Tear buffering in contact lens wearers

The buffering capacity of tears collected from contact lens wearers was compared to that from non-contact lens wearers. Three groups of subjects were investigated: 6 subjects not wearing contact lenses, 3 subjects wearing rigid contact lenses, and 3 subjects wearing hydrogel contact lenses. Each of the 12 subjects provided, on 6 separate occasions, 100 microliters of tears. The pH of the tears was measured with a closed chamber, temperature stabilized micro-electrode system firstly on collection and then after titration with acid and base. In all, 28 titration steps across the acid-base spectrum were completed for each subject's tears on each occasion. These tear pH responses to acid-base challenge were compared to that of unbuffered distilled water for the same titration procedure. There was no statistically significant effect of contact lens wear on tear buffering capacity, but considerable inter-subject variability was noted.     

Diet and insulinlike growth factor I in relation to body composition in women with exercise-induced hypothalamic amenorrhea

To assess the potential influence of diet and endogenous peptide anabolic hormone secretion on exercise-related differences in body composition, we compared levels of macronutrient intake, insulinlike growth factor I (IGF-I), and fat-free mass (FFM) and fat mass (FM) in matched groups of exercising women with and without secondary hypothalamic amenorrhea. Women were tightly matched according to somatotype and grouped into those with exercise amenorrhea (EXam, n = 6), exercise eumennorhea (EXeu, n = 5), and sedentary eumennorheic controls (SED, n = 5). Although no between-group difference was observed in FFM, the EXeu subjects had a significantly lower fat fraction and a significantly elevated FFM/FM ratio. Kilocaloric and protein intakes did not differ between groups, but dietary fat intake was lowest and carbohydrate intake highest in the EXam subjects. Dietary macronutrients were not correlated with the FFM/FM ratio. However, levels of insulinlike growth factor I were significantly correlated to the FFM/FM ratio and there was a clear trend for the hormone to be highest in the EXeu subjects. We conclude that differences in body composition between exercising women with and without exercise-induced hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction were related to an alteration in IGF-I secretion, although differences in macronutrient intake might also be a factor. Further studies are warranted to elaborate upon the dietary and hormonal factors regulating the body composition response to exercise.     

Resuscitation training for medical students in the United Kingdom — a comparison with the United States of America

Resuscitation training for medical students and junior doctors in the United Kingdom and United States was compared using questionnaires sent to medical schools in both countries. A marked deficiency in the provision of cardiopulmonary resuscitation training has been demonstrated in the United Kingdom; however, in the United States, the availability of uniform certifiable teaching is now widespread. Suggestions for the improvement of training in the United Kingdom are expected to increase medical student proficiency in cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The need for training in basic and advanced resuscitation prior to graduation from medical school is stressed.