Maternal diet composition alters serum steroid and free fatty acid concentrations and vaginal pH in mice.

We examined the effects of three maternal diets (very high fat (VHF), low fat (LF), and control (Purina 5015)) on serum steroids, free fatty acids (FFA), and vaginal pH in National Institutes of Health Swiss mice. Females were fed (VHF, n = 33; LF, n = 33; 5015, n = 48) from 4 to 16 weeks of age. Following breeding, female serum was collected at 0.5 (pre-implantation, early diestrus) or 8.5 (post-implantation, mid-diestrus) days post-coitus (dpc). The serum concentrations of 17beta-estradiol, testosterone, progesterone, and FFA were analyzed at both collection points, and vaginal pH at 0.5 dpc. Striking differences in steroids and FFA were observed at 0.5 dpc among the groups. Estradiol was higher in the VHF (14.1 +/- 3.0 pg/ml), compared with LF mice (5.2 +/- 2.3 pg/ml; P< or = 0.05). In contrast, 0.5 dpc testosterone was lower in the VHF (10.5 +/- 3.0 pg/ml) versus the LF group (32.7 +/- 8.4 pg/ml; P< or = 0.05). At 8.5 dpc, progesterone was higher in the VHF (89.6 +/- 6.7 ng/ml) versus the 5015 group (60.1 +/- 4.9 ng/ml; P< or = 0.05). VHF mice had higher FFA concentrations at 0.5 dpc (1.0 +/- 0.2 mmol/l) than LF and control mice (0.5 +/- 0.1 and 0.6 +/- 0.1 mmol/l respectively; P< or = 0.05). At 8.5 dpc, VHF females had higher serum FFA (0.8 +/- 0.1 mmol/l) than LF and control females (0.4 +/- 0.1 and 0.6 +/- 0.1 mmol/l; P< or = 0.05). Mean vaginal pH of VHF females (6.41 +/- 0.09) was lower than 5015 females (6.76 +/- 0.10; P< or = 0.05). These diet-induced alterations in serum steroid and FFA concentrations might affect several reproductive processes, including preferential fertilization by one class of sperm over the other and sex bias in pre- and post-implantational embryonic development.

Electrophysiological properties of Hensen's cells investigated in situ.

Tight-seal whole-cell patch clamp recordings were obtained in situ from supporting Hensen's cells within the intact organ of Corti of the adult guinea pig. In normal phosphate buffer solution we estimated 20-50 cells to be coupled by gap junctions to the cell under the patch pipette. In the presence of 1 mM octanol, an uncoupling agent, it was possible to identify an outward current which activated upon depolarization above -20 mV and approached saturation above 70 mV. An inward current was seen with hyperpolarizations below -80 mV. These are broadly similar to the currents of Hensen's cells in vitro. Measured differences of the underlying conductance indicate that the currents are sensitive to the procedure used to isolate cells.

Exploring self-forgiveness.

This article presents the results of a phenomenological study of the experience of self-forgiveness. On the basis of in-depth interviews with seven subjects, self-forgiveness is described not as an achievement but rather as a gift where one moves from estrangement and "brokenness" to a sense of at-homeness.

An innovative approach to geriatric acute care delivery: the Choate-Symmes experience.

Hospitals, like those described in this study, must develop alternative models of health care delivery that allow them to respond to many challenges while providing high-quality health care to geriatric patients. In this program, 10-bed geriatric units were established in two hospitals, and patients age 65 and older were selected at random for admission to the units. Following comprehensive assessment, self-reliance was fostered using individualized interventions. Discharge planning began at admission. A multidisciplinary approach with regular team conferences including families was also used. Results of this approach suggest that such intervention can reduce length of stay without affecting quality of care. This paper describes the delivery model in detail, focuses on issues related to the implementation of the intervention, and highlights the lessons learned by Choate-Symmes personnel through their demonstration of the model.

Interposition arthroplasty in the management of advanced haemophilic arthropathy of the elbow.

Six patients with severe haemophilic arthropathy of the elbow have been treated by limited excision arthroplasty using a sheet of silicone rubber as an interposition membrane. There were no complications. The symptoms and signs before and after operation have been assessed using the grading system advocated recently by the World Federation of Haemophilia. In all cases there was relief of pain and increased movement. Moreover, the subsequent incidence of spontaneous haemorrhage into the elbow has been reduced with considerable cost benefit.

Scalp recorded somatosensory evoked potentials to posterior tibial nerve stimulation in humans.

The somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) produced by stimulation of the right and left posterior tibial nerves individually and also by their simultaneous stimulation were recorded in 84 adult normal subjects up to 150 msec after the stimulus by electrodes placed on the cranial vertex and by rows of electrodes over the sagittal and coronal lines using references on the ear or in the nasopharynx. The statistical distribution of the latencies of their different peaks was established. The effect of simultaneous stimulation of right and left posterior tibial nerves on the early SEP components was described. Some details of the anatomy of the rolandic sulcus were inferred from the amplitude distribution of these potentials.

Elimination of EMG interference during recording of somatosensory evoked potentials elicited by posterior tibial nerve stimulation in patients with cervical spinal cord injury.

Recording SEPs to PTN stimulation in some patients with acute injuries of the cervical spine can be difficult due to the presence of involuntary activity of the neck and jaw muscles. The electrical potentials derived from this myogenic activity have a distribution along the sagittal line of the head which is uniform in amplitude while the amplitude of the SEPs recorded from points along this sagittal line is maximal over a point close to the vertex and less in front and behind this point. This fact has been utilized to devise a 'bipolar' derivation with one electrode on the vertex and two electrodes, one in front and one behind it on the sagittal line tied together as a reference. This effectively eliminates potentials of muscle origin from the SEP record. Other 'bipolar' combinations are not as effective in obtaining evoked potentials free of this muscle interference.