Chronic stress and insulin resistance-related indices of cardiovascular disease risk, part 2: a potential role for mind-body therapies.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death and disability in the industrialized world, and its prevalence is rapidly increasing among developing nations. The increasing global prevalence of CVD reflects in part the concurrent rise in insulin resistance, obesity, dyslipidemia, and other atherogenic changes associated with insulin resistance syndrome (IRS). Evidence suggests that chronic stress and related psychosocial factors also play an important role in the development and progression of IRS-related states and ultimately, in the pathogenesis of CVD.

Influence of admission hematocrit on inpatient rehabilitation outcomes after total knee and hip arthroplasty.

Objective: To examine admission hematocrit (Hct) status on inpatient rehabilitation outcomes after total knee (TKA) and hip arthroplasty (THA).

Design: This study was a retrospective, exploratory analysis. Patients (n = 400) were stratified by admission hematocrit levels: normal (Hct >or=36-41%, World Health Organization criteria for normal Hct in women and men), low (Hct between the operational 30% cutoff and 36-41%), and very low (Hct <30%).

Chronic stress and insulin resistance-related indices of cardiovascular disease risk, part I: neurophysiological responses and pathological sequelae.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death and disability in the industrialized world, and the prevalence is increasing rapidly among developing nations. The rising prevalence of CVD worldwide may be attributed in large part to specific atherogenic changes in insulin resistance, adiposity, lipid profiles, and other indices of insulin resistance syndrome (IRS), a cluster of metabolic and hemodynamic abnormalities that are strongly predictive of CVD. A growing body of research suggests that chronic psychosocial stress and related factors significantly contribute to the pathogenesis of IRS-related abnormalities, associated insulin-resistant states, and CVD, in part by promoting dysregulation of the sympathoadrenal system and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

Effects of alpha-lipoic acid supplementation in peripheral arterial disease: a pilot study.

Objective: To examine whether 3 months of lipoic acid (LA) supplementation improved walking tolerance and delayed claudication pain onset in peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

Design: Randomized, double-blind, controlled study.

Setting: General Clinical Research Center.

Regulation of cell diameter, For3p localization, and cell symmetry by fission yeast Rho-GAP Rga4p.

Control of cellular dimensions and cell symmetry are critical for development and differentiation. Here we provide evidence that the putative Rho-GAP Rga4p of Schizosaccharomyces pombe controls cellular dimensions. rga4 Delta cells are wider in diameter and shorter in length, whereas Rga4p overexpression leads to reduced diameter of the growing cell tip.

How to assess mean blood pressure properly at the brachial artery level.

Objectives: Mean arterial pressure at the upper arm is traditionally calculated by adding one-third of the pulse pressure to the diastolic pressure. We questioned the general validity of this formula.

Methods: We used previously recorded resting intrabrachial pressure and Riva-Rocci Korotkoff blood pressure measurements in 57 subjects (study A) and 24-h intra-arterial recordings obtained in 22 ambulant subjects (study B).

Effect of obesity on inpatient rehabilitation outcomes after total hip arthroplasty.

Objective: This study examined whether obesity affected inpatient rehabilitation outcomes after total hip arthroplasty (THA).

Research Methods And Procedures: This was a retrospective, comparative study conducted using a computerized medical database derived from THA patients at a university-affiliated rehabilitation hospital (data from 2002 to 2005). Patients were divided into four brackets based on BMI: non-obese (<25 kg/m(2)), overweight (25 to 29.

Effect of obesity on inpatient rehabilitation outcomes following total knee arthroplasty.

Objectives: To examine obesity effects on outcomes following inpatient rehabilitation in patients following primary total knee arthroplasty or revision total knee arthroplasty.

Design: Retrospective, comparative study.

Setting: Fifty-bed, university-affiliated rehabilitation hospital.

Antioxidant supplementation lowers exercise-induced oxidative stress in young overweight adults.

Objective: To determine whether antioxidant (AOX) supplementation attenuates post-exercise oxidative stress and contributors to oxidative stress (inflammation, blood lipids) in overweight young adults.

Research Methods And Procedures: This was a randomized, double-blind, controlled study. Overweight (BMI, 33.

Resistance training lowers exercise-induced oxidative stress and homocysteine levels in overweight and obese older adults.

Objective: To compare exercise-induced oxidative stress and levels of homocysteine and cholesterol in normal-weight and overweight older adults after resistance exercise (RX).

Research Methods And Procedures: This interventional study was conducted at a wellness center. Forty-nine older adults (age range, 60 to 72 years) were stratified by BMI (<25 kg/m(2) normal weight, > or =25 kg/m(2) overweight/obese) and then randomly assigned to either a control non-exercise group or an RX group.

A preliminary examination of the CMS eligibility criteria in total-joint arthroplasty.

Objective: To analyze inpatient rehabilitation outcomes in total-knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total-hip arthroplasty (THA) patients using the 2004 Medicare 75% rule criteria.

Design: This retrospective study compared outcomes in unilateral TKA (UTKA), bilateral TKA (BTKA), and THA after interdisciplinary inpatient rehabilitation (n = 867). Patients were separated into three comparison pairs: 1) UTKA or BTKA, 2) age <85 yrs or > or =85 yrs, and 3) body mass index (BMI) <50 or > or =50 kg/m.

Structural basis for processivity and single-strand specificity of RNase II.

