julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Influence of non-pharmacological treatment (contemplative meditation and breathing technique) on stress induced hypertension- a randomized controlled study
2005-05-01

Stress induced hypertension is a very common disorder in the industrialized world. Medication alone is often inadequate to effectively control high blood pressure. Non-pharmacological antihypertensive interventions in arterial hypertension are weakly characterized. We investigated the effect of contemplative meditation combined with breathing techniques (CMBT) on stress and exercise induced high blood pressure (BP). CMBT was performed according to the christian tradition. 52 patients (age 30–70 y, 18 female) with mild to moderate primary hypertension (JNC7 criteria) were randomized into two groups. Group I (n=26) practised intensive CMBT (30 minutes, twice a day) for 8 weeks whereas group II (n=26) served as control. At baseline and follow-up, resting BP (mean of 3 recordings), a standardized computerized 30 min mental stress test, bicycle ergometry, and ambulatory blood pressure measurement (ABPM) was performed. In group I, resting systolic BP fell from 151 to 136 mmHg after CMBT (p<.0001). There was a 11 % decrease in systolic BP in group I compared to 0 % in group II (p<.0001). Mean systolic BP during mental stress decreased from 170 to 143 mmHg (p<.001) in group I, but remained constant in controls, 163 vs.157 mmHg; (p<.0001 for comparison between groups). Maximal systolic BP during exercise fell from 218 mmHg to 199 mmHg after CMBT in group I, p<.0001, but remained constant in group 2, 211 vs. 209 mmHg, (p=n.s. for comparison between groups). Mean systolic and diastolic BP during ABPM fell from 137 to 133 mmHg (p<.001) and 85 to 80 mmHg (p<.001)(p<.001 for comparison between groups). This is the first randomized study showing that CMBT effectively reduces basal and stress induced high BP in subjects with mild to moderate essential hypertension. Further studies will investigate the persistence of CBMT mediated effects and its use as complementary add-on to drug therapy for a holistic approach to the patient with arterial hypertension.
Experimental ischemic wounds: Correlation of cell proliferation and insulin‐like growth factor I expression and its modification by different local IGF‐I release systems
2005-05-01

We investigated cell proliferation and local insulin‐like growth factor‐I (IGF‐I) expression in ischemic wounds after topical application of IGF‐I through different delivery systems. IGF‐I dressings were fabricated from an IGF‐I containing polyvinyl alcohol film placed on a standard hydrogel dressing. In vitro, the release of IGF‐I from this dressing was assessed by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. For animal experiments, a standardized ischemic skin flap containing a full‐thickness wound was created on the back of male Sprague‐Dawley rats. An identical wound outside the flap served as control. We initially investigated intracutaneous pO 2 (p ti O 2 ), cell proliferation, and local IGF‐I expression. In a second setting, wounds were treated either with IGF‐I dissolved in methylcellulose gel or with an IGF‐I dressing, and ulcer size and cell proliferation were assessed. In vitro, approximately 60% of IGF‐I was released from the IGF‐I dressing, compared to a 97% release from methylcellulose gel. In vivo, ischemic wounds showed less cell proliferation and decreased IGF‐I expression than nonischemic wounds. A lower local p ti O 2 correlated with larger wound size, less cell proliferation, and decreased IGF‐I expression. Ulcer size was reduced after treatment with either IGF‐I dressing or methylcellulose gel. However, cell proliferation only increased after treatment with IGF‐I dressing, but not after methylcellulose gel treatment. We conclude that IGF‐I expression is decreased in ischemic wounds and correlates with low cell proliferation. This can be reversed by local IGF‐I application, but the efficacy of treatment depends on the delivery system.
Early Carotid Atherosclerosis in Overweight Non-diabetic Individuals is Associated with Subclinical Chronic Inflammation Independent of Underlying Insulin Resistance
2005-05-01

