Plasma Zinc But Not the Exchangeable Zinc Pool Size Differs Between Young and Older Korean Women

This study was done to determine the effect of age on zinc metabolism and status among healthy Korean women. Measures of zinc metabolism and status were measured in eight young women (22–24 years) and seven elderly women (66–75 years) consuming a typical Korean diet. Oral and intravenous tracers highly enriched in 67Zn and 70Zn were administered simultaneously. Multiple plasma, 24-h urines, and fecal samples were collected after isotope administration. In the young women, additional plasma were collected to determine zinc kinetics using a seven-compartmental model. Exchangeable Zinc Pool (EZP) was estimated by Miller’s method. Plasma zinc concentrations were higher in older women than younger women (p < 0.05). EZP and urinary zinc tended to be higher in older women than younger women. Fractional and total zinc absorption and endogenous fecal zinc losses did not differ between young and older women. A comparison of the zinc kinetics of the Korean and American women showed no differences in plasma or EZP zinc parameters. However, absorbed zinc and zinc flux to slowly turning over tissues (Q7) were lower in Korean women than that of Americans (p < 0.01) suggesting the total body zinc content of Korean women is lower than that of American women

Effects of dietary supplementation of nickel and nickel-zinc on femoral bone structure in rabbits

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn) are trace elements present at low concentrations in agroecosystems. Nickel, however, may have toxic effects on living organisms and is often considered as a contaminant. This study reports the effect of peroral administrated Ni or a combination of Ni and Zn on femoral bone structure in rabbits.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>One month-old female rabbits were divided into three groups of five animals each. Group 1 rabbits were fed a granular feed mixture with addition of 35 g NiCl₂per 100 kg of mixture for 90 days. In group 2, animals were fed a mixture containing 35 g NiCl₂and 30 g ZnCl₂per 100 kg of mixture. Group 3 without administration of additional Ni or Zn served as control. After the 90-day experimental period, femoral length, femoral weight and histological structure of the femur were analyzed and compared.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The results did not indicate a statistically significant difference in either femoral length or weight between the two experimental groups and the control group. Also, differences in qualitative histological characteristics of the femora among rabbits from the three groups were absent, except for a fewer number of secondary osteons found in the animals of groups 1 and 2. However, values for vascular canal parameters of primary osteons were significantly lower in group 1 than in the control one. Peroral administration of a combination of Ni and Zn (group 2) led to a significant decreased size of the secondary osteons.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The study indicates that dietary supplementation of Ni (35 g NiCl₂per 100 kg of feed mixture) and Ni-Zn combination (35 g NiCl₂and 30 g ZnCl₂per 100 kg of the mixture) affects the microstructure of compact bone tissue in young rabbits.</p

Subtyping patients with heroin addiction at treatment entry: factor derived from the Self-Report Symptom Inventory (SCL-90)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Addiction is a relapsing chronic condition in which psychiatric phenomena play a crucial role. Psychopathological symptoms in patients with heroin addiction are generally considered to be part of the drug addict's personality, or else to be related to the presence of psychiatric comorbidity, raising doubts about whether patients with long-term abuse of opioids actually possess specific psychopathological dimensions.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Using the Self-Report Symptom Inventory (SCL-90), we studied the psychopathological dimensions of 1,055 patients with heroin addiction (884 males and 171 females) aged between 16 and 59 years at the beginning of treatment, and their relationship to age, sex and duration of dependence.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 150 (14.2%) patients with heroin addiction showed depressive symptomatology characterised by feelings of worthlessness and being trapped or caught; 257 (24.4%) had somatisation symptoms, 205 (19.4%) interpersonal sensitivity and psychotic symptoms, 235 (22.3%) panic symptomatology, 208 (19.7%) violence and self-aggression. These dimensions were not correlated with sex or duration of dependence. Younger patients with heroin addiction were characterised by higher scores for violence-suicide, sensitivity and panic anxiety symptomatology. Older patients with heroin addiction showed higher scores for somatisation and worthlessness-being trapped symptomatology.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study supports the hypothesis that mood, anxiety and impulse-control dysregulation are the core of the clinical phenomenology of addiction and should be incorporated into its nosology.</p

A qualitative study on barriers to evidence-based practice in patient counseling and advocacy in Germany

Background: Despite the attempt to integrate evidence-based practice (EBP) in patient counseling and advocacy, there is limited knowledge on the status quo of this process in the German health care system. Our objective was to identify important determinants influencing the application of EBP in the counseling and advocacy setting in Germany. Methods: We carried out a qualitative study performing semi-structured expert interviews and one group discussion among n = 9 patient counselors (PCs) and patient advocates (PAs) identified via expert recommendations and by contacting relevant institutions. The interview manual was developed on the basis of a literature review on barriers/facilitators of EBP in health care delivery and a preamble oriented pyramid discussion with a multidisciplinary team. Interviews were analyzed using the Grounded Theory method. A paradigm was developed to present the interrelations between hindering and facilitating factors for EBP and the attitude towards the utilization of EBP among PAs and PCs. Results: Findings from nine face-to-face interviews and one group discussion demonstrate that by now PCs and PAs do not recognize EBP as a tool to facilitate the professionalization of patient counselors and advocates. This result is due to individual and institutional barriers such as cognitive-behavioral, professional, attitude related as well as resource and system barriers. PCs and PAs have predominantly critical attitudes towards EBP caused by a lack of trust in its reliability and by concerns regarding unfavorable effects EBP may have on the relationship with the patient and on the cooperation with physicians. A missing infrastructure of needs-based EBP training programs also discourages PCs and PAs from engaging in EBP. Despite the numerous hindering factors, there is also a growing awareness that EBP could help to improve patient counseling and advocacy. To facilitate EBP in future, needs-based training programs and health policy interventions that support interdisciplinary collaboration are required. Conclusion: Although EBP among PCs and PAs is gaining importance, it is still less likely to be recognized as helpful and its application faces various barriers. More needs-based EBP training programs and health policy interventions to decrease barriers and foster interdisciplinary collaboration are necessary