Iron status in Winter Olympic sports.

Iron status was surveyed amongst 92 Winter Olympic sport athletes from Nordic and Alpine skiing, figure and speed skating and ice hockey. Haemoglobin and serum ferritin values were obtained by physicians as part of a monitoring programme, since iron deficiency would have an adverse effect on maximal performance. Four (7%) of 56 men were anaemic (Hb less than 14.

The efficacy of antiinflammatory medication in the treatment of the acutely sprained ankle.

The value of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs in the treatment of various sports-related injuries has been investigated by several groups. Despite these efforts, the experimental results are difficult to interpret, and very few investigations have focused on a single injury type in the acute phase. A double-blind study compared ibuprofen at a dose of 2,400 mg per day and a placebo in the 1st week of treatment of 61 acute ankle sprains with varying degrees of severity.

Inhibition of fungal and mammalian sterol biosynthesis by 2-aza-2,3-dihydrosqualene.

2-Aza-2,3-dihydrosqualene (I) and a quaternary ammonium derivative (II) inhibited ergosterol biosynthesis in cells and cell-free extracts of the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans as measured by incorporation of radiolabelled precursors. The compounds inhibited squalene epoxidase and 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclase to varying degrees in microsomes from C. albicans and from rat liver.

Ergosterol biosynthesis inhibition by the thiocarbamate antifungal agents tolnaftate and tolciclate.

The thiocarbamate antimycotics tolnaftate and tolciclate blocked sterol biosynthesis in fungal cells and cell extracts, with accumulation of squalene. This point of action was confirmed by the direct inhibition of microsomal squalene epoxidase from Candida albicans. There was no inhibition of other steps in ergosterol biosynthesis.

[Quantitative evaluation of low-flow rate hemodialysis with sequential use of 2 membranes of differing permeability].

Although the "low flow" dialysis has not gained large clinical experience, recent long term clinical investigation indicate that it can be an interesting alternative in the treatment of uremia. This method permits a reduction in treatment cost without impairing the quality of therapy. The interest of this 12 months cross-over and comparative study with 2 types of dialyzers (H12-10/DISCAP 110) and 2 dialysate flow regiments is twofold: it confirms the lack of morbidity linked to the low flow stage; it gives quantitative data on "dose therapy" changes during the two consecutive stages.

Role of vasopressin in cardiovascular adaptation to sodium depletion in the conscious rat.

The hypothesis that vasopressin participates in cardiovascular adaptation to sodium depletion was examined in male Sprague-Dawley rats studied after 6 days (n = 28) or 4 weeks (n = 28) of low sodium diet. Blood pressure was similar on the two diets but heart rate, water intake and urine volume were all significantly greater at 4 weeks. Animals were randomly assigned to four acute treatment groups: controls, vasopressin pressor antagonist, d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)AVP (AVPA, 10 micrograms/kg); angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, enalaprilic acid (150 micrograms/kg); combined ACE inhibitor and AVPA.

Inhibition of squalene epoxidase by allylamine antimycotic compounds. A comparative study of the fungal and mammalian enzymes.

The inhibition of squalene epoxidase by the allylamine antimycotic agents naftifine and compound SF 86-327 was investigated, with particulate enzyme preparations from the pathogenic yeasts Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis and from rat liver. Both naftifine and compound SF 86-327 were potent inhibitors of the Candida epoxidases and showed apparently non-competitive kinetics with respect to the substrate squalene. The Ki values for naftifine and compound SF 86-327 in the C.

Development of plasmid-mediated resistance in Vibrio cholerae during treatment with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.

The persistence of Vibrio cholerae, biotype el tor, in a patient treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was due to the acquisition of a conjugative resistance plasmid. The plasmid, with a molecular size of 72 megadaltons, belonged to incompatibility group 6-C and conferred resistance to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, sulfonamide, and trimethoprim.

Emporiatric enteritis: lessons learned from U.S. students in Mexico.

In the studies reported, evidence has been presented that U.S. students traveling to Mexico represent a model for the study of travelers' diarrhea.

[The renin-angiotensin system and renal adaptation to sodium restriction].

The renin angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) is activated during the early phase of renal adaptation to sodium restriction. The effect of the converting enzyme inhibitor (CEI) MK 421 (MK) was studied when administered 3 days before and 6 days after sodium restriction. Mean arterial pressure, variations of urinary aldosterone, renal blood flow and sodium balance were studied.

