Arteriovenous malformation in the temporalis muscle.

An 18-year-old man presented with an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) in the temporalis muscle. It was shown by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and confirmed by intra-arterial angiography. The lesion was completely resected and the defect reconstructed with titanium mesh and cancellous bone.

Dietary, serum and urine ascorbic acid status in male athletes.

The ascorbic acid (AA)-status of 14 marathon runners, 12 soccer players, 9 wrestlers, 9 basketball players and 16 controls was determined. A 7-day food weighed record was kept to quantify the AA-intake. In addition, the AA-serum concentrations and urinary ascorbate excretion were measured. The AA-intake of all 44 athletes (median, 26th-75th percentile) was 180.7 (188-239) mg/d, the serum concentration 70.6 (65.7-80.2 mumol/l) and the urine ascorbate excretion 1531 (391-2934) mumol/g creatine. No significant differences could be observed between the various sport groups, or between the sport groups and controls with respect to absolute (mg/d) and relative (mg/g body weight) AA-intake, serum and urine concentrations. Only a few of the athletes had AA-intake below the RDA or serum- or urine levels smaller than the decision limit. The absolute AA-intake (n = 44) from the 7-day record (r = 0.49, p < 0.0009) and the AA-intake on the last day (1-day) prior to urine collection (r = 0.90, p < 0.0000) correlate moderately/strongly with the urinary excretion. Between AA-intake (7-day) and serum concentration there is a correlation of r = 0.59, p < 0.0000. The AA-status of highly trained athletes does not differ significantly from the control group in spite of intensive daily training. Thus, AA-supplementation beyond the normal daily intake does not appear necessary.

Assessment of vitamin B6 status of strength and speedpower athletes.

OBJECTIVE: The investigation was designed to obtain information concerning the vitamin B6 status in high-performance athletes. SUBJECTS: Fifty-seven strength and speedpower athletes were available for examination. METHODS: Vitamin B6 status was determined by a 7-day weighed food record, enzyme activity (alpha-EGOT) measurement, whole blood concentrations (Saccharomyces carlsbergenisis and 4-pyridoxinic acid (4-PA) excretion (high-pressure liquid chromatography). RESULTS: The absolute vitamin B6 intake in > 30% of the athletes was below the German recommended dietary allowance (GRDA) and, in relation to the protein intake (GRDA 0.20 mg vitamin B6/g protein), > 60% of the athletes had values below the GRDA. More than 90% of the athletes did not attain the reference value (0.88 nmol/mL) for untrained individuals in vitamin B6 whole blood concentration, and only a few athletes (< 5%) had alpha-EGOT values above the reference value of alpha-EGOT > 1.50). The 4-PA excretion was below the reference value of > 2.73 mumol/g creatinine in 18% of all athletes examined. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin B6 status can be quantified using the weighed food record, microbiological whole blood determination, and 4-PA excretion; however, limits of the individual methods must be taken into account. Vitamin B6 supply of the athletes still cannot be definitively assessed because there are no generally valid reference values.