Obesity in adolescents from urban and rural areas--a comparison of physical fitness and markers of inflammation.

OBJECTIVES: Obesity entails serious health consequences associated with the development of inflammation in the body and it has an impact on physical fitness. Obesity is not only related to the development of inflammation in the body, but it is a condition involving the production of proinflammatory cytokines. Aim of this paper was the comparison of parameters of physical fitness and inflammatory condition in overweight and obese adolescents from urban and rural areas. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study involved 113 children aged from 12 to 18 who were overweight or obese (mean body weight 89.32 ± 17.69, height 168.6 ± 9.82, BMI 31.27 ± 4.38 BMI). Physical fitness was measured using the Eurofit test, while concentrations and profiles of the glycosylation of the acute phase proteins was investigated by means of electrophoretic methods. RESULTS: The study demonstrated inferior results of fitness tests and the presence of features of inflammation in adolescents in both age groups, compared with their peers who had no problems with overweight or obesity. Boys from the younger group have a higher BMI and poorer Eurofit test results than their urban counterparts. Boys from rural areas show markers of acute inflammation, correlating with worse results of endurance, explosive power and speed tests. CONCLUSIONS: Young people from rural areas are more at risk of metabolic consequences of obesity than their peers from urban areas, due to poorer fitness and already visible markers of inflammation.

The evaluation of selected serum mineral concentrations and their association with insulin resistance in obese adolescents.

BACKGROUND: In obesity, elevated insulin resistance is observed, which may be associated with disturbances in mineral status in the body. The few studies concerning the status of minerals and their relationships with insulin resistance and body composition in adolescent populations have brought inconclusive results. AIM: of this study is, thus, to assess serum mineral concentration in obese adolescents, and to evaluate their potential association with insulin resistance. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Seventy-eight obese adolescents and 20 healthy volunteers aged 12-18 years were recruited for the study. Selected anthropometrical measurements and levels of iron, zinc, copper, calcium, and magnesium were assessed in serum. Insulin resistance in the participants was evaluated according to the homeostatic model of assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) protocol. Levels of iron, zinc, copper, calcium, and magnesium were assessed in serum. RESULTS: Obese subjects had significantly higher HOMA-IR indices than the control group. Compared to healthy subjects, the serum concentration of zinc, calcium, and magnesium was significantly lower in obese subjects. A significant inverse relation was found between HOMA-IR and zinc levels in serum. CONCLUSIONS: Obese adolescents have a poorer mineral status (especially zinc) than adolescents of normal weight, which can contribute to insulin resistance.

[Relevance of five core aspects of the pre-anesthesia visit: results of a patient survey]. / Wertigkeit von 5 Kernaspekten der Prämedikationsvisite : Ergebnisse einer Patientenbefragung.

BACKGROUND: Due to a variety of reasons (e.g. increase in outpatient surgery and legal restrictions related to working hours) it has become increasingly more difficult to have the pre-anesthesia visit and the anesthesia carried out by the same anesthetist. In the light of these organizational changes as well as increasing economical pressure it has become common practice to implement pre-anesthesia assessment clinics. It is unclear, however, if these changes in anesthetic patient care respect patient needs. METHODS: By means of a survey using the willingness to pay method, the relative significance of five quality aspects (location of pre-anesthesia visit, waiting time, patient-physician relationship, use of multimedia and ambience) were studied. Participation during a 12-month study period was on a voluntary basis. RESULTS: Of the 1,058 questionnaires, 1,014 were eligible for analysis. A pre-anesthesia visit performed by the anesthetist who would deliver anesthesia was the most important aspect for almost two thirds (624 out of 1,014) of the patients with on average more than one third of the money available spent on this item. Waiting time was the second most important factor with about one third of the patients rating this item as the most relevant factor and on average approximately one quarter of the total money available spent on it. Location of the pre-anesthesia visit, use of multimedia and ambience were considered least important. The order of these preferences was regardless of age and gender of subjects. However, there was a trend to age and gender-specific differences concerning the amount of money spent on these five items. For instance, with increasing age, patient-physician relationship and location of the pre-anesthesia visit become more important. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the integration of a pre-anesthesia assessment clinic in anesthetic patient care is not favorable from the patients' point of view because getting to know the anesthetist who will deliver anesthesia is of paramount importance to most patients. In cases where a pre-anesthetic assessment clinic is indispensable, other measures to build up confidence compensating for the lack of personal patient-physician relationship should be developed. In this respect, the promotion of a corporate identity of the whole anesthesia department may be beneficial. Furthermore, keeping the waiting time as short as possible should be a high priority as this item was rated the second most important factor.

