Beneficial dose-independent influence of Camellia sinensis supplementation on lipid profile, glycemia, and insulin resistance in an NaCl-induced hypertensive rat model.

Green tea extract exerts favorable influence on the lipid profile and insulin resistance in the high-sodium intake arterial hypertension. A high-sodium diet (HSD) was introduced to thirty Wistar rats to create a model of hypertension. Rats were randomized into three groups, 10 animals each. The SK group consumed HSD. The SH2 group consumed HSD with 2 g of green tea extract in kg of diet. The SH4 group was fed HSD with 4 g of green tea extract in kg of diet. After six-week trial blood samples were collected. The serum concentrations of glucose, insulin and lipids were estimated, and insulin sensitivity was calculated using homeostatic model assessment (HOMA). Neither the high-sodium diet nor supplementation with green tea extract had any significant influence on the body mass of the animals in either group. Total cholesterol (TCH) and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) cholesterol serum concentrations were significantly smaller in both supplemented groups than in the SK group. The insulin level in the SH2 rats and HOMA in SH2 and SH4 groups were found to be significantly smaller than in the SK group. There were no differences in glucose concentrations between groups. Within the whole population, statistically significant positive correlations between HOMA and LDL, TCH were found. We conclude that in NaCl-induced hypertensive Wistar rats, supplementation with green tea extract produced a dose-independent beneficial and parallel effect on the lipid profile and insulin resistance.

Alcohol consumption and risk of urothelial cell bladder cancer in the European prospective investigation into cancer and nutrition cohort.

Findings on the association between alcohol consumption and bladder cancer are inconsistent. We investigated that association in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition cohort. We included 476,160 individuals mostly aged 35-70 years, enrolled in ten countries and followed for 13.9 years on average. Hazard ratios (HR) for developing urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC; 1,802 incident cases) were calculated using Cox proportional hazards models. Alcohol consumption at baseline and over the life course was analyzed, as well as different types of beverages (beer, wine, spirits). Baseline alcohol intake was associated with a statistically nonsignificant increased risk of UCC (HR 1.03; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.00-1.06 for each additional 12 g/day). HR in smokers was 1.04 (95% CI 1.01-1.07). Men reporting high baseline intakes of alcohol (>96 g/day) had an increased risk of UCC (HR 1.57; 95% CI 1.03-2.40) compared to those reporting moderate intakes (<6 g/day), but no dose-response relationship emerged. In men, an increased risk of aggressive forms of UCC was observed even at lower doses (>6 to 24 g/day). Average lifelong alcohol intake was not associated with the risk of UCC, however intakes of spirits > 24 g/day were associated with an increased risk of UCC in men (1.38; 95% CI 1.01-1.91) and smokers (1.39; 95% CI 1.01-1.92), compared to moderate intakes. We found no association between alcohol and UCC in women and never smokers. In conclusion, we observed some associations between alcohol and UCC in men and in smokers, possibly because of residual confounding by tobacco smoking.

Two-stage automated measurement process for high-resolution 3D digitization of unknown objects.

In this paper, a process for high-resolution, automated 3D digitization of unknown objects (i.e., without any digital model) is presented. The process has two stages-the first leads to a coarse 3D digital model of the object, and the second obtains the final model. A rough model, acquired by a 3D measurement head with a large working volume and relatively low resolution, is used to calculate the precise head positions required for the full digitization of the object, as well as collision detection and avoidance. We show that this approach is much more efficient than digitization with only a precise head, when its positions for subsequent measurements (so-called next-best-views) must be calculated based only on a partially recovered 3D model of the object. We also show how using a rough object representation for collision detection shortens the high-resolution digitization process.

Fruit and vegetable consumption in relation to hepatocellular carcinoma in a multi-centre, European cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Vegetable and/or fruit intakes in association with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk have been investigated in case-control studies conducted in specific European countries and cohort studies conducted in Asia, with inconclusive results. No multi-centre European cohort has investigated the indicated associations. METHODS: In 486,799 men/women from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and nutrition, we identified 201 HCC cases after 11 years median follow-up. We calculated adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for HCC incidence for sex-specific quintiles and per 100 g d(-1) increments of vegetable/fruit intakes. RESULTS: Higher vegetable intake was associated with a statistically significant, monotonic reduction of HCC risk: HR (100 g d(-1) increment): 0.83; 95% CI: 0.71-0.98. This association was consistent in sensitivity analyses with no apparent heterogeneity across strata of HCC risk factors. Fruit intake was not associated with HCC incidence: HR (100 g d(-1) increment): 1.01; 95% CI: 0.92-1.11. CONCLUSIONS: Vegetable, but not fruit, intake is associated with lower HCC risk with no evidence for heterogeneity of this association in strata of important HCC risk factors. Mechanistic studies should clarify pathways underlying this association. Given that HCC prognosis is poor and that vegetables are practically universally accessible, our results may be important, especially for those at high risk for the disease.

