Mental health in the population approaching retirement age. Preliminary findings of the TURVA project

The present paper deals with a Finnish long-term prospective study, the objective of which is to shed light on adjustment to retirement and old age. In this phase, only the preliminary findings of the initial survey carried out in 1982 are available. For the purposes of the study, a random sample of 200 individuals was drawn from among Turku inhabitants born in 1920. Another sample, consisting of 189 persons of the same age, was drawn from rural municipalities in the neighborhood of Turku. An extensive structured psychosocial interview could be conducted with a total of 339 subjects. The research methods used included e.g. the 36-item version of Goldberg's General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). Relatively little mental disturbance was revealed in the interview, and no major differences occurred between the urban and the rural sample. Somewhat over one-third of both samples were probable psychiatric cases as defined according to the GHQ.     

Radiation dose reduction during hysterosalpingography: an application of scanning-beam digital radiography

Hysterosalpingography was performed in 31 patients by means of a low-dose scanning-beam digital radiographic system. The technique permits adequate evaluation of gynecologic abnormalities while allowing significant reduction in radiation: 2.4-mR (6.1 X 10(-7) C/kg) exposure to the skin and 0.7-mrad (7 X 10(-6) Gy) mean dose to the ovaries per image obtained. Sixteen patients demonstrated readily recognizable and documented abnormalities, corroborated by laparoscopy, laparotomy, or other supportive evidence.     

Dietary Xylitol Retards the Ovariectomy-Induced Increase of Bone Turnover in Rats

The effects of 10% dietary xylitol supplementation in ovariectomized rats were studied on the degradation of bone organic and inorganic structures. The osseal concentrations of hydroxyproline, pyridinoline, and deoxypyridinoline were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Bone resorption was measured in [³H]tetracycline-prelabeled rats by urinary excretion of ³H, and by the amount of ³H preserved in bone. Bone trabeculation was measured by a computer image analyzer from sections stained by the method of von Kossa. The amount of collagen in bone organic fraction was lower in ovariectomized rats as compared with the sham-operated controls. This most likely is partly a consequence of an increased resorption, and partly a consequence of a higher proportion of immature periosteal bone in the ovariectomized animals, leading to a higher ratio of noncollagenous protein to collagen. The number of pyridinium crosslinks was lower in proportion, indicating no selective changes in the structure of collagen. Dietary xylitol significantly retarded the ovariectomy-associated decrease in the relative amount of collagen and the number of its mature crosslinks. Ovariectomy doubled the excretion of ³H and caused a significant decrease in the amount of ³H preserved in bone; both these changes were significantly retarded by the 10% dietary xylitol supplementation. Ovariectomy significantly decreased the volume of bone trabeculae, but this effect was also significantly inhibited by the xylitol supplementation in the diet. In conclusion, these findings suggest a dietary xylitol-induced normalizing effect on the rate of bone turnover in ovariectomized rats. Received: 12 February 1996 / Accepted: 20 August 1996     

Intrascrotal adenomatoid tumors

Adenomatoid tumors are regarded as uncommon neoplasms of the paratesticular tissues, probably of mesothelial origin. The majority of cases reported have involved the epididymis. We report our experience with 8 cases of testicular tumors and 11 of epididymal adenomatoid tumors during a 13-year period, and review the relevant literature. The incidence of adenomatoid tumors relative to all tumors in the testis was 6.9% (8 of 116), exceeding that of Leydig cell tumors, which were previously believed to be the most common benign testicular neoplasms. The adenomatoid tumors included 38% epididymal tumors (11 of 29). The clinical course of the tumors was benign, without recurrences. Local excision is regarded as the treatment of choice for epididymal and testicular adenomatoid tumors.     

The growth of Salmonella in rumen fluid from cattle at slaughter

The pH of the rument contents of cattle was recorded at slaughter; pH ranged from 5.5 to 7.8 and was not correlated with the period from saleyard to slaughter. Volatile fatty acids (VFA) were measured in 43 rumen samples; acetic, propionic and butyric were the major acids present, and the total VFA ranged from 75.9 mM/l for samples between pH 6-7, to 7.1 mM/l for samples of pH 8-9. Ten Salmonella strains belonging to 8 serotypes were grown in these 43 rumen samples. Where acid levels of these samples were high and pH low, most Salmonella sp. were inhibited; as the pH rose (pH 7-8) all Salmonella serotypes grew, some vigorously; as the total acid declined and pH continued to rise, growth of salmonella ceased. Serotypes and strains of the same serotype differed in their ability to grow in rumen contents, particularly when the pH was low.