The potential role of exercise in the alleviation of menstrual disorders and menopausal symptoms: a theoretical synthesis of recent research

Research in the last decade has advanced our understanding of menstrual disorders and menopause. Paralleling this research has been both a popular and a scholarly interest in the correlates and consequences of aerobic exercise. The purpose of this paper is to integrate these two domains on a theoretical and, when possible, an empirical level, and to discuss the potential benefits of exercise in the treatment of menstrual disorders and menopausal symptoms - specifically, dysmenorrhea, premenstrual syndrome, hot flashes, and osteoporosis.     

Psychological distress before and immediately after attendance at a male sub-fertility clinic.

Where treatment options are limited, the role of clinical consultation in providing information and support becomes more important. This study examines the immediate impact of medical consultation on male sub-fertility clinic attender's anxiety, depression, self-blame, information appraisal and perceptions of future fertility. Data were collected pre- and immediately post-consultation. Clinical information and consultation details were recorded. Results showed that anxiety levels were high before consultation. Following consultation anxiety and self-blame were both reduced while depression increased. Despite information about poor prognosis being given during consultation, participants remained overly optimistic about their chances of achieving a pregnancy. It appears that the consultation has a distinct psychological impact and possible mechanisms underlying this are discussed.     

Digital radiography of subtle pulmonary abnormalities: an ROC study of the effect of pixel size on observer performance

Forty conventional radiographs with examples of mild interstitial infiltrates and subtle pneumothoraces and 40 normal studies of the chest were selected and digitized, with pixel sizes of 1.0, 0.5, 0.2, and 0.1 mm. Observer performance tests were carried out using receiver operating characteristic analysis. Conventional radiographs and digitized images were compared. The results indicate that, in such cases, diagnostic accuracy increases significantly as the pixel size is reduced, at least to the 0.1-mm level. We conclude that, for digital systems using screen-film or similar image receptors, use of a pixel size substantially larger than 0.1 mm may result in some loss of diagnostic accuracy.     

Changes in metabolic rates and blood respiratory characteristics during pouch development of a marsupial, Macropus eugenii

Oxygen levels in the pouch of the tammar wallaby, Macropus eugenii, have been related to the metabolic rate of the young at pouch temperatures and the oxygen transport characteristics of its haemoglobin. Until 100 days of age, pouch young show mass-specific rates of oxygen consumption lower than predicted on the basis of body mass. This contrasts with data presented for laboratory mice. Oxygen levels in the pouch approximate atmospheric levels for the first 20 days and at times approaching pouch evacuation at 200 days. However, levels of around 17-18% occur at about the mid-point of pouch life. The oxygen-haemoglobin equilibrium curve shows a high P50 (up to 50 Torr at 36 degrees C) in the neonate, but after 2-3 weeks of age levels drop to those representative of the adult. Concentrations of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate in early pouch young are higher than in the adult animal and peak at around 30 mumol/g Hb. There is a significant decrease in the concentration of this compound with the age of the young.     

Ultrasound biomicroscopic features of spherophakia

Background: Spherophakia is an uncommon diagnosis. This is the first case report of spherophakia evaluated by ultrasound biomicroscopy.
Methods: Ultrasound biomicroscopy is a new diagnostic technique developed by one of the authors and provides images with microscopic resolution of the anterior segment. A patient with spherophakia was evaluated by ultrasound biomicroscopy (Zeiss-Humphrey, 50MHz) before and after YAG laser iridotomy.
Results: Ultrasound biomicroscopic assessment revealed a shallow anterior chamber, a very steep anterior lens curvature, iridolenticular contact, elongated zonules, and an increased distance between the lens equator and the ciliary processes. Angle closure glaucoma was due to a pupil block mechanism. The pupil block was relieved by YAG laser iridotomy.
Conclusions: Ultrasound biomicroscopy is a useful technique to confirm the diagnosis of spherophakia. The pupil block in spherophakia is relieved by YAG laser iridotomy.     

Effects of chelates and incubation media on platelet labeling with indium-111

We studied the effects of various [111In]chelates and incubation media on labeling efficiency (LE) and in vivo survival of platelets. High LE of human and rabbit platelets in plasma were obtained with [111In]tropolone and [111In]mercaptopyridine-N-oxide. Indium-111 oxine in plasma resulted in a moderate LE and required a longer incubation time, while [111In]oxine sulfate had low LE and inconsistent labeling. High LE for all forms of [111In]chelates were achieved in labeling media free of plasma. However, in vivo platelet survival in rabbits was markedly reduced when platelets were labeled in the absence of plasma.