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Decline in cardiac high-energy phosphate metabolism [phosphocreatine-to-ATP (PCr/ATP) ratio] and whole body metabolism increase the risk of heart failure and metabolic diseases. The aim of the present study was to assess the relationship between PCr/ATP ratio and measures of body metabolic function. A total of 35 healthy women (56+/-14.0 years of age) underwent cardiac 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy to assess PCr/ATP ratio - an index of cardiac high-energy phosphate metabolism. Fasting and 2-hour glucose levels were assessed using oral glucose tolerance test. Indirect calorimetry was performed to determine oxygen consumption and resting metabolic rate. There were no significant relationships between PCr/ATP ratio and resting metabolic rate (r=-0.09, p=0.62), oxygen consumption (r=-0.11, p=0.54), fasting glucose levels (r=-0.31, p=0.07), and 2-hour plasma glucose (r=-0.10, p=0.58). Adjusted analysis for covariates including age, body mass index, fat mass, and physical activity, had no significant influence on the relationship between PCr/ATP ratio and body metabolism. In conclusion, the lack of relationship between cardiac PCr/ATP ratio, glucose control and metabolic rate may suggest that overall metabolic function does not influence cardiac high-energy phosphate metabolism.

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The production of levan by Bacillus licheniformis NS032 in a medium based on sugar beet molasses was studied. High polysaccharide yields were produced by using diluted molasses (100-140 g/L of total sugars) with the addition of commercial sucrose up to 200 g/L of total sugars, as well as K2HPO4. A levan yield of 53.2 g/L was obtained on a medium optimized by response surface methodology, containing 62.6% of sugar originating from molasses, and 4.66 g/L of phosphate, with initial pH value of 7.2. In comparison to the media with 200 and 400 g/L sucrose, in the molasses optimized medium, the observed bacterial growth was faster, while the maximum production of polysaccharide was achieved over a shorter time interval (48 h). The polysaccharide produced in molasses medium had a weight average molecular weight of 5.82 × 106 Da, degree of branching 12.68%, viscosity of 0.24 dL/g, and based on methylation analysis and NMR data, it did not significantly differ from levan obtained in the medium with 200 g/L sucrose.

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Dietary nitrate (NO3-) supplementation has been associated with improved vascular and metabolic health. We conducted a double-blind, cross-over, placebo-controlled RCT to investigate the effects of 7-d consumption of beetroot juice compared with placebo on (1) blood pressure (BP) measured in resting conditions and during exercise, (2) cardiac and peripheral vascular function and (3) biomarkers of inflammation, oxidative stress and endothelial integrity. Twenty non-smoking healthy participants aged 60-75 years and BMI 20.0-29.9 kg/m2 were recruited. Measurement was conducted before and after each 7-d intervention period. Consumption of NO3- had no effect on resting systolic and diastolic BP. NO3- consumption did not improve indexes of central and peripheral cardiac function responses during cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Dietary NO3- supplementation did not modify biomarkers of inflammation, oxidative stress and endothelial integrity. This study does not support the short-term benefits of dietary NO3- supplementation on physiological and biochemical markers of vascular health in older healthy adults.

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BACKGROUND: Bioreactance is a novel noninvasive method for cardiac output measurement that involves analysis of blood flow-dependent changes in phase shifts of electrical currents applied across the thorax. The present study evaluated the test-retest reliability of bioreactance for assessing haemodynamic variables at rest and during exercise. METHODS: 22 healthy subjects (26 (4) yrs) performed an incremental cycle ergometer exercise protocol relative to their individual power output at maximal O2 consumption (Wmax) on two separate occasions (trials 1 and 2). Participants cycled for five 3 min stages at 20, 40, 60, 80 and 90% Wmax. Haemodynamic and cardiorespiratory variables were assessed at rest and continuously during the exercise protocol. RESULTS: Cardiac output was not significantly different between trials at rest (P=0.948), or between trials at any stage of the exercise protocol (all P>0.30). There was a strong relationship between cardiac output estimates between the trials (ICC=0.95, P<0.001) and oxygen consumption (ICC=0.99, P<0.001). Stroke volume was also not significantly different between trials at rest (P=0.989) or during exercise (all P>0.15), and strong relationships between trials were found (ICC=0.83, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The bioreactance method demonstrates good test-retest reliability for estimating cardiac output at rest and during different stages of graded exercise testing including maximal exertion.

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In this study, levan production by Bacillus licheniformis NS032 isolated from a petroleum sludge sample was investigated. High levan yield was obtained in a wide range of sucrose concentrations (up to 400 g/L) and, contrary to most levan-producing strains, using ammonium chloride as the sole N source. Interaction between sucrose, ammonium chloride, and initial pH of the medium in a low sucrose (60-200 g/L) and a high sucrose (300-400 g/L) system was analyzed by response surface methodology. According to the calculated model in the low sucrose system, maximum predicted levan yield was 47.8 g/L (sucrose 196.8 g/L, ammonium chloride 2.4 g/L, pH 7.0), while in the high sucrose system, levan yield was 99.2 g/L (sucrose 397.6 g/L, ammonium chloride 4.6 g/L, pH 7.4). In addition, protective effect of microbial levan against copper toxicity to Daphnia magna is observed for the first time. The acute toxicity (48 h EC50) of copper decreased from 0.14 to 0.44 mg/L by levan in concentration of 50 ppm.

