Testosterone increases serum 1,25–dihydroxyvitamin D and insulin-like growth factor-I in hypogonadal men

The short-term metabolic effects of testosterone treatment on circulating levels of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) were studied in 13 hypogonadal men. The study group included 11 men with Klinefelter's syndrome, with varying degree of androgen deficiency, and two men with secondary hypogonadism. Pretreatment levels of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, vitamin D-binding protein and IGF-binding protein-I were all within the normal range. The levels of IGF-I were lower than normal in 5/11 of the Klinefelter patients and in one patient with GH-deficiency. Testosterone treatment increased circulating total 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D significantly from 75 +/- 4 pmol l-1 (mean +/- SEM) to 86 +/- 4 (P less than 0.01) and the free 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-index from 1.95 +/- 0.11 to 2.39 +/- 0.12 (P less than 0.01). Serum levels of IGF-I increased from 117 +/- 22 micrograms/l to 143 +/- 23 (P less than 0.01) during androgen treatment. No significant effects on levels of IGF-binding protein-I were seen. It is concluded that androgen therapy increases the availability of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and the level of IGF-I, which may be important links in the action of testosterone.     

Deleterious effects of low-dose oestrogen theraphy on coronary status in patients with prostatic cancer

The effects of oestrogen therapy and of orchidectomy on coronarystauts, as reflected by exercise ECG-testing before and afteryear of tretment, were assessed in a randomized study of patients(N=100) prostatic cancer. Oestrogen was given as polyestradiolphosphate 80 mg i.m. per month in combination with 150 µgor in pre-traetment exercise test results Twelve months afterstart of therapy the oestrogen group showed a significantlygreater depression of the ST-segment during maximal exercisein leads CH₂ (P<0.0005) and CH⁵)P<0.01) compared withthe pre-treatment depression. Twenty-five per cent (N=13) ofthe patients in the oestrogen group suffered cardiovascularcomplications during the yera the of therapy, whereas no suchcomplications were observed in the orchidectomy group. However,even the patients in the oestrogen group who had not sufferedcardiovascular complications had significantly greater depressionsof the ST-segment during exercise both in lead CH₂ (P<0.0005)and in CH₅ (P<0.05). There was no significant change in theST-segment level in the orchidectomy group twelve months aftersurgery. In summary, we found of an induction of myocardialishaemia during treatment with exogenous oestrogens at low dosagein patients with prostatic. This deleterious effect of oestrogenon the coronary status argues against oestrogen therapy, sinceoedtrogen has not been shown to be more beneficial than orhidectomyagainst prostatic carcinoma.     

Job stress, absenteeism and coronary heart disease European cooperative study (the JACE study): Design of a multicentre prospective study

Background: The motives, objectives and design of a multicentreprospective study on job stress, absenteeism and coronary heartdisease in Europe (the JACE study) is presented in this paper.Some specific gaps in the reviewed literature are explicitlytapped into by the JACE study. Its objectives are i) to comparethe distributions of the Karasek job stress scales for the samebroad categories of occupations in different European countries(in males and females), ii) to study the predictive power ofthe job stress scales and the job strain model for one yearof sickness absence (in males and females) and iii) to studythe predictive power of the job stress scales and the job strainmodel for a three year incidence of coronary heart disease (Inmales only). Methods: In answering these questions, relationsare studied controlling for gender, age, level of education,company size, physical work risks and shift work, as well astraditional risk factors for CHD (i.e serum cholesterol, serumHDL cholesterol, smoking habits and blood pressure). The JACEstudy is a Biomed 1 concerted action. The JACE group consistsof eight participating centres from six countries, i.e. fromBelgium and Sweden (two centres), France, Italy, Spain, Swedenand The Netherlands (each one centre). The coordination of thegroup is in Brussels. The participating centres brought in over15, 000 European workers to test the hypotheses.     

Specialist paediatric dentistry in Sweden 2008 – a 25‐year perspective

International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 2010; 20: 313–321 Background. Paediatric dentistry in Sweden has been surveyed four times over the past 25 years. During this period postgraduate training, dental health, and the organization of child dental care have changed considerably. Aim. To investigate services provided by specialists in paediatric dentistry in Sweden in 2008, and to compare with data from previous surveys. Design. The same questionnaire was sent to all 30 specialist paediatric dental clinics in Sweden that had been used in previous surveys. Comparisons were made with data from 1983, 1989, 1996 and 2003. Results. Despite an unchanged number of specialists (N = 81 in 2008), the number of referrals had increased by 16% since 2003 and by almost 50% since 1983. There was greater variation in reasons for referrals. The main reason was still dental anxiety/behaviour management problems in combination with dental treatment needs (27%), followed by medical conditions/disability (18%), and high caries activity (15%). The use of different techniques for conscious sedation as well as general anaesthesia had also increased. Conclusions. The referrals to paediatric dentistry continue to increase, leading to a heavy work load for the same number of specialists. Thus, the need for more paediatric dentists remains.     

Torsion of accessory fallopian tube: Ultrasound findings in two premenarchal girls

The ultrasound findings of two cases of fallopian tube duplication, both of which had undergone torsion, are described. Two premenarchal girls were examined with ultrasound because of clinical evidence of pelvic pathology. Both were found to have complex cystic structures that on surgery and subsequent pathological examination were shown to be twisted accessory fallopian tubes. Accessory fallopian tubes have been reported to occur in 6–13% of selected patient groups. To our knowledge, torsion of an accessory tube has not been reported in the literature.     

MEASLES VACCINATION

Children immunized with 4 doses of formalin-killed (FK) whole virus vaccine containing adjuvant and aqueous, purified hemagglutinin prepared from Tween-ether (TE) treated material in different combinations have been followed serologically and clinically during a period of 3 to 4 years after the last dose of vaccine. The average decline in HI antibody titers was about 10-fold during this period of time, except in children who had received 4 doses of TE vaccine. The latter group displayed about a 40-fold decrease in titers. Four out of 10 children exposed to cases of regular measles displayed clinical symptoms of varying degrees of severity. Two more children responded with a rise in HI antibody titer only. All these reactions occurred in children with a pre-exposure HI serum titer of 160 or higher. A case of pneumonia was encountered in connection with exposure to wild virus in a child who had received only 2 doses of FK vaccine.