Thiazolidinedione response in familial lipodystrophy patients with LMNA mutations: a case series.

Type 2 familial partial lipodystrophy (FPLD2) patients show impaired glucose and lipid metabolism resulting from lipodystrophic 'lipid pressure' and an intrinsic defect in skeletal muscle metabolism. Since mutated lamin A may interfere with peroxisome proliferator activator gamma (PPARγ) expression, we hypothesized that PPARγ stimulation improves fat distribution and metabolic abnormalities in these patients. 5 nondiabetic FPLD2 patients were treated with rosiglitazone over 12 months. We assessed body composition, body fat distribution, and skinfold thickness/subcutaneous tissue thickness. We also determined venous glucose, insulin, and free fatty acid (FFA) concentrations, and respiratory quotient (RQ) before and during oral glucose tolerance testing. Adipose tissue and muscle fasting and postprandial metabolism were studied by microdialysis. Within 12 months treatment, hip circumference increased from 93.6±2.78 cm to 96.2±2.3 cm (p<0.05). Rosiglitazone reduced fasting glucose levels and liver transaminases. Baseline and postprandial FFA concentrations were significantly lower after 12 months treatment. RQ and muscle interstitial pyruvate and lactate did not respond to treatment. We conclude that PPARγ stimulation with rosiglitazone modestly improves glucose metabolism in FPLD2 patients presumably through proximal adipose tissue expansion. The intrinsic muscular metabolic defect does not respond to rosiglitazone.

Effects of selected process parameters on emission rates of volatile organic chemicals from carpet.

There has been increased interest over the last several years in issues related to indoor air quality. Although the factors affecting indoor air quality are recognized to be very broad, ranging from building design, operation, and ventilation to biological contamination, recent emphasis has been placed on chemical contaminants, particularly volatile organic chemicals (VOCs). New floor covering systems, including new carpets, have been identified as a potential, short-term source of VOCs in the indoor air of new or renovated buildings. This report describes an exploratory study designed to examine several manufacturing variables and their effects on VOC emission rates from new carpets. It was based on a statistical experimental design and was conducted at a single carpet mill on a full-scale production line. The outcome variable, VOC emission rate, was examined relative to selected independent variables: latex type, latex amount, makeup air into the drying oven, residence time in the drying oven, and their interactions. Significant variables were identified for a number of emission rate models. The study results suggest that there are no simple answers for easily reducing VOC emission rates, but several conclusions could be inferred from the study as to future directions to pursue.

Myocardial preservation: a comparison of oxygenated crystalloid and blood cardioplegia.

The purpose of this experiment was to compare myocardial protective effect after global ischemia using oxygenated crystalloid (CCcO2) and an oxygenated blood (BCcO2) cardioplegic solutions. Post-ischemic ventricular performance was studied in 2 equal (n = 7) groups of dogs subjected to 120 min of global ischemia induced at average myocardial temperatures of 8 degrees C in the CCcO2 group and 18 degrees C in the BCcO2 group. Left ventricular (LV) function included analysis of LV systolic function (global and regional function), LV diastolic function (chamber and myocardial stiffness) and LV relaxation was measured by sonomicrometry and Millar micrometers. Data were processed with a Dec PDP-11/23 computer. In vitro oxygen content (Vol%) measured 3.2 +/- 1.0 (CCcO2) and 9.5 +/- 0.3 (BCcO2). Percent recoveries of LV global function (LVSP, loop area, % shortening, LV dp/dt, mean VCF and E max) in the CCcO2 group were approximately the same as those in the BCcO2 group. There were no significant differences in LV regional function (loop area and % shortening) after ischemia between the two groups. The chamber and myocardial stiffness after ischemia in the CCcO2 group were almost the same as the baseline values. Values in the BCcO2 group were reduced significantly compared to the baseline level. There were significant differences in post-ischemic chamber and myocardial stiffness between the two groups. Post-ischemic maximum negative LV dp/dt in both groups decreased significantly compared to the baseline values. However, the time constant and diastolic interval after ischemia in both groups were approximately the same as the baseline values. We conclude that there were no significant differences in myocardial protective effect between the CCcO2 and BCcO2 groups, and both methods preserved the ischemic myocardium well.

Impedance tomography and its application in deep venous thrombosis detection.

