Infusion fluids contain harmful glucose degradation products

PURPOSE: Glucose degradation products (GDPs) are precursors of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) that cause cellular damage and inflammation. We examined the content of GDPs in commercially available glucose-containing infusion fluids and investigated whether GDPs are found in patients' blood. METHODS: The content of GDPs was examined in infusion fluids by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. To investigate whether GDPs also are found in patients, we included 11 patients who received glucose fluids (standard group) during and after their surgery and 11 control patients receiving buffered saline (control group). Blood samples were analyzed for GDP content and carboxymethyllysine (CML), as a measure of AGE formation. The influence of heat-sterilized fluids on cell viability and cell function upon infection was investigated. RESULTS: All investigated fluids contained high concentrations of GDPs, such as 3-deoxyglucosone (3-DG). Serum concentration of 3-DG increased rapidly by a factor of eight in patients receiving standard therapy. Serum CML levels increased significantly and showed linear correlation with the amount of infused 3-DG. There was no increase in serum 3-DG or CML concentrations in the control group. The concentration of GDPs in most of the tested fluids damaged neutrophils, reducing their cytokine secretion, and inhibited microbial killing. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that normal standard fluid therapy involves unwanted infusion of GDPs. Reduction of the content of GDPs in commonly used infusion fluids may improve cell function, and possibly also organ function, in intensive-care patients

Reflection/Transmission Study of Two Fabrics with Microwave Properties

In this study, the transmission and reflection of two conductive fabrics are investigated in the frequency range from 2 to 18 GHz. One of the fabrics is a non-woven polypyrrole and the other consists of a polyethylene warp with steel threads in the weft. Reflection and transmission measurements are performed in order to characterize the electromagnetic properties of the materials. Reflection measurements are performed for two polarizations at normal, 0°, and 60° incident angles. Transmission measurements are also done for two polarization directions at normal incidence. The results show that the fabric with the steel filler reflects most of the incident radiation and has very low transmission with some polarization dependence. The polypyrrole non-woven fabric, on the other hand, has reflection and transmission properties that show that it is absorbing the incident radiation. Wearable on-body sensors that in addition are comfortable to wear can be integrated in the textile of clothes. These sensors can eg., be used to monitor health or analyze gait. The fabrics have the potential to be used in health applications when designing on-body sensors, e.g for movement analysis

Changes in premenstrual symptoms in women starting or discontinuing use of oral contraceptives

It is not clear whether oral contraceptive (OC) treatment affects premenstrual symptoms in women. The aim of the present study was to evaluate changes in premenstrual symptoms (PMS) in women starting to use or discontinuing the use of OCs. Twenty-four healthy women with no previous diagnosis of premenstrual dysphoric disorder were included in this study with a prospective crossover design. Nineteen women completed daily ratings of somatic and mood symptoms during two hormonally different cycles, during a normal menstrual cycle and while using OCs. The menstrual cycle phases were hormonally verified and the low-dose, monophasic OCs were used in a 21/7 regimen. The onset of OC use significantly decreased premenstrual somatic symptoms, but it did not affect mood symptoms. In the women who discontinued OC use, no significant changes in neither somatic nor mood symptoms appeared in the premenstrual phase

A study of different fabrics to increase radar cross section of humans.

This purpose of the study was to increase the visibility on radar for unprotected pedestrians with the aid of conducting fabric. The experiment comprised measurements of four types of fabric to determine the radio frequency properties, such as radar cross section (RCS) for the vehicle radar frequency 77 GHz and transmission (shielding) in the frequency range 3-18 GHz. Two different thicknesses of polypyrrole (PPy) nonvowen fabric were tested and one thickness for 30 % and 40 % stainless steel fabrics respectively. A jacket with the thinner nonvowen material and one with 40 % steel were tested and compared to an unmodified jacket in the RCS measurement. The measurement showed an increase in RCS of 4 dB for the jacket with the 40 % steel lining compared to the unmodified jacket. The transmission measurement was aimed at determining the fabric with the highest transmission of an incoming radio wave. The 30 % steel fabric and the two thicknesses of the nonvowen fabrics were tested. One practical application is for example the use of radar reflective material in search and rescue (SAR) clothes. The study showed that the 30 % steel fabric was the best candidate for further RCS measurements

3,4-dge in peritoneal dialysis fluids cannot be found in plasma after infusion into the peritoneal cavity.

