Differences in public belief and reality in the care of operative patients in a teaching hospital.

Objective: The accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) restricts residents from working more than 80 hours per week averaged over a 4-week period. No such restriction exists, however, for attending surgeons. Little exploration has been done of the public's perception of the number of hours that surgeons work and how residents work with the staff surgeons at a teaching institution.

Space flight affects motility and cytoskeletal structures in human monocyte cell line J-111.

Certain functions of immune cells in returning astronauts are known to be altered. A dramatic depression of the mitogenic in vitro activation of human lymphocytes was observed in low gravity. T-cell activation requires the interaction of different type of immune cells as T-lymphocytes and monocytes.

Anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of the ethanolic extract of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius in rats and mice.

Background: Ethanolic leaf extract of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius was evaluated for analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities.

Methods: The analgesic activity of the extract was assayed by the formalin-induced paw licking test, acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing and hot plate test, whereas its anti-inflammatory activity was determined by its effects on carrageenan-induced paw edema.

Results: The extract of C.

Left-ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction is associated with a cardiomyocyte-specific hypothyroid condition.

Similarities in cardiac gene expression in hypothyroidism and left ventricular (LV) pathological remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI) suggest a role for impaired cardiac thyroid hormone (TH) signaling in the development of heart failure. Increased ventricular activity of the TH-degrading enzyme type 3 deiodinase (D3) is recognized as a potential cause. In the present study, we investigated the cardiac expression and activity of D3 over an 8-wk period after MI in C57Bl/6J mice.

BACE1 inhibitory activities of enantiomerically pure, variously substituted N-(3-(4-benzhydrylpiperazin-1-yl)-2-hydroxypropyl) arylsulfonamides.

β-Secretase (BACE1) has been widely recognized as one of the possible therapeutic targets for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. In this paper, we report the synthesis and the BACE1 inhibitory activity of new, variously substituted N-(3-(4-benzhydrylpiperazin-1-yl)-2-hydroxypropyl) arylsulfonamides. Each enantiomeric form was separately evaluated in BACE1 inhibition assays and IC(50) values were obtained in the low micromolar range.

Hepatocellular carcinoma and the underlying mechanisms.

The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma is increasing worldwide as well as the associated risk factors, some of which include exposure to aflatoxin B1, Hepatitis B (HBV) virus and hepatitis C (HCV) virus. Mutation of tumour suppressor gene p53 at codon 249(ser) at exon 7 has been found to contribute significantly to replication of damaged DNA and subsequent tumour progression. The x gene of HBV (HBx) is the most common open reading frame integrated into the host genome in hepatocellular carcinoma and the integrated HBx is frequently mutated in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Tissue distribution and cardiac metabolism of 3-iodothyronamine.

3-iodothyronamine (T1AM) is a novel relative of thyroid hormone, able to interact with specific G protein-coupled receptors, known as trace amine-associated receptors. Significant functional effects are produced by exogenous T1AM, including a negative inotropic and chronotropic effect in cardiac preparations. This work was aimed at estimating endogenous T1AM concentration in different tissues and determining its cardiac metabolism.

A chromone from Seseli praecox (Apiaceae).

Chemical investigation of the stems of Seseli praecox (Gamisans) Gamisans, an endemic Apiaceae from Sardinia, afforded an isopropenylated chromone (5-hydroxy-6-(2-Z-butenyl-3-hydroxymethyl)-7-methoxy-2-methylchromone), along with four known linear furocoumarins and their natural precursor. For biological characterization the new compound was screened against four cancer cell lines in vitro and showed differential microM antiproliferative effects between suspension and adherent cells.

Role of oxidative stress in reproductive toxicity induced by co-administration of chloramphenicol and multivitamin-haematinics complex in rats.

Concurrent administration of chloramphenicol (CAP) with multivitamin-haematinics complex (MHC) is a common practice to cushioning anticipated anaemic effect of CAP in most developing countries. This study investigated the mechanism involved in CAP-induced reproductive toxicity as well as the effects of its co-administration with MHC in male rats. CAP and MHC were administered orally at therapeutic doses of 28 mg/kg body-weight and 0.

Determination of tramadol and metabolites by HPLC-FL and HPLC-MS/MS in urine of dogs.

Tramadol is a centrally acting analgesic drug used in veterinary and human clinical practice. Its metabolism has been largely characterized in human being but is still long to be comprehended in several animal species, especially in the dog. The aim of the present study was to develop and validate a new analytical procedure to investigate HPLC the metabolization/elimination process tramadol in urine of dogs by HPLC-FL or HPLC-MS/MS.

Molecular targets of [6]-gingerol: Its potential roles in cancer chemoprevention.

A wide variety of phenolic compounds derived from spices possess potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, and anticarcinogenic activities. [6]-gingerol (1-[4'-hydroxy-3'-methoxyphenyl]-5-hydroxy-3-decanone) is the major pungent principle of ginger, with numerous pharmacological properties including antioxidant, anti-inflammation, and antitumor promoting properties. It could decrease inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) expression through suppression of I-kappaB alpha (IkappaBalpha) phosphorylation, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) nuclear translocation.

Interventions to promote healthy eating habits: evaluation and recommendations.

Although in several EU Member States many public interventions have been running for the prevention and/or management of obesity and other nutrition-related health conditions, few have yet been formally evaluated. The multidisciplinary team of the EATWELL project will gather benchmark data on healthy eating interventions in EU Member States and review existing information on the effectiveness of interventions using a three-stage procedure (i) Assessment of the intervention's impact on consumer attitudes, consumer behaviour and diets; (ii) The impact of the change in diets on obesity and health and (iii) The value attached by society to these changes, measured in life years gained, cost savings and quality-adjusted life years. Where evaluations have been inadequate, EATWELL will gather secondary data and analyse them with a multidisciplinary approach incorporating models from the psychology and economics disciplines.

Capsaicin: a novel chemopreventive molecule and its underlying molecular mechanisms of action.

Capsaicin (trans-8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide) is the a principal pungent ingredient of hot red and chili peppers that belong to the plant genus Capsicum (Solanaceae). Capsaicin is a cancer-suppressing agent. It blocks the translocation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB), activator protein 1 (AP-1), and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT3) signaling pathway that are required for carcinogenesis.

Amelioration of carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity and haemotoxicity by aqueous leaf extract of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius in rats.

This study was conducted to explore possible protective effect ofCnidoscolus aconitifolius (CA) leaf extract on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity and haemotoxicity in experimental animal models. Thirty six rats of six per group were used in this study. Group I received 10ml/kg normal saline as control.

Intense physical exercise increases systemic 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 activity in healthy adult subjects.

Intense physical exercise activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis but little is known about changes in glucocorticoid sensitivity at the target cell level. No data are available on the acute effects of exercise on 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11beta-HSD) type 1 activity, which generates biologically active cortisol from inactive cortisone and is expressed also in skeletal muscle. Fifteen healthy, trained males (age mean +/- SE 28 +/- 1) were assessed on three non-consecutive days: at rest, during an endurance and strength sessions.

Accumulation of neutral lipids in peripheral blood mononuclear cells as a distinctive trait of Alzheimer patients and asymptomatic subjects at risk of disease.

Background: Alzheimer's disease is the most common progressive neurodegenerative disease. In recent years, numerous progresses in the discovery of novel Alzheimer's disease molecular biomarkers in brain as well as in biological fluids have been made. Among them, those involving lipid metabolism are emerging as potential candidates.

Interactions between reactive oxygen species and cancer: the roles of natural dietary antioxidants and their molecular mechanisms of action.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are natural products inevitably generated along with cellular metabolism. Due to their extreme reactivity, they can damage DNA, proteins and lipids. Dietary antioxidants have been shown to take part in cellular reduction-oxidation (redox) reactions in which they can act as either antioxidants (election donors) or pro-oxidants (election acceptors) depending on the physiological environment and general oxidative state.

Dimethylarginine levels and nutritional status in hemodialysis patients.

Background: Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA)and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) originate from hydrolysis of methylated proteins, including dietary proteins, and are retained in end-stage renal disease(ESRD). This study aimed to detect the correlation of ADMA and SDMA to nutritional parameters in dialysis patients.

Methods: Before and after a single dialysis session, larginine, ADMA and SDMA plasma levels were measured in 38 hemodialysis patients by HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry.

Mass Spectrometry Study of Coumarins: Correlation Between Charges of Atoms and Fragmentation Processes.

The mass spectrometry of a number of 6-substituted coumarins was studied in the context of correlating fragmentation pathways and electronic charges of atoms performed by AM semiempirical method. The atomic charges of atoms are found to be good predictors of the fragmentation pathways.

Willingness to use functional breads. Applying the Health Belief Model across four European countries.

The present study focused on the role of the Health Belief Model (HBM) in predicting willingness to use functional breads, across four European countries: UK (N=552), Italy (N=504), Germany (N=525) and Finland (N=513). The behavioural evaluation components of the HBM (the perceived benefits and barriers conceptualized respectively as perceived healthiness and pleasantness) and the health motivation component were good predictors of willingness to use functional breads whereas threat perception components (perceived susceptibility and perceived anticipated severity) failed as predictors. This result was common in all four countries and across products.

Curcumin: from food spice to cancer prevention.

Curcumin [1, 7-bis (4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1, 6 heptadiene-3, 5-dione] is an orange-yellow component of turmeric (Curcuma longa), a spice often found in curry powder. It is known to have a variety of biologic and pharmacologic activities, including anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anticarcinogenic potential. It is a potent inhibitor of cytochrome P450 with capacity to simultaneously induce detoxifying enzymes such as glutathione S-transferase and as such may find application as a chemopreventive agent.

Recent advances in the assessment of the ratios of cortisol to cortisone and of some of their metabolites in urine by LC-MS-MS.

A previously reported method for the assessment of the ratio of tetrahydrocortisol (THF) + allo-tetrahydrocortisol (A-THF) to tetrahydrocortisone (THE) by HPLC-MS-MS has been significantly improved, in order to increase either ruggedness and reliability. That was achieved by the introduction of an on-line sample cleanup stage, which made use of a perfusion column as a solid phase microextraction (SPE) cartridge. The set of analytes was expanded, by introducing cortisol and cortisone, whose ratio supply additional diagnostic information.

Patterns of healthy lifestyle and positive health attitudes in older Europeans.

Objectives: To determine (i) the extent to which recommended lifestyle healthy behaviors are adopted and the existence of positive attitudes to health; (ii) the relative influence of socio-demographic variables on multiple healthy lifestyle behaviors and positive attitudes to health; (iii) the association between healthy lifestyle behaviors and positive attitudes to health.

Design: Two distinct healthy behavioral measures were developed: (i) healthy lifestyles based on physical activity, no cigarette smoking, no/moderate alcohol drinking, maintaining a "healthy" weight and having no sleeping problems and (ii) positive health attitudes based on having positive emotional attitudes, such as: self-perceived good health status, being calm, peaceful and happy for most of the time, not expecting health to get worse and regular health check-ups. A composite healthy lifestyle index, ranging from 0 (none of behaviors met) to 5 (all behaviors met) was calculated by summing up the individual's scores for the five healthy lifestyle items.