The authors have developed an impedance imaging prototype system and tested its functionality. They describe some enhancements made to their previous system and three algorithms for reconstructing impedance images. The system is capable of reconstructing cross-sectional impedance distributions from surface measured data. They discuss some experimental results with the saline tank and a preclinical study of applying the electrical imaging technique to detect deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Other potential applications include monitoring pulmonary edema, imaging the lungs, and noninvasive temperature monitoring during hyperthermia treatment.

Ischemic myocardial protection. Comparison of nonoxygenated crystalloid, oxygenated crystalloid, and oxygenated fluorocarbon cardioplegic solutions.

This study was designed to compare myocardial protection with a nonoxygenated crystalloid solution, an oxygenated crystalloid solution, and an oxygenated fluorocarbon cardioplegic solution. Postischemic ventricular performance was studied in three equal (N = 7) groups of dogs subjected to 120 minutes of global ischemia induced at an average myocardial temperature of 18.5 degrees +/- 1.4 degrees C (range 17.0 degrees to 21.0 degrees C). Left ventricular global and regional function was evaluated by sonomicrometry and micromanometers before ischemia and at 45 and 60 minutes after ischemia. Stroke volume index, left ventricular pressure-minor external diameter loop area, percent shortening, first derivative of left ventricular pressure, mean velocity of circumferential fiber shortening, and the slope of the end-systolic pressure were used to evaluate myocardial contractility. In vitro oxygen content of the three cardioplegic solutions was measured at a mean injection temperature of 8.3 degrees +/- 0.6 degrees C: 0.8 +/- 0.1 vol% (nonoxygenated crystalloid cardioplegia), 3.2 +/- 0.2 vol% (oxygenated crystalloid cardioplegia), and 6.2 +/- 0.2 vol% (oxygenated fluorocarbon cardioplegia). Recovery of global and regional function was significantly (p less than 0.05) better with both oxygenated solutions than with the nonoxygenated solution. Differences between the oxygenated crystalloid and fluorocarbon groups were not significant. We conclude: (1) Compared to nonoxygenated crystalloid cardioplegia, oxygenated crystalloid and oxygenated fluorocarbon cardioplegic solutions gave superior myocardial protection during 2 hours of ischemic arrest; (2) no difference was found in protective effects between an oxygenated crystalloid and an oxygenated fluorocarbon solution.

Determination of xanthomegnin in grains and animal feeds by liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection.

A sensitive, highly selective liquid chromatographic (LC) method is described which uses electrochemical (EC) reduction of the analyte in the determinative step. The method is capable of determining xanthomegnin in mixed animal feeds and grains at levels ranging from 15 to 1200 ng/g. The method can detect as little as 0.5 ng xanthomegnin injected on the LC column. Xanthomegnin is extracted with chloroform and 0.1M phosphoric acid. An aliquot of the crude extract is purified by silica gel column chromatography using a Sep-Pak silica gel cartridge. A novel feature of the method is that xanthomegnin is "backed off" the column by reversing the flow of the eluant through the column. LC is then used to separate xanthomegnin from other interfering substances. Xanthomegnin is detected by EC reduction at -0.16 V. Recoveries of xanthomegnin added to samples at levels ranging from 15 to 1200 ng/g averaged 79% with a coefficient of variation of 7.9%. Results also demonstrate that this LC system can separate the related metabolites viomellein and rubrosulphin from each other and from xanthomegnin and that the same EC detection system can be used to detect these metabolites.

[Diurnal variation in the urinary excretion of vanilmandelic acid and aldosterone in normal and hypertensive persons (author's transl)]. / Untersuchungen zum Zusammenhang diurnaler Schwankungen der Vanillinmandelsüre (VMS)- und Aldosteronausscheidung

The excretion of creatinine, VMA, and aldosterone was measured in the urine of 14 normal and 25 persons with stable essential hypertension during a day time (7.00-23.00 hrs) and a night time (23.00-7.00 hrs) period. Excretion of VMA and aldosterone per hour in the two groups was lower during the night period than during the day. No significant difference existed between the excretion values of both groups. Night/day rations for the excretion of VMA and of aldosterone respectively, per mg of creatinine excreted were calculated for each subject. In the normal group the night/day ratios of aldosterone excretion showed a significant correlation to the corresponding ratios of VMA excretion; such correlation was not found in the hypertensive group. The fact that a correlation was observed in the normal group is compatible with the hypothesis that catecholamines are involved in the regulation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Lack of correlation in the group of hypertensive does not as yet allow any conclusions. In two patients with primary hyperaldosteronism, the aldosterone excretion during the night was relatively more elevated than in the day.