurements of peak velocity correlated very closely with maximum aortic flow (r = .96), maximum acceleration of aortic flow (r = .95), and with maximum dP/dt (r = .92). Mean acceleration measured by Doppler echocardiography also correlated very closely with conventional indexes, but was subject to greater interobserver variability. Doppler measurements of time to peak and the systolic velocity integral correlated less well with conventional hemodynamic indexes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Sodium-lithium countertransport and cardiorenal abnormalities in essential hypertension.

The rate of red blood cell sodium-lithium countertransport is elevated only in a subgroup of patients with essential hypertension. We have therefore compared renal and cardiac function and morphology in two groups of hypertensive patients with high (n = 23) or normal (n = 22) sodium-lithium countertransport (mean +/- SEM: 0.61 +/- 0.10 versus 0.29 +/- 0.07 mmol/l red blood cells.hr). The two groups were similar in age, sex distribution, body mass index, smoking habit, duration of hypertension, and actual levels of untreated blood pressure. Hypertensive patients with elevated sodium-lithium countertransport activity showed elevated glomerular filtration rate (118 +/- 2 versus 109 +/- 2 ml/min.1.73 m2; p less than 0.001), albumin excretion rate (23 +/- 3 versus 14 +/- 2 micrograms/min; p less than 0.001), larger kidney volume (250 +/- 15 versus 203 +/- 13 ml.1.73 m2; p less than 0.01), lower lithium clearance rate (26.7 +/- 0.3 versus 28.9 +/- 0.3 ml/min.1.73 m2; p less than 0.01), and higher total body exchangeable sodium (2,716 +/- 33 versus 2,485 +/- 41 mmol.1.73 m2; p less than 0.01). Left ventricular mass index (139 +/- 6 versus 119 +/- 6 g/m2; p less than 0.05), relative wall thickness (0.39 +/- 0.05 versus 0.29 +/- 0.04 cm; p less than 0.001), and left posterior wall plus intraventricular septum thickness (2.02 +/- 0.04 versus 1.76 +/- 0.03 cm; p less than 0.05) were also higher in patients with high sodium-lithium countertransport. Hypertensive patients with normal sodium-lithium countertransport had renal and cardiac parameters similar to those of a normotensive control group (n = 21) except for a higher glomerular filtration rate and left ventricular mass index.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Serum insulin levels, 24-hour blood pressure profile, and left ventricular mass in nonobese hypertensive patients.

In essential hypertensive patients, considered to be insulin-resistant, a blunted decline in nocturnal blood pressure is associated with increased adrenergic tone and left ventricular mass. Since insulin stimulates the sympathetic system, we tested whether insulin resistance and insulinemia influence left ventricular mass and the 24-hour blood pressure profile. We studied 29 nonobese hypertensive patients with office diastolic pressure between 95 and 110 mm Hg and normal oral glucose tolerance test after a 4-month washout period. They were then assigned to M-mode echocardiographic evaluation and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. The glucose and insulin responses to a 75-g oral glucose load were compared with those obtained in 16 weight-matched normotensive control subjects. During the oral glucose tolerance test the hypertensive patients compared with control subjects presented higher levels of glucose at 60 minutes (138.7 +/- 30.3 versus 108.7 +/- 35.7 mg/dL; P < .05) and 90 minutes (114.0 +/- 23.8 versus 94.8 +/- 31.1 mg/dL; P < .05) and insulin at 60 minutes (287.1 +/- 259.4 versus 142.1 +/- 83.9 pmol/L; P < .05). However, peak insulin levels after glucose load did not correlate with ambulatory blood pressure values or left ventricular mass index. Left ventricular mass index showed significant correlation with mean sleeping systolic pressure (rs = 56, P < .05) and diurnal systolic pressure (rs = .37, P < .05) but not with mean diurnal or sleeping diastolic pressures. In conclusion, our results indicate that in nonobese hypertensive patients, insulin resistance does not have any influence on the 24-hour blood pressure profile or on left ventricular mass index.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Gene expression in cortex and hippocampus during acute pneumococcal meningitis.

