Analysis of the laboratory results of the patients enrolled in the Nutritional Therapy Program

OBJECTIVE

Nutritional treatment is an integral part of patient management, as meeting nutritional needs significantly contributes to improving treatment outcomes and reducing complications and length of hospitalization. The aim of this study was to analyze the laboratory results of the patients enrolled in the Nutritional Therapy Program.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This study involved 103 subjects, aged 18-88. It was based on analysis of medical documentation of patients under the care of the Enteral Nutrition Clinic. Nutritional status was assessed by biochemical tests (urea, creatinine, AST, ALT, ALP, CRP, total cholesterol, triglycerides, INR, Na, K, Cl, Mg, Ca, P, Fe, total protein, albumin, and fasting glucose).

RESULTS

After six and twelve months, the groups with malnutrition and neurological diseases had higher levels of erythrocytes and albumin, and significantly lower CRP. The mean glucose level after six months was significantly lower compared to the first measurement, and a downward trend was observed. Calcium showed an upward trend. In cancer patients, a decline in erythrocytes was observed after six months compared to the initial measurement.

CONCLUSIONS

There were significant differences in the results of laboratory tests between patients with cancer and those with malnutrition and neurological diseases. These were mainly lower levels of lymphocytes and glucose, and higher levels of platelets and CRP. Furthermore, the greatest effect of nutritional treatment was observed in patients with malnutrition and neurological diseases.

Erratum: Rotationally Cold OH^{-} Ions in the Cryogenic Electrostatic Ion-Beam Storage Ring DESIREE [Phys. Rev. Lett. 119, 073001 (2017)]

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.119.073001.

Dianion diagnostics in DESIREE: High-sensitivity detection of Cn2- from a sputter ion source

A sputter ion source with a solid graphite target has been used to produce dianions with a focus on carbon cluster dianions, C_n^2-, with n = 7-24. Singly and doubly charged anions from the source were accelerated together to kinetic energies of 10 keV per atomic unit of charge and injected into one of the cryogenic (13 K) ion-beam storage rings of the Double ElectroStatic Ion Ring Experiment facility at Stockholm University. Spontaneous decay of internally hot C_n^2- dianions injected into the ring yielded C_n^- anions with kinetic energies of 20 keV, which were counted with a microchannel plate detector. Mass spectra produced by scanning the magnetic field of a 90° analyzing magnet on the ion injection line reflect the production of internally hot C₇^2- - C₂₄^2- dianions with lifetimes in the range of tens of microseconds to milliseconds. In spite of the high sensitivity of this method, no conclusive evidence of C₆^2- was found while there was a clear C₇^2- signal with the expected isotopic distribution. This is consistent with earlier experimental studies and with theoretical predictions. An upper limit is deduced for a C₆^2- signal that is two orders-of-magnitude smaller than that for C₇^2-. In addition, C_nO^2- and C_nCu^2- dianions were detected.

Rotationally Cold OH^{-} Ions in the Cryogenic Electrostatic Ion-Beam Storage Ring DESIREE

We apply near-threshold laser photodetachment to characterize the rotational quantum level distribution of OH^{-} ions stored in the cryogenic ion-beam storage ring DESIREE at Stockholm University. We find that the stored ions relax to a rotational temperature of 13.4±0.2  K with 94.9±0.3% of the ions in the rotational ground state. This is consistent with the storage ring temperature of 13.5±0.5  K as measured with eight silicon diodes but in contrast to all earlier studies in cryogenic traps and rings where the rotational temperatures were always much higher than those of the storage devices at their lowest temperatures. Furthermore, we actively modify the rotational distribution through selective photodetachment to produce an OH^{-} beam where 99.1±0.1% of approximately one million stored ions are in the J=0 rotational ground state. We measure the intrinsic lifetime of the J=1 rotational level to be 145±28  s.

MMP-9 in atrial remodeling in patients with atrial fibrillation

INTRODUCTION

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The impact of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) on structural atrial remodeling and sustainment of AF in patients with persistent and permanent AF is unresolved.

OBJECTIVES

The aim was to evaluate MMP-9 and its tissue inhibitor-1 (TIMP-1) as markers of atrial remodeling in patients with persistent AF (PAF) who underwent electrical cardioversion (ECV) and in patients with permanent AF (continuous AF, CAF).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Plasma levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-1, clinical findings, and echocardiographic parameters were evaluated in 39 patients with AF and in 14 controls with sinus rhythm.

