bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Use of anabolic steroids and associated health risks among gay men attending London gyms
Authors: Bolding Graham , Sherr Lorraine , Elford Jonathan 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACTAim To examine, by HIV status, the use of anabolic steroids among London gay men and their effect on physical and mental health.Design Cross‐sectional survey using self‐administered questionnaire.Setting Six gyms in central London.Participants 772 gay men using the gyms in January–February 2000.Measurements Proportion of gay men who reported (i) using steroids, (ii) sharing injecting equipment, (iii) experiencing side‐effects and (iv) having suicidal thoughts or feeling depressed.Findings Of 772 gay men, 117 (15.2%) had used and 90 (11.7%) had injected steroids in the previous 12 months: HIV positive men (steroid use) 31.7% (40/126), HIV negative men 14.5% (69/477), never‐tested for HIV 4.7% (8/169) (p < 0.001). No one reported sharing needles or syringes. HIV positive men were more likely to have used steroids for medical reasons than other men (24.3% versus 5.9%, p = 0.01). Nearly all steroid users (96.4%) reported side effects including testicular atrophy (51.0%), insomnia (47.7%), depression between cycles (25.2%) and hypertension (19.0%). Steroid users were more likely to have had suicidal thoughts in the previous 6 months than non‐users (22.6% versus 11.2%, adjusted odds ratio after controlling for HIV status 1.84; 95% CI 1.10–3.12, p = 0.02) or to have felt depressed (49.1% versus 38.5%, adjusted OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.01–2.30, p = 0.047)Conclusion One in seven gay men surveyed in central London gyms in 2000 said they had used steroids in the previous 12 months. HIV positive men were more likely to have used steroids than other men, some therapeutically. Side effects were reported widely and steroid use was associated with having had suicidal thoughts and feeling depressed, although cause and effect could not be established. Our findings suggest that steroid use among gay men may have serious consequences for both physical and mental health.
Effects of transient muscle contractions and stretching on the tendon structures in vivo
Authors: KUBO K. , KANEHISA H. , FUKUNAGA T. 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACTThis study compared the effects of static stretching (ST) and repeated muscle contractions (CON) on the viscoelastic properties of tendon structures in vivo. Eight male subjects performed ST (passively flexed to 35 of dorsiflexion) for 5 min and 50 repetitions of isometric maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) for 3 s each with 3 s relaxation. Before and after each task, the elongation of the tendon and aponeurosis of the medial gastrocnemius muscle (MG) was directly measured by ultrasonography, while the subjects performed ramp isometric plantar flexion up to MVC, followed by a ramp relaxation. The relationship between the estimated muscle force (Fm) and tendon elongation (L) during the ascending phase was applied to a linear regression, the slope of which was defined as stiffness of the tendon structures. The percentage of the area within the Fm–L loop to the area beneath the curve during the ascending phase was calculated as an index representing hysteresis. The ST protocol significantly decreased the stiffness (–8%) and hysteresis (29%)., respectively. In contrast, the CON protocol significantly decreased the stiffness, but not the hysteresis. These results suggested that the stretching and repeated contractions would make the tendon structures more complaint, and further decreased the hysteresis of the tendon structures.
Intrauterine growth restriction reduces nephron number and renal excretory function in newborn piglets1
Authors: Bauer R. , Walter B. , Bauer K. , Klupsch R. , Patt S. , Zwiener U. 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACTTo examine the effects of intrauterine growth restriction on nephron number, renal circulation, and renal excretory functions in newborns, studies were conducted on 1‐day‐old anaesthetized piglets, divided into normal weight (n = 6) and intrauterine growth restricted (n = 6) piglets. Renal blood flow was measured by coloured microspheres, glomerular filtration rate was measured by inulin clearance, and osmotic clearance and fractional sodium excretion were calculated. In addition, an estimation of the nephron number was performed by counting representative glomerular numbers in microscopic sections. Newborn intrauterine growth restricted piglets exhibited a reduced glomerular filtration rate and osmotic clearance (P < 0.05), whereas renal blood flow and the filtration fraction as well as fractional sodium excretion were similar in normal weight and intrauterine growth restricted piglets. The nephron number was markedly reduced in intrauterine growth restricted piglets even if the nephron number was related to body weight (P < 0.01). There was a positive correlation between nephron number and glomerular filtration rate (r = 0.69, P < 0.05). Reduced glomerular filtration rate of newborn intrauterine growth restricted piglets is associated with a reduced nephron number. Thus, at birth, compensatory response of renal function due to nephron deficit does not exist in intrauterine growth restricted piglets.
