Immortalization of primary sheep embryo kidney cells

Sheep primary epithelial cells are short-lived in cell culture systems. For long-term in vitro studies, primary cells need to be immortalized. This study aims to establish and characterize T immortalized sheep embryo kidney cells (TISEKC). In this study, we used fetal lamb kidneys to derive primary cultures of epithelial cells. We subsequently immortalized these cells using the large T SV40 antigen to generate crude TISEKC and isolate TISEKC clones. Among numerous clones of immortalized cells, the selected TISEKC-5 maintained active division and cell growth over 20 passages but lacked expression of the oncogenic large T SV40 antigen. Morphologically, TISEKC-5 maintained their epithelial aspect similar to the parental primary epithelial cells. However, their growth properties showed quite different patterns. Crude TISEKC, as well as the clones of TISEKC proliferated highly in culture compared to the parental primary cells. In the early passages, immortalized cells showed heterogeneous polyploidy but in the late passages the karyotype of immortalized cells became progressively stable, identical to that of the primary cells, because the TISEKC-5 cell line has lost the large SV40 T antigen expression, this cell line is a valuable tool for veterinary sciences and biotechnological productions.

Association between depression and hostile attribution bias in hostile and non-hostile individuals: An ERP study

BACKGROUND

Hostility and aggression have been found to be highly prevalent among depressed patients and are associated with higher comorbidity and illness severity levels. Although negative interpretation biases are a fundamental element of cognitive models of depression, few studies have examined the specific biases in information processing, mainly the hostile attribution bias, found in hostile individuals who present depressive symptoms.

METHOD

Using pre-collected data from a sample of 72 (male=41,6%, female=58,3%) undergraduate and community-based hostile (n = 26) and non-hostile (n = 46) adult participants, the authors aimed to examine the association between depression and the hostile attribution bias by determining whether depression level scores were uniquely related to electrophysiological measures of the hostile attribution bias.

RESULTS

The hostile group showed higher measured levels of depression and reactive aggression compared to the non-hostile group. Also, depression scores were significant predictors of the N400 effect in the non-hostile task condition, while reactive aggression was not, whereas in the hostile condition, the overall model was significant, with depression and reactive aggression levels both showing strong trends towards significance.

LIMITATIONS

A small sample size limited the scope of our conclusions. Also, sample selection prevented us from examining specific group differences regarding the hostile attribution bias in depressed and non-depressed groups.

CONCLUSION

Clinical and research implications include the necessity to apply cognitive restructuring techniques to counter biased interpretation processes in settings where depression and aggression intersect, and the need to consider alternatives to self-evaluative methodologies.

Herring Milt and Herring Milt Protein Hydrolysate Reduce Weight Gain and Improve Insulin Sensitivity and Pancreatic Beta-Cell Function in Diet-Induced Obese Mice

Objectives

The present study was designed to examine the effect of herring milt dry powder (HMDP) on glucose homeostasis and related metabolic phenotypes and compare its efficacy with herring milt protein hydrolysate (HMPH) in diet-induced obese and insulin resistant mice.

Methods

Male C57BL/6 J mice were pretreated with a high-fat diet for 7 weeks were divided into 3 groups where one group continued on the high-fat diet and used as the obese and insulin resistant control (HFC) and the other two groups were fed a modified HFC diet where 70% of casein was replaced with an equal percentage of protein derived from HMDP or HMPH. A group of mice fed a low-fat diet all the time was used as the normal or low-fat control (LFC). Body weight was obtained weekly and food intake was recorded daily. Semi-fating (4–6 hr) blood glucose was measured every other week using a glucometer using the blood from tail vein. Oral glucose tolerance was measured twice during weeks 5 and 9, respectively, and insulin tolerance was determined during week 7 of the treatment. At the end of the experiment, serum was obtained following overnight fasting for the measurement of fasting insulin, leptin, free fatty acids and lipids as well as other glucose metabolism-related biomarkers.

