Effects of hormonal replacement therapy on plasma sex hormone-binding globulin, androgen and insulin-like growth factor-1 levels in postmenopausal women

Plasma sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels are important in the regulation of plasma free and albumin-bound androgens and estrogens. In postmenopausal women associated to the decrease of estrogen production, a decrease of plasma SHBG levels occurs. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in postmenopausal women modulates plasma SHBG levels, in relationship with the different regimens and routes of administration. The present study aimed to compare the effect of different HRT on plasma SHBG levels in relationship with the changes of plasma androgen [dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS), testosterone (T), androstenedione (A)] and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels. In a retrospective study 443 postmenopausal women were studied and divided into 2 groups. The group 1 (n = 170) was subdivided in 4 groups of women as follows: A) treated with transdermal 17-beta estradiol + medroxyprogesterone acetate, B) treated with oral conjugated estrogens, C) treated with sequential HRT (estradiol valerate (EV) + norgestrel), and D) treated with a combined HRT (micronized estradiol (E2) + noretisterone acetate). Women of group 2 (n = 273) did not receive HRT and served as controls. All groups of women treated with different HRT showed plasma estradiol levels significantly higher than controls (p < 0.01), showing the highest values in women treated with oral HRT. Plasma SHBG levels were not significantly different between patients treated with transdermal 17-beta estradiol + medroxyprogesterone acetate and controls. On the other hand, all the groups of patients treated with oral conjugated estrogen with or without progestagens showed plasma SHBG levels significantly higher than controls (p < 0.01). Plasma SHBG levels were higher in the group treated with estrogen alone than in groups of women treated with sequential or combined HRT. Plasma DHEAS, T and A levels in patients treated with different HRT regimens were in the same range of levels as control women. Plasma IGF-1 levels were not significantly affected by the various HRT regimens and remained in the same range as controls. In conclusion, plasma SHBG levels increase following oral HRT while are not affected by transdermal HRT. Plasma IGF-1 and androgen levels are not influenced from oral or transdermal HRT.     

Rifampicin for ulcerative colitis

The public health approach to injury control is now widely accepted. Since the development of this approach, there has been a shift in the perspective of public health programs to include broader definitions of health. There have also been increasing efforts to evaluate public health interventions in terms of health outcomes at the population level. In this context, it might be appropriate to broaden the focus of injury prevention to target more specifically injuries that are not life-threatening. Although they are not responsible for major morbidity at an individual level, they probably account for the greatest decrement in the health of the population as a whole.     

Installations for production of polypropylene fibre

Translated from Khimicheskie Volokna, No. 4, pp. 66–67, July–August, 1994.     

Temporal overlap in the linguistic processing of successive words in reading: Reply to Pollatsek, Reichle, and Rayner (2006a).

A. Pollatsek, E. D. Reichle, and K. Rayner (see record 2006-22004-014) argue that the critical findings in A. W. Inhoff, B. M. Eiter, and R. Radach (see record 2005-13471-012) are in general agreement with core assumptions of sequential attention shift models if additional assumptions and facts are considered. The current authors critically discuss the hypothesized time line of processing and indicate that the success of Pollatsek et al.'s simulation is predicated on a gross underestimation of the pretarget word's viewing duration in Inhoff et al. and that the actual data are difficult to reconcile with the strictly serial attention shift assumption. The authors also discuss attention shifting and saccade programming assumptions in the E-Z Reader model and conclude that these are not in harmony with research in related domains of study. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Low-temperature MBE-grown In/sub 0.52/Ga/sub 0.18/Al/sub 0.30/As/InP optical waveguides

The MBE growth of In/sub 0.52/Ga/sub 0.18/Al/sub 0.30/As ( lambda /sub g/=1.06 mu m) layers in the temperature range of 400-450 degrees C was demonstrated to give high-quality optical waveguides which not only exhibit low propagation losses as low as 0.5 dB/cm at lambda =1.55 mu m but concomitantly high resistivity of >10/sup 4/ Omega cm. The refractive index of In/sub 0.52/Ga/sub 0.18/Al/sub 0.30/As was estimated to be 3.207+or-0.03 at lambda =1.55 mu m.<>     

An active mode-locked Q-switched oscillator using Nd3+doped glass as the active medium

Based on the understanding of mode-locking dynamics in homogeneously broadened media, active mode-lockedQ-switched YAG and YLF oscillators have emerged as the preferred source of highly controllable, reproducible, and synchronizable mode-locked pulses. This paper describes the modification of such a system for use with glass as the active medium. The emphasis is on measurements determining the mode-locking behavior of this laser.     

Local ice application in therapy of kinetic limb ataxia. Clinical assessment of positive treatment effects in patients with multiple sclerosis

Upper limb ataxia is one of the most disabling symptoms of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). There are some clinically tested therapeutic strategies, especially with regard to cerebellar tremor. But most of the methods used for treatment of limb ataxia in physiotherapy and occupational therapy are not systematically evaluated, e.g. the effect of local ice applications, as reported by MS patients and therapists, respectively. We investigated 21 MS patients before and in several steps 1 up to 45 min after cooling the most affected forearm. We used a series of 6 tests, including parts of neurological status and activities of daily living as well. At each step skin temperature and nerve conduction velocity were recorded. All tests were documented by video for later offline analysis. Standardized evaluation was done by the investigators and separately by an independent second team, both of them using numeric scales for quality of performance. After local cooling all patients showed a positive effect, especially a reduction of intentional tremor. In most cases this effect lasted 45 min, in some patients even longer. We presume that a decrease in the proprioceptive afferent inflow-induced by cooling-may be the probable cause of this reduction of cerebellar tremor. Patients can use ice applications as a method of treating themselves when a short-time reduction of intention tremor is required, e.g. for typing, signing or self-catheterization.