Vitamin C and E supplementation blunts increases in total lean body mass in elderly men after strength training.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of vitamin C and E supplementation on changes in muscle mass (lean mass and muscle thickness) and strength during 12 weeks of strength training in elderly men. Thirty-four elderly males (60-81 years) were randomized to either an antioxidant group (500 mg of vitamin C and 117.5 mg vitamin E before and after training) or a placebo group following the same strength training program (three sessions per week). Body composition was assessed with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and muscle thickness by ultrasound imaging. Muscle strength was measured as one-repetition maximum (1RM). Total lean mass increased by 3.9% (95% confidence intervals: 3.0, 5.2) and 1.4% (0, 5.4) in the placebo and antioxidant groups, respectively, revealing larger gains in the placebo group (P = 0.04). Similarly, the thickness of m. rectus femoris increased more in the placebo group [16.2% (12.8, 24.1)] than in the antioxidant group [10.9% (9.8, 13.5); P = 0.01]. Increases of lean mass in trunk and arms, and muscle thickness of elbow flexors, did not differ significantly between groups. With no group differences, 1RM improved in the range of 15-21% (P < 0.001). In conclusion, high-dosage vitamin C and E supplementation blunted certain muscular adaptations to strength training in elderly men.

Precision in automated refraction.

Forty-six eyes were examined with automated refraction with the Nidek 1000-AR autorefractometer to determine how large variation there was in readings of each patient, under dry conditions (without cycloplegia) and in atropine and cyclopentolate cycloplegia. Likewise, the differences between methods of cycloplegia were analysed with regard to sphere, cylinder power, and axis. Overall the variation in each set of measurements was greatest for the spherical component, and a larger variation was found in the youngest age group. Variation in cylinder power and axis was small. Cycloplegics had a significant influence on the spherical component of automated refraction, and a mean difference of 0.76D was found between atropine and dry readings, and 0.23D between atropine and cyclopentolate readings. The differences between cycloplegic and dry readings in cylinder power and axis were insignificant. A regression model relating spherical power of dry and cyclopentolate automated refraction was developed, and the predictive power of this equation was tested.

Automated refraction. A comparative study of automated refraction with the Nidek AR-1000 autorefractor and retinoscopy.

A prospective study was performed on 46 eyes to compare results of different methods of objective refraction, namely automated refraction with the Nidek AR-1000 autorefractometer and retinoscopy in cycloplegia. We found that automated refraction in cyclopentolate cycloplegia gave results that differed little from results of retinoscopy in atropine cycloplegia both with respect to sphere and cylinder. Axis determination was even better with automated refraction. Dry automated refraction gave inaccurate results for the spheric component presumably because of suboptimal control of accommodation in this group of young patients. We recommend automated refraction in cyclopentolate cycloplegia as an easy, rapid, accurate and convenient method for obtaining an objective refraction where accommodative disorders are suspected.

Retinal detachment after YAG-laser capsulotomy.

Preoperative findings and postoperative results in 8 patients with retinal detachment after YAG-laser capsulotomy are described. In this period the over-all incidence of clinical retinal detachment in pseudophakic eyes after YAG capsulotomy in our hospital was 1.0% (2 of 193). Possible relationships between YAG-laser capsulotomy and retinal detachment are discussed. Two risk factors for developing retinal detachment were found in 6 of 8 patients. After surgical repair 7 retinas were re-attached. The final visual acuity was better than 0.5 in 5 patients.

[Retinal detachment after cataract surgery with intraocular lens implantation]. / Netthinneavløsning etter kataraktoperasjoner med implantasjon av intraokulaere linser.

92 pseudophakic retinal detachments were treated in our hospital over a period of six years. These cases are reviewed retrospectively, with special emphasis on the factors that influenced the surgical outcome. The overall rate of success was 80%. Visual acuity was better than 0.1 in 77% of the cases. The major cause of failure was proliferative vitreoretinopathy, which was responsible for seven of ten failures. Postoperative proliferative vitreoretinopathy was the only factor that gave a significantly poorer prognosis after surgical treatment, although the presence of high myopia and preoperative proliferative vitreoretinopathy tended to give a less successful outcome. Likewise, there was a tendency for better prognosis in eyes with posterior chamber intraocular lenses.

Acute toxicity of iopentol in rodents.

Testing of the intravenous toxicity (LD50) of iopentol in mice and rats showed results comparable to the toxicity of non-ionic monomeric contrast media already in clinical use. Toxicity data suggest that iopentol may be a useful compound for use as an intravascular radiographic contrast medium.

Effects of intravenous radiographic contrast media on the blood pressure and on factors of the contact activation system in the rat.

Blood pressure (BP), plasma prekallikrein (PK), and the extent of activation of factor XII (XII-ACT) were studied after the intravenous injection into rats of dextran (Macrodex), the ionic radiographic contrast substance iodipamide (Biligrafin), or the non-ionic contrast substance iohexol (Omnipaque). After acetone activation plasma kallikrein was assayed as plasminogen activator, BAEe esterase or S-2302 amidase, and factor XIIa was assayed as kaolin-activated prekallikrein activator. Dextran induced a strong and lasting hypotension, preceded by significant lowerings in PK and XII-ACT. Iodipamide induced a rapid and dose dependent BP fall, no change in plasma PK, but a slightly reduced XII-ACT. Iohexol induced no significant alterations, neither in BP, nor in plasma parameters. Pretreatments of the rats with iodipamide abolished the dextran-induced reductions in PK and XII-ACT, and almost blocked the fall in BP. We conclude that the ionic contrast substance iodipamide is capable of blocking dextran shock in the rat by preventing an activation of the contact activating system in plasma.

Acute intravenous toxicity of iohexol in the mouse and in the rat.

Iohexol has been shown to have a remarkably low intravenous toxicity in mice and rats. It has an even lower toxicity than metrizamide which previously has been shown to be better tolerated than the common ionic media.

Absorption of a non-ionic contrast agent from cerebrospinal fluid to blood.

Intrathecal injection of a non-ionic contrast agent in the lumbar area of rabbits resulted in: (1) a rapid rise in blood iodine level with a maximum after 23-46 min; (2) low concentrations in cisterna magna during the observation period (24 h); and (3) complete or almost complete disappearance of visible contrast medium on the radiographs within 30 min. This indicates that after injection in the lumbar area of the rabbit most of the contrast medium absorption takes place from the lumbar area. Similar injections in cisterna magna showed the following: (1) a slow rise in blood level with a maximum after 150-275 min; (2) little or no disappeared of visible contrast medium on the radiographs within the first hour. This indicates that in the rabbit the absorption from the subarachnoid space of the spine takes place at different rates dependent on the level at which the injection has been made and the area of deposition of contrast medium.

Experimental investigations with metrizamide with relevance to the myelographic use.

Recent animal experiments with metrizamide (Amipaque) in the subarachnoid space have essentially substantiated the low toxicity previously demonstrated. The interaction with neuroleptic drugs has been confirmed. Whether clinical doses of metrizamide may induce adhesive arachnoiditis is still unsettled.