An evaluation of health-related quality of life of patients aroused from prolonged coma when treated by physiotherapists with or without training in the "Academy of Life" programme

Objective: To evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients aroused from prolonged coma after a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) treated by physiotherapists trained in the ‘Academy of Life’ programme. It was assumed that physiotherapists who acquired this knowledge and experience would create a better therapeutic milieu, and would be more effective than physiotherapists who had not received this training. Material and methods: 40 patients who had suffered a severe TBI in a motor vehicle accident and had been aroused from prolonged coma were examined. All the patients underwent long-term rehabilitation according to a standard, phased programme. They were divided into two numerically even groups: an experimental group, treated by therapists trained in the ‘Academy of Life’ programme, and a control group, treated by physiotherapists who were not trained in this programme. The research instruments included an analysis of documentation, a structured clinical interview, and the Quality of Life Scale. Results: As hypothesized, the experimental group showed significant improvement in HRQOL, whereas in the control group improvement was statistically non-significant. Conclusions: The patients from the experimental group, treated by physiotherapists trained in the ‘Academy of Life’, obtained a significantly greater improvement in physical and social functioning, and thus in HRQOL, than patients from the control group

Effects of exercise of different intensity on gut peptides, energy intake and appetite in young males

Introduction and research aims: The aim of the work was an evaluation of the impact of physical exertion on the regulating of food intake and digestive system hormone release as well as the partly connected phenomenon of evaluating the subjective sensation of hunger and the amount of food consumed at various time following physical exercise. Materials and methods: The tests covered 12 young, healthy men, for whom the effects of physical exertion of a moderate and high intensity on the subjective sensation of hunger/satiety, evaluated by means of visual analogue scales, on food intake as well as on the metabolic and hormonal parameters were tested. Results: Physical exertion resulted in a fall in the subjective sensation of hunger, but only following intensive exertion was this statistically significant. The intake of food was greater after exertion when compared to the control group. Moderate exertion resulted in a statistically significant but short-lived increase in the ghrelin level. This effect was not observed after intensive exertion, while in those tests during the post-meal period there occurred a fall in the concentration of ghrelin in the plasma. After exertion a physical fall was observed in the concentration of insulin in the plasma, for the intake of food resulted in a notable increase in its level. Conclusions: Physical highly intensive exertion, results in a temporary reduction in the subjective sensation of hunger but leads to an increased food intake. The current research suggests that moderate but not intensive physical exertion stimulates the secretion of ghrelin

In vitro photodynamic diagnosis of atherosclerotic wall changes with the use of mono-l-aspartyl chlorin e6. A preliminary report

Background: Although several methods for atherosclerosis detection are available, none of them seems to be accurate enough to identify the vulnerable atheromatous plaque. Photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) and therapy (PDT) - a new method evaluated for neoplasm treatment, is a modern approach for detecting and treating atherosclerosis.Aim: To asses in vitro the capability of PDD with the use of chlorin e6 to detect atherosclerotic plaque and the usefulness of this method as a feedback system for photoangioplasty treatment.Methods: 30 specimens of human aorta and 15 specimens of human coronary arteries were examined. The samples were soaked with chlorin e6 and then washed out. The luminescence spectra were then collected. All samples were examined with light microscopy.Results: Tissue fluorescence is seen as green light. We noted a very strong red fluorescence of chlorin e6 originating from lipid-rich plaque. We established a quantitative factor (R) which is the ratio of chlorin e6 red intensity in its 660 nm maximum to the area of green luminescence centred at 515 nm. The highest value of R was reached at the atheromatous samples, followed by calcified and normal ones R2=3.51±0.62, R3=1.63±0.31, and R1=1.51±0.15, respectively. A statistically significant difference was noted between groups two and one, and between groups two and three (R2=3.51±0.62 vs. R3=1.63±0.31,

Interaction of mitochondria with the endoplasmic reticulum and plasma membrane in calcium homeostasis, lipid trafficking and mitochondrial structure

Studying organelles in isolation has been proven to be indispensable for deciphering the underlying mechanisms of molecular cell biology. However, observing organelles in intact cells with the use of microscopic techniques reveals a new set of different junctions and contact sites between them that contribute to the control and regulation of various cellular processes, such as calcium and lipid exchange or structural reorganization of the mitochondrial network. In recent years, many studies focused their attention on the structure and function of contacts between mitochondria and other organelles. From these studies, findings emerged showing that these contacts are involved in various processes, such as lipid synthesis and trafficking, modulation of mitochondrial morphology, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, apoptosis, autophagy, inflammation and Ca2+handling. In this review, we focused on the physical interactions of mitochondria with the endoplasmic reticulum and plasma membrane and summarized present knowledge regarding the role of mitochondria-associated membranes in calcium homeostasis and lipid metabolism

Promising effects of xanthine oxidase inhibition by allopurinol on autonomic heart regulation estimated by heart rate variability (HRV) analysis in rats exposed to hypoxia and hyperoxia - Fig 3

