Coexisting independent sodium-sensitive and sodium-insensitive mechanisms of genetic hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).

Some essential hypertensive patients and genetic hypertensive rat strains have less than the normal levels of Mg2+ tightly bound to the plasma membranes of their erythrocytes and other cells, i.e., the magnesium binding defect (MgBD).

Brain mercury in neurodegenerative disorders.

Background: Trace element neurotoxicity has long been invoked as an etiologic factor for Alzheimer's disease. This study was conducted to determine the concentrations of mercury in seven different brain regions from deceased patients histologically confirmed with Alzheimer's disease or multiple sclerosis as compared to control subjects without known central nervous system and renal disorders. Brain mercury concentrations in all deceased subjects can arise from amalgam restorations, diet, and the working environment.

Mercury determination in nursing home patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Trace-element neurotoxicity contributing to the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD) may be an important etiologic factor for this disorder. This clinical study was conducted to determine the urine concentrations of mercury (Hg) from patients with AD disorders. Within the confines of a nursing home, all subjects were exposed to the same environment and a diet that excluded seafood.

Determination of blood mercury concentrations in Alzheimer's patients.

Trace element neurotoxicity can be an etiologic factor for Alzheimer's disease. This cross sectional clinical study determined blood mercury in patients with diagnosed Alzheimer's disease as compared to control subjects without known central nervous system and renal disorders. Unique within the confines of a nursing home, all subjects were exposed to the same environment and consumed a diet without fish and seafood for a period of three months prior to the study.

Alteration of tissue vanadium content in diabetes.

A great deal of interest in the element vanadium has been generated recently because of its potential as a therapeutic agent for diabetes mellitus. Vanadium's insulin-mimetic properties and its requirement for proper growth and development suggest that it may be involved in insulin's mechanism of action. We have therefore examined vanadium levels in kidney, muscle, and liver tissues from normal and diabetic BB Wistar rats.

Selenium in peritoneal fluid.

Selenium (Se) has been identified in reproductive tissues, including human endometrium and decidua. However, no information regarding its presence in peritoneal fluid or any subsequent correlation with a reproductive clinical condition has been reported. This research endeavored to determine the presence of Se in peritoneal fluid in 30 women undergoing diagnostic laparoscopy for an infertility evaluation.

Determination of aluminum by chemical and instrumental neutron activation analysis in biological standard reference material and human brain tissue.

Since aluminum is an extremely difficult element to determine reliably in biological samples, no National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) biological standard reference material for tissue has yet been certified for aluminum. A chemical neutron activation analysis procedure employing anion-exchange chromatography was developed. The procedure proved successful in decontaminating radioactivatable sodium and chlorine and phosphorus which can produce aluminum via a fast neutron bombardment.

Reducing distress during invasive medical procedures: relating behavioral interventions to preferred coping style in pediatric cancer patients.

The hypothesis that matching childrens' preferred coping styles (repression, sensitization) with behavioral interventions (distraction, sensory information) during invasive medical procedures will reduce self-reports of fear and pain, anticipatory heart rate, and observable signs of distress was tested in 28 children with cancer. A significant coping style by intervention interaction for the self-report of experienced pain was found. However, those groups using an intervention that matched their preferred coping style actually reported higher experienced pain ratings.

Storage and Pre-Neutron Activation Analysis Treatment for Trace Element Analysis in Urine.

The problems regarding storage and pre-neutron activation analysis treatment for the elements aluminum, calcium, vanadium, selenium, copper, iodine, zinc, manganese, and magnesium in a urine matrix are reviewed. The type of collection and storage procedure and pre-neutron activation analysis treatment of mine depend on the specific trace element; that is, its inherent physical and chemical properties. Specifically polyethylene in teflon containers are the most suitable for general determinations.

Vascular reorganization and return of rigidity in fracture healing.

The present study addresses the relationship between vascular reorganization and the biomechanical changes occurring during canine long bone fracture healing. A middiaphyseal osteotomy of the radius was performed, and angiographic studies were carried out using India ink injections from 2 to 12 weeks postosteotomy. The radii were harvested, subjected to nondestructive four-point bend testing on an Instron, and then sectioned and cleared according to the Spaltholtz technique.

A framework for assessing the psychologic functioning of adolescents.

Pediatricians are often the first professionals consulted by families concerned that their teenagers may be experiencing emotional distress. Assessing the meaning of psychologic symptoms in adolescents can be a difficult task. The physician is frequently called upon to determine if an adolescent's difficulties fall within the spectrum of normative behavior or whether psychopathology is present which demands therapeutic intervention.

Serum and hair selenium levels in hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer.

Since low selenium (Se) levels have been identified in some individuals with colon cancer, we evaluated Se levels as a potential marker for this malignancy in a kindred subject to hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer, an autosomal dominant disease. Unaffected family members and spouses were selected randomly for testing. Serum Se levels were performed on dialyzed sera using the neutron activation technique.

Red blood cell and serum selenium concentrations as influenced by age and selected diseases.

Red blood cell and serum selenium concentrations were investigated to determine normal concentrations for our geographic area and if potential differences existed in patients with selected diagnoses (hepatic, renal, malignant, and chronic diseases). Selenium was quantified in samples of red blood cells, serum and urine by neutron activation analysis. The results were analyzed by comparing 1) pooled data from all ages for each disease with normal values, and 2) normal values with age-matched patients in each disease category.