Prevention of early postmenopausal bone loss: controlled 2-year study in 315 normal females

Abstract. With the aim of preventing postmenopausal bone loss, a placebo-controlled double-blind trial of 2 years duration was performed. We randomized 315 healthy volunteers in their early natural menopause to seven treatment and three placebo groups: 17β-oestra-diol, oestriol and sequential norethisteron (hormones); bendroflumethiazide 5 mg/day (thiazide); hormones and thiazide; sodium fluoride 20 mg/day; vitamin D3 2000 IU/day (D₃); fluoride and D₃; and lα (OH) vitamin D3 0–25 μg/day (lαD₃). All participants were given daily calcium supplement of 500 mg. Every 3 months we measured the bone mineral content (BMC) of both forearms by photon absorptiometry and chemical quantities in blood and 48 h urinary collections. The study was completed by 264 (84%).
The combined placebo groups snowed a linear fall in BMC reaching 3-3 % after 2 years ( P < 0–001). Hormones and hormones and thiazide led to a 2–5% gain in BMC ( P < 001). Thiazide alone postponed the BMC fall for 6 months. After 2 years the thiazide group showed a BMC fall of 1–5% ( P < 0–05), less than that of the placebo group ( P < 0–05). BMC declined by 3–6%, 4–5%, 3–7% and 3–7% during the respective use of fluoride, D₃, fluoride and D₃ and lαD₃. Nevertheless, the urinary calcium excretion during lαD₃ and D₃ treatment was 1-1-5 mmol/day higher than in the placebo groups.
Apparently, there is no real alternative to oestro-gen/gestagen in the prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis.     

Postural Fall in Blood Pressure in the Elderly in Relation to Drug Treatment and Other Lifestyle Factors

In a study of 843 independent-living men and women aged between60 and 87 in Perth, Western Australia, stepwise multiple regression,after correction for initial levels of systolic blood pressure,showed that postural fall in systolic blood pressure was positivelyrelated to alcohol intake of more than 20 ml/day, the use ofsleeping tablets and higher levels of anxiety on the Spielbergerstate-trait scale, and negatively related to body mass index.Postural fall in blood pressure was not significantly relatedto treatment for hypertension, age, sex, patterns of usual physicalactivity, tea or coffee drinking, or the diagnosis of diabetesmellitus. This analysis is the first to examine the relationshipbetween lifestyle factors and the magnitude of the fall in systolicblood pressure on standing after adjustment for the associationbetween the change in a variable and its initial level. Ouranalysis suggests the need for further study of the possiblerole of lifestyle factors such as the use of sleeping tabletsand alcohol in postural hypotension in the elderly.     

Reliability and Validity of the Spanish Language Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (3rd Edition) in a Sample of American,Urban, Spanish-Speaking Hispanics

The utility of the Spanish WAIS-III was investigated by examining its reliability and validity among 100 Spanish-speaking participants. Results indicated that the internal consistency of the subtests was satisfactory, but inadequate for Letter Number Sequencing. Criterion validity was adequate. Convergent and discriminant validity results were generally similar to the North American normative sample. Paired sample t-tests suggested that the WAIS-III may underestimate ability when compared to the criterion measures that were utilized to assess validity. This study provides support for the use of the Spanish WAIS-III in urban Hispanic populations, but also suggests that caution be used when administering specific subtests, due to the nature of the Latin America alphabet and potential test bias.     

Tlymphocyte subsets in homosexual men from Copenhagen

Abstract. Screening of sixty-six asymptomatic homosexual men from Copenhagen revealed significantly lower Leu-3a/Leu-2a ratios as compared to controls. Ten (15%) of the homosexuals had a ratio ≤ 1·0. The low Leu-3a/Leu-2a ratios were the result of an increase in the absolute number of Leu-2a cells. Homosexuals with many partners and those who had been sexual partners of patients with the acquired immuno-deficiency syndrome (AIDS) had significantly lower ratios than those without these features. Cytomegalovirus was isolated from urine and/or sputum of 15% and this was associated with a Leu-3a/Leu-2a ratio ≤ 1·0. The observed immunological abnormalities could either represent latent infection with the putative AIDS agent or alternatively be caused by repeated infections and/or exposure to allogenic spermatocytes or lymphocytes.     

Development of a nasal adenovirus-based vaccine: Effect of concentration and formulation on adenovirus stability and infectious titer during actuation from two delivery devices

A nasal adenovirus-based vaccine is under development. To determine if aggregation occurs during vaccination, infectious titer (limiting dilution) and capsid integrity (dynamic light scattering) were assessed after extrusion of a model vector from two intranasal delivery devices. Preparations of 2.5 × 10¹² and 1.25 × 10¹¹ virus particles (vp)/ml were studied. Virus aggregated (∼10%) in the multi-dose vessel. Virus titer dropped by one log. Virus in the unit-dose device aggregated (∼1%). Titer remained unchanged. Aggregation was concentration dependent. Formulations prevented aggregation during actuation, freeze-thaw and long-term storage. The device, formulation and dose may significantly influence aggregation and potency of any nasal adenovirus 5-based vaccine.     

Respiratory symptoms,lung function and particulate matter pollution in residential indoor environment in Ile-Ife,Nigeria

Introduction:

Particulate air pollution is associated with increased incidence of respiratory symptoms and decreased pulmonary, function but the relative impact of pollution from different domestic energy sources is not well-known or studied.

Aim:

The study was aimed at assessing the association between particulate concentrations, respiratory symptoms and lung function.

Materials and Methods:

It was a cross-sectional study comprised of randomly selected residents of three communities. These communities were selected according to the predominant type of fuel used for household cooking which were: firewood, kerosene and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Assessment of the indoor PM₁₀ levels was done by filtration using the Gent stacked filter unit sampler for collection of atmospheric aerosol in two size fractions (PM_2.5 and PM₁₀). The Medical Research Council (MRC) questionnaire was administered followed by spirometry test.

Results:

The mean PM₁₀ concentration in participants using LPG, kerosene and firewood was 80.8 ± 9.52 μg/m³, 236.9 ± 26.5 μg/m³ and 269 ±93.7 μg/m³, respectively. The mean age and height-adjusted percent predicted forced expiratory volumes in 1 s (FEV1) for men were 127 ± 7, 109 ± 40 and 91 ± 20 and for women were 129 ± 13, 115 ± 14, 100 ± 14 in users of LPG, kerosene and firewood, respectively. A similar trend was found in the forced vital capacity (FVCs). Users of firewood had significantly lower FEV1 and FVC compared with LPG users (P < 0.05). The participants using firewood had the highest prevalence of pulmonary and non-pulmonary symptoms (57.1%), whereas subjects using LPG had the lowest (23.8%).

Conclusion:

There are high levels of particulate matter pollutions with respiratory effects in residential indoor environments in Ile-Ife, Nigeria