A longitudinal study of semen quality in pesticide spraying danish farmers

It was hypothesized that occupational exposure to pesticides during a spraying season causes changes in semen quality that might be detected in a longitudinal study. We analyzed the within-person changes in semen quality and reproductive hormones across a spraying season in groups of farmers using and not using pesticides. A total of 248 men collected two semen samples (participation rate: 32%). The median sperm concentration declined significantly from the first to the second sample in both groups, but there was no statistical difference in the decline between the two groups, unadjusted or adjusted. Only minor changes were found in sperm morphology, vitality, motility, sperm chromatin denaturation (SCSA), and reproductive hormones, and the differences in changes between the two groups were nonsignificant, or, in the opposite direction to the expected. There was no relation between the changes in sperm parameters in relation to pesticide exposure variables. In conclusion, use of pesticides by Danish farmers is not a likely cause of short-term effects on semen quality and reproductive hormones.     

Long-term benefit to pallidal deep brain stimulation in a case of dystonia secondary to pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration.

Pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration (PKAN) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder with onset in childhood and rapid progression. There is no causative and insufficient symptomatic drug therapy. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the internal pallidum (GPi) has been reported to improve motor function. Most case reports, however, are limited to short observational periods. The impact of DBS on the progression and life expectancy in PKAN is unknown. We present a 5-year outcome and video documentation of bilateral GPi-DBS of an adolescent patient suffering from genetically defined PKAN.     

Effects of polymerization heat and monomers from acrylic cement on canine bone

We investigated the effects of polymerization heat and toxicity of polymethyimetacrylate bone cement in the canine tibial diaphysis. Heat was studied by filling the tibias with either bone cement or bone wax contained in a monomer tight membrane pouch. Toxicity was studied by filling both tibias with cement, with the control side contained in the membrane pouch. Bone blood perfusion was measured by microsphere technic, and bone remodeling by ^99mTc-methylene diphosphonate uptake and by histologic technique. In bone exposed to the combination of polymerization heat and monomer, both perfusion and remodeling were impaired. We did not find any effects of polymerization heat alone.

We conclude that hot toxic chemicals from bone cement during polymerization may inhibit bone blood perfusion and remodeling, whereas heat alone seems to be of minor importance for the regenerative processes in cemented diaphyseal bone.     

Prognosis of fracture of the talus in children: 21 (7-34)-year follow-up of 14 cases

14 children suffering from a fracture of the talar neck or body were examined after 21 (7-34) years. The talar neck was fractured in 10 children and the talar body in 4. 3 fractures were displaced and primarily treated with reduction and immobilization. Nondisplaced fractures were treated conservatively. All fractures healed. All patients with displaced fractures had exercise-induced pain at follow-up. Of 11 patients with nondisplaced fractures only 1 had minor complaints.

CT and conventional radiographs showed arthrosis in the talocrural joint and normal subtalar joints in those with displaced fractures. The radio- graphic findings were normal after nondisplaced fractures.     

Analysis of three-dimensional sinter shrinkage of copings made from alumina in an innovative direct shaping process.

The three-dimensional (3D) evaluation and comparison of free-form-surfaces is a complex problem [Dent. Mater. 8 (1992) 49; J. Dent. Res. 76 (1997) 1799; Dent. Mater. 16 (2000) 145; J. Prosthet. Dent. 70 (1993) 457; Dent. Mater. 19 (2003) 19]. However, it is essential in order to analyze the sinter shrinkage of dental ceramic-restorations where isotropic and linear shrinkage is desired for accurate fit on the prepared teeth. In this article, we examine the 3D sinter shrinkage in general and for nine copings from alumina in particular. Using various scaled CAD-models in an iteration scheme, each model was compared to the filtered point cloud of the coping, determining the surface-cloud difference. The magnitude of deviations from linear sinter shrinkage was investigated. Furthermore, a new fabrication process for ceramic-restorations is introduced.     

Intracortical inhibition and facilitation in paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation: effect of conditioning stimulus intensity on sizes and latencies of motor evoked potentials.

The influence of the intensity of the conditioning stimulus on intracortical inhibition (ICI) and intracortical facilitation (ICF) was assessed in a study using paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation. Interstimulus intervals (ISIs) between conditioning and test stimuli were 3 msec and 13 msec. Latencies and areas of motor evoked potentials in response to the test stimulus were measured in the right extensor carpi radialis muscle. Motor evoked potential areas with ISIs of 3 msec and 13 msec showed a different dependence on the intensity of the conditioning stimulus. In contrast, the changes of motor evoked potential latencies were fairly similar with both ISIs. The findings point to a parallel action of ICI and ICF. Furthermore, the latencies seem to be a more sensitive indicator for ICF action than the size parameters of motor evoked potentials.     

Prevention of hepatitis B virus recurrence after liver transplantation

Abstract:  Liver transplantation for hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related liver disease has changed from a contraindication to outcomes comparable with non-HBV-related liver transplantations during the last two decades. Mainly the implementation of immunoprophylaxis with hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) and the use of nucleoside analogs such as lamivudine and adefovir account for this dramatic change. The standard of care in most centers today consists of lamivudine treatment in replicating hepatitis B pre-orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) and a combination regimen of lamivudine and HBIG post-OLT. With adefovir, a potent antiviral drug became available in recent years that allows for the treatment of patients with lamivudine-resistant tyrosine-methionine-aspartate-aspartate (YMDD)-mutant HBV. In the transplantation setting, first studies indicate that a triple prophylactic therapy consisting of lamivudine, adefovir, and HBIG will become the standard of care for YMDD-mutant-related hepatitis B. With new drugs emerging for the treatment of chronic HBV, there is optimism for new options also in the transplant setting.