Chemiluminescence response of granulocytes from elite athletes during recovery from one or two intense bouts of exercise

In this study nine elite athletes each participated in three different 24- h trials, as follows: (1) complete bed rest (REST), (2) one bout of exercise at 1515 hours (ONE-EX), (3) two exercise bouts, one at 1100 hours and one at 1515 hours (TWO-EX-3 h), and (4) two exercise bouts, one at 0800 hours and one at 1515 hours (TWO-EX-6 h). Exercise was performed on a cycle ergometer with 10 min of warm-up and then 65 min at an exercise intensity of 75% of maximum oxygen uptake (V˙O_2max). The polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) counts increased consistently in response to exercise, and more in trial TWO-EX-3 h than in the two other exercise trials (P<0.01). The respiratory burst of PMN was measured as chemiluminescence (CL), obtained with phorbol myristate (PMA) and serum-opsonised zymosan (SOZ) as stimulators. Exercise triggered the CL response for a defined number of PMN, significantly above baseline (REST) values (P<0.05) for ONE-EX and TWO-EX-3 h, but not for TWO-EX-6 h. The strongest response was observed for TWO-EX-3 h, but the difference between exercise procedures was not significant. However, as a novel approach, a comparison was made using total oxidative potentials per litre of blood, as obtained by combining CL values and PMN numbers. TWO-EX-3 h yielded significantly higher values than the other experimental treatments. Thus, by this measure the total oxidative potential of PMN·l^–1 blood remains at a higher level with short intervals between exercise bouts (i.e. 3 h instead of 6 h), possibly due to a combined effect of cell number increase and the priming state of PMN. This may suggest that for intensive training twice a day, a recovery phase of 5–6 h is preferable. The elevation in cell number is best explained by a combined effect of catecholamines and cortisol. Growth hormone is one probable candidate as a stimulator of CL, but other molecular participants that respond to exercise may exert roles as either stimulators or inhibitors of CL. Electronic Publication     

Multidisciplinary approach to fibromyalgia A pilot study

Summary The aim of the study was to instruct a group of fibromyalgia patients how to solve problems related to activities of daily life. Sixteen female fibromyalgia patients completed a ten week multidisciplinary program, consisting of a cognitive and an exercise part. After ten weeks a reduction in general pain intensity (p<0.05) was found. At six months follow-up sensory (somatic) pain intensity was reduced compared to baseline recordings (p=0.05). All patients had made adjustments to their everyday life after ten weeks. Eight patients reported that they regularly practised relaxation techniques, and seven patients had undertaken dietary changes. Thus, the study shows that adjustment of activities in daily living may reduce pain in patients with fibromyalgia. Controlled studies are needed in the future.     

The influence of extra-umbilical serotonin, PGE2 and PGF2 alpha on prostanoid production in human umbilical arteries

The influence of extra-umbilical applications of serotonin and prostaglandins PGE2 and PGF2 alpha on the endogenous production of prostacyclin and thromboxane in human umbilical arteries was registered during in vitro perfusion by use of specific radio-immunoassays. PGE2 and PGF2 alpha caused significant dose-dependent increases in the production of prostacyclin, but no specific alterations in that of thromboxane. Serotonin did not lead to any changes in the prostanoid formation. The results provide indirect support for the assumption that prostanoids synthesized in the vessel wall, predominantly in the endothelial cells, serve as mediators in the action of autacoids on vascular smooth muscle tension.     

Palatine and mandibular tori. A morphologic study in the current Norwegian population.

Five thousand Norwegians, 2783 females and 2217 males, ranging in age from 16 to 89 years, have been screened for the presence of torus palatinus and/or torus mandibularis and analyzed with regard to size and shape of tori, sex, and age. The tori have been classified according to size as small, medium, and large. No measurements have been made, consistent with the view that these characteristics are non-metrical and should be assessed by means of a standard procedure. The prevalence figures of both tori were fairly low, in accordance with former reports. In torus palatinus there was female predominance, with a sex ratio of 5:3. In torus mandibularis the males were in majority, and the sex proportion was 4:3. In both sexes prevalence of the two tori was highest in the 35- to 65-year age group. Further analysis indicated in both tori a real correlation between prevalence and size and some correlation also between size and shape of torus palatinus but not of torus mandibularis. The figures of concurrence of the two tori were low, denoting a non-significant correlation. Still, the analysis showed that each torus occurred more than twice as frequently in an individual bearing the other torus. Torus morphoanalysis, explaining diverging patterns of clinical conduct in the two tori, and the relative weight of hereditary versus environmental factors as morphogenetic determinants of the condition, including a quasi-continuous genetic or threshold model, have contributed to shed new light on the torus phenomenon. The occurrence and propagation of torus mandibularis complies reasonably well with this model, and the present analysis indicates that even torus palatinus should appropriately be considered a threshold character.     

