Relationship of cardiac remodeling and perfusion alteration with hepatic lipid metabolism in a prediabetic high fat high sucrose diet female rat model

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is known to be linked with metabolic associated fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes, but few studies assessed this relationship in prediabetes, especially among women, who are at greater risk of CVD. We aimed to evaluate cardiac alterations and its relationship with hepatic lipid metabolism in prediabetic female rats submitted to high-fat-high-sucrose diet (HFS).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Wistar female rats were divided into 2 groups fed for 5 months with standard or HFS diet. We analyzed cardiac morphology, function, perfusion and fibrosis by Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Hepatic lipid contents along with inflammation and lipid metabolism gene expression were assessed. Five months of HFS diet induced glucose intolerance (p < 0.05), cardiac remodeling characterized by increased left-ventricular volume, wall thickness and mass (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found in left-ventricular ejection fraction and cardiac fibrosis but increased myocardial perfusion (p < 0.01) and reduced cardiac index (p < 0.05) were shown. HFS diet induced hepatic lipid accumulation with increased total lipid mass (p < 0.001) and triglyceride contents (p < 0.05), but also increased mitochondrial (CPT1a, MCAD; (p < 0.001; p < 0.05) and peroxisomal (ACO, LCAD; (p < 0.05; p < 0.001) β-oxidation gene expression. Myocardial wall thickness and perfusion were correlated with hepatic β-oxidation genes expression. Furthermore, myocardial perfusion was also correlated with hepatic lipid content and glucose intolerance.

CONCLUSION

This study brings new insights on the relationship between cardiac sub-clinical alterations and hepatic metabolism in female prediabetic rats. Further studies are warranted to explore its involvement in the higher CVD risk observed among prediabetic women.

[Effects on extravascular lung water of lung protective ventilation strategy applied on piglets with acute respiratory distress syndrome induced by paraquat]

Objective: To study the effects on extravascular lung water of lung protective ventilation strategy applying on piglets with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) induced by paraquat (PQ) under pulse indicating continuous cardiac output (PiCCO) monitoring. Methods: The piglets models with ARDS induced by PQ were established in June 2020 and all of them were received mechanical ventilation and divided into three groups according to tidal volume (V(T)) : small V(T) group (6 ml/kg) , middle V(T) group (10 ml/kg) and large V(T) group (15 ml/kg) , there were 5 piglets in each group. The positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) were all setup on 10 cmH(2)O. The indexes such as arterial blood gas analysis, oxygenation index (OI) , extravascular lung water index (ELWI) and pulmonary vascular permeability index (PVPI) were monitored at time of before the model was established (baseline) , time of the model was established (t(0)) and 2 h (t(2)) , 4 h (t(4)) , 6 h (t(6)) after mechanical ventilation. Lung tissue were punctured at time of baseline, t(0) and t(6) to be stained by Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and pulmonary pathology were observed under light microscopy. Results: The heart rate (HR) , mean arterial pressure (MAP) and partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO(2)) of all groups were higher than the base value while the pH values, partial pressure of oxygen (PaO(2)) and OI were lower than the base value when the models were established (P<0.05) . After mechanical ventilation, the HR and MAP values of all groups at t(2), t(4) and t(6) were lower than t(0) while the PaCO(2) of t(4) and t(6) were all higher than t(0), the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05) . The PaO(2) and OI of all groups showed a trend of rising at first and then decreasing after mechanical ventilation. The MAP, PaO(2), PaCO(2) and OI of the middle V(T) group and large V(T) group were apparently lower than that of the small V(T) group at t(2), t(4) and t(6) (P<0.05) . The ELWI and PVPI at t(0) of all groups were higher than that of baseline (P<0.05) . The ELWI of the small V(T) group at t(6) were lower than t(0) of the same group and t(6) of the middle V(T) group and large V(T) group (P<0.05) . HE staining showed congestion and edema of alveolar tissue, swelling of capillaries, exudation of red blood cells and widening of alveolar septum in piglets after successful modeling. And further widening of alveolar septum and rupture of alveolar septum could be seen in the lung tissues of each group at t(6), and the injury was the slightest in the small V(T) group. Conclusion: The lung protective ventilation strategy can alleviate the extravascular lung water and ARDS induced by PQ and improve oxygenation.

Male and Female Rats Have Different Physiological Response to High-Fat High-Sucrose Diet but Similar Myocardial Sensitivity to Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

Prediabetes is a strong predictor of type 2 diabetes and its associated cardiovascular complications, but few studies explore sexual dimorphism in this context. Here, we aim to determine whether sex influences physiological response to high-fat high-sucrose diet (HFS) and myocardial tolerance to ischemia-reperfusion injury. Male and female Wistar rats were subjected to standard (CTRL) or HFS diet for 5 months. Then, ex-vivo experiments on isolated perfused heart model were performed to evaluate tolerance to ischemia-reperfusion injury. HFS diet induced fasting hyperglycemia and increased body fat percent to a similar level in both sexes. However, glucose intolerance was more pronounced in female HFS. Cholesterol was increased only in female while male displayed higher level of plasmatic leptin. We observed increased heart weight to tibia length ratio only in males, but we showed a similar decrease in tolerance to ischemia-reperfusion injury in female and male HFS compared with respective controls, characterized by impaired cardiac function, energy metabolism and coronary flow during reperfusion. In conclusion, as soon as glucose intolerance and hyperglycemia develop, we observe higher sensitivity of hearts to ischemia-reperfusion injury without difference between males and females.

Influence of the Internet of Things management system on hand hygiene compliance in an emergency intensive care unit

BACKGROUND

Hand hygiene is a critical strategy for infection prevention in all healthcare settings. Automated electronic monitoring systems are expected to improve hand hygiene performance.

AIM

To investigate the impact of the Internet of Things (IoT) management system on hand hygiene compliance among medical staff in an emergency intensive care unit (EICU).

METHODS

This retrospective observational study was conducted between July 1^st, 2017 and February 28^th, 2018 in a 19-bed EICU. The changes in hand hygiene compliance among 54 members of medical staff and the incidence of hospital infections were compared, counted, and analysed before and after implementing the IoT management system in the EICU that was initiated on November 1^st, 2017.

FINDINGS

After the application of the IoT management system, the hand hygiene compliance rates among the members of the medical staff before (29.5% (3347/11,338) vs 57.9% (4690/8094), P < 0.001) and after (59.9% (9915/16,556) vs 73.8% (17,194/23 286), P < 0.001) the contact with patients and surrounding environment significantly improved. However, hand hygiene compliance among three cleaning staff did not significantly improve after the application. Moreover, there was no significant difference in healthcare-acquired infection rates (2.535% (9/355) vs 2.047% (7/342), P = 0.667) nor in the detection rates of the four major multidrug-resistant bacteria in the EICU before and after the application of the IoT management system (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The IoT management system significantly improved hand hygiene compliance among medical staff, except cleaners, in the EICU of one provincial hospital; however, the rates of nosocomial infection did not significantly decrease. The quality of hand hygiene implementation needs to be improved.

