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Biomedical subjects

M Medraś

Publications and source records attributed to M Medraś.

45 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Impact of recreational physical activity on bone mineral density in middle-aged men.

Physical activity is known to exert beneficial effects on general health status of young, adult and elderly populations. Exercise (aside from genetic, hormonal, nutritional and pathological factors) also influences bone mineral density (BMD). Unfortunately, the association between physical exercise and BMD in adult population is controversial. Our aim was to assess relations between recreational physical activity and BMD in middle-aged men. We performed densitometry and hormonal measurements (total testosterone, free testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, estradiol) in a homogenous group of 38 subjects. Among them, we distinguished 22 who had not engaged in any physical activity, and 16 who had recreationally exercised for about 10 years. Both groups did not differ in regard to hormonal status. Similarly, densitometry did not reveal any statistically significant differences in BMD between both groups of men. Upon our observation, we can hypothesize that recreational physical activity does not affect bone mineral density in middle-aged men.

Androgens↗

Relationships between age-related changes of sex steroids, obesity and body fat distribution among healthy Polish males.

During the process of aging in males a trend toward an unfavourable body fat accumulation, especially within the visceral depots, is observed. This fact is presumed to be associated with the age-related decline in androgen levels among aging men. The aim of this study was to determine the relationships between sex steroid levels (DHEAS, estradiol, free and total testosterone) and BMI, percent fat mass, WHR values in 190 healthy and professionally active men, aged 22-67, inhabitants of the city of Wroclaw, Poland. Hormonal levels were measured using standard immunoassays. BMI was used as a measurement of obesity. Obesity was also assessed using percent fat mass equations according to the Crook formula. WHR was used as an index of fat distribution. All the correlations between sex steroids, BMI, WHR, percent fat mass and age were evaluated using statistical non-parametric analyses (Spearman coefficient) in the entire group of examined subjects, and in two age-specific groups: a) younger males (aged 22-39) and b) older males (aged 40-67). The aging of Polish males is accompanied by both a significant increase of BMI, percent fat mass and WHR values, and by a decline in estradiol, gonadal and adrenal androgen levels. In the younger group only total testosterone levels were significantly negatively related to BMI, percent fat mass and WHR. Within the group of older men both estradiol and DHEAS levels are significantly positively related to WHR. The sex steroids seem to be associated with indices of overall obesity and distribution of fat in men, but these relationships differ considerably when they are evaluated in younger and older age categories. Worthy of notice is the fact that free testosterone levels are not related to any anthropometric parameters in any age category, although free testosterone (not total testosterone) is commonly recognised as a reliable and sensitive endocrinological indicator of the general psycho-physical status of an aging man.

Adipose Tissue↗

[The effect of smoking tobacco and drinking of alcohol and coffee on bone mineral density of healthy men 40 years of age].

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of smoking, alcohol and coffee drinking on bone mineral content (BMC) in a group of 258 healthy men, aged 40-63, occupationally active inhabitants of Wroclaw. Trabecular, cortical and total BMC at the distal radius of the non-dominant hand were measured by pQCT method using the Stratec apparatus. The data concerning smoking, alcohol and coffee intake were obtained through a questionnaire. The significance of BMC differences between groups were tested using a one-way analysis of variance ANOVA. The extent of alcohol intake did not differentiate BMC values at the distal radius, whereas the significant detrimental effects of both smoking and coffee drinking on trabecular (but not cortical and total) BMC were revealed. Among healthy Polish males coffee drinking was associated with a significant reduction of trabecular BMC. Simultaneously, smokers and ex-smokers (when compared to never-smokers) had lower trabecular BMC.

Adult↗

Coexistence of parathyroid carcinoma and non-medullary carcinoma of the thyroid.

A case of 35-year-old woman with parathyroid cancer is presented. Five years ago she underwent surgery for follicular thyroid cancer. Parathyroid cancer was evidenced by palpable, solid, irregularly shaped cervical tumor 5 cm in diameter. The patient had severe hyperparathyroidism confirmed by biochemical findings of hypercalcemia reaching 16 mg%, hypophosphatemia and hyperphosphatasemia. Serum parathormone level was 23-fold higher than the norm. These findings were accompanied by polyuria, polidypsia, symptoms of bone damage and renal calcification. After the surgery the patient's condition improved significantly despite persistent hyperparathyroidism. The level of parathormone decreased, but was still 11 times higher than the norm. Two months after the surgery she noticed a single node on her neck. The patient was re-operated for recurrence of parathyroid cancer. Serum parathormone level was then 6-8 times above the norm. Medical treatment with furosemide, calcitonin and biphosphonate resulted in normalization of calcemia and phosphatemia. Further management will aim at localization of foci of hyperactive parathyroid tissue in order to enable radical reoperation. The case is reported because of rare occurrence of parathyroid carcinoma as well as because the carcinoma occurred in a patient who previously had follicular thyroid cancer. There are no reports of coexistence of these two neoplasms in available literature.

Adult↗

[The problem of marital infertility caused by the male partner pathology in view of potential semen donors].

An inquiry was carried out in 91 students of the V year of Medical Academy, potential semen donors for artificial insemination, for gaining an insight into the degree of acceptance of this problem in their present situation and in assumed possible infertility of them or their partners, and the foreseen results of sociocultural consequences of the infertility of one of the partners in a married couple, as regarded by the responders. The highest grade of acceptance of semen donation for heterologous insemination was shown by students living in cities and coming from the families of the intelligentsia. Among the factors determining this attitude the most frequent were: altruistic attitude, followed by economic gains. Religion had only a slight influence on this attitude. In the studied group a higher acceptance was gained in case of female infertility by resolving the problem by use of the so called proxy-mother, than by artificial insemination in case of male infertility. Nearly half the responders supported adoption of a child in preference to artificial insemination, while heterologous insemination was preferred mainly by responders coming from small towns and villages.

Attitude to Health↗

[Hypoplasia of Leydig's cells as a cause of male pseudohermaphroditism].

A case of male hermaphroditism is presented. It complied with all traditional criteria of male hermaphroditism due to Leydig's cells hypoplasia (anomaly of the internal genitalia, karyotype 46, XY, presence of the testicular tissue, no response of the hypoplastic Leydig's cells to HCG stimulation with simultaneous dramatic decrease in their number in the interstitial tissue. Emphasis is on the marked difference in incomplete virilization of the external genitalia related to the occurrence of Leydig's cells insufficiency.

Adult↗

[Results of heterologous artificial insemination, ethical- deontological implications].

Fourteen female patients married to infertile men were artificially inseminated with the semen of unknown donors within 1985-1987. Over 150 inseminations (no complications except sporadic pain) produced 7 pregnancies out of which 5 were finished with the delivery of healthy babies, one was terminated in the seventh week with abortion. Fate of the remaining pregnancy is unknown. Ethical-legal implications of AID, the problem of donors and classification of semen, and necessity to store the semen at the temperature of liquid nitrogen due to the risk of AID are emphasized.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