Plasma methionine, choline, betaine, and dimethylglycine in relation to colorectal cancer risk in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC).

BACKGROUND: Disturbances in one carbon metabolism may contribute to carcinogenesis by affecting methylation and synthesis of DNA. Choline and its oxidation product betaine are involved in this metabolism and can serve as alternative methyl group donors when folate status is low. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a case-control study nested within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC), to investigate plasma concentrations of the methyl donors methionine, choline, betaine (trimethylglycine), and dimethylglycine (DMG) in relation to colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. Our study included 1367 incident CRC cases (965 colon and 402 rectum) and 2323 controls matched by gender, age group, and study center. Multivariate-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for CRC risk were estimated by conditional logistic regression, comparing the fifth to the first quintile of plasma concentrations. RESULTS: Overall, methionine (OR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.63-0.99, P-trend = 0.05), choline (OR: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.60-0.99, P-trend = 0.07), and betaine (OR: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.66-1.09, P-trend = 0.06) concentrations were inversely associated with CRC risk of borderline significance. In participants with folate concentration below the median of 11.3 nmol/l, high betaine concentration was associated with reduced CRC risk (OR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.50-1.00, P-trend = 0.02), which was not observed for those having a higher folate status. Among women, but not men, high choline concentration was associated with decreased CRC risk (OR: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.43-0.88, P-trend = 0.01). Plasma DMG was not associated with CRC risk. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with high plasma concentrations of methionine, choline, and betaine may be at reduced risk of CRC.

Children's thoughts on the social exclusion of peers with intellectual or learning disabilities.

BACKGROUND: Previous research has shown that children with intellectual or learning disabilities are at risk for social exclusion by their peers but little is known of children's views on this topic. In this study, we used concept mapping to investigate elementary school children's thoughts on why they believe their peers with intellectual or learning disabilities are sometimes socially excluded at school. METHOD: Participants were 49 grade five and six children who attended inclusive classrooms. Interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed. We extracted 49 unique statements from the transcribed data, and then invited participants to sort the statements into meaningful categories. RESULTS: Sorted data were entered into matrices, which were summed and analysed with multi-dimensional scaling and cluster analysis. A four-cluster solution provided the best conceptual fit for the data. Clusters reflected themes on (1) the thoughts and actions of other children; (2) differences in learning ability and resource allocation; (3) affect, physical characteristics and schooling; and (4) negative thoughts and behaviours. CONCLUSIONS: The overarching reason for social exclusion focused on differences between children with and without disabilities. This study also provided evidence that children are effective, reliable and competent participants in concept mapping. Educational and research implications are discussed.

Photoreceptor topography and cone-specific electroretinograms.

It is implicit in many cone-specific ERG studies that the amplitude is proportional to the numbers of cones stimulated. The objective of these experiments was to test this idea by comparing ERGs obtained from different areas of the retina with histological data on cone-density distributions. The histology (Curcio et al., 1990) shows that the cumulative number of cones in the human retina increases exponentially with stimulus diameter between 0- and 40-deg eccentricity. L-, M-, and (L+M) cone-driven 30-Hz ERGs were obtained from a series of stimuli with one of the following configurations: (1) Circular stimuli of different angular subtense up to 70-deg diameter. (2) Annuli with 70-deg outer diameter but variable inner diameter. (3) Annuli of constant area but increasing eccentricity. Cone contrasts were equalized for each stimulus condition. The modulated and nonmodulated regions of the screen had the same mean hue and luminance. The data suggest that the L+M cone ERG amplitude increases with stimulus diameter in direct proportion to the estimated number of cones stimulated. Furthermore, the total L+M responses appear to be predicted from individual L and M responses by simple linear summation for both the disc and annular stimuli.

