Differences in muscle adaptation to a 12-week mixed power training in elderly men, depending on usual protein intake.

INTRODUCTION: Normal aging is often associated with a decline of muscle mass (MM), strength (MS) and quality (MQ: MS/MM), leading to functional incapacities. This aging-related deterioration of muscles may involve a decreased protein intake. Mixed power training has been recently shown to induce positive effects on MM, MS and MQ. However, to our knowledge, no study has examined if muscle adaptations following mixed power training could be influenced by the daily amount of protein ingested in elderly men. METHODS: Twenty-one men completed the intervention and were divided into 2 groups based on their usual protein intake: PROT 1.1- (<1.1 g·kg-1·d-1 [n = 10; 73 ±â€¯3 years]) and PROT 1.2+ (>1.2 g·kg-1·d-1 [n = 11; 73 ±â€¯3 years]). Body composition (DXA: lean and fat masses), MS (1-maximal repetition on leg-press and handgrip strength), MQ (MS/body mass and MS/lower limb lean mass), functional capacities (Short Physical Performance Battery/Senior Fitness Test), dietary intake (3-day food record) and energy expenditure (accelerometer; 7 days) were measured. Mixed power training intervention consisted in power and functional exercises (12 weeks; 3 times/week; 1 h/session). RESULTS: Lower limb MS increase in the PROT 1.2+ group was greater from that of the PROT 1.1- group when normalized to lower limbs lean mass (p = 0.036). In addition, a trend for greater gain in lower limb MS normalized to body mass (p = 0.053) was observed in the PROT 1.2+. CONCLUSION: To optimize mixed power training effects on muscle function, healthy older men should ingest daily at least 1.2 g·kg-1·d-1 of protein. These beneficial effects of a higher usual protein intake were observed especially for MQ, which is one of the best predictors of functional capacities in older adults.

Oral ulcer: an uncommon site in primary tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis is a chronic infectious disease and a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. It can affect any part of the body, including the oral cavity. Oral lesions of tuberculosis, though uncommon, have been observed in both primary and secondary stages of the disease. This article presents a case of primary tuberculosis manifested as a non-healing, tender ulcer on the lingual mucosa of the edentulous right mandibular arch molar zone, an uncommon site. The diagnosis was confirmed after histopathology examination, polymerase chain reaction and purified protein derivative tests and chest radiograph. A recommended treatment plan of six months with four anti-tuberculotic antibiotics was commenced. Clinically, the oral ulcer disappeared three months after the commencement of treatment. The resurgence of tuberculosis should compel clinicians to include the disease in the differential diagnosis of various types of non-healing oral ulcers.

Odontogenic keratocysts--a retrospective clinical and histologic study.

Including 25 recurrences, the material comprised 87 odontogenic keratocysts (OKCs) from 57 patients, who had been treated in 1974-93. The study included an analysis of clinical and histologic data from the patients' records and from pathologic reports. The men:women ratio was 1.5:1. Most of the patients belonged to the age groups 10-19, 20-29, 40-49, and 60-69 years. Almost 75% of the OKCs were localized in the mandible. The most common site was the angle and ascending ramus area. Recurrences comprised 30.5% of the OKCs. The symphysial area of the mandible had the highest recurrence rate (50%). The diagnosis of Gorlin's syndrome was established in two patients. The recurrence rates for the OKCs that were removed in one or in several pieces were 27.5% and 39%, respectively. In 14/87 (16%) cases, microkeratocysts were histologically found. Parakeratosis was observed in 78/87 (89.5%), ortho- and parakeratosis in 6/87 (7%), and orthokeratosis in 3/87 (3.5%) cases. The recurrence rates were 31.5% and 41% for the OKCs that were removed during 1974, 1984, and 1985-90, respectively. In no case could malignant changes be observed at histologic examination.

Regulation of calciotropic hormones in vivo in the New Zealand white rabbit.

Serum levels of ionized calcium, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD), and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D[1,25-(OH)2D], intact immunoreactive PTH and calcitonin were measured in the laboratory rabbit to evaluate the role of these calciotropic hormones in calcium homeostasis in this species. We confirm the finding of previous researchers that the resting serum ionized and total calcium concentrations are elevated in rabbits compared to those in other species (ionized calcium, 1.70 +/- 0.13 mmol/liter; total calcium, 3.23 +/- 0.25 mmol/liter). The serum calcium concentrations in animals maintained on a breeding farm or in the laboratory did not differ significantly despite nearly 3-fold higher levels of vitamin D in the feed at the farm, which were associated with 3- to 4-fold higher concentrations of 25OHD and 1,25-(OH)2D. Baseline intact PTH levels for the farm and laboratory populations also did not differ significantly and averaged 69.4 +/- 43.6 human pgeq/ml (laboratory animals, 52.1 +/- 28.4; breeding farm animals, 86.0 +/- 49.5 human pgeq/ml). Infusions of calcium gluconate or EDTA for 15 min into anesthetized animals in the laboratory induced dramatic reciprocal changes in the measured circulating levels of PTH. Calcium gluconate infusions (190-300 nmol/g BW) produced 50-85% increases in serum ionized calcium, which were accompanied by 74-91% decreases in PTH levels (from 68.8 +/- 29.2 at time zero to 10.1 +/- 3.1 human pgeq/ml at 15 min) as well as 7-fold increases in calcitonin levels. EDTA infusions (14-120 nmol/g BW) reduced serum ionized calcium by 9-49%, while PTH levels increased by 68-560% (from 61.4 +/- 32.3 at time zero to a maximum of 138 +/- 48.6 human pgeq/ml at 3 min). During the EDTA infusion, the PTH response was variable after 3 min despite further decreases in ionized Ca2+, indicating either exhaustion of PTH reserves or regulation of the secretory response by some parameter other than ionized calcium concentration per se. Thus, the rabbit appears to defend its serum ionized calcium concentration against hypo- and hypercalcemia by rapid changes in PTH secretion and calcitonin. Unlike other mammalian species, however, the changes in PTH occur at relatively high levels of calcium, suggesting that the parathyroid gland of the rabbit is reset to respond to changes in ionized Ca2+ within the physiological range in that species. The relative insensitivity of the rabbit parathyroid to extracellular calcium is analogous to that observed in primary hyperparathyroidism and may be a useful model to study the control of normal and abnormal PTH secretion.

Untreated thyrotoxicosis as a manifestation of anorexia nervosa.

A patient with anorexia nervosa refused treatment for her thyrotoxicosis for 18 years in an attempt to keep her weight low. Severe congestive heart failure and impending thyroid storm prompted her family to force her to seek medical attention.