Ovulationshemmer bei Risikogruppen

Severe adverse effects during the use of ovulation inhibitors occur mostly in women who have an elevated risk for the development of certain diseases owing to hereditary or acquired factors. By means of a careful personal or family history analysis as well as specific laboratory examinations, an existing predisposition may frequently be diagnosed and the individual risk associated with the use of oral contraceptive inhibitors may be estimated. The present contribution describes the potential effects of treatment with ovulation inhibitors on women with thrombophilia, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, overweight or underweight, tumors, psychiatric and neurological diseases and autoimmune disease. The hormonal methods and non-hormonal alternatives available for contraception are elucidated according to existing lesions and risk factors and the advantages and disadvantages are discussed.     

Vitamin D receptor genotype and risk of osteoporotic hip fracture in elderly women of Utah: an effect modified by parity

Introduction The associations between vitamin D receptor (VDR) Bsm I and Fok I genotypes, parity, and risk of osteoporotic hip fracture were evaluated in a statewide population-based case-control study in Utah.Methods Women age 50–89 years with hip fracture (n=882) were ascertained via surveillance of 18 Utah hospitals from 1997 to 2001. Age-matched controls were randomly selected (n=897). Participants were interviewed in their homes, and blood samples were collected for genotyping.Results In logistic regression analyses that controlled for multiple confounders, Bsm I VDR genotype but not Fok I genotype was associated with risk of osteoporotic hip fracture (OR bb vs. BB genotype: 0.68; 95% CI: 0.50, 0.95). In similar analyses, no overall association was observed between parity status and risk of osteoporotic hip fracture. However, the effect of VDR genotype was modified by parity status. Among nulliparous women (n=140), Bsm I genotype was not associated with risk of hip fracture (OR bb vs. BB: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.28, 2.4); among primiparous women (n=133), bb genotype was associated with increased risk of hip fracture (OR bb vs. BB: 3.30; 95% CI: 0.96, 11.29); among multiparous women (n=1,400), bb genotype was associated with decreased risk of hip fracture (OR bb vs. BB: 0.59; 95% CI: 0.42, 0.84).Conclusion VDR Bsm I genotype was associated with risk of hip fracture in Utah women, and this effect was modified by parity status. Hormonal or lifestyle factors related to parity may underlie this interaction.     

Combined transbronchial needle aspiration and positron emission tomography for mediastinal staging of NSCLC.

There are no data available combining transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) of mediastinal lymph nodes and positron emission tomography (PET) in the staging of nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The aim of the current study was to determine if these two methods can enhance the negative predictive value of the individual modality alone, for a specific lymph node station, and if this integrated approach can reduce the number of mediastinoscopies. A total of 113 patients with enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes (> or = 1 cm), who underwent both TBNA and PET scanning, were included. In 51 patients, histopathology, confirmed by surgical lymph node dissection, was compared with PET results and TBNA. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy to detect malignant lymphadenopathy was 68 (13/19), 89 (119/134), 46 (13/28), 95 (119/125) and 86% (132/152) for PET, respectively; 54% (6/11), 100 (53/53), 100 (6/6), 91 (53/58) and 92% (59/64), respectively for TBNA; and 100 (11/11), 94 (50/53), 79 (11/14), 100 (50/50) and 95 (61/64) for combined TBNA and PET, respectively. Combination of transbronchial needle aspiration and positron emission tomography has the potential to allow adequate mediastinal staging of nonsmall cell lung cancer with enlarged lymph nodes in most patients without the need for mediastinoscopy.     

Influence of Short‐term Confinement and Exercise on Tibia Development in Growing Pigs

The influence of short‐term confinement and moderate exercise on tibia development was investigated in growing pigs (36–41 kg, 10 weeks at the beginning of the study). Animals were kept for 2 weeks either in individual crates of 0.8 m² (‘confinement’, n = 4) or kept in groups of four animals in large crates of 5.6 m² without (‘control’) or with additional exercise (30 min walking at 5 days/week; ‘exercise’). Bone density and morphological parameters were evaluated by computer tomography (CT). Periosteal apposition and longitudinal growth were determined after polychrome sequential labelling in weekly intervals. Cortical areas of the cross sections at the mid‐shaft and at 75% of the length of the bone measured distal to the carpus by CT were significantly correlated to each other (r = 0.70) and revealed a significant reduction in confined animals. This difference was explained by lower periosteal apposition rates in these animals compared with exercised and group‐housed pigs. Similarly longitudinal growth and the formation and calcification of spongiosa of the tibiae were inhibited by confinement. Thus, 2 weeks of confinement led to significant differences in bone growth and metabolism in young growing piglets when compared with animals with moderate activity.     

Hemichorea associated with polycythaemia vera

Abstract Chorea is a rare complication of polycythaemia vera. Polycythaemic chorea occurs predominantly in females and usually in generalised form. We present a 66-year-old woman with acute onset hemichorea-ballism with no vascular pathology in the basal ganglia region. A clear relationship was observed between the onset of chorea and worsening of haematological parameters in the patient. After repeated phlebotomies the patient's clinical status was improved. Polycythaemic chorea must be considered, especially in the elderly, as early diagnosis leads to effective treatment and prevention of complications.     

Semi-empirical systematics of (n,3He) reaction cross-section at 14.6 and 20 MeV.

A new semi-empirical formula for the evaluation of (n,(3)He) reaction cross-sections at the energy of 14.6 and 20 MeV is presented. Formula was derived using the analytical expression for the evaluation of the (3)He spectrum within the frame of pre-equilibrium exciton model. The systematics obtained is compared with the empirical formula for the (n,(3)He) reaction cross-section.