Effect of intra-operative pressure support vs pressure controlled ventilation on oxygenation and lung function in moderately obese adults.

Obesity impairs peri-operative lung function. To evaluate the impact of pressure support ventilation vs pressure controlled ventilation in moderately obese adults upon early postoperative lung function, we randomly assigned 68 moderately obese patients (body mass index 25-35 kg x m(-2)) undergoing minor surgery to receive intra-operative ventilation either with pressure support or pressure controlled ventilation. We performed intra-operative blood gas analysis and measured pulse oximetry saturation, spirometry values at pre-operative assessment (baseline) and at 10 min, 30 min, 2 h and 24 h after extubation. The intra-operative oxygenation index (arterial partial pressure of oxygen/fraction of inspired oxygen) in the pressure support ventilation group was significantly improved over time (p < 0.0001). Postoperatively, the pressure support ventilation group also had better lung function and oxygenation values than did the pressure controlled ventilation group (p < 0.005). We conclude that pressure support ventilation better maintains lung function than pressure controlled ventilation in moderately overweight patients scheduled for minor surgery.

Limits on the spin-dependent WIMP-nucleon cross sections from the first science run of the ZEPLIN-III experiment.

We present new experimental constraints on the WIMP-nucleon spin-dependent elastic cross sections using data from the first science run of ZEPLIN-III, a two-phase xenon experiment searching for galactic dark matter weakly interacting massive particles based at the Boulby mine. Analysis of approximately 450 kg x days fiducial exposure allow us to place a 90%-confidence upper limit on the pure WIMP-neutron cross section of sigma(n)=1.9x10(-2) pb at 55 GeV/c(2) WIMP mass. Recent calculations of the nuclear spin structure based on the Bonn charge-dependent nucleon-nucleon potential were used for the odd-neutron isotopes 129Xe and 131Xe. These indicate that the sensitivity of xenon targets to the spin-dependent WIMP-proton interaction could be much lower than implied by previous calculations, whereas the WIMP-neutron sensitivity is impaired only by a factor of approximately 2.

[Video laryngoscopy for modified rapid sequence induction of anaesthesia: Sellick manoever with and without video laryngoscopic control]. / Videolaryngoskopie zur modifizierten "Rapid-sequence-Narkoseeinleitung" : Sellick-Manöver mit und ohne videolaryngoskopische Kontrolle.

BACKGROUND: There is evidence that cricoid pressure, one of the key elements of rapid sequence induction (RSI) in patients at risk of aspiration, can distort the glottic view obtained by direct laryngoscopy (DL) and consequently impair or delay endotracheal intubation (ETI). The fact that cricoid pressure is applied by an assistant "blindly", i.e. without any visual feedback, is believed to be a contributing factor. Video laryngoscopy (VIL) offers the advantage that both the anaesthetist and the assistant can follow laryngoscopy. This could be useful for ETI during RSI. METHODS: We used VIL for a simulated RSI in 170 adult patients randomised to either video laryngoscopy-guided application of cricoid pressure (group I) or conventional, i.e. "blind", application of cricoid pressure (group II). Time to ETI was compared between groups. The laryngoscopy view obtained by VIL was compared with the view of conventional DL obtained before, in all patients. RESULTS: Time to ETI did not differ between groups (p=0.2): 25.1+/-14.2 s (group I) vs. 23.7+/-12.1 s (group II). Laryngoscopy scores were significantly better for VIL than conventional DL (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Visualisation of the larynx during RSI can be improved using VIL. Time to ETI is not decreased by use of video laryngoscopy-guided application of cricoid pressure.

