Energy expenditure in rock/pop drumming.

Despite the vigorous nature of rock/pop drumming, there are no precise data on the energy expenditure of this activity. The aim of this study was to quantify the energy cost of rock/pop drumming. Fourteen male drummers (mean±SD; age 27±8 yrs.) completed an incremental drumming test to establish the relationship between energy expenditure and heart rate for this activity and a ramped cycle ergometer test to exhaustion as a criterion measure for peak values (oxygen uptake and heart rate). During live concert performance heart rate was continuously measured and used to estimate energy expenditure (from the energy expenditure vs. heart rate data derived from the drumming test). During concert performance, estimated energy expenditure (mean±SD) was 623±168 kcal.h⁻¹ (8.1±2.2 METs) during performances of 38.6±15.6 min, and drummers achieved a peak heart rate of 186±16 b.min⁻¹. During the drumming test participants attained 78.7±8.3% of the cycle ergometer peak oxygen uptake. Rock/pop drumming represents a relatively high-intensity form of physical activity and as such involves significant energy expenditure. Rock/pop drumming should be considered as a viable alternative to more traditional forms of physical activity.

Phosphorus removal by apatite in horizontal flow constructed wetlands for small communities: pilot and full-scale evidence.

Phosphorus (P) removals in constructed wetlands (CWs) have received particular attention in recent decades by using specific materials which promote adsorption/precipitation mechanisms. Recent studies have shown interest in using apatite materials to promote P precipitation onto the particle surface. As previous trials were mainly done by lab experiments, this present study aims to evaluate the real potential of apatites to remove P from wastewater in pilot units and a full-scale plant over a 2 year period. P retention kinetics of two qualities of apatites are presented and discussed. In this work apatite appears to have high retention capacity (>80% of P removal) and is still an interesting way for P removal in CWs for limiting the risk of eutrophication downstream of small communities. Nevertheless, the apatite quality appears to be of great importance for a reliable and long term P removal. The use of materials with low content of apatite mineral (40-50%) seems to be not economically relevant.

New drug delivery systems in inflammatory bowel disease: MMX and tailored delivery to the gut.

UNLABELLED: Inflammatory bowel diseases are chronic diseases that affect the gastrointestinal tract. Mesalamine, corticosteroids, immunosuppressants and biological agents are currently used to treat these diseases. Due to inadequacies of the currently available delivery systems, a large number of patients do not respond to treatment, especially when they are affected by distal colonic disease. Multimatrix (MMX) technology comprises hydrophilic and lipophilic excipients, enclosed within a gastro-resistant, pH-dependent coating. This new delivery technology has been used to modify some commonly used drugs, including mesalamine and budesonide, as well as heparin, which are now being investigated for their utility in the management of IBD. AIM: The aim of this review is to explore the MMX delivery technology and its efficacy for the treatment of IBD. RESULTS: The results of various studies involving MMX drugs have been published. Mesalamine MMX induces clinical and endoscopic remission in patients with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis (UC) compared with placebo. Positive results have also been observed with MMX budesonide in two phase I studies. In a pilot study involving ten patients with UC, efficacy of heparin-MMX as an IBD therapy was observed. CONCLUSION: MMX is a promising new delivery system that can improve efficacy of current and new drugs, augmenting targeting to the affected tract, thereby increasing response and remission rates for those drugs in patients with IBD.

Barriers to advanced education for indigenous Australian health workers: an exploratory study.

INTRODUCTION: Aboriginal Health Workers (AHWs) play a crucial role in the delivery of primary health care services in underserved rural and remote communities throughout Australia. The Mount Isa Centre for Rural and Remote Health (MICRRH), in Northwest Queensland, Australia, has been involved in training AHWs since 2001. During this time, it has been observed that while there has been interest in pursuing further education in other health careers, the uptake for advanced study by AHWs has been minimal. This exploratory study was designed to assess the career aspirations of local AHWs (both qualified and students) as well as community stakeholder views to identify barriers experienced when undertaking advanced education. METHODS: The study used a descriptive and exploratory design. AHWs and key stakeholders were invited to participate. Open-ended interviews were undertaken with nine participants in two communities in the Mount Isa Health Service District in Northwest Queensland, Australia. FINDINGS: While there was some interest expressed in careers like medicine and nursing, the majority of participants indicated a preference for advancement to management or specialist areas as AHWs. In relation to the barriers faced by AHWs and students in continuing study or career advancement, three main themes emerged: support; infrastructure; and promotion.

Role of interleukin 6 in a murine model of Crohn's ileitis: are cytokine/anticytokine strategies the future for IBD therapies?

Although the precise causes of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have yet to be discovered, important therapeutic advances have resulted from the manipulation of cytokine function(s) using anticytokine/cytokine therapies, such as targeting of tumor necrosis factor. We discuss the future of this area of investigation in the context of preclinical experimentation using animal models of IBD. In particular, we pinpoint the roles played by interleukin 6 and its intracellular signalling pathways in the SAMP1/Yit murine model of Crohn's-like ileitis.

