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Purpose. We describe self-reported consequences for physical and cognitive functions, detect possible gender differences, and find factors that were associated with deteriorated physical function in younger stroke patients, independent in their personal activities of daily life. Methods. This study involved all first ever stroke patients, aged 18-55 years, registered in the Swedish national quality register for stroke. A questionnaire was answered by 1068 patients 8-36 months after the stroke. Changes were sought in physical and cognitive functions as compared with the pre-stroke condition. Results. Eight hundred and sixty-seven patients (83%) were independent in personal activities of daily life. Significant differences between men and women were found: deteriorated physical ability was reported by 56-71% of the men and 65-79% of the women; deteriorated cognitive function was reported by 48-57% of the men and 57-68% of the women. Many patients (70% men, 77% women) reported that they had received insufficient information about physical exertion. Significant associations were found between deteriorated physical function and deteriorated cognitive function as well as fear of physical exertion. Conclusions. Deterioration was found in physical and cognitive functions greater in women then in men. Insecurity regarding physical exertion existed indicating that younger stroke patients might need information directly aimed at physical functioning and more gender specific than today. This study has raised the awareness that there also might be gender differences in other fields, which needs further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study sought to investigate the effects of preexercise stretching on delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), i.e. soreness, tenderness and loss of muscle force, that usually occurs after strenuous or unaccustomed eccentric exercise. Ten female volunteers performed 10 sets of 10 maximal isokinetic eccentric contractions for knee flexion with both legs after a 5-mm ergometer cycling warm-up. Prior to the exercise for one leg, randomly chosen, 4 &times20 s of static stretching for the hamstring muscle group was implemented. Ratted soreness, tenderness on algometer pressure and loss of maximal eccentric contractile force was evaluated preexercise and 24. 48 and 96 h postexercise. The exercise bout produced severe DOMS, with parameters peaking and troughing at 48 h postexercise. However, no significant differences were found, regarding any of the parameters. when comparing stretched and nonstretched legs. The present study thus suggests that preexercise static stretching has no preventive effect on the muscular soreness, tenderness and force loss that follows heavy eccentric exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social psychological theory on relations between production technology and work satisfaction was combined with arousal theory based on psychophysiological stress research in a study of workers in a highly mechanised production industry. A group of workers whose tasks were characterised by rcpetitiveness, physical constraint, machine-regulation of work pace and high demands for continuous attention (high-risk group) was compared to a control group who performed their work under less monotonous and more flexible conditions. Both groups were studied at work and during free hours with regard to urinary excretion of adrenaline and noradrenaline as well as self-ratings of mood and alertness. During work the high-risk group excreted significantly more catecholamines than the control group. The results suggest that the combination of monotony and mental overload experienced by the high-risk group demands continuous mobilisation of biochemical adaptive resources which in the long run may prove harmful to the individual. This assumption was supported by the fact that the risk group showed a higher frequency of psychosomatic illness and absenteeism than the control group. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

1. The interindividual differences in serum concentrations of dextromethorphan (DM) and its metabolites were studied in 29 healthy subjects given 120 mg orally. They were also phenotyped according to the urinary ratio of debrisoquine and 4-hydroxy-debrisoquine. 2. Four (14%) subjects were found to be poor metabolizers (PM) with a dextromethorphan/dextrorphan metabolite ratio in plasma of 3.6 or more compared with extensive metabolizers (EM) with a ratio of 0.11 or less. Significant levels of 3-hydroxymorphinan were measurable in all individuals except two, both of whom were PMs. This subdivision corresponded to the phenotype determined by the metabolic ratio of debrisoquine (r = 0.92). 