The relationship between boron, stress hormones and bone markers in humans of different ages, life style and health status

Hormones (sex hormones, thyroxine, cortisol and parathyroid), cytokines (interleukins-1 and 2 and tumour necrosis factor), life style (exercise, smoking and reproductive history), nutrition (calcium, meat, vegetables, vitamin D, caffeine and alcohol) and diseases (diabetes mellitus, malabsorption and thyrotoxicosis) affect bone mass. The loss of calcium, phosphate and magnesium from bone makes it weaker which enhances the incidence of bone diseases such as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis and increases the risks of fractures causing pain, sufferings and even death particularly in older females. Treatment of these diseases and the 200,000 related fractures costs the National Health Service over £940 millions annually (