Overweight in children and young adults is an increasing problem in Western industrialized countries with potential impact on cardiovascular morbidity. Whether early arterial wall thickening in these subjects mainly results from the often associated insulin resistance syndrome or from increased subclinical chronic inflammation probably triggered by adipose tissue is still under discussion. We therefore determined insulin sensitivity index (ISI) by performing an euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic glucose clamp (insulin infusion rate 1 mU/kg/min) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels in relation to the intima-media thickness (IMT) at the common carotid artery (high resolution ultrasound; 13 MHz) in 81 young (age 33 +/- 1 years), moderately overweight subjects. To reduce the number of confounding variables, subjects with disturbances in glucose metabolism (75 g oral glucose tolerance test) and hypertension were excluded. As expected, higher BMI was positively correlated with increased IMT (r = 0.358; p = 0.001). After multiple regression analysis, hsCRP levels independently correlated to IMT (r = 0.251; p = 0.03), even after adjusting for age, sex, BMI, ISI, LDL cholesterol and smoking as cofactors. However, taking all above listed factors into account, glucose-clamp assessed insulin sensitivity was not correlated with IMT. Thus, overweight might trigger inflammatory mechanisms leading to vascular wall hypertrophy independent of the insulin resistance syndrome already early in life.
The Use Of Nutritional Supplements Among Master Athletes
2005-05-01

The use of nutritional supplements is widely spread among athletes. Studies on the role of nutritional supplements among teenagers and adult athletes have been conducted several times, but there are no data available so far about the use of nutritional supplements in master competition athletics. PURPOSE We assessed the use of nutritional supplements among master competition athletes focusing on their source of information and source of supply of nutritional supplements. METHODS 1560 standardized, anonymous questionnaires were distributed among participants of the World Masters Athletics Championships Indoors 2004. These questions were related to biometric parameters, social indicators, training parameters, illicit drugs, and nutritional supplements. Chi-square-tests were computed to reveal meaningful associations between basic information (age, gender, family status, children, education, country of origin, disciplines, training years, smoking, and the use of alcohol, illicit drugs, and doping) and the intake of nutritional supplements. Descriptive information on the history of their use of nutritional supplements was also provided. RESULTS 60.5% of all participants reported the actual use of nutritional supplements. We found no significant differences between nutritional supplement users and non-users with regard to basic information. The substances predominantly used were vitamins (35.4%) and minerals (29.9%). In contrast to elite athletes who use nutritional supplements to increase their athletic performance, master athletes use these substances predominantly for health reasons and, thus, have a closer contact to the health care system. Physicians are their preferred source of information about nutritional supplements. More than half of the interviewed athletes obtain their nutritional supplements from pharmacies or physicians. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study indicate that nutritional supplement users in master athletics show no specific user profile. Since it is not rare for nutritional supplements to contain trace contaminations of anabolic androgenic steroids or pro-hormones, physicians should also inform master competitive athletes of the dangers of testing positive for doping substances due to their intake of nutritional supplements and advise them accordingly.
Highly loaded interactive mixtures for dry powder inhalers: prediction of the adhesion capacity using surface energy and solubility parameters.
2005-05-01

In order to correlate drug adhesion properties of a highly loaded interactive mixture for the use in dry powder inhalers with the surface energy and to establish a link to the solubility parameter, surface free energy was detected for micronized substances (salbutamol sulfate, salbutamol base, theophylline and alpha-lactose monohydrate) using inverse gas chromatography (IGC). Interactive mixtures with coarse crystalline alpha-lactose monohydrate as a carrier were prepared at loading levels from 7.5 to 20% (w/w) and analyzed with respect to their adhesion capacity (CA) using the air jet sieving method. Solubility parameters were taken from literature or calculated. As a result the CA was independent of the drug load and correlated linearly with volume specific surface energy interaction (SEIv) values of the adherents (R2 = 0.98498). A link between SEIv and the size normalized solubility parameter (delta(tot)/d50) was found. Consequently, plotting delta(tot)/d50 versus CA resulted also in a strong linear relationship (R2 = 0.99140). Overall a powerful tool was established to judge and quantify adhesion properties of highly loaded interactive mixtures even for estimates in early preformulation at a time where just the molecular structure of the active ingredient is known.
Spectral Properties Of Weakly Inhomogeneous Bcs-Models In Different Representations
2005-05-01