Reactivity of mono-meso-substituted iron(II) octaethylporphyrin complexes with hydrogen peroxide in the absence of dioxygen. Evidence for nucleophilic attack on the heme.

Treatment of the mono-meso-substituted iron(II) octaethylporphyrin complexes, (py)2Fe(II)(meso-NO2-OEP), (py)2Fe(II)(meso-CN-OEP), (py)2Fe(II)(meso-HC(O)-OEP), (py)2Fe(II)(meso-Cl-OEP), (py)2Fe(II)(meso-OMe-OEP), (py)2Fe(II)(meso-Ph-OEP), and (py)2Fe(II)(meso-n-Bu-OEP), with hydrogen peroxide in pyridine-d5 at -30 degrees C in the strict absence of dioxygen has been monitored by 1H NMR spectroscopy. The product oxophlorin complexes are stable as long as the samples are protected from exposure to dioxygen. Hydrogen peroxide reacts cleanly with mono-meso-substituted iron(II) porphyrins in pyridine solution under an inert atmosphere to form mixtures of three possible oxygenation products, (py)2Fe(cis-meso-R-OEPO), (py)2Fe(trans-meso-R-OEPO), and (py)2Fe(OEPO). The yields of (py)2Fe(OEPO), which results from replacement of the unique meso substituent, as a function of the identity of the meso substituent decrease in the order NO2 > HC(O) approximately equal to CN approximately equal to Cl > OMe > Ph, Bu, which suggests that the species responsible for attack on the porphyrin periphery is nucleophilic in nature. A mechanism involving isoporphyrin formation through attack of hydroxide ion on a cationic iron porphyrin with an oxidized porphyrin ring is suggested. The identity of the unique meso functionality also affects the regiospecificity of substitution when the unique meso group is retained. Although random attack at the two different meso sites is expected to yield a cis/trans product ratio of 2, the observed ratios vary in the following order: cyano, 5.0; n-butyl, 4.9; chloro, 3.2; formyl, 2.6; methoxy, 1.9; phenyl 1.4.

[Neurological picture and selected diagnostic indices of vitamin b12 malabsorption syndrome]. / Obraz neurologiczny oraz niektóre wskazniki diagnostyczne w zespole uposledzonego wchlaniania witaminy B12.

Funicular myelosis is considered to be the main neurological syndrome in vitamin B12 deficiency. However, many authors tend to think that sensory neuropathy is the most common neurological manifestation of vitamin B12 deficiency. The aim of this paper was to assess neurological condition of patients with vitamin B12 malabsorption. The absorption of vitamin B-12 was assessed by Schilling's test. Patients with abnormal results of this test underwent neurological and medical examinations as well as series of accessory investigations. 16 cases of deficient vitamin B12 absorption accompanied by neurological symptoms were presented. The results of the investigation showed that the most common clinical manifestation of vitamin B12 deficiency was sensory neuropathy. In over 93% of described cases pathologic changes in gastric mucous membrane were found.

[Ischaemic heart disease and chronic helicobacter pylori infection--present views]. / Choroba niedokrwienna serca a przewlekle zakazenie Helicobacter pylori--aktualne poglady.

In connexion with the high prevalence of coronary heart disease its additional reasons are searched, which could lead to the occurrence and development of the disease. Chronic infections have been lately recognized as an additional reason. In the article we presented opinions regarding the influence of long-lasting Helicobacter pylori infection on the development of inflammation process, atheromatous changes, initiation and development of ischaemic heart disease.

Palladium (II) complexes of oxybenziporphyrin.

