Caloric expenditure, life status, and disease in former male athletes and non-athletes.

This study examined the association between aerobic, caloric exercise expenditure and life status (living vs deceased) as well as the prevalence rates of hypertension (HBP) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in former male athletes (ATH) and non-athletes (N-ATH). The initial survey for this study was done in 1952. Follow-up surveys of respondents were done in 1960, 1968, 1976, and 1984. The present study used all subjects who responded fully to activity and health questions in 1976 and who were reported as either dead or alive (not lost to follow-up) in 1984. A total of 348 subjects (185 ATH, 163 N-ATH) were assessed and caloric expenditure groups were established by kilocalories (kcal) of aerobic exercise per week; 0 kcal (group 1), 1-399 kcal (group 2), 400-899 kcal (group 3), 900-1499 kcal (group 4), 1500-2499 kcal (group 5), and 2500+ kcal (group 6). Only activity considered to be aerobic was used in the establishment of the aerobic categories. Death rate was highest in groups 1 and 2. Subjects in group 1 tended to be the oldest. Year of birth (age) (P less than 0.001) and CVD (P less than 0.05) as reported in 1976 were significantly related to mortality between 1976 and 1984. College athletic status and 1976 exercise level were not significantly related to mortality. Prevalence of CVD and HBP was highest in groups 1 and 6, suggesting a moderate amount of aerobic activity as optimal.

Somatotype and longevity of former university athletes and nonathletes.

A longitudinal study was conducted on 398 athletes and 369 nonathletes who were born before 1920 and attended Michigan State University. The subjects were compared to determine if intercollegiate athletic competition accounts for significant variation in longevity when considered with somatotype. Because some of the subjects were still alive at the time of the study, the BMDP Statistical Software was used to do a survival analysis with covariates. Preliminary comparisons considered the differences in somatotype between athletes and nonathletes. Two sample t-tests indicated that athletes were more mesomorphic and less ectomorphic (p less than .05) than nonathletes. When comparing the relationship between somatotype and longevity, the pooled data of athletes and nonathletes indicated that endomorphs were shorter lived than the other three comparison groups. When only the athletes were considered, similar results were found. However, the nonathlete group exhibited differences only between the mesomorphic and endomorphic groups. The endomorphs were shorter lived. Longevity was examined by using the Cox proportional hazards regression method with somatotype and athlete/nonathlete status as covariates. Somatotype, by itself, was found to be significantly related to longevity, (p less than .001). Athletic status was not significantly related to longevity, either by itself or when entered into the model with somatotype.

The Longevity and Morbidity of College Athletes.

This well-designed study does not prove that athletic participation affects longevity and morbidity. Perhaps the same study of highly trained athletes would produce different results.

Vesical-related paragangliomas.

A review is presented of vesical-related paragangliomas and 3 cases are reported. Methods for early diagnosis, including selective angiographic demonstration, and treatment of these rare tumors are discussed. A multi-team approach by the urologist, endocrinologist and anesthesiologist is stressed for better control of potentially dangerous vasomotor changes during diagnosis and surgical treatment of this tumor.

Intravenous pyelographic visualization after complete ureteral obstruction with hypertonic solute loading.

Intravenous pyelography was performed after complete unilateral ureteral obstruction in dogs under conditions of mannitol diuresis and 3% NaCl solute loading. Pyelographic visualization with mannitol diuresis was uniformly poor. Satisfactory intravenous pyelograms were obtained in the 3% NaCl solute loaded group during the first 2 weeks, with nephrogram visualization noted up to 45 days postocclusion. The clinical use of pyelography, boosted by hypertonic solute loading during the early period after complete ureteral obstruction, may yield unexpected good quality studies.