A standardized Humulus lupulus (L.) ethanol extract partially prevents ovariectomy-induced bone loss in the rat without induction of adverse effects in the uterus

BACKGROUND

Hops (Humulus lupulus (L.)) dietary supplements are of interest as herbal remedies to alleviate menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes, depression and anxiety. So far, the evidence regarding estrogenic and related properties of hops preparations has been considered insufficient for a market authorization for menopausal indications.

PURPOSE

The study aims to investigate a chemically standardized hops extract regarding its safety in the uterus, as wells as its efficacy to prevent bone loss in the ovariectomized rat model.

STUDY DESIGN/METHODS

Female Wistar rats were ovariectomized and divided into a control group receiving phytoestrogen-free diet, a group treated with E₂benzoate (0.93 mg/kg body weight/d) and a group treated with the standardized hops extract (60 mg/kg body weight/d) for 8 weeks. Micro-computed tomography of the tibiae and vertebrae, as wells as histological changes in the uterus and tibia were analyzed.

RESULTS

Neither uterotrophic nor proliferative effects were observed in the endometrium in response to the oral 8-week administration of the hops extract. However, site-dependent skeletal effects were observed. The hops extract significantly decreased the number of osteoclasts in the tibial metaphysis and prevented reduction of the trabecular thickness that resulted from estradiol depletion. In contrast, the hops extract did not prevent the ovariectomy-induced micro-architectural changes in the lumbar vertebra. Certain parameters (e.g. thickness and number of trabeculae) were even found to be below the values determined in the ovariectomized control group.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, the results provide evidence for the safety of the standardized hops extract and point to a weak bone type-specific, protective effect on bone loss following estradiol depletion.

[Evaluation of the clinical utility of autopsy: an investigation at the Institute of Pathology, University Hospital of Leipzig]

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study of autopsies performed in our institute was to investigate whether clinical requirements had been met and specific clinical questions answered.

METHOD

With each autopsy report, a questionnaire was sent to the clinic where the patient had died. The clinicians evaluated how often additional diagnoses were made and whether these were clinically relevant.

RESULTS

Seventy-two percent of all autopsies resulted in further diagnoses. Clinicians estimated that these could have influenced their clinical management in 36% of cases. Weaknesses in interdisciplinary cooperation were uncovered and solved.

CONCLUSION

The great benefit of the autopsies conducted in our institute was demonstrated. The results emphasise once again the importance of autopsy for quality assurance in clinical medicine.

Investigation of interfacial interaction between uncoated and coated carbon fibres and the magnesium alloy AZ91

Unidirectionally reinforced metal-matrix composites with a fibre volume content between 63 and 68% were processed by squeeze casting using T800 H carbon fibres and the magnesium alloy AZ91. The surface of the fibres was prepared by thermal desizing of the fibres or by deposition of a pyrolytic carbon (pyC) coating. Different interfacial conditions could be identified by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and the single-fibre push-in test. TEM confirmed the formation of needle-like phases at the fibre surface or, for coated fibres, within the pyrolytic carbon coating. During loading by the Vickers type indenter an intense response was observed for composites of coated fibres and the magnesium alloy. This could by caused by stick-slip effects within the pyrolytic carbon coating.

Raman spectroscopic surface characterization of cellulose derivatives

First results of experiments on the surface characterization of cellulose derivatives are presented. Different water contents of the surface of microcrystalline cellulose have been investigated by means of Raman spectroscopy, SERS, and environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM).

[Content of minerals (Na,K,Ca,Mg) and of trace elements (Fe,Cu and Zn) in 13 different tissues of fallow deer (Dama dama L.) of various ages]

At male deer in the age of 15 and 27 months, at experimentally induced cryptorchids and at castrated animals analyses of the content of Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu and Zn in 13 different tissues were performed. In the liver of newborn animals solely the content of Fe, Cu and Zn was determined. The significance of the content of the mentioned elements in the various tissues is described. In the liver of the newborn animals stores of Fe, Cu an Zn were identified. The values can be used as a basis for analyses at deer with a growth inhibition caused by a lack of sodium chloride Fe, Cu and Zn.

