Absence of xanthine oxidase or xanthine dehydrogenase in the rabbit myocardium

We directly measured the activity of the enzymes xanthine oxidase and xanthine dehydrogenase in rabbit and rat hearts, using a sensitive radio-chemical assay. Neither xanthine oxidase activity nor xanthine dehydrogenase activity was detected in the rabbit heart. In the rat heart, xanthine oxidase activity was 9.1 [plus-or-minus sign] 0.5 mIU per gram wet weight and xanthine dehydrogenase activity was 53.0 [plus-or-minus sign] 1.9 mIU per gram wet weight. These results argue against the involvement of the xanthine oxidase/xanthine dehydrogenase system as a mechanism of tissue injury in the rabbit heart, and suggest that the ability of allopurinol to protect the rabbit heart against hypoxic or ischemic damage must be due to a mechanism other than inhibition of these enzymes.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/25939/1/0000001.pd

The structure of the psychological adaptation in patients with schizophrenia depending on duratioh of a disease

То study the structure of psychological adaptation in patients with schizophrenia in comparative aspect depending on duration of a disease 140 persons were examined. 97 schizophrenia patients with the first psychotic episode are the basic group (average age 31,88 + 8,06 years), 43 schizophrenia patients (average age 40,37 + 9,55 years) with more than 5 years duration of process are in the comparison group. Methods of investigation: clinical-psychopathological, pathopsychological (Heim’s questionnaire - coping diagnostics, life style index* questionnaire, ‘Self-stigmatization’ questionnaire), statistical (Student T-criterion). It has been established along schizophrenia chronisation psychological defence structure protection gains the most disadaptive and pathoprotective content. On schizophrenia patients with the First Psychotical Episode (FPE) 'negation', 'compensation', 'reactive formation' dominates. In the comparison group "negation", 'regression', 'replacement 'reactive formations' are the leading factors, and the level of intensity considerably increasing. The level of self-stigmatization increases, its dominating form changes: rate shift of autopsychotic and socioreversive form of self-stigmatization to the compensatory and socioreversive forms. The use frequency of adaptive coping-mechanisms in behavioral and cognitive spheres by schizophrenia patients with the FPE is more than the use level of relatively adaptive and no adaptive coping-strategies. In emotional sphere relatively adaptive coping-strategies dominate. On duration of the disease (more than 5 years) relatively adaptive and (or) no adaptive copings become dominative in the coping structure of all three spheres, but the use level of adaptive coping-strategies considerably decreases.С целью изучения структуры психологической адаптации у больных шизофренией в сравнительном аспекте в зависимости от продолжительности течения заболевания обследовано 140 человек. 97 больных шизофренией с первым психотическим эпизодом (ППЗ) составили основную группу (средний возраст 31,88 ± 8,06 лет), 43 больных шизофренией (средний возраст 40,37 ± 9,55 лет) с длительностью процесса более 5 лет - группу сравнения. Методы исследования: клинико-психопатологический, патопсихологический (методика Хейма, опросник «Индекс жизненного стиля», опросник «Самостигматизация»), статистический (t-критерий Стьюдента). Установлено, что по мере хронизации шизофрении структура психологической защиты (ПЗ) приобретает наиболее дезадаптивное патопротекторное содержание. У больных шизофренией с ППЗ доминируют «отрицание», «компенсация», «реактивные образования». В группе сравнения ведущими являются «отрицание», «регрессия», «замещение», «реактивные образования», причем уровень их напряженности значительно возрастает. Возрастает уровень самостигматизации (CC), изменяется её доминирующая форма: сдвиг частоты аутопсихотической и социореверсивной форм CC в сторону компенсаторной и социореверсивной форм. Частота использования адаптивных копинг - механизмов в поведенческой и когнитивной сферах больными шизофренией с ППЗ превышает уровень использования относительно адаптивных и неадаптивных копингов. В эмоциональной сфере доминируют относительно адаптивные копинг - стратегии. При длительном течении заболевания (более 5 лет) в структуре копинга во всех трех сферах доминирующими становятся относительно адаптивные и (или) неадаптивные копинги, а уровень использования адаптивных копингов значительно снижается