Endoscopic ultrasound drainage of pancreatic pseudocyst: a prospective comparison with conventional endoscopic drainage.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Pancreatic pseudocysts are a complication in up to 20% of patients with pancreatitis. Endoscopic management of pseudocysts by a conventional transenteric technique, i. e. conventional transmural drainage (CTD), or by endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage (EUD), is well described. Our aim was to prospectively compare the short-term and long-term results of CTD and EUD in the management of pseudocysts. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 99 consecutive patients underwent endoscopic management of pancreatic pseudocysts according to this predetermined treatment algorithm: patients with bulging lesions without obvious portal hypertension underwent CTD; all remaining patients underwent EUD. Patients were followed prospectively, with cross-sectional imaging during clinic visits. We compared short-term and long-term results (effectiveness and complications) at 1 and 6 months post procedure. RESULTS: 46 patients (37 men) underwent EUD and 53 patients (39 men) had CTD. The mean age of the entire group was 50 +/- 13 years. There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding short-term success (93% vs. 94%) or long-term success (84% vs. 91%); 68 of the 99 patients completed 6 months of follow-up. Complications occurred in 19% of EUD vs. 18% of CTD patients, and consisted of bleeding in three, infection of the collection in eight, stent migration into the pseudocyst in three, and pneumoperitoneum in five. All complications but one could be managed conservatively. CONCLUSIONS: No clear differences in efficacy or safety were observed between conventional and EUS-guided cystenterostomy. The choice of technique is likely best predicated by individual patient presentation and local expertise.

Nucleotide sequence and cell cycle-associated differential expression of ZF5128, a novel Kruppel type zinc finger protein gene.

The nucleotide sequence of the ZF5128 gene, encoding a novel Kruppel type zinc finger protein, has been determined. The ZF5128 gene has a predicted 553-amino acid open reading frame, encoding a putative 61 kDa zinc finger protein. The N-terminus of the ZF5128 coding region has a well-conserved Kruppel-associated box (KRAB) domain that consists of KRAB box A and B, whereas the C-terminus contains a Kruppel type C2H2 zinc finger domain possessing nine C2H2 zinc finger motifs in tandem arrays with the highly conserved space region of the H/C-link. Each C2H2 zinc finger motif has a typical consensus sequence of CX2CX3FX5LX2HX3H. A 3.2 kb transcript specific for ZF5128 was expressed at high levels in the spleen, thymus, and peripheral blood leukocyte, and weakly expressed in the prostate, ovary, small intestine, colon (mucosal lining), placenta, lung, and pancreas. Although there was no detectable ZF5128 mRNA in unstimulated human peripheral T cells, it was first detectable 1.5 h after activation by anti-CD3 plus anti-CD28, and reached a maximum in 25-30 h. During the cell cycle progression of Jurkat T cells, the expression of ZF5128 mRNA appeared to be induced in G1 and reached a maximum in the S phase, but declined as the cells entered the G2/M phase. The 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate-induced monocytic differentiation of U937, which also resulted in growth arrest, down-regulated the expression of ZF5128 mRNA. Taken together, these results indicate that ZF5128 is a novel gene encoding a Kruppel type C2H2 zinc finger protein and is regulated at the transcriptional level depending on tissue type and the cell cycle status to support cell proliferation.

Enhanced expression of Fas ligand is associated with aburatubolactam C-induced apoptosis in human Jurkat T cells.

The mechanism for apoptosis induced by aburatubolactam C was investigated in human Jurkat T cells. When the cells were treated with 3 micrograms/ml of aburatubolactam C, apoptotic DNA fragmentation was first detectable in 3 hr and then increased time-dependently in accordance with upregulation in the protein level of Fas ligand (FasL). Both the DNA fragmentation and upregulation of FasL expression reached a maximal level in 7-8 hr, at which time a significant increase in the tyrosine phosphorylation of multiple cellular proteins was detected, suggesting that the enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins may result from activation of Fas-mediated death signaling. However, these aburatubolactam C-induced cellular changes and accompanied apoptosis were completely blocked in the presence of genistein, a known protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor. These results indicate that upregulation of FasL expression dictated by protein tyrosine kinase activation and subsequent mediation of Fas death signaling account for aburatubolactam C-induced apoptosis in Jurkat T cells.

QLS motif in transmembrane helix VII of the glucose transporter family interacts with the C-1 position of D-glucose and is involved in substrate selection at the exofacial binding site.

