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Adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (A-FABP) is a novel adipokine involved in the regulation of lipid and glucose metabolism and inflammation. To evaluate its potential role in the development of postoperative hyperglycemia and insulin resistance we assessed A-FABP serum concentrations and mRNA expression in skeletal and myocardial muscle, subcutaneous and epicardial adipose tissue and peripheral monocytes in 11 diabetic and 20 age- and sex-matched non-diabetic patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery. Baseline serum A-FABP did not differ between the groups (31.1+/-5.1 vs. 25.9+/-4.6 ng/ml, p=0.175). Cardiac surgery markedly increased serum A-FABP in both groups with a rapid peak at the end of surgery followed by a gradual decrease to baseline values during the next 48 h with no significant difference between the groups at any timepoint. These trends were analogous to postoperative excursions of plasma glucose, insulin and selected proinflammatory markers. Cardiac surgery increased A-FABP mRNA expression in peripheral monocytes, while no effect was observed in adipose tissue or muscle. Our data suggest that circulating A-FABP might be involved in the development of acute perioperative stress response, insulin resistance and hyperglycemia of critically ill irrespectively of the presence of diabetes mellitus.

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Inhalational anesthetics have demonstrated cardioprotective effects against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. Clinical studies in cardiac surgery have supported these findings, although not with the consistency demonstrated in experimental studies. Recent investigations have questioned the advantages of inhalational over intravenous anesthetics with respect to cardiac protection. Ketamine has been shown to be comparable with sufentanil, and has even demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties. Dexmedetomidine has been established as a sedative/anesthetic drug with analgesic properties, and has also demonstrated myocardial protective effects. In this retrospective observational study, the influence of ketamine-dexmedetomidine-based anesthesia (KET-DEX group; n=17) on the release of cardiac biomarkers was compared with that of sevoflurane-sufentanil-based anesthesia (SEVO group; n=21) in patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting. Compared with the SEVO group, the KET-DEX group exhibited significantly reduced cardiac troponin I (2.22+/-1.73 vs. 3.63+/-2.37 microg/l; P=0.02) and myocardial fraction of creatine kinase (CK-MB) levels (12.4+/-10.4 vs. 20.3+/-11.2 microg/l; P=0.01) on the morning of the first postoperative day. Furthermore, cardiac troponin I release, evaluated as the area under the curve, was significantly reduced in the KET-DEX group (32.1+/-20.1 vs. 50.6+/-23.2; P=0.01). These results demonstrate the cardioprotective effects of ketamine-dexmedetomidine anesthesia compared with those of sevoflurane-sufentanil anesthesia.

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We studied the changes in serum fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF-21) concentrations, its mRNA, and protein expression in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue of 15 patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Blood samples were obtained: prior to initiation of anesthesia, prior to the start of extracorporeal circulation, upon completion of the surgery, and 6, 24, 48, and 96 hours after the end of the surgery. Tissue sampling was performed at the start and end of surgery. The mean baseline serum FGF-21 concentration was 63.1 (43.03-113.95) pg/ml and it increased during surgery with peak 6 hours after its end [385.5 (274.55-761.65) pg/ml, p < 0.001], and returned to baseline value [41.4 (29.15-142.83) pg/ml] 96 hours after the end of the surgery. Serum glucose, insulin, CRP, IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, and TNF-alpha concentrations significantly increased during the surgery. Baseline FGF-21 mRNA expression in skeletal muscle was higher than in both adipose tissue depots and it was not affected by the surgery. Epicardial fat FGF-21 mRNA increased after surgery. Muscle FGF-21 mRNA positively correlated with blood glucose levels at the end of the surgery. Our data suggest a possible role of FGF-21 in the regulation of glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity in surgery-related stress.

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Electroporation is characterized by formation of structural changes within the cell membrane, which are caused by the presence of electrical field. It is believed that "pores" are mostly formed in lipid bilayer structure; if so, planar lipid bilayer represents a suitable model for experimental and theoretical studies of cell membrane electroporation. The breakdown voltage of the lipid bilayer is usually determined by repeatedly applying a rectangular voltage pulse. The amplitude of the voltage pulse is incremented in small steps until the breakdown of the bilayer is obtained. Using such a protocol each bilayer is exposed to a voltage pulse many times and the number of applied voltage pulses is not known in advance. Such a pre-treatment of the lipid bilayer affects its stability and consequently the breakdown voltage of the lipid bilayer. The aim of this study is to examine an alternative approach for determination of the lipid bilayer breakdown voltage by linear rising voltage signal. Different slopes of linear rising signal have been used in our experiments (POPC lipids; folding method for forming in the salt solution of 100 mM KCl). The breakdown voltage depends on the slope of the linear rising signal. Results show that gently sloping voltage signal electroporates the lipid bilayer at a lower voltage then steep voltage signal. Linear rising signal with gentle slope can be considered as having longer pre-treatment of the lipid bilayer; thus, the corresponding breakdown voltage is lower. With decreasing the slope of linear rising signal, minimal breakdown voltage for specific lipid bilayer can be determined. Based on our results, we suggest determination of lipid bilayer breakdown voltage by linear rising signal. Better reproducibility and lower scattering are obtained due to the fact that each bilayer is exposed to electroporation treatment only once. Moreover, minimal breakdown voltage for specific lipid bilayer can be determined.