For a class of Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS)-models, with complex, weakly momentum dependent interaction coefficients, the representation dependent effective Hamiltonians and their spectra are reconsidered in order to obtain a consistent physical picture by means of operator algebraic methods. The starting point is the limiting dynamics, the existence of which had been proved in a previous work, in terms of a C*-dynamical system acting in a classically extended, electronic Canonical Anticommutation Relations (CAR)-algebra. The C*-algebraic KMS-theory, including the low temperature limit, specifies the order parameters. These appear as classical observables, which commute with all other observables, constituting elements of the center of the algebra. The algebraic spectral theory, in the sense of Arveson, is first applied to the dynamics in general pure energy state representations. The spectra of the finite temperature representations are analyzed, identifying the gap as the lowest of those energy values, which are stable under local perturbations. Further insights are obtained by decomposing the thermal dynamical systems into the pure energy state Heisenberg dynamics, after having first extended them to more comprehensive W*-dynamical systems. The decomposing orthogonal measure is transferred to the infinite product space of quasi-particle occupation numbers and its support is characterized in terms of 0-1-laws leading to an asymptotic ratio of quasi-particles and holes, which depends on the temperature. This ratio is connected with an algebraic invariant of the representation dependent observable algebra. Energy renormalization aspects and pair occupation probabilities are discussed. The latter reveal, beside other things, the difference between macroscopic term occupation and coherent macroscopic term occupation for a condensate.
THE CRESST DARK MATTER SEARCH
2005-05-01

The current status of CRESST (Cryogenic Rare Event Search using Superconducting Thermometers) and new results concerning the detector development are presented. The basic technique of CRESST is to search for particle Dark Matter (WIMPS, Weakly Interacting Massive particles) by the measurement of non-thermal phonons as created by WIMP-induced nuclear recoils. Combined with the newly developed method of simultaneous measurement of scintillation light, strong background discrimination is possible, resulting in a substantial increase in WIMP detection sensitivity. The short and long term perspectives of CRESST are discussed.
Magnetic resonance imaging in hypertrophied left ventricular myocardium due to amyloidosis
2005-05-01

The certain diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis is only possible with myocardial biopsy, even if echocardiographic studies often show a typical sparkling pattern. Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) we examined if there is a specific morphological pattern in patients with amyloidosis compared with patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (LVH). With a 1.0 T magnetom and FISP 2D sequences two patients with biopsy-proven cardiac amyloidosis (AL), two patients with generalized AL and suspected cardiac AL, and five patients with LVH were examined and data were compared with echocardiography. In two cases with cardiac AL, contrast medium (Gd-DTPA) was given and dynamic-turbo-flash-sequences were obtained. In patients with AL, both ventricles were hypertrophied, whereas in the cases of hypertrophy due to other reasons only the left ventricle was hypertrophied. The systolic wall thickening was in all cases of amyloidosis below 30%. In contrast to echocardiography, a myocardial sparkling pattern in amyloidosis was not found with MRI. Even with additional contrast examination we could not differentiate the types of hypertrophy by imaging solely the left ventricular wall. There is no specific myocardial pattern in cardiac amyloidosis neither in standard MRI nor after examination with additional contrast medium, but concomitant right ventricular (RV) and left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy is a typical observation in these patients.
Quantification of viable myocardium in multivessel coronary disease: Effects of the redistribution time after reinjection of thallium-201 and comparison with postrevascularization defect size
2005-05-01

Reinjection of 201Tl is used for improved detection of viable myocardium. Prospectively the effect of the redistribution time after injection for the quantification of the definitive perfusion defect size in multivessel coronary heart disease and severely impaired left ventricular function was examined. Thirty patients were included preoperatively before CABG. The study was performed with 80-90 MBq 201Tl-Cl and reinjection (40-50 MBq). Imaging was performed after an exercise test and 3 hours afterwards. Thereafter, the reinjection dose was given and repeated studies were performed 10 minutes, 2 hours, and 20 hours later. Defect sizes were compared with the 3-hour rest-study without reinjection. Imaging studies were repeated postoperatively. The defect size was expressed as % of left ventricular total myocardium. Perfusion defect sizes were as follows: post-stress study (27%), 3 hour rest-study (17%), post-reinjection-10 min (12%), 2 hours (9%), and 20 hours (7%). Compared with the 3 hour rest-study, the perfusion defect was reduced only in 7/30 patients in the study immediately after reinjection. In the delayed studies, defect sizes were markedly smaller (p < 0.05) both in studies 2 hours and 20 hours after reinjection. In 15/30 patients there was a marked reduction of 50% of defect sizes in the study 2 hours post-reinjection vs the 3 hour rest-study. The residual defects at 2 hours after reinjection were identical to the postoperative defect sizes (10%). Further prolongation of the redistribution time to 20 horus caused an additional small reduction in defect size only in two patients compared with the 2-hour post-reinjection images (n.s.). Using a marker as 201Tl with redistribution characteristics, the redistribution time after reinjection is of utmost importance to correctly identify the definitive size of the perfusion defect vs viable myocardium in patients with multivessel disease. A delay of 2 hours for redistribution after the reinjection most correctly corresponds to the postop defect size; a longer redistribution time did not provide additional advantages.
Estimating The Individual Probability Of Doping Among Fitness Center Visitors
2005-05-01

