Calcium isotope composition in serum and urine for the assessment of bone mineral balance (BMB) - The Osteolabs post-market follow-up study.

To further explore the clinical applicability of the calcium (Ca) isotope marker (CIM), we determined the Ca/Ca isotope ratio in blood serum and urine. This ratio is expressed in the conventional δ-notation (as defined in the text below) specifically as CIM-serum for serum and as CIM-urine for urine. Our study tested the hypothesis that CIM values can differentiate between positive and negative bone mineral balance (BMB) across a diverse clinical population considering variables such as age, gender, and diet.

Use of Artificial Hydration at the End of Life: A Survey of Australian and New Zealand Palliative Medicine Doctors.

Background: Dying is ubiquitous, yet the optimal management of hydration in the terminal phase is undetermined. Palliative care (PC) doctors' practices may act as a de facto measure of the benefits and burdens of artificial hydration (AH) use.

Objective: To identify PC doctors' AH prescribing practices for imminently dying patients and possible influencing factors.

[Therapy concept in phyllodes tumors of the breast].

The data of 22 women with a phyllode tumor of breast operated in our department from 1980 to 1997 were analysed. 11 benign, 7 borderline and 7 malign phyllode tumors were found in accordance to WHO-classification. In conclusion diameter of tumor is a relevant prognostic factor beside histologic classification.