Evaluation of Diffusional Kurtosis Imaging in Sub-acute Ischemic Stroke: Comparison with Rehabilitation Treatment Effect

Stroke is a serious worldwide medical condition that causes neurological function disability. Diffusional kurtosis imaging, which measures the non-Gaussianity of water diffusion, has been demonstrated to be a sensitive biomarker in many neuro-pathologies. This study explores the relationship between neural function recovery and transformation of the ischemic lesion and/or corticospinal tract during the sub-acute phase after stroke by using diffusional kurtosis imaging. We performed a prospective study of function recovery and K metrics of 43 patients with sub-acute ischemic stroke in the middle cerebral artery territory. The effect of rehabilitation treatment was evaluated using both the Fugl-Meyer motor function score and modified Barthel index score at post-treatment compared with admission, and patients were allocated to two groups: good and poor rehabilitation effect (GRE and PRE). Metrics of diffusional kurtosis imaging within ischemic lesion and along the corticospinal tract were acquired, respectively. All three relative axial diffusional kurtoses (rKas) along the corticospinal tract in the GRE group ( n = 21) were significantly larger than those of the PRE group ( n = 22), including rKa in the posterior limb of internal capsule, rKa in the cerebral peduncle, and rKa in the basal part of the pons ( p = 0.014, 0.005, and 0.021, respectively). This multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging study showed that diffusional kurtosis imaging has the potential to complement existing stroke imaging techniques and revealed its own advantages in elucidating the possible biophysical mechanism of functional restoration underlying ischemic stroke.

Stromal cell ratio based on automated image analysis as a predictor for platinum-resistant recurrent ovarian cancer

Background

Identifying high-risk patients for platinum resistance is critical for improving clinical management of ovarian cancer. We aimed to use automated image analysis of hematoxylin & eosin (H&E) stained sections to identify the association between microenvironmental composition and platinum-resistant recurrent ovarian cancer.

Methods

Ninety-one patients with ovarian cancer containing the data of automated image analysis for H&E histological sections were initially reviewed.

Results

Seventy-one patients with recurrent disease were finally identified. Among 30 patients with high stromal cell ratio, 60% of the patients had platinum-resistant recurrence, which was significantly higher than the rate in patients with low stromal cell ratio (9.80%, P <  0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed elevated CA125 level after 3 cycles of chemotherapy (P <  0.001) and high stromal cell ratio (P = 0.002) were the negative predictors of platinum-resistant relapse. The area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves of the models for predicting platinum-resistant recurrence with stromal cell ratio, normalization of CA125 level, and the combination of two parameters were 0.78, 0.79, and 0.89 respectively.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrated stromal cell ratio based on automated image analysis may be a potential predictor for ovarian cancer patients at high risk of platinum-resistant recurrence, and it could improve the predictive value of model when combined with normalization of CA125 level after 3 cycles of chemotherapy.

Pediatric Donor to Adult Recipients in Donation After Cardiac Death Liver Transplantation: A Single-Center Experience

BACKGROUND

The impact of using liver allografts from donors who are younger than 14 years at the time of donation after cardiac death (DCD) liver transplantation in terms of early allograft dysfunction (EAD) and graft survival is undefined. To determine if adults undergoing DCD liver transplantation who receive a graft from a donor age younger than or equal to 13 years have similar outcomes to recipients of organs from older than 18-year-old donors.

METHODS

Records from adult patients undergoing DCD liver transplantation between March 2012 and December 2015 who received whole grafts from donors after cardiac death were reviewed. Patients with donors younger than or equal to 13 years (group 1) and older than 18 years (group 2) were compared for EAD rates, hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT), and graft survival.

RESULTS

Records of 60 DCD liver transplantation patients were analyzed. The 90-day and 1-year graft survival rate of both groups was 90% versus 96% (P = .427) and 80% versus 84% (P = .668), respectively. The EAD rates of groups 1 and 2 were 30% versus 34% (P = .806). The incidence of HAT was 20% in group 1 compared with 12% in group 2 (P = .610). Also, 0.7% < graft to recipient weight ratio (GRWR) <0.8% was also usable for pediatric donor to adult recipients.

CONCLUSIONS

Whole liver grafts from donors younger than or equal to 13 years can potentially be used in selected size-matched (GRWR >0.7%) DCD adult recipients.

Exercise training impacts exercise tolerance and bioenergetics in gastrocnemius muscle of non-obese type-2 diabetic Goto-Kakizaki rat in vivo

The functional and bioenergetics impact of regular physical activity upon type-2 diabetic skeletal muscle independently of confounding factors of overweight remains undocumented. Here, gastrocnemius muscle energy fluxes, mitochondrial capacity and mechanical performance were assessed noninvasively and longitudinally in non-obese diabetic Goto-Kakizaki rats using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and dynamic 31-phosphorus MR spectroscopy (³¹P-MRS) throughout a 6-min fatiguing bout of exercise performed before, in the middle (4-week) and at the end of an 8-week training protocol consisting in 60-min daily run on a treadmill. The training protocol reduced plasmatic insulin level (-61%) whereas blood glucose and non-esterified fatty acids levels remained unaffected, thereby indicating an improvement of insulin sensitivity. It also increased muscle mitochondrial citrate synthase activity (+45%) but this increase did not enhance oxidative ATP synthesis capacity in working muscle in vivo while glycolytic ATP production was increased (+33%). On the other hand, the training protocol impaired maximal force-generating capacity (-9%), total amount of force produced (-12%) and increased ATP cost of contraction (+32%) during the fatiguing exercise. Importantly, these deleterious effects were transiently worsened in the middle of the 8-week period, in association with reduced oxidative capacity and increased basal [P_i]/[PCr] ratio (an in vivo biomarker of muscle damage). These data demonstrate that the beneficial effect of regular training on insulin sensitivity in non-obese diabetic rat occurs separately from any improvement in muscle mitochondrial function and might be linked to an increased capacity for metabolizing glucose through anaerobic process in exercising muscle.