<p><b>Effect of XO inhibition by allopurinol on markers of oxidative stress in plasma: 8-isoprostanes (A) and protein carbonyl group (B).</b> Blue bar indicates control group, orange bar–rats treated with allopurinol. Data shown as Mean ± SEM according to Student t-test, * p<0.05, NS–not significant, allopurinol vs. control group.</p

Promising effects of xanthine oxidase inhibition by allopurinol on autonomic heart regulation estimated by heart rate variability (HRV) analysis in rats exposed to hypoxia and hyperoxia

<div><p>Background</p><p>It has long been suggested that reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a role in oxygen sensing via peripheral chemoreceptors, which would imply their involvement in chemoreflex activation and autonomic regulation of heart rate. We hypothesize that antioxidant affect neurogenic cardiovascular regulation through activation of chemoreflex which results in increased control of sympathetic mechanism regulating heart rhythm. Activity of xanthine oxidase (XO), which is among the major endogenous sources of ROS in the rat has been shown to increase during hypoxia promote oxidative stress. However, the mechanism of how XO inhibition affects neurogenic regulation of heart rhythm is still unclear.</p><p>Aim</p><p>The study aimed to evaluate effects of allopurinol-driven inhibition of XO on autonomic heart regulation in rats exposed to hypoxia followed by hyperoxia, using heart rate variability (HRV) analysis.</p><p>Material and methods</p><p>16 conscious male Wistar rats (350 g): control-untreated (N = 8) and pretreated with Allopurinol-XO inhibitor (5 mg/kg, followed by 50 mg/kg), administered intraperitoneally (N = 8), were exposed to controlled hypobaric hypoxia (1h) in order to activate chemoreflex. The treatment was followed by 1h hyperoxia (chemoreflex suppression). Time-series of 1024 RR-intervals were extracted from 4kHz ECG recording for heart rate variability (HRV) analysis in order to calculate the following time-domain parameters: mean RR interval (RRi), SDNN (standard deviation of all normal NN intervals), rMSSD (square root of the mean of the squares of differences between adjacent NN intervals), frequency-domain parameters (FFT method): TSP (total spectral power) as well as low and high frequency band powers (LF and HF). At the end of experiment we used rat plasma to evaluate enzymatic activity of XO and markers of oxidative stress: protein carbonyl group and 8-isoprostane concentrations. Enzymatic activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were measures in erythrocyte lysates.</p><p>Results</p><p>Allopurinol reduced oxidative stress which was the result of hypoxia/hyperoxia, as shown by decreased 8-isoprostane plasma concentration. XO inhibition did not markedly influence HRV parameters in standard normoxia. However, during hypoxia, as well as hyperoxia, allopurinol administration resulted in a significant increase of autonomic control upon the heart as shown by increased SDNN and TSP, with an increased vagal contribution (increased rMSSD and HF), whereas sympathovagal indexes (LF/HF, SDNN/rMSSD) remained unchanged.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Observed regulatory effects of XO inhibition did not confirm preliminary hypothesis which suggested that an antioxidant such as allopurinol might activate chemoreflex resulting in augmented sympathetic discharge to the heart. The HRV regulatory profile of XO inhibition observed during hypoxia as well as post-hypoxic hyperoxia corresponds to reported reduced risk of sudden cardiovascular events. Therefore our data provide a new argument for therapeutical use of allopurinol in hypoxic conditions.</p></div

Promising effects of xanthine oxidase inhibition by allopurinol on autonomic heart regulation estimated by heart rate variability (HRV) analysis in rats exposed to hypoxia and hyperoxia - Fig 2

<p><b>Effect of XO inhibition by allopurinol (50mg/kg) on activity of antioxidant enzymes in erythrocyte lysate: superoxide dismutase (A), catalase (B), glutathione peroxidase (C).</b> Blue bar indicates control group, orange bar–rats treated with allopurinol. Data shown as mean ± SEM * p<0.05, NS–non-significant, allopurinol vs. control group (N = 8; Fig A: Mann-Whitney test; Fig B and C: t-test).</p

HRV in the control and allopurinol group and allopurinol groups before allopurinol administration.

<p>HRV in the control and allopurinol group and allopurinol groups before allopurinol administration.</p

Effects of hypoxia and hyperoxia on time-domain HRV parameters.

<p>Data shown as mean ± SEM. Only significant values are tagged. Red color indicates allopurinol group before allopurinol administration (AGB), green—allopurinol group after injection of 5mg/kg of allopurinol, blue—allopurinol group after injection of 50mg/kg of allopurinol. * p<0.05 hypoxia, hyperoxia or recovery vs. normoxia, ** p<0.01 hypoxia, hyperoxia or recovery vs. normoxia in each group; green <b>#</b> p<0.05 – 5mg/kg of allopurinol vs. AGB at the same condition, green <b>##</b> p<0.01 – 5mg/kg of allopurinol vs. AGB at the same condition; blue <b>#</b> p<0.05 – 50mg/kg of allopurinol vs. AGB at the same condition, blue <b>##</b> p<0.01 – 50mg/kg of allopurinol vs. AGB at the same condition. ♦ p<0.05 – 5mg/kg vs. 50mg/kg of allopurinol.</p