[The content of Na, K, Ca, Mg, total P, Fe, Cu and Zn in different tissues and in the placenta of sheep fetuses and newborn lambs]

The content of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, total-P, iron, copper, zinc in several tissues of sheep-fetuses (age: 92 and 120 days) as well as that of new-born lambs was analysed. There are many changes in the chemical composition of the tissues, that are of functional significance.

[The content of iron, copper and zinc in 12 tissues of female swine in 11 age groups from birth to a body weight of 200 to 265 kg]

In female pigs in the age of one day (body mass: 1.89 +/- 0.20 kg) to that of on the average 1123 days (b. m: 200 to 265 kg) in 11 age-groups the weight of 12 different tissues as well as their content in Fe, Cu and Zn were analysed. The age dependent changes of the content are described and discussed.

[The content of minerals and Fe, Cu and Zn in blood plasma, in erythrocytes and in 10 different tissues of bulls, short scrotum bulls and oxen]

The concentrations of minerals (Ca, Mg, Na, K, total-P) and of trace elements (Fe, Cu, Zn) in the plasma and erythrocytes of bulls, of experimentally induced cryptorchids (Muchsen) and of oxen of the breed Holstein-Friesian and of bulls and cryptorchids of a hybrid breed with a high portion of meat-cattle were investigated. Further the concentrations in various tissues (M. semimembranosus, M. longissimus dorsi, left and right ventricle, liver, kidney, adrenal glands, lung, spleen, testis) in bulls, cryptorchids and oxen of the breed Holstein-Friesian were analyzed. The differences of some concentrations of various elements in some tissues are discussed relative to their genesis and significance.

[Role of the occupational health service in the control of hypertension]

By a representative random sample in an order of magnitude of 5,150 employees the determination of the degree of knowledge of the hypertensives in the factory health service of metal mines showed nearly 100%. In the dispensary of the factory medical officer 64.2% were registered. 36.6% of the hypertensives were stabilised to blood pressure values below 160/95 mm Hg. Forms of therapy, cardiovascular risk factors associated with high blood pressure and effects of the working environment were investigated by means of factor and discriminance analysis with regard to the influence on the quality of the stabilisation of high blood pressure. The compliance resulted as essential limiting factor in the treatment of hypertension. 71% of the hypertensives reported a regular intake of medicaments, in which case 51% admitted to interrupt it without consulting the physician in charge when the constitution is disturbed. 4 features were determined as essential factors which have influence on the compliance: the opinion concerning the duration of the treatment of hypertension, the attitude to the intake of medicaments, the frequency of the intake of the tablets and the observation of the terms of blood pressure control. The investigation of the physician's compliance resulted, apart from an overestimation of the patient's compliance, in distinct deviations from the recommendations for diagnosis and therapy given. The compliance of nurses showed deficiencies in the standardized measurement of blood pressure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Physician compliance in the treatment of hypertension]

The physician compliance is determined by knowledge, skill and behaviour. In 103 physicians working in the basic medical care investigations of the compliance were performed. Partly clear deviations from the guidelines recommended were found in the habits of diagnostics and therapy. These deviations frequently concerned even the majority of the physicians asked for. While the knowledge can relatively easily be judged according to objective criteria, the behaviour is difficult to be measured. Of 4 physicians with comparable knowledge concerning the clinical picture of hypertension the influence of the behaviour of the physician on the success of therapy was investigated during a psycho-physiologically orientated group therapy and the breath-induced relaxation training. The univariate and discriminance-analytic investigations as well as the factor analyses showed the behaviour of the physician as essentially determinating for the success of the therapy. The determination of the physician compliance gives the possibility to recognize still existing insufficiencies in the treatment of hypertension. It serves for the further optimization of the therapy of hypertension. Measures increasing the compliance among others can be derived also for the training and further training.

[Observations on the course of borderline hypertension in workers in ore mining with variable occupational body burden]

The blood pressure response of 198 ore miners--working above ground as well as underground--suffering from borderline-hypertension was checked over a period of 5 years. After a period of 5 years 40.9% of the test persons developed a hypertension in 18.7% of the miners the blood pressure returned to normal and with 40.4% it remained within the limits. No statistically significant relationship could be established between the blood pressure response and the various work loads such as the complex work load on face workers, work above ground and underground, shift work, the total time away from home, physically heavy work as well as exposure of the body or part of it to vibrations. Since the individual risk of developing hypertension, particularly with regard to people affected by borderline-hypertension, cannot be predicted the factory doctor has to provide for the adequate health care the group in question.