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This study tested the hypothesis that athletes participating in intermittent sports would exhibit a faster heart rate recovery (HRR) during the initial phase (<30 s) following maximal exercise than athletes participating in continuous endurance sports. Forty-six male athletes were allocated into continuous (CNT, n = 24) or intermittent groups (INT, n = 22), matched for age and aerobic fitness. Athletes performed maximal exercise on a treadmill using the ramp protocol. Immediately upon exercise cessation, subjects were placed supine with continuous measurement of HR during the first minute of recovery. Data were analyzed in 10-s intervals and compared between the groups. Repeated measures ANOVA showed a group x time interaction effects (p

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Two samples of macroporous crosslinked poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate), poly(GMA-co-EGDMA), with different porosity parameters were synthesized by suspension copolymerization and functionalized with ethylene diamine and diethylene triamine. The kinetics of Cr(VI) sorption by amino-functionalized poly(GMA-co-EGDMA) was investigated under non-competitive conditions. Competitive kinetics was studied from following multicomponent solutions: Cu(II) and Cr(VI); Cu(II), Co(II), Cd(II) and Ni(II); Cr(VI), Cu(II), Co(II) and Cd(II) solutions. Two kinetic models (the pseudo-first and pseudo-second-order) were used to determine the best-fit equation for the metals sorption by poly(GMA-co-EGDMA)-en and poly(GMA-co-EGDMA)-deta.

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BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: It has been shown that low socioeconomic status is associated with death from stroke. More-detailed data have, however, remained scanty. The purpose of the present study was to examine the association of socioeconomic status with ischemic stroke. Besides mortality, we analyzed the incidence, case-fatality ratio, and prognosis of ischemic stroke events. METHODS: Our population-based study included 6903 first stroke events registered by the FINMONICA Stroke Register in 3 areas of Finland during 1983 to 1992. Indicators of socioeconomic status, such as taxable income and education, were obtained by record linkage of the stroke register data with files of Statistics Finland. RESULTS: Incidence, case-fatality ratio, and mortality rates for ischemic stroke were all inversely related to income. Furthermore, 28 days after the onset of symptoms, a greater proportion of patients with low income than of those with high income was still in institutionalized care and/or in need of help for their activities of daily living. Population-attributable risk of the incidence of first ischemic stroke due to low socioeconomic status was 36% for both sexes. For the death from first ischemic stroke, it was 56% for both sexes. CONCLUSIONS: Persons with low socioeconomic status have considerable excess rates of morbidity and mortality from ischemic stroke in Finland. A reduction in this excess could markedly decrease the burden of ischemic stroke to the society and thus constitute an important public health improvement.

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Low socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with increased mortality from stroke, but usually no distinction is made between stroke subtypes. We analyzed the relationship of SES with mortality and morbidity of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). In the FINMONICA Stroke Register, 956 consecutive SAH events were recorded during 1983-1992 in patients aged 25-74 years. We used taxable income stratified into three categories, low, middle, and high, as an indicator of SES. The age-standardized incidence of SAH among men and women aged 25-44 years was approximately three times higher in the low-income group than in the high-income group. In older individuals, differences between the income groups were less pronounced. Among survivors of the acute stage, a poorer prognosis was observed in patients with low income than in those with high income. In conclusion, there is a clear excess mortality and morbidity of SAH in young individuals with low income, particularly among men.

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We examined the association of socioeconomic status (SES) with the incidence, mortality and case fatality of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). During 1982-1992, 909 ICH events were registered among persons aged 25-74 years. Taxable income was used as an indicator of SES. It was stratified into three categories: low, middle and high. The age-standardized incidence and mortality of ICH were significantly higher in the low- than in the high-income group in both genders. Among men aged 25-59 years, the adjusted odds ratio (OR) of ICH death within 1 year after the onset of the event was twice as high in the low-income group as in the high-income group (OR = 2.12, 95% confidence interval 1.02-4.40). In conclusion, marked socioeconomic differences were found in the incidence and mortality of ICH, in particular among working aged men.

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HEALTH PROMOTION AND DISEASE PREVENTION: In the mid '80s the World Health Organization initiated the "Health Promotion" program considered as an essential strategy in achieving the general objective "Health for all"--health promotion for the population. Promotional and preventive measures require support from the community, health politics and multisectoral approach. THE ROLE OF HEALTH SECTOR: Health sector has an essential role in health promotion and disease prevention. It requires reorientation of work, education and financing towards these levels of prevention. THE ROLE OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE: Primary health care (PHC) is on essential part of health care and its main principles are equity, health promotion and disease prevention, community participation, appropriate health technology and multisectoral approach. Organizational and management key elements of PHC are strategic management, decentralization, coordination and development of strategic systems.