Notes on sitatunga in The Gambia
Authors: Starin E. D. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractOpportunistic sightings were made of an introduced, free‐ranging population of sitatunga (Tragelaphus spekei gratus) in the Abuko Nature Reserve for 5.5 years. The sitatunga used more habitat types than the sympatric bushbuck (T. scriptus), were most active during the coolest times of the day, retreated into shade during the hottest times of the day and their diet consisted mostly of mature leaf parts. In terms of social behaviour, the sitatunga spent most of the time on their own, females gave birth during the dry season, and males engaged in horn wrestling and vegetation horning. Today, this population has disappeared and the wild Senegambian population has never been studied or surveyed. The numbers are probably dwindling throughout the area.
Dramatic change in local climate patterns in the Amboseli basin, Kenya
Authors: Altmann J. , Alberts S. C. , Altmann S. A. , Roy S. B. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractThe Amboseli basin, a semi‐arid, open savannah area of southern Kenya, has experienced extensive changes in habitat since the early 1960's. The present report documents patterns of air temperature and rainfall in Amboseli for the 25‐year period beginning 1976. Daily temperatures increased dramatically throughout this time period, at a rate almost an order of magnitude greater than that attributed to global warming. Mean daily maximum temperature increased more than did daily minimum (0.275 vs. 0.071°C per annum). Although increases in mean daily maxima were documented for all months of the year, they were greatest during the hottest months, February and March. Annual rainfall varied more than four‐fold (x = 346.5 mm, SD = 120.0, range 132.0–553.4 mm), yet did not exhibit any directional or other regular pattern of variability among years over this same 25‐year period. Empirical as well as theoretical investigation of relations between such changes in climatic conditions and habitat characteristics are needed at local and regional as well as global scales.
Coastal sponge communities of the West Indian Ocean: taxonomic affinities, richness and diversity
Authors: Barnes David K. A. , Bell James J. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractSponges assemblages were sampled in four coastal study regions (Malindi, Kenya; Quirimba Archipelago, northern Mozambique; Inhaca Island, Southern Mozambique and Anakao, Madagascar) in the west Indian Ocean. Sponge species were counted in multiple 0.5 m2 quadrats at depths of between 0 and 20 m at a number of sites within localities within each region. Despite the relatively small areas sampled, sponge samples comprised a total of 130 species and 70 genera of the classes Demospongiae and Calcarea. Sponges are clearly a major taxon in these regions in terms of numbers of species, percentage cover or biomass, although their ecology in the west Indian Ocean is virtually unknown. Nearly half of the genera, e.g. Iotrochota, found were species with a so‐called Tethyan distribution. Most of the other genera were cosmopolitan, e.g. Clathria, but some were cold water (Coelosphaera), Indo‐Australian (Ianthella) or circum‐African (Crambe). Many of the species encountered in the present study occurred in at least two study regions, many in more and could occupy large areas of substratum. Some of these, e.g. Xestospongia exigua, are commonly found throughout the Indo‐west Pacific region where they also occupy much space. The endemicity of the shallow water sponge faunas in East Africa (20–25%) seem to be high within the Indo‐Pacific realm but are lower than northern Papua New Guinea. The tropical regions (Kenya and Northern Mozambique) were more speciose than subtropical regions (southern Mozambique and Madagascar) but not significantly more diverse (Shannon H′). Although latitude was not a major influence on sponge community patterns, hard substratum assemblages did form a cline from the tropics to Southern Mozambique, linked by Madagascar. Substratum nature (habitat) was most important in influencing the suite and number of species present. Sponge assemblages of soft substrata were much more dissimilar, both within and between habitats, than those on hard substrata. There was a predictable variability in species richness between hard substratum habitats: coral reefs being speciose and caves being less so. Our findings showed that both patterns and influences on species richness may be decoupled from those influencing diversity. In our data species richness, but not diversity, showed striking regional and bathymetric trends. In addition, sponge species richness mainly split at coral reef vs. non‐reef habitats, whilst diversity divided principally into assemblages on hard and soft substrata. We consider this dichotomy of findings between species richness and diversity values to be important, as these are two principal measures used for the interpretation of biodiversity.
Sex hormone status and bone metabolism in men with Crohn’s disease
Authors: Robinson  , Iqbal  , Al‐Azzawi  , Abrams  , Mayberry  
Published: March 2003

Background:Men with Crohn’s disease (CD) are at risk of osteoporosis, but the factors contributing to low bone mineral density and its optimum treatment have not been established.Aim:To investigate the sex hormone status of men with CD, and to establish the influence of sex hormones on their bone metabolism.Methods:Bone density was measured by dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry at the hip and lumbar spine in 48 men with CD. Total serum testosterone and gonadotrophins were measured in all subjects and the free androgen index calculated in men with low or borderline total testosterone. Serum osteocalcin, pro‐collagen carboxy‐terminal peptide, bone specific alkaline phosphatase and urinary deoxypyridinoline were measured as markers of bone turnover.Results:Eight (17%) men had osteoporosis, and a further 14 (29%) had osteopenia. Three (6%) men had a low free androgen index and normal gonadotrophins consistent with secondary hypogonadism, two of whom had osteopenia of the hip and spine. Age (P=0.002) and small bowel Crohn’s disease (P=0.02) were the only independent predictors of serum testosterone. There was a significant association between total testosterone and osteocalcin (r=0.53, 95% CI: 0.29–0.71, P=0.0001) which was independent of age and current steroid use (P=0.0001).Conclusions:Previously undiagnosed hypogonadism is an uncommon cause of low bone density in men with CD. The independent association between testosterone and the bone formation marker osteocalcin suggests sex hormone status influences bone metabolism in men with CD. The results suggest testosterone replacement might be effective treatment for some men with osteoporosis and Crohn’s disease.
Psyllium is superior to docusate sodium for treatment of chronic constipation
Authors: McRorie  , Daggy  , Morel  , Diersing  , Miner  , Robinson  
Published: March 2003

Background:Stool softening is a physician’s first step in the management of chronic constipation.Aim:To compare stool softening (stool water content) and laxative efficacy of psyllium hydrophilic mucilloid vs. docusate sodium.Methods:The multi‐site, randomized, double‐blind, parallel‐design study of 170 subjects with chronic idiopathic constipation involved a 2‐week baseline (placebo) phase followed by 2 weeks of treatment. The treatment phase compared psyllium (5.1 g b.d.) plus docusate placebo to docusate sodium (100 mg b.d.) plus psyllium placebo. Stools were collected and assessed.Results:Compared to baseline, psyllium increased stool water content vs. docusate (psyllium 2.33% vs. docusate 0.01%,P = 0.007). Psyllium also increased stool water weight (psyllium 84.0 g/BM; docusate 71.4 g/BM;P = 0.04), total stool output (psyllium 359.9 g/week; docusate 271.9 g/week;P = 0.005), and O’Brien rank‐type score combining objective measures of constipation (psyllium 475.1; docusate 403.9;P = 0.002). Bowel movement (BM) frequency was significantly greater for psyllium (3.5 BM/week) vs. docusate (2.9 BM/week) in treatment week 2 (P = 0.02), with no significant difference (P > 0.05) between treatment groups in treatment week 1 (3.3 vs. 3.1 BM/week).Conclusion:Psyllium is superior to docusate sodium for softening stools by increasing stool water content, and has greater overall laxative efficacy in subjects with chronic idiopathic constipation.
Olsalazine versus mesalazine in the treatment of mild to moderate ulcerative colitis
Authors: Kruis  , Brandes  , Schreiber  , Theuer  , Krakamp  , Schütz  , Otto  , Lorenz‐Mayer  , Ewe  , Judmaier  
Published: March 2003

Aim:To compare the efficacy and tolerability of olsalazine sodium with enteric‐coated mesalazine in inducing endoscopic remission in patients with mild to moderate active ulcerative colitis.Patients and methods:Patients with mild to moderate active ulcerative colitis were randomized to receive either olsalazine sodium, 3 g/day (n = 88), or mesalazine, 3 g/day (n = 80), for up to 12 weeks.Results:Of the patients treated with olsalazine sodium, 52.2% achieved endoscopic remission, compared with 48.8% of patients treated with mesalazine. This difference was not significant (P = 0.67). There was a non‐significant trend for patients with left‐sided colitis or a more severe endoscopic grade to achieve remission if they were treated with olsalazine sodium than if they were treated with mesalazine. Both treatments were comparable with respect to clinical activity index and an investigator’s global assessment. Seventy patients reported one or more adverse events; adverse events were seen in 45% of olsalazine sodium‐treated patients and in 36% of mesalazine‐treated patients. Eleven patients treated with olsalazine sodium and nine patients treated with mesalazine withdrew from the study because of adverse events. One patient treated with olsalazine sodium compared with two treated with mesalazine stopped treatment because of diarrhoea. Serious adverse events occurred in three patients treated with olsalazine sodium and in four treated with mesalazine.Conclusion:Therapeutic effectiveness and tolerance to the treatment did not differ between olsalazine sodium, 3 g/day, and mesalazine, 3 g/day, in inducing endoscopic remission in patients with mild to moderate active ulcerative colitis within 12 weeks of treatment.