[Renal adaptation to a restriction of sodium intake in the rat: effects of inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system].

The relationship between sodium homeostasis and the renin-angiotensin system was assessed through the use of two angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (captopril and enalapril) in the rat. Treatment with captopril (group SQ) or enalapril (group MK) before and during a 6-day period of sodium free diet was associated with sodium wasting; on the sixth day of sodium restriction, sodium excretion was 164 +/- 17 and 144 +/- 10 mumol/24 h in SQ and MK group respectively. In addition, the cumulative Na+ excretion during the 6 day period of sodium-free diet was 1.

Properties of a particulate squalene epoxidase from Candida albicans.

The properties and requirements of squalene epoxidase and effects of some inhibitors were investigated in the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans. A washed 'microsomal' fraction converted radiolabelled squalene to 2,3-oxidosqualene and lanosterol. Minimum requirements for activity were molecular oxygen, NADH or NADPH, and FAD.

[Value of rifampin in the treatment of staphylococcal septicemia].

Analysis of 20 cases of staphylococcal septicemia, observed over 1 1/2 months in a general hospital, confirms that these infections are frequent and severe. They occurred in compromised hosts and were nosocomial infections in 2/3 of cases. An intravenous device (particularly a central venous catheter) was associated with 70% of staphylococcal septicemia.

[Clinical value of the estimation of plasma converting enzyme activity].

Plasma angiotensin I-converting enzyme "activity" (CEA) was estimated as its enzymatic effect on the synthetic substrate HHL in normal subjects and patients with untreated sarcoidosis, alcoholic decompensated liver cirrhosis and scleroderma. CEA was above the upper limit of normal in 60% of sarcoidosis cases and 30% of cirrhotics; it was within normal in scleroderma. The assessment of the influence of chloride concentration on CEA showed that maximum was obtained for a concentration of 300 mM.

[In vivo-acquired resistance to cefsulodin by a strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa].

We isolated a Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain which was initially cefsulodin-susceptible (J1, MIC = 4 g/l) and became resistant (J2, MIC greater than 64 g/l) after 12 days of treatment of the patient with cefsulodin. Strain J2 had a constitutive beta-lactamase with hydrolytic activities similar to those of a cephalosporinase and an isoelectric point at 8.1.

[Pseudo-hypercalcemia of erythrocytic origin. Increased passive membrane permeability to potassium].

Pseudo-hyperkaliemia is a biochemical abnormality suspected when the blood level of K is increased, contrasting with the absence of usual symptoms of hyperkaliemia. The diagnosis is confirmed by the discrepancy between K+ blood levels which are normal if measured immediately after the blood sample is drawn, and increased if the blood sample is incubated at room temperature. In our case, the pseudo-hyperkaliemia is due to the passage of K outside the erythrocytes through increased passive membrane permeability to K.

Comparative effects of nifedipine and diltiazem on vascular responses to norepinephrine and angiotensin II.

The effects of nifedipine and diltiazem on renal vascular responses to norepinephrine and angiotensin II were investigated in the isolated blood-free perfused rat kidney. The vasoconstrictor response induced by bolus injections of angiotensin II (5 and 10 ng) and norepinephrine (60, 80 and 100 ng) were assessed before and during perfusion of nifedipine (10(-9) mol l-1 to 10(-6) mol l-1) or diltiazem (3 X 10(-7) mol l-1 to 10(-4) mol l-1). At a concentration higher than 10(-9) mol l-1, nifedipine blunted to a similar extent the responses to both angiotensin II and norepinephrine.

Ochronosis: a case report with severe ochronotic arthropathy.

Alkaptonuria is a rare inborn metabolic disorder in which ochronotic pigment is deposited in connective tissue and cartilage. Ochronotic arthropathy is the consequence of longstanding alkaptonuria and leads to progressive joint disability. We report a case of a 67-year old man with severe ochronotic arthropathy involving the spine, the knees, the shoulders and the hips.

[Pseudohyperkalemia of erythrocyte origin. Passive increase of membrane permeability to potassium].

The pseudo-hyperkalemia is a biochemical abnormality suspected when the blood level of K is increased, contrasting with the absence of usual symptoms of hyperkalemia. The diagnosis is confirmed by the discrepancy between K+ blood levels which are normal if measured immediately after the blood sample is drawn, and increased if the blood sample is incubated at the room temperature. In our case, the pseudo-hyperkalemia is due to the passage of K outside the erythrocytes by an increased passive membrane permeability to K.