Annals of clinical and laboratory science
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Ann. Clin. Lab. Sci. · Jan 2005
Swimming exercise training prior to acute myocardial infarction attenuates left ventricular remodeling and improves left ventricular function in rats.
The effect of exercise training prior to acute myocardial infarction (AMI) on left ventricular (LV) remodeling is poorly understood. This study investigated the protective effect of 3 weeks of swimming exercise training prior to AMI on cardiac morphology and function. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 35) were randomly assigned to 3 groups: swimming training (n = 14, 90 min, 5 days/wk, 3 wk), sedentary (n =14), and controls (n = 7, no exercise, no MI). ⋯ Both LV-shortening fraction (SF%) and fractional area change (FAC%) were higher in the trained animals 4 wk post-AMI (39+/-12% vs 23+/-8%; p 0.002, and 48+/-14% vs. 38+/-9%; p 0.07, respectively). In conclusion, 3 wk of swimming exercise training prior to AMI significantly attenuated LV remodeling and improved LV function, despite no changes in LV dimensions or systolic function at the end of the exercise session. The data suggest that even a short-term training period is sufficient to induce cardiac protection.
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Ann. Clin. Lab. Sci. · Jan 2004
Comparative StudyEffect of protein on hemoglobin and hematocrit assays with a conductivity-based point-of-care testing device: comparison with optical methods.
Point-of-care testing (POCT) for blood hemoglobin and hematocrit (H/H) levels provides rapid patient assessment including the need for transfusion. Conductivity-based methods of blood H/H determinations can be influenced by plasma protein concentration. To assess this factor, we measured H/H levels at varying protein concentrations using two POCT instruments: iSTAT-1 (conductivity method) and Hemocue (optical method). ⋯ The H/H results obtained with the iSTAT-1 instrument gave slightly less correlation with those of the GenS analyzer (r = 0.978 - 0.980) over this protein range. However, the iSTAT-1 results were generally lower than the GenS results, with discrepancies up to 2 g/dL for hemoglobin values and up to 4% for hematocrits at the lowest protein concentration. Therefore, it is recommended that H/H testing in patients with suspected hypoproteinemia or substantial hemodilution should be tested with a non-conductivity-based method.
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Ann. Clin. Lab. Sci. · Jan 2004
Influence of smoking on maternal and neonatal serum malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase levels.
This cohort study investigated postnatal serum malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels in 14 active-smoking, 14 passive-smoking, and 15 non-smoking mothers and their newborns on day 7 post-partum. No significant differences were noted among the study groups with respect to MDA (p = 0.63) or SOD levels (p = 0.98) in either the mothers or their infants. ⋯ When GPx activities were analyzed separately in both mothers and infants, a significant difference was noted only between the infants of smoking mothers and the infants of non-smoking mothers (p = 0.015). In conclusion, there was a significant increase in GPx activities of smoking mothers and their infants, suggesting that they may have been exposed to more oxidant stress.
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Ann. Clin. Lab. Sci. · Jan 2003
Case ReportsCase report: acute spontaneous Achilles tendon rupture in a patient with giant cell arteritis.
We report a case of a 69-yr-old previously healthy man with acute spontaneous Achilles tendon rupture and severe tendonitis, which occurred after 2 weeks of steroid therapy for newly diagnosed giant cell arteritis. The Achilles tendon rupture was treated conservatively and the tendonitis resolved incrementally with steroid dose reduction. The patient made a complete recovery. ⋯ The tendon rupture early in the course of high-dose steroid therapy expands the understanding of this adverse reaction, which was previously reported only with long-term steroid therapy. The severe tendonitis responded to steroid therapy reduction suggesting a dose correlation. This report adds to a sole previous report of a spontaneous Achilles tendon rupture associated with giant cell arteritis.
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Ann. Clin. Lab. Sci. · Jan 2003
Novel radiator for carbon dioxide absorbents in low-flow anesthesia.
During long-term low-flow sevoflurane anesthesia, dew formation and the generation of compound A are increased in the anesthesia circuit because of elevated soda lime temperature. The object of this study was to develop a novel radiator for carbon dioxide absorbents used for long durations of low-flow sevoflurane anesthesia. Eleven female swine were divided into two groups comprising a "radiator" group (n = 5) that used a novel radiator for carbon dioxide absorbents and a "control" group (n = 6) that used a conventional canister. ⋯ In the "radiator" group, the temperature of soda lime stayed at 30 degrees C, and the water content of soda lime was retained with no dew formation in the inspiratory valve. In addition, compound A concentration was reduced. In conclusion, radiation of soda lime reduced the amounts of condensation formed and the concentration of compound A in the anesthetic circuit, and allowed long term low-flow anesthesia without equipment malfunction.