Catalase in testes and epididymidis of wistar rats fed zinc deficient diet

Catalase activities have been evaluated in testes and caput and cauda epididymis of Wistar rats fed on zinc deficient diet for 2 and 4 weeks. The enzyme activity has been measured as chromic acetate formed by heating of dichromate (in acetic acid) in presence of H₂ O₂ with perchromic acid as an unstable intermediate. Observed non-significant increase in catalase activity in testes as well as in caput and cauda epididymis of 2 weeks experiments has been related to low levels of H₂ O₂ produced in two organs whereas significant (P<0.01/0.001) increase in catalase activity in 4-weeks experiments indicate for increased oxidative stress due to phagocytotic activity of Sertoli cells in testes and damaged spermatozoa in epididymis. Thus, zinc deficiency increases catalase activity in testes and epididymis.

In vitro phagocytic activity of milk neutrophils during lactation cycle in Murrah buffaloes of different parity

Milk samples were collected from 34 lactating Murrah buffaloes on days 0, 5, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240, 270 and day 300 after calving. Milk somatic cell counts (SCC) were highest in multiparous buffaloes. Milk SCC were significantly lower in buffaloes of third and fourth parity during early lactation and than increased significantly (p < 0.01) by the end of lactation. Milk neutrophils were significantly lower in all the buffaloes during early lactation, but increased significantly (p < 0.01) afterwards. Milk lymphocytes were significantly higher during early lactation, but decreased significantly (p < 0.01) by the end of lactation. Phagocytic activity (PA) was highest in day 1 colostrum and then decreased significantly (p < 0.01) by the fourth milking in buffaloes of second, third and fourth parity. Phagocytic index (PI) was also highest in colostrums of primiparous buffaloes. Irrespective of parity, maximum PA and PI was observed during mid lactation. In terms of in vitro phagocytic activity, early lactation is the most critical period followed by late and mid lactation.

Diverse patterns of myocardial fibrosis in lifelong, veteran endurance athletes

This study examined the cardiac structure and function of a unique cohort of documented lifelong, competitive endurance veteran athletes (>50 yr). Twelve lifelong veteran male endurance athletes [mean ± SD (range) age: 56 ± 6 yr (50-67)], 20 age-matched veteran controls [60 ± 5 yr; (52-69)], and 17 younger male endurance athletes [31 ± 5 yr (26-40)] without significant comorbidities underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging to assess cardiac morphology and function, as well as CMR imaging with late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) to assess myocardial fibrosis. Lifelong veteran athletes had smaller left (LV) and right ventricular (RV) end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes (P < 0.05), but maintained LV and RV systolic function compared with young athletes. However, veteran athletes had a significantly larger absolute and indexed LV and RV end-diastolic and systolic volumes, intraventricular septum thickness during diastole, posterior wall thickness during diastole, and LV and RV stroke volumes (P < 0.05), together with significantly reduced LV and RV ejection fractions (P < 0.05), compared with veteran controls. In six (50%) of the veteran athletes, LGE of CMR indicated the presence of myocardial fibrosis (4 veteran athletes with LGE of nonspecific cause, 1 probable previous myocarditis, and 1 probable previous silent myocardial infarction). There was no LGE in the age-matched veteran controls or young athletes. The prevalence of LGE in veteran athletes was not associated with age, height, weight, or body surface area (P > 0.05), but was significantly associated with the number of years spent training (P < 0.001), number of competitive marathons (P < 0.001), and ultraendurance (>50 miles) marathons (P < 0.007) completed. An unexpectedly high prevalence of myocardial fibrosis (50%) was observed in healthy, asymptomatic, lifelong veteran male athletes, compared with zero cases in age-matched veteran controls and young athletes. These data suggest a link between lifelong endurance exercise and myocardial fibrosis that requires further investigation.

Bioconversion of acrylonitrile to acrylamide using polyacrylamide entrapped cells of Rhodococcus rhodochrous PA-34

The nitrile hydratase (NHase) of Rhodococcus rhodochrous PA-34 catalyzed the conversion of acrylonitrile to acrylamide. The resting cells (having NHase activity) (8 %; 1 mL corresponds to 22 mg dry cell mass, DCM) were immobilized in polyacrylamide gel containing 12.5 % acrylamide, 0.6 % bisacrylamide, 0.2 % diammonium persulfate and 0.4 % TEMED. The polyacrylamide entrapped cells (1.12 mg DCM/mL) completely converted acrylonitrile in 3 h at 10 °C, using 0.1 mol/L potassium phosphate buffer. In a partitioned fed batch reactor, 432 g/L acrylamide was accumulated after 1 d. The polyacrylamide discs were recycled up to 3×; 405, 210 and 170 g/L acrylamide was produced in 1st, 2nd and 3rd recycling reactions. In four cycles, a total of 1217 g acrylamide was produced by recycling the same mass of entrapped cells.

