Osteoprotegerin levels decrease during testosterone therapy in aging men and are associated with changed distribution of regional fat.

The cardiovascular effects of testosterone treatment are debated. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is an independent marker of cardiovascular risk. We investigated the effect of testosterone therapy on OPG levels in aging men with low normal bioavailable testosterone levels. A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study of 6 months testosterone therapy (gel) in 38 men aged 60-78 years with bioavailable testosterone <7.3 nmol/l and waist circumference >94 cm was performed. Clinical evaluation, OPG, and C-reactive protein (CRP) measurements were carried out. Lean body mass (LBM), total fat mass, and bone mineral density (BMD) were established by dual X-ray absorptiometry. Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) were measured by magnetic resonance imaging. Power calculation was based on an increase in LBM during testosterone therapy and responders were defined as testosterone treated patients with increased LBM (Δ LBM positive), n=14. Data are presented as median (interquartile range). Testosterone therapy decreased total fat mass and SAT, whereas VAT was unchanged (n=38). OPG levels decreased during testosterone therapy (from 2.0 (1.9-2.5) to 1.9 (1.6-2.2) ng/ml, p<0.05 vs. placebo), whereas CRP levels were unchanged (n=38). In responders to testosterone therapy (n=14), ΔOPG levels were inversely associated with ΔSAT (r= - 0.60, p=0.03) and positively associated with ΔVAT (r=0.56, p=0.04). OPG levels decreased during testosterone therapy suggesting decreased cardiovascular risk. Decreased OPG levels were associated with changes in regional fat distribution and future studies are needed to further evaluate the association between OPG and regional fat mass distribution.

Testosterone therapy decreases subcutaneous fat and adiponectin in aging men.

OBJECTIVE: Testosterone therapy increases lean body mass and decreases total fat mass in aging men with low normal testosterone levels. The major challenge is, however, to determine whether the metabolic consequences of testosterone therapy are overall positive. We have previously reported that 6-month testosterone therapy did not improve insulin sensitivity. We investigated the effect of testosterone therapy on regional body fat distribution and on the levels of the insulin-sensitizing adipokine, adiponectin, in aging men with low normal bioavailable testosterone levels. DESIGN: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study on 6-month testosterone treatment (gel) in 38 men, aged 60-78 years, with bioavailable testosterone <7.3 nmol/l, and a waist circumference >94 cm. METHODS: Central fat mass (CFM) and lower extremity fat mass (LEFM) were measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry. Subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue (SAT), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and thigh subcutaneous fat area (TFA) were measured by magnetic resonance imaging. Adiponectin levels were measured using an in-house immunofluorometric assay. Coefficients (b) represent the placebo-controlled mean effect of intervention. RESULTS: LEFM was decreased (b = -0.47 kg, P = 0.07) while CFM did not change significantly (b = -0.66 kg, P = 0.10) during testosterone therapy. SAT (b = -3.0%, P = 0.018) and TFA (b = -3.0%, P < 0.001) decreased, while VAT (b = 1.0%, P = 0.54) remained unchanged. Adiponectin levels decreased during testosterone therapy (b = -1.3 mg/l, P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Testosterone therapy decreased subcutaneous fat on the abdomen and lower extremities, but visceral fat was unchanged. Moreover, adiponectin levels were significantly decreased during testosterone therapy.

Subcutaneous rather than visceral adipose tissue is associated with adiponectin levels and insulin resistance in young men.

INTRODUCTION: Studies on the association between adiponectin, body composition, and insulin resistance (IR) have been conflicting. AIM: Our aim was to evaluate the impact of body composition on adiponectin and IR determined by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) in a population-based study on relatively healthy young men, minimizing the possible effects of age, obesity, and severe comorbidity. DESIGN, METHODS, AND SUBJECTS: A population-based, cross-sectional study of 783 men aged 20-29 yr, randomly drawn from the Danish Central Personal Registry. Adiponectin was assessed using an in-house assay, and IR was determined using HOMA. Central fat mass (CFM) and lower extremity fat mass (LEFM) was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, and visceral adipose tissue (VAT), sc adipose tissue (SAT), and thigh fat area (TFA) were assessed by magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: Using multiple linear regression analysis, adiponectin correlated negatively with CFM (r = -0.27; P < 0.001) and SAT (r = -0.20; P < 0.001) and positively with LEFM (r = 0.19; P < 0.001) and TFA (r = 0.18; P < 0.001), whereas VAT did not associate significantly. In multiple linear regression analysis, HOMA-IR (dependent variable), correlated significantly with CFM (r = 0.27; P < 0.001) and SAT (r = 0.15; P < 0.001), whereas LEFM, VAT, or TFA did not correlate. Adiponectin was an independent predictor of HOMA-IR in both analyses (r = -0.14; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: SAT rather than VAT was inversely associated with adiponectin levels, and, interestingly, fat on the lower extremities was positively associated with adiponectin. Focusing on insulin resistance, SAT rather than VAT and TFA independently predicted a higher HOMA-IR. The observation that adiponectin was independently associated with lower HOMA-IR must be repeated in other populations.