RESULTS

The concentrations of MMP-9 were significantly higher in patients with PAF and CAF compared to controls. There was a significant increase of MMP-9 after ECV in the persistent AF group. The values of TIMP-1 were not significantly different between the groups. In patients with AF, MMP-9 levels were positively related to posterior wall thickness of the LV (r=0.356, P=0.049) and body mass index (r=0.367, P=0.046).

CONCLUSION

Elevated levels of MMP-9 were related to the occurrence and maintenance of AF. This suggests that MMP-9 can be a marker of atrial remodeling in patients with AF. Regulation of the extracellular collagen matrix might be a potential therapeutic target in AF.

Dissociative recombination of OPCl+ and OPCl2+: pushing the upper mass limit at CRYRING

The dissociative recombination of OPCl+ and OPCl2+ has been studied at the storage ring CRYRING. The rate constants as a function of electron temperature have been derived to be 7.63 x 10(-7)(Te/300)(-0.89) and >1.2 x 10(-6)(Te/300)(-1.22) cm3s(-1), respectively. The lower limit quoted for the latter rate constant reflects the experimental inability to detect all of the reaction products. The branching fractions from the reaction have been measured for OPCl+ at approximately 0 eV interaction energy and are determined to be N(O+P+Cl)=(16+/-7)%, N(O+PCl)=(16+/-3)% and N(OP+Cl)=(68+/-5)%. These values have been obtained assuming that the rearrangement channel forming P+ClO is negligible, and ab initio calculations using GAUSSIAN03 are presented for the ion structures and energetics to support such an assumption. Finally, the limitations to using heavy ion storage rings such as CRYRING for studies into the dissociative recombination of large singly charged molecular ions are discussed.

Angiotensin II via AT1 receptor accelerates arterial thrombosis in renovascular hypertensive rats

Although there are some in vitro evidence that angiotensin II (Ang II) may promote thrombosis, there is still no data concerning effect of Ang II on arterial thrombus formation. In the present study we have investigated the influence of Ang II on electrically induced arterial thrombosis in a common carotid artery of renovascular hypertensive rats. Furthermore, we examined if Ang II effect is mediated via AT1 receptor. We measured some coagulation and fibrinolytic parameters at the same time. Since platelets play crucial role in the initiation of arterial thrombosis their contribution in the mode of Ang II action was also determined. Intravenous infusion of Ang II caused significant increase in arterial thrombus weight, which was reversed by losartan, selective AT1 receptor antagonist. The prothrombotic effect of Ang II was accompanied by increase in haemostatic and decrease in fibrinolytic potential of rat plasma. While number of data has clearly demonstrated that Ang II can augment human platelets aggregation, at least in rats, platelets were not involved in the mechanism of Ang II action. Our study shows that Ang II via AT1 receptor accelerates arterial thrombosis in renovascular hypertensive rat, therefore may be considered as a risk factor of myocardial infarction or stroke.

First Report of Phytoplasma Belonging to Apple Proliferation Group in Roses in Poland