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Having in mind the importance, place and role of a family physician within the health care system and its contribution to health improvement both of individuals and groups, the authors present the most important statements from the World Health Organisation's Charter for General Practice Family Medicine, and its characteristics--accessibility, integrity, continuity, team work, orientation towards the person, family and community, confidentiality, coordination. The paper also gives conditions for development of family medicine, such as structural, organisational and professional, as well as specific quality concerning the activity of a family physician.

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We found that pullulan [an a -glucan with (1?4) and (1?6) linkages] doped with chromium ions posseses promising holographic properties. It is environmentally stable and is capable of registering high spatial frequencies (as many as 1500 lines/mm) and producing surface relief. At 1000 lines/mm pullulan's diffraction efficiency was 4%. Chemical treatment of pullulan with a mixture of water and isopropyl alcohol is simple. However, as expected from analogy with dichromated gelatin, pullulan is sensitive in only the blue-green region of the spectrum.

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This paper deals with distribution of cardiovascular risk factors (smoking, elevated systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total serum cholesterol and body mass index) in elderly subjects living in Novi Sad for the period 1994-1995. We examined 1270 consecutive subjects of both genders, 25-64 years of age. Risk factors were analyzed by standardized methods of MONICA project. Results obtained by this technique revealed that the population of Novi Sad is highly jeopardized compared to other MONICA collaborative centers in regard to the following risk factors: smoking, obesity and serum cholesterol level, and a little less jeopardized in relation to high blood pressure.

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BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Seasonal influence on the incidence of and mortality from cerebrovascular disease has been reported during the last three decades, but generally with some discrepancy in results, particularly regarding stroke subtypes. The aim of this study was to examine seasonal variation in the incidence, mortality, and case-fatality rate of stroke in data from the FINMONICA population-based stroke register. METHODS: During 1982 to 1992, 15449 stroke events were registered in the monitored populations aged 25 to 99 years in three geographic areas of Finland: the provinces of Kuopio and North Karelia in eastern Finland and the Turku/Loimaa area in southwestern Finland. We analyzed the seasonal and monthly incidence, mortality, and case-fatality rate of stroke and subtypes of stroke by pooling the data for the three areas and stratifying by sex and age. RESULTS: The rate of occurrence of ischemic stroke events was 12% (95% confidence interval [CI], 5% to 20%) greater in men and 11% (95% CI, 4% to 19%) greater in women in winter than in summer. For intracerebral hemorrhage, we observed a 28% (95% CI, 3% to 58%) greater rate of occurrence in men and a 33% (95% CI, 6% to 66%) greater rate of occurrence in women in winter than in summer. The occurrence of subarachnoid hemorrhage did not vary significantly by season. The greater incidence of ischemic strokes in winter was particularly prominent among men aged 25 to 64 years and less prominent in elderly men and in women. The 28-day case-fatality rate of ischemic stroke showed significant seasonal variation only in women (P = .001), with the lowest rate in summer. CONCLUSIONS: There is a significantly greater incidence of ischemic strokes and intracerebral hemorrhages during winter in Finland. Further research that also takes meteorologic and sociodemographic factors into account is warranted, since it may help to determine new ways to prevent strokes.

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BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess accessibility to health care services and the needs of the population and demands on the health service in the areas most affected by the current crisis in the former Yugoslavia. The delivery of health care services and problems in its realization and the status of the population's health in the crisis period (from the second half of 1993 to the end of the first half of 1994) were also investigated together with the results of Government measures concerning health care priorities during the period of UN Sanctions in Yugoslavia. METHOD: By the end of the 1980s, as an alternative to traditional data collection, a new method called 'Rapid Health Assessment' appeared. The EPI design (Experienced Programme on Immunization), the most frequently applied method, was used in this study. It is a cluster sample selection, where a household is the basic unit. RESULTS: This study showed that the first effects of the crisis appeared in the field of health care delivery and then in the population's health status. The difficulties were not the same for all categories of the population, and children and urgent cases had less problems than others. The expected difficulties in vaccination coverage were not shown in this survey. The morbidity structure for children and adults changed in comparison with routine statistical data but the size of the chosen sample, as well as the short period of the crisis investigated, mean that definite conclusions cannot be drawn on this issue. This study provides recent data on health care delivery, morbidity structure, and vaccination coverage, as well as giving a more complex and precise estimate of the real situation.

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Almost all countries face reforms of health care systems in regard to organization and financing. Most often this is caused by coordination of health consumption with real material possibilities as well as by changes in reference to socio-political and economic systems. As a rule, reforms occur in administration, health insurance system, payment of health care delivery and organization of health care on different levels of realization. Experiences have shown that reforms represent a very complex and long-term process and that numerous factors influence the results, whereas the subjective ones often play the most important role. The complexity of reforms results from the fact that health care should not be ruled by laws of free market and that the right to health care, as one of the basic human rights, demands strong legal guarantees that it will be possible to realize, although in many countries it led to strengthening of the role of the country.

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