Tonsillotomy in children with tonsillar hypertrophy.

Tonsillectomy is one of the most frequent surgical procedures carried out on children. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, caused by tonsillar hypertrophy, has been attracting increasing interest and tonsillectomy is often performed as a result of this indication. Regardless of the indication, the main aim of tonsillectomy has always been to remove the tonsils completely. The present study was undertaken in order to investigate the effect of two different surgical techniques, tonsillectomy and tonsillotomy, on clinical symptoms in children with symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome due to tonsillar hypertophy. The study was conducted as a prospective, randomized trial comparing the clinical effects of standard tonsillectomy and tonsillotomy using a CO2 laser. Forty-three children aged 2-9 years were included. Both groups of patients experienced comparable relief from symptoms of snoring and apneas at follow-up after 3 months and 2 years. There was no significant statistical difference between the two groups of patients in terms of both short- and long-term effects on clinical symptoms. Tonsillotomy caused no measurable bleeding during surgery. Postoperative pain and distress were less pronounced in the tonsillotomy group according to visual analog scale evaluations made by patients, parents and nursing staff. In conclusion tonsillotomy appears to be the less traumatic surgical method in cases of upper airway obstruction in children caused by tonsillar hypertrophy.

Preparation of liposomes encapsulating water-soluble compounds using supercritical carbon dioxide.

In this paper the development of a new preparation method of liposomes containing a water soluble marker (fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran (FITC-dextran) or zinc phthalocyanine tetrasulfonic acid (TSZnPc) using supercritical carbon dioxide (called "the supercritical liposome method") is described. The apparatus used consisted of two main parts: the high-pressure part, in which the lipid components 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine (POPC) and cholesterol (Chol) (7:3 molar ratio) were dissolved under pressure in supercritical carbon dioxide, and a low-pressure part, in which the homogeneous supercritical solution is expanded and simultaneously mixed with the aqueous phase to yield liposomes encapsulating the water soluble marker. Addition of 7% absolute ethanol to carbon dioxide at 25 MPa and 60 degrees C and the use of a high-pressure recycling system during 30 min form the homogeneous solution with high reproducibility of both lipid components and resulted in an equal expansion profile (recovery after expansion versus time) of POPC and Chol. Incubation of the lipid components during 60 min at the above mentioned conditions generated only 3% degradation. The average size of the liposomes was about 200 nm and could not be influenced by the experimental conditions used. Optimal values for encapsulated volume (1.25 L/mol) and efficiency (20%) of the liposomes were obtained using statistical experimental design by using the water soluble marker TSZnPc and an encapsulation capillary with 5.0 cm length and 0.5 mm inner diameter. The total amount of ethanol used to obtain an encapsulation efficiency of 20% was 15-fold reduced compared to the ethanol injection method of Batzri and Korn (Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1973, 298, 1015-1019).

Sarcoidosis of the nose treated with laser surgery.

Sarcoidosis is a disease of unknown aetiology, which may involve almost any organ. We present a case report on sarcoidosis involving the nasal mucosa, primarily treated with prednisone and methotrexate with only temporary relief of symptoms. We have learned by experience that removal of nasal mucosa granuloma with laser surgery is a recommendable treatment. Almost no complications are seen to this treatment, and the beneficial effect is of long duration.

Can across-treatment changes in cumulative puff duration predict treatment outcome during nicotine fading.

