Low brown adipose tissue activity in endurance-trained compared with lean sedentary men.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: It has now been unequivocally demonstrated that humans possess functional brown adipose tissue (BAT) and that human BAT can be recruited upon chronic cold stimulation. Recruitment of BAT has been postulated as a potential strategy to counteract the current global obesity epidemic. Recently, it was shown in rodents that endurance exercise training could stimulate the recruitment of brown-like adipocytes within white adipose tissue (WAT) via exercise-induced myokines such as irisin (the cleaved circulating product of the type 1 membrane protein FNDC5) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Our objective was to test whether endurance-trained athletes had increased cold-stimulated BAT activity and browning of subcutaneous WAT compared with lean sedentary males. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Twelve endurance-trained athletes and 12 lean sedentary males were measured during 2 h of mild cold exposure to determine cold-induced BAT activity via [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography-computed tomography ([(18)F]FDG-PET-CT) scanning. Skeletal muscle FNDC5 expression, as well as plasma irisin and IL-6 levels were determined. In addition, a subcutaneous abdominal WAT biopsy was taken to measure gene expression of several markers for browning of WAT. RESULTS: Cold-induced BAT activity was significantly lower in athletes, and no differences in gene expression of classical brown and beige adipocyte markers were detected in subcutaneous WAT between the groups. As expected, mRNA expression of FNDC5 in skeletal muscle was significantly higher in endurance athletes but plasma irisin and Il-6 levels were similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that chronic endurance exercise is not associated with brown and beige adipocyte recruitment; in fact endurance training appears to be linked to lower the metabolic activity of BAT in humans.

Common data elements for spinal cord injury clinical research: a National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke project.

OBJECTIVES: To develop a comprehensive set of common data elements (CDEs), data definitions, case report forms and guidelines for use in spinal cord injury (SCI) clinical research, as part of the CDE project at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) of the US National Institutes of Health. SETTING: International Working Groups. METHODS: Nine working groups composed of international experts reviewed existing CDEs and instruments, created new elements when needed and provided recommendations for SCI clinical research. The project was carried out in collaboration with and cross-referenced to development of the International Spinal Cord Society (ISCoS) International SCI Data Sets. The recommendations were compiled, subjected to internal review and posted online for external public comment. The final version was reviewed by all working groups and the NINDS CDE team before release. RESULTS: The NINDS SCI CDEs and supporting documents are publically available on the NINDS CDE website and the ISCoS website. The CDEs span the continuum of SCI care and the full range of domains of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. CONCLUSION: Widespread use of CDEs can facilitate SCI clinical research and trial design, data sharing and retrospective analyses. Continued international collaboration will enable consistent data collection and reporting, and will help ensure that the data elements are updated, reviewed and broadcast as additional evidence is obtained.

Difference in binding of killed and live Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes by C-reactive protein.

The binding and opsonic properties of C-reactive protein (CRP) for various species of bacteria were investigated. CRP bound more avidly to killed than to live Streptococcus pneumoniae, the binding varying among various serotypes; CRP hardly bound to a number of other bacterial species studied. CRP enhanced complement-dependent phagocytosis of live S. pneumoniae by granulocytes but did not enhance the phagocytosis of live Staphylococcus aureus or group B streptococci. We suppose that CRP may serve as an opsonin for killed bacteria and bacterial debris but is probably not an important opsonin for live bacteria other than S. pneumoniae.

Pneumococcal anticapsular antibodies in patients with chronic cardiovascular and obstructive lung disease in The Netherlands.

Differences in pneumococcal anticapsular antibody concentrations were assessed among patients with various chronic disorders and among young (25-35 years of age) and older adults (55-65 years). Antibody concentrations were determined by ELISA, using the whole 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine as antigen. No differences in mean or distribution of serum antibody concentrations were found among young adults (either healthy or asthmatic) or among older adults (healthy or with chronic obstructive pulmonary or chronic cardiovascular disease). Each group included individuals with low antibody levels. Therefore, the enhanced susceptibility to pneumococcal infections reported for some groups at risk, that is, elderly individuals and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary or chronic cardiovascular disease, cannot be attributed solely to low anticapsular antibody concentrations.

Cefsulodin for the treatment of Pseudomonas infections--a study comparing cefsulodin and ticarcillin.

The efficacy of cefsulodin against infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa was investigated first in an open trial and then in a controlled comparative study in which ticarcillin was used. The first trial consisted of 16 patients with proven Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections, 9 of whom also received an aminoglycoside. In the second trial 28 such patients were evaluated (14 on cefsulodin 1 g 4 times daily and 14 on ticarcillin 5 g 4 times daily); all patients also received an aminoglycoside. The results of the two trials were similar in that 75% of the patients of the first trial and 86% of the second group exhibited an excellent or good response to cefsulodin. For the ticarcillin group a similar response was noted. In the first trial the sensitivity of P. aeruginosa did not change markedly, whereas one strain of the cefsulodin group became resistant in the second trial. Pharmacokinetic data were in agreement with those reported in the literature. Side effects were rare.

Pharmacokinetics of aztreonam in infected patients.

Pharmacokinetic parameters of aztreonam were determined in 22 patients with severe Gram-negative infections, treated with 0.5 or 1 g tid as an infusion of 30 min duration. Plasma concentrations were determined microbiologically. Most patients had various degrees of renal impairment and they showed a wide variety of age and body weight. The mean calculated volume of distribution was 17.31 or 260 ml/kg. The total plasma clearance correlated well with the creatinine clearance; the mean plasma clearance was 82 ml/min and the extrapolated extrarenal clearance was 9 ml/min. Actually measured half lives of aztreonam varied between 1 h 20 min, in a patient with normal renal function, and 9 h 40 min in a patient with severely impaired renal function. The results differ from predictions by other authors. Based on our results a dosage adjustment schedule for renal impairment is suggested.