Research suggests that, in individuals with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), low plasma pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) concentrations are related to an increased incidence and severity of symptoms associated with CTS. This study was designed to determine the relationship between plasma and red blood cell PLP concentrations and the severity and incidence of CTS symptoms. Thirty people with CTS were selected for a 9 month exercise study. Subjects were divided into either vitamin users or non-vitamin users based on supplement use data gathered at the beginning of the study. Blood was drawn at 1, 6 and 9 months. CTS symptoms questionnaires and health questionnaires were also administered at these intervals. The symptoms questionnaires were used to gather data on the frequency and nature of hand and wrist symptoms. Health questionnaires focused on vitamin supplement usage including frequency, amount and length of use. Mean plasma PLP, total plasma vitamin B6 and erythrocyte PLP concentrations were significantly higher in the sixteen vitamin users when compared to the fourteen non-vitamin users (p<0.001). While there was variation in plasma PLP and total plasma vitamin B6 over time, within each group, there were no significant changes in any of the status measures over the nine month period. Mean erythrocyte PLP concentration, in particular, was stable over time. In vitamin users, the intensity of pain, numbness and tingling was significantly higher when compared to non-vitamin users. In both groups, plasma PLP was negatively correlated with pain. This correlation reached statistical significance in vitamin users at month one and nine (p<0.01), but not at month six; a statistically significant correlation between these two variables was not found in non-vitamin users at any time point. Pain was also negatively and significantly correlated with plasma total vitamin B6 and erythrocyte PLP in vitamin users. No other symptoms were significantly correlated with the status measures. These results indicate that a higher vitamin B6 status may be related to a decrease in the severity of pain experienced by some individuals with CTS. / Graduation date: 1998

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Human peripheral blood monocytes provide a model for the in vivo exposure to, and immune functional damage caused by chronic UVB exposure at the skin surface. Retinoids and carotenoids are known immune function enhancers; they can also prevent cellular toxic product formation caused by UVB exposure. Application of these compounds in vitro may prevent functional damage to monocytes. Monocytes were exposed in vitro to UVB, then assayed for cytotoxic, phagocytic, and antigen presenting abilities. Phagocytic activity was protected from UVB damage by exposure to these compounds; cytotoxic activity was not altered by UVB exposure, but increased by retinoid or carotenoid exposure. Antigen presentation was not affected by either the UVB or these compounds. Protection of phagocytic function was not due to release of activating monokines or prostaglandins. Instead, the cell membrane antioxidant properties of these retinoids or carotenoids were the factors that protected the monocyte from phagocytic damage caused by UVB exposure.

This study investigated the hypothesis that dietary compliance among hemodialysis patients is related to their health locus of control orientation, as well as other factors. Fifty chronic hemodialysis patients were studied over a 3-month period. Among women interdialytic weight gain as a percentage of body weight (%BWG) was positively correlated with the number of weekly hemodialysis sessions and negatively related to ease of fluid compliance. Among men %BWG was positively correlated with powerful others health locus of control, family support, and hemodialysis tenure, and negatively correlated with employment. The best fitting multiple regression equation explained 26% of the variance for %BWG using ease of fluid compliance, frequency of urination, and powerful others orientation, with sex effects seen for the latter two variables. Staff perceptions of patient dietary compliance were also highly correlated with %BWG, though they never tabulated fluid gain controlled for body weight.

This investigation studies the effects of diets containing varying amounts of linoleic acid (a polyunsaturated fatty acid) and stearic acid (a saturated fatty acid) on tumorigenesis, weight and longevity in strain A/ST mice. Linoleic acid [ 18 carbons and 2 double bonds (18:2)] was chosen to represent a fatty acid known to enhance tumorigenesis and obesity in certain strains of mice. Stearic acid [ 18 carbons and no double bonds (18:0)] represents a saturated fatty acid known to increase the latency period for mammary tumor development and to decrease the rate of tumor growth. This study was conducted to determine whether the effects of fatty acids observed in younger mice on time to tumor, survival and body weights were also found in aging animals. Further, by varying the amount of linoleic acid in the diet, this study examined whether the tumor enhancing effects of increasing amounts of linoleic acid could be overcome by the incorporation of dietary stearic acid. All diets had equal percentages, by weight, of protein, salt, sucrose, mineral salt, and vitamin levels and an equal number of calories per gram of food. The SF diet was rich in linoleic acid. The SA-1 diet contained enough linoleic acid to prevent essential fatty acid deficiency, and the SA-4 diet contained the maximal amount of linoleic acid for tumor enhancement. Total body weight and tumor production in the three dietary groups show a relationship between an increase in body weight and tumor production as the amount of dietary linoleic acid increases. There also is an inverse relationship between animal survival and body weight as the amount of dietary linoleic acid increases. Survival thus appears to be dependent on tumor production in the three dietary groups, where there appears to be an inverse relationship between survival and time to tumor as the amount of dietary linoleic acid increases at each timepoint. These results suggest that the inclusion of stearic acid in the diet can, in part, overcome this enhancing effect of linoleic acid, even at the optimal tumor producing level of linoleic acid. The results of this study indicate that that effects of linoleic and stearic acid in aging mice are similar to those in younger animals. / Department of Biology

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Typescript (photocopy). / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

Typescript (photocopy). / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

No description available.