OBJECTIVE: Glucose degradation products (GDPs) are important in the outcome of peritoneal dialysis (PD) treatment. 3,4-dideoxyglucosone-3-ene (3,4-DGE) is the most cytotoxic GDP found in conventionally manufactured fluids and may, in addition, be recruited from 3-deoxyglucosone (3-DG). It is not known what happens with those GDPs in patients during PD. The aim of this study was to investigate if the 3,4-DGE and 3-DG in PD fluids can be found in plasma during treatment. DESIGN: PD patients were dialyzed with a conventional PD fluid containing 43 mumol/L 3,4-DGE and 281 mumol/L 3-DG. Parallel experiments were performed in rats as well as in vitro with human plasma. The rats were dialyzed with a PD fluid containing 100 mumol/L 3,4-DGE and 200 mumol/L 3-DG. RESULTS: The concentration of 3,4-DGE in the peritoneum decreased at a much higher rate than 3-DG during the dwell. 3,4-DGE was not, however, detected in the plasma of patients or rats during dialysis. The concentration of 3-DG in plasma peaked shortly after infusion of the fluid to the peritoneal cavity. The concentration of 3,4-DGE during experimental incubation in plasma decreased rapidly, while the concentration of 3-DG decreased only 10% as rapidly or less. CONCLUSION: 3,4-DGE could not be detected in plasma from either PD patients or rats during dialysis. This is presumably due to its high reactivity. 3-DG may, on the other hand, pass through the membrane and be detected in the blood

3,4-dideoxyglucosone-3-ene in peritoneal dialysis fluids infused into the peritoneal cavity cannot be found in plasma.

OBJECTIVE: Glucose degradation products (GDPs) are important for the outcome of peritoneal dialysis (PD) treatment. The most cytotoxic GDP found in conventionally manufactured fluids, 3,4-dideoxyglucosone-3-ene (3,4-DGE), may in addition be recruited from 3-deoxyglucosone (3-DG). What happens with the GDPs in the fluid infused into patients during PD is not known. We investigated whether 3,4-DGE and 3-DG in PD fluid can be found in plasma during treatment. DESIGN: Patients on PD were dialyzed with a conventional PD fluid containing 43 micromol/L 3,4-DGE and 281 micromol/L 3-DG. Parallel experiments were performed in rats and in vitro with human plasma. The rats were dialyzed with a PD fluid containing 100 micromol/L 3,4-DGE and 200 micromol/L 3-DG. RESULTS: The 3,4-DGE concentration in the peritoneum declined at a much higher rate during the dwell than did the 3-DG concentration. However, 3,4-DGE was not detected in the plasma of patients or of rats during dialysis. The 3-DG concentration in plasma peaked shortly after infusion of fluid into the peritoneal cavity. The 3,4-DGE concentration during experimental incubation in plasma declined rapidly; the 3-DG concentration declined only 10% as rapidly (or less). CONCLUSION: During dialysis, 3,4-DGE could not be detected in plasma of either PD patients or rats, presumably because of its high reactivity. On the other hand, 3-DG may pass through the membrane and be detected in the blood

Fiber type-specific hypertrophy and increased capillarization in skeletal muscle following testosterone administration of young women.

It is well established that testosterone administration induces muscle fiber hypertrophy and myonuclear addition in men, however, it remains to be determined whether similar morphological adaptations can be achieved in women. The aim of the present study was therefore to investigate whether exogenously administered testosterone alters muscle fiber morphology in skeletal muscle of young healthy, physically active women. Thirty-five young (20-35 years), recreationally trained women were randomly assigned to either 10-week testosterone administration (10 mg daily) or placebo. Before and after the intervention, hormone concentrations and body composition were assessed, and muscle biopsies were obtained from the vastus lateralis. Fiber type composition, fiber size, satellite cell- and myonuclei content, as well as muscle capillarization were assessed in a fiber type-specific manner using immunohistochemistry. Following the intervention, testosterone administration elevated serum testosterone concentration (5.1-fold increase, P=0.001), and induced significant accretion of total lean mass (+1.9%, P=0.002) and leg lean mass (+2.4%, P=0.001). On the muscle fiber level, testosterone increased mixed fiber cross-sectional area (+8.2%, P=0.001), an effect primarily driven by increases in type II fiber size (9.2%, P=0.006). Whereas myonuclei content remained unchanged, a numerical increase (+30.8%) was found for satellite cells associated with type II fibers in the Testosterone group. In parallel with fiber hypertrophy, testosterone significantly increased capillary contacts (+7.5%, P=0.015) and capillary-to-fiber ratio (+9.2%, P=0.001) in type II muscle fibers. The current study provides novel insight into fiber type-specific adaptations present already after 10 weeks of only moderately elevated testosterone levels in women