Clinical experience with a single-nucleotide polymorphism-based non-invasive prenatal test for five clinically significant microdeletions

Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) can currently predict a subset of submicroscopic abnormalities associated with severe clinical manifestations. We retrospectively analyzed the performance of SNP-based NIPT in 80 449 referrals for 22q11.2 deletion syndrome and 42 326 referrals for 1p36, cri-du-chat, Prader-Willi, and Angelman microdeletion syndromes over a 1-year period, and compared the original screening protocol with a revision that reflexively sequenced high-risk calls at a higher depth of read. The prevalence of these microdeletion syndromes was also estimated in the referral population. The positive predictive value of the original test was 15.7% for 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, and 5.2% for the other 4 disorders combined. With the revised protocol, these values increased to 44.2% for 22q11.2 and 31.7% for the others. The 0.33% false-positive rate (FPR) for 22q11.2 deletion syndrome decreased to 0.07% with the revised protocol. Similarly, the FPR for the other 4 disorders combined decreased from 0.56% to 0.07%. Minimal prevalences were estimated to be 1 in 1255 for 22q11.2 deletion syndrome and 1 in 1464 for 1p36, cri-du-chat, and Angelman syndromes combined. Our results show that these microdeletions are relatively common in the referral population, and that the performance of SNP-based NIPT is improved with high-depth resequencing.

Cancer-FOXP3 directly activated CCL5 to recruit FOXP3+Treg cells in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Forkheadbox protein 3 (FOXP3), initially identified as a key transcription factor for regulatory T cells (Treg cells), was also expressed in many tumors including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, its role in PDAC progression remains elusive. In this study, we utilized 120 PDAC tissues after radical resection to detect cancer-FOXP3 and Treg cells by immunohistochemistry and evaluated clinical and pathological features of these patients. Cancer-FOXP3 was positively correlated with Treg cells accumulation in tumor tissues derived from PDAC patients. In addition, high cancer-FOXP3 expression was associated with increased tumor volumes and poor prognosis in PDAC especially combined with high levels of Treg cells. Overexpression of cancer-FOXP3 promoted the tumor growth in immunocompetent syngeneic mice but not in immunocompromised or Treg cell-depleted mice. Furthermore, CCL5 was directly trans-activated by cancer-FOXP3 and promoted the recruitment of Treg cells from peripheral blood to the tumor site in vitro and in vivo. This finding has been further reinforced by the evidence that Treg cells recruitment by cancer-FOXP3 was impaired by neutralization of CCL5, thereby inhibiting the growth of PDAC. In conclusion, cancer-FOXP3 serves as a prognostic biomarker and a crucial determinant of immunosuppressive microenvironment via recruiting Treg cells by directly trans-activating CCL5. Therefore, cancer-FOXP3 could be used to select patients with better response to CCL5/CCR5 blockade immunotherapy.

Reduced up-regulation of the nitric oxide pathway and impaired endothelial and smooth muscle functions in the female type 2 diabetic goto-kakizaki rat heart

Background

Type 2 diabetes is associated with greater relative risk of cardiovascular diseases in women than in men, which is not well understood. Consequently, we have investigated if male and female displayed differences in cardiac function, energy metabolism, and endothelial function which could contribute to increased cardiovascular complications in type 2 diabetic female.

Methods

Male and female Control and type 2 diabetic Goto-Kakizaki (GK) isolated rat hearts were perfused during 28 min with a physiological buffer before freeze-clamping for biochemical assays. High energy phosphate compounds and intracellular pH were followed using ³¹P magnetic resonance spectroscopy with simultaneous measurement of contractile function. Nitric oxide (NO) pathway and endothelium-dependent and independent vasodilatations were measured as indexes of endothelial function. Results were analyzed via two-way ANOVA, p < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

Results

Myocardial function was impaired in male and female diabetic versus Control groups (p < 0.05) without modification of energy metabolism. Coronary flow was decreased in both diabetic versus Control groups but to a higher extent in female GK versus male GK rat hearts (p < 0.05). NO production was up-regulated in diabetic groups but to a less extent in female GK rat hearts (p < 0.05). Endothelium-dependent and independent vasodilatations were impaired in female GK rat compared with male GK (p < 0.05) and female Control (p < 0.05) rat hearts.

Conclusions

We reported here an endothelial damage characterized by a reduced up-regulation of the NO pathway and impaired endothelial and smooth muscle functions, and coronary flow rates in the female GK rat hearts while energy metabolism was normal. Whether these results are related to the higher risk of cardiovascular complications among type 2 diabetic female needs to be further elicited in the future.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12986-016-0157-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Continuous plasma filtration adsorption in treatment of severe infection-induced multiple organ dysfunction syndrome

Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), a high-risk disease, has a fatality rate of 70%. To improve treatment of this disease, in recent years many scholars have explored the pathological and physiological changes of MODS. To observe the curative effect of continuous plasma filtration adsorption (CPFA) in the treatment of MODS, we selected 96 patients who were diagnosed with severe infection-induced MODS and were treated in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University between February 2012 and October 2014 and divided them into an observation group and a control group. Besides conventional treatment, the observation group was also given CFPA in combination with high volume hemofiltration (HVHF), while the control group only received HVHF. Changes of blood routine index, balance of electrolyte and acid-base as well as vital signs were observed before and after treatment. Also, blood, kidney and blood gas were examined. For all patients, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were recorded at the start of treatment (0 h), and 5 h and 10 h after treatment. It was found that both therapies could lower blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine levels and maintain balance of electrolyte and acid-base, but had no obvious influence on leukocyte, blood platelet and hematocrit. In the observation group, PaO(2)/FiO(2) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were significantly improved after surgery (P less than 0.05), while Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score had an obvious decrease (P less than 0.05). In contrast, the control group was observed with insignificantly changed PaO(2)/FiO(2), MAP and APACHE II score (P>0.05). TNF-α, IL-6 and CRP levels of the two groups had no statistically significant difference at the start of treatment (P>0.05), but TNF-α, IL-6 and CRP levels of the observation group became remarkably lower than those of the control group 5 h and 10 h after treatment (P less than 0.05). Therefore, CPFA is proved to be safe and effective in treating patients with severe infection-induced MODS as it can lower the level of proinflammatory cytokines and improve the level of anti-inflammatory cytokines; thus, it is worthy of clinical promotion.

Abstract P6-03-03: The Q-CROC-3 project reveals novel genomic alterations in triple negative breast cancers in residual tumors after neoadjuvant chemotherapy

The prognosis of triple negative breast cancer that shows resistance and/or incomplete response to cytotoxic chemotherapy is poor. In order to understand the mechanisms of resistance to chemotherapy and the genomic evolution of TNBCs treated with chemotherapy, an international multi-center biopsy-driven clinical trial was created for the collection and study of drug-resistant primary and metastatic freshly frozen tumors (Q-CROC-03: NCT01276899). We consented 60 patients with operable TNBC undergoing neoadjuvant Anthracycline/Taxane-based chemotherapy for pre and post-treatment biopsies as well as collection of residual tumor at the time of surgery and serial blood sampling. In 12-15 patients, adequate residual tumor material was available for genomic studies, which included whole exome sequencing, array CGH, gene expression microarray profiling and RNAseq of paired tumors. Whole exome sequencing revealed clonal shifts as well as the relatively infrequent appearance of novel mutations in individual tumors, without any recurrently detected variants. Array CGH revealed a remarkable stability in the number of DNA copy number alterations with a few functional alterations enriched for in the residual tumor, including an amplicon involving the NFIB gene. Finally, gene expression profiling showed shifts towards the immune-modulatory and basal TNBC subtypes after chemotherapy as well as an increase in the expression of several targetable genes, including DUSP1, a dual specificity phosphatase. In the 4 cases of primary and matching metastatic tumors, the post-NAC residual tumor had acquired changes many of which persisted in the metastatic sites, indicating that the analysis of the residual tumors can provide a partial picture of genomic changes present in metastases but not in the primary tumor. In summary, the genomic characterization of residual post-NAC tumor tissue provides important information for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for drug-resistant TNBCs as well as a portrait of genomic evolution of TNBCs subjected to chemotherapy.

Citation Format: Basik M, Aguilar-Mahecha A, Lafleur J, Bareke E, Przybytkowski E, Alirezaie N, Discepola F, Légaré S, Kovacina B, Lan C, Mihalcioiu CL, Robidoux A, Marcus E, Roy J-A, Pelmus M, Aleynikova O, Nabavi S, Tonellato P, Majewski J. The Q-CROC-3 project reveals novel genomic alterations in triple negative breast cancers in residual tumors after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-03-03.

Dietary docosahexaenoic acid-enriched glycerophospholipids exert cardioprotective effects in ouabain-treated rats via physiological and metabolic changes

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) might prevent heart failure or optimise drug treatments by improving cardiac contraction. We investigated whether DHA-enriched avian glycerophospholipids (GPL-DHA) exert cardioprotection in ouabain-treated rats after 4 weeks of dietary supplementation with 10, 35 or 60 mg DHA per kg body weight versus none (DHA10, DHA35, DHA60 and control groups, respectively). The contractile responsiveness to different doses of ouabain (10(-7) to 10(-4) M), ouabain intoxication (at 3 × 10(-4) M), and relative variations in cardiac energy metabolism were determined using (31)P NMR in isolated perfused rat hearts. The fatty acid composition of cardiac membranes was analysed by gas chromatography. DHA accretion in the heart was dose-dependent (+8%, +30% and +45% for DHA10, DHA35 and DHA60, respectively). The cardiac phosphocreatine content significantly increased at the baseline in DHA35 (+45%) and DHA60 groups (+85%), and at the different doses of ouabain in the DHA60 group (+73% to 98%). The maximum positive inotropy achieved at 10(-4) M ouabain was significantly increased in all DHA groups versus control (+150%, +122.5% and +135% for DHA10, DHA35 and DHA60, respectively), and ouabain intoxication was delayed. The increase in myocardial phosphocreatine content and the improved efficacy of ouabain on myocardial contraction without toxicity suggest the potential of GPL-DHA as a dietary supplement or ingredient for functional food, and possibly as a co-treatment with digitalis drugs in humans.

Insulin Resistance Is Not Associated with an Impaired Mitochondrial Function in Contracting Gastrocnemius Muscle of Goto-Kakizaki Diabetic Rats In Vivo

Insulin resistance, altered lipid metabolism and mitochondrial dysfunction in skeletal muscle would play a major role in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) development, but the causal relationships between these events remain conflicting. To clarify this issue, gastrocnemius muscle function and energetics were investigated throughout a multidisciplinary approach combining in vivo and in vitro measurements in Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats, a non-obese T2DM model developing peripheral insulin resistant without abnormal level of plasma non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA). Wistar rats were used as controls. Mechanical performance and energy metabolism were assessed strictly non-invasively using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and 31-phosphorus MR spectroscopy (31P-MRS). Compared with control group, plasma insulin and glucose were respectively lower and higher in GK rats, but plasma NEFA level was normal. In resting GK muscle, phosphocreatine content was reduced whereas glucose content and intracellular pH were both higher. However, there were not differences between both groups for basal oxidative ATP synthesis rate, citrate synthase activity, and intramyocellular contents for lipids, glycogen, ATP and ADP (an important in vivo mitochondrial regulator). During a standardized fatiguing protocol (6 min of maximal repeated isometric contractions electrically induced at a frequency of 1.7 Hz), mechanical performance and glycolytic ATP production rate were reduced in diabetic animals whereas oxidative ATP production rate, maximal mitochondrial capacity and ATP cost of contraction were not changed. These findings provide in vivo evidence that insulin resistance is not caused by an impairment of mitochondrial function in this diabetic model.

Effect of isoproterenol on myocardial perfusion, function, energy metabolism and nitric oxide pathway in the rat heart - a longitudinal MR study

The chronic administration of the β-adrenoreceptor agonist isoproterenol (IsoP) is used in animals to study the mechanisms of cardiac hypertrophy and failure associated with a sustained increase in circulating catecholamines. Time-dependent changes in myocardial blood flow (MBF), morphological and functional parameters were assessed in rats in vivo using multimodal cardiac MRI. Energy metabolism, oxidative stress and the nitric oxide (NO) pathway were evaluated in isolated perfused rat hearts following 7 days of treatment. Male Wistar rats were infused for 7 days with IsoP or vehicle using osmotic pumps. Cine-MRI and arterial spin labeling were used to determine left ventricular morphology, function and MBF at days 1, 2 and 7 after pump implantation. Isolated hearts were then perfused, and high-energy phosphate compounds and intracellular pH were followed using ³¹P MRS with simultaneous measurement of contractile function. Total creatine and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. The NO pathway was evaluated by NO synthase isoform expression and total nitrate concentration (NO(x)). In IsoP-treated rats, left ventricular mass was increased at day 1 and maintained. Wall thickness was increased with a peak at day 2 and a tendency to return to baseline values at day 7. MBF was markedly increased at day 1 and returned to normal values between days 1 and 2. The rate-pressure product and phosphocreatine/adenosine triphosphate ratio in perfused hearts were reduced. MDA, endothelial NO synthase expression and NO(x) were increased. Sustained high cardiac function and normal MBF after 24 h of IsoP infusion indicate imbalance between functional demand and blood flow, leading to morphological changes. After 1 week, cardiac hypertrophy and decreased function were associated with impaired phosphocreatine, increased oxidative stress and up-regulation of the NO pathway. These results provide supplemental information on the evolution of the different contributing factors leading to morphological and functional changes in this model of cardiac hypertrophy and failure.

Cardiac rehabilitation in a pediatric patient with heart retransplantation. A single case study

BACKGROUND

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) after heart transplantation is known to benefit physical capacity in adults, but the advantages of CR on pediatric patients with heart retransplantation remain undetermined.

AIM

The purpose of the present study was to report the effect of structured CR for a boy receiving heart transplantations twice.

DESIGN

Single case study.

SETTING

Inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation department.

POPULATION

A pediatric patient underwent heart transplantation due to dilated cardiomyopathy at 13.6 year-old and retransplantation owing to severe cardiac allograft vasculopathy at 16.2 year-old.

METHODS

CR was arranged after both transplantations. Bicycle or treadmill exercises were conducted three times weekly with the intensity adjusted to the ventilatory threshold. Serial cardiopulmonary exercise tests were performed to evaluate the sequential cardiorespiratory function changes using the peak oxygen uptake (VO₂peak) as the primary outcome.

RESULTS

The patient had undergone 10 times of exercise tests during rehabilitation. The VO₂peak increased from 12.27 to 15.63 mL·kg-1·min-1 within 6 months after the primary transplantation. However, the VO₂peak dropped intensively after a rejection episode and failed to improve since the development of cardiac allograft vasculopathy. Following retransplantation, the VO₂peak appeared worse initially but increased gradually with rehabilitation. One year subsequent to retransplantation, the VO₂peak reached 17.7 mL·kg-1·min-1 with a 7.22 mL·kg-1·min-1 improvement compared with his baseline value.

CONCLUSION

Structured CR improves aerobic capacity of a pediatric patient with heart retransplantation.

CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT

CR is safe and beneficial for pediatrics with heart retransplantation. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing can be considered as an adjuvant tool for detecting rejection or cardiac allograft vasculopathy in pediatric heart transplantation recipients.

The effect of early cardiac rehabilitation on health-related quality of life among heart transplant recipients and patients with coronary artery bypass graft surgery

PURPOSE

To investigate the effect of an early postoperative outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program to health-related quality of life among heart transplantation recipients (HTR) and patients with coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

METHODS

The study included 45 clinically stable HTR (age: 47 ± 14 years; 36 men, 9 women) and 34 patients with CABG (age: 57.2 ± 12.5 years; 27 men, 7 women). HTR started rehabilitation 70 ± 33 days after transplantation; patients with CABG started training 36 ± 18 days after surgery. Patients participated in a 12-week supervised exercise training program three times per week. Each training session comprised 10 minutes of warm-up, 25 to 30 minutes of cycling or treadmill walking, and 10 minutes of cooldown. The exercise intensity was set at 50% to 80% of peak oxygen uptake (V̇O(2peak)) according to the patient's condition. The health-related quality of life of subjects was evaluated by the Medical Outcomes Trust 36-item health survey (SF-36) at baseline and upon the completion of rehabilitation.

RESULTS

At baseline, the HTR group showed lower V̇O(2peak) than the CABG group, but the health-related quality of life was similar between the two groups. After training, both groups exhibited an increase of 3.6 mL·kg(-1)·min(-1) in V̇O(2peak) and improvement of physical component in health-related quality of life. The HTR group showed a significant increase of SF-36 scores in physical functioning (59.7 ± 18.9 to 77.0 ± 14.0), physical role (21.1 ± 34.1 to 38.3 ± 37.9), bodily pain (57.4 ± 24.3 to 73.6 ± 21.5), social functioning (63.6 ± 23.4 to 72.8 ± 22.1), emotional role (59.2 ± 43.7 to 76.3 ± 37.4), and mental health (67.1 ± 17.9 to 73.4 ± 14.6). The CABG group only exhibited increased scores in physical functioning (60.0 ± 22.9 to 73.4 ± 18.0), physical role (19.1 ± 24.9 to 27.9 ± 38.3), bodily pain (57.1 ± 20.0 to 70.3 ± 16.1), and social functioning (54.0 ± 21.3 to 69.9 ± 21.1).

CONCLUSIONS

Early postoperative cardiac rehabilitation significantly improved physical capacity and quality of life among heart transplant recipients and patients with CABG. Additionally, HTR showed greater improvement in health-related quality of life than patients with CABG regardless of lower physical capacity.

Upregulation of eNOS and unchanged energy metabolism in increased susceptibility of the aging type 2 diabetic GK rat heart to ischemic injury

We investigated the tolerance of the insulin-resistant diabetic heart to ischemic injury in the male Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rat, a model of type 2 diabetes. Changes in energy metabolism, nitric oxide (NO) pathway, and cardiac function were assessed in the presence of physiological substrates. Age-matched control Wistar (n = 19) and GK (n = 18) isolated rat hearts were perfused with 0.4 mM palmitate, 3% albumin, 11 mM glucose, 3 U/l insulin, 0.2 mM pyruvate, and 0.8 mM lactate for 24 min before switching to 1.2 mM palmitate (11 rats/group) during 32 min low-flow (0.5 ml·min(-1)·g wet wt(-1)) ischemia. Next, flow was restored with 0.4 mM palmitate buffer for 32 min. A subset of hearts from each group (n = 8 for control and n = 7 for GK groups) were freeze-clamped for determining baseline values after the initial perfusion of 24 min. ATP, phosphocreatine (PCr), and intracellular pH (pH(i)) were followed using (31)P magnetic resonance spectroscopy with simultaneous measurement of contractile function. The NO pathway was determined by nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoform expression and total nitrate concentration (NOx) in hearts. We found that coronary flow was 26% lower (P < 0.05) during baseline conditions and 61% lower (P < 0.05) during reperfusion in GK vs. control rat hearts. Rate pressure product was lower during reperfusion in GK vs. control rat hearts (P < 0.05). ATP, PCr, and pH(i) during ischemia-reperfusion were similar in both groups. Endothelial NOS expression was increased in GK rat hearts during baseline conditions (P < 0.05). NOx was increased during baseline conditions (P < 0.05) and after reperfusion (P < 0.05) in GK rat hearts. We report increased susceptibility of type 2 diabetic GK rat heart to ischemic injury that is not associated with impaired energy metabolism. Reduced coronary flow, upregulation of eNOS expression, and increased total NOx levels confirm NO pathway modifications in this model, presumably related to increased oxidative stress. Modifications in the NO pathway may play a major role in ischemia-reperfusion injury of the type 2 diabetic GK rat heart.

Expression of the three nitric oxide synthase isoforms and nitric oxide level in the rat heart during cold storage and blood reperfusion

Maintenance of nitric oxide (NO) homeostasis is an important concept for myocardial protection. Here, we have investigated the NO pathway by analysing total nitrate concentration (NOx) and NO synthase (NOS) isoforms expression as well as the myocardial integrity by lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase contents in the rat heart graft arrested by CRMBM solution, submitted to 3 hr cold ischemia in the same solution and 24 hr blood reperfusion following heterotopic abdominal heart transplantation. NOx level was similar to baseline value after ischemia and significantly increased after 24 hr reperfusion. NOS isoforms expression was highly modulated after cold ischemia followed by blood reperfusion. Endothelial NOS expression was decreased after ischemia but restored after 24 hr reperfusion. Neuronal NOS expression was drastically decreased after ischemia and 24 hr reperfusion. Inducible NOS protein was present only after 24 hr reperfusion. Cold ischemia induced a severe loss of creatine kinase without any modification after blood reperfusion. In conclusion, we show here that CRMBM solution did not increase NO production during ischemia but induced an enhanced synthesis of NO during reperfusion which may be related to restoration of endothelial NOS expression and/or induction of inducible NOS expression.

A multicenter phase II study of pemetrexed (P), cisplatin (C), and bevacizumab (B) in patients (pts) with advanced malignant mesothelioma (MM)

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Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a key growth factor for MM. In pre-clinical models, anti-VEGF antibodies inhibit MM proliferation. Standard chemotherapy for MM, pemetrexed + cisplatin, yields a response rate of 41%, progression-free survival (PFS) of 5.7 months (mo) and median overall survival (OS) of 12.1 mo. We added the anti-VEGF antibody B to PC in an ongoing phase II multi-center study in MM pts. Methods: Eligible pts have unresectable, histologically-confirmed MM, no prior chemotherapy, and PS 0–1. Pts receive C 75 mg/m2, P 500 mg/m2 and B 15 mg/kg Q21 days for 6 cycles, then B Q21 days until progression. CT scans are obtained Q 2 cycles. Primary endpoint: Progression-fere survival (PFS). Correlative studies include IHC for the VEGF/KDR complex and PCR for simian virus 40 (sv40) T antigen. Results: 43 pts enrolled at 4 centers from 3/06 to 12/08; currently, 34 are evaluable for PFS and 36 for toxicity. Pt characteristics: male 88%; median age 66 (range 24–81); histology: epithelial 62%, sarcomatoid 15%, biphasic 20%, unknown 3%; site of origin: pleural 85%, peritoneal 12%, tunica vaginalis 3%; PS 0 32%, PS 1 68%; thrombocytosis (>400) 32%. Cycles administered 229 (median 4, range 1–18). Grade 3/4 toxicity (%pts): neutropenia 8%; anemia 0%; thrombocytopenia 3%; thrombosis 11%; hypertension 8%; vomiting 8%; mucositis 6%; CVA 3%; proteinuria 0%; perforation 0%. Partial response: 41%, stable disease: 35%. Median PFS: 5.6 mo (95% CI: 4.1, 7.2). Median OS 11.5 mo (95% CI: 9.4, 24). Conclusions: These data suggest that the addition of B to PC does not improve PFS when compared with historical controls of PC in advanced MM pts. Correlative studies evaluating the VEGF/KDR complex and sv40 T antigen are pending.

[Table: see text]

Limitation of myocardial and endothelial injury of the rat heart graft after preservation with Centre de Résonance Magnétique Biologique et Médicale (CRMB) solution

Myocardial injury caused by prolonged storage compromises post-transplantation contractile performance and induces endothelial injury. The aim of this study was to compare a solution developed in our laboratory [Centre de Résonance Magnétique Biologique et Médicale (CRMBM) solution] with a widely used solution (Celsior, Genzyme, Saint Germain en Laye, France). Metabolic and contractile parameters as well as indexes of endothelial injury were measured in a heterotopic rat heart transplantation model with a 3-h ischaemia and a 1-h reperfusion. The two solutions were randomly used for cardioplegia and graft preservation in six experiments each. During reperfusion, developed pressure and rate pressure product were higher with CRMBM compared with Celsior (P = 0.0002 and P = 0.0135, respectively). Phosphocreatine and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) concentrations after reperfusion were significantly higher with CRMBM (P = 0.0069 and P = 0.0053, respectively). Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) protein expression were decreased to the same extent after reperfusion compared with baseline with CRMBM (P = 0.0001 and P < 0.0001, respectively) and Celsior (P = 0.0007 and P < 0.0001, respectively). Total nitrate concentration (NOx) was significantly increased after reperfusion with CRMBM (P < 0.0001 versus baseline and P < 0.0001 versus Celsior). Na,K-ATPase activity was decreased in both groups versus baseline after reperfusion (P < 0.0001 for CRMBM and P < 0.0001 for Celsior). We showed limitation of both myocardial and endothelial damage with CRMBM compared with Celsior during heterotopic rat heart transplantation in vivo.

Gene expression profiling reveals the profound upregulation of hypoxia-responsive genes in primary human astrocytes

Oxygen is vital for the development and survival of mammals. In response to hypoxia, the brain initiates numerous adaptive responses at the organ level as well as at the molecular and cellular levels, including the alteration of gene expression. Astrocytes play critical roles in the proper functioning of the brain; thus the manner in which astrocytes respond to hypoxia is likely important in determining the outcome of brain hypoxia. Here, we used microarray gene expression profiling and data-analysis algorithms to identify and analyze hypoxia-responsive genes in primary human astrocytes. We also compared gene expression patterns in astrocytes with those in human HeLa cells and pulmonary artery endothelial cells (ECs). Remarkably, in astrocytes, five times as many genes were induced as suppressed, whereas in HeLa and pulmonary ECs, as many as or more genes were suppressed than induced. More genes encoding hypoxia-inducible functions, such as glycolytic enzymes and angiogenic growth factors, were strongly induced in astrocytes compared with HeLa cells. Furthermore, gene ontology and computational algorithms revealed that many target genes of the EGF and insulin signaling pathways and the transcriptional regulators Myc, Jun, and p53 were selectively altered by hypoxia in astrocytes. Indeed, Western blot analysis confirmed that two major signal transducers mediating insulin and EGF action, Akt and MEK1/2, were activated by hypoxia in astrocytes. These results provide a global view of the signaling and regulatory network mediating oxygen regulation in human astrocytes.

Nitric oxide pathway after long-term cold storage and reperfusion in a heterotopic rat heart transplantation model

Recent studies have suggested the involvement of the nitric oxide (NO) pathway in ischemia-reperfusion injury related to cardiac transplantation. Herein, we assessed the NO pathway by quantifying endothelial (e) and inducible (i) nitric oxide synthase (NOS) expression and total NOS activity in a rat heart transplant model during cold ischemia with Celsior cardioplegia and reperfusion. Experiments were performed using a modified Lewis-Lewis heterotopic abdominal heart transplantation with 3 or 6 hours of ischemia with or without 1 hour of blood reperfusion. NOS expression and activity were determined using Western blotting and colorimetric assays, respectively, on freeze-clamped hearts after ischemia without (n = 10) or with reflow (n = 12) compared with basal values. Hearts submitted to 3 hours of ischemia and 1 hour of reperfusion showed a postischemic rate pressure product of 5190 +/- 3047 mm Hg/min (reversible ischemia), but no contractility was observed after 6 hours of ischemia. eNOS protein levels were lower after 3 hours of ischemia compared with the basal value (P = .0005) and were further decreased after 6 hours of ischemia (P < .0001 versus basal value and P = .0018 versus 3 hours of ischemia). Reperfusion did not further decrease eNOS protein levels. iNOS protein was not detected in any condition. NOS activity was increased after 3 hours of ischemia versus basal value (P = .0065) but not after 6 hours of ischemia without any effect of reperfusion. We concluded that eNOS expression was altered during ischemia and the amplitude of the alteration depended on the duration of ischemia. Reversible ischemia was associated with increased NOS activity at the end of ischemia with no variation at reperfusion.

In vivo assessment of myocardial blood flow in rat heart using magnetic resonance imaging: effect of anesthesia

PURPOSE

To assess the influence of isoflurane and pentobarbital anesthesia and the carrier gases on myocardial blood flow (MBF) in the rat heart in vivo.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

MBF was quantified in vivo using arterial spin-labeling (ASL) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Left ventricular (LV) function was estimated during the same experiment using cine-MRI. Thirty-four male Wistar-Kyoto rats were divided in four groups, one anesthetized with isoflurane in oxygen:nitrous oxide mix (ISO), the three others with intraperitoneal pentobarbital, and breathing either room air (PB), oxygen:nitrous oxide (PB + N(2)O), or oxygen:nitrogen (PB + N(2)).

RESULTS

MBF was significantly higher in the ISO and PB + N(2)O groups vs. PB and in ISO vs. PB + N(2), with the following respective MBF values: ISO, 5.9 +/- 1.1; PB, 4.0 +/- 0.8; PB + N(2)O, 5.1 +/- 1.4; and PB + N(2), 4.6 +/- 0.8 mL/g/minute, mean +/- SD. Ejection fractions were reduced by 10% in PB and PB + N(2)O rats vs. ISO rats. Cardiac output (CO) and index (CI) were 25 to 30% lower in all rats anesthetized with pentobarbital than with isoflurane.

CONCLUSION

Isoflurane and nitrous oxide induce a higher MBF than pentobarbital. Isoflurane also induces a higher ejection fraction in healthy rats.

Defective myocardial blood flow and altered function of the left ventricle in type 2 diabetic rats: a noninvasive in vivo study using perfusion and cine magnetic resonance imaging

OBJECTIVE

In type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular complications are related to microvascular abnormalities. In this work, we aimed at characterizing in vivo myocardial blood flow and left ventricular function of the Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rat as a nonobese model of type 2 diabetes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed arterial spin labeling magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for myocardial blood flow quantification and cine MRI for functional evaluation in free-breathing isoflurane-anesthetized animals.

RESULTS

Myocardial blood flow was altered in adult female GK rats compared with age-matched female Wistar rats (4.7 +/- 1.6 vs. 7.1 +/- 1.2 mL/g/min respectively, P = 0.0022). Ejection fraction was decreased in GK compared with Wistar rats (64 +/- 7 vs. 78 +/- 8% respectively, P <0.005), mainly as a result of a loss in left ventricular longitudinal contraction.

CONCLUSIONS

Adult female GK rats have defective myocardial blood flow associated with altered left ventricular function. This multiparametric MRI approach in the GK rat is of particular interest for the study of type 2 diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Dose dependent accretion of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in cardiac membranes of rats fed egg yolk powder enriched in DHA

We tested the hypothesis that enrichment of the diet with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) enriched egg yolk powder could modify specifically the (n-3) fatty acids content of rat plasma, red blood cells and heart membranes. Dose-dependent effect of DHA was studied in rats supplemented during 4 weeks. Three groups of adult male rats, DHA10, DHA35 and DHA60 (n = 5 each), had their diet supplemented with 10 mg, 35 mg or 60 mg DHA/kg body weight/day, respectively. Fatty acid composition of membranes and plasma lipids were determined. A significant dose-dependent increase in DHA was observed in all three types of samples. Arachidonic acid (AA) levels did not change in heart and red blood cell membranes whereas it increased significantly in plasma with the DHA35 diet. These results contrast with that previously reported for fish oil supplementation where a decrease in AA levels was reported. Hence, DHA enriched egg yolk supplementation leads to a specific accretion of DHA without competition on AA status.

Modulation of the NO pathway during short or prolonged blood reperfusion following ischaemia in a heterotopic rat heart transplantation model

Ischemia-reperfusion injury plays a major role in graft dysfunction following transplantation. Extensive research has demonstrated that nitric oxide (NO) plays a fundamental role to protect the heart against this injury. Consequently, we quantified NO synthase (NOS) isoform protein levels in a rat heart transplant model during short and prolonged reperfusion following ischemia. Experiments were performed using a modified Lewis to Lewis heterotopic abdominal heart transplantation with a total ischemic time of 3 hours followed by 1 or 24 hours of blood reperfusion (n = 12). Heart function, as represented by the rate pressure product, increased from 7912 +/- 489 to 27067 +/- 9982 mm Hg/min (mean +/- SEM, short vs prolonged reperfusion, P = .0027). NOS isoform protein levels determined using Western blotting of freeze-clamped hearts were compared to baseline values. eNOS protein levels were significantly lower during short reperfusion compared to the basal value (P = .0077) or to prolonged reperfusion (P = .004), returning to the basal value after 24 hours of reflow. iNOS protein was not detected in the basal condition or after 1 hour of reflow, but was present after 24 hours of reflow (P = .0001 vs basal value and 1-hour reflow). nNOS protein was 69% lower after 1 hour of reflow compared with the baseline value (P = .0001), it was not restored after 24 hours of reflow (P = .002). These results suggest involvement of the NO pathway in ischemia-reperfusion injury with distinctive roles of NOS isoforms during short and prolonged reperfusion following ischemia.

Preservation of amino acids during long term ischemia and subsequent reflow with supplementation of L-arginine, the nitric oxide precursor, in the rat heart

We investigated whether L-arginine, used in heart preservation to limit endothelial damage, may influence the pool of amino acids during long term ischemia and reflow. Isolated isovolumic rat hearts (n = 23) were submitted to 8 h of hypothermic ischemia after cardioplegic arrest with the Centre de Résonance Magnétique Biologique et Médicale (CRMBM) solution with or without L-arginine (Arg and No Arg groups respectively). Hearts were freeze-clamped after ischemia (n = 11) or submitted to 60 min of reflow (n = 12) and freeze-clamped. Eight hearts were perfused aerobically for 20 min and freeze-clamped (No ischemia group). Addition of L-arginine to the CRMBM solution limited aspartate depletion and decreased lysine level at the end of ischemia. After reflow, L-arginine supplementation increased the pool of glutamate and arginine and limited the depletion of serine, asparagine, glycine and taurine. We conclude that adding L-arginine to the CRMBM cardioplegic solution during long term ischemia preserved the amino acids pool.

[A pilot study on malaria control by using a new strategy of combining strengthening infection source treatment and health education in mountainous areas of Hainan province]

AIM

To explore a new malaria control strategy that fits current epiodemiological condition and coincides with modern medicine model and the principle of cost-benefit.

METHODS

The new strategy highlights the risk villages and risk population as the focal point and integrates health education with behavioral intervention. The main anti-malaria measures consists of carrying out health education in risk villages, giving mass drug administrations in risk population staying overnight in the mountain, following up malaria cases for implementing radical cure, but without using traditional residual spraying or impregnating bednets with insecticides.

RESULTS

After having adopted the new strategy and taken the control measures, the people's knowledge about malaria increased to a higher level and the indices of malaria reduced to a lower level. The rate of bednet-using in the population was increased from 26.8% to 72.6%. The annual parasite incidence (API) of malaria was declined from 3.5% in 1994 to 1.1% in 1996 and 0.8% in 1997, and the API of falciparum malaria was declined from 1.0% to 0.3% and 0.3% respectively in the townships at the same time. The parasite rate(PR) of malaria was declined from 7.2% in May, 1995 to 2.1% in November, 1996 and 1.2% in October, 1997 and the PR of falciparum malaria was declined from 1.2% in May, 1995 to 0.1% in October, 1997. The proportion of villages without malaria cases was increased from 18.6% in 1994 to 54.2% in 1997, and the number of risk villages with a malaria incidence above 5% was reduced from 14 to 2 at the same time. The ratio of cost/benefit was 1:2.4 in 1995-1996 and 1:4.4 in 1997, showing a better economic benefit.

CONCLUSION

The expectant result has been obtained, thereby providing new experience for the malaria control in the mountainous areas of Hainan Province.

NOS substrate during cardioplegic arrest and cold storage decreases stunning after heart transplantation in a rat model

BACKGROUND

In this study, we evaluated how adding L-arginine to Centre de Résonance Magnétique Biologique et Médicale (CRMBM) solution affected myocardial performance during post-ischemic in vivo reperfusion.

METHODS

Experiments were conducted using a modified Lewis-Lewis heterotopic heart transplantation model, with a total ischemic time of 3 hours followed by 1 or 24 hours of blood reperfusion. Heart grafts were arrested using intra-aortic injection of CRMBM solution, either supplemented or not supplemented with 2 mmol/liter L-arginine (n = 12 in each group). We measured systolic indexes and simultaneously performed phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((31)P MRS). We quantified total endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) protein using the Western blot test of freeze-clamped hearts.

RESULTS

Contractility during early reperfusion was significantly better in grafts arrested with CRMBM solution enriched with L-arginine: mean rate pressure product, 11249 +/- 1548 vs 5637 +/- 1118 mm Hg/min (p = 0.05), and maximal first derivative of the pressure signal (dP/dt(max)), 1721 +/- 177 vs 1214 +/- 321 mm Hg/sec (p = 0.013). Conversely, during late reperfusion, contractility did not relate to the nature of the preservation solution. The presence of L-arginine in the CRMBM solution did not alter time-related variations of high-energy phosphate ratios measured using in vivo (31)P MRS. The eNOS protein level decreased significantly during early compared with late reperfusion, with no effect caused by L-arginine.

CONCLUSIONS

During early reperfusion, the limited myocardial stunning observed with CRMBM solution containing L-arginine does not relate to energy metabolism but to better preservation of the NO pathway.

Heart rate responses and oxygen consumption during Tai Chi Chuan practice

Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) is a popular Chinese conditioning exercise, however, its exercise intensity remains controversial. The objective of this study was to determine the exercise intensity of Yang TCC by measuring heart rate (HR) responses and oxygen consumption (VO2) during practice. Fifteen men aged 39.9 +/- 9.5 yrs (range 26-56 yrs) participated in this study. Subjects had practiced classical Yang TCC for 5.8 +/- 2.4 years. HR responses and VO2 were measured during practice of TCC by using a K4 telemetry system. Blood lactate was measured before and immediately after TCC practice. Additionally, breath-by-breath measurement of cardiorespiratory function and sequential determination of blood lactate were performed during the incremental exercise of leg cycling. Measurements obtained during the TCC practice and exercise testing were compared to determine the exercise intensity of TCC. While performing TCC, the mean HR of subjects was 140 +/- 10 bpm, and the mean VO2 was 21.4 +/- 1.5 mL x kg(-1) min(-1). Compared with the data of the exercise test, the HR during practice was 58% of the heart rate range. Meanwhile, the VO2 during TCC practice was 55% of the VO2peak. Additionally, the level of blood lactate immediately after TCC practice was 3.8 mM, which reflected the level of lactate during TCC, approximated the onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA). The results demonstrate that TCC is an exercise with moderate intensity, and is aerobic in nature.

Rates and characteristics of lower limb amputations in Taiwan, 1997

This study aims to describe the national incidence rate and characteristics of lower limb amputations (LLA) in 1997 from an island-wide database of the national health insurance programme in Taiwan. Some 117,647 discharge records from a sampled database (1 in 20) of the National Health Insurance Research Database were analysed. This study included records (n=171) containing LLA procedures. The LLA procedure rates were obtained by multiplying the number of identified procedures by 20 as the numerator and mid-year total population of Taiwan in 1997 as the denominator. Each procedure was further analysed according to the demographic characteristics of the patients, cause and level of amputation. Summarised gender ratios of LLA procedure rates were obtained by Poisson regression analysis. The crude LLA procedure rate was 18.1 per 100,000 population per year and the crude major LLA procedure rate was 8.8 per 100,000 population per year in Taiwan in 1997. The major cause of LLA procedures was peripheral vascular disease (72%), and the toe was most frequently amputated (48%). The LLA procedure rates, which increased logarithmically with age of patients, were significantly higher in men with a summarised male to female rate ratio of 1.65. The age-standardised LLA procedure rate in Taiwan was lower than that reported in the United States, Finland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom (Leeds, Middlesborough, and Newcastle), but higher than Spain, Italy, and Japan. The trend of an increasing proportion of PVD-related LLA procedures will prompt the health professionals to develop strategies for LLA prevention.