Osteomalacia in fractures of the proximal femur.

The occurrence of osteomalacia was studied in 58 hip fracture patients who were admitted to the University Central Hospital of Kuopio for operative treatment. Findings indicating osteomalacia were frequent in the series. Hypocalcaemia was found in 70 per cent and an increase in serum alkaline phosphatase in 22 per cent of the patients.

Caffeine antagonizes diazepam effects in man.

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study on parallel groups of medical students diazepam 10 mg impaired cognitive skills and caused muscle relaxation. A 250 mg dose of caffeine given in decaffeinated coffee counteracted these better than a 500 mg dose. Subjectively, diazepam exerted a calming effect which was counteracted by caffeine at either at either dose levels.

Treatment of osteomalacia in institutionalized epileptic patients on long-term anticonvulsant therapy.

The efficacy of vitamin D2 in the dose of 2000 IU daily in reversing anticonvulsant osteomalacia was studied in nine epileptic inpatients. The treatment with vitamin D2 was associated with increased serum 25-hydroxycalciferol and 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D concentrations and partial healing of osteomalacic changes in the cancellous bone of the iliac crest. But it was concluded that the dose of vitamin D2, 2000 IU daily, was too small and that calcium supplementation may be needed in addition to vitamin D therapy.

Acute solvent-ethanol interactions with special reference to xylene.

Acute ethanol ingestion inhibits the metabolism of the common industrial solvents trichloroethylene and dimethylformamide. The solvents in turn may interact with ethanol metabolism as shown by an accumulation of acetaldehyde and occasional symptoms of alcohol intolerance. It was recently found that mutual metabolic interaction occurs even in the context of ethanol ingestion (0.

The effect of partial gastrectomy on bone mineral metabolism.

The occurrence of postgastrectomy bone disease was studied in 42 patients who had been subjected to gastric surgery for duodenal or gastric ulceration 5-7 years earlier. Hypocalcemia, hypophosphatemia, and an increase in serum alkaline phosphatase were infrequent. No difference was observed in S-25OHD between the patients and controls, but S-24,25(OH)2D was higher in the patients.

Metabolic interaction between m-xylene and ethanol.

Ingestion of a moderate dose of ethanol (0.8 g/kg) by volunteers prior to 4-h inhalation exposure to m-xylene (6.0 or 11.

Short-term exposure of human subjects to m-xylene and 1,1,1-trichloroethane.

Inhalation exposure of male volunteers to m-xylene (8.2 mumol/l, 200 ppm) and 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCE) (8.2 and 16.

Xylene and alcohol involvement of the human equilibrium system.

Ten healthy male subjects were exposed at weekly intervals to m-xylene concentrations of 6 mumol/1 (145 p.p.m.

An improved method for routine determination of vitamin D and its hydroxylated metabolites in serum from children and adults.

A method for routine determination of vitamin D and its major metabolites 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (24,25(OH)2D) and 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D (1,25(OH)2D) in serum samples from normal children and adults has been developed. Methodological improvements enable a rapid and accurate analysis of 25(OH)D and also the microscale screening of other metabolites present in large concentrations in serum. Vitamin D and its metabolites are extracted from serum samples using hexane/propan-2-ol, which allows a convenient separation of the water soluble and lipid soluble fractions from each other and also from proteins.

Osteomalacia in institutionalized epileptic patients on long-term anticonvulsant therapy.

The occurrence of anticonvulsant osteomalacia was studied in 31 epileptic inpatients, 16 women and 15 men. Disturbances in biochemical parameters indicating osteomalacia were frequent. Thirty two per cent of the patients were hypocalcemic, 55% had an increase in S-ALP and 26% in U-HOP, and dU-Ca was decrease in 55%.

25-hydroxyvitamin D2, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and total 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D in human serum.

An assay procedure capable of determining 25(OH)D2 (25-hydroxyvitamin D2), 25(OH)D3 (25-hydroxyvitamin D3) and total 24,25(OH)2D (24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D) in a single 2-5 ml sample of human serum is described. The assay involves methanol/chloroform extraction of serum lipids followed by separation of the mono- and dihydroxyvitamin D metabolites and purification from interfering contaminants by chromatography on Sephadex LH-20 and by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). 25(OH)D2 and 25(OH)D3 are quantified by HPLC using UV detection.

Changes induced by xylene and alcohol in human evoked potentials.

Neurotoxic effects of industrial solvents have recently aroused great interest. Few studies have applied evoked potential methods to test acute or chronic neurotoxicity of solvents or alcohol. Eight young healthy male volunteers were exposed for 4 h to about 1200 or 700 mg/m3 of xylene alone or in combination with alcohol 0.

Short-term exposure of human subjects to m-xylene and 1,1,1-trichloroethane.

Nine healthy male students were exposed to singular atmospheric concentrations of m-xylene (8.2 mumol/l; 200 ppm) or 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCE) (8.2 and 16.

Effects of xylene and alcohol on vestibular and visual functions in man.

Ten healthy male volunteers were exposed for 4 h to two concentrations [6 and 11.5 mumol/l (636 and 1,218 mg/m3)] of m-xylene or/and given single doses (0.4 and 0.

Combined effects of xylene and alcohol on the central nervous system.

Ten healthy male students were exposed to m-xylene alone at concentrations of about 6 and 11.5 mumol/l and given a single dose of alcohol (0.4 and 0.

A seasonal difference in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 in a Finnish population.

A chromatographic assay procedure for the analysis of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D3] in human serum is described. The procedure involves methanol/chloroform extraction of serum lipids followed by separation of the vitamin D metabolites and purification from interfering contaminents by chromatography on Sephadex LH-20 and by high-pressure liquid chromatography. 25(OH)D3 is quantitated by uv detection, and its peak height compared with those of standards.

Kinetics of m-xylene in man: Influence of intermittent physical exercise and changing environmental concentrations on kinetics.

Volunteer subjects were exposed to m-xylene 6 h/d over five successive days under the following types of environmental conditions: exposure type I: constant xylene concentration in air, subjects performed periodic ergometer exercise at 100 W; exposure type II: varying xylene concentration in air with peak levels coinciding with periodic ergometer exercise; and exposure type III: constant xylene concentration in air, subjects sedentary. The three types of exposure were identical in that the time-weighted averages of the xylene concentrations in the air inhaled over the whole day were about the same (in most cases 4.1 mmol/m3).

Kinetics of m-xylene in man: General features of absorption, distribution, biotransformation and excretion in repetitive inhalation exposure.

Sedentary volunteer subjects were exposed to an m-xylene concentration of about 3.9 mmol/m3 over five successive days, 6 h/d. It was noted that about 60% of the inhaled xylene was retained in the lungs.

Importance of using proper techniques to teach cardiopulmonary resuscitation to laymen.

Immediate attempts to resuscitate patients with cardiac arrest by lay bystanders distinctly increase the chances of survival in such patients. In the present study we investigated possibilities of intensifying the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training of laymen. A group of 46 young conscripts (test group) was given 2 hours of CPR instruction in what was considered the most efficient way.

Effects of m-xylene on human equilibrium measured with a quantitative method.

Swaying during normal upright posture in 17 young males and the effects of m-xylene exposure on the body sway of six of the 17 has been studied by a quantitative Romberg test, conducted with an equipment consisting of a strain gauge transducer platform and of an electronic unit. The exposures were conducted in a dynamic exposure chamber. The sway of the 17 subjects was larger when their eyes were closed than when they were open (P less than 0.