Blue-field entoptic simulation in exfoliation syndrome and exfoliation glaucoma

This study investigated whether retinal capillary circulation in the macula is affected in exfoliation glaucoma and whether such changes can be detected in exfoliation syndrome without glaucoma. Blue-field entoptic simulation (measurement of macular capillary leukocyte velocity and density) was performed in 2 groups: 10 subjects with unilateral exfoliation glaucoma and 11 subjects with unilateral normotensive exfoliation syndrome. Macular capillary leukocyte velocity was reduced in exfoliation glaucoma but not in normotensive exfoliation syndrome.     

Pharmacokinetics of finrozole (MPV-2213ad), a novel selective aromatase inhibitor, in healthy men

AIMS: To investigate the pharmacokinetics of finrozole (MPV-2213ad), a novel competitive aromatase enzyme inhibitor, in healthy male volunteers. METHODS: The study was an open, partly randomized cross-over study including 23 volunteers receiving single doses of 3, 9 mg or 30 mg of finrozole as tablets or solution with 14 days between the administrations. The highest dose was given as tablets only. Serum concentrations of finrozole were determined using high performance liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometry. RESULTS: The mean time to peak serum concentration ranged from 2.5 to 3.1, and 0.6-0.7 h after tablets and solution, respectively. The Cmax values increased as the dose increased. The calculated apparent mean elimination half-life (t(1/2,z)) was approximately 3 h after the solution, and approximately 8 h after the tablet. The AUC(0,infinity) after finrozole tablets increased proportionally from 3 mg to 9 mg and from 3 to 30 mg. The calculated relative mean bioavailabilities (AUC(0,infinity)-ratio) for the 3 mg and 9 mg doses of finrozole as tablets were 89% and 78%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The absorption of finrozole from the tablet formulation was relatively rapid, and the apparent elimination half-life was longer after the tablet than after the solution, probably reflecting overlap of the absorption with the elimination phase.     

Clinical and Subclinical Autoimmune Thyroid Disease in Adult Celiac Disease

Our aim was to investigate the occurrence of clinical and subclinical autoimmune thyroid disease in 79 patients with celiac disease as reflected in thyroid function, antibodies, and ultrasound. Since subclinical thyroid diseases are common in the population, 184 nonceliac controls were also studied. Normal thyroid function combined with positive antibodies and marked hypoechogenicity was considered subclinical disease. Autoimmune thyroid disease was observed in 13.9% of celiac patients and in 2.1% of controls (P = 0.0005); and subclinical disease in 10.1% and 3.3%, respectively (P = 0.048). The mean thyroid gland volume was 8.3 ml in celiac patients and 10.4 ml in controls (P = 0.007). Hypoechogenicity was found in 73% of celiac patients and in 42% of controls (P < 0.0001). Positive thyroid antibodies were associated with hypoechogenicity in celiac patients but not in controls. In conclusion, the occurrence of both clinical and subclinical autoimmune thyroid disease was increased in celiac disease; subclinical thyroid disease indicates regular surveillance.     

Morphometric analysis using automated image analysis of CD34-positive vessels in salivary gland acinic cell carcinoma

CONCLUSIONS: In computer-assisted analysis of acinic cell cancer (ACC) morphological characteristics of CD34 immunoreactivity were detected. Bigger vessel size, vessel irregularity, and lower intensity of CD34-positive vessel staining may indicate unfavorable prognosis. OBJECTIVES: Salivary gland cancer (SGC) is a morphologically diverse group of malignancies, the most common histological types being mucoepidermoid, adenoid cystic and ACC, which has the most favorable prognosis of the three. The aim of this research was to study the applicability of automated image analysis as prognostic criteria in ACC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a nationwide study covering SGC patients in Finland during 1991-1996, 34 patients with ACC (15 males, 19 females, aged 19-95 years, mean 55 years) were included. Parameters were measured from CD34-stained samples. RESULTS: In all, 10 385 vessels were measured, of which 9873 were from specimens from patients who were alive 5 years after treatment (n=32, group I) and 512 were from patients who died of disease (n=2, group II). The following results were found in group II versus group I: mean vessel size 469 microm vs 272 microm (p=0.024); vessel irregularity 28.3 microm vs 22.3 microm (p<0.001); CD34 staining intensity 0.555 microm vs 0.584 microm (p=0.024).     

Acute heavy‐resistance exercise–induced pain and neuromuscular fatigue in elderly women with fibromyalgia and in healthy controls: Effects of strength training

Objective

To examine heavy‐resistance exercise–induced acute neuromuscular fatigue, blood lactate concentration, and muscle pain in elderly women with fibromyalgia (FM) and in healthy controls before and after a period of strength training.

Methods

Thirteen elderly women with FM (mean ± SD age 60 ± 2 years) and 10 healthy women (mean ± SD age 64 ± 3 years) performed a heavy‐resistance fatiguing protocol (5 sets of leg presses with 10 repetitions maximum) before and after a 21‐week strength training period. Maximal isometric force and electromyography (EMG) activity of leg extensors and blood lactate concentration were measured during the loading. Pain was assessed by visual analog scale.

Results

The strength training led to large increases in maximal force and EMG activity of the muscles and contributed to the improvement in loading performance (average load/set) at week 21. The fatiguing loading sessions typically applied in strength training before and after the experimental period caused remarkable and comparable acute decreases in maximal force and increases in blood lactate concentration in both groups. Acute exercise‐induced muscle pain increased similarly in both groups, and the pain level in women with FM was lowered after the 21‐week training period.

Conclusion

The increased strength in women with FM improved high‐load performance and also seemed to attenuate perceived pain. Acute exercise‐induced neuromuscular changes and the time course of muscle pain in women with FM were comparable with findings in healthy controls, which suggests a typical fatiguing process and a similar trainability of the muscles in elderly women with FM.

     

Effect of oxygen desaturation threshold on determination of OSA severity during weight loss

Purpose

Weight loss leads to improvement of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), based on frequency of respiratory events (apnea-hypopnea index, AHI). However, AHI does not incorporate the severity of individual obstruction events. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine suggests two alternative oxygen desaturation thresholds (ODT) for scoring of hypopneas. We hypothesize that lowering the ODT level increases the determined impact of weight loss on OSA severity. We investigate this during weight change with AHI and adjusted AHI. Adjusted AHI is a novel parameter incorporating both severity and number of the events.

Methods

Ambulatory polygraphic data of 54 OSA patients (F 15/M 39, 51.7?±?8.4 years), divided into weight loss (>5 %, n?=?20), control (weight change 0–5 %, n?=?26), and weight gain (>5 %, n?=?8) groups, were evaluated at baseline and after 5-year follow-up. Effect of ODT (ODT2%–ODT6%) on AHI and adjusted AHI was investigated.

Results

The greatest changes in AHI (decrease in weight loss group and increase in weight gain group) were observed with ODT2%. Changes in AHI diminished with increasing ODT. In weight loss group, adjusted AHI showed a similar but non-significant trend. In contrast, the higher ODT was used in weight gain group, the greater increase in adjusted AHI resulted. Using adjusted AHI instead of AHI, led to a smaller number of patients (20 vs. 55 %, ODT3%) whose OSA severity category improved along weight loss.

Conclusions

Weight loss significantly reduced AHI. This reduction was highly dependent on selected ODT. The change in adjusted AHI did not occur in the same extent. This was expected as the more severe events which tend to remain during the weight loss have greater importance in adjusted AHI, while the event severity is neglected in AHI.