Endoneurial sodium, potassium adenosine triphosphatase (Na+,K+-ATPase) and Mg2+-ATPase activities were determined in routine sural nerve biopsies from patients being evaluated for peripheral neuropathy. A significant reduction of endoneurial Na+,K+-ATPase and Mg2+-ATPase activities was shown in six sural nerve biopsies from patients with Tangier disease complicated by mononeuropathy multiplex or progressive axonal neuropathy. Peripheral nerve ATPase activities did not correlate with myelinated or unmyelinated nerve fiber densities in these biopsies. Other peripheral neuronal disorders with reduced endoneurial Na+,K+-ATPase and Mg2+-ATPase activities included severe vasculitic neuropathy, diabetic neuropathy, tomaculous neuropathy, and motoneuron disease. Such reduced levels of ATPase activity in peripheral nerve may relate to altered endoneurial lipid metabolism and impaired axoplasmic flow.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

PRESC: an interactive program for radiation therapy prescriptions.

An interactive program for prescribing radiotherapy treatments has been developed with the aim of improving radiation dose accuracy by preventing mistakes in quantitative data handling and calculations. The program also aims to decrease the time required to prescribe treatments and check the calculations. The interactive dialogue closely follows present, manual methods of prescription. The program provides a comprehensive choice of treatment options which either individually or in combination cover all the treatments carried out on the Cobalt units for which the program was designed. Each of the treatment options has been highly optimized to reduce the amount of data entered and for ease of use. The program allows changes to the prescription at time of entry and during the treatment course. The treatment sheet and patient record resulting from the interactive dialogue are discussed and compared with the existing system. The modular program structure is described and some of the results from use of the program are discussed. Possible future improvements are outlined.

Computers↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The effects of sequential combined oral 17beta-estradiol norethisterone acetate on insulin sensitivity and body composition in healthy postmenopausal women: a randomized single blind placebo-controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: The androgenic effect of progestogen, necessary in early postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT), may adversely affect insulin sensitivity as well as body fat distribution and thereby increase the cardiovascular risk profile. The impact of HRT with sequential combined oral 17beta-estradiol and norethisterone acetate on insulin sensitivity and body composition in early menopause has not been studied. DESIGN: A randomized single blind placebo-controlled 6-month study of sequential combined 17beta-estradiol norethisterone acetate on insulin sensitivity and body composition was carried out. Thirty fit healthy postmenopausal women were enrolled and completed this 6-month study. Body composition was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scanning, and insulin sensitivity was measured using the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp. Studies were undertaken at baseline and after 6 months of therapy. The studies were performed during the estrogen-only phase of therapy. RESULTS: All women demonstrated a degree of decreased insulin sensitivity that was not modified by 6 months of hormone replacement therapy. Body composition remained unchanged over 6 months. There was no alteration in total body fat or the distribution of body fat. The percentage of central abdominal fat (android) was not altered. CONCLUSION: Six months of HRT with sequential combined oral 17beta-estradiol norethisterone acetate does not have an adverse effect on insulin sensitivity and does not promote an increase in weight or the more android distribution of body fat, which could contribute to the increased cardiovascular risk profile that is evident in postmenopausal women.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