Bone metabolism in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism before and after surgery

Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is accompanied with a reduced bone mineral density (BMD) and an increased risk of fracture. Surgery is the only option for cure. It is hypothesized that in patients with PHPT bone metabolism normalizes after parathyroidectomy (PTX) and that BMD gradually increases. Fifty-two patients with PHPT who underwent surgery were prospectively followed for 1 year. Biochemical analyses were performed at baseline and 1, 4, 7 days; 6 weeks; and 3, 6, and 12 months, and BMD before and one year after surgery. Parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcium, and the bone resorption marker dropped immediately, but transiently after PTX, bone formation decreased more slowly. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) as well as cathepsin K did not show significant changes. BMD of the lumbar spine, but not of the femoral neck, increased significantly within one year after surgery. Moderate correlations existed between the changes of total calcium, ionized calcium, as well as bone-specific alkaline phosphatase and changes of the lumbar BMD. Patients who needed postoperative supplementation with calcium and vitamin D had significantly higher PTH levels. Some gender-specific differences in patients with PHPT were observed. In patients with PHPT, males appear to be more severely affected than females. Within the first year after PTX, bone metabolism normalized, and BMD of the lumbar spine increased. Patients who needed a supplementation with calcium and vitamin D after PTX preoperatively had higher serum levels of PTH.     

The physical attractiveness of facially deformed patients before and after craniofacial surgery

The present experiment investigated whether the physical attractiveness of craniofacially deformed children and adolescents could be improved by surgical procedures. Twenty patients between the ages of 5 months and 17 years were randomly selected from patient files. Patient diagnoses included facial clefts, hypertelorism, Treacher Collins syndrome, and craniofacial dysostosis (Crouzon's and Apert's syndromes). Rigorously standardized photographs of patients taken before and after surgery were shown to 40 "naive" raters ranging in age from 17 to 52 years. Raters analyzed the photographs with regard to global physical attractiveness. These ratings indicated that the patients' physical attractiveness was reliably (62 percent) improved following surgery. The results are discussed in light of recent evidence that untreated craniofacial patients may be at risk for psychosocial disorders and in terms of the growing evidence of the importance of physical appearance for the development of cognitive and social-emotional competence. In addition, a standardized assessment system is described that can be used to facilitate the compilation of actuarial data predicting surgical outcomes. Finally, the importance of empirically evaluating the effectiveness of surgical procedures and practitioners on a continuing basis is emphasized.     

Selenium concentrations and glutathione peroxidase activities in blood of patients before and after allogenic kidney transplantation

In animals and humans, the highest level of selenium (Se) occurs in the kidney. This organ is also the major site of the synthesis of the selenoenzyme glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). Decreased Se levels and GSH-Px activities in blood are common symptoms in the advanced stage of chronic renal failure (CRF). Blood samples for Se levels and GSH-Px activities measurements from patients were collected just before transplantation and 3, 7, 14, 30, and 90 d posttransplant. The Se levels in whole blood and plasma of patients before transplantation (79.5 and 64.5 ng/mL, respectively) were lower by 23% and 21%, respectively, as compared with controls (p<0.0001), and 7 d after operation, it further decreased in both components (p<0.01). Fourteen days after surgery, the levels reached the initial values and increased slowly in the later period. Red blood cell GSH-Px activity in patients in the entire period of the study did not differ from the control group. Plasma GSH-Px of patients before the surgery was extremely low (76 U/L) as compared with controls (243 U/L; p<0.0001) but increased rapidly to 115 U/L after 3 d, to 164 U/L after 14 d, and to 208 U/L after 3 mo posttransplant. In CRF patients, after kidney transplantation, plasma GSH-Px activity increased rapidly, approaching, after 3 mo, the values that were close to the normal levels. A negative correlation between creatinine level and plasma GSH-Px activity is observed in patients after kidney transplantation. Monitoring of plasma GSH-Px activity may be a useful additional marker of the transplanted kidney function.     

Plasma carotenoid concentrations before and after supplementation with astaxanthin in middle-aged and senior subjects

A randomized, double-blind human trial was conducted to assess the effect on the plasma carotenoid concentration of 4- or 12-week astaxanthin supplementation (1 or 3 mg/d) of 20 Japanese middle-aged and senior subjects. The plasma carotenoid concentration was significantly higher after the astaxanthin supplementation than that before in both the 1 mg/d (10 subjects) and 3 mg/d (10 subjects) groups.     

