The Link Between Bone Osteocalcin and Energy Metabolism in a Group of Postmenopausal Women.

There is a dual relationship between bone and tissues involved in energy metabolism (fat tissue and beta-pancreatic cells). Thus, bone remodeling is an energy consuming process, but osteocalcin, the main on-collagenic protein, synthesized by osteoblas during bone formation exerts a number of biological effects on beta-pancreatic and adipose cells. With this data, we wanted to see if the presence of a chronic metabolic disorder such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) influence this complex dual relationship. For this, we conducted a cross-sectional study to evaluate the relation between osteocalcin and energetic metabolism in a group of 146 postmenopausal womens with and without T2DM at CI Parhon National Institute of Endocrinology, Bucharest. Clinical, metabolic and hormonal parameters were evaluated. For statistical analysis we used Student t-test and the Spearman correlation (statistical significance: p <0.05). Results: 63 patients with T2DM (63.88±8.56 years) and 83 women in the control group (60.21±8.77 years) were included. Diabetic women showed a lower level of serum total osteocalcin (p<0.05) HDL-cholesterol (p=0.02), and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D). The body mass index (BMI), glycemic metabolism parameters and triglyceride levels (p<0.05) were higher in this group. We found correlations between osteocalcin and metabolic elements: negative with BMI (r=-0.329, p<0.05), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (r=-0.398, p<0.05), and serum triglycerides (r=-0.329, p<0.05) respectively positive with HDL-cholesterol (r=0.279, p=0.001) for the entire group of patients. Conclusions: Our study indicated the presence of significant correlations between serum osteocalcin and glycemic and lipid metabolism parameters, independent of the presence of diabetes.

Sensors and Actuators on Determining Parameters for Being Considered in Selection of Elastomers for Biomimetic Hands.

In this paper, the authors present a new methodology to study the viscoelastic behaviour of the human finger. The methodology is based on experimental research consisting of a finger's indentation with a small steel cylindrical object for various indentation speeds. The tests were realized on a CETR UMT-2 Tribometer for indentation speed between 0.02 mm/s and 4 mm/s with a normal load of up to 22 N. Using the force-deformation diagrams recorded at the smallest indentation speed determined the elastic modulus of the human finger according to an adapted Hertzian model. By considering the increasing of the indentation force with indentation speed, the viscous component of the human finger was evidenced. The power dissipated in the finger tissue as a result of the prehension process has been obtained as a function of indentation speed and indentation depth. In addition, a general equation for the prehension force as a function of indentation speed and indentation depth has been obtained. The results of this study will be relevant for selection of the specific elastomers used in biomimetic hands.

SU-E-E-01: Commissiong of Linear Accelerator and Beam Modeling in Treatment Planning Systems.

PURPOSE: Sooner or later every medical physicist is involved with commissioning and beam modeling of a new linear accelerator (linac) and a new treatment planning system (TPS). In spite of all instructions and training offered by the vendors, at the time a new linac is being purchased and added to the present ones the outside help is not so complete. The physicist who has to perform the commissioning job may not even be the one who was trained for that. What we are missing is a good comprehensive set of information and instructions on how to do's. From shielding calculation verifications, surveys, to collecting the beam data, modeling, entering the data into the TPS, and verifications of the goodness of the data we need a lot of support and we don't have it. I will provide a step by step description of the required work with the results we are looking for. METHODS: Presentation of the shielding calculations, survey required, tools needed to perform them. Detailed beam data collections, scanning system needed, machine set of specs needed, applicator details needed. Importing beam data from the scanning system and beam calculations. Algorithms used in dose calculation, IMRT optimization, heterogeneity corrections presented to be understood before modeling the beam data. RESULTS: At the completion of this course the medical physicist will be able to commission a linear accelerator and a treatment planning system with confidence and very little help from the outside. CONCLUSIONS: This compendium of detailed instructions on commissioning a linear accelerator will provide good uidance to every physicist who will be involved with the installation and bringing into safe use for treatment of a new linear accelerator.

Detection by immunofluorescence of viral, chlamydial and mycoplasma antigens in men with urethritis.

The presence of viral, chlamydial and mycoplasma antigens was investigated by the indirect immunofluorescence (IF) reaction in the urethral cells of 30 male patients with urethritis. Positive IF reactions were recorded in 21 (70%) of the cases, 2-6 different antigens being simultaneously visualized in 14 patients. In addition to chlamydial, mycoplasma and herpes antigens, parainfluenza virus and adenovirus antigens were visualized in 39.34% and 11.47% of the cases, respectively. The efficacy of the IF technique in the rapid laboratory diagnosis of male urethritis is discussed.