Combinatory Effects of Training and Nutritive Administration of Carbohydrates and Protein via Food on Strength in Postmenopausal Women, and Old Men and Women.

The age-related loss of muscle mass promotes many impairments. Training and protein supplementation are suggested to prevent muscle wasting, but recommendations for all populations are not based on scientific evidence. This study combines protein/carbohydrate supplementation (PCS) and training for seniors and postmenopausal women. Project A: 51 postmenopausal women (PMW, 57.3 ± 3.0 years old) underwent health-oriented training (12 weeks, moderate-strength training + moderate-endurance training). The intervention group (IG) additionally received 110 g sour milk cheese (SMC) and toast. Project B: 25 women and 6 men (65.9 ± 4.9 years old) performed intense sling training (12 weeks). The IG additionally received 110 g SMC, toast, and buttermilk. Strength was tested before and after in both studies. Project A: there was significant increase in strength, no additional effect of PCS, and a reduction in body fat in the controls. Project B: there was significant increase in strength, significant additional effects of PCS for trunk strength, and a significant reduction in body weight. Combining training and PCS may counteract strength loss. Combined endurance/resistance training is recommended to PMW for whom the benefits of PCS are restricted. Aged subjects may benefit from PCS when training intensely, but these benefits may be strongly individual.

[Pain and distress responses of suckling piglets to injection and castration under local anaesthesia with procaine and lidocaine - Part 1: Cortisol, chromogranin A, wound healing, weights, losses]. / Schmerz- und Stressbestimmung bei der Injektion und Kastration von Saugferkeln unter Lokalanästhesie mit Procain und Lidocain.

OBJECTIVE: Comparison of the effectiveness of local anaesthesia (LA) in piglet castration by procaine 2 % and lidocaine 5 % both through combined inguinal and scrotal application as well as by intratesticular application of lidocaine 1 %. The parameters used were serum cortisol and chromogranin A (CgA) concentrations as well as wound healing, body weight and animal losses. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 2 substudies, a total of 232 male piglets aged 3-6 days were included. Substudy 1 (112 piglets): Group H: fixation of piglets as for an injection; group L5: inguinal and scrotal injection of lidocaine 5 %; group P2: inguinal and scrotal injection of procaine 2 %; group L1: intratesticular injection of lidocaine 1 %. In all the groups, blood samples were taken 45 minutes before and 30 minutes post-injection (p. i.). Substudy 2 (120 piglets): Group H: handling only as for an injection and castration; group K: handling as for an injection and castration without LA after 30 minutes. Groups L5, P2 and L1: management as in substudy 1 and castration after 30 minutes. Blood samples were taken 75 minutes before as well as 30, 60 and 240 minutes post-castration (p. c.). The evaluated parameters were serum cortisol and CgA concentrations, wound healing, body weight and piglet losses. RESULTS: Substudy 1: The elevation of the cortisol and CgA concentrations in group P2 p. i. were significantly higher than in the other groups. The mean total cortisol concentration of group P2 p. i. was significantly higher than those of the other groups. Substudy 2: At 30 minutes p. c., all the groups displayed a significant increase in the cortisol concentration compared to group H. In group P2, the highest total cortisol concentration was measured 60 minutes p. c. and the elevation of the cortisol level was significantly higher than in the other groups. In group L1, a significantly greater increase in the CgA level was observed at 60 minutes p. c. when compared to the other groups. Regarding wound healing, body weight and losses, there were no significant differences between the groups. CONCLUSION: The combined inguinal and scrotal injection of procaine 2 % induced a greater neuroendocrine stress response than the inguinal and scrotal injection of lidocaine 5 % and the intratesticular injection of lidocaine 1 %. LA using procaine 2 %, lidocaine 5 % or lidocaine 1 % did not completely eliminate pain during castration. Castration under LA with procaine 2 % induced a greater pain reaction than castration without LA. Both groups castrated with LA using lidocaine (L1, L5) tended to display lower pain responses after castration than group K. On the basis of the findings of this study, other local anaesthetics that have a stronger effect could be further investigated according to their pain-killing effects in an appropriate application route.

Expression of the high-affinity fluoropyrimidine-preferring nucleoside transporter hCNT1 correlates with decreased disease-free survival in breast cancer.

PURPOSE: Nucleoside and nucleobase derivatives are currently used in the treatment of a variety of solid tumors; however, the role of plasma membrane transporters as biomarkers of drug metabolism has not been fully addressed. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine whether the concentrative nucleoside transporter hCNT1 is a predictive marker of therapeutic response. METHODS: We studied a cohort of 90 breast cancer patients who were treated with cyclophosphamide-methotrexate-5-fluorouracil after surgery and then monitored for up to 108 months. hCNT1 and enzymes associated with nucleotide metabolism (thymidine phosphorylase, dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase and thymidylate synthase) were assessed immunohistochemically in tissue samples. RESULTS: Human CNT1 presence was mostly cytoplasmic, with some nuclear staining. The percentage of hCNT1-positive cells correlated positively with the expression of thymidine phosphorylase and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase. Nuclear staining correlated negatively with decreased disease-free survival, whereas the percentage of hCNT1-positive cells correlated positively with reduced long-term survival, with the hCNT1-positive index (>80%) being indicative of poor prognosis. A relative risk of relapse was associated with high hCNT1-positive indexes, whereas when this parameter was combined with the nodal status (positive), a high risk of relapse was found, suggesting that both parameters may reflect a poor prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the expression of the high-affinity concentrative nucleoside transporter hCNT1 has a prognostic value in determining disease-free survival and risk of relapse in breast cancer patients undergoing surgery followed by cyclophosphamide-methotrexate-5-fluorouracil chemotherapy.