Results

During the 9-week treatment period, mice on the high-fat diet maintained significantly higher body weight and semi-fasting blood glucose levels and exhibited impaired oral glucose tolerance and insulin resistance relative to mice on the low-fat diet. At the end of the study, the analysis of fasting blood samples revealed that mice on the high-fat diet had increases in serum insulin, leptin, free fatty acids and cholesterol levels. Mice fed the high-fat diet also showed an increase in insulin resistance index and a decrease in β-cell function index. Compared to mice on the high-fat diet, the 70% replacement of dietary casein with an equal percentage of protein derived from HMDP or HMPH reversed or markedly improved these parameters, and HMDP and HMPH showed similar effects.

Conclusions

The results demonstrate that replacing dietary casein with the same amount of protein derived from either HMDP or HMPH prevents and improves high-fat-diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance.

Funding Sources

Atlantic Canada Opportunity Agency through the Atlantic Innovation Fund grant (no. 193,594) and National Research Council of Canada – NHP program.

Survey of Bottled Drinking Water Sold in Canada. Part 2. Selected Volatile Organic Compounds

Selected volatile organic compound (VOC) contaminants were determined in 182 samples of retail bottled waters purchased in Canada. Samples included spring water (86) packaged in containers of polyethylene or in smaller containers of transparent plastic or glass, mineral water (61) packaged only in transparent plastic or glass, and miscellaneous bottled waters (35). Analyses were performed by 3 laboratories, each using headspace sampling and capillary gas chromatography with either mass spectrometric (1 laboratory) or flame ionization detection with mass spectrometric confirmation, if required (2 laboratories). Benzene, the contaminant of primary interest, was detected in only 1 of the 182 samples at 2 μg/kg. Other VOC contaminants detected (number of positive samples, average, and range of positives in μg/kg) included toluene (20,6.92,0.5-63), cyclohexane (23, 39.2,3-108), chloroform (12,25.8,3.7-70), and dichloromethane (4,59,22-97). Cyclohexane was found in the plastic and as a migrant from the plastic in 20 samples of spring water, but it was found in only 1 of 61 mineral water samples analyzed at only 3 μg/kg. Chloroform was found almost exclusively in samples that could have been obtained from public water supplies. It was not found in mineral water samples, but it was found in 1 spring water sample at 3.7 μg/kg. The source of the toluene contamination was not known. Other VOCs detected include ethanol and limonene, associated

Evaluation of the effect of vincristine on platelet count in dogs with lymphoma

OBJECTIVES

To determine the effect of vincristine administration on the platelet count, platelet morphology and incidence of thrombocytopenia in dogs diagnosed with lymphoma.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Medical records of 59 dogs with lymphoma receiving vincristine sulphate were reviewed retrospectively.

RESULTS

Following vincristine administration the platelet count was higher and the number of thrombocytopenic patients was lower. No difference was found in the number of dogs with enlarged and elliptical platelets following vincristine treatment.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Vincristine administration increases platelet counts in dogs with lymphoma. It is not contra-indicated to administer vincristine to dogs with lymphoma that are thrombocytopenic.

Determination of Atropine (Hyoscyamine) Sulfate in Commercial Products by Liquid Chromatography with UV Absorbance and Fluorescence Detection: Multilaboratory Study