Doping, especially the abuse of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS), is frequently practised by fitness center visitors. Purpose: The present investigation inferred and assessed a prediction profile to estimate the probability that a fitness center visitor with a certain profile uses doping substances. Methods: A total of 1802 standardized, anonymous questionnaires were distributed to members of 113 German fitness centers. Twentythree questions covered the topics anthropometrics, social indicators, physical fitness, drugs, and doping substance abuse. Following a basic statistical analysis of the returned questionnaires, logistic regression analysis was conducted in order to predict doping substance abuse. Results: 13.5% of all participants confessed to doping, with AAS being predominantly abused (83.5%). The eight predictors “nationality”, “school education”, “alcohol consumption”, “body mass index”, “training years”, “training frequency”, “bodybuilding”, and “cocaine use” were particularly suited to estimate the probability of doping within a range of 0.08% – 98.8%. An analysis of the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) revealed a high predictive power of the model with an area under the ROC curve of 0.90. When the parameter “cocaine use” was omitted, the model predicted doping with an area under the ROC curve of 0.87. Conclusion: On the basis of only seven dichotomized questions it is possible to estimate the probability of using doping substances for each visitor of a fitness center. This result may contribute to improve doping prevention and intervention programs in fitness sports.
Hemodynamic and inotropic effects of antiarrhythmic drugs used to treat paroxysmal supraventricular arrhythmias
2005-05-01

Episodes of sustained paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardias can be terminated by antiarrhythmic drugs given intravenously. The cardiodepressive effects of these drugs are an important limitation of this therapeutic procedure. The dose-dependent circulatory and myocardial effects of the nucleoside adenosine (0.5, 2.0, 5.0 mg/kg/minute) and the class I antiarrhythmic drug ajmaline (1.0, 2.0, 4.0 mg/kg) were investigated in 73 open-chest rats. Hemodynamic measurements in the intact circulation and isovolumic registrations (peak isovolumic left ventricular systolic pressure and peak isovolumic dP/dtmax) were compared with saline controls. Adenosine has a short-lasting, negative, chronotropic effect that causes a dose-dependent reduction of cardiac output (-34%, -54%, -65% vs control). The peak isovolumic left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) is not changed significantly by adenosine (-6%, -4%, +5% vs control). The negative chronotropic effect of ajmaline with consecutive reduction of cardiac output is less pronounced (cardiac output: -18%, -20%, -38% vs control). The highest dose of ajmaline causes a significant reduction of peak isovolumic LVSP (-2%, -1%, -7% vs control). Adenosine has an impressive negative chronotropic effect with a consequent marked decrease of cardiac output. The reduction of cardiac output by adenosine is more pronounced compared with ajmaline. Nevertheless, adenosine has-in contrast to ajmaline-no cardiodepressive effects in vivo.
???Sleep High - Train Low??? Exerts Adaptative Effects On Ventilatory Response To Moderate Endurance Exercise
2005-05-01

