effects of inhaled corticosteroids on bone mineral density in male patients with bronchial asthma

the aim of the study is to assess the effect of Inhaled steroids on bone density in male patients with bronchial asthma. this retrospective analysis included 102 male patients with bronchial asthma, mean age 51 years [range; 22-80]. All has been using inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate or budesonide with average dosage of 800 ug/day [600- 1200] at least for the last year. Patients then were subdivided into 3 groups according to duration of inhalational steroid use: group 1: < 5 years [n= 17], group 2: 5-10 years [n= 57] and group 3: >10years [n= 28]. Bone mineral density was measured from lumbar spine [LI-4] and non dominant proximal femur by dual energy X-Ray absorptiometry with a Hologic QDR-1000 densitometer [Holologic Inc., Waltham, Mass]. ANOVA test was used in statistical analysis and P<0.05 was considered significant. Over all frequency of osteoporosis and osteopenia within our study group were 48% and 43% respectively. In the left femur, those values were 58% and 8% respectively. Frequency of osteoporosis in lumbar vertebrae and left femur in the above 3 groups classified according to duration of inhalational steroid use were: group 1: 6% and 0%, Group 2: 42% and 9% and group 3: 71% and 5% respectively. BMDs, T-scores and Z- scores were lower in group 2 and 3 compared to group l [p<0.05]. our study shows high frequency of osteoporosis among men treated with inhalational steroids. Therefore, screening strategy is recommended within 5 years after initiation of treatment

Arterial oxygen saturation at high altitude, a study on unacclimatized Jordanian soldiers traveled to high mountain

Traveling to high altitude is a condition needing medical attention for the possibility of hypoxia and its consequences. In this study we decided to determine if arterial oxygen saturation decreases with high altitude in unacclimatized Jordanian soldiers travels to high mountains and to ascertain whether desaturation if it occurs correlate with the development of acute mountain sickness. This study done at Zabul. Afghanistan at a height of 1996 meters. Our sample was 169 Jordanian soldiers, selected from Jordan task force joining Military Hospital Staff at Zabul. We performed a single pulse oximetric measurement at rest for each individual within 24 hours of arrival by air plane to Zabul For any subject with low arterial oxygen saturation [