Emotional and behavioral reactions to facially deformed patients before and after craniofacial surgery

The present experiment investigated whether observers' emotional and behavioral reactions to facially deformed patients could be substantially improved by surgical procedures conducted by well-trained specialists in an experienced multidisciplinary team. Also investigated was the hypothesis that emotional states mediate the effects of physical attractiveness and facial deformity on social interaction. Twenty patients between the ages of 3 months and 17 years were randomly selected from over 2000 patients' files of Kenneth E. Salyer of Dallas, Texas. Patient diagnoses included facial clefts, hypertelorism, Treacher Collins syndrome, and craniofacial dysostoses (Crouzon's and Apert's syndromes). Rigorously standardized photographs of patients taken before and after surgery were shown to 22 "naive" raters ranging in age from 18 to 54 years. Raters were asked to predict their emotional and behavioral responses to the patients. These ratings indicated that observers' behavioral reactions to facially deformed children and adolescents would be more positive following craniofacial surgery. Similarly, the ratings indicated that observers' emotional reactions to these patients would be more positive following surgery. The results are discussed in terms of current sociopsychologic theoretical models for the effects of attractiveness on social interaction. A new model is presented that implicates induced emotional states as a mediating process in explaining the effects of attractiveness and facial deformity on the quality of social interactions. Limitations of the current investigation and directions for future research are also discussed.     

Eumelanin and pheomelanin concentrations in human epidermis before and after UVB irradiation

Pheomelanin is widely thought to be causally related to susceptibility to the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation: epidemiological studies show that those with a higher ratio of pheomelanin to eumelanin in hair have higher rates of melanoma, and work in mouse and cell culture shows that pheomelanin generates excess free radicals after UVR exposure. By contrast, based on measurements of eumelanin and pheomelanin in human skin, before and following irradiation, we now report that both pheomelanin and eumelanin are positively related to skin colour, and by inference, inversely with cancer susceptibility. The ratio of melanin classes is similar in people with widely different cancer rates and UVR sensitivity. Although our numbers are small, our results extend previous work in man, and lead us to speculate that factors other than the amount of pheomelanin may be important in determining UVR susceptibility in persons with red hair.     

Differentially expressed microRNAs in the serum of cervical squamous cell carcinoma patients before and after surgery

Homoharringtonine (HHT), a plant alkaloid with antitumor properties originally identified nearly 40 years ago, has a unique mechanism of action by preventing the initial elongation step of protein synthesis. HHT has been used widely in China for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Omacetaxine, a semisynthetic form of HHT, with excellent bioavailability by the subcutaneous route, has recently been approved by FDA of the United States for the treatment of CML refractory to tyrosine kinase inhibitors. This review summarized preclinical and clinical development of HHT and omacetaxine for myeloid hematological malignancies.     

D-lactate concentrations in blood, urine and sweat before and after exercise.

The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in the concentrations of D-lactate, L-lactate, pyruvate and methylglyoxal (MG) in body fluids after exercise. Eight untrained male students and five male students who were boat club members engaged in the exercise. Each subject performed runs of short and long duration. Compared to pre-exercise values plasma concentrations of D-lactate, L-lactate and pyruvate increased after running; in trained men by 3.6, 5.0, 3.4 times after short runs and by 1.5, 4.6, 2.0 times after long runs, and in untrained men by 3.0, 12.0, 1.6 times after short runs and 2.5, 5.6, 1.6 times after long runs, respectively. In all cases, the increase of L-lactate was always higher than that of D-lactate after running. The MG contents in red blood cells decreased markedly after running, especially in the untrained students. After short runs the MG concentration had decreased to 13% in the untrained men and 30% in the trained men, and after long runs the concentration had decreased to 41% in the untrained and 60% in the trained men. The MG in plasma and red blood cells appeared to have been utilized during relatively anaerobic exercise, especially by the untrained subjects. The D-lactate and related substances were also determined in urine, but the concentration of these substances showed no relationship to exercise. The D-lactate concentration in sweat samples tripled after short periods of running but the relative concentration to sodium ion concentration was not altered.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Chromosomal aberrations in tuberculosis patients before and after treatment with short-term chemotherapy

Cytogenetic effects of 4 common anti-tubercular drugs, isoniazid (H), streptomycin (S), rifampicin (R) and pyrazinamide (Z), in 3 different combinations (2 SHRZ, 2 HRZ and 2 H2R2Z2) were evaluated in the lymphocytes of tuberculosis patients undergoing chemotherapy, in order to estimate their mutagenic potential in combination. All 3 regimens showed an increased frequency of chromosomal aberrations after treatment compared to before treatment. These findings are of significance in the treatment of tuberculosis, as the drugs in question are observed to be mutagenic/clastogenic.     

Redox status of patients before cardiac surgery

Objectives: Redox regulation plays a crucial role in balancing the cardiovascular system. In this prospective study we aimed to identify currently unknown correlations valuable to cardiovascular research and patient management.

Methods: Blood samples from 500 patients were collected directly before cardiosurgical interventions (Ethics Committee reference number 85/11). Four central redox parameters were determined together with about 30 clinical, anthropometric, and metabolic parameters.