BACKGROUND: Pneumococcal meningitis is associated with high mortality (approximately 30%) and morbidity. Up to 50% of survivors are affected by neurological sequelae due to a wide spectrum of brain injury mainly affecting the cortex and hippocampus. Despite this significant disease burden, the genetic program that regulates the host response leading to brain damage as a consequence of bacterial meningitis is largely unknown. We used an infant rat model of pneumococcal meningitis to assess gene expression profiles in cortex and hippocampus at 22 and 44 hours after infection and in controls at 22 h after mock-infection with saline. To analyze the biological significance of the data generated by Affymetrix DNA microarrays, a bioinformatics pipeline was used combining (i) a literature-profiling algorithm to cluster genes based on the vocabulary of abstracts indexed in MEDLINE (NCBI) and (ii) the self-organizing map (SOM), a clustering technique based on covariance in gene expression kinetics. RESULTS: Among 598 genes differentially regulated (change factor > or = 1.5; p < or = 0.05), 77% were automatically assigned to one of 11 functional groups with 94% accuracy. SOM disclosed six patterns of expression kinetics. Genes associated with growth control/neuroplasticity, signal transduction, cell death/survival, cytoskeleton, and immunity were generally upregulated. In contrast, genes related to neurotransmission and lipid metabolism were transiently downregulated on the whole. The majority of the genes associated with ionic homeostasis, neurotransmission, signal transduction and lipid metabolism were differentially regulated specifically in the hippocampus. Of the cell death/survival genes found to be continuously upregulated only in hippocampus, the majority are pro-apoptotic, while those continuously upregulated only in cortex are anti-apoptotic. CONCLUSION: Temporal and spatial analysis of gene expression in experimental pneumococcal meningitis identified potential targets for therapy.

Acute Disease↗

Common drugs may influence motor recovery after stroke. The Sygen In Acute Stroke Study Investigators.

Studies in laboratory animals indicate that certain centrally acting drugs (eg, the antihypertensives clonidine and prazosin, neuroleptics and other dopamine receptor antagonists, benzodiazepines, and the anticonvulsants phenytoin and phenobarbital) impair behavioral recovery after focal brain injury. Even single doses may have long-term harmful effects. To determine whether these medications have a similar negative impact in humans, we analyzed the recoveries of control patients who were enrolled in the Sygen in Acute Stroke Study, a multicenter study of the effects of GM1 ganglioside after ischemic stroke. Motor impairments were measured by the motor subscores of the Toronto Stroke Scale at baseline and 7, 14, 21, 28, 56, and 84 days after stroke. Using these data, we compared motor recovery between patients with initial motor deficits who received at least one of the drugs that interfere with recovery in laboratory studies ("detrimental" drug group, n = 37) and patients who did not receive these drugs ("neutral" drug group, n = 59). The groups were well balanced with regard to the frequency of comorbid conditions and other prognostic factors. For upper-extremity motor function, repeated-measures ANOVA showed a significant interaction between drug group and time after stroke [F(6,528) = 2.38; p = 0.03], with a significant (p < 0.001) difference between the groups beginning 7 days after the stroke. A similar trend was present for the lower extremity, but the overall difference between the groups was not significant [ANOVA F(6,498) = 1.22; p = 0.29]. Drug group did influence the degree of independence in activities of daily living as measured with the Barthel Index.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

Quality of life and state of health for patients with cancer in the head and neck.

Quality of life is an important factor for patients with cancer in the head and neck region and this factor has not previously been investigated in such patients. A series of 52 patients with head and neck cancer and 104 control subjects answered a questionnaires including two questions concerning health, one question concerning quality of life and one group of questions covering the health index proposed by Grogono & Woodgate (1971). The control series consisted of subjects of the same age, sex and domiciliary district as each of the cancer patients (two for each patient). There was a very high correlation between the answers to each of the four questions. The results were evaluated with special reference to patients who reported poor health and a low quality of life and the material was classified into patients with good vs. poor prognosis. There was a very high correlation between poor prognosis and low health index/low quality of life. Among the factors in the Grogono-Woodgate index, ability to work, physical and mental well-being, ability to eat and enjoy food, hobbies and leisure activities, and communication were better among patients with a good vis-à-vis a poor prognosis. The interval from diagnosis had no effect on the results. Patients with a considerable postoperative handicap reported a comparatively good health status. Cancer patients with a good prognosis often reported better health than the control subjects, but this difference was only significant for the total Grogono-Woodgate index.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Metabolic effect of islet B-cell function in insulin-treated diabetes.

We studied the relationship between endogenous insulin secretion and fasting levels of plasma free fatty acids (FFA), plasma acetoacetate plus plasma 3-hydroxybutyrate (total ketone bodies), blood glucose, and HbA1 in 132 diabetic outpatients treated with conventional insulin regimens. Patients were divided into four groups according to plasma C-peptide concentration after intravenous stimulation with glucagon: one group with C-peptide stimulation less than 0.06 nmol/l, one group with C-peptide stimulation 0.06- less than 0.32 nmol/l, one group with C-peptide stimulation 0.32- less than 0.60 nmol/l, and one group with C-peptide stimulation greater than 0.60 nmol/l. According to clinical criteria the prevalence of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus was approximately 90% in patients with C-peptide stimulation less than 0.32 nmol/l, approximately 25% in patients with C-peptide stimulation from 0.32- less than 0.60 nmol/l, and approximately 10% in patients with C-peptide stimulation greater than 0.60 nmol/l. All metabolic variables were significantly higher in patients without detectable C-peptide in plasma when compared to values found in patients with C-peptide stimulation from 0.06- less than 0.32 nmol/l. These two patient groups also had similar peripheral plasma free insulin levels and were comparable according to age, sex, and body mass index.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Accelerated recovery from toxic acute renal failure with thyroxin: stimulation of renal phospholipid biosynthesis.

