Penile flow- and blood pressure index and the effective dose of intracavernous papaverine

A simple test to predict the outcome of intracavernous papaverine treatment would be helpful in the management of erectile dysfunction. Doppler studies of the flaccid penis were compared with the results of intracavernous injection of papaverine. There was no correlation between these two. Therefore Doppler studies of the flaccid penis are not appropriate to predict the effect of intracavernous injection.     

Serum lipids, apoproteins and nutrient intake in rural Cretan boys consuming high-olive-oil diets

A high intake of olive oil has produced high levels of high-density and low levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in short-term dietary trials. To investigate long-term effects of olive oil we have studied the diet and serum lipids of boys in Crete, where a high olive oil consumption is the norm. Seventy-six healthy rural Cretan boys aged 7-9 years were studied. The diet was assessed by a 2-day dietary recall. Blood was collected according to a standardized protocol and sera were analyzed in a rigidly standardized laboratory. The mean daily intake of energy was 11.0 MJ (2629 kcal). The intake of fat (45.0% of energy) and oleic acid (27.2% of energy) was high, and that of saturated fat low (10.0% of energy), reflecting a high consumption of olive oil. The high consumption of olive oil was confirmed by a high proportion of oleic-acid (27.1%) in serum cholesteryl fatty acids. Mean concentration of serum total cholesterol was 4.42 mmol l-1 (171 mg dl-1), of HDL-cholesterol 1.40 mmol l-1 (54 mg dl-1), of serum triglycerides 0.59 mmol l-1 (52 mg dl-1), of apo-AI 1210 mg l-1 and of LDL apo-B 798 mg l-1. The body mass index of the Cretan boys (18.2 kg m-2) was on average 2 kg m-2 higher than that of boys from other countries. Contrary to our expectation, the Cretan boys did not show a more favourable serum lipoprotein pattern than boys from more westernized countries studied previously using the same protocol. Our hypothesis that a typical, olive-oil-rich Cretan diet causes a relatively high HDL- to total cholesterol ratio is not supported by the present findings.     

Effects of dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids from plant and marine origin on platelet aggregation in healthy elderly subjects

In the present intervention study we compared the effects of alpha-linolenic acid with those of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on platelet aggregation in vitro and ex vivo in healthy non-institutionalized elderly subjects. We also compared the effects of alpha-linolenic acid on platelet aggregation in elderly subjects with those in younger volunteers. During a run-in period of 3 weeks all subjects (thirty-eight elderly (> 60 years) and twelve younger volunteers (< 35 years)) received a diet rich in oleic acid. For the next 6 weeks the elderly subjects received a diet rich in oleic acid (n 11), alpha-linolenic acid (n 14) (6.8 g/d) or EPA/DHA (n 13) (1.05 g EPA plus 0.55 g DHA). The younger subjects were given a diet rich in alpha-linolenic acid. The diets did not affect ADP- or collagen-induced platelet aggregation in vitro in either platelet-rich plasma or whole blood. The ex vivo platelet aggregation as measured with filtragometry was significantly decreased in the elderly group that received EPA/DHA compared with the alpha-linolenic acid (P = 0.006) and the oleic acid (P = 0.005) diet groups. Effects of alpha-linolenic acid were not age-dependent. Our results suggest that alpha-linolenic acid and EPA/DHA do not change in vitro platelet aggregation. Compared with oleic acid, EPA/DHA, but not alpha-linolenic acid, favourably affects ex vivo platelet aggregation in healthy elderly subjects.     

Prostate-specific antigen as a tumor marker of prostate carcinoma]

Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is currently the tumour marker of choice for prostatic carcinoma. Various indices of PSA have been developed in an attempt to refine its sensitivity and improve its clinical value. These include the ratio of serum PSA level and prostate volume, the rate of change of the PSA level with time, age-referenced PSA, and the proportion of free PSA in serum relative to total PSA (free to total PSA ratio). The free to total PSA ratio is lower in patients with prostate cancer than in those with elevated PSA levels due to benign prostatic hyperplasia.     

Fournier's gangrene

Fournier's gangrene is a rapidly progressive, necrotizing fasciitis of the perineal, genital or perianal regions. Despite increasing knowledge about aetiology, diagnostic procedures and treatment, the gangrene is still a destructive and potentially lethal disease. In two patients, men aged 54 and 63 years, Fournier's gangrene was diagnosed. The first one died of septic shock 12 hours after admission. Surgical débridement had been performed immediately. He had a latent promyelocytic leukaemia. The second patient recovered fully after extensive surgical and antimicrobial therapy. Fournier's gangrene appears to be caused by the synergistic pathogenic action of various individually non-pathogenic commensal bacteria. Virtually all patients have an underlying systemic disorder, mainly chronic alcoholism or diabetes mellitus. Immunosupression is a predisposing factor. The gangrene requires an aggressive approach, treatment being based on the combination of haemodynamic stabilisation, antibiotic triple therapy and radical surgical débridement.     

Benefits of leisure-time physical activity on the cardiovascular risk profile at older age.

BACKGROUND: Intensity, frequency and duration of physical activity may contribute in different ways to the maintenance of cardiovascular health. Their relative importance may also change at different stages in life and this should be taken into account for activity recommendations. METHODS: The relationship of frequency and duration of leisure-time physical activities with cardiovascular risk factors was studied in 4942 male and 5885 female participants aged 50-69, of the German Cardiovascular Prevention Study (1984-1991). RESULTS: After adjustment for several possible confounders, women with modest levels (2-12 times per month, 0.5-2 h per week) of moderate-to-vigorous activity (> or =5 kcal/kg/h) had significantly lower systolic blood pressure (-1.8%), resting heart rate (-3.1%) and body mass index (-3.2%) values than sedentary women. Beneficial differences increased with frequency and duration of activity. Light activities (3-4.5 kcal/kg/h), conducted > or =5 times a week, were significantly associated with favourable lower diastolic blood pressure (-1.4%), resting heart rate (-2.3%) among women, and body mass index (women -2.9%, men -2.2%) among both genders. Recommended activity levels (> or =5 times, > or =3.5 h weekly) were associated with a lower prevalence of multiple risk factors (odds ratio [OR] = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.41-0.75 for men and OR = 0.44 95% CI: 0.31-0.63 for women). CONCLUSIONS: For sedentary elderly, even less physical activity than currently recommended, is likely to improve the cardiovascular risk profile.     

Growth of Pakistani children in relation to the 1990 growth standards

This study was designed to compare the growth of Pakistani schoolchildren in the UK with the 1990 UK growth standards. Measurements of height, weight, and sitting height were performed on 785 Pakistani schoolchildren aged 5-14 years with the mean values for each age and sex being plotted on the UK growth standards. The results were expressed as SD scores relative to the 1990 reference data. The mean height for the boys was only 0.2 SD scores below the mean for the new growth standards with the mean height for the girls being 0.4 SD scores below the mean. The mean values for weight and body mass index were 0.3 and 0.5 SD scores less than the mean for boys and girls respectively. This study demonstrates that the growth of Pakistani schoolchildren in the UK is comparable to the 1990 UK growth standards with only minor differences. It is not safe to assume that short stature or low body weight in a Pakistani child is due to his or her ethnic background.