RNase II is a member of the widely distributed RNR family of exoribonucleases, which are highly processive 3'-->5' hydrolytic enzymes that play an important role in mRNA decay. Here, we report the crystal structure of E. coli RNase II, which reveals an architecture reminiscent of the RNA exosome.

Substrate recognition and catalysis by the exoribonuclease RNase R.

RNase R is a processive, 3' to 5' hydrolytic exoribonuclease that together with polynucleotide phosphorylase plays an important role in the degradation of structured RNAs. However, RNase R differs from other exoribonucleases in that it can by itself degrade RNAs with extensive secondary structure provided that a single-stranded 3' overhang is present. Using a variety of specifically designed substrates, we show here that a 3' overhang of at least 7 nucleotides is required for tight binding and activity, whereas optimum binding and activity are achieved when the overhang is 10 or more nucleotides in length.

Outcomes after inpatient rehabilitation of primary and revision total hip arthroplasty.

Objective: To compare the outcomes of patients who have gone to inpatient rehabilitation after primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) and revision THA.

Design: Retrospective, comparative study.

Setting: Fifty-bed freestanding, university-affiliated rehabilitation hospital.

Outcomes in total knee arthroplasty patients after inpatient rehabilitation: influence of age and gender.

Objectives: To examine age and gender effects on outcomes after inpatient rehabilitation in primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and revision TKA patients.

Design: This retrospective, comparative study was conducted in a 50-bed, university-affiliated rehabilitation hospital. Patients included primary TKA patients (n = 286) and revision TKA patients (n = 138) placed into one of three age brackets: <60 yrs, 60-70 yrs, or >70 yrs.

Inpatient rehabilitation outcomes in primary and revision total knee arthroplasty patients.

Unlabelled: Inpatient rehabilitation is an effective means of improving physical function and independence following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Revision TKA (TKAR) is becoming increasingly more prevalent and it is unclear if revision TKAR patients attain similar improvements following inpatient rehabilitation compared to primary TKA (TKAP) patients. This investigation compared functional outcomes following interdisciplinary inpatient rehabilitation in 286 TKAP and 138 TKAR consecutive male and female patients.

Sex and age effects on outcomes of total hip arthroplasty after inpatient rehabilitation.

Objective: To retrospectively examine the effects of sex and age on the inpatient rehabilitation outcomes of patients after total hip arthroplasty (THA).

Design: Exploratory, retrospective study.

Setting: A university-affiliated rehabilitation hospital.

Influence of resistance exercise on lumbar strength in older, overweight adults.

Objective: To measure lumbar extensor strength in overweight (OVW) and nonoverweight (NOVW) elderly adults before and after resistance exercise training (RX).

Design: Descriptive, comparative study.

Setting: University-based wellness center and research facility.

How performing a mental arithmetic task modify the regulation of centre of foot pressure displacements during bipedal quiet standing.

We investigated the effect of performing a mental arithmetic task with two levels of difficulty on the regulation of centre of foot pressure (COP) displacements during bipedal quiet standing in young healthy individuals. There was also a control condition in which no concurrent task was required. A space-time-domain analysis showed decreased COP displacements, along the antero-posterior axis, when participants concurrently performed the most difficult mental arithmetic task.

Biomarkers and potential mechanisms of obesity-induced oxidant stress in humans.

Objective: Oxidative stress may be the unifying mechanism underlying the development of comorbidities in obesity. Evidence suggests that a clustering of sources of oxidative stress exists in obesity: hyperglycemia, hyperleptinemia, increased tissue lipid levels, inadequate antioxidant defenses, increased rates of free radical formation, enzymatic sources within the endothelium, and chronic inflammation.

Method: This review provides a summary of the available evidence on systemic oxidative stress in humans and specific metabolic pathways by which obesity may elevate systemic oxidant stress.

Cholesterol-lowering effects of rosuvastatin compared with atorvastatin in patients with type 2 diabetes -- CORALL study.

Objectives: To compare the efficacy of the newest cholesterol-lowering drug, rosuvastatin (RSV) with atorvastatin (ATV) in subjects with type 2 diabetes.

Design: A 24-week, open-label, randomized, parallel-group, phase IIIb, multicentre study.

Setting: Diabetes outpatient clinics of 26 hospitals in The Netherlands.

Obesity and postexercise oxidative stress in older women.

Purpose: This study compared lipid peroxidation values in nonobese and obese postmenopausal women before and after acute maximal aerobic exercise (AX).

Methods: Blood samples were collected in nonobese (22.1 +/- 0.

Obesity exacerbates oxidative stress levels after acute exercise.

Introduction/purpose: This study compared oxidative stress levels and antioxidant capacity in nonobese and obese participants after acute resistance (RX) and aerobic exercise (AX).

Methods: Blood samples were collected from 28 nonobese (mean = 20.8% body fat) and obese (mean = 35.

Purification and crystallization of Escherichia coli oligoribonuclease.

Oligoribonuclease (Orn) is an essential 3'-to-5' hydrolytic exoribonuclease which degrades short oligoribonucleotides to 5' mononucleotides. Escherichia coli Orn has been crystallized under several different conditions using ammonium sulfate, sodium citrate and sodium acetate as precipitants. Both native and selenomethionine-labeled oligoribonuclease (SeMet-Orn) can be crystallized at room temperature in 1.