In vivo study of intradermal focusing for tattoo removal.

Delivery of intradermally focused nanosecond laser pulses with small energy as an alternate technique applicable to clinical procedures in dermatological and plastic surgery is an area of relatively new interest with multiple potential applications. We assessed this approach on common tattoo pigments in dermis in an in vivo study using a wavelength of 1064 nm. Paired micropigs were tattooed with standard blue, black, green and red pigments. The tattoos were allowed to mature and then treated by 12 ns pulses in a focused beam of 11.4 degrees cone angle. Visual observation and histological analysis of biopsies were performed to evaluate results. Significant reduction in pulse energy and collateral damage was achieved with pulse energy ranging between 38 to 63 mJ. Blue and black tattoos were found to respond well from a clinical standpoint. The depth dependence of tissue response and pigment redistributions at 1 hour, 1 week and 1 month after laser treatment was quantitatively analysed through biopsies and a strong relationship was demonstrated between tattoo response and laser-induced dermal vacuolation. The optical absorption coefficients of the four tattoo pigments were measured to be approximately the same and the laser-induced plasma is suggested to be responsible for the pigment redistribution. As we hypothesised, intradermal focusing of nanosecond pulses significantly reduced required pulse energy for tattoo ablation to about 60 mJ or less. These results stimulate a number of additional questions relevant not only to clinical applications but also to the understanding of the fundamental process of laser-pigment interaction in the dermis as it relates to tattoo removal.

Optical properties of porcine skin dermis between 900 nm and 1500 nm.

The weak absorption of shortwave infrared light by skin tissues between 700 and 1500 nm offers an important window for diagnosis by optical means. The strong scattering of shortwave infrared light by the skin, however, presents a challenge to the modelling of light propagation through the skin and the understanding of skin optics. We have measured the collimated and diffuse transmittance and diffuse reflectance of porcine skin dermis samples within 30 h post-mortem. Monte Carlo simulations have been performed to inversely determine the absorption coefficient, scattering coefficient and anisotropy factor of the dermis samples in the spectral range from 900 to 1500 nm. We further analyse the sensitivity of the values of the parameters to the experimental errors and inverse calculation procedures. The state of the cellular integrity of the skin samples following optical measurements was verified using transmission electron microscopy. These results were correlated to study post-mortem effects on the in vitro optical properties of porcine dermis. We concluded that for samples stored within crushed ice for up to 30 h post-mortem the wavelength dependence of optical properties of the dermis remains unchanged while the values of the parameters vary moderately due to modification of the water content of the tissue.

Limited access to ethanol in genetic drinking rats is suppressed while feeding is enhanced by the mixed 5-HT1A agonist/5-HT2A antagonist FG5938.

Serotonin (5-HT) receptor agonists, antagonists, and mixed agonist/antagonists have been implicated in the volitional intake of ethanol in the rat and other species. The present experiments were undertaken to determine whether FG5938 (1-[4-(p-fluorophenyl)butyl]-4-(6-methyl-2-pyridinyl)-piperazine fumarate) would alter ethanol drinking in: genetic ethanol preferring (P) rats; and a new strain of high ethanol preferring (HEP) male and female rats derived from crossbreeding of P and a variant strain of Sprague-Dawley animals. After a preference test for solutions of 3 to 30% ethanol vs. water, each rat was given limited access to its maximally preferred concentration daily between 1600 and 1800 h; fluid intakes were recorded every 0.25 h. Once fluid consumption had stabilized over 4 days, saline vehicle, 2.5 mg/kg or 5.0 mg/kg FG5938 was injected subcutaneously 0.5 h prior to ethanol access on each of 3 consecutive days; thereafter, preference testing for ethanol continued for 4 additional days. Whereas the saline vehicle was without effect, FG5938 caused a fivefold decrease in total intake of ethanol from 1.7 to 0.3 g/kg and in proportion of ethanol to total fluid consumed from 0.42 to 0.03. The onset of the significant decline in ethanol drinking occurred during the latter 1.75-h interval. Further, both doses of FG5938, but not saline, increased the intake of food significantly. The decline in ethanol drinking was virtually identical in both P and HEP males and in female HEP rats. These results demonstrate that FG5938 affects ethanol drinking only after 0.5 h of its administration. Finally, it is envisaged that the ingestion of ethanol in genetic high drinking rats is mediated, in part, by central synapses utilizing both 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors.