8,19-Dimethyl-9,13,14,18-tetraethyloxybenziporphyrin coordinates palladium(II) to form the four-coordinate anionic complex [(OBP)Pd(II)](-). The NMR data provide evidence for the retention of macrocyclic aromaticity and coordination via a carbon sigma-donor. Protonation of the external oxygen atom to give [(HOBP)Pd(II)] switches the molecule to a less aromatic phenol-like state, which is manifested by a significant reduction of the macrocyclic ring current. [(AcOBP)Pd(II)] and [(TsOBP)Pd(II)], two ester derivatives of [(OBP)Pd(II)](-), are similar to the protonated species, and their benzenoid character is more pronounced. However, reaction of [(OBP)Pd(II)](-) with methyl iodide leads to selective methylation of the coordinating C(22) atom to form a novel organopalladium complex (OBPMe)Pd(II). The strong shielding of the inner Me(22) (delta((1)H) -2.00 ppm in CDCl(3)) indicates that the aromaticity of the macrocycle has been retained. At the same time the (13)C chemical shift of C(22) (44 ppm) shows that the palladium-bound carbon has undergone a drastic hybridization change. Alkylation with n-BuI yields a mixture of the O-substituted [(n-BuOBP)Pd(II)] and the C-substituted [(OBP-n-Bu)Pd(II)], which confirms the ambident nucleophilicity of [(OBP)Pd(II)](-). DFT calculations carried out for six tautomers of oxybenziporphyrin and the 22-methylated palladium species provide further insight into the electronic structure of the ligand and its complexes. Relative energies of the tautomers, increasing in the order [CH,NH,N,NH,O] < [CH,N,NH,N,OH] < [CH(2),N,NH,N,O] < [CH(2),N,N,N,OH], have been used to estimate the accessibility of four limiting delocalization modes postulated for oxybenziporphyrin and its derivatives. The state of macrocyclic aromaticity observed experimentally in the free base and the phenolic aromaticity of the O-protonated tautomer are the most favorable, and the latter has its energy higher by only 13 kcal/mol. The peculiar bonding situation in (OBPMe)Pd(II), which can be inferred from the NMR data, is also predicted by the DFT methods, which show a strongly distorted tetrahedral environment of C(22).

Tetraphenylbenziporphyrin--a ligand for organometallic chemistry.

6,11,16,21-Tetraphenylbenziporphyrin (TPBPH)H, an analogue of tetraphenylporphyrin with one of the pyrrole groups replaced by a benzene ring, is formed in good yield in the condensation of the appropriate precursor with pyrrole and benzaldehyde. (TPBPH)H gives organometallic complexes with palladium(II) and platinum(II), [(TPBP)PdII] and [(TPBP)PtII], in which the metal ion is bound in the macrocyclic cavity by three pyrrolic nitrogen atoms and a carbon atom of the benzene ring. In the reaction with silver(I) acetate benziporphyrin does not yield a stable complex but undergoes selective acetoxylation at the internal carbon atom. (TPBPH)H is reversibly reduced to 6-benziphlorin and reacts with a water or methanol molecule to give 6-hydroxy- or 6-methoxy-6-benziphlorin, respectively.

[Chronobiologic aspects of therapy for cardiovascular diseases]. / Chronobiologiczne aspekty terapii chorób ukladu krazenia.

A chronobiological considerations of time-dependent incidents of cardiovascular diseases including triggering mechanisms and their role in chronotherapy are presented in the article. Circadian and seasonal variation has been demonstrated especially in myocardial infarction, stable and unstable angina pectoris, sudden cardiac death and stroke. Chronopharmacological considerations of therapy of coronary heart disease and hypertension are also reviewed.

Application of 2-halopyridinium salts as ultraviolet derivatization reagents and solid-phase extraction for determination of captopril in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the determination of captopril in human plasma. 1-Benzyl-2-chloropyridinium bromide (BCPB) was used as a precolumn derivatizing reagent. The mercapto group of captopril was arylated by the reagent to generate a stable UV-sensitive product. The derivative was solid-phase extracted (SPE), separated on a C18 column using reversed-phase ion-paring chromatography and monitored by a spectrophotometric detector at 314 nm. The method enabled sensitive determination of captopril and its disulphides in human plasma in patients after oral administration. Disulphides of captopril with captopril itself and with endogenous thiol compounds are reduced with triphenylphosphine to form captopril, followed by derivatization with the same reagent. The quantification limit was 10 ng/ml. Calibration curves were prepared for human plasma samples spiked with captopril and captopril disulphide. The calibration curves were linear in the range of 10 to 500 ng/ml for captopril and 10 to 1000 ng/ml for captopril disulphide.

Does combined single intravenous injection of doxorubicin and verapamil have any influence on hemodynamic parameters in rabbits?

The hemodynamic effects of a single intravenous injection of doxorubicin (DXR) in a dose of 3 mg/kg, verapamil (Vp) in a dose of 0.2 mg/kg and combined administration of the same doses of both drugs in rabbits were investigated. Cardiac output (CO), stroke volume (SV), heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and total peripheral resistance (TPR) were estimated before and repeated in the 1st, 15th, 30th, 45th, 60th, 90th and 120th minute after injection of the drugs. It was found that administration of Vp after DXR or DXR after Vp produced significant decrease of MAP. However, no significant changes of CO, SV, HR and TPR in rabbits treated with DXR and Vp were noted. Rhythm disturbances occurred in animals receiving DXR or DXR with Vp. The obtained results indicate the need for further experimental studies before the introduction of combined treatment with DXR and Vp to cancer patients.

Effect of doxorubicin and verapamil on circulatory system in rabbits.

The cardiovascular effect of a single intravenous dose of doxorubicin (DXR) given to the rabbits pretreated intravenously for 3 weeks with DXR, verapamil (Vp) or both drugs was investigated. It was found that cardiac index and stroke index were higher in the rabbits pretreated with DXR plus Vp than with DXR alone. Mean arterial blood pressure was lower in each group of animals. However, total peripheral resistance was reduced significantly in both groups of rabbits pretreated with Vp. DXR produced a significant decrease of the heart rate and dangerous arrhythmias in rabbits pretreated with both drugs. Histologically degenerative changes in nuclei but less in myofibrils were observed in this group of animals.

Chronobiologic evaluation of angiotensin-converting enzyme activity in serum and lung tissue from normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity in serum and lung tissue from both normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) was determined at six different circadian times. In WKY rats serum ACE varied significantly within 24 h, mainly due to reduced enzyme activity at 12:00 h. In SHR the 24-h profile of serum ACE did not exhibit time-dependent differences. Mean serum ACE activity over 24 h was significantly higher in WKY than in SHR. In lung tissue ACE activity did not depend on the circadian time in either strain. Mean enzyme activity in lung tissue was not different between WKY and SHR. We conclude that circadian changes in the activity of serum and tissue ACE are unlikely to play an important role in the regulation of the circadian blood pressure profile in both normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Stilbestrol as a factor modifying the toxicity of Ekatin for the Pharaoh quail (Coturnix coturnix Pharaoh). I. Young birds.

1. The noted fall of the erythrocyte count, haemoglobin and haematocrit levels after stilbestrol indicate that this hormone disturbs erythropoiesis, probably by depressing the maturation of erythroid cells in the bone marrow. 2. The reaction of the erythrocyte system of birds intoxicated with Ekatin indicates that this pesticide has a haemolytic influence on the morphotic elements of the blood. 3. Estrogenisation enhances the action of Ekatin on the erythrocyte system by as it seems increasing the susceptibility of the red blood cells to the haemolytic action of this pesticide. 4. The high heterophilic leucocytosis in birds receiving stilbestrol is evidence that this hormone causes by an increased release of corticoids, hyperplasia of the granulopoietic tissue in the bone marrow and depresses the marrow barrier for heterophils. 5. Changes in the leucocyte system of quails intoxicated with Ekatin indicate a stressogenic action of this poison. 6. The reaction of the latter system to Ekatin administered after estrogenisation seems to be an indication that stilbestrol reduces the susceptibility of the quails to the stressogenic action of the pesticide.

ATP citrate lyase in cholinergic nerve endings.

The activity of ATP-citrate lyase in homogenates of five selected rat brain regions varied from 2.93 to 6.90 nmol/min/mg of protein in the following order: cerebellum less than hippocampus less than parietal cortex less than striatum less than medulla oblongata and that of the choline acetyltransferase from 0.15 to 2.08 nmol/min/mg of protein in cerebellum less than parietal cortex less than hippocampus = medulla oblongata less than striatum. No substantial differences were found in regional activities of lactate dehydrogenase, pyruvate dehydrogenase, citrate synthase or acetyl-CoA synthase. High values of relative specific activities for both choline acetyltransferase and ATP-citrate lyase were found in synaptosomal and synaptoplasmic fractions from regions with a high content of cholinergic nerve endings. There are significant correlations between these two enzyme activities in general cytocol (S3), synaptosomal (B) and synaptoplasmic (Bs) fractions from the different regions (r = 0.92-0.99). These data indicate that activity of ATP-citrate lyase in cholinergic neurons is several times higher than that present in glial and noncholinergic neuronal cells.