[Individual physical performance capacity with physiological and biochemical indicators of stress]

22 health male subjects were exposed by a combination of physical exercises and heat. Strain related physiological and biochemical parameters were measured. Different individual reactions were obtained under controlled conditions. In dependence on the individual performance an increased mobilisation of lactat, free fatty acids and catecholamines were found. The determination of aerob physical performance can be applied for the evaluation of working capacity.

[Incidence of hypertension and borderline hypertension with reference to complex professional stress in above ground and under ground workers in ore mining]

Comprehensive health care for working people requires a deeper insight into the relationship between work load and biological reactions. This is necessary to be able to adequately influence the field of industrial medicine. The incidence of both hypertension and borderline-hypertension in a group of 200 face workers with complex work load as well as 150 pithead metal workers aged between 25 and 45 was measured over a period of 5 years (1981-1986). The hypertension incidence was 0.90% in the group of face workers and 1.46% with the pithead metal workers, while the incidence of borderline-hypertension was 1.30% for the face workers and 2.12% for the pithead metal workers. A statistically significant difference between those people working above ground and those working underground was not apparent. No relationship was found between age, Broca-index, habit of smoking, shift work, the total time away from home and the development of an increase in blood pressure. Both a hypertension incidence totalling 1.14% and an incidence of borderline-hypertension of 1.66% were found in the test group aged between 25 and 45. This roughly corresponded to the nationally statistical level and was in line with the relevant literature. There was no discernable effect with regard to developing hypertension and borderline-hypertension, respectively, as a result of complex work load in the test group. The incidence rates require regular blood pressure tests on normotensive miners and pithead workers, respectively, as a prerequisite for early detection and registering as well as an adequate therapy of both hypertension and borderline-hypertension.

[Behavior of blood pressure in 3 shift work of workers with level I WHO hypertension]

Blood pressure tests were carried out on 40 shift workers with a hypertension level of 1 (according to WHO). Every 5 day period these tests were carried out before, during and after work in the early, late and night shifts. No significant change of both the systolic and the diastolic blood pressure could be found, which could result from shift work, before and after each shift irrespective of the blood pressure stabilization (good, satisfactory, unsatisfactory). The group containing satisfactorily as well as unsatisfactorily stabilized workers suffering from hypertension showed a significant decrease of the systolic blood pressure from the early shift through the late till the night shifts, with the diastolic blood pressure remaining constant. There were no apparent differences in the range of average blood pressure values regarding the various forms of treatment (without medication, monotherapy and combined therapy). The systolic blood pressure is significantly lower only in the group with no medication in the early shift after finishing work and it also decreases from the early shift through the late till the night shifts, while within the other therapy groups no change of both the systolic and the diastolic blood pressure was apparent. Thus shift work does not cause any measurable increase in blood pressure within the test group (suffering from hypertension) that would impair their working capacity. There is no increase of health risk with regard to the blood pressure response during shift work particularly during night work provided the blood pressure is within the normal range.

[Drug compliance behavior of hypertensive patients in 3-shift work with a prescription for 3 or more single doses daily]

82 hypertensive patients with a prescription of medicaments of three and more individual doses a day who worked in the three-shift system were anonymously asked about their behaviour concerning the intake of tablets. 78% said not to have obtained any recommendations for the intake of tablets during the nightwork. 20.7% of them took antihypertensive drugs at night during the shift. 51.3% in the day-time and 28.0% did not take any tablets during the night-work. The compliance was approximately 60%, similarly as in hypertensive patients working in the one-shift system. With 3.7% the non-compliance was lowest during the night-shift. It was 22.0% during the early shift and 12.1% during the late shift. Side-effects and disturbances of the good health, respectively, during the antihypertensive treatment were stated with 14.0% and with 7.3% they appeared most frequently during the night-work. There was a statistically ascertained connection between the intake of tablets at night during work and the side-effects. They altogether appeared more infrequently, when a concrete advice was given by the physician. From this is concluded that on principle in shift-workers a treatment of the hypertension is to be aspired to with one or two individual doses a day, otherwise in a prescription of three individual doses the tablets should not be taken at night during work, but in the day-time. The temporary intake of tablets during shift-work as well as possible side-effects and corresponding behaviour patterns when disturbances of good health are appearing are to be discussed in detail particularly with the three-shift workers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Prevalence, degree of recognition and detection of hypertension and the quality of blood pressure control at the Wismut industrial branch]