A liquid chromatographic (LC) method with 2 detection systems for determining atropine (hyoscyamine) sulfate in commercial products was tested in a multilaboratory study. Depending on the type of product, sample solutions are prepared in methanol or methanol–water (1 + 1). The standard solution contains about 1.0 mg atropine sul-fate/100 mL and is prepared in the same solvent used in sample preparation. LC separations are performed on a 7.5 cm Novapak silica column. The mobile phase is prepared by mixing 970 mL methanol with 30 mL of a 1% aqueous solution of 1-pentanesulfonic acid, sodium salt. Detection is by 2 systems, UV absorbance detection at 220 nm and fluorescence detection with excitation at 255 nm and emission at 285 nm. The injection volume is 100 or 200 μL. The following materials were used for the study: 2 separate samples of tablets labeled to contain 0.4 mg atropine sulfate, 2 separate samples of extended-release tablets labeled to contain 0.375 mg hyoscyamine sulfate, one sample of atropine sulfate injection labeled to contain 2 mg/mL, and one sample of 1% (v/v) atropine sul-fate ophthalmic. Eight participants analyzed 2 separate portions of the 6 samples by both detection systems. A ninth participant analyzed the samples in duplicate but only by UV absorbance detection because of the unavailability of a fluorescence detector. The relative standard deviation (RSD) between laboratories ranged from 1.4 to 3.3% for samples of tablets and injections but higher for ophthalmic solutions (5.1–5.2%). A linearity study was conducted in the originating laboratory before the multilaboratory study with 5 solutions ranging in concentration from 0.80 to 1.20 mg atropine sul-fate in 100 mL. Average recoveries were 100.0% by UV absorbance detection and 99.9% by fluorescence detection; the RSDs were 1.1 and 1.2%, respectively.

Antibacterial activity of chemotherapeutic drugs against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius

The ability of chemotherapeutic agents to affect the growth of common bacterial pathogens and the relationship between the effects of chemotherapeutics and antimicrobials is largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to describe the susceptibility of canine bacterial isolates to chemotherapeutic agents and to compare these results to their antimicrobial susceptibility. The effects of bleomycin, doxorubicin, cytarabine, cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil and gemcitabine on the growth of 33 Staphylococcus pseudintermedius isolates and 32 Escherichia coli isolates from dogs was determined by agar dilution. In addition to MICs, the lowest drug concentration associated with a decreased colony size was recorded. Results were compared to the MICs of a panel of antimicrobial agents. Bleomycin consistently inhibited bacterial growth of S. pseudintermedius and E. coli. Doxorubicin inhibited S. pseudintermedius but not E. coli while the opposite was seen for gemcitabine. Reduction in colony size on exposure to 5-fluorouracil for both organisms, and methotrexate for S. pseudintermedius was seen. No observable effect of cyclophosphamide or cytarabine was observed. Associations between elevated MICs to chemotherapeutic drugs and antimicrobial resistance were not found. These results indicate that chemotherapeutic agents affect the growth of bacteria, but do not support a role in the selection of antimicrobial resistance. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study shows that chemotherapy drugs commonly used in veterinary oncology have an effect of the growth of canine isolates of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius. No associations between susceptibility to chemotherapeutic drugs and antibiotics were found, which does not support selection of antimicrobial resistance by chemotherapy drugs.

Physical Activity, Fibrinogen Plasma Level and Gene Polymorphisms in Postmenopausal Women

The relations between habitual physical activity (PA), fibrinogen gene polymorphisms and plasma fibrinogen were investigated in 191 postmenopausal women. Subjects who reported PA at least 4 times/ week had lower fibrinogen level (3.19 g/1; 95% Cl 3.10; 3.27) than women reporting PA 2-3 times/week (3.43 g/1; 3.29; 3.58) or sedentary subjects (3.64 g/1; 3.33; 3.94). There were no differences in plasma fibrinogen across the α-fibrinogen (Rsal, TaqI) or (β-fibrinogen (Mnll, Bell, Hindlll) genotypes, the frequencies of which were in a Hardy- Weinberg equilibrium. An interaction between Rsal, which was in complete linkage disequilibrium with TaqI, and PA on plasma fibrinogen was observed, even after adjustments for BMI, smoking and medication (p = 0.024). Among women homozygous for the common Rsal allele, the physically most active had lower fibrinogen level (p <0.001) compared to the physically less active subjects. These results suggest that, in postmenopausal women, the relation between physical activity and plasma fibrinogen is modulated by genetic variation in the α-fibrinogen gene.