PD fluids contain high concentrations of cytotoxic GDPs directly after sterilization

Objective: Glucose degradation products (GDPs) in peritoneal dialysis (PD) fluids are cytotoxic and affect the survival of the peritoneal membrane. One of the most reactive GDPs in PD fluids is 3,4-dideoxyglucosone-3-ene (3,4-DGE). 3,4-DGE has been reported as an intermediate between 3-deoxyglucosone (3-DG) and 5-hydroxymethyl furaldehyde (5-HMF) during degradation of glucose. In PD fluids, 3,4-DGE exists in a temperature-dependent equilibrium with a pool of unidentified substances. The aim of this study was to explore this equilibrium and its temperature dependence during the first months of storage after the sterilization procedure. Methods: GDPs and inhibition of cell growth (ICG) were measured directly after sterilization of the PD fluid and during storage at different temperatures for 60 days. The following GDPs were analyzed: 3-DG, 3,4-DGE, 5-HMF, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, glyoxal, and methylglyoxal. Results: Immediately after sterilization, the concentration of 3,4-DGE was 125 mumol/L. During the first weeks of storage, it decreased by about 80%. At the same time, the 3-DG concentration increased. None of the other GDPs were significantly affected. Cytotoxicity correlated well with the concentration of 3,4-DGE. When pure 3,4-DGE was substituted for the lost amount of 3,4-DGE after 30 days of storage, the initial ICG was almost completely regained. Conclusions: Heat sterilization of PD fluids promotes the formation of large quantities of 3,4-DGE, rendering the fluid highly cytotoxic. During storage, the main part of 3,4-DGE is reversibly converted in a temperature-dependent manner to a less cytotoxic pool, consisting mainly of 3-DG. Cytotoxicity seems to be dependent exclusively on 3,4-DGE. In order to avoid higher levels of 3,4-DGE concentrations, PD fluids should not be used too soon after sterilization and should not be stored at temperatures above room temperature

A randomized, double-blind study on efficacy and safety of sepranolone in premenstrual dysphoric disorder

Women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) experience mood symptoms related to the increase in progesterone and the neuroactive steroid allopregnanolone. Our hypothesis is that allopregnanolone is the symptom provoking factor. The rationale for the present study was to treat PMDD patients with the GABAA receptor modulating steroid antagonist, sepranolone (isoallopregnanolone). Patients (n = 206) with PMDD from 12 European centers were randomized in a parallel double-blind study and treated with placebo, sepranolone 10 mg and 16 mg. Patients administered sepranolone subcutaneously every 48 h during the 14 premenstrual days of three consecutive menstrual cycles. After obtaining informed consent, the PMDD diagnosis was confirmed according to DSM-5 and verified with two menstrual cycles of daily symptom ratings using the Daily Record of Severity of Problems (DRSP) scale in an eDiary. Inclusion and exclusion criteria stipulated that the women should be essentially healthy, not pregnant, have no ongoing psychiatric disorder or take interfering medications, and have regular menstrual cycles. The study's primary endpoint was the Total symptom score (Sum21, the score for all 21 symptom questions in the DRSP). In the prespecified statistical analysis the average score of the 5 worst premenstrual days in treatment cycles 2 and 3 were subtracted from the corresponding average score in the two diagnostic cycles. The treatment effects were tested using analysis of variance in a hierarchal order starting with the combined active sepranolone treatments vs. placebo. The prespecified analysis of Sum21 showed a large treatment effect of all three treatments but no statistically significant difference to placebo. However, the ratings of distress showed a significant treatment effect of sepranolone compared to placebo (p = 0.037) and the ratings of impairment showed a trend to greater treatment effect of sepranolone compared to placebo. Many women with PMDD had symptoms during a longer period than the late luteal phase. It has previously been shown that 9 premenstrual days may be more representative for comparison of PMDD symptom periods than the 5 worst premenstrual days. A post hoc analysis was undertaken in the per protocol population investigating the treatment effect during 9 premenstrual days in the third treatment cycle. The Sum21 results of this analysis showed that the sepranolone 10 mg was significantly better than placebo (p = 0.008). Similar significant treatment effects were found for the impairment and distress scores. A significantly larger number of individuals experienced no or minimal symptoms (Sum21 <42 points) with the 10 mg sepranolone treatment compared to placebo (p = 0.020). The results indicate that there is an attenuating effect by sepranolone on symptoms, impairment, and distress in women with PMDD especially by the 10 mg dosage. Sepranolone was well tolerated, and no safety concerns were identified