Volume 2, Issue 1, 2008

D. Wayne Taylor and Elisabeth Fowler
 

The patient-focused paradigm in healthcare began to emerge in the early 1990’s. In 2006 the

International Association of Patient Organizations (IAPO) adopted the Declaration on Patient-

Centred Healthcare. This study examined the degree to which the five principles embedded in

this Declaration are being advocated and utilized in the asthma patient-provider relationship in

five countries. The empirical evidence in this study shows that the implementation of patientcentred care both as a policy concept and a practice modality for asthma has not been achieved to the extent needed. The paper makes recommendations to help patient organizations realize the full benefits of patient-centred care. Full Article


 

Effects of Transient Pressure Gradient on Endothelial F-Actin and Beta-Catenin

Jonathan P. Alberding , Ronald L. Heimark , Ann L. Baldwin
 

The hypothesis that transient change in transmural pressure alters F-actin and β-catenin arrangement in endothelial cells was tested. A confluent monolayer was exposed to a transient pressure gradient (20 mmHg). Thirty minutes later, deconvolution microscopy showed the average ratio of peripheral (at cell edge) to central (linear fibers in cell body) F-actin had significantly increased compared to controls not exposed to pressure (4.66 ± 4.52 (SE) vs 1.42 ± 0.35). Beta-catenin localized at cell edges. No differences occurred when both sides of the monolayer were pressurized simultaneously. Thus a transient pressure gradient causes F-actin and beta-catenin co-localization at cell boundaries.  Full Article

Effects of exercise training on functional capacity, quality of life, cytokine and brain natriuretic peptide levels in hart failure patients   N. Smart
 

Purpose: To establish whether exercise training (ExT) might modify functional capacity,
quality of life (QOL), brain natriuretic peptides (BNP) and pro-inflammatory cytokines in heart
failure (CHF) patients. Methods: 22 CHF patients, 20 men, 64.7±8.3 years, weight
83±13.5(kg), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 28.6±8(%) completed 16 weeks ExT.
Cytokines, BNP, VO2 and QOL were measured before and after ExT. Results: After ExT
peak VO2 increased 20% from 11.6±4.7 (ml/kg/min) to 13.9±4.6 ml/kg/min (p=0.003), while
TNF-alpha, IL-1, IL-6 and BNP were unaltered. Conclusion: Functional capacity and QOL
were improved, however pro-inflammatory cytokines and BNP were unaltered by 16 weeks
ExT. Full Article
 

In this work an ultracytochemical activity of alkaline phosphatase and Са2+-АТPаse in capillaries and pericapillary structures in thymuses of rats have been determined. Animals of three different age groups were evaluated: 2 months, 7 months, and 26 months. It was shown that activity of both enzymes reduces with the age. Average cytochemical index of alkaline phosphatase reduces in 7-months old animals, but for Са2+-АТPаse this dropping tendency is observed in 26 months old animals. Decrease of the average cytochemical indexes of Са2+-АТPаse and Alkaline Phosphatase in rat thymocytes starts at the age of 7 months. Thus, the activity of both enzymes in thymus with age reduces, which explains the degradation of the tissue and transportation of Ca+2 ions. Accumulation of Ca+2 ions in thymocytes may lead to their death with age. Full Article

Bioelectromagnetic Energy Fields Accelerate Wound Healing and Activate Immune Cell Function
Lisanne D’Andrea-Winslow, Don F. Johnson, Amy K. Novitski
 

Abstract

Bioelectromagnetic energy treatment of dermal wounds in the sea urchin Lytechinus variegates
showed a 75.7% rate of wound closure in treatment groups compared to 41.9% in controls (t =
3.603 (df=18), p<.01). Cohen’s d yielded a strong effect on size, d = 1.14. SDS-PAGE revealed
an increase in 101.8, 63 and 35kDa polypeptides and attenuation in 56, 43 and 32 kDa
polypeptides from wounds in treated animals compared to controls. Immune cell activation in
treatment groups showed a 59.7% increase over controls. Taken together, the data indicate that
biologically generated electromagnetic energy enhances and accelerates an invertebrate wound
healing pathway. Full Article