The smoking behavior of 10 male and 15 female smokers was assessed weekly during a standardized nicotine fading program to examine the relationship between compensatory smoking (i.e., increases in the number of cigarettes smoked per day, expired air carbon monoxide (CO), or the frequency and duration of puffs) and posttreatment abstinence from tobacco. Subjects who continued to smoke or relapsed immediately following treatment (Nonabstainers) smoked significantly more cigarettes per day during the program (p less than .05) and exhibited greater across-treatment increases in the time spent puffing a cigarette (i.e., cumulative puff duration) (p less than .05) than subjects who successfully quit smoking (Abstainers). Both Nonabstainers and Abstainers exhibited across-treatment decreases in expired air CO (p less than .001). Similar analyses conducted between subjects who were abstinent versus relapsed 3-6 months following treatment revealed no significant differences in smoking behavior, although both groups exhibited similar across-treatment decreases in CO (p less than .001) and time spent smoking a cigarette (i.e., time alite) (p less than .05). The findings are discussed in reference to their relevance to (a) the development of differential assessment procedures to match smokers to appropriate treatments; (b) the determination of appropriate procedural modifications in the nicotine fading protocol; and (c) nicotine regulation research.

Nicotine fading, behavioral contracting, and extended treatment: effects on smoking cessation.

Twenty-eight subjects were randomly allocated to either a nicotine fading or a maintenance condition. The maintenance condition utilized behavioral contracting and extended treatment in addition to the nicotine fading to improve treatment outcome and avoid relapse. The maintenance condition achieved superior outcome on smoking measures at post-treatment and follow-up periods for self-reported smoking levels. Carbon monoxide levels were significantly lower for the maintenance condition at post-treatment, three month and six month follow-up. Saliva thiocyanate levels were significantly lower for the maintenance condition at the three month follow-up. Changes in health functioning indicated significantly lower diastolic and systolic blood pressure at six month follow-up for the maintenance condition. Additional research on nicotine regulation during nicotine fading and thiocyanate levels during experimental smoking would be useful. The use of behavioral contracting to enhance maintenance without therapeutic support warrants further research as well.

Encouraging long-term compliance with breast self-examination: the evaluation of prompting strategies.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of two prompting interventions on promoting long-term compliance with breast self-examination (BSE). Subjects were 83 faculty and staff at a state university who volunteered to learn BSE at a 1-hr workshop. Following the workshop, subjects were randomly assigned to one of three experimental conditions: phone-prompt group, mail-prompt group, or control group. Prompted subjects received BSE reminders twice a month for 7 months. Performance of BSE was assessed by an ongoing, indirect behavioral measure. Results indicated that the prompts, particularly those delivered by phone, were effective in encouraging initial performance of BSE. However, for all conditions, BSE decreased over the course of the study. The implications of these findings are discussed, and recommendations for future research are presented.

Stress management delivered over public television: Steps toward promoting community mental health.

This study evaluated the efficacy of television as a teaching and skills-developing medium in the area of health promotion. Experimental subjects viewed a five-part stress management series aired on public television. Control subjects were not told about the series. All subjects completed a stress questionnaire battery before and after the televised series and again at a six-week follow-up. The results indicated that experimental subjects learned about stress and stress management from the program. Those experimental subjects who watched four or five segments of the series tended to score higher on stress knowledge than did subjects who viewed fewer than three segments. No significant differences were found between experimental and control subjects on other self-report measures. Theoretical and methodological issues are discussed.

Controlled smoking.

The health risks of smoking are related to the interaction of what is smoked, smoking rate, and the topography of consumption. Assessment and treatment efforts should take all three of these factors into account. A working model of smoking behavior is proposed which involves the consideration of antecedents, concomitants, and consequences of smoking on cognitive, behavioral, situational and physiological levels. Further, the relative importance of these factors is not assumed to be the same across individuals. An approach to smoking risk reduction, called controlled smoking, is proposed which includes the elements of: (1) comprehensive assessment, (2) individualized goals, (3) emphasis on regulation, and (4) a skill development approach to treatment. Finally, some possible commonalities among behavioral approaches to substance abuse are presented.

Assessment of smoking behavior.

The nature of smoking risk is first reviewed and a classification of procedures for assessing smoking behavior is presented. Areas requiring assessment include not only the traditionally measured smoking rate, but also the substance used and topography of consumption. Each of these areas may be assessed through a variety of self-report, observational, or indirect techniques. These techniques as well as some of their advantages and disadvantages are presented. Recently published (1975 to mid-1978) data-based smoking research appearing in four journals (Addictive Behaviors, Behavior Therapy, Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, and Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology) is then reviewed with respect to measurement reliability and the use of multiple measures. Results show a strong tendency to assess only the risk area of smoking rate and a low frequency of appropriate measurement reliability checks, especially during baseline and treatment phases. Some of the implications of these results are discussed.