This study investigated the effect of a twice-weekly, six-month progressive walking program on 80 healthy women aged 60 to 70 years. Aerobic fitness, blood pressure, skinfold thickness, spirometric ...variables, and activity profile were studied. No significant differences existed between the training group (TG) and the control group (CG) at the commencement of the study. However, after 26 weeks of training, the TG registered significantly lower heart rates than the CG, both at rest (p = .019) and during the five to six minutes of an ergometer work test (p = .003). A Mann-Whitney U test on the difference scores (26 weeks-0 week) indicated higher scores for the TG compared with the CG for Maximum Current Activity (p = .001) and Normative Impairment Index (p = .002), which are both components of the Human Activity Profile. These data suggest that adherence to a low-frequency training program can elicit positive physiologic changes in elderly women. Furthermore, increased habitual activity patterns are likely to be indicative of improvements in functional ability, lifestyle, and independence.
A double-blind trial of phenytoin therapy following craniotomy was performed to test the hypothesis that phenytoin is effective in reducing postoperative epilepsy. A significant reduction in the ...frequency of epilepsy was observed in the group receiving the active drug up to the 10th postoperative week. Half of the seizures occurred in the first 2 weeks and two-thirds within 1 month of cranial surgery. High rates of epilepsy were observed after surgery in patients with meningioma, metastasis, aneurysm, and head injury. Routine prophylaxis with phenytoin (in a dosage of 5 to 6 mg/kg/day) would seem to be indicated, particularly in high-risk patients and, where possible, this treatment should be started 1 week preoperatively. Seizure control is best when therapeutic levels of phenytoin are maintained.
This study investigated the aerobic fitness, body composition, spirometric variables, Human Activity Profile, and level of adherence to physical activity subsequent to completion of a progressive ...walking program of six month's duration (T1). Sixty-six women previously randomized to training (TG) and control (CG) groups were reassessed six months after finishing the six month walking program (T2). During the follow-up period, 77.8% of the TG subjects continued with exercise and maintained lower (p < 0.005) exercise heart rates compared to the CG. A Mann-Whitney U test on the difference scores (T2-T1) revealed no difference (p > 0.05) between the TG and CG for changes in Maximum Current Activity and Normative Impairment Index, which are both components of the Human Activity Profile, with the earlier increases (p < 0.05) in these parameters by the TG having been maintained. Participation in a previous low frequency training regimen therefore resulted in elderly women adopting and sustaining a higher level of habitual physical activity. This is important because a favorable modification of lifestyle factors is likely to be indicative of an enhanced outlook for independence.
The stability of heparin diluted in 0.9% sodium chloride injection and stored in plastic syringes for a three-week period was studied. Heparin activity was assayed by the activated partial ...thromboplastin time (APTT) method. Heparin sodium (25,000 units/ml) was diluted to 500 units/ml and stored in 50-ml polypropylene syringes. Concentrations were compared in two brands of syringes stored at room temperature in the dark. In another experiment controlled for order-related assay errors, heparin was stored in one brand by syringe at either 0-4 degrees C or room temperature. There was a statistically decrease in heparin activity over three weeks in both syringes and at both 0-4 degrees C and room temperature. However, the overall drop in activity was only about 8%. Analysis of covariance confirmed significant regression with time at both temperatures. An unexpected finding was that heparin at 500 units/ml consistently assayed higher than this value. A study of the effect of glass and plastic showed that when heparin was diluted into either a glass or plastic container, there was significantly less heparin activity in the glass containers within two hours. One possible explantation for this phenomenon is absorption of heparin to glass surfaces. It was concluded that heparin can be stored in polypropylene syringe for up to three weeks without refrigeration. However, once diluted, heparin should not be stored in glass containers.
