Monitoring 6 weeks of progressive endurance training with plasma glutamine.

The distinction between positive and negative training adaptation is an important prerequisite in the identification of any marker for monitoring training in athletes. To investigate the glutamine responses to progressive endurance training, twenty healthy males were randomly assigned to a training group or a non-exercising control group. The training group performed a progressive (3 to 6 x 90 minute sessions per week at 70 % V.O (2max)) six-week endurance training programme on a cycle ergometer, while the control group did not participate in any exercise during this period. Performance assessments (V.O (2max) and time to exhaustion) and resting blood samples (for haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit, cortisol, ferritin, creatine kinase, glutamine, uric acid and urea analysis) were obtained prior to the commencement of training (Pre) and at the end of week 2, week 4 and week 6. The training group showed significant improvements in time to exhaustion (p < 0.01), and V.O (2max) (p < 0.05) at all time points (except week 2 for V.O (2max)), while the control group performance measures did not change. In the training group, haemoglobin concentration and haematocrit were significantly lower (p < 0.01) than pretraining values at week 2 and 4, as percentage changes in plasma volume indicated a significant (p < 0.01) haemodilution (+ 6 - 9 %) was present at week 2, 4 and 6. No changes were seen in the control group. In the training group, plasma glutamine (week 2, 4 and 6), creatine kinase (week 2 and 4), uric acid (week 2 and 4) and urea (week 2 and 4) all increased significantly from pretraining levels. No changes in cortisol or ferritin were found in the training group and no changes in any blood variables were present in the control group. Plasma glutamine was the only blood variable to remain significantly above pretraining (966 +/- 32 micromol . 1 (-1)) levels at week 6 (1176 +/- 24 micromol . 1 (-1); p < 0.05) The elevation seen here in glutamine levels, after 6 weeks of progressive endurance training, is in contrast to previous reports of decreased glutamine concentrations in overtrained athletes. In conclusion, 6 weeks of progressive endurance training steadily increased plasma glutamine levels, which may prove useful in the monitoring of training responses.

Critical review of complementary therapies in haemato-oncology.

There is evidence of the increasing use of complementary and alternative medicine by Australians diagnosed with cancer. Given the increasing desire of cancer patients to use complementary and alternative medicine, it is important that clinicians have a good understanding of the evidence available in this field. This critical review aims to provide an overview of the current evidence pertaining to a range of complementary therapies that are used in a supportive role in the treatment of cancer patients. Treatment methods considered are acupuncture, music therapy, massage and touch therapies and psychological interventions. The efficacy of these complementary therapies in terms of improvement in symptoms and quality of life is examined. Evidence that relates to an effect on immune function and survival is also investigated.

The effect of adjunctive fresh frozen plasma administration on coagulation parameters and survival in a canine model of antivenom-treated brown snake envenoming.

This study aimed to assess the effects of dugite envenoming on blood coagulation and platelet count in a canine model, and the efficacy of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) in reversing the clotting disorder after both adequate and inadequate venom neutralization. Following initial dosing and administration studies, an intravenous venom dose of 1 microg/kg was administered to eleven dogs. This was followed 30 minutes later by antivenom in either adequate or inadequate doses. A further 30 minutes later, the animals were given either two units of their own FFP or saline. Fibrinogen, aPTT and platelet levels were monitored for eight hours. Of the six study dogs given antivenom plus FFP, two died at around 60 to 90 minutes post envenoming, at the end of the FFP infusions, and all but one of the survivors had persistent afibrinogenaemia. Of the five study dogs given antivenom and no FFP, all but one had return of detectable fibrinogen at eight hours after envenoming. The platelet count fell in all animals with recovery independent of antivenom dose, administration of FFP, or regeneration of fibrinogen. Post mortem examinations of dogs that died during dosage and administration studies showed massive intracardiac clots. We conclude that early death from Brown Snake envenoming may be due to massive intravascular clotting. FFP administration was associated with persistent afibrinogenaemia regardless of antivenom dose. In the absence of any evidence for its efficacy, this study suggests that the role of FFP after Brown Snake envenoming should be reconsidered.

Polymorphisms in the interleukin 10 gene promoter are associated with susceptibility to aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is mainly an anti-inflammatory cytokine produced by a number of cells including normal and neoplastic B cells. It has been implicated in autoimmunity, transplantation tolerance and tumourigenesis. Polymorphisms in the IL-10 gene promoter genetically determine inter-individual differences in IL-10 production. The aim of this study was to determine whether polymorphisms in the IL-10 gene promoter play a role in predisposing an individual to lymphoma. We analysed the frequencies of three single base substitutions in the IL-10 promoter in patients with aggressive lymphoma (B-cell DLCL n = 46, other aggressive histologies n = 17), Hodgkin's disease (n = 44) or low/intermediate grade lymphoma (n = 46), compared to healthy controls. The frequency of the low-IL-10 producing AA allele (at position -1082) was significantly higher in patients with aggressive lymphoma compared to controls (p = 0.0344, Odds ratio 1.974, 95% C.I 1.066-3.655). Similarly, the frequency of the low IL-10 producing ATA or the intermediate-IL-10- producing ACC haplotype was significantly higher in patients with aggressive disease compared to controls (p = 0.0255, Odds ratio 1.647, 95% C.I 1.077-2.518). No association was found between IL-10 genotypes and Hodgkin's disease or less aggressive forms of lymphoma. Thus, polymorphisms in the IL-10 gene promoter which are associated with a low IL-10 producing phenotype may influence susceptibility to aggressive forms of lymphoma or may contribute to the pathogenesis of this disease.