On account of the active and passive selection conditioned by demands of fitness the prevalence of hypertension is 8.0% in the branch of industry Wismut. It shows a clear increase in the 4th decennium, in these cases there is a higher prevalence of hypertension in males younger than 40 years than in females of the same age, after the 40th year of age the relation inverts itself. The mild hypertension prevails (degree of severity I of hypertension according to WHO) with 87.8%. By a representative chance control in a proportion of 5,150 employees the determination of the degree of knowledge of hypertensive patients was nearly 100% and the degree of recognition in the dispensary of the works medical officer was 64.2%. The quality of the control of high blood pressure was investigated according to the random principle in 1,714 workers with hypertension. 36.6% of the patients with hypertension had values of blood pressure lower than 160/95 Hg, in 40.5% the blood pressure values were systolically in the region from 160 to 180 mm Hg and/or diastolically 95 to 105 mm Hg, in 22.9% systolically more than 180 mm Hg and diastolically more than 105 mm Hg, respectively. Forms of therapy, cardiovascular risk factors and influences of the working environment were by means of the factor analysis and the discrimination analysis investigated as to their influence on the quality of the control of high blood pressure and adequate conclusions were drawn.

[The hematocrit values and hemoglobin content of blood and the level of total protein, free fatty acids, glucose, lactate, Ca, Mg, Na, K, Pa, Fe, Fe-binding capacity, Cu and Zn in the blood plasma of newborn calves and their mothers immediately after birth]

Blood samples were collected from 22 calves in three weight classes (A: 29.3 +/- 0.5 kg, B: 36.0 +/- 1.3 kg, C: 42.7 +/- 3.7 kg), 1-3 minutes after parturition and prior to uptake of foremilk as well as 24-26 hours after parturition. Other blood samples were collected from 45 calves, 5-60 minutes after parturition, and from their mothers, 3-5 or 5-60 minutes from calving. Haematocrit and haemoglobin in the blood of the calves, immediately after parturition, were higher the values recorded from adult cattle. Major differences were found to exist between individual calves regarding total protein of blood plasma. Protein levels in 14 calves were below 50 g/l, within 24-26 hours from parturition. Free fatty acids in blood plasma of calves were lower than those in cattle, 1-3 minutes from parturition, and were higher, 5-60 minutes from parturition. Glucose levels in Group C were higher than those in A and B, 1-3 minutes postpartum. Lactate in Group C was higher than that in B. An account is also given of blood plasma levels of Ca, Pa, Mg, Na, K, Cu, and Zn.

[Drug-taking behavior of workers with hypertension in the health service of the Wismut public health district]

In 353 workers with a medicamentously stabilized high blood pressure following an educational lecture on hypertension the compliance was determined by means of a patients' questionnaire. Circa 70% of the hypertensives reported to take regularly the medicaments prescribed, in which cases approximately 50% admitted to discontinue the taking of medicaments without having conferred with the attending physician when the well-being was disturbed. As essential factors influencing the compliance 4 features were determined: the opinion concerning the duration of the treatment of hypertension, the attitude to the prescription of medicaments, the frequency of taking the tablets and the observation of the terms of control of blood pressure, whereas, for instance, age, working place, professional activity and shift work had no remarkable influence. Before long an improvement of the compliance can be achieved by the decrease of the information deficit proved and by an improved motivation in form of the group therapy. A necessary prerequisite is the complete registration and comprehensive treatment in the dispensary of the works medical officer with established control terms, short times of waiting and sufficient time for a talk between physician and patient.