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An 81-year-old woman was seen with a suture granuloma 7 years after medial canthal tendon tightening. One end of the suture extended through the inferior punctum. Excision of the granuloma and suture without retightening the canthal tendon resulted in relief of the purulent discharge and foreign-body sensation and no recurrence of epiphora.

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Intraocularly circulating hot water was used to produce cataracts in nine eyes of seven rabbits by maintaining their retrolental temperatures between 43 degrees C and 45 degrees C. A rapid rate of heating (1.3 degrees C/min) plus a sharp temperature gradient across the eye may have been contributing factors in the consistent production of cataracts at these temperatures. Biomicroscopy and light microscopy showed lens changes similar to those associated with acute exposure to microwave radiation. These findings support the assumption that microwave cataractogenesis is due to the local production of elevated temperatures.

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The effects of altitude on a series of ocular functions were studied on seven expedition members, all women aged 23-53 years, during the first ascent of the 6798-m peak Brigupanth in the Indian Himalayas. The only consistent change was a decrease in convergence amplitude. The amplitude of accommodation remained stable among the younger climbers, but decreased markedly among the older ones as higher altitudes were reached. There also appeared to be a lessened vascular reactivity to the hypoxia of altitude in the older members. Stereoscopic vision was unimpaired at all altitudes tested and extra-ocular muscle balance remained unaffected in all but two members who had an increase in their baseline phorias. Two of the summit climbers developed retinal hemorrhages. There was an average weight loss of 5.4 kg during the climb, but general health was good. Symptoms of acute mountain sickness were noted infrequently, and there were only moderate changes in the menstrual cycle.

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Two groups of 16 male New Zealand rabbits were exposed to 2450-MHz continuous wave microwave fields in two experiments of 90 days each. The incident power densities of the first and second experiment were 0.5 and 5 mW/cm2, respectively. During each study, 16 animals were adapted to a miniature anechoic chamber exposure system for at least 2 weeks, then 8 of them were exposed for 7 h daily, 5 days a week for 13 weeks, and the other 8 animals were sham exposed. The rabbits were placed in acrylic cages, and each was exposed from the top in an individual miniature anechoic chamber. Thermography showed a maximum specific absorption rate of 5.5 W/kg in the head and 7 W/kg in the back at 5-mW/cm2 incident power density. After each 7-h exposure session, the animals were returned to their home cages. Food consumption in the exposure chamber and body mass were measured daily. Blood samples were taken before exposure and monthly thereafter for hematological, morphological, chemical, protein electrophoresis, and lymphocyte blast transformation studies. Eyes were examined for cataract formation. Finally, pathological examinations of 28 specimens of organs and tissues of each rabbit were performed. Statistically, there was a significant (P less than .01) decrease only of food consumption during the 5-mW/cm2 exposure; other variables were not significantly different between exposed and control groups.

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Six women mountaineers, 23-43 years of age, participated in a series of physiological tests prior to and during an expedition to Bhrigupanth (6798 m) in the Indian Himalayas. During a three-phase step test at sea level, carrying 0, 4.5, and 9.0 kg backpack weights, oxygen requirements represented 49.5-54.8% VO2 max. Recovery heart rates (HR) at 5-15 s were linearly related to exercise HR. At 4250 m, 5-15 s postexercise HR's were significantly higher than those at SL but returned to SL values after 3 min of rest. At 5000 m, HR's remained higher than those at SL throughout recovery. On returning to 4250 m after 3 weeks at higher altitudes, all postexercise HR's were back to SL levels. Supine HR's, higher at altitude than at SL during the ascent, returned to SL rates on return to 4250 m. Hemoglobin and hematocrit increased from 13.7 mg% and 42.4% at SL to 16.4 mg% and 52.6% after the climb. Resting blood pressure was significantly elevated at 4250 m during ascent but returned to SL values on the descent. During the cold pressor test, systolic pressure was unaffected by altitude; diastolic pressure increased less at altitude. While HR was unchanged at SL, a significant increase in HR was observed in postclimb CPT tests, even though perceived discomfort decreased.

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Rabbits and monkeys were irradiated in the near field of a cavity-backed 2450 MHz resonant slot radiator, to determine the cataractogenic threshold. Rabbits developed cataracts at incident "apparent" power densities of 180 mW/cm2 (E2/120 pi, where E=rms/electric field strength). Monkeys sustained facial burns, but no lens damage, even at incident "apparent" power densities of 500 mW/cm2. These results were substantiated by computer thermal models.

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A traumatic phacocele in a previously injured eye is reported. Although subconjunctival dislocation of the lens is relatively rare, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of an acquired, large conjunctival mass.

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Rabbits, irradiated by known cataractogenic levels of 2.45 GHz radiation at 5 cm, did not develop cataracts if kept under general hypothermia. Radiation-induced temperature elevation appears to be essential for the cataractogenic effect of microwaves.

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