The Mathematical Aspects of Research Retrospective and Geographical Processes Settling in the Region

Розглядаються питання застосування низки простих і складних ретроспективно-географічних поселенських показників, які параметризують процеси виникнення поселень і заселення певної території. Зокрема, наголошується на показнику ретроспективного заселення, поступовому потенціалі ланцюговості заселення, сумарній поселенській енергії території, історичних центрах та пунктах заселення, сумарному й інтегрованому поселенському потенціалові, параметричних коефіцієнтах заселення етапів (сім величин), показнику інтегрального поселення.The paper discusses the use of a series of simple and complex indicators of retrospective and geographical settlement, that parametrized processes of settlement and colonization a certain territory. The retrospective index of settlement, the gradual settling the potential of chain, the total settlement area of energy, historical centers and points of settlement, total settlement and integrated capabilities, and parametric coefficients settling stages (seven variables), the integral index of the settlement were focused

Effect of endotoxin on cholesterol biosynthesis and distribution in serum lipoproteins in Syrian hamsters

Infection and inflammation increase serum triglyceride and cholesterol levels in rodents and rabbits. Endotoxin (LPS) has been used as a model of infection and its effects on triglyceride metabolism have been previously characterized. In the present study we demonstrate that both low (100 ng/100 g body weight) and high dose (100 μg/100 g body weight) LPS increase serum cholesterol levels in hamsters. The increase in serum cholesterol is first observed 16 h after LPS and persists for at least 24 h. This increase is primarily due to an increase in low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. High density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels decrease after LPS treatment. Both low and high dose LPS increase hepatic cholesterol synthesis (low dose 85%, high dose 205%) and total HMG-CoA reductase activity (low dose 2.97-fold, high dose 9.96-fold). However, the proportion of HMG-CoA reductase in the active form is reduced by LPS treatment. Additionally, the mass of HMG-CoA reductase protein in the liver, measured by Western blotting, is increased after LPS. Moreover, LPS increases hepatic HMG-CoA reductase mRNA levels (low dose 3.1-fold, high dose 14.2-fold). The increase in hepatic HMG- CoA reductase mRNA levels is first seen 4 h after LPS and persists for at least 24 h. In contrast, LPS had only minimal effects on hepatic LDL receptor protein and mRNA levels. These results suggest that LPS increases serum cholesterol levels by increasing hepatic cholesterol synthesis. LPS administration decreases apoE mRNA levels in the liver while having no effect on apoA-I mRNA levels. These results suggest that HMG-CoA reductase is a member of a group of hepatic proteins that are positively regulated by inflammatory stimuli (acute phase proteins) while apoE can be considered a negative acute phase protein in hamsters. It is possible that increases in hepatic HMG-CoA reductase provide cholesterol that allows for the increased production of lipoproteins and elevations in serum lipid levels that may be beneficial to the body's host defense.Peer reviewe

Substance-Related Health Problems during Rave Parties in the Netherlands (1997–2008)

The objective of this study was to describe a 12-year (1997–2008) observation of substance-related incidents occurring at rave parties in the Netherlands, including length of visits to first-aid stations, substances used, and severity of the incidents. During rave parties, specifically trained medical and paramedical personnel staffed first aid stations. Visitors were diagnosed and treated, and their data were recorded using standardized methods. During the 12-year period with 249 rave parties involving about 3,800,000 visitors, 27,897 people visited a first aid station, of whom 10,100 reported having a substance-related problem. The mean age of these people was 22.3+/−5.4 years; 52.4% of them were male. Most (66.7%) substance-related problems were associated with ecstasy or alcohol use or both. Among 10,100 substance-related cases, 515 required professional medical care, and 16 of these cases were life threatening. People with a substance-related problem stayed 20 min at the first aid station, which was significantly longer than the 5 min that those without a substance-related health problem stayed. These unique data from the Netherlands identify a variety of acute health problems related to the use of alcohol, amphetamines, cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy, and GHB. Although most problems were minor, people using GHB more often required professional medical care those using the other substances. We recommended adherence to harm and risk reduction policy, and the use of first aid stations with specially trained staff for both minor and serious incidents

Multidirectional Time-Dependent Effect of Sinigrin and Allyl Isothiocyanate on Metabolic Parameters in Rats

Sinigrin (SIN) and allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) are compounds found in high concentrations in Brassica family vegetables, especially in Brussels sprouts. Recently, they have been used as a nutrition supplement for their preventive and medicinal effect on some types of cancer and other diseases. In this research, nutritional significance of parent glucosinolate sinigrin 50 μmol/kg b. w./day and its degradation product allyl isothiocyanate 25 μmol/kg b. w./day and 50 μmol/kg b. w./day was studied by the evaluation of their influence on some parameters of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in an animal rat model in vivo after their single (4 h) and 2 weeks oral administration. Additionally, the aim of this trial was to evaluate the direct action of AITC on basal and epinephrine-induced lipolysis in isolated rat adipocytes at concentration 1 μM, 10 μM and 100 μM in vitro. Sole AITC after 4 h of its ingestion caused liver triacylglycerols increment at both doses and glycaemia only at the higher dose. Multiple SIN treatment showed its putative bioconversion into AITC. It was found that SIN and AITC multiple administration in the same way strongly disturbed lipid and carbohydrate homeostasis, increasing esterified and total cholesterol, free fatty acids and lowering tracylglycerols in the blood serum. Additionally, AITC at both doses elevated insulinaemia and liver glycogen enhancement. The in vitro experiment revealed that AITC potentiated basal lipolysis process at 10 μM, and had stimulatory effect on epinephrine action at 1 μM and 10 μM. The results of this study demonstrated that the effect of SIN and AITC is multidirectional, indicating its impact on many organs like liver as well as pancreas, intestine in vivo action and rat adipocytes in vitro. Whilst consumption of cruciferous vegetables at levels currently considered “normal” seems to be beneficial to human health, this data suggest that any large increase in intake could conceivably lead to undesirable effect. This effect is potentiated with time of action of the examined compounds, whose influence is rather adverse for the majority of metabolic pathways (liver steatosis at short duration and insulinaemia, cholesterolaemia at long time treatment). Beneficial action of AITC concerned intensified hydrolysis of TG in the blood serum with a simultaneous lipolysis in adipocytes

Population-based study on practice variation regarding preoperative systemic chemotherapy in patients with colorectal liver metastases and impact on short-term outcomes

Introduction: Definitions regarding resectability and hence indications for preoperative chemotherapy vary. Use of preoperative chemotherapy may influence postoperative outcomes. This study aimed to assess the variation in use of preoperative chemotherapy for CRLM and related postoperative outcomes in the Netherlands. Materials and methods: All patients who underwent liver resection for CRLM in the Netherlands between 2014 and 2018 were included from a national database. Case-mix factors contributing to the use of preoperative chemotherapy, hospital variation and postoperative outcomes were assessed using multivariable logistic regression. Postoperative outcomes were postoperative complicated course (PCC), 30-day morbidity and 30-day mortality. Results: In total, 4469 patients were included of whom 1314 patients received preoperative chemotherapy and 3155 patients did not. Patients receiving chemotherapy were significantly younger (mean age (+SD) 66.3 (10.4) versus 63.2 (10.2) p < 0.001) and had less comorbidity (Charlson scores 2+ (24% versus 29%, p = 0.010). Unadjusted hospital variation concerning administration of preoperative chemotherapy ranged between 2% and 55%. After adjusting for case-mix factors, three hospitals administered significantly more preoperative chemotherapy than expected and six administered significantly less preoperative chemotherapy than expected. PCC was 12.1%, 30-day morbidity was 8.8% and 30-day mortality was 1.5%. No association between preoperative chemotherapy and PCC (OR 1.24, 0.98–1.55, p = 0.065), 30-day morbidity (OR 1.05, 0.81–1.39, p = 0.703) or with 30-day mortality (OR 1.22, 0.75–2.09, p = 0.467) was found. Conclusion: Significant hospital variation in the use of preoperative chemotherapy for CRLM was present in the Netherlands. No association between postoperative outcomes and use of preoperative chemotherapy was found