Weekly and yearly rhythms in plasma fibrinogen in hospitalized male military veterans.

The variation in plasma fibrinogen level demonstrating prominent circaseptan and circannual cycles is clinically relevant. There is a correlation between increasing level of fibrinogen and other hemostatic factors and risk of myocardial infarction and sudden death. The circaseptan and circannual cycles in fibrinogen concentration described in this study may help to explain further the variation in frequency of coronary events.

Delayed colonic transit in spinal cord-injured patients measured by indium-111 Amberlite scintigraphy.

Objective: Constipation is a major problem for patients with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI). However, it is not clear whether abnormal colonic transit is restricted to the rectosigmoid region or involves the entire colon. We assessed regional colonic transit with emphasis on the ascending and transverse segments in patients with chronic SCI and compared the results with those of controls using scintigraphic techniques.

Temporal (circadian) and functional relationship between prostate-specific antigen and testosterone in healthy men.

Objectives: To study the circadian relationship between serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and total testosterone in men without clinically evident prostate disease.

Methods: Blood samples were collected every 3 hours for 24 hours (eight per subject) from 11 clinically healthy men, ages 46 to 72 years. PSA was also monitored once a week for 6 weeks in 16 additional healthy men.

Circadian reference data for men in fifth decade of life.

These results are meant to serve as chrono-biologically-defined reference values for healthy adult men in their fifth decade of life. A thorough statistical analysis of these data is being prepared for presentation elsewhere. A rigorous comparison with results obtained when these same men were in their 20's and again in their 30's may help us to document the kinds and extent of changes in circadian rhythm characteristics (MESOR, amplitude and/or acrophase) which may occur with aging.

Reference values for circadian rhythms of 98 variables in clinically healthy men in the fifth decade of life.

Nine clinically healthy men, 41-47 yr of age, served as subjects in a 24-hr study conducted at the Edward Hines Jr Veterans Administration Hospital in the Chicago area in May 1988. Physiologic measurements, and blood and urine samples were collected at 3-hr intervals over a single 24-hr period beginning at 1900. The number of variables measured or calculated (total = 98) included: 6 vital signs (oral temperature, pulse, blood- and intraocular pressures); 16 in whole blood (counts and differentials); 50 in serum (SMAC-24, lipids, hormones, electrophoresis of LDH and proteins); and 26 in urine (solids, proteins, creatinine, catecholamines, melatonin, cortisol, electrolytes and metals).