On‐demand treatment of gastro‐oesophageal reflux symptoms: a comparison of ranitidine 75 mg with cimetidine 200 mg or placebo
Authors: Galmiche J. P. , Shi G. , Simon B. , Casset‐Semanaz F. , Slama A. 
Published: March 2003

Aim:To compare the effects of ranitidine 75 mg with those of either cimetidine 200 mg or placebo given on demand for relief of typical symptoms of gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease during a 15‐day period.Methods:A total of 1336 patients (aged ≥ 18 years) with heartburn episodes were recruited and randomly assigned to a ranitidine 75 mg, cimetidine 200 mg or placebo group. Depending on the occurrence or persistence of heartburn, treatment was administered as required up to three times daily, with at least 2 h between drug doses. Antacids were allowed as rescue medication if symptoms persisted for at least 2 h after the third medication on any given day. The primary end‐point was defined as the proportion of patients with relief of at least 75% of heartburn episodes during the study period (i.e. relief occurring within 2 h after drug ingestion and lasting for at least 5 h).Results:Analysis was performed in an intention‐to‐treat population comprising 504 subjects in the ranitidine group, 515 in the cimetidine group and 270 in the placebo group. Primary end‐point success rates were 41, 38 and 28%, respectively, for the three groups (P < 0.001 for ranitidine vs. placebo, P = 0.274 for ranitidine vs. cimetidine). Ranitidine 75 mg was significantly more effective than placebo in providing overall heartburn relief (P < 0.001). The differences between the ranitidine and cimetidine groups were not significant, except for a greater reduction in heartburn frequency in the ranitidine group at the end of the study period (P < 0.05). Drug dose was lower and less rescue medication was used in the ranitidine group than the placebo group. The three treatment groups did not differ in terms of tolerability.Conclusion:On‐demand ranitidine 75 mg or cimetidine 200 mg are safe and effective treatment for reflux‐related symptoms.
TNFα processing enzyme inhibitors prevent aspirin‐induced TNFα release and protect against gastric mucosal injury in rats
Authors: Fiorucci  , Antonelli  , Migliorati  , Santucci  , Morelli  , Federici  , Morelli  
Published: March 2003

Background:Although previous studies indicate that prevention of tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) release protects against NSAID‐induced gastric mucosal injury, intracellular pathways by which aspirin causes TNFα release are unknown. TNFα is synthesized as a precursor which is proteolytically cleaved by a specific converting enzyme, TACE, to release the mature cytokine. TACE inhibitors prevent TNFα release and protect against TNFα‐mediated disease.Aim:To investigate: (i) molecular events that regulate TNFα secretion in response to aspirin in vivo and in vitro; (ii) whether TNFα secretion inhibitors prevent aspirin‐induced TNFα release and protect against gastric mucosal damage; and (iii) whether TNFα exerts a direct cytotoxic effect on gastric epithelial cells.Methods: In vitro studies were carried out on mouse macrophages and rat gastric mucosal cells. Gastric mucosal damage was induced in rats by oral administration of 300 mg/kg aspirin. TNFα cytotoxicity on gastric mucosal cells was examined by treating rats with lipopolysaccharide to release TNFα or by incubating dispersed gastric mucosal cells with increasing concentrations of TNFα.Results:Aspirin increases intracellular calcium (Ca2+) levels and causes a time and concentration dependent increase in macrophage TNFα mRNA accumulation and cytokine release. Agents that cause Ca2+ mobilization with a receptor‐independent mechanism, such as ionomycin and thapsigargin, stimulate TNFα release. Incubating the macrophages in a Ca2+ free medium inhibited TNFα secretion. Agents that prevent TNFα mRNA transcription, e.g. lisophylline, PGE2, interleukin‐10 and 8‐BrcAMP, or TACE inhibitors, e.g. EDTA, TAPI‐2 and BB‐3103, inhibit TNFα release and protect rats against gastric mucosal injury induced by oral administration of aspirin. TNFα exerts a direct␣cytotoxic effect on gastric epithelial cells as demonstrated by the reduced viability observed in gastric mucosal␣cells prepared from rats treated with lipopolysaccharide, or␣directly incubated with increasing concentrations of TNFα.Conclusions:(i) Aspirin directly stimulates TNFα gene transcription; (ii) TACE inhibitors protect against aspirin‐induced gastric mucosal injury; and (iii) TNFα exerts a direct cytotoxic effect on gastric epithelial cells.
