Calcitonin and calcium combined therapy in osteoporosis: effects on vertebra trabecular bone density.

Calcitonin is a hormone produced by the parafollicular cells of the thyroid gland. Like calcium salts, calcitonin acts by reducing bone resorption. In this study, 26 osteoporotic patients were given 100 IU salmon calcitonin for 10 days and, thereafter, 100 IU calcitonin every other day for 80 days combined with 1000 mg/day calcium salts. Prior to and after the combined therapy, the mean trabecular bone densities from the levels of thoracic 12 and lumbar 1 and 2 were obtained and routine thoracic and lumbar radiography performed. Combined calcitonin and calcium therapy for 3 months produced significant increases in vertebra trabecular bone density. The evaluation of the trabecular bone density and the number of non-traumatic compression fractures in 26 osteoporotic patients prior to the therapy did not indicate any close relationship between them. It is concluded that, in addition to other factors reported previously, microtraumas during daily activities have some effect on the incidence of fractures.

The effects of physical training on physical fitness tests and auditory and visual reaction times of volleyball players.

Twenty male volleyball players were taken for this study and during an 8-week-period they did physical conditioning exercises by weight training 5 days a week. Physical fitness tests, auditory and visual reaction times were measured at the beginning and at the end of training period. When results statistically analysed, it was observed that physical conditioning exercises affected their physical fitness positively and moreover auditory and visual reaction times were shortened.

Tendon lengthening repair and early mobilization in treatment of neglected bilateral simultaneous traumatic rupture of the quadriceps tendon.

Bilateral simultaneous traumatic rupture of the quadriceps tendon is a rare injury that is most frequently seen in elderly patients with predisposing diseases such as gout, hyperparathyroidism and diabetes. Delay in diagnosis is not uncommon. One of the main problems in treatment is loss of motion, especially flexion, after surgical repair. We report a case that was diagnosed 5 months after the trauma and was treated by Scuderi's tendon lengthening technique. Range-of-motion exercises were started early without using the generally recommended 4-6 weeks of immobilization in plaster cylinder or knee brace. Five years of follow-up showed full range of motion in both knees with sound tendons. Stable fixation makes starting early motion and accelerated rehabilitation feasible and thus the most common complication, loss of motion, is prevented.