Thyroxine (T4) seems to accelerate recovery from various forms of acute renal failure. The mechanisms of this effect are still debated. We decided to evaluate if thyroxine enhances the recovery of HgCl2 renal failure through an increment in the mitotic activity or through an increase in membrane phospholipid biosynthesis of the regenerating tubular cells. Male Wistar rats were allocated to four groups: one group received 0.4 mg/100 g BW HgCl2 SC and saline IP (HgCl2 group); the second received the toxin and 24 and 48 h after it, T4 15 micrograms/100 g BW IP (HgCl2 + T4 group); a third group received saline SC and T4 IP (T4 group), and the last group received saline SC and IP (control group). On the third day GFR was evaluated by 24-h creatinine clearance and afterward rats were sacrificed and the kidneys removed. Some of them were studied histologically, evaluating the severity of the tubular lesion using a semiquantitative score (0-4) and the mitotic index (N mitotic figures per 10 high-power fields). In the other kidneys we studied phospholipid synthesis through the incorporation of 32 P into the different renal phospholipids of the several kidney regions. The T4-treated group had a better recovery of GFR after the toxin (HgCl2 + T4: 0.44 +/- .09 vs. HgCl2: 0.23 +/- .06, p < .05). Both HgCl2-treated groups had similar lesional scores and mitotic indexes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acute Kidney Injury↗

Adequacy of peritoneal dialysis: does kt/v have the same predictive value as in HD? A multicenter study.

Urea kinetics and the use of KT/V has become a useful tool for assessing adequacy of small solute removal in HD. Clinical data supporting the benefit of urea kinetic analysis in CAPD patients had been lacking. Using the standards of KT/V for hemodialysis, many CAPD patients would be underdialyzed but, most studies show no significant difference in morbidity or mortality between CAPD and HD patients. We studied retrospectively, 102 patients (48 M, 54 F), aged 54.6 +/- 14.8 (range 14-82), on CAPD 24.4 +/- 23.9 months (0-120) from 6 hospitals. Clinical and biochemical parameters, co-morbidity, mortality, and hospital admission rate were registered. During the follow-up (1 year), a significant decrease of residual renal function (Kr) from 1.74 +/- 1.86 to 1.31 +/- 1.67 (p < 0.01) was noticed. The KT/V also decreased from 2.00 +/- 0.47 to 1.89 +/- 0.36 (p < 0.01) without change in BUN or plasma creatinine levels. The normalized protein catabolic rate (NPCR) decreased from 0.98 +/- 0.28 to 0.93 +/- 0.30 (p < 0.05) and serum albumin from 3.7 +/- 0.5 to 3.5 +/- 0.6 (p < 0.001). There was a positive correlation between NPCR and KT/V (r = 0.44, p < 0.05) and between NPCR with serum BUN (r = 0.27, p < 0.05). There was no correlation between KT/V and NPCR neither with hospitalization rate nor clinical symptoms index. The latter, however, showed a positive correlation with the co-morbidity index.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

[Ultrasonographic evaluation of cardiac and vascular hypertrophy in patients with essential hypertension].

High resolution ultrasonography allows the accurate and reproducible measurement of thickness and lumen diameter of carotid arteries. We investigated Common carotid (CCA) and bifurcation intima-media thickness in 40 hypertensive patients, 20 without left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) (age 42 +/- 10 years) and 20 with LVH (age 44 +/- 12 years), all free from other important cardiovascular risk factors. Both carotid axes were scanned from different views (anterior, lateral, posterior) on traversal and longitudinal section, using a high resolution steerable (HRS) 5.0 MHz linear array. Carotid diameter and thickness from longitudinal section were measured. CCA parameters were taken 20 mm caudally to flow divider. Using the B-mode as a guide we assessed LVH presence with M-mode technique when left ventricular mass index (LVMI) > or = 135 g/m2 for men and > or = 110 g/m2 for women. In hypertensive patients with LVH, left ventricular mass was significantly higher than in those without LVH (156 +/- 38 vs 98 +/- 10 g/m2, p < 0.01). Even blood pressure was significantly higher in hypertrophic group (172 +/- 21/108 +/- 9 vs 158 +/- 11/99 +/- 12 mmHg, p < 0.01), while there was no difference in serum glycemia, triglycerides, total and fractioned cholesterol levels. The intima-media thickness scanned in both CCA and bifurcation resulted significantly higher in hypertensives with LVH (CCA: 0.85 +/- 0.02 mm vs 0.65 +/- 0.02 mm; BIF: 0.93 +/- 0.04 mm vs 0.70 +/- 0.03 mm, p < 0.01). We also noticed a statistically significant correlation between carotid wall thickness and left ventricular mass index.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