The liver-type (GLUT2) and brain-type (GLUT3) human facilitative glucose transporters exhibit distinct kinetics (Km values for deoxyglucose transport of approximately 11 mM and approximately 1.5 mM, respectively) and patterns of substrate transport (GLUT2 is capable of D-fructose transport, while GLUT3 is not). Using a range of chimeric glucose transporters comprised of regions of GLUT2 and GLUT3 studied by expression in Xenopus oocytes after microinjection of cRNA, we have proposed that the seventh putative transmembrane helix is intimately involved in the selection of transported substrate and that this region plays an important role in determining the Km for 2-deoxyglucose [Arbuckle, M. I., Kane, S., Porter, L. M., Seatter, M. J., and Gould, G. W. (1996) Biochemistry 35, 16519-16527]. Inspection of the predicted amino acid sequence of this region reveals that GLUTs 1, 3, and 4 (high-affinity glucose transporters) contain a conserved QLS motif in this helix (residues 277-279 in human GLUT3). In the glucose/fructose transporter (GLUT2) this motif is replaced by HVA. To study the role of the QLS motif in substrate selection, we have engineered substitutions in this region between GLUT2 and GLUT3. GLUT3 (QLS > HVA) exhibits a Km for deoxyglucose transport identical to that of native GLUT3 but increased sensitivity for inhibition of deoxyglucose transport by D-fructose. However, unlike native GLUT3, this species is capable of transporting D-fructose. Compared to wild-type GLUT2, GLUT2 (HVA > QLS) exhibits a lower Km for deoxyglucose transport (approximately 3 mM vs approximately 11 mM), the ability to transport D-fructose is reduced, and D-fructose is a less efficient inhibitor of deoxyglucose transport. Analysis of the ability of a range of glucose epimers and analogues to inhibit transport by these species suggests that the QLS motif interacts with the incoming D-glucose at the C-1 position; this may be a key interaction in the high-affinity recognition of the transported substrate. We further argue that this interaction acts as a molecular filter that is involved in the selection of the transported substrate.

MHC class I expression protects target cells from lysis by Ly49-deficient fetal NK cells.

Using appropriate conditions natural killer (NK) cells can be cultured from the liver and thymus of day 14 fetal mice. These fetal NK cells are phenotypically and functionally indistinguishable from adult NK cells with the exception that they lack measurable expression of all of the Ly49 molecules that can currently be detected with antibodies. Despite this, they preferentially kill tumor cells and blast cells deficient in the expression of major histocompatibility complex class I molecules, although the degree of discrimination is usually weaker than that shown by adult NK cells and varies depending on the particular combination of effector and target cells used. Polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that although fetal NK cells are severely deficient in the expression of mRNA for Ly49A, B, C, D, G, H, and I they express high levels of Ly49E mRNA, raising the possibility that Ly49E may have an important and special function in the early development of the NK lineage.

Hepatitis C virus in alcoholic patients with and without clinically apparent liver disease.

A high prevalence of antibodies to the hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) has been demonstrated among patients with alcoholic liver disease, whereas the prevalence of HCV viremia in these patients remains uncertain. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of anti-HCV in alcoholic patients both with and without clinically apparent liver disease and to determine the presence of HCV RNA in those patients who tested positive for anti-HCV by RIBA II (Chiron Corporation, Emeryville, CA). One hundred male patients consecutively admitted to an alcoholic rehabilitation program were included. Group 1 was comprised of 40 patients with clinically apparent liver disease. Group 2 was comprised of 60 patients without clinically apparent liver disease. Anti-HCV was performed by a second-generation ELISA assay and confirmed by RIBA II. HCV RNA was performed by Quantiplex assay (Chiron Corporation) and a nested reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. No significant differences were found between the two groups with regards to age, quantity and duration of alcohol intake, or accepted risk factors for HCV. The overall prevalence of anti-HCV in our patients was 23%, with 43% of these in group 1 and 10% in group 2. HCV RNA tested positive in 94% of the anti-HCV-positive patients in group 1 and in 67% of the anti-HCV-positive patients in group 2. These data suggest that HCV infection is an important cofactor in the pathogenesis of liver disease among alcoholic patients.

Direct early intervention with stuttering: some preliminary data.

Many clinicians recognize a need for direct intervention with cases of early stuttering. However, this recognition is not supported by adequate empirical information about how such cases should be managed. One possibility is that early stuttering might be controllable by parent-administered, operant, verbal stimulation procedures. The purpose of this paper is to present preliminary data that depict the results of such an intervention procedure with four cases of early stuttering. Speech measures were gathered in a variety of speaking situations, within and beyond the clinic, over a 2-month pretreatment period and a 9-month posttreatment period. Results showed that the 4 subjects achieved reductions in stuttering comparable to those reported for adult treatment programs. However, the present results were obtained in far fewer clinical hours than normally needed in the treatment for older subjects. The treatment times in the present study also compare favorably to those published in other reports of operant intervention procedures with children. These findings suggest that cases of early stuttering might be managed effectively by parents, with limited expenditure of clinical time. Findings are discussed in terms of their implications for the development of early intervention programs that are more efficient and effective than existing intervention procedures for older clients.