Variation in Plasma Fibrinogen over One Year: Relationships with Genetic Polymorphisms and Non-genetic Factors

We analyzed plasma fibrinogen level in relation to genetic polymorphisms in the a- and β-fibrinogen gene loci. Furthermore, the association of other CVD risk markers with fibrinogen was studied twice, with a time interval of one year in 50 to 60 year old men (n = 183). DNA polymorphisms were detected by PCR and digestion with TaqI (α-fibrinogen), Hind III and Bcl I (β-fibrinogen) restriction enzymes. The correlation coefficient between fibrinogen measurements was 0.48 (p <0.001). Blood leucocytes and waist-to-hip circumference ratio were the strongest correlates of fibrinogen level in both examinations, and the changes in leucocyte count and plasma fibrinogen correlated positively (r = 0.40, p <0.001). In Eastern Finnish men, the Taq I, Hind III or Bcl I restriction fragment length polymorphisms of the a- or β-fibrinogen gene loci did not associate with fibrinogen level, either cross- sectionally or longitudinally.

Shrimp oil extracted from the shrimp processing waste reduces the development of insulin resistance and metabolic phenotypes in diet-induced obese rats

Diet-induced obesity, insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, chronic inflammation, and oxidative stress represent the main features of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The present study was conducted to examine the efficacy and mechanisms of shrimp oil on glucose homeostasis in obese rats. Male CD rats fed a high-fat diet (52 kcal% fat) and 20% fructose drinking water were divided into 4 groups and treated with the dietary replacement of 0%, 10%, 15%, or 20% of lard with shrimp oil for 10 weeks. Age-matched rats fed a low-fat diet (10 kcal% fat) were used as the normal control. Rats on the high-fat diet showed impaired (p < 0.05) glucose tolerance and insulin resistance compared with rats fed the low-fat diet. Shrimp oil improved (p < 0.05) oral glucose tolerance, insulin response, and homeostatic model assessment-estimated insulin resistance index; decreased serum insulin, leptin, hemoglobin A1c, and free fatty acids; and increased adiponectin. Shrimp oil also increased (p < 0.05) antioxidant capacity and reduced oxidative stress and chronic inflammation. The results demonstrated that shrimp oil dose-dependently improved glycemic control in obese rats through multiple mechanisms.

An Extract from Shrimp Processing By-Products Protects SH-SY5Y Cells from Neurotoxicity Induced by Aβ25-35

Increased evidence suggests that marine unsaturated fatty acids (FAs) can protect neurons from amyloid-β (Aβ)-induced neurodegeneration. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography (GC) assays showed that the acetone extract 4-2A obtained from shrimp Pandalus borealis industry processing wastes contained 67.19% monounsaturated FAs and 16.84% polyunsaturated FAs. The present study evaluated the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of 4-2A in Aβ_25–35-insulted differentiated SH-SY5Y cells. Cell viability and cytotoxicity were measured by using 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays. Quantitative PCR and Western blotting were used to study the expression of neurotrophins, pro-inflammatory cytokines and apoptosis-related genes. Administration of 20 μM Aβ_25–35 significantly reduced SH-SY5Y cell viability, the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) and its tyrosine kinase TrkA receptor, as well as the level of glutathione, while increased reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its TrkB receptor. Aβ_25–35 also increased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and Caspase-3 expression. Treatment with 4-2A significantly attenuated the Aβ_25–35-induced changes in cell viability, ROS, GSH, NGF, TrkA, TNF-α, the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and Caspase-3, except for nitric oxide, BDNF and TrKB. In conclusion, 4-2A effectively protected SH-SY5Y cells against Aβ-induced neuronal apoptosis/death by suppressing inflammation and oxidative stress and up-regulating NGF and TrKA expression.

Recommendations on breast cancer screening and prevention in the context of implementing risk stratification: impending changes to current policies

In recent years, risk stratification has sparked interest as an innovative approach to disease screening and prevention. The approach effectively personalizes individual risk, opening the way to screening and prevention interventions that are adapted to subpopulations. The international perspective project, which is developing risk stratification for breast cancer, aims to support the integration of its screening approach into clinical practice through comprehensive tool-building. Policies and guidelines for risk stratification-unlike those for population screening programs, which are currently well regulated-are still under development. Indeed, the development of guidelines for risk stratification reflects the translational aspects of perspective. Here, we describe the risk stratification process that was devised in the context of perspective, and we then explain the consensus-based method used to develop recommendations for breast cancer screening and prevention in a risk-stratification approach. Lastly, we discuss how the recommendations might affect current screening policies.

Synthesis, characterization, antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity of hollow TiO2-coated CeO2nanocontainers encapsulating silver nanoparticles for controlled silver release

This novel type of nanocontainers offers the concept of potentially controlling silver delivery for the prevention of implant-associated infections.

Neutralizing circulating ghrelin by expressing a growth hormone secretagogue receptor-based protein protects against high-fat diet-induced obesity in mice

Ghrelin is a stomach-derived peptide hormone that stimulates appetite and promotes adiposity through binding to the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R1a). Administration of ghrelin in rodents increases weight gain due to stimulating food intake and reducing fat utilization. Therefore, reducing circulating ghrelin levels holds the potential to reduce weight gain. We developed a GHS-R1a-fusion constructs of a decoy protein containing the ligand-binding domains of the ghrelin receptor. Intramuscular injection of the GHSR/Fc plasmid decreased circulating levels of acylated-ghrelin. When challenged with the high fat diet, treated mice displayed reduced weight gain compared with controls, which was associated with reduced fat accumulation in the peritoneum but not lean mass. Quantitative PCR with reverse transcription showed increased PPARγ and hormone sensitive lipase transcripts levels in adipose tissue of treated animals, illustrating a preference for increased fat utilization. Intra-peritoneal glucose tolerance and insulin tolerance tests showed improved glucose clearance and insulin sensitivity in GHSR/Fc treated animals. We suggest that in vivo expression of the GHSR-based fusion protein prevents diet-induced weight gain, altering adipose gene expression and improving glucose tolerance. These findings, while confirming the role of ghrelin in peripheral energy metabolism, suggest that a strategy involving neutralization of the circulation ghrelin by intramuscular injection of the GHSR1/Fc fusion construct may find clinical application in the treatment of obesity.

Integrating silver compounds and nanoparticles into ceria nanocontainers for antimicrobial applications

Silver compounds and nanoparticles (NPs) are gaining increasing interest in medical applications, specifically in the treatment and prevention of biomaterial-related infections.

A functional model of the human C1 complex Emergence of a functional model

Precise structural data on C1s-C1r-C1r-C1s, the catalytic subunit of C1 (the first component of the classical pathway of human complement), led to the emergence of a structural and functional model of this complex protease. Now with new structural information on the amino acid sequence of the protease responsible for C1 activation (C1r), Gérard Arlaud and his colleagues propose a refinement of their original C1 model, and an overall scheme of the intramolecular events associated with the activation and control of C1.

Microbiological contamination in counterfeit and unapproved drugs

Background

Counterfeit and unapproved medicines are inherently dangerous and can cause patient injury due to ineffectiveness, chemical or biological contamination, or wrong dosage. Growth of the counterfeit medical market in developed countries is mainly attributable to life-style drugs, which are used in the treatment of non-life-threatening and non-painful conditions, such as slimming pills, cosmetic-related pharmaceuticals, and drugs for sexual enhancement. One of the main tasks of health authorities is to identify the exact active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in confiscated drugs, because wrong API compounds, wrong concentrations, and/or the presence of chemical contaminants are the main risks associated with counterfeit medicines. Serious danger may also arise from microbiological contamination. We therefore performed a market surveillance study focused on the microbial burden in counterfeit and unapproved medicines.

Methods

Counterfeit and unapproved medicines confiscated in Canada and Austria and controls from the legal market were examined for microbial contaminations according to the US and European pharmacopoeia guidelines. The microbiological load of illegal and legitimate samples was statistically compared with the Wilcoxon rank-sum test.

Results

Microbial cultivable contaminations in counterfeit and unapproved phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors were significantly higher than in products from the legal medicines market (p < 0.0001). Contamination levels exceeding the USP and EP limits were seen in 23% of the tested illegal samples in Canada. Additionally, microbiological contaminations above the pharmacopoeial limits were detected in an anabolic steroid and an herbal medicinal product in Austria (6% of illegal products tested).

Conclusions

Our results show that counterfeit and unapproved pharmaceuticals are not manufactured under the same hygienic conditions as legitimate products. The microbiological contamination of illegal medicinal products often exceeds USP and EP limits, representing a potential threat to consumer health.

Metformin directly inhibits ghrelin secretion through AMP-activated protein kinase in rat primary gastric cells

The antidiabetic drug Metformin causes weight loss in both diabetic and non-diabetic individuals. Metformin treatment is also associated with lower circulating levels of the orexigenic hormone ghrelin. To test whether Metformin directly affects ghrelin cells, rat primary stomach cells were treated with Metformin and the levels of ghrelin secretion, proghrelin gene expression and activation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) were examined. Metformin significantly reduced ghrelin secretion and proghrelin mRNA production and both these effects were blocked by co-incubation with the AMPK inhibitor compound C. Furthermore, the AMPK activator 5-amino-1-β-D-ribofuranosyl-imidazole-4-carboxamide (AICAR) significantly inhibited ghrelin secretion. Additionally, ghrelin cells were shown to express AMPK. Finally, Metformin treatment caused a significant increase in the level of phosphorylated (active) AMPK. Our results show that Metformin directly inhibits stomach ghrelin production and secretion through AMPK. This reduction in ghrelin secretion may be one of the key components in Metformin's mechanism of weight loss.

Versatile apparatus for attosecond metrology and spectroscopy

We present the AS-2 Attosecond Beamline at the Joint Laboratory for Attosecond Physics of the Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität for time resolved pump/probe experiments with attosecond resolution. High harmonic generation and subsequent filtering of the generated extreme ultraviolet (XUV) continuum by means of metal filters and XUV multilayer mirrors serve for the generation of isolated attosecond laser pulses. After high harmonic generation, the remaining fundamental laser pulse is spatially separated from the attosecond XUV pulse, to what is to our knowledge for the first time, by means of a perforated mirror in a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. Active stabilization of this interferometer guarantees the necessary temporal resolution for tracking attosecond dynamics in real time. As a proof-of-principle, photoelectron streaking experiments are performed and experimental techniques for their realization are summarized. Finally we highlight the potential of the presented beamline system for future experiments in comparison with previously demonstrated attosecond beamlines.

A systematic review of interventions promoting clinical information retrieval technology (CIRT) adoption by healthcare professionals

PURPOSE

This paper presents the evidence on the effectiveness of interventions promoting the use of clinical information retrieval technologies (CIRTs) by healthcare professionals.

METHODS

We electronically searched articles published between January 1990 and March 2008 using following inclusion criteria: (1) participants were healthcare professionals; (2) specific intervention promoted CIRT adoption; (3) studies were randomised controlled trials, controlled clinical trials, controlled before and after studies or interrupted time series analyses; and (4) they objectively reporting measured outcomes on CIRT use.

RESULTS

We found nine studies focusing on CIRT use. Main outcomes measured were searching skills and/or frequency of use of electronic databases by healthcare professionals. Three studies reported a positive effect of the intervention on CIRT use, one showed a positive impact post-intervention, and four studies failed to demonstrate significant intervention effect. The ninth study examined financial disincentives, and found a significant negative effect of introducing user fees for searching MEDLINE in clinical settings. A meta-analysis showed that educational meetings were the only type of interventions reporting consistent positive effects on CIRT adoption.

CONCLUSION

CIRT is an information and communication technology commonly used in healthcare settings. Interventions promoting CIRT adoption by healthcare professionals have shown some success in improving searching skills and use of electronic databases. However, the effectiveness of these interventions remains uncertain and more rigorous studies are needed.

Attosecond streaking enables the measurement of quantum phase

Attosecond streaking, as a measurement technique, was originally conceived as a means to characterize attosecond light pulses, which is a good approximation if the relevant transition matrix elements are approximately constant within the bandwidth of the light pulse. Our analysis of attosecond streaking measurements on systems with a complex response to the photoionizing pulse reveals the relation between the momentum-space wave function of the outgoing electron and the result of conventional retrieval algorithms. This finding enables the measurement of the quantum phase associated with bound-continuum transitions.

Effect of exercise training on in vitro LDL oxidation and free radical-induced hemolysis: the HERITAGE Family Study

Oxidant stress and overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease. Oxidative modifications of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) are thought to play an early and critical role in atherogenesis. LDL oxidation can be reproduced in vitro, but results usually show a large interindividual variation not entirely explained by the environment. Free radical-induced hemolysis is also proposed to reveal the overall antioxidant capacity. The roles of genetic factors and exercise on the variability of both measures were investigated. The study was conducted in 146 healthy individuals from 28 families participating in a 20-week exercise-training program. In addition to important biological and environmental influences on variation, significant familial aggregation was detected in all oxidation measures. Exercise did not significantly modify the LDL oxidation parameters, but significantly increased resistance was observed in the free radical-induced hemolysis, especially in women, this effect was not observed in smokers. In total, the findings suggest the presence of familial effects in the response to ex vivo oxidation. Further, smoking negates the beneficial effect of exercise training on erythrocyte resistance to free radical-induced hemolysis. These observations emphasize the importance of context in the evaluation of exercise and oxidant stress.

Adventitial Cystic Disease of Common Femoral Artery

Adventitial cystic disease (ACD) is an uncommon cause of ischemia. The majority of ACD is located in the popliteal artery. Over 49 extrapopliteal locations have been described. We report on a case of femoral artery ACD in a young patient with claudication. The diagnosis was made with duplex ultrasound and confirmed with computed tomographic angiogram. The patient underwent a surgical treatment. One year postoperatively, the patient is active with no claudication. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of extrapopliteal artery ACD in Canada.

X , Y , and Z waves: extended structures in nonlinear lattices

We propose a new type of waveforms in two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) discrete media-multilegged extended nonlinear structures (ENSs), built as arrays of lattice solitons (tiles and stones, in the 2D and 3D cases, respectively). We study the stability of the tiles and stones analytically, and then extend them numerically to complete ENS forms for both 2D and 3D lattices, aiming to single out stable ENSs. The predicted patterns can be realized in Bose-Einstein condensates trapped in deep optical lattices, crystals built of microresonators, and 2D photonic crystals. In the latter case, the patterns provide for a technique for writing reconfigurable virtual partitions in multipurpose photonic devices.

Effect of regular exercise on homocysteine concentrations: the HERITAGE Family Study

We investigated whether regular aerobic exercise could affect plasma total homocysteine (tHcy), and whether there were sex-related or racial differences in tHcy changes. Data were available for 816 black and white men and women, aged 17-65 years, 711 of whom completed a 20 week aerobic exercise training program. The tHcy concentration was measured in frozen plasma samples by an HPLC method. In Blacks, tHcy did not change with exercise training [men -0.5 (SD 3.7) micromol/l, women 0.0 (2.2) micromol/l) but increased significantly in Whites (men +0.3 (1.7) micromol/l, women +0.2 (1.6) micromol/l). No sex-related differences were found in either racial group. Changes in tHcy correlated negatively with baseline homocysteine (r = -0.40, P < 0.0001). Homocysteine levels of the "High" (hyperhomocysteinemia) (>or=15 micromol/l) group (n = 30) decreased significantly with regular aerobic exercise from 23.1 (12.1) to 19.6 (7.6) micromol/l. Homocysteine levels of the "Normal" group increased slightly from 8.2 +/- 2.2 to 8.5 +/- 2.4 micromol/l. Men exhibit racial differences for tHcy responses to exercise training. Regular aerobic exercise has favorable effects on individuals with hyperhomocysteinemia, but tHcy slightly increased in individuals within the normal range.