Virus-like diseases of rose plants of uncertain aetiology have been widely distributed throughout the world (4). Symptoms include dieback, rose rosette, witches' broom, and bud proliferation. Research conducted in England (4) and the United States (1) could not reveal the etiology of the diseases. Disease symptoms including stunted growth, leaf and flower malformation, and shoot and flower proliferation were observed in rose plants in Poland (2). In this previous work, we reported cases of phytoplasma closely related to group 16SrI in rose plants with shoot proliferation as determined by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with ribosomal primers R16F1/R0 followed by rA/fA or R16(I)F1/R1. In this study, we examined 48 symptomatic rose plants of 12 cultivars using nested PCR primed by P1/P7 and followed by universal primer pairs R16F2n/R2, fA/rA, or group 16SrI-specific R16(I)F1/R1. To detect potential mixed infection in roses, the group 16SrX-specific primer pairs fAT/rAS, fAT/rPRUS, and fPD/rAT were used for nested PCRs. Samples of rose plants with disease symptoms and nonsymptomatic, samples of Catharanthus roseus, healthy and inoculated by grafting with the reference strain of aster yellows phytoplasma (AY1, group 16SrI-B, kindly supplied by I.-M. Lee, Beltsville, MD) and the reference strain of apple proliferation phytoplasma (AP, group 16SrX-A, kindly supplied by A. Bertaccini, Bologna, Italy), were tested for the presence of phytoplasma rDNA by PCR. Phytoplasma identification was accompanied by digestion with restriction endonucleases, AluI, HhaI, HpaII, MseI, and RsaI, and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of a 1.2-kb fragment of rDNA (3). A DNA amplification product was observed in all nested PCRs containing template DNA of samples collected from diseased roses and the reference strains but not from control plants. On the basis of RFLP analysis of PCR products and comparison of the RFLP patterns with those of the reference strains, we demonstrated the presence of aster yellows phytoplasma belonging to phytoplasma group 16SrI-B in roses of 11 cultivars. RFLP profile of samples collected from rose cv. Red Champ was identical to those obtained for reference AP strain (group 16SrX-A). Mixed RFLP profiles were observed in samples collected from rose cv. Memory, which were doubly infected by phytoplasmas belonging to groups 16SrI-B or 16SrX-A. These results were confirmed by PCR with group 16SrX-specific primer pairs. The target DNA was amplified when amplifications were conducted with subgroup 16SrX-A-specific primer pair fAt/rAS, whereas no observable PCR products were obtained with subgroup 16SrX-B- (fAT/rPRUS) or 16SrX-C- (fPD/rAT) specific primer pairs. This report confirms infection of roses by aster yellows phytoplasma belonging to group 16SrI-B, and to our knowledge, records for the first time, infection by phytoplasma of group 16SrX-A. References: (1) A. H. Epstein and J. H. Hill. J. Phytopathol. 143:353, 1995. (2) M. Kami ska et al. J. Phytopathol. 149:3, 2001. (3) I.-B. Lee et al. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 48:1153, 1968. (4) B. J. Thomas. Ann. Rep. Glasshouse Crops Res. Inst. 1979:178, 1981.

Dissociative recombination cross section and branching ratios of protonated dimethyl disulfide and N-methylacetamide

Dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) and N-methylacetamide are two first choice model systems that represent the disulfide bridge bonding and the peptide bonding in proteins. These molecules are therefore suitable for investigation of the mechanisms involved when proteins fragment under electron capture dissociation (ECD). The dissociative recombination cross sections for both protonated DMDS and protonated N-methylacetamide were determined at electron energies ranging from 0.001 to 0.3 eV. Also, the branching ratios at 0 eV center-of-mass collision energy were determined. The present results give support for the indirect mechanism of ECD, where free hydrogen atoms produced in the initial fragmentation step induce further decomposition. We suggest that both indirect and direct dissociations play a role in ECD.

Inhibition of nitric oxide synthase prevents energy failure and oxidative damage evoked in the brain by lipopolysaccharide

The inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) plays an important role in endotoxic shock. However,little is known about the involvment of constitutive isoform(s) of NOS (cNOS). The aim of this study was to determine the role of cNOS in the mouse brain after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection. Concentrations of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(+)), carbonyl group and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were determined spectrophotometrically, cNOS mRNA was evaluated by RT-PCR. Our data showed that LPS significantly decreased NAD(+) level, and enhanced protein and lipid oxidation, but had no effect on cNOS mRNA expression. Inhibitors of cNOS protected the cells against alterations evoked by LPS, suggesting involvement of cNOS isoforms in pathology.

