Reproductive hormones and bone mineral density in women runners.

We examined the relationships among reproductive hormone concentrations and bone mineral density (BMD) in 43 women runners classified as eumenorrheic (n = 24), oligomenorrheic (n = 8), or amenorrheic (n = 11). Results were compared with a eumenorrheic nonrunner control group (n = 11). Serum 17 beta-estradiol, progesterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate concentrations were determined in daily blood samples for 21 days, and integrated concentrations (areas under the curve) were calculated. BMD was assessed at the lumbar spine and proximal femur by dual-photon absorptiometry. As expected, 17 beta-estradiol, progesterone, and lumbar spine BMD were higher in the control and eumenorrheic runner groups than in the oligomenorrheic and amenorrheic runner groups (P less than 0.05). Progesterone concentration was significantly correlated with lumbar spine BMD in the eumenorrheic runners (r = 0.61). None of the steroid hormones was significantly related to BMD in the oligomenorrheic/amenorrheic group. The present data suggest that circulating levels of gonadal steroid hormones affect axial BMD in eumenorrheic runners.     

RNA and DNA in developing retinae: comparison of a normal with the degenerating retinae of C3H mice

Abstract— The Nucleic acids were measured in developing retinae of normal (DBA) mice and those afflicted with an inherited degenerative disease (C3H). The content of RNA in normal and C3H retinae increased to a maximum at 5 days of postnatal age. Thereafter, that of C3H retinae declined to a value lower than the normal. The content of DNA in normal and C3H retinae was maximal at 10 and 5 days of postnatal age, respectively. By 20 days, it declined in both retinae to nearly adult values. The DNA/RNA ratio of normal adult retinae was about 3, while that of C3H adult retinae was nearly 1–5. It is proposed that the photoreceptor cells possess a smaller cytoplasmic volume and a larger DNA/RNA ratio than the cells of the inner retina. The loss of DNA in developing normal and C3H retinae appears to result from cellular death. It was calculated that approximately 1 million cells in normal and 6 million cells in C3H retinae disappear during development. Cellular death in C3H retinae may not be restricted to the photoreceptor population.     

Intestinal Coccidiosis in a Patient with Alpha-chain Disease

During an ultrastructural study of small-intestinal mucosa from a patient suffering from alpha-chain disease organisms were identified within the epithelial cytoplasm which showed the fine structural features of the coccidian group. Though coccidiosis is well recognized as causing a diarrhoeal and often lethal illness in animals it has been neglected as a cause of disease in man. Thus this finding may be significant and warrants further investigation into its possible role in the pathogenesis of alpha-chain disease.