PURPOSE This study determined whether repeated exposure to hypoxia in terms of sleep high - train low (SH) leads to adaptive changes in aerobic capacity, aerobic performance and the ventilatory response to exercise. METHODS Six non-altitude acclimated runners (H) spent 20 consecutive nights (10h/night) in normobaric hypoxia (FiO2 13.8%, corresponding to an altitude of 3300 above SL), whilst 6 control athletes (C) with similar training regimens slept under normoxic conditions. Before and after SH, a ramp test and an incremental exercise test on the treadmill were performed to determine maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max), maximum ventilation (VEmax) and running velocity at the individual anaerobic threshold (IAT), respectively. Before and after SH, the subjects additionally participated in a 15 min treadmill run (constant running velocity 75% IAT) in normoxia (CR-N), which was followed by an identical run in acute hypoxia (CR-H, FiO2 15.3%). RESULTS In H, oxygen saturation averaged 89.2 ± 2.4% at night. VO2max (before 66.6 ± 4.7/after 63,6 ± 4.9 ml/min/kg), VEmax (158.0 ± 18.3/159.0 ± 24.0 l) and IAT (17.1 ± 1.0/17.0 ± 1.5 km/h) were not affected by SH. In contrast, ventilation during CR-N (72.6 ± 12.7/78.9 ± 12.8 l) and CR-H (83.7 ± 14.9/90.7 ± 15.1 l) was significantly (p<0.05) higher after SH. This finding was not apparent in C. During CR-H, adaptation of ventilation to SH was paralleled by higher partial oxygen pressures (52.0 ± 5.8/57.3 ± 3.1 mmHg) and lower blood lactate concentrations (1.92 ± 0.36/1.34 ± 0.37 mmol/l) with no concomitant changes in C. CONCLUSIONS Passive exposure to repeated hypoxia as performed in the present study does not augment aerobic capacity, aerobic performance or maximal ventilation in endurance-trained athletes. However, SH enhances ventilatory response to moderate endurance exercise in normoxia as well as in hypoxia. This adaptive effect of SH is paralleled by a lower degree of hypoxemia and lower lactate concentrations if endurance exercise is performed in hypoxia. Thus, SH may be advantageous in acclimation to moderate endurance exercise at altitude. Supported by the Institut für Sportwissenschaft, Bonn, Germany
Leukocyte Responses To Short-term Normobaric Hypoxia
2005-05-01

PURPOSE Severe hypoxia has been shown to exert immunosuppressive effects which must be considered when exposing athletes to hypoxia to enhance endurance capacity. We studied the effect of moderate normobaric hypoxia (HYP) on parameters of immune function and cellular protection in peripheral human leukocytes such as oxidative burst (burst), phagocytosis (phago), expression of heat shock proteins (HSP HO-1). The contribution of oxidative stress was tested by application of antioxidants (a-tocopherol and a-lipoic acid (AO)). METHODS Twelve non-altitude acclimated male subjects (27.1±7.0 yrs, 79.6±8 kg, 184±5 cm) were exposed to 4 h of HYP (FiO2 12.5%, corresponding to an altitude of 4100 m above SL). Blood samples were drawn before (0 h), during (2 h) at the end (+4h), 1 h (+5h), 4 h (+8h) and 20 h (+24h) after the end of HYP. To exclude diurnal changes same procedure was performed in normoxia. AO or placebo were given randomly in a double-blind crossover design. Phago (opsonized FITC-conjugated E. coli), burst (stimulation with opsonized E. coli) and expression of HSP and HO-1 (flow cytometry and RT-PCR, respectively) were quantified in leukocytes. RESULTS Oxygen saturation averaged 87.1±4.3% during HYP. Percentage of phagocytosing granulocytes was reduced after HYP (+5h). Burst was increased during the reoxygenation phase (+5–24h). Nevertheless, these changes remained within the reference range. Protein and mRNA expression of HSP and HO-1 were not significantly changed by HYP. AO did not influence this expression either. CONCLUSIONS Protective HSPs do not seem to be essential after moderate hypoxia as performed in the present study. Also, the cellular redox state appears to be of minor importance. Although phago and burst are slightly influenced by HYP, immune function is likely not impaired. Nevertheless, immunosuppressive effects of HYP may become relevant in context with additional physical stress.
Synthesis and Some Properties of Aryl‐ and Aryloxy‐Substituted Phthalocyanines and Their Metal Complexes: A Comparison with Porphyrazine and Naphthalocyanine Analogues
2005-05-01

Abstract On the basis of new results from a study with more phthalocyanines, the assignments of some 13 C NMR signals of the two phthalocyanines, given in Figure 5 of the original article, [1] must be changed. Thus, signals assigned as 3, 7 and 6 for compound 7b should be assigned as 7, 6 and 3, respectively. Similarly, for compound 7a the assignment of 3 and 7 should be inverted.