Glycogen synthesis after road cycling in the fed state.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a recovery beverage immediately after exercise on rates of muscle glycogen resynthesis in response to road cycling when nutritional supplementation was supplied during exercise and a solid meal was served two hours after exercise. Eight trained male cyclists, (25+/-4 years, 69.3+/-5.2 kg, VO2 peak=4.5+/-0.4 L.min(-1)) performed two 62 km outdoor training rides in a double-blind, randomized cross-over experiment. Subjects received a food bar and a commercial sport drink during each ride. A recovery beverage (40 g CHO+20 g PRO) or a placebo (PL) was administered 30 min post-exercise. At 2 h post-exercise, a solid meal was provided for both trials. There was no difference between trials at any time point for glycogen (140+/-9, 56+/-8, and 70+/-8 mmol.kg(-1)wet wt.(-1).hr.(-1) for pre, post, and 4 h post, respectively). The addition of a supplemental recovery beverage ingested soon after exercise did not significantly increase the rate of muscle glycogen resynthesis after 4 h of recovery when nutritional supplementation is provided during exercise and a meal is consumed 2 h after exercise.

[Integrated health care at Hamburg]. / Norddeutsches Herznetz in der Metropolregion Hamburg.

This paper reports in detail on a project of Integrated Health Care in cardiology at Hamburg, Germany. Information on the structure of the contract, the participants, the agreed claiming of benefits and provision of services are provided as well as relevant figures and contact data.

Effects of a chronic myositis on structural and functional features of spinal astrocytes in the rat.

The study aimed at the question if astrocytes react with morphological or functional changes when a skeletal muscle is pathologically altered. In rats, a myositis was induced in the gastrocnemius-soleus muscle. After 12 days, the immunoreactivity (IR) for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), morphometric parameters, and fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) expression of astrocytes were quantitatively evaluated in the dorsal horn of the spinal segment L4. Following inflammation, the area density of GFAP-IR as well as the proportion of astrocytes expressing FGF-2 increased significantly while the degree of astrocyte arborisation decreased as shown by a shape factor. The density of cell nuclei was unchanged suggesting that no myositis-induced cell divisions occurred. The data indicate that spinal astrocytes may influence pain processes particularly by increased FGF-2 synthesis.

The pain inhibiting pain effect: an electrophysiological study in humans.

This study examines the counterirritation phenomenon of experimental pain in human subjects. Phasic pain induced by intracutaneous electrical stimuli was simultaneously applied with tonic pain induced by ischemic muscle work. Pain ratings, spontaneous EEG and evoked potentials were measured. We found a significant reduction of phasic pain ratings during and 10 min after tonic pain. The late somatosensory evoked potentials as neurophysiological correlates of phasic pain sensation were attenuated until 20 min after tonic pain offset. The extent of phasic pain relief due to concomitant tonic pain was small but significant, comparable to the effect of a regular systemic dose of a narco-analgesic drug in this experimental pain model. On the other hand, no modulations in the late components of the auditory evoked potential and the power spectrum of the spontaneous EEG were observed. These variables reflect the attention and vigilance of the subject and are well-known to be affected by opioids. The only exception was an increase of beta power, which might reflect hyperarousal during tonic pain. These results support the suggestion, that the analgesic effect of heterotopic noxious stimulation in humans is based on the activation of a specific inhibitory pain control system. Systemic release of endogenous opioids is unlikely to be involved, because the typical effects of opioids on the EEG were not observed.

Inflammation-induced increase in the density of neuropeptide-immunoreactive nerve endings in rat skeletal muscle.

The density of substance P (SP)-, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)- and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-immunoreactive (ir) nerve endings was quantitatively evaluated in intact and inflamed gastrocnemius-soleus muscle of the rat. In persistently inflamed muscle (12 days after a single injection of Freund's adjuvant into the muscle), the density of SP-ir fibres was significantly increased. CGRP- and VIP-ir fibres displayed an insignificant increase in density. The density of fibres ir for nerve growth factor (NGF) and for growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43/B-50), a marker for axonal sprouting, regeneration and synaptic reorganisation, increased significantly in persistently inflamed muscle. The data are consistent with the established contribution of NGF on the expression of SP and GAP-43 in afferent neurones under the influence of a persistent inflammation.

