Objective Measurement of Ball-Handling Proficiency in Wheelchair Sports: A Systematic Review.

Background: In Paralympic sports, classification of athletes based on the impact of impairments on the ability to perform is needed, to prevent a one-sided and predictable outcome of the competition in which the least impaired athlete has the best chance to win. Classification is developing from expert opinion based to evidence based. In wheelchair court sports, there is evidence to support the impact of impairment on wheeled mobility, but not on ball handling.

Real-Time Sensing with Multiplexed Optomechanical Resonators.

Nanoelectromechanical resonators have been successfully used for a variety of sensing applications. Their extreme resolution comes from their small size, which strongly limits their capture area. This leads to a long analysis time and the requirement for large sample quantity.

Water Loss from Protonated XxxSer and XxxThr Dipeptides Gives Oxazoline-Not Oxazolone-Product Ions.

Neutral loss of water and ammonia are often significant fragmentation channels upon collisional activation of protonated peptides. Here, we deploy infrared ion spectroscopy to investigate the dehydration reactions of protonated AlaSer, AlaThr, GlySer, GlyThr, PheSer, PheThr, ProSer, ProThr, AsnSer, and AsnThr, focusing on the question of the structure of the resulting [M + H - HO] fragment ion and the site from which HO is expelled. In all cases, the second residue of the selected peptides contains a hydroxyl moiety, so that HO loss can potentially occur from this side-chain, as an alternative to loss from the C-terminal free acid of the dipeptide.

A Systematic Review Comparing Experimental Design of Animal and Human Methotrexate Efficacy Studies for Rheumatoid Arthritis: Lessons for the Translational Value of Animal Studies.

Increased awareness and understanding of current practices in translational research is required for informed decision making in drug development. This paper describes a systematic review of methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis, comparing trial design between 147 animal and 512 human studies. Animal studies generally included fewer subjects than human studies, and less frequently reported randomisation and blinding.

Effects of long-term oral testosterone undecanoate therapy on urinary symptoms: data from a 1-year, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging trial in aging men with symptomatic hypogonadism.

Background: There has been a longstanding question as to whether testosterone therapy could precipitate or worsen urinary symptoms in aging men. We investigated the effects of 1-year oral testosterone undecanoate (TU) therapy on urinary symptoms in aging, hypogonadal men.

Methods: A total of 322 men ≥50 years with symptomatic testosterone deficiency participated in a 1-year, randomized, multicenter, double-blind trial.

[A woman with periorbital swelling].

A 43-year-old woman consulted the otolaryngologist. She had swollen eyelids and crepitus around the left eye. A CT-scan revealed a defect of the orbital lamina of the ethmoid bone ('lamina papyracea'), and an air accumulation in the left orbital cavity.

Effects of oral testosterone undecanoate therapy on bone mineral density and body composition in 322 aging men with symptomatic testosterone deficiency: a 1-year, randomized, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging study.

Objective: We investigated the effects of oral testosterone undecanoate (TU) on bone mineral density (BMD), lean body mass (LBM) and body fat mass (BFM) in aging men with symptomatic testosterone deficiency (TD).

Methods: Three hundred twenty-two men ≥50 years with TD symptoms and calculated free testosterone <0.26 nmol/L participated in a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Resection of secondary pulmonary malignancies in head and neck cancer patients.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate a single institute's experience with resection of metachronous pulmonary malignancy in patients treated for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Methods: Sixty-three consecutive patients treated curatively for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma underwent surgical resection of malignant lung lesions. Survival was estimated and potential prognostic factors investigated.

Differential diagnosis of pulmonary carcinoma following head and neck cancer by genetic analysis.

Purpose: Patients with head and neck cancer often develop a lung tumor that can be diagnosed as distant metastasis (DM) or second primary tumor (SPT). In this study, we use TP53 mutation analysis for validation of an allelic loss marker panel and a decision algorithm for distinguishing between DM and SPT.

Experimental Design: Tumor pairs of 39 patients were analyzed for TP53 mutations, for patterns of allelic loss and immunohistochemical analysis of p53 expression.

Survival after surgical resection of pulmonary metastases and second primary squamous cell lung carcinomas in head and neck cancer.

Background: Patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are at risk for developing both pulmonary metastasis and second primary lung cancer (SPLC). The objective of this study was to determine survival characteristics of patients with pulmonary lesions after curative treatment for HNSCC.

Methods: Lung resection or biopsy specimens of 36 patients, curatively treated for HNSCC between 1978 and 2002, were defined as second primary squamous cell lung cancer or metastasis by loss of heterozygosity (LOH analysis).

The effect of food composition on serum testosterone levels after oral administration of Andriol Testocaps.

Objective: Andriol Testocaps is a new oral formulation of testosterone undecanoate (TU) for treatment of hypogonadism. As TU is taken up by the intestinal lymphatic system, both the presence and the composition of food influence the absorption. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of food composition on the pharmacokinetics of oral TU.

The psychological impact of annual chest X-ray follow-up in head and neck cancer.

Conclusion: Annual post-treatment screening of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients for second primary lung cancer and metastatic recurrence appeared to form no major burden for head and neck cancer patients. A majority of patients regard the annual chest X-ray as a reassurance. Given these results a more intensive screening program seems psychologically justifiable for this group.

Effects of nandrolone decanoate compared with placebo or testosterone on HIV-associated wasting.

Objectives Current research is unclear about the most effective pharmacological agents for managing the loss of weight and fat-free mass common in HIV/AIDS. The aim of this study was to compare nandrolone decanoate with placebo and testosterone. Methods The study was a multicentre randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

Pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma following head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: metastasis or second primary?