First Report of Phytoplasma Infection in Hop Plants

Disease symptoms of severe shoot proliferation resembling phytoplasmal disease symptoms were observed in early spring of 2003 in hop (Humulus lupulus L.) plant cvs. Magnum and Marynka that were grown in a commercial farm in Poland. Proliferation of shoots has not been previously reported in hop plants. To detect the presence of phytoplasmas in hops, young shoots from four symptomatic (two cultivars) and two symptomless ('Magnum') plants were assayed for phytoplasma 16S rDNA using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In addition, leaf samples from healthy Catharanthus roseus plants and plants experimentally infected with the reference strains of aster yellows phytoplasma (AY1, group 16SrI-B) or apple proliferation phytoplasma (AP, group 16SrX-A) were included for comparison. Amplifications were performed using the universal phytoplasma primer pair P1/P7 in an initial assay, and universal primer pairs fA/rA (1), Pc399/P1694, or R16F2n/R16R2 (2) and group specific primer pair R16(I)F1/R16(I)R1 (3) in a nested reaction. Specific products were obtained in direct PCR with the universal primer pairs P1/P7 only for the control samples of the reference strains AY and AP. No visible product was amplified by the direct PCR from samples obtained from hops and healthy periwinkle plants. However, in nested PCR with primer pairs P1/P7 followed by primer pairs fA/rA, R16F2n/R16R2, Pc399/P1694, or R16(I)F1/R16(I)R1, specific DNA bands were observed from naturally infected hop plants (both four symptomatic and two symptomless) tested. No amplification products were observed from healthy periwinkle plants. The specificity of PCR products (obtained with universal R16F2n/R16R2 primer pair) was confirmed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis using AluI, MseI, HhaI, and RsaI for enzymatic digestion. RFLP patterns of these rDNA fragments for samples of naturally infected hops and for AY1 reference strain were similar and were characteristic of phytoplasma 16SrI-B subgroup. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence that hop shoot proliferation disease is associated with natural infection by phytoplasmas. Furthermore, detection of phytoplasma in asymptomatic hops underscores the need to fully elucidate the etiological role of this pathogen in the disease. References: (1) U. Ahrens and E. Seemüller. Phytopathology 82:828, 1992. (2) I.-M. Lee et al. Phytopathology 83:834, 1993. (3) I.-M. Lee et al. Phytopathology 84:559, 1994.

[Non-pharmacological treatment of hypertension in practice of primary care physicians]

The role of non-pharmacological methods in prevention and treatment of hypertension is well documented. Weight in patients with overweight and obesity, sodium intake restriction and alcohol drinking limitation are especially effective in arterial pressure reduction. The aim of this questionnaire study was to evaluate the knowledge and skills in that field of physicians working in primary health care. The study was done with 91 physicians working in Warsaw District. All of them declared that they give instructions about life style to their patients with hypertension. In majority it was oral consultation (36 persons, 39%) or oral consultation with distribution of booklets or brochures (48 persons, 52%). Six physicians (7%) sent patients to specialist. Pharmacological treatment was started most often from the systolic pressure 160 mmHg (59 persons, 64%) and diastolic pressure 100 mmHg (39 persons, 42%). Non-pharmacological advice was given most often at systolic pressure above 140 mmHg (44 persons, 48%) and diastolic pressure above 90 mmHg (67 persons, 73%). Salt intake reduction was advised always or usually by 82 physicians (90%), alcohol drinking reduction by 77 persons (85%) and tobacco smoking cessation by 86 persons (95%). Regular physical activity was advised always or usually by 75 persons (82%). Evaluation of nutrition was done predominantly by asking a few not-formal questions (62 persons, 67%). Only 1 physical used daily diary of nutrition. Similarly in evaluation of physical activity 62 persons (67%) used only not-formal questions. It is worthily to note that 36 persons (40%) considered that they need more skills to give advices of healthy life style, 49 persons (53%) did not enough time to do that and 30 persons (33%) thought that it is hard to give advices they can't keep themselves. All questionnaire physicians declared to use non-pharmacological treatment in patients with hypertension. Quite good knowledge of essential recommendations in that field was stated. The results of this questionnaire indicate that many physicians estimate their knowledge and skills as low in that sphere.