[Influence of the extrinsic nervous system on exocrine pancreatic secretion in the human]. / Einfluss des extrinsischen Nervensystems auf die exokrine Pankreassekretion beim Menschen.

Exocrine pancreatic secretion is regulated by gastrointestinal hormone and the autonomic nervous system. The interaction of both systems is still unclear. In humans CCK mediated regulation of exocrine pancreatic secretion requires a cholinergic tonus. The CCK receptor is thought to be localized on the acinuscell and modulated by cholinergic neurons. Pancreas transplantation and percutaneous diversion of the pancreatic juice offers the opportunity to investigate pancreatic secretion under the condition of complete extrinsic denervation. In the present study the influence of denervation on exogene CCK stimulation and simultaneous cholinergic stimulation or suppression with atropine, respectively, was investigated. CCK stimulation alone showed a reduced, dose dependent increase in enzyme secretion. Simultaneous stimulation with bethachenol resulted in a 2-fold increased secretion. Atropine suppressed the low dose CCK effect completely. Whereas CCK at high doses caused a 1.5 fold increase despite atropine. After extrinsic denervation the human pancreas remains sensitive to exogene stimulation. The intrinsic system remains also intact and is sensitive to cholinergic stimulation. The extrinsic nervous system seems to be necessary for an adequate CCK response. The results are in line with the hypothesis that CCK receptors are only partly localized on the acinuscell, whereas the majority is localized in extrinsic cholinergic neurons.

Frequency-dependent expression of diaphorase staining and nNOS-immunoreactivity in rat dorsal horn neurones following C-fibre stimulation.

Recent evidence demonstrated that lesion-induced central nervous system changes are at least partly mediated by the action of the gaseous transmitter nitric oxide (NO). We investigated the hypothesis that the frequency of peripheral C-fibre stimulation determines the number of neurones in the dorsal horn that can be visualised immunohistochemically with antibodies to NO synthase (NOS) or using the NADPH-dependent diaphorase (NDP) reaction. C-fibre stimulation of the sciatic nerve at a frequency of 0.01 Hz was followed by a significant increase in NDP-cell number in the spinal segment L3, whereas 0.1 and 1 Hz stimulation resulted in a significant decrease. Neuronal NOS (nNOS)-immunoreactivity was significantly influenced only by 1 Hz stimulation and only on the ipsilateral side in L3. Here, the number of nNOS-immunoreactive (ir) neurones decreased significantly in the superficial dorsal horn. The results show that the system of NDP-neurones is capable of displaying a bidirectional response depending on the frequency of C-fibre input.

[Long-term effects of nutrition with fat-reduced foods on energy consumption and body weight]. / Langzeiteffekte einer Ernährung mit fettreduzierten Lebensmitteln auf die Energieaufnahme und das Körpergewicht.

UNLABELLED: In a 3-month intervention study 70 women (40 < age < 60; 24 < BMI < 29), randomized into two groups, were supplied ad libitum and free of charge with 1) customary fat-reduced foods (D group) or 2) products with normal fat content (K group). After 6 months without any contact to the volunteers food intake and body weight were controlled. RESULTS: During the intervention period fat intake (by 22 g/d) and total energy intake (by 266 kcal/d) of the volunteers in the D group were significantly lower than in the K group. Fat reduction was not accompanied by a compensative increase in the intake of other nutrients. The weight loss was significant in the D group (1.5 kg) and not significant in the K group (0.7 kg). Between the two groups the difference in weight reduction was not significant. In the follow-up a lowered fat and energy intake had been voluntarily retained in the D group and adopted by most of the individuals in the K group. CONCLUSION: The consumption of low-fat products lowers the energy and fat intake and may be useful for a long-term weight control and health support.

Lung cancer and asbestos exposure: asbestosis is not necessary.

Recent commentaries on the issue of asbestos-related lung cancer have raised important points. One major question is whether lung cancer can be attributed to asbestos exposure in the absence of asbestosis. This review attempts to place the debate in the proper context for establishing causation. Relevant epidemiologic and pathologic studies are analyzed, as well as the scientific basis for each position in the debate. The assertion that asbestosis must be present in order to attribute a lung cancer to asbestos exposure does not meet accepted standards for establishing causation. In addition, some evidence has been incorrectly cited in support of this position. This discussion can benefit from clearer definitions of asbestosis, a more thorough evaluation of the available scientific information, and a proper context for determining causation. This review of the available evidence indicates that lung cancers can occur as a result of asbestos exposure, in the absence of clinical or histologic asbestosis. Causation in an individual should be assessed by considering duration of exposure, intensity of exposure, and appropriate latency.

Changes in NADPH-diaphorase activity in the rat dorsal horn following an acute experimental myositis.

Previous neurophysiological experiments have shown that in rats with an acute myositis of the gastrocnemius-soleus muscle, dorsal horn neurones exhibit an increase in responsiveness to peripheral stimulation and in background activity. The present study investigated the possible correlation between changes in NADPH-diaphorase activity and neurophysiological alterations. In the animals used for the electrophysiological experiments the diaphorase activity in sections of the lumbar spinal cord was determined with the NADPH-nitroblue tetrazolium reaction. The main findings was a massive reduction in the number of diaphorase-positive cells in the superficial dorsal horn in animals with a myositis. The staining intensity in the remaining neurones was unchanged. The results are interpreted as indicating that the myositis in addition to the surgical operations represents a supramaximal input to the dorsal horn causing neurotoxic effects in diaphorase- positive neurones.

The origin and development of the asbestos Threshold Limit Value: scientific indifference and corporate influence.

Several recent articles have critiqued the process employed by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists in determining Threshold Limit Values. Criticisms have included inadequate data collection, inadequate research, excessive corporate influence, and slow response to informational changes. In this article, the authors address the historical development of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists' asbestos exposure guideline. They demonstrate that the proposed guideline was known to be inadequate when it was first proposed, was severely criticized between 1946 and 1968, but nonetheless was promulgated annually and remained unchanged 1971.

D-dimer improves the prognostic value of combined clinical and laboratory data in equine gastrointestinal colic.

The discriminating ability of 15 parameters alone or in combinations, including results from analysis of plasma endotoxin, the Nycomed plasma D-Dimer test and phospholipase A2, were analyzed to predict morbidity and mortality in equine gastrointestinal colic. Endotoxaemia was a characteristic feature of the colic horses. The problem of adequately predicting nonsurvivors among colic horses required several parameters to be included in the logistic model: if the "classical parameters", (heart rate, respiratory rate, PCV, anion gap) were included in the model, addition of plasma D-dimer, phospholipase A2, and Cl- significantly improved the predictive value of the logistic model. Increasing heart rate and D-dimer together with decreasing chloride was a risk factor for nonsurvival. The sensitivity of this three-parameter logistic model to predict nonsurvival was 78% and specificity 77%. The Nycomed D-Dimer test is recommended as a horse-site test to predict disseminated intravascular coagulation and nonsurvival in equine colic.

Study of variables commonly used in examination of equine colic cases to assess prognostic value.

In a retrospective study, the prognostic value and individual merit of seven variables, used in routine examination of colic cases, were tested. The following variables proved to be significant in discriminating between horses which survived and those which died: heart rate (P less than 0.00005), packed cell volume (P less than 0.00005) and intensity of colic signs (P less than 0.0001).

Acute postoperative diarrhoea in colic horses.

A retrospective study on surgical cases of colic in horses (n = 216) revealed that 42 (19.4%) developed post-surgical diarrhoea. Salmonella spp. were isolated in 6 (16.2%) of the cases (n = 37) exhibiting diarrhoea. In 35.7% of the cases (n = 42) recovery from surgery was disturbed by other complications; 23.8% (10/42) died, 2 of which from primary acute diarrhoea due to salmonellosis. Most of the outbreaks of diarrhoea occurred in winter and spring. From the associated variables examined, the duration of colic signs revealed a significant difference between the cases which developed acute postoperative diarrhoea and the other surgical cases.