Absorption spectra of corneas in the far ultraviolet region.

PURPOSE: To study the corneal absorption in the far ultraviolet (UV) region between 260 and 190 nm. METHODS: Thirty-four corneal samples of thickness near 20 microns were obtained from 18 porcine corneas and six human corneas with a microtome-cryostat. The authors conducted absorbance measurements of the sectioned corneal samples supported by two UV optical windows from 350 to 190 nm using a dual-beam spectrophotometer. Three whole porcine corneas were used to study the effect of freezing on the absorbance from 350 to near 290 nm. RESULTS: The absorption spectra of porcine and human corneas from 350 to 190 nm were measured and three segments in the spectrum between 260 and 190 nm have been identified. The linear absorption coefficients were determined to be 2300 +/- 330 (cm-1) at 210 nm and 2410 +/- 370 (cm-1) at 193 nm for the porcine corneas and 2320 +/- 470 (cm-1) at 210 nm and 2340 +/- 150 (cm-1) at 193 nm for the human corneas. CONCLUSIONS: A "window of ablation" in the far UV region between 220 and 190 nm has been identified in which short laser pulses of similar durations and different wavelengths may be interchangeable to ablate the corneal surface with similar characteristics.

Alcohol intake in high alcohol drinking (HAD) rats is suppressed by FG5865, a novel 5-HT1A agonist/5-HT2 antagonist.

Both the 5-HT2 antagonist, FG5606 (amperozide), and the mixed 5-HT1 agonist/5-HT2 antagonist, FG5893, attenuate significantly the volitional intake of alcohol in the cyanamide treated rat. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect on alcohol drinking in the selectively bred, high alcohol drinking (HAD) rat of a new and novel 5-HT1A agonist/5-HT2 antagonist, FG5865 (2-[4-[4,4-bis(4-fluorophenyl)butyl]-1-piperazinyl]-3-pyridinecarboxy lic acid methyl ester), which shares pharmacological properties with FG5893. Initially, a standard three bottle preference test for water vs. 3% to 30% alcohol solutions was given over 11 days to determine the maximally preferred concentration for each animal. Then water and this solution, which ranged between 9% and 20% with an overall mean absolute intake of 6.3 +/- 0.5 g/kg per day, was offered over three consecutive 4-day test sequences: (1) predrug control; (2) SC injections b.i.d. of either 1.0 mg/kg or 2.5 mg/kg FG5865 or saline control vehicle; and (3) postdrug. Whereas saline failed to alter alcohol consumption of the HAD rats, FG5865 caused a significant dose dependent reduction by as much as 75% in the intakes of alcohol during its administration in terms of both g/kg (p < 0.01) and proportion of alcohol to total fluid intake (p < 0.01). During the administration of 2.5 mg/kg FG5865, alcohol drinking declined from 6.5 +/- 0.3 g/kg to as low as 2.3 +/- 0.2 g/kg per day. Neither the body weight of the HAD animals nor their intake of food was affected by either dose of FG5865. These results uphold the concept that the 5-HT1A and 5-HT2 receptor subtypes in the brain play a part in the aberrant drinking of alcohol of the HAD rat. Because FG5865 influences the activity of serotonergic neurons in the mesolimbic system of the rat, it is envisaged that the drug suppresses alcohol drinking by way of its action on these neurons.

