Effect of very low calorie diet on body composition and exercise response in sedentary women.

The effect of very low calorie diet (VLCD) on fat-free mass (FFM) and physiological response to exercise is a topic of current interest. Ten moderately obese women (aged 23-57 years) received VLCD (1695 kJ.day-1) for 6 weeks.

Toxicity of amphotericin B emulsion to cultured canine kidney cell monolayers.

The effect of amphotericin B in an emulsion formulation on the integrity of monolayers of kidney cells has been studied. Whereas a conventional solubilized amphotericin formulation (Fungizone, Squibb) caused a loss in monolayer integrity at concentrations above 1 microgram mL-1, the emulsion formulation had no measurable effect on confluence at amphotericin concentrations up to 100 micrograms mL-1. The emulsion retained a comparable antifungal activity to that of Fungizone against Saccharomyces cerevisiae in suspension culture.

Leisure-time physical activity as an estimate of physical fitness: a validation study.

This paper describes a new interview questionnaire for the assessment of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), and its validation as an alternative estimate of physical fitness. British subjects (77 males, 41 females) provided details of their LTPA over a period of a "typical" 2 weeks, enabling the estimation of the energy expended. Physical fitness was assessed with a battery of measures, the optimal single measure being sub-maximal physical work capacity (PWC).

A comparison of selected health-related data from surveys of a general population and a sporting population.

This paper presents a comparison of health-related data from two surveys of British adults. Respondents from one survey formed a representative sample of the British population, whilst respondents from the other were characterised by their participation in sport. Statistical analysis revealed that sports participants had significantly lower body mass index values, lower blood pressures and lower resting pulse rates (P less than 0.

The assessment of physical activity by leisure-time physical activity questionnaires.

The assessment of physical activity by questionnaire is currently the most popular and practical method of quantifying physical activity levels. Many questionnaires, past and present, have considered overall or habitual physical activity, which includes occupational (or nonleisure) activity. Others have focused specifically on leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) owing to the recognition of its dominating contribution to the total physical activity of developed populations.

Self-perceived health among sports participants and non-sports participants.

This paper examines and compares the self-perceived health (SPH) of a sample of sports participants (n = 1385) and a matched sample of non-participants (n = 292). Ratings of health were generally found to be favourable among both samples, but a non-parametric analysis of their distributions revealed that the SPH of sports participants was significantly (P less than 0.0001) better than that of the non-participants.

Complications of spinal anaesthesia following extradural block for caesarean section.

After extradural blockade failed to extend sufficiently for elective Caesarean section, spinal anaesthesia was performed using 1.6 ml of hyperbaric 0.5% bupivacaine solution in 8% glucose (Marcain Heavy).

Sports participation and health status: a preliminary analysis.

This paper presents fresh evidence which examines health in relation to age, sex, socio-economic status, sport type and frequency amongst indoor sports participants. The evidence is from 4441 self-completed questionnaires by representative samples of adult participants in seven indoor sports at 46 separate sports facilities, in six U.K.

The association of atopic diseases with endometriosis.

Comparisons of the incidence of health-related problems were conducted between women with demonstrable endometriosis (N = 88) and a control group (N = 88). Increased incidence of respondents' reports of allergic manifestations (p less than .005) were found.

Endometriosis: a comparison of associated disease histories.

We examined a subgroup of 43 women with endometriosis who reported family members affected by the disease. A matched group of female friend-controls (n = 43) was used for comparison, and reports of selected autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, and allergic manifestations were compared. For this subset of women, there appeared to be a strong familial tendency to allergic manifestations.

Family trait analysis: a case-control study of 43 women with endometriosis and their best friends.

Analyses of lineage patterns show that for 43 women with endometriosis who reported that other family members have the disease, the vast majority of these familial cases involve the maternal lineage (79% to 93%). Of these women 34.9% of their mothers and 21.

Somite chondrogenesis in vitro: 2. Changes in the hyaluronic acid synthesis.

The role of hyaluronic acid in limb morphogenesis (chondrogenesis) has been well defined. In the present study, we found that hyaluronic acid synthesis in somite explants steadily increased until day 6, then decreased, and inclusion of notochord did not accelerate the rate of synthesis. Analysis of hyaluronidase activity in the somite explants indicated an increase in the enzyme level in day-6 cultures.

Somite chondrogenesis in vitro: 1. Alterations in proteoglycan synthesis.

During embryonic development, somites undergo chondrogenic differentiation when stimulated by notochord or spinal cord. The present study shows that, when cultured in suitable medium, explanted somites incorporated radioactive sulfate into cartilage-specific proteoglycans and the synthetic rate increased when notochord was included with somites. With increased culture time, explanted somites also synthesized proteoglycan monomers which were larger in size along with a larger proportion that were capable of interacting with exogenous hyaluronic acid.

Somite chondrogenesis: alterations in cyclic AMP levels and proteoglycan synthesis.

Cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels have been shown to have a positive influence on chondrogenesis in limb buds and pelvic cartilage. In the present study the level of cAMP was measured during somite chondrogenesis in vitro and found to decrease from 1.38 pmol/micrograms DNA on day 0 to 0.

Tampon use in women with endometriosis.

This study examines the potential role of vaginal tampons in women with endometriosis. In light of the fact that some medical practitioners view an appliance worn internally as a form of medical device, and in light of the recent knowledge about tampons gained during the crisis surrounding Toxic Shock Syndrome, little published information about women's menstrual patterns and practices was found. The data used here were provided by 470 members of the Endometriosis Association.

Forskolin- and dibutyryl cyclic AMP-mediated inhibition of chondrogenesis.

The regulatory role of cyclic AMP in various cellular activities is well known. It has been documented that both the notochord and extracellular matrix materials (ECM) induce somite chrondrogenesis. We believe that the ECM modulates the intracellular cAMP level during chondrogenic differentiation.

The responsiveness of human eccrine sweat glands to choline and carbachol. Application to the study of peripheral cholinergic functioning in Alzheimer-type dementia.

The responsiveness of human eccrine sweat glands to intradermally injected choline and carbachol was studied in vivo using a plastic paint impression method. Both drugs exerted consistent dose-related effects, choline being significantly less potent than carbachol. The responses to both drugs attained a maximum level approximately 3 min after the injection, but the responses to choline had a less pronounced peak and declined more slowly than the response to carbachol.