The effects of GH replacement therapy on cardiac morphology and function, exercise capacity and serum lipids in elderly patients with GH deficiency.

Objectives: To assess effects of GH replacement therapy on cardiac structure and function, exercise capacity as well as serum lipids in elderly patients with GH deficiency (GHD).

Patients And Methods: Thirty-one patients (six females, 25 males), aged 60-79 years (mean 68 years) with GHD on stable cortisone and thyroxine substitution were studied. All men with gonadotropin deficiency had testosterone and one woman had oestrogen replacement.

Laser Doppler perfusion monitoring of skin blood flow at different depths in finger and arm upon local heating.

The purpose of the study was to elucidate the vasodilatory response to local heating of the skin at two depths in two locations. To accomplish this, we measured skin blood flow in 12 healthy subjects using laser Doppler perfusion monitoring. A probe with two fibers separated 0.

Effect of local cold provocation on systolic blood pressure and skin blood flow in the finger.

Demonstration of increased vascular cold reactivity in patients with Raynaud's syndrome is difficult. For medico-legal reasons, it is important to get objective measures of vasospasm in these patients. Evaluation of the degree of vasospasm also provides prognostic information which is useful for patient management.

Sympathetic skin vasoconstriction--further evaluation using laser Doppler techniques.

The aim of this study was to quantify the reflex sympathetic vasoconstriction in skin at different depths. Twenty healthy subjects were studied. Finger skin blood flow was measured using laser Doppler perfusion imaging (LDPI) and laser Doppler perfusion monitoring (LDPM).

Sympathetic dysfunction in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Objective: To investigate autonomic nervous system function in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and relate the findings to clinical variables.

Methods: Autonomic nervous system function was determined in 30 patients with primary SS using the finger skin blood flow test [vasoconstrictory (VAC) index], deep-breathing test [expiration/inspiration (E/I) ratio], and the tilt table (orthostatic) test [acceleration index (AI), brake index (BI), and orthostatic blood pressure]. The results were compared with age matched control materials (finger skin blood flow test, n = 80, and deep-breathing and tilt table tests, n = 56).