Pregnant Behind Bars: Meeting the Nutrition Needs of Incarcerated Pregnant Women

The number of women involved in the criminal justice system has increased dramatically over the past 20 years. Due to their marginalized background, incarcerated women have a complex set of health-related needs. This is especially true of those who are pregnant, a particularly vulnerable, high-risk group. Although guidelines have been developed that recommend pregnancy screening, provision of dietary supplements, regular nutritious meals, and nutritional counseling for incarcerated pregnant women, jail policies and health care protocols often fail to heed these recommendations. In this chapter, we discuss the nutritional needs of pregnant incarcerated women as well as breastfeeding in the context of the criminal justice system and consider some of the challenges in developing programming and policies to address these health-related needs. We also present findings from the William & Mary Healthy Beginnings Project, a nutrition intervention program developed for pregnant incarcerated women in Southeastern Virginia. Assessment of this program suggests that through the development of protocols and polices that consider the health-related needs of pregnant women, correctional facilities could play a pivotal role in helping incarcerated women develop healthier habits to better care for themselves and their newborns.https://scholarworks.wm.edu/asbookchapters/1106/thumbnail.jp

Mitochondrial function after global cardiac ischemia and reperfusion: Influences of organelle isolation protocols

Dog hearts were made globally ischemic for 1 hr at normothermia, at 28°C, or at normothermia after perfusion with a hyperkalemic cardioplegia solution. After 1 hr of reperfusion mitochondria were isolated from each heart using three protocols involving: processing (homogenization and centrifugation) exclusively in KCl, Tris-EDTA plus albumin (KEA) solution; homogenizing in KEA but washing mitochondria in EDTA-depleted media (KA); or processing exclusively in EDTA-free medium.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/41745/1/395_2005_Article_BF01907770.pd

Cerium chloride as a histochemical marker of hydrogen peroxide in reperfused ischemic hearts

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) has been implicated in cardiac damage due to ischemia and reperfusion. We adapted an electron microscopic, histochemical method for demonstrating H2O2 produced by isolated cells to isolated, buffer-perfused rabbit hearts. The method involves formation of an electron-dense precipitate when H2O2 reacts with cerium chloride (CeCl3). We perfused hearts retrograde via the aorta with well-oxygenated bicarbonate-buffered solution, followed by one in which bicarbonate was replaced with imidazole (IPSS) to prevent precipitation of bicarbonate and CeCl3. Some hearts were made globally ischemic (30 min, 37[deg]C), reperfused 5 min with well-oxygenated IPSS containing 1 m CeCl3, then processed for electron microscopy. Others were perfused with IPSS containing catalase (300 U/ml) or albumin before ischemia and upon reperfusion, followed by CeCl3 administration. Nonischemic control hearts perfused with IPSS (+/- catalase) were also studied. Electron micrographs were assessed visually and by computer for precipitate localization and amount. There was abundant precipitate on the luminal face of the coronary vascular endothelium in ischemic-reperfused, cerium-treated hearts, including those treated with albumin. There was significantly less in reperfused catalase-treated or nonischemic control hearts. X-ray microbeam analysis of the endothelial precipitate indicated the presence of Ce. This appears to be the first visual demonstration of a CeCl3-H2O2-dependent reaction product in intact isolated ischemic hearts. The data indicate that at the time of reperfusion some H2O2 is accessible to the vascular space, and that its amount can be reduced by perfused catalase. Further modifications this technique may be useful for assessing the sites and pathways by which H2O2 is generated by hearts or other buffer-perfused organs subjected to stresses such as ischemia or hypoxia.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/28797/1/0000631.pd

Pandemic Influenza and Acute Care Centers: Taking Care of Sick Patients in a Nonhospital Setting

The ongoing spread of H5N1 avian influenza in Southeast Asia has raised concern about a worldwide influenza pandemic and has made clear the need to plan in advance for such an event. The federal government has stressed the importance of planning and, in particular, has asked hospitals and public health agencies to develop plans to care for patients outside of traditional healthcare settings. These alternative or acute care centers (ACCs) would be opened when hospitals, emergency departments (EDs), and clinics are overwhelmed by an influenza pandemic. The University of Michigan Hospital System (UMHS), a large tertiary care center in southeast Michigan, has been developing a model for offsite care of patients during an influenza pandemic. This article summarizes our planning efforts and the lessons learned from 2 functional exercises over the past 3 years.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/63368/1/bsp.2008.0030.pd