Cirrhosis with ascites: increased atrial natriuretic peptide messenger RNA expression in rat ventricle.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Atrial natriuretic peptides (ANPs) are increased in the circulation of cirrhotics with ascites; however, it is unknown whether this increase is caused by increased synthesis or a decrease in the metabolic processing of these peptides. ANP gene expression in the liver, atria, ventricles, and gastrointestinal tract of cirrhotic vs. control rats was studied as was their metabolism. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats developed cirrhosis with ascites approximately 20 weeks after weekly intragastric instillation of carbon tetrachloride. Their circulating, ascitic, and urinary levels of ANPs were measured by radioimmunoassays. ANP gene expression was measured by a ribonuclease protection assay. RESULTS: ANP gene expression was increased 2.8- to 4.1-fold in the ventricles of cirrhotic rats compared with age-matched healthy rats. ANP gene expression was present but not increased in the liver, atria, and gastrointestinal tract of cirrhotic rats. No increase of metabolic processing of these peptides was found in the circulation. Cardiac ultrasonography and catheterization revealed no ventricular dilation or increased ventricular pressure. CONCLUSIONS: Elevation of circulating ANPs with cirrhosis was associated with increased ventricular steady-state ANP messenger RNA concentrations. The increased ANP gene expression in cirrhosis seems to involve a novel mechanism not related to stretch because neither increased ventricular pressure nor dilation was present.

Alcohol drinking in rats is attenuated by the mixed 5-HT1 agonist/5-HT2 antagonist FG 5893.

Over the last three decades, the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT) has been implicated in the etiological mechanisms underlying the excessive drinking of ethyl alcohol. Recently, the 5-HT2 antagonist amperozide was found to reduce selectively the high intake of alcohol in the cyanamide-induced drinking rat without any adverse side effects. The purpose of the present study was to determine the action on alcohol drinking of the novel second-generation amperozide-like drug, which is a mixed 5-HT1 agonist/5-HT2 antagonist, FG 5893 (2-[4-[4,4-bis(4-fluorophenyl)butyl]-1-piperazinyl]-3-pyridinecarb oxylic acid methyl ester). To induce preference for alcohol in Sprague-Dawley rats, the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase was inhibited by cyanamide administered in the absence of alcohol in a dose of 10 mg/kg twice a day over three days. A standard three-bottle preference test was used in which water and a maximally preferred concentration of alcohol were offered to each animal. Following control tests of alcohol preference for 3 days, either a saline control vehicle or FG 5893 in a dose of 0.5, 1.0, or 2.5 mg/kg was administered subcutaneously at 1600 and 2200 for 3 consecutive days. Whereas control injections of saline were without effect on alcohol consumption, all doses of FG 5893 significantly reduced the 24-h intake of alcohol in terms of both absolute g/kg and proportion of alcohol to total fluid intake. Further, the 1.0 and 2.5 mg/kg doses of FG 5893 continued to suppress alcohol consumption over two 4-day tests immediately following the injection sequence and after a 40-day interval.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The cytoprotective properties of prostaglandin E2 against the toxic effects of actinomycin C on embryonic neural retina cells.

Prostaglandins (PGs) have been shown to cytoprotect various tissue types against the toxic effects of many chemicals. The mechanism of this protection is poorly understood, but the involvement of cAMP is often implied. Only one previous study examined nervous tissue and PG protection. The present study was designed to determine if PGE2 affords cytoprotection to a more specific nervous tissue (embryonic neural retina) from the toxicity of actinomycin C (AMC) using a trypan blue exclusion assay. The lowest concentration of PGE2 (2 x 10(-5)M) had no effect, but as the concentration increased (3 x 10(-5)M and 5 x 10(-5)M), PGE2 did afford protection against AMC in a dose dependent fashion. Theophylline treated cells were not protected, suggesting that cAMP may not be the primary mechanism of protection.

The effects of indomethacin on fibroblast chemotaxis.