3. Twelve of the 29 subjects reported adverse drug reactions after dextromethorphan administration compared with none after placebo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urinary excretion of chloroquine and its desethyl-metabolite was monitored for up to 395 days after the last dose of oral chloroquine (300 mg base) taken once weekly for 10 weeks as malaria prophylaxis. Concentrations in plasma could be followed for up to 70 days after the last dose. A three exponential decay was applied to the urinary excretion data. The half-life of the terminal phase varied from 45 to 55 days for chloroquine and from 59 to 67 days for the metabolite. Mean residence time was approximately 20 days for the parent compound and 35 days for the metabolite, indicating that the terminal phases are of less importance for the effective half-lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pharmacokinetics of chloroquine were studied after intramuscular and intravenous administration of the drug to healthy African adults. Chloroquine was analysed in plasma using an h.p.l.c. method and pharmacokinetic parameters were derived from the concentration-time data using a non-linear computer programme. A two-compartment open model was assumed. Chloroquine was rapidly absorbed from an intramuscular site, producing a plasma concentration-time profile similar to that obtained after a 15 min i.v. infusion of a comparable dose. The pharmacokinetics of chloroquine after i.m. and i.v. administration were characterised by a long half-life and a very large volume of distribution. There was no significant difference between the values of each parameter obtained from the different routes. It is suggested that the high Cmax obtained after i.m. and i.v. administration of chloroquine might contribute to its toxicity when these routes are used in treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1 Chloroquine was given in 300 mg single doses as an i.v. infusion, an oral solution and as tablets at intervals of at least 56 days to 11 healthy volunteers. Concentrations of chloroquine and its metabolite desethylchloroquine were measured in plasma, erythrocytes and urine using h.p.l.c. 2 Chloroquine was detectable in all plasma samples up to 23 days and occasionally up to 52 days after dosage. Urinary concentrations were monitored up to 119 days. The disposition pattern was multiexponential reflecting extensive tissue binding of the drug. 3 After i.v. dosing the volume of distribution ranged from 116 to 285 l/kg and the apparent terminal half-life from 146 to 333 h. Total plasma clearance +/- s.d. was 712 +/- 166 ml/min and renal clearance 412 +/- 139 ml/min. The mean estimated urinary recovery of chloroquine was 47%, 42% and 46% after i.v., oral solution and tablets indicating nearly complete bioavailability. The corresponding figures for the metabolite were 7%, 10% and 12%. 4 The disposition of chloroquine in erythrocytes was parallel to that in plasma. The concentrations in erythrocytes were consistently 2 to 5 times higher than in plasma. 5 Subjective side effects like difficulties with swallowing and accommodation, diplopia and fatigue occurred during intravenous infusion and were closely related to plasma concentrations. No effect was seen on the electrocardiogram, mean arterial blood pressure and pulse rate. No adverse reactions were observed after the oral doses. High frequency audiometry did not reveal any significant hearing impairment for the group as a whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1 The antihypertensive effect of prazosin has been studied in three groups of hypertensive patients. 2 The drug caused a significant reduction of blood pressure both as monotherapy and combined with alprenolol. 3 The effect of prazosin on blood pressure was more marked at the first dose and especially in combination with alprenolol. 4 No pharmacokinetic interaction between prazosin and alprenolol was observed. 5 Prazosin exhibits an exaggerated first dose effect together with alprenolol. Smaller starting doses of prazosin in combination therapy with beta-adrenoceptor blockers are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on two early English translations of Augustinian friar and writer Jacques Legrand's 'Livre de Bonnes Meurs.' Contents of the copy of the book presented to Jean, duc de Berry, on March 4, 1410; Comparison of portions of the Caxton and Harley versions of the French text; Responsibility of the unknown translator for some erroneous readings of the text.

The protein binding of racemic chloroquine, its enantiomers and desethylchloroquine to plasma, purified human albumin, and alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (alpha 1-AGP) was determined by equilibrium dialysis. The binding was not concentration dependent. (+)-Chloroquine bound more to plasma (66.6 +/- 1.9%) and albumin (45.9 +/- 0.8%) than (-)-chloroquine (48.5 +/- 2.4% and 35.3 +/- 0.6%, respectively). These differences were statistically significant. (-)-Chloroquine bound more to alpha 1-AGP (47.5 +/- 0.7%) than (+)-chloroquine (34.5 +/- 0.5%). The binding of desethylchloroquine to alpha 1-AGP is higher than to albumin (38.9 +/- 0.9% and 21.1 +/- 0.4%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]