Ginseng improves pulmonary functions and exercise capacity in patients with COPD.

Ginseng is a root that has been used to treat patients with various illnesses for the last 2000 years. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of Ginseng extract (G115) on Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs), Maximum Voluntary Ventilation (MVV), Maximum Inspiratory Pressure (MIP) and Maximal Oxygen Consumption (VO2max) in patients with moderately-severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Ninety-two adults were randomly divided into the experimental (n = 49, G115 100 mg bid for three months) and placebo-control (n = 43) groups. PFTs, MVV and MIP were studied before treatment and every two weeks for the 3-month-study period. Exercise test and VO2max measurements were performed before the beginning and after six weeks and three months. P lower than 0.05 was considered significant. Baseline demographics and pulmonary parameters were similar between the groups. In the experimental, but not in the control group, all parameters significantly increased above baseline and compared with the placebo group. Maximum increase, compared with baseline was FVC-32.5%, FEV1.0-27.0%, PEF-27.5%, FEF50-45.4%, FEF75-56.9%, MVV-40.4%, MIP-47.0% and VO2max-37.5%. No side effects were observed. G115 100 mg bid for three months, but not placebo, improved PFTs, MVV, MIP and VO2 max in patients with moderately-severe COPD with no side effects.

The effects of cardiac surgery on early and late pulmonary functions.

BACKGROUND: Impaired pulmonary functions are common in cardiac patients. Early and late effects of cardiac surgery on pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are presented. METHODS: Fifty patients undergoing cardiac surgery (coronary artery bypass grafting [CABG, 74%], valve replacement or valvuloplasty [20%] and combined procedures [6%]) were studied. Anginal and cardiac failure symptoms severity, and smoking history, were evaluated preoperatively. PFTs were studied and compared pre-, and 3 weeks and 3.5 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Pre- and postoperative PFTs were inversely related to severity of preoperative symptoms. Forced vital capacity (FVC) dropped from 98% of predicted preoperatively, to 63% (P < 0.00001) and 75% (P < 0.00001) 3 weeks and 3.5 months postoperatively, respectively. Expiratory volume in the first 1 s of forced expiration (FEV1.0) decreased from 95% to 61% (P < 0.00001) and 70% (P < 0.00001), respectively. Forced expiratory flow at 50% of vital capacity (FEF50) decreased from 85% to 56% (P < 0.00001) and 59% (P < 0.00001). Forced expiratory flow at 75% of vital capacity (FEF75) decreased from 77% to 47% and 47% (P < 0.00001). Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) declined from 101% to 66% (P < 0.00001) and 86% (P < 0.003). Maximal voluntary ventilation declined from 103% to 68% (P < 0.00001) and 77% (P < 0.00001). Only FVC (P < 0.0003), FEV1.0 (P < 0.02) and PEFR (P < 0.0001) partially recovered postoperatively. Smoking history did not affect perioperative PFTs. Pre-, but not postoperative FVC, FEV1.0, FEF50 and FEF75 were worse in valve than in CABG patients. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary functions deteriorate significantly for at least 3.5 months after cardiac surgery. Preoperative cardiac ischaemic and failure symptoms are inversely related to perioperative PFTs.

Metabolism of triacetin-derived acetate in dogs.

Triacetin is a water-soluble triglyceride that may have a role as a parenteral nutrient. In the present study triacetin was administered intravenously to mongrel dogs (n = 10) 2 wk after surgical placement of blood-sampling catheters in the aorta and in the portal, hepatic, renal, and femoral veins. [1-14C]Acetate was infused to allow quantification of organ uptake of acetate as well as systemic turnover and oxidation. Systemic acetate turnover accounted for approximately 70% of triacetin-derived acetate, assuming complete hydrolysis of the triglyceride. Approximately 80% of systemic acetate uptake was rapidly oxidized. Significant acetate uptake was demonstrated in all tissues (liver, 559 +/- 68; intestine, 342 +/- 23; hindlimb, 89 +/- 7; and kidney, 330 +/- 37 mumol/min). In conclusion, during intravenous administration in dogs, the majority of infused triacetin undergoes intravascular hydrolysis, and the majority of the resulting acetate is oxidized. Thus, energy in the form of short-chain fatty acids can be delivered to a resting gut via intravenous infusion of a short-chain triglyceride.

Lactate turnover at rest and during submaximal exercise in patients with heart failure.