1. Boyden chambers were used to investigate the effects of indomethacin on fibroblast chemotaxis to a conditioned medium. 2. It was determined that indomethacin did not inhibit, but enhanced fibroblast chemotaxis at a concentration of 10(-4) (91%)-10(-6) M (79%). 3. No significant difference was found between controls and cells treated with 10(-8)-10(-10) M indomethacin.

Ethanol drinking following 6-OHDA lesions of nucleus accumbens and tuberculum olfactorium of the rat.

Previous studies have shown that lesions of the dopaminergic system in the brain produced by an intracerebroventricular injection of the neurotoxin, 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), evoke significant changes in ethanol drinking. In the present experiments, dopaminergic systems of Sprague-Dawley rats were lesioned by 6-OHDA infused into either the tuberculum olfactorium or nucleus accumbens, two of the structures implicated in drug-related reinforcement. Prior to the lesion and immediately thereafter, tests for ethanol preference were undertaken in which water was offered in a self-selection situation together with ethanol which was increased in concentration from 3-30% over a 10-day interval. Following the circumscribed ablation of dopaminergic neurons within either the N. accumbens or tuberculum olfactorium, preference for ethanol increased significantly with absolute intakes exceeding 4.0 g/kg at the 7% concentration during the first postlesion drinking test. During the second postlesion preference test, the mean consumption of ethanol exceeded 6.0 g/kg at the 11% concentration and 4.0 to 5.0 g/kg at the 20 and 30 percent concentrations offered to the rats. When adjacent areas just dorsal or lateral to these structures were lesioned by 6-OHDA, no significant change in consumption of ethanol occurred. Thus, it is envisaged that one of the functional roles for the dopaminergic neurons of the N. accumbens and tuberculum olfactorium is to regulate the craving for a drug with addictive liability such as ethanol. As a result of an impairment of normal function of dopamine receptors or a perturbation in the release of this catecholaminergic neurotransmitter, ethanol becomes reinforcing upon repeated exposure. Thus, an addictive-like state consequently ensues. Finally, it is envisaged that the control mechanism underlying the function of the dopaminergic neurons in the medial-basal forebrain is functionally disinhibited in individuals that consume ethanol to the point of abuse.

Effects of ethanol and acetaldehyde on cultured pre-implantation mouse embryos.

Pre-implantation 2-cell stage mouse embryos, obtained from superovulated CF-1 mice, were exposed to ethanol and acetaldehyde through the culture medium for 60 min followed by a 105-h incubation period. Control and ethanol exposed embryos survived equally well in ethanol concentrations as high as 800 mg/100 ml medium and acetaldehyde levels up to 10 mg/100 ml medium.

Brain growth during ethanol-induced hypoplasia.

The inhibition of fetal brain growth resulting from in utero ethanol exposure may impair central nervous system (CNS) development and thereby result in mental retardation. Studies of ethanol-induced brain hypoplasia using chick embryos have shown that the early development of the chick is significantly growth inhibited by a single dose of ethanol (1.0 g/kg) given at the start of incubation (day 0). However, this level of ethanol exposure has been reported to have no effect on chick weight measured at hatching, suggesting that the weights of ethanol-treated chicks were regained during their development. The present experiments were undertaken to determine the biochemical changes associated with the varying growth rates believed to occur in the alcohol-treated embryos. The results indicated that between days 5 and 8 of development, the rates of DNA and protein synthesis (measured as radioactive thymidine and leucine incorporation, respectively) were inhibited by ethanol. The growth inhibition was highly correlated with blood alcohol content and there were associated increases in brain prostaglandin E (PGE) levels relative to vehicle-treated embryos. Further, there was a significant, inverse correlation between brain cyclic AMP content and individual brain weight. By day 10, the ethanol-treated embryos remained smaller than controls but their rates of DNA and protein synthesis were comparable to those of control animals. The normal rates of synthesis observed on day 10 appeared to correlate with clearance of the ethanol dose and with restoration of normal brain levels of PGE relative to 10-day vehicle-dosed embryos.