Efficacy of omeprazole in functional dyspepsia: double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled trials (the Bond and Opera studies)
Authors: Talley  , Meineche‐Schmidt  , Paré  , Duckworth  , Räisänen  , Pap  , Kordecki  , Schmid  
Published: March 2003

Background:The efficacy of H2‐receptor antagonists in functional dyspepsia is equivocal and the therapeutic place of proton pump inhibitors in functional dyspepsia is unknown.Aim:To evaluate the efficacy of proton pump inhibitor therapy in functional dyspepsia.Methods:Patients (n = 1262) with a clinical diagnosis of functional dyspepsia (persistent or recurrent epigastric pain or discomfort for at least 1 month and a normal upper gastrointestinal endoscopy) were randomized to receive omeprazole 20 mg, 10 mg or identical placebo, for 4 weeks. Symptoms were assessed using validated measures. Helicobacter pylori status was determined pre‐entry by a 13C‐urea breath test.Results:On an intention‐to‐treat analysis (n=1248), complete symptom relief was observed in 38% on omeprazole 20 mg, compared with 36% on omeprazole 10 mg and 28% on placebo (P = 0.002 and 0.02, respectively). Among those with ulcer‐like and reflux‐like dyspepsia, complete symptom relief was achieved in 40% and 54% on omeprazole 20 mg, and 35% and 45% on omeprazole 10 mg, respectively, compared with 27% and 23% on placebo (all P < 0.05, except omeprazole 10 mg in ulcer‐like dyspepsia, P = 0.08). There was no significant benefit of omeprazole over placebo in dysmotility‐like dyspepsia. Symptom relief was similar in H. pylori‐positive and negative cases.Conclusions:Omeprazole is modestly superior to placebo in functional dyspepsia at standard (20 mg) and low doses (10 mg) but not in patients with dysmotility‐like dyspepsia.
Gastro‐oesophageal reflux associated with nocturnal gastric acid breakthrough on proton pump inhibitors
Authors: Katz  , Anderson  , Khoury  , Castell  
Published: March 2003

BackgroundNocturnal gastric acid breakthrough, defined as intragastric pH < 4 for more than 1 h in the overnight period, is observed in up to 70% of normal subjects on proton pump inhibitors taken twice daily. The frequency of this breakthrough in patients with gastro‐oesophageal reflux and accompanying oesophageal reflux during this period has not been studied.AimTo examine the frequency of nocturnal breakthrough and accompanying oesophageal acid exposure in patients with gastro‐oesophageal reflux treated with proton pump inhibitors twice daily.MethodsProlonged ambulatory pH records from 76 patients on twice daily proton pump inhibitors between January 1991 and July 1997 were analysed for the presence of nocturnal gastric acid breakthrough and accompanying oesophageal pH < 4. Studies from 31 normal subjects on twice daily proton pump inhibitors constituted the control group.ResultsNocturnal gastric acid breakthrough was seen in 70% of 61 patients with gastro‐oesophageal reflux, 80% of 15 patients with Barrett’s oesophagus and 67% of normal controls (P = N.S.). Oesophageal acid exposure was seen in 33% of gastro‐oesophageal reflux patients, 50% of Barrett’s oesophagus patients and 8% of normal controls (P < 0.03). No difference was found between patients taking omeprazole or lansoprazole.ConclusionNocturnal acid breakthrough is frequently seen on proton pump inhibitors twice daily and is often accompanied by oesophageal reflux. This has important implications for medical therapy in patients with severe gastro‐oesophageal reflux and Barrett’s oesophagus.