Results: Creatinine levels and pulmonary hypertension were significant predictors of the total antioxidant status (TAOS) in the patients; total glutathione levels were linked to C-peptide, and creatinine, gender, and ventricular arrhythmia influenced nitrate/nitrite levels. Notably, significant interactions were found between medication and redox parameters. Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) were positive predictors of total glutathione levels, whereas angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and CCBs were negative predictors of NOx levels. Age showed the highest correlation with the duration of the intensive care stay, followed by NOx levels, creatinine, TAOS, and C-reactive protein.

Discussion: In this prospective study we determined multiple correlations between redox markers and parameters linked to cardiovascular diseases. The data point towards so far unknown interdependencies, particularly between antihypertensive drugs and redox metabolism. A thorough follow-up to these data has the potential to improve patient management.

Abbreviations: A: absorption; ΔA: absorption difference; ABTS: 2,2′-azino-di(3-ethylbenzothiazoline sulfonate); ACE: angiotensin-converting enzyme; AO: antioxidant; ARB: angiotensin receptor blocker; BMI: body mass index; CAD: coronary artery disease; CCB: calcium channel blocker; CDC: coronary heart diseases; COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; CRP: C-reactive protein; CVD: cardiovascular diseases; Cu-OOH: cumene hydroperoxide; D: dilution factor; DAN: 2,3-diaminonaphtalene; DMSO: dimethylsulfoxide; DNA: deoxyribonucleic acid; DTNB: 5,5-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate); ε: extinction coefficient; EDRF: endothelium-derived relaxing factor; fc: final concentration; GPx: glutathione peroxidases; (h)GR: (human) glutathione reductase; GSH: (reduced) glutathione; GSSG: glutathione disulfide; GST: glutathione-S-transferase; Hb: hemoglobin; HDL: high-density lipoprotein; Hk: hematocrit; H₂O₂: hydrogen peroxide; ICS: intensive care stay; LDH: lactate dehydrogenase; LDL: low-density lipoprotein; MI: myocardial infarction; NED: N-(1-naphthyl)-ethylendiamine-dihydrochloride; NOS: nitric oxide synthase; NOx: nitrate/nitrite; NR: nitrate reductase; PBS: phosphate buffered saline; PCA: principle component analysis; PH: pulmonary hypertension; ROS: reactive oxygen species; RNS: reactive nitrogen species; RT: room temperature (25°C); SA: sulfanilamide; SOD: superoxide dismutase; SSA: sulfosalicylic acid; TAC: total antioxidant capacity; TAOS: total antioxidant status; TEAC: trolox equivalent antioxidative capacity; TG: triglycerides; tGSH: total glutathione; TNB-: 2-nitro-5-thiobenzoate; U: unit; UV: ultraviolet; VA: volume activity; Wc: working concentration; WHR: waist-hip ratio.     

Numeric description of circadian rhythm of TSH in patients with cold tumors of the thyroid gland before and after surgery]

Circadian rhythm of TSH was analyzed in patients with cold tumors of the thyroid before and after surgical removal of the tumors and in control subjects. By using special computer program BIOR based on harmonic and regression analysis, designed for verifying and comparing various biorhythms, significant differences were found between TSH biorhythms in patients with cold thyroid tumors before and after the operation.     

Regularities of changes in microcirculatory flow through different parts of the heart in patients with acquired valvular disease before and after surgery

Microcirculation in the subepicardium was studied in 30 patients with aortic acquired valvular disease (AVD) and 20 with mitral AVD with the use of an ALF-21 laser Doppler blood flowmeter (Transonic Systems). In total, 845 measurements were made. Subepimyocardial flow (EMF) was measured on the anterior surface of the right and left atria and on the anterior, posterior, and diaphragmatic surfaces of the left and right ventricles of the heart before and after surgery. A decrease in the hyperfunctioning of the chambers of the heart led to a redistribution of myocardial flow. Differences (EMF) between EMF values observed before and after treatment were analyzed, and the coefficients for the linear equation EMF = a + kEMF_bs were computed by the least-squares method. It was found that blood flow decreased when it was enhanced before treatment and increased when it was weak initially. Thus, blood flow was balanced, approaching a value that did not change after treatment, and heterogeneity of coronary flow in the microcirculatory link decreased. Control mechanisms were assumed to change blood flow so that it acquires stability, which is needed to preserve and maintain normal energy parameters of the functioning myocardium.Translated from Fiziologiya Cheloveka, Vol. 31, No. 1, 2005, pp. 40–48.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Okuneva, Vlasov, Karaskov, Nazarov, Bulatetskaya, Voronova, Dukhnov, Zhelezchikov, Zheleznev.