Adolescent wellbeing and climate crisis: adolescents are responding, what about health professionals?

argue for recognition of the diverse ways in which climate change affects adolescent wellbeing and call for health professionals to work with them to respond to the crisis

The potassium channel KCNJ13 is essential for smooth muscle cytoskeletal organization during mouse tracheal tubulogenesis.

Tubulogenesis is essential for the formation and function of internal organs. One such organ is the trachea, which allows gas exchange between the external environment and the lungs. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying tracheal tube development remain poorly understood.

Crystallization behavior and texture of trans-containing and trans-free palm oil based confectionery fats.

The objective of this study was to gain insight into the role of trans fatty acids in determining the crystallization behavior and texture of palm-based confectionery fats. Therefore, the isothermal crystallization behavior of two series, each of three fats, one trans-containing and one trans-free, was examined by pNMR, DSC, and rheology. Furthermore, the hardness of these samples was examined at three different storage times at 10 degrees C.

In vitro and in situ growth characteristics and behaviour of spoilage organisms associated with anaerobically stored cooked meat products.

Aims: Understanding spoilage caused by different types of spoilage organisms, associated with vacuum-packaged sliced cooked meat products (CMP).

Methods And Results: First, strains were characterized in a broth at 7 degrees C under anaerobic conditions to compare their growth rate, acidifying character and metabolite production under conditions simulating refrigerated vacuum-packaged conditions. Brochotrix thermosphacta grew faster than the lactic acid bacteria (LAB).

Evaluation of serum and urinary estrogen levels in male patients with HIV-infection.

Several endocrine functions are described which are altered in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection. However, there is limited information available on estrogens and their function in these patients. The aim of this study was to relate the stage of the disease with urinary and serum estrogens and the influence of heroin consumption on gonadal steroids.

[Thyroid gland ultrasound and urinary iodine excretion in children and adolescents with type I diabetes mellitus].

Background: Date, studies on thyroid volume and urinary iodide excretion in patients with diabetes mellitus are not available. Sonographically determined parameters of the thyroid size are correlated to other anthropometrous data and the urinary iodide excretion is correlated to glucosuria, the HbA1c value and the diabetes duration.

Method: In this prospective study we evaluated sonographically the thyroid volume in 107 patients with type I diabetes mellitus and 112 healthy children.

Relationship between 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin-D, calcium and uric acid in urinary stone formers.

In order to clarify the role of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin-D [1,25-(OH)2-D] in calcium stone formation, correlations between 1,25-(OH)2-D serum levels and levels of calcium, phosphate and uric acid (UA) in serum or urine and between the 1,25-(OH)2-D serum level and age were analyzed in 111 formers of urinary stones (57 Ca stones) and in 44 controls. Furthermore, 1,25-(OH)2-D serum levels as well as levels of Ca, phosphate and UA in serum and urine from formers of different urinary stones and controls were compared. 1,25-(OH)2-D serum levels were determined by a radio-receptor assay based on a calf thymus receptor.

Evidence of impaired cartilage/bone turnover in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis.

Objectives: To compare serum markers of bone formation with the urinary excretion of pyridinium crosslinks (PYR) as a possible measure of bone and cartilage degradation which would detect changes in bone metabolism in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and to relate them to influences of inflammatory disease activity, and to treatment.

Methods: In 62 patients with AS, serum osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and skeletal ALP isoenzyme levels were evaluated concurrently in comparison with urinary excretion of pyridinium cross links and were compared with values in 50 healthy controls.

Results: Osteocalcin concentrations in AS patients were in the middle normal range (3.

Adrenal secretion of cortisol in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

We studied secretory activity of the adrenal gland by determining cortisol blood levels throughout a 24-h cycle at 2-h intervals in 26 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), not previously treated with glucocorticosteroids or disease modifying drugs. In patients with low erythrocyte sedimentation rates [(ESR) up to 40 mm/h] and medium disease activity (ESR between 40 and 80 mm/h), cortisol maxima and minima shifted to earlier times of the day whereas in patients with high activity (ESR higher than 80 mm/h) the circadian rhythm was lost or markedly reduced. The inflammatory activity of the RA significantly correlated with the adrenal cortisol secretion (linear regression analysis between ESR and the arithmetic mean value of cortisol throughout a 24-h cycle with a coefficient of regression r = 0.

Enzyme catalytic concentrations in human plasma after a marathon.

Blood was obtained from 11 males participating in the Berlin marathon 1986, directly before and after the marathon, and on the three following days. Several observations were made: a) catalytic concentrations (activity) of creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (AP) increased directly after the marathon or on the three following days; b) Cholinesterase (CHE), amylase (AML) and gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT) decreased directly after the marathon; c) the time course of AP and LDH isoenzyme activity after the race indicated an elimination from plasma to lower values than those originally observed before the run.

[Endocrine rhythms in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: possible neurohormonal influence on immunological reactions].

Recent studies are reporting on an influence of ACTH and prolactin in physiological dosages on the intensity of the immune response in the animal model of adjuvant arthritis. Therefore, we studied the circadian secretion patterns of ACTH, cortisol and prolactin by measurements throughout a 24-hour cycle in two-hour intervals in patients with rheumatoid arthritis with different inflammatory activity of the disease. We only investigated patients who never before were treated with corticosteroids and drugs like gold, d-penicillamine or immunosuppressive drugs.