Biological markers of cardiac damage are not related to measures of cardiac systolic and diastolic function using cardiovascular magnetic resonance and echocardiography after an acute bout of prolonged endurance exercise

OBJECTIVES

Seventeen male participants (mean (SD) (range): age 33.5 (6.5) years (46-26 years), body mass 80 (9.2) kg (100-63 kg), height 1.81 (0.06) m (1.93- 1.70 m)) ran a marathon to investigate the relationship between systolic function (using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)) and diastolic function (using echocardiography) against biomarkers of cardiac damage.

METHODS

Echocardiographic and cardiac troponin I (cTnI)/N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) data were collected 24 h premarathon, immediately postmarathon and 6 h postmarathon. CMR data were collected 24 h premarathon and at 6 h postmarathon.

RESULTS

Body mass was significantly reduced postmarathon (80 (9.2) vs 78.8 (8.6) kg; p<0.001). There was a significant E/A reduction postmarathon (1.11 (0.34) vs 1.72 (0.44); p<0.05) that remained depressed 6 h postmarathon (1.49 (0.43); p<0.05). CMR demonstrated left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes were reduced postmarathon, with a preserved stroke volume. Left ventricular ejection fraction 6 h postmarathon significantly increased (64.4% (4.2%) vs 67.4% (5%); p<0.05). There were significant elevations in cTnI (0.00 vs 0.04 (0.03) μg/l; p<0.05) and NTproBNP (37.4 (24.15) ng/l vs 59.34 (43.3) ng/l; p<0.05) immediately postmarathon. Eight runners had cTnI elevations immediately postmarathon above acute myocardial infarction cutoff levels (≥0.03 μg/l). No correlations between cTnI/NTproBNP and measures of diastolic function (E, A, E/A, isovolumic relaxation time, E deceleration time and E/E') or measures of systolic function (stroke volume or ejection fraction) were observed immediately postmarathon or 6 h postmarathon.

CONCLUSIONS

Biomarkers of cardiac damage after prolonged exercise are not associated with either systolic or diastolic functional measures.

Assessing the value of atomoxetine in treating children and adolescents with ADHD in the UK

BACKGROUND

Economic evaluation of healthcare technologies is becoming increasingly relevant, enabling decision makers to assess and compare treatments within the context of costs and outcomes. Moreover, it is increasingly important for clinicians and prescribers to have some understanding of economic evaluation. For attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), economic evaluations have largely focused on pharmacotherapy, and results indicate that such treatments are cost-effective compared with other interventions.

AIMS

This review provides an overview of ADHD, its consequences and pharmacotherapy; describes the principles of health economic analysis, health-related quality of life (HRQL) and a cost-effectiveness model of atomoxetine for ADHD treatment; and outlines guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence on ADHD pharmacotherapy.

METHODS

The cost-effectiveness of atomoxetine for children with ADHD in the UK was compared with treatment alternatives using an economic model with Markov processes. The model evaluated atomoxetine in five patient subgroups according to treatment history and comorbidities precluding stimulants. Incremental cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) was calculated and compared between treatment algorithms. The Markov process incorporated 18 health states, representing a range of outcomes across the treatments. Utility values were derived from a survey of 83 parents of children with ADHD, and treatment efficacy and safety were based on a review of controlled clinical trials and literature, and validated by international experts. Costs and outcomes were estimated using Monte Carlo simulation over 1-year.

RESULTS

Atomoxetine was a cost-effective treatment across the whole ADHD population, with incremental cost-effectiveness ratios ranging from pound 11,500 to pound 15,900 per QALY, compared with alternative pharmacotherapies, which are within UK and rest of Europe acceptability limits. Higher utility values achieved treating ADHD with atomoxetine, compensate for the relatively higher acquisition cost compared with stimulants.

CONCLUSIONS

Atomoxetine is cost-effective and may have advantages over stimulants, including benefits to HRQL and no abuse liability and is the only treatment in the UK licensed for continued treatment into adulthood in adolescents who have shown a response from treatment.

Purification of a hyperactive nitrile hydratase from resting cells of Rhodococcus rhodochrous PA-34

A propionitrile-induced nitrile hydratase (NHase), a promising biocatalyst for synthesis of organic amides has been purified from cell-free extract of Rhodococcus rhodochrous PA-34. About 11-fold purification of NHase was achieved with 52% yield. The SDS-PAGE of the purified enzyme revealed that it consisted of two subunits of 25.04 kD and 30.6 kD. However, the molecular weight of holoenzyme was speculated to be 86 kD by native-PAGE. This NHase exhibited maximum activity at pH 8.0 and temperature 40°C. Half-life was 2 h at 40°C and 0.5 h at 50°C. The Km and Vmax were 167 mM and 250 μmole/min/mg using 25 mM 3-cyanopyridine as substrate. AgNO(3), Pb(CH(3)COO)(2) and HgCl(2) inhibited the NHase to extent of 89-100%.