The aim of this study was to assess the effect of simvastatin on plasma lipoproteins and renal function in hypercholesterolaemic Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic patients with diabetic nephropathy. Twenty-six hypercholesterolaemic (total cholesterol greater than or equal to 5.5 mmol/l) Type 1 diabetic patients with nephropathy were enrolled in a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study for 12 weeks. The active treatment group (n = 14) received simvastatin (10-20 mg/day) for 12 weeks while the remaining 12 patients received treatment with placebo. The results during simvastatin treatment (baseline vs 12 weeks): total cholesterol 6.6 vs 4.8 mmol/l (p less than 0.01), LDL-cholesterol 4.25 vs 2.57 mmol/l (p less than 0.01) and apolipoprotein B 1.37 vs 1.06 mmol/l (p less than 0.01). HDL-cholesterol, and apolipoprotein A-I remained unchanged. Total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, apolipoprotein A-I, apolipoprotein B remained unchanged during placebo treatment. Albuminuria measured during the simvastatin and the placebo treatment (baseline vs 12 weeks) (the data are logarithmically transformed before analysis because of their positively skewed transformation; geometric mean (x/divided by antilog SE) is indicated) was 458 (x/divided by 1.58) vs 393 (x/divided by 1.61) and 481 (x/divided by 1.62) vs 368 (x/divided by 1.78 micrograms/min (NS). Glomerular filtration rate during simvastatin and placebo treatment (baseline vs 12 weeks) was 64 vs 63 and 72 vs 74 ml.min-1.1.73 m-2, respectively. Two patients receiving simvastatin treatment were withdrawn, one due to gastrointestinal side effects and one due to myalgia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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Radionuclide left ventricular (LV) peak filling rate (PFR) was determined in 185 survivors of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and expressed in units of (1) end-diastolic volume per second (EDV s-1). (2) stroke volume per second (SV s-1), or (3) actual millilitres of blood filled into the left ventricle per second (ml s-1). The purpose of the study was to assess the interrelationship between the three expressions of PFR, and to analyse their significance with regard to signs of congestive heart failure and 1-year survival in patients with AMI. PFR EDV s-1, PFR SV s-1 and PFR ml s-1 had a poor relationship to each other, were all influenced by LV volumes and ejection fraction, and supplied contradictory information with regard to LV filling in patients with heart failure. None of the three expressions of LV peak filling rate had an association to heart failure that was independent of LV volume and ejection fraction. A low PFR EDV s-1 in contrast to a high PFR SV s-1 was associated with a high 1-year cardiac mortality, suggesting that these 'normalized' indices of LV peak filling rate signalled LV size and stroke volume rather than actual LV filling behaviour. No association was present between PFR ml s-1 and 1-year mortality. We conclude that the clinical use of radionuclide LV PFR in patients with AMI may lead to spurious results, unless the influence of LV size and ejection fraction is taken into consideration.

A strong literature base supports the notion that active learning improves retention in the science classroom. To that end, a course was designed to allow students to develop their own experiments around a central biological question. The model system used in this particular course is control of melanosome dispersal via second messenger systems in zebrafish (Danio rerio) scales. Students start by applying agonists and antagonists to the cAMP and Ca(2+) second messenger systems, and then can progress to more refined questions with the model system. This project is advantageous because it could be easily adapted to fit the needs of many different courses and ability levels; it is relatively easy to perform; it is enjoyable to teach; and students can be largely given a free reign to decide upon the design of their experiments.