Congenital absence of the pericardium associated with congenital diaphragmatic hernia and hepatic hemangioendothelioma: case report and review of the literature

An unusual case of a neonate with absent pericardium, left-sided diaphragmatic hernia, and hepatic hemangioendothelioma is described. The posterolateral diaphragmatic hernia was successfully repaired, and agenesis of the pericardium did not interfere with cardiac function postoperatively. The hepatic tumour was a coincidental radiological finding, while liver function and the biochemical profile were normal. We also present a review of the literature on congenital absence of the pericardium and conclude that all cases should be screened for cardiac and hepatic anomalies.     

Linkage between cryptorchidism, hypospadias, and GGN repeat length in the androgen receptor gene

Although sufficient androgen receptor (AR) function is crucial for normal male sexual differentiation, single-point mutations in the AR gene are infrequent in the two most common male congenital malformations, hypospadias and cryptorchidism. Because polymorphic CAG and GGN segments regulate AR function, we investigated whether there was any association between these polymorphisms and mentioned malformations. Genotyping was performed by direct sequencing of DNA from patients diagnosed with hypospadias (n = 51) and cryptorchidism (n = 23) and controls (n = 210). The subjects with hypospadias were divided into subgroups of glanular, penile, and penoscrotal hypospadias. Median GGN lengths were significantly higher (24 vs. 23) among both subjects with cryptorchidism, compared with controls (P = 0.001), and those with penile hypospadias, compared with either controls (P = 0.003) or glanular and penoscrotal hypospadias combined (P = 0.018). The frequency of cases with GGN 24 or more vs. GGN = 23, differed significantly among those with cryptorchidism (65/35%), compared with controls (31/54%) (P = 0.012), and among subjects with penile hypospadias (69/31%), compared with either controls (P = 0.035) or glanular or penoscrotal hypospadias combined (32/55%) (P = 0.056). There were no significant differences in CAG lengths between the cases and controls. Our findings indicate an association between GGN length and the risk of cryptorchidism and penile hypospadias, both conditions considered consequences of low androgenicity.     

Which factors influence the number of gemeprost pessaries used in inducing second-trimester abortions?

BACKGROUND: The course of second-trimester abortions with the intention to use gemeprost as the only abortifacient is described. METHODS: The report is based on 278 consecutive second-trimester abortions, excluding missed abortions, during a 12-year period in a tertiary referral center. The women were treated with 1 mg gemeprost pessaries every fourth hour with a maximum of five applications during 24 h. If abortion had not occurred, a new treatment of gemeprost was prescribed after an interval of 12 h. RESULTS: The median number of gemeprost pessaries used was 4 (range 1-16) and the mean number (+/-SD) 4.09 (+/-1.90). Abortion occurred within 24 h in 78% of the women and within 48 h in 96%. The efficiency of gemeprost was highly dependent on previous vaginal deliveries (p<0.001), with a mean number of applications of 4.63 (+/-2.04), 3.93 (+/-1.74), and 3.13 (+/-1.26) in those with none, one, and two or more previous vaginal deliveries, respectively. Previous spontaneous abortions were associated with a lower number of applications. Including previous vaginal deliveries and spontaneous abortions in a two-way analysis of variance (anova), only the number of spontaneous abortions was marginally significant (p=0.05). After excluding four patients with three or more spontaneous abortions from the analysis, the number of previous vaginal deliveries was significant (p=0.010) whereas that of spontaneous abortions became nonsignificant. Postprocedure complications were reported in 13% of the women. CONCLUSION: The course of the abortions was dependent on previous vaginal deliveries and spontaneous abortions.     

Tooth hypersensitivity after periodontal treatment

Sensitive teeth after periodontal treatment are a rather common finding. Therefore, it has been questioned whether all the cementum on the root surfaces ought to be removed during periodontal therapy, since the sensitivity is caused by exposure of the dentin. Usually, the hypersensitivity represents a minor problem and will decrease or disappear with time. However, the following case demonstrates that repeated instrumentation of periodontally involved teeth can lead to an extreme degree of hypersensitivity.