Systemic and lower limb skeletal muscle lactate metabolism was studied in 10 men with congestive heart failure by use of a primed continuous intravenous infusion of L-(+)-[U-14C]lactate. Arterial and deep femoral venous blood samples were obtained at rest and during 30 min of submaximal exercise. Systemic lactate metabolic turnover rate (Rd) was determined using Steele's isotopic steady-state equation (Rd = isotopic infusion rate/arterial specific activity). Plasma lactate concentrations in the artery and deep femoral vein did not change significantly from resting values during exercise (1.11 +/- 0.13 vs. 1.26 +/- 0.12 and 1.27 +/- 0.12 vs. 1.30 +/- 0.12 mM, respectively), whereas Rd increased from 22.5 +/- 1.8 to 41.6 +/- 4.8 mumol.kg-1.min-1 (P < 0.005). Rd did not significantly correlate with arterial lactate concentration during rest or exercise. Because of simultaneous uptake and release of lactate in skeletal muscle, arterial and deep femoral venous lactate concentrations are not closely related to either systemic or lower limb skeletal muscle lactate metabolism in patients with congestive heart failure.

Sandramycin, a novel antitumor antibiotic produced by a Nocardioides sp. II. Structure determination.

The structure of sandramycin, a novel antitumor antibiotic, was established by spectroscopic analysis and chiral chromatography of its acid hydrolysate. It was determined to be a cyclic decadepsipeptide with a two-fold axis of symmetry and 3-hydroxyquinaldic acid as an appended chromophore.

Systemic and regional acetate kinetics in dogs.

Little is known about the sites of production and uptake of acetate in nonruminants. We placed blood sampling catheters in the femoral artery and in the femoral, portal, hepatic, and renal veins of mongrel dogs (n = 11). The animals were studied in the conscious state 2 wk later during a primed continuous infusion of [1-14C]acetate. Systemic acetate turnover, oxidation, and clearance were determined, as well as regional uptake and release, by measuring 14CO2 excretion as well as plasma concentration and specific activity at the five sampling sites. Results showed systemic acetate turnover was 8.8 +/- 1.9 mumol.kg-1.min-1, approximating 5% of energy expenditure in dogs. Simultaneous uptake and release of acetate was demonstrated in intestine, liver, kidney, and hindlimb. The intestine was the greatest contributor to acetate production, whereas the liver was the most important site of uptake. Plasma acetate oxidation was 77 +/- 4% of turnover. Both systemic clearance (129 +/- 22 ml.kg-1.min-1) and tissue fractional extraction (68-85%) were many times greater than values reported for glucose, free fatty acids, lactate, or amino acids. In conclusion, most tissues simultaneously take up and release acetate in dogs. This may represent a mechanism for interorgan transport of energy, especially under conditions of caloric deprivation.

Measurement of plasma acetate kinetics using high-performance liquid chromatography.

Previous studies suggest that plasma acetate may be an important fuel in man, accounting for approximately 10% of energy expenditure. Available methods for the determination of plasma acetate kinetics are difficult and time consuming. We describe here a procedure for the determination of plasma acetate concentration and specific activity using automated high-performance liquid chromatography that is precise and sensitive and accommodates large numbers of samples. The procedure involves extraction from plasma with diethyl ether, derivatization with bromoacetophenone, and separation on a C-18 reversed-phase column. The specific activities of D-beta-hydroxybutyrate and lactate can also be determined. Acetate turnover was measured in four dogs and was similar to that previously reported in sheep and humans. Transport of [14C]acetate into red blood cells was negligible.

Determination of plasma lactic acid concentration and specific activity using high-performance liquid chromatography.

Assessment of lactate metabolism is of particular interest during exercise and in disease states such as diabetes, shock, and absorptive abnormalities of short-chain fatty acids by the colon. We describe an analytical method that introduces radio-active tracers and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to simultaneously analyze concentrations and specific activities (SAs) of plasma lactate. The HPLC conditions included separation on a reversed-phase column (octadecylsilane) and an isocratic buffer (30% acetonitrile in water). [3H]Acetate served as an internal standard. Lactate and acetate were extracted from plasma samples with diethyl ether following a pH adjustment to less than 1.0 and back-extracted into a hydrophilic phase with sodium carbonate (2 mM, pH greater than 10.0). Lactate is detected in the ultraviolet range (242 and 320 nm) by derivatization with alpha-bromoacetophenone. Control plasma samples were studied after an overnight fast for precision and analytical recovery. Calibration curves were linear in the range 0.18-6.0 mM (r = 0.92). The precision was 3% and the analytical recovery was 87%. The detection limit of the method was 36 pmol. Determination of lactate metabolism was performed in a patient with chronic congestive heart failure who was administered primed-continuous L-[U-14C]lactate (10 microCi bolus and 0.3 microCi/min continuously) during a 60-min rest period. Mean arterial lactate concentration and SA were 1.69 +/- 0.2 mM and 253.8 +/- 22 dpm/mumol, respectively. Systemic lactate turnover was 25.65 mumol/kg per min. Lactic acid systemic turnover, organ uptake and release rates can be accurately determined by isocratic HPLC.

