C-reactive protein and asymmetric dimethylarginine: markers or mediators in cardiovascular disorders?

C-reactive protein (CRP) has received much attention as a cardiovascular risk factor and has been recommended to be used in screening to assist in predicting the occurrence of cardiovascular disorders. There are numerous association studies documenting changes in circulating CRP concentrations, there are, however, fewer studies providing evidence that CRP mediates the progression of cardiovascular pathologies. Elucidating the potential mechanisms for CRP has been confounded by recent reports that contaminants of CRP are partially responsible for observed effects. In this review the use of CRP as a tool to predict cardiovascular disorders will be discussed alongside a more recently described cardio-vascular risk factor asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA). An endogenously occurring nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, ADMA, is formed by the action of protein arginine methyltransferases and subsequent proteolysis and it is metabolised in vivo by the dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolases (DDAH). The evidence available documenting the effects of CRP and ADMA, the regulatory mechanisms and the genetic influences, will be discussed in order to determine whether CRP and ADMA are mediators in the progression of cardiovascular disorders or merely useful biomarkers

Alcohol consumption and use of acute and mental health hospital services in the West of Scotland Collaborative prospective cohort study

<b>Background</b>: Overconsumption of alcohol affects health. Data from men from the West of Scotland Collaborative study were analysed to see how reported alcohol wasrelated to acute and mental health hospital admissions. <b>Methods</b>: Men (N=5772) from a prospective cohort study located in 27 workplaces in West and Central Scotland were screened when aged 35-64 in 1970-3.The number of acute and mental health admissions and bed-days were calculated by alcohol category (none, 1-7,8-14, 15-21, 22-34 and 35 or more units per week) tothe end of 2005. Specific causes were coronary heartdisease (CHD), stroke, respiratory diseases and alcohol related. <b>Results</b>: Men who consumed 22 or more units per week had a 20% higher rate of acute admissions than non drinkers.The number of bed-days were higher for men drinking eight or more units and increased with consumption, with the highest category having a 58% higher rate of bed-days than non-drinkers. Non-drinkers had the highest admissions for CHD. For stroke, drinkers of 15 or more units had higher admissions and higher number of bed-days and these increased with increasing consumption. Respiratory admissions were higher for drinkers of 22 or more units and bed-days were higher for drinkers of 15 or more units. Alcohol-related admissions and number of bed-days generally increased with consumption. Mental health admissions and number of bed-days were raised for drinkers of 22 or more units with a suggestion of a J-shaped relationship. <b>Conclusion</b>: Alcohol consumption has a substantialeffect on acute and mental health admissions and bed-days

Some social and physical correlates of intergenerational social mobility: evidence from the west of Scotland Collaborative Study

Mainstream sociological studies of intergenerational social mobility have emphasised social factors such as education and the material and cultural resources of the family of origin as the main influences on the chances and direction of social mobility. Medical sociology in contrast has been more interested in its physical correlates such as height and health status. Data from the West of Scotland Collaborative study allow an examination of the relationship between social mobility and both social and physical factors. Height, education and material circumstances in the family of origin, indexed as the number of siblings, were each independently associated with the chances of both upward and downward social mobility in this dataset. In each case the net effect of this social mobility was to constrain the social distribution of these variables. Any role which these factors may play in indirect health selection, it is argued, cannot account for social class differences in adult health

The relation between questions indicating transient ischaemic attack and stroke in 20 years of follow up in men and women in the Renfrew/Paisley Study

<b>STUDY OBJECTIVE</b> Transient ischaemic attack (TIA) is often a precursor to stroke, so identification of people experiencing TIA could assist in stroke prevention by indicating those at high risk of stroke who would benefit most from intervention for other stroke risk factors. The objective of this study was to investigate whether answers to a simple questionnaire for TIA could predict the occurrence of stroke in the following 20 years. DESIGNProspective cohort study, conducted between 1972 and 1976, with 20 years of follow up. <b>SETTING</b> Renfrew and Paisley, Scotland. <b>PARTICIPANTS</b> 7052 men and 8354 women aged 45-64 years at the time of screening completed a questionnaire and attended a physical examination. The questionnaire asked participants if they had ever, without warning, suddenly lost the power of an arm, suddenly lost the power of a leg, suddenly been unable to speak properly or suddenly lost consciousness. These four questions were taken as indicators of TIA and were related to subsequent stroke mortality or hospital admission. <b>MAIN RESULTS</b> For women, each question was significantly related to stroke risk, whereas for men only the question on loss of power of arm was significantly related to stroke risk. Men and women answering two or more questions positively had double the relative rate of stroke compared with men and women answering none of the questions positively, even after adjusting for other risk factors for stroke. <b>CONCLUSIONS</b> A simple questionnaire for TIA could help predict stroke over 20 years of follow up. Targeting men and women who report TIA with early treatment could help to prevent strokes from occurring

Milk, coronary heart disease and mortality

<b>STUDY OBJECTIVE</b> To study the association between reported milk consumption and cardiovascular and all cause mortality. <b>DESIGN</b> A prospective study of 5765 men aged 35-64 at the time of examination. <b>SETTING</b> Workplaces in the west of Scotland between 1970 and 1973. <b>PARTICIPANTS</b> Men who completed a health and lifestyle questionnaire, which asked about daily milk consumption, and who attended for a medical examination. <b>MAIN RESULTS</b> 150 (2.6%) men reported drinking more than one and a third pints a day, Some 2977 (51.6%) reported drinking between a third and one and a third pints a day and 2638 (45.8%) reported drinking less than a third of a pint a day. There were a total of 2350 deaths over the 25 year follow up period, of which 892 deaths were attributed to coronary heart disease. The relative risk, adjusted for socioeconomic position, health behaviours and health status for deaths from all causes for men who drank one third to one and a third pints a day versus those who drank less than a third of a pint was 0.90 (95% CI 0.83, 0.97). The adjusted relative risk for deaths attributed to coronary heart disease for men who drank one third to one and a third pints a day versus those who drank less than one third of a pint was 0.92 (95% CI 0.81, 1.06). <b>CONCLUSIONS</b> No evidence was found that men who consumed milk each day, at a time when most milk consumed was full fat milk, were at increased risk of death from all causes or death from coronary heart disease

Using Labster to improve Bioscience student learning and engagement in practical classes

Background: Virtual laboratory simulations can be used to provide students with an introduction to the laboratories; further they allow students to have safe and 24 h access to learn laboratories skills. The Labster simulations contain theoretical questions which must be correctly answered before the user can progress to the next stage. Further supplementary theory is available throughout the simulation. Following pilot studies last year; we now report on 2 cohorts of students who used the Labster simulations within core modules. We have used thes Labster simulations in a core level 4 Biochemistry module (207 students used out of 350 on the module) and level 5 Molecular Biology and Genetics module (26 students of 68 registered on the module copleted a survey). Students completed surveys with Likert type responses to determine how the students felt that the virtual simulations had enhanced their theoretical knowledge and prepared them for practical classes. Future work: Labster simulations have been favourably reported on by students in both level 4 and 5. However a challenge remains to encourage all students to complete the simulations. Participation was greater in the level 4 module where the Labster Learning Outcomes aligned more closely to the module Learning Outcomes

Evaluating the benefits of virtual training for bioscience students

Virtual laboratory simulations are commercially available to train students; these creative resources are available to complete remotely without traditional time and safety restrictions of laboratory-based practical classes. We introduced a Health and Safety virtual laboratory simulation to a core large first-year science module. Having surveyed students using a combination of Likert-type responses, multiple answer questions and free text responses, students reported that it had increased understanding and knowledge. Additionally, students reported that the laboratory simulation was motivating and had increased confidence for actual practical classes. We also surveyed students one year after completing the simulation finding a similar pattern of responses; the simulation had been useful, increasing confidence and knowledge about Health and Safety. Our data show that the virtual laboratory simulation improved student understanding and was still perceived to have been useful one year after completion, providing evidence of a longer term impact of the simulation on student learning

Cardiovascular tests: use & limits of biochemical markers - therapeutic measurements of ADMA involved in cardiovascular disorders

Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an endogenously occurring methylarginine that inhibits nitric oxide synthesis. Plasma levels of methylarginines increase in renal failure and certain cardiovascular pathologies, and in patients with end stage renal failure the level of ADMA predicts the risk of cardiovascular events and overall mortality. The object of this review is to describe the mechanisms of ADMA synthesis, metabolism and uptake and to outline techniques for measuring ADMA and the pathological states in which ADMA levels are altered