On the model of myocardial damage induced by subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol (40mg/kg, twice) into rats, it was found that the myocardial calcium content and the level of myocardial angiotensin Ⅱ (AGT Ⅱ,ir) were significantly elevated, and that severe myocardial ischemic lesion occurred. The treatment with taurine (200mg/kg, twice) or captopril(1mg/kg, twice)antigonized the above effects of isoprotercnol dramatically and ameliorated the myocardial damage. The results suggest that taurine has inhibitary action on synthesis of heart AGT Ⅱ, and that this is one of the important mechanisms by which taurine protects heart from isoproterenol-induced myocardial injury.

The absorption-elution test using low ionic strength solution (LISS) has been compared with the test using normal saline in MN typing of 258 bloodstain samples stored 1 to 6 years. The accuracy rate was 94.57％ using LISS method. The present study indicated that the LISS method is more sensitive than tests carried out in normal saline.

Objective To observe the effects of swimming in cold water on the functioning and structure of the peripheral nerves of diabetic rats,and to compare the effects of seawater and fresh water. Methods Forty SD rats weighing ( 250 ± 20) g were randomly divided into a normal control group (A),a diabetic model group ( B ),a seawater swimming group (C) and a fresh water swimming group (D) with 10 rats in each group.The swimming training was carried on 5 times a week for 8 weeks.At the end of the 4th and 8th week of training,caudal nerve conduction velocity (CNCV) was measured.The nerve structure of the caudal nerves was observed at the end of the 8th week. Results By the 4th week,CNCV had slowed significantly in group B compared with group A,but not in groups C and group D.Compared with group B,CNCV had increased significantly in group C.There was no significant difference in CNCV between groups C and D.At the 8th week,compared with group A,CNCV had slowed in groups B and C.Compared with group B,CNCV was significantly faster in groups C and D.However,there was no significant difference between group C and group D with regard to CNCV.At the end of the 8th week demyelination was observed in the caudal nerves under a light microscope and an electron microscope in groups B,C and D,but the demyelination was milder in groups D and C. Conclusion Swimming in cold water can prevent or delay diabetic neuropathy in diabetic rats.There was no significant difference between seawater and fresh water swimming in terms of its effect on CNCV.

There is a paucity of research available on the effect of mindfulness on cognitive function. However, the topic has recently gained more attention due to the ageing population in Singapore, catalysed by recent findings on brain function and cellular ageing. Recognising the potential benefits of practising mindfulness, we aimed to develop a localised, self-training mindfulness programme, guided by expert practitioners and usability testing, for older Singaporean adults. This was followed by a pilot study to examine the potential cognitive benefits and feasibility of this self-training programme for the cognitive function of older adults in Singapore. We found that the results from the pilot study were suggestive but inconclusive, and thus, merit further investigation.
Aged ; Aging ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Attention ; Cognition ; Cognition Disorders ; therapy ; Executive Function ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mindfulness ; methods ; Pilot Projects ; Program Development ; Singapore ; User-Computer Interface