Failure of isolated rat tibial periosteal cells to 5 alpha reduce testosterone to 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone.

Periosteal cells were isolated from tibiae of adult male rats after collagenase treatment. Northern blot analysis of total cytoplasmic RNA extracted from the isolated periosteal cells was positive for expression of genes encoding the osteoblast marker proteins osteocalcin (BGP) and pre-pro-alpha 2(I) chain of type 1 precollagen. The isolated periosteal cells were incubated with 1 nM [3H]testosterone [( 3H]T) for up to 240 minutes and the reaction products separated by high-performance liquid chromatography. [3H]5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone [( 3H]DHT) was not detected in extracts of periosteal cell incubations. In contrast, [3H]DHT was produced in a time-dependent manner by cells from seminal vesicles. These results suggest that testosterone 5 alpha-reductase activity is not expressed by osteoblasts in rat tibial periosteum and that the anabolic effects of androgens in this tissue are not mediated by locally produced DHT.

Central nervous system oxygen toxicity in the resting rat: postponement by intermittent oxygen exposure.

Intermittent O2 breathing is a proven means of delaying pulmonary O2 toxicity during exposure to hyperbaric oxygen. The effect of an intermittent exposure in the pressure range toxic to the CNS was studied. Conscious, unrestrained rats, implanted with cortical EEG electrodes were subjected at 5 and 6 ATA to alternating periods of 7 min O2 and 7 or 10 min of either air, normoxic nitrox, or N2O-air (the latter mixture being equinarcotic to pure O2). Altogether, nearly half of the animals survived 90 min of intermittent breathing, with no grossly abnormal EEG patterns. At that time, labored breathing (associated with mild lung pathology) supervened. In the remaining animals, seizure patterns in the EEG appeared after a mean cumulative O2 breathing time of 20 min (compared to 9 min during a continuous exposure). Forty percent were affected while breathing the alternating mixture (low-PO2 seizures), mostly soon after switching of the gas. The nature of the alternating mixture did not affect the outcome of the high-PO2 seizures nor did the length of the interim periods. Normoxic nitrox increased and N2O-air reduced the incidence of low-PO2 seizures. At 5 ATA only 10% of the animals experienced high-PO2 seizures. While swift reversibility of the toxic process is indicated, the low-PO2 seizures with as yet an undetermined mechanism pose a serious obstacle for intermittent exposures at this pressure range.

Cholesterol removal by haemoperfusion of whole blood in vivo.

Familial hypercholesterolaemia is caused by genetic defects in the cellular metabolism of cholesterol (C) and is characterized by high levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and premature atherosclerosis. The C is carried in the plasma mainly as an LDL-C complex, and removal of the latter from plasma is highly desirable. This task can be achieved by selective haemoperfusion (HP), thereby eliminating the need for plasmapheresis. Agarose beads (2 per cent agarose, 0.85 to 1.4 mm in diameter) were prepared, and crosslinked with epichlorohydrin. Heparin and/or ethanolamine were subsequently attached. The beads thus obtained were found to be suitable for the removal of LDL-C from the whole blood of hypercholesterolaemic rabbits, using a simple HP technique. A single two-hour HP treatment with a 40 ml column packed with active agarose beads resulted in a 30 per cent decrease in the C plasma level in the experimental animals. Our previous, in vitro, studies with the plasma of hypercholesterolaemic patients showed a high selectivity of the beads for LDL. Yet when used with hypercholesterolaemic rabbits, a relatively high amount of HDL was also removed from the blood. This can be attributed to a significant difference between the structure of human hypercholesterolaemic lipoproteins and that of rabbits. Upon treatment of blood using the active agarose beads, no abnormalities in plasma and blood composition were detected, except for some prolongation of PT. It is to be hoped that this new system will replace the presently used and highly expensive plasmapheresis.