First Report of Phytoplasma Infection in Freesia Plant

Disease symptoms including leaf chlorotic and necrotic spots and stripes resembling freesia leaf necrosis (disease of unknown etiology [2]) were observed in freesia (Freesia × hybrida Klatt.) plants (cvs. Aladyn, Blue Lady, Cortine, Gompy, and White Rapid) naturally infected with Freesia mosaic virus (FMV) and grown in the greenhouse in Poland. The aim of this work was to study the association of the leaf symptoms occurring in freesia cultivars with phytoplasma infection and to identify it. To detect the possible presence of phytoplasmas in freesias, plants showing leaf symptoms (five cultivars) and symptomless plants ('Blue Lady', 'Cortine', and 'Gompy') were assayed for the presence of phytoplasma 16S rDNA fragment by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). For phytoplasma detection samples of young leaves and corms of 15 symptomatic and five symptomless freesias were taken. The samples were collected from the selected plants infected with FMV. In addition, leaf samples from healthy Catharanthus roseus plants and those infected with AKV reference strain of aster yellows (AY) phytoplasma group, subgroup I-B (supplied by W. Jarausch, INRA Bordeaux, France), were included for comparison. The amplification was performed using the universal-rA/fA or R16F1/R0 and group specific-R16(I)F1/R1 phytoplasma primer pairs (1). Phytoplasma identification was accompanied by digestion with AluI and MseI restriction endonucleases and restriction length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the R(I)F1/R1 or rA/fA products. DNA amplification product was observed in all nested PCRs containing template DNA derived from the leaves and corms of all symptomatic as well as symptomless and FMV-affected freesias except symptomless freesia 'Cortine'. Based on RFLP analysis of PCR products and the comparison of the RFLP patterns with those of the strain AKV of aster yellows phytoplasma group (AY I-B), the associated phytoplasmas were identified as phytoplasma 16S rRNA group I, subgroup B. This work provides the first evidence that freesias examined were naturally infected with aster yellows phytoplasma. Detection of phytoplasma in diseased and symptomless but FMV-affected freesias underlines the need to know the role of this pathogen in the etiology of freesia diseases. References: (1) I.-M. Lee et al. Phytopathology 84:559, 1994. (2) H. J. M van Dorst. Neth. J. Plant Pathol. 79:130, 1973.

[A review of methods for organizing nutritional education for hospitalized patients]

Diet-related diseases are diagnosed very frequently among inpatients and result in high mortality rate. Most commonly, the severity of illness or poor prognosis can be reduced or diminish by change of the lifestyle or simply-eating behavior. Across many countries there is conducted research of nutrition education potentials. It is usually applied to patients during their staying in hospital and after. A review of methods of nutrition education for hospitalised patients was done. The methods can be classified into three categories: instructional, motivational and behavioral. The effectiveness of the methods was the main concern. There were two major ways to evaluate this effectiveness: direct approach (laboratory or anthropometry tests) and indirect approach (questionnaires, food diary). An advantage of nutrition education providers' employment was discussed. Many studies show that nutrition education is an effective method in secondary prevention of diet-related diseases. It is promising to disseminate these kind of efforts in Poland.

[Lipid mobilizing activity in blood serum during the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle]

The lipid mobilising activity of woman's blood serum in the follicular and luteal phases has been investigated. This activity was determined according to the Buckle method concerning parametrial adipose tissue of female rats. It was found to enhance the lipid mobilising activity in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. The increment of the lipid mobilising activity in the luteal phase was lower than in the follicular phase.

[Transesophageal echocardiography for evaluation of the left coronary artery]

The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of transesophageal echocardiography in the imaging of the left main coronary artery. The group tested--consisted of 26 patients with angina pectoris and 8 controls. The identification and adequate images of the left main coronary artery were obtained in 33 of 34 (97%) patients. In 5 of 26 patients with angina pectoris we observed stenosis of the left main coronary artery. The diameter stenosis of the lesion was judged to be greater than 50%. In addition, we tried to asses Doppler-derived parameters of blood flow. We have demonstrated that the pulsed Doppler study of the left main coronary artery is feasible. Comparison of patients with angina pectoris with the control group showed lower systolic flow velocities (35 +/- 10 cm/s vs. 55 +/- 15 cm/s) and slightly higher diastolic flow velocities (75 +/- 20 cm/s vs. 70 +/- 10 cm/s). This transesophageal examination holds promise for detecting pathologic vascular status. Although the sensitivity and specificity of this findings cannot be determined by our study, we believe that transesophageal echocardiography can provide a reference for the evaluation of patients with known or suspected ischemic heart disease. Further studies including larger groups of patients are recommended.

Estimation of some agents of humoral and cell-mediated immunological response in the families of children with food allergy

The humoral and cellular agents involved in allergic reactions were examined in 85 persons from 25 families of children with food allergy. The raised level of immunoglobulin M, the lowered levels of C3 and C4 fractions of complement and the increase in the contents of immunological complexes were the abnormalities most frequently met both in food allergic children and their parents. The incidence of the lowered level of IgA in serum was also significant. However, the abnormal results of cellular tests were more often found in the children with food allergy than in their parents. Especially the normal Helper/Suppressor ratio prevailed in the parents (81.6%) as compared to their children (47.6%).

[Absence of permanent teeth buds in three generations of a family]

Hypodontia is described in three generations of a family. Absence of the buds of permanent teeth was noted in 6 out of 12 family members. These cases confirm the hereditary aetiology of this anomaly.