Impact of exercise and dietary fatty acid composition from a high-fat diet on markers of hunger and satiety.

To compare the effects of both dietary fatty acid composition and exercise vs. sedentary conditions on circulating levels of hunger and satiety hormones. Eight healthy males were randomized in a 2 × 2 crossover design. The four treatments were 3 days of HF diets (50% of energy) containing high saturated fat (22% of energy) with exercise (SE) or sedentary (SS) conditions, and high monounsaturated fat (30% of energy) with exercise (UE) or sedentary (US) conditions. Cycling exercise was completed at 45% of VO(2)max for 2h daily. On the third HF day, 20 blood samples were drawn over a 24h period for each hormone (leptin, insulin, ghrelin, and peptide YY (PYY)). A visual analog scale (VAS) was completed hourly between 0800 and 2200. Average 24h leptin and insulin levels were lower while 24h PYY was higher during exercise vs. sedentary conditions. FA composition did not differentially affect 24h hormone values. VAS scores for hunger and fullness did not differ between any treatment but did correlate with ghrelin, leptin, and insulin. High saturated or unsaturated fat diets did not differ with respect to markers of hunger or satiety. Exercise decreased 24h leptin and insulin while increasing PYY regardless of FA composition.

Changes in von Willebrand factor and fibrinolysis following a post-exercise cool-down.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a post-exercise active cool-down on von Willebrand factor and fibrinolysis. Ten subjects performed two maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) tests followed by a 10-min passive (PC) or an active (AC) cool-down. Blood samples were obtained pre-exercise, post-exercise, post-PC/AC, and 1 h post-exercise and analyzed for von Willebrand factor antigen (vWf:Ag), tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) antigen and activity and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) activity. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance. No significant differences were found between VO2max tests for treadmill time, VO2max, respiratory exchange ratio, maximal heart rate, or maximal blood lactate concentration. vWf:Ag was significantly elevated (P <0.05)following PC [198.4 (18.3)% normal] versus AC [174.5 (15.6)% normal] and remained elevated 1-h post-exercise [179.4 (16.4)% normal for PC vs 158.6 (13.8)% normal for AC]. There were no differences between tests for tPA or PAI-1 activity, although tPA antigen was significantly elevated following PC versus AC (P <0.05). Following the cool-down, hematocrit was higher (P <0.05) for the PC test [48.90 (0.36)] compared with AC [47.43 (0.51)]. An AC reduces post-exercise vWf:Ag and tPA antigen without affecting tPA or PAI-1 activity.

A complicated but nonrandom karyotype in preleukemia.

A patient with preleukemia who possessed a complicated hypodiploid karyotype in 100% of bone marrow cells is described. The clinical, hematologic, and cytogenetic features showed a marked similarity to a patient with preleukemia described by Watt et al. [1]. Both patients terminated their disease in acute nonlymphocytic leukemia. Another patient with similar cytogenetic features, but who presented in the acute leukemic phase of polycythemia rubra vera, also is described. All three patients possessed a translocation involving chromosome #11 at band p15. This, together with many numerical and structural abnormalities, particularly those involving chromosomes #5, #7, and #17, may prove useful in defining a variety of preleukemia with a poor prognosis.

Attempted reconstitution of a foal with primary severe combined immunodeficiency.

A foal with primary severe combined immunodeficiency, diagnosed within the first two weeks of life, was maintained with its dam in semi-isolation. The foal received continuous prophylactic antibiotic therapy, plasma from a sibling hyperimmunised with equine adenovirus vaccine, and intensive general nursing care. A full sibling female was selected as a bone marrow donor on the basis of red blood cell cross-matching and mixed lymphocyte reactions. Cyclophosphamide was given before two bone marrow transfusions at 35 and 73 days of age. To prevent graft versus host disease graft versus host disease the foal was maintained on methotrexate therapy. Reconstitution was not achieved nor were there signs of graft versus host disease. The foal died suddenly four days after the second bone marrow transfer when 77 days old. It had remained clinically free of any life threatening infectious disease and at necropsy a remarkable degree of freedom from infectious disease was confirmed. The most notable necropsy findings were bilateral nephrosis and myocardial degeneration and fibrosis. The likely cause of death was an electrolyte imbalance, particularly hypokalaemia, which secondarily affected the myocardium. Renal toxicity caused by the cytotoxic drugs, especially cyclophosphamide, may have contributed to the electrolyte imbalance.

Immunotherapy maintenance in acute non-lymphocytic leukaemia.

Between January 1975 and December 1977, 264 adult patients with acute non-lymphocytic leukaemia entered the Australian National Leukaemia Trial. Of 251 evaluable patients, three induction regimens achieved similar complete response (CR) rates. CROP (cytosine arabinoside, daunorubicin, vincristine, prednisolone) produced CR in 41% of patients, 7 and 3 (cytosine arabinoside, daunorubicin) in 42% and 7 and 3 plus hydroxyurea in 52%. Remission duration and survival were similar when induction regimens were compared. Forty-five patients reaching maintenance therapy were randomised to either chemo-immunotherapy (BCG plus intradermal leukaemic blast cells) or chemotherapy alone. The duration of CR in these two groups was almost identical, though patients receiving chemotherapy alone had prolonged survival (median 161 weeks) when compared to the chemo-immunotherapy group (84 weeks, p = 0 . 07). Institutions with less developed supportive facilities reported lower CR rates (p = 0 . 04). Leucocytosis (greater than 100 X 10(9)/1) and older age (greater than 50 years) were associated with shortened survival. The Trial has failed to show any advantage for this form of immunotherapy.

Treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia in children.

Complete remission was achieved in 11 of 22 children with acute myeloid leukaemia using at least two courses of a 24 hour infusion of cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) 10 mg/kg, followed by push injections of daunorubicin (DNR) 45 mg/m2, and adriamycin (ADR) 45 mg/m2. Consolidation therapy consisted of three courses of Ara-C and 6-thioguanine (Tg) and one course of cyclophosphamide (CPA) and ADR. Central nervous system prophylaxis with intrathecal Ara-C was given in all patients and cranial irradiation of five. Maintenance therapy consisted of 5 day courses of Ara-C and Tg given 4 weekly with immunotherapy (BCG) vaccine and subcutaneous leukaemic cells) between courses. Median length of first complete remission was 99+ weeks, and median survival of all patients was 44 weeks. Median survival of remitters was 195+ weeks and non-remitters, 28 weeks. Two patients developed central nervous system disease, one at presentation and the other 46 weeks from presentation. Five patients have ceased therapy and remain in remission from 32 to 142 weeks after ceasing treatment.

A reliable technique for making permanent preparations of bone marrow cultures.

By modifying several techniques for the permanent preparation of bone marrow cultures in semi-solid agar, we have developed a system which give reliable results in terms of a high success rate, morphological quality and cytochemical flexibility.

Immunotherapy with chemotherapy in the maintenance of remission in acute myeloblastic leukaemia.

Thirteen patients with acute myeloblastic leukaemia or one of its variants in remission have been given maintenance treatment with a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Chemotherapy was given for one week in four, and immunotherapy was given during the intervening three weeks. The immunotherapy consisted of BCG vaccine given by Heaf gun, and snap-frozen pooled allogeneic irradiated leukaemic cells. The median duration of survival was 147 weeks, and the median duration of the first complete remission was 76 weeks. It is difficult to compare these results with other figures reported, but they add to the evidence which suggests that immunotherapy is of value in the maintenance treatment of patients with this disease. Further controlled trials are necessary.