Purpose: To distinguish a metastasis from a second primary tumor in patients with a history of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and subsequent pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma.

Experimental Design: For 44 patients with a primary squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck followed by a squamous cell carcinoma of the lung, clinical data, histology, and analysis of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) were used to differentiate metastases from second primary tumors.

Results: Clinical evaluation suggested 38 patients with metastases and 6 with second primaries.

Pharmacokinetic evaluation of three different intramuscular doses of nandrolone decanoate: analysis of serum and urine samples in healthy men.

The pharmacokinetics of nandrolone in serum and urine were investigated in healthy young men after a single im injection of 50 mg (n = 20), 100 mg (n = 17), or 150 mg (n = 17) nandrolone decanoate. Blood samples were collected before treatment and for up to 32 d after dosing. In addition, in the 50- and 150-mg groups, 24-h urine samples were collected before treatment and on d 1, 7, and 33 after treatment; in the 150-mg group, additional samples were collected after 3 and 6 months.

[Cervical ranula].

Three patients, 2 men aged 21 and 39 years, respectively, and 1 woman aged 29 years, presented with a unilateral swelling of the neck, with no accompanying symptoms. In the youngest man the diagnosis of a 'plunging ranula' was made after repeated fine needle aspiration yielded viscous yellowish mucus with a high amylase content. In the oldest man the diagnosis was made during the operation and in the woman the diagnosis was finally made after two surgical explorations in the neck.

Normohomocysteinaemia and vitamin-treated hyperhomocysteinaemia are associated with similar risks of cardiovascular events in patients with premature peripheral arterial occlusive disease. A prospective cohort study.

Objectives: Mild hyperhomocysteinaemia (HHC), fasting or after methionine loading, is associated with an increased risk and severity of atherosclerotic vascular disease. Post-methionine and fasting HHC are responsive to treatment with vitamin B, and folic acid. We performed a prospective cohort study amongst normohomocysteinaemic and vitamin-treated (vitamin B6, 250 mg plus folic acid, 5 mg daily) hyperhomocysteinaemic patients with premature peripheral arterial occlusive disease and assessed the incidence of cardiovascular events.

Bioequivalence assessment of three different estradiol formulations in postmenopausal women in an open, randomized, single-dose, 3-way cross-over study.

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the bioavailability of estradiol (E2) following oral, single-dose administration of equimolar doses of three HRT preparations in a 3-way cross-over study in postmenopausal women.

Methods: 18 healthy subjects were enrolled. Free E2 and estrone (E1) serum concentrations were determined using commercially available immunoassay kits.

A pilot efficacy study with a single-rod contraceptive implant (Implanon) in 200 Indonesian women treated for < or = 4 years.

In this 4-year open-label, noncomparative, single-center pilot efficacy study, the contraceptive efficacy, safety, bleeding pattern and acceptability of Implanon was studied in 200 sexually active women of proven fertility in Indonesia. All subjects received the single-rod subdermal implant Implanon, which contains 68 mg etonogestrel (3-keto-desogestrel), with an initial release rate of 67 micrograms etonogestrel/day. Contraceptive efficacy was analyzed by calculation of the pregnancy rate, bleeding patterns were determined by the 90-day reference period method, and acceptability by the discontinuation rate.

A randomized controlled double-blind study of the effects on hemostasis of two progestogen-only pills containing 75 microgram desogestrel or 30 microgram levonorgestrel.

The effects of two progestogen-only pills containing either 75 microgram desogestrel (DSG) or 30 microgram levonorgestrel (LNG) on hemostasis were investigated in a double-blind, randomized, controlled study of seven treatment cycles in 78 healthy women. DSG reduced factor VII activity (p < 0.05) and prothrombin fragment 1+2 (p < 0.

A randomized three-way cross-over study in healthy pituitary-suppressed women to compare the bioavailability of human chorionic gonadotrophin (Pregnyl) after intramuscular and subcutaneous administration.

The objective of this study was to compare the bioavailability of s.c. and i.

A randomized cross-over study comparing pharmacodynamic and metabolic variables of a new combiphasic and a well-established triphasic oral contraceptive.

In an open-label, randomized, cross-over study in 20 subjects, the short-term effects were investigated of Gracial (DSG/EE 7 x 25/40 micrograms/day + 15 x 125/30 micrograms/day) and Trigynon (LNG/EE 6 x 50/30 micrograms/day + 5 x 75/40 micrograms/day + 10 x 125/30 micrograms/day) on plasma concentrations of 17 beta-estradiol and progesterone as well as on carrier proteins (SHBG, CBG, ceruloplasmin), AT-III, carbohydrate metabolism (insulin, glucose, glycosylated proteins) and lipid metabolism (total cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids, HDL-C, LDL-C, HDL2-C, HDL3-C, HDL2-C/HDL3-C ratio, Apo A1, Apo B, Apo A1/Apo B ratio). Both preparations adequately and similarly inhibited ovulation in all subjects. Serum levels of carrier proteins were significantly higher with DSG/EE than with LNG/EE, whereas no between-group differences were observed with respect to fasting glucose and insulin, glycosylated proteins (mainly glycosylated albumin) and AT-III activity.

A randomized study on the effects of intramuscular injections with urinary gonadotrophins (Humegon or Pergonal) on pain, local redness and fever in infertile women opting for in-vitro fertilization.

The objective of this open, multicentre, randomized controlled study in women opting for in-vitro fertilization was to compare the occurrence of pain and redness at the injection site and of post-injection fever after i.m. injection with Humegon (n = 89) or Pergonal (n = 92).