Evaluation of Cuprimine and Syprine for decorporation of (60)Co and (210)Po.

The acknowledged risk of deliberate release of radionuclides into local environments by terrorist activities has prompted a drive to improve novel materials and methods for removing internally deposited radionuclides. These decorporation treatments will also benefit workers in the nuclear industry, should an exposure occur. Cuprimine and Syprine are oral therapeutics based on the active ingredients D-penicillamine and N,N'-bis-(2-aminoethyl)-1,2-ethanediamine dihydrochloride, respectively.

Intraoperative duplex and functional popliteal entrapment syndrome: strategy for effective treatment.

Functional popliteal entrapment syndrome (FPES) was first described by Rignault and colleagues in 1985 (Int. Angiol. 1985;4:341-343).

Baroreflex control of muscle sympathetic nerve activity: a nonpharmacological measure of baroreflex sensitivity.

The sensitivity of baroreflex control of sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) represents the responsiveness of SNA to changes in blood pressure. In a slightly different analysis, the baroreflex threshold measures the probability of whether a sympathetic burst will occur at a given diastolic blood pressure. We hypothesized that baroreflex threshold analysis could be used to estimate the sensitivity of the sympathetic baroreflex measured by the pharmacological modified Oxford test.

Aminothiol receptors for decorporation of intravenously administered (60)Co in the rat.

This report provides a comparison of the oral decorporation efficacy of L-glutathione (GSH), L-cysteine (Cys), and a liposomal GSH formulation (ReadiSorb) toward systemic (60)Co to that observed following intravenous administration of GSH and Cys in F344 rats. Aminoacid L-histidine (His) containing no thiol functionality was tested intravenously to compare in vivo efficacy of the aminothiol (GSH, Cys) chelators with that of the aminoimidazole (His) chelator. In these studies, (60)Co was administered to animals by intravenous injection, followed by intravenous or oral gavage doses of a chelator repeated at 24-h intervals for a total of 5 doses.

Nitric oxide contributes to the augmented vasodilatation during hypoxic exercise.

We tested the hypotheses that (1) nitric oxide (NO) contributes to augmented skeletal muscle vasodilatation during hypoxic exercise and (2) the combined inhibition of NO production and adenosine receptor activation would attenuate the augmented vasodilatation during hypoxic exercise more than NO inhibition alone. In separate protocols subjects performed forearm exercise (10% and 20% of maximum) during normoxia and normocapnic hypoxia (80% arterial O(2) saturation). In protocol 1 (n = 12), subjects received intra-arterial administration of saline (control) and the NO synthase inhibitor N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA).

Vascular surgery knowledge and exposure obtained during medical school and the potential impact on career decisions.

Background: The pathway to primary certification in vascular surgery is evolving, requiring trainees to make earlier career decisions. The goal of this study was to evaluate exposure to and knowledge of vascular surgery obtained during medical school that could affect career decisions.

Methods: A survey was conducted of recent medical school graduates entering military residency programs.

Influence of endogenous angiotensin II on control of sympathetic nerve activity in human dehydration.

Arterial blood pressure can often fall too low during dehydration, leading to an increased incidence of orthostatic hypotension and syncope. Systemic sympathoexcitation and increases in volume regulatory hormones such as angiotensin II (AngII) may help to maintain arterial pressure in the face of decreased plasma volume. Our goals in the present study were to quantify muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) during dehydration (DEH), and to test the hypothesis that endogenous increases in AngII in DEH have a mechanistic role in DEH-associated sympathoexcitation.

Detection of ovarian matrix metalloproteinase mRNAs by in situ hybridization.

In situ hybridization represents a powerful technique to localize DNA or RNA of interest at the chromosomal or cellular level. In endocrine tissues composed of diverse and varied cell types, in situ hybridization has allowed the identification of specific cells responsible for the expression of genes controlling the function of the tissue. Our laboratory has routinely used this approach to understand the cellular expression of genes associated with the growth of the ovarian follicle, rupture of the follicle, and transformation of the ruptured follicle into the corpus luteum.

Determination of serum estradiol levels by radiometric and chemiluminescent techniques.

The ability to precisely measure circulating levels of hormones is a foundation of modern endocrinology. For assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), accurate determination of circulating levels of estradiol are crucial for patient management, retrieval of fertilizable oocytes, and successful pregnancy outcome. For many years, circulating levels of estradiol were determined by radioimmunoassay.

Investigation of chitosan for decorporation of 60Co in the rat.

With the increased threat of terrorist release of radioactive materials, there is a need for non-toxic decorporation agents to treat internal contamination with radionuclides. In this study, low molecular weight chitosan was evaluated for decorporation of radioactive cobalt (60Co). The affinity of chitosan for Co(II) was tested in vitro using spectrophotometric and potentiometric titration techniques.

Ambulatory arterial stiffness index is not correlated with the pressor response to laboratory stressors in normotensive humans.

Background: Ambulatory arterial stiffness index (AASI) is a novel estimate of arterial stiffness, which independently predicts cardiovascular mortality, even in normotensive individuals. Additionally, other markers derived from ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring, including variability, pulse pressure, nocturnal dipping, and morning BP surge, have all been shown to be predictive of end-organ damage and cardiovascular disease. Exaggerated cardiovascular reactivity to sympathoexcitatory stimuli may also predict future incidence of hypertension.

Age-related differences in the sympathetic-hemodynamic balance in men.

As humans age, the tonic level of activity in sympathetic vasoconstrictor nerves increases and may contribute to age-related increases in blood pressure. In previous studies in normotensive young men with varying levels of resting sympathetic nerve activity, we observed a balance among factors contributing to blood pressure regulation, such that higher sympathetic activity was associated with lower cardiac output and lesser vascular responsiveness to alpha-adrenergic agonists, which limited the impact of high sympathetic activity on blood pressure. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that older normotensive men would exhibit a similar balance among these variables (sympathetic nerve activity, cardiac output, and alpha-adrenergic responsiveness) but that this balance would be shifted toward higher sympathetic nerve activity values.

Regulation and function of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP) 1 and TIMP3 in periovulatory rat granulosa cells.

In the ovary, the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMPs) have been postulated to regulate extracellular matrix remodeling associated with ovulation. In the present study, we investigated the regulatory mechanisms controlling expression of Timp1 and Timp3 mRNA in periovulatory granulosa cells. Granulosa cells were isolated from immature pregnant mare serum gonadotropin-primed (10 IU) rat ovaries and treated with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG; 1 IU/ml).

The B cell translocation gene (BTG) family in the rat ovary: hormonal induction, regulation, and impact on cell cycle kinetics.

The B cell translocation gene (BTG) family regulates gene transcription and cellular differentiation and inhibits proliferation. The present study investigated the spatiotemporal expression pattern of BTG members and their potential role in the rat ovary during the periovulatory period. Immature female rats (22-23 d old) were injected with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin to stimulate follicular development.

Sex differences in sympathetic neural-hemodynamic balance: implications for human blood pressure regulation.

Among young normotensive men, a reciprocal balance between cardiac output and sympathetic nerve activity is important in the regulation of arterial pressure. In young women, the balance among cardiac output, peripheral resistance, and sympathetic nerve activity is unknown. Consequently, the aim of this study was to examine the relationship of cardiac output and total peripheral resistance to muscle sympathetic nerve activity in young women.

Retrograde stent-graft angioplasty of superficial femoral artery occlusion in a claudicant.

Endovascular therapy has become an accepted mode of therapy for lifestyle-limiting claudication, especially if the disease is confined to the superficial femoral artery (SFA). The standard approach to these lesions is from the contralateral femoral artery and crossing over the aortic bifurcation. In patients who have an aortobifemoral bypass (AFB), this technique is usually not feasible secondary to the angles of the graft.

Measuring muscle blood flow: a key link between systemic and regional metabolism.

Purpose Of Review: To provide a brief overview of the main techniques to measure muscle blood flow in humans and highlight some of the strengths and weaknesses associated with each technique.

Recent Findings: Peak muscle blood flow values of 300 ml/min per 100 g are possible in humans during heavy exercise performed with small muscle mass. This value is far higher than that which appears in most textbooks.

Why money matters. Interview by Lynne Pearce.

Nurses are increasingly expected to manage their own budgets, but many know little about sound financial management.

Response gene to complement 32 expression is induced by the luteinizing hormone (LH) surge and regulated by LH-induced mediators in the rodent ovary.

Response gene to complement 32 (Rgc32) has recently been suggested to be expressed in the ovary and regulated by RUNX1, a transcription factor in periovulatory follicles. In the present study, we determined the expression profile of the Rgc32 gene in the rodent ovary throughout the reproductive cycle and the regulatory mechanism(s) involved in Rgc32 expression during the periovulatory period. Northern blot and in situ hybridization analyses revealed the up-regulation of Rgc32 expression in periovulatory follicles.

Exercise intensity-dependent contribution of beta-adrenergic receptor-mediated vasodilatation in hypoxic humans.

We previously reported that hypoxia-mediated reductions in alpha-adrenoceptor sensitivity do not explain the augmented vasodilatation during hypoxic exercise, suggesting an enhanced vasodilator signal. We hypothesized that beta-adrenoceptor activation contributes to augmented hypoxic exercise vasodilatation. Fourteen subjects (age: 29 +/- 2 years) breathed hypoxic gas to titrate arterial O(2) saturation (pulse oximetry) to 80%, while remaining normocapnic via a rebreath system.

Comparing outcomes of hand-assisted versus total laparoscopic gastric bypass.

Background: Previous studies have compared open versus hand-assisted and open versus total laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. This study compared hand-assisted and total laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery performed at 2 institutions by 2 surgeons, each specializing in 1 of the techniques.

Methods: Gastric bypass operations (n = 272) were evaluated from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2004.

Negative pressure oxygen breathing and head-down tilt increase nitrogen elimination.

Negative pressure breathing (NPB) increases the rate of nitrogen elimination, which is thought to be due to an increase in cardiac output due to augmented venous return to the heart. Hyperoxia, however, decreases the rate of nitrogen elimination. The effect of hyperoxia on the increase in nitrogen elimination during NPB is not known.

Adenosine transporter antagonism in humans augments vasodilator responsiveness to adenosine, but not exercise, in both adenosine responders and non-responders.

' We previously demonstrated a bimodal distribution of forearm vasodilator responsiveness to adenosine (ADO) infusion in the brachial arteries of human subjects. We also demonstrated that ADO receptor antagonism blunted exercise hyperaemia during heavy rhythmic handgripping, but vasodilator responses to exogenous ADO were only blunted in ADO responders. In this study, we continued investigating the contribution of ADO to exercise hyperaemia and possible differences between responders and non-responders.

Excessive heart rate response to orthostatic stress in postural tachycardia syndrome is not caused by anxiety.

Postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is characterized by excessive increases in heart rate (HR) without hypotension during orthostasis. The relationship between the tachycardia and anxiety is uncertain. Therefore, we tested whether the HR response to orthostatic stress in POTS is primarily related to psychological factors.