Effect of flutamide on 5 alpha-reductases, 5 beta-reductases, and 3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases in rat liver.

Flutamide (0.5 mM) decreased in vitro the activity of NADH-5 alpha-reductase (substrate testosterone) in liver homogenate of male and female rats, whereas no change of activity of NADPH-5 alpha-reductase was observed. NADH- and NADPH-5 beta-reductase activity increased only in liver of female, but not of male rats.

[Circadian rhythm of cortisol and corticotropin (ACTH) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in relation to inflammatory activity].

In patients with rheumatoid arthritis, corticosteroids are usually given as a single morning dose to minimize adrenal suppression, because of the well-known circadian rhythm of the secretion of cortisol and corticotropin. However, it has not been so far examined whether there really is a normal secretion pattern of those hormones in all patients with rheumatoid arthritis, as there is in healthy subjects. We therefore studied twelve patients with rheumatoid arthritis who had never been treated before with corticosteroids and disease-modifying drugs such as gold, D-penicillamine or immunosuppressive drugs.

Thin-layer chromatography--the forgotten alternative for the quantitative determination of steroids.

We have developed a high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) system for quantitative determination of androgens, corticosteroids, mineralocorticoids and gestagens on silicagel KG-60 HPTLC-plates with different solvent systems. A complete separation of androgens, gestagens and metabolites was achieved with dichlormethane/cyclohexane/acetone (70:25:5). Corticosteroids, mineralocorticoids and their derivatives were completely separated with diethylether/isooctane/isopropanol (70:25:5).

High dosage desferrioxamine therapy in a female patient with acquired aplastic anaemia and transfusion siderosis.

A 32 year old woman with severe aplastic anaemia required frequent transfusions and consequently developed hyperferrioxaemia (54 microMol/l) and hyperferritinaemia (1,700 ng/ml). For the treatment of transfusion siderosis she was given 18 high dose courses each comprising 35 g of desferrioxamine. Because of pre-existing thrombocytopenia (platelet count 5 X 10(9)/l) the iron chelating agent was given by continuous intravenous infusion over 3 1/2 days.

[Effect of cocoa on excretion of oxalate, citrate, magnesium and calcium in the urine of children].

Cocoa is a strong carrier of oxalic acid (average: 400 mg per 100 g). In three calcium oxalate stone formers clinical observation had been suggestive of excessive intake of cocoa products contributing to calculus formation. We studied the effect on renal oxalate excretion of an oral cocoa load (30 g per m2 body surface given on 2 consecutive days) in 12 former stone formers (group 1), 14 children with isolated microscopic haematuria (group 2), 13 healthy boys (group 3), and 12 healthy girls (group 4).

Properties and biochemical characterization of NADH 5 alpha-reductase from rat liver microsomes.

NADH 5 alpha-reductase is present in microsomes of various rat organs: heart and skeletal muscle, liver, adrenal glands, kidney, testes and prostate. The enzyme from rat liver microsomes utilizes B-hydrogen from the coenzyme NADH for steroid reduction. After solubilization of the enzyme with the nonionic detergent lubrol, phosphatidylcholine is necessary to restore the activity.

Effect of medroxyprogesterone acetate on steroid reductases in rat liver.

Male and female rats were treated with medroxyprogesterone acetate (17 alpha-acetoxy-6 alpha-methyl-pregn-4-ene-3,20-dione, MPA) 600 mg/kg body weight i.p. daily for seven days.

Plasma aldosterone, cortisol and electrolyte concentrations in physical exercise after magnesium supplementation.

Plasma aldosterone, cortisol, sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) as well as urine and sweat Na, K, Ca and Mg concentrations were measured in nine male healthy persons during an one hour ergometer exercise before and after a fourteen day magnesium aspartate (Mg) supplementation. The usual aldosterone and cortisol increase during exercise was not observed and cortisol concentration was significantly lower after Mg supplementation. Na and K in plasma increased during the exercise; these changes were not affected by Mg.

Rat liver 3-oxo-5 alpha-steroid delta 4-dehydrogenase. Modulation of enzyme activity by changes in phosphorylation state.

3-Oxo-5 alpha-steroid: NAD+ delta 4-oxidoreductase ("NADH-5 alpha-reductase", EC 1.3.1.

Circadian rhythm of acid phosphatase activity in rat liver microsomes and dependence of NADH 5 alpha-reductase on phosphatase activity.

The specific activity of acid phosphatase in male and female rats follows a circadian rhythm. Preincubation of liver microsomes with testosterone led to an increase of phosphatase activity and a loss of circadian rhythm. NADH 5 alpha-reductase was inactivated by several animal and bacterial acid and alkaline phosphatases while the acid phosphatase from potatoes was ineffective.

Effect of allylisopropylacetamide and Sedormid on enzymes of steroid metabolism in rat liver.

Female rats, treated with allylisopropylacetamide (AIA) showed a marked decrease of hepatic NADH-5 alpha-reductase, NADPH-5 alpha-reductase, NAD+- and NADP+-3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activities and an increase of the activity of NADH- and NADPH-5 beta-reductase and NAD+ and NADP+-3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. Administration of Sedormid decreased the activities of 5 alpha-reductases and 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (substrate, 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone) and increased the activity of NADH-5 beta-reductase, whereas no effect was seen on NADPH-5 beta-reductase and 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase.