Using Hypnosis to Enhance Learning Second Language Vocabulary.

In this article, we measure the effects of hypnosis and suggestions for learning second language vocabulary. Participants (N = 70) were randomly assigned to a hypnosis or a control group. They were pre-tested, and then presented 21 Spanish words, post-tested immediately and 1 week later. The data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance with group (experimental versus control) as the between-subjects factor, and time as the within-subjects factor. The experimental group performed significantly better in both tests. Our results indicate that hypnosis is beneficial for second language vocabulary learning and retrieval.

Endothelial dysfunction in peritoneal dialysis patients with and without failed renal transplants.

BACKGROUND: Endothelial dysfunction (ED) is a common, early abnormality that predisposes patients to develop atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events; inflammation is associated with atherosclerosis and malnutrition. Patients with failed transplants are usually complicated by inflammation; however, ED in this group of patients has not been well defined. In this cross-sectional study, we sought to investigate ED among naïve peritoneal dialysis (nPD) patients who were never transplanted as well as patients with failed renal transplants who were re-starting peritoneal dialysis (fTxPD). METHODS: Twenty-five nPD patients (15 female/10 males; mean age, 44 +/- 11 years), and 12 fTxPD patients (4 males; mean age, 37 +/- 10 years) were included in the study. Coronary flow reserve (CFR) measurements were used to evaluate ED. Serum creatinine, calcium, phosphorus, total cholesterol, albumin, hemoglobin, and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) were measured. Also, highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels and weekly Kt/V were determined as possible confounding factors. Results were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: There were no significant differences regarding age, gender, mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures, or smoking status. Mean duration on PD, peritoneal transport characteristics, PD modality and doses, frequency of peritonitis episodes, as well as serum creatinine, calcium, phosphorus, total cholesterol, albumin, hemoglobin and iPTH levels were similar between the 2 groups. Weekly Kt/V of both groups were similar as well. However, hs-CRP levels were significantly higher (34 +/- 52 vs 6.7 +/- 7.5 mg/L; P = .017) and CFR significantly lower among patients with fTxPD compared with nPD patients (1.52 +/- 0.20 vs 1.91 +/- 0.53; P = .022). CONCLUSION: ED was more prominent among patients with failed transplants than nPD cases, suggesting that the failed allograft may be responsible for this abnormality.

Relationship between chest expansion and respiratory muscle strength in patients with primary fibromyalgia.

In this paper the assessment of the relationship between chest expansion with maximal inspiratory (MIP) and expiratory pressures (MEP) in primary fibromyalgia (FM) syndrome is discussed. Chest expansion (CE) measurements, spirometric values, and MIP and MEP values in 30 female patients with primary FM are compared with 29 healthy age-matched female controls. Patients with FM had lower CE, MEP and MIP values than controls. CE correlated significantly with MIP and MEP values. There was no significant difference between groups in spirometric values. Our results indicate that patients with FM have impaired respiratory muscle strength, and measurement of CE may be a useful clinical parameter. Despite its limitations CE may reflect respiratory muscle strength. It is worth following up these data in a wider and controlled series, with ancillary tests in addition to the MIP and MEP.

Aspirin impairs antioxidant system and causes peroxidation in human erythrocytes and guinea pig myocardial tissue.

This study aims to investigate possible effects of aspirin treatment on cellular oxidant/antioxidant system. In the first part of the study, 15 guinea pigs were given aspirin at three different doses (2200, 440 and 10 mg/kg/day) for 30 days and five were fed on the same diet without aspirin. After a month, animals were killed and their hearts were removed for use in analyses. In the other part, after fasting blood samples were obtained from 11 volunteer subjects, they were given aspirin (approximately 10 mg/kg/day) for 30 days and second blood samples were obtained after 1 month. Five volunteer subjects also participated as placebo control. Oxidant/antioxidant parameters, namely superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), nonenzymatic superoxide scavenger activity (NSSA), susceptibility to oxidation (SO) and antioxidant potential (AOP) values, were assayed in the samples. Antioxidant system was found to be impaired in the heart tissue from guinea pigs and in the erythrocytes from volunteer subjects. AOP and NSSA values were lower and MDA higher after aspirin treatment in both heart tissues and erythrocytes. In guinea pig heart tissue, SO was lower, but GSH-Px and CAT were unchanged after aspirin treatment. In human erythrocytes, SO was unchanged, but GSH-Px and CAT activities were increased after aspirin treatment. Changes in guinea pig heart tissues from animals treated with higher aspirin doses were more drastic relative to those of human erythrocytes, but no meaningful differences were observed between analysis parameters of control and lower-dose (10 mg/kg/day) aspirin-treated animals. Our results suggest that high-dose aspirin exerts significant toxicity to guinea pig myocardium and normal dose aspirin may cause peroxidation in the human erythrocytes due to its oxidant potential. We suppose that antioxidant supplementation may be beneficial for the people using aspirin for longer periods in order to prevent peroxidation damages.

Lumbar and femoral bone mineral density in type 2 Turkish diabetic patients.

The relationship between type 2 diabetes and osteoporosis has not been well established. We studied a population composed of 161 post-menopausal women with type 2 diabetes and a control group. We examined bone mineral density with the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry(DXA) technique at the lumbar and femoral regions and in a subgroup of patients, we also measured the levels of markers of bone remodelling. We found significantly higher levels of bone mineral density at the lumbar and femoral levels in the diabetic subjects compared with the control group. Moreover, we found higher level of urinary calcium in the controls. On the basis of these results, we suggest that osteoporosis cannot be considered a complication of type 2 diabetes.

Relation between grip strength and hand bone mineral density in healthy women aged 30-70.

AIM OF STUDY: To determine the site-specific relationship between grip strength and hand bone mineral density (BMD) measured with dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in healthy women. The correlation of hand BMD and BMD at axial sites has also been assessed. METHOD: Twenty-nine healthy housewives, aged 30-70, were included in the study. Women were grouped according to their menopausal status (12 premenopausal and 17 postmenopausal). Grip strength of the dominant hand was measured using a Jamar dynamometer. BMD of the antero-posterior spine, femoral neck, trochanter, and Ward's triangle were measured with DXA. For the hand BMD measurements, the analysis software, which was modified from the software of small animals and developed for hand BMD measurements, was used. RESULTS: Hand BMD moderately correlated with grip strength in postmenopausal women. There was no significant correlation between grip strength and hand BMD in premenopausal women. Significant positive correlations were determined between the hand BMD and BMD at axial sites. CONCLUSION: Grip strength may be an independent indicator of hand BMD in postmenopausal women, and also a site-specific relationship. Hand BMD measurements may indirectly reflect the BMD of axial sites especially in postmenopausal women.

Oxidant/antioxidant status of the erythrocytes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

It has been suggested that enzymatic and/or non-enzymatic antioxidant systems are impaired in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and hence patients are exposed to oxidant stress. This study aimed to establish whether this is really the case. Fasting blood samples were obtained from 24 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 20 controls. The activities of erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and xanthine oxidase (XO) enzymes and malondialdehyde (MDA), oxidant resistant (OR) and non-enzymatic superoxide radical scavenger activity (NSSA) values were measured in both groups. Patients with RA had higher SOD and XO activities and MDA levels than did the controls. However, NSSA and OR levels were found to be decreased, and CAT and GSH-Px activities unchanged in the study group. Results suggest that excessive free radical production through the xanthine-xanthine oxidase system is the primary factor in rheumatoid arthritis, rather than an impaired antioxidant system. The therapeutic use of XO enzyme inhibitors and some antioxidants can be beneficial in this regard.

Oxidant/antioxidant status of plasma samples from patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

This study aims to elucidate plasma oxidant/antioxidant status in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Fasting blood samples were obtained from 24 patients with RA and 20 control subjects. Antioxidant potential (AOP) value, nonenzymatic superoxide radical scavenger activity (NSSA), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured to establish plasma oxidant/antioxidant status in the patient and control groups. Patients with RA had lower AOP and NSSA but higher MDA levels than those of the control subjects, which was an indication of reduced antioxidant capacity and oxidant stress in these patients. Results suggest that the antioxidant system is impaired and peroxidation reactions are accelerated in patients with RA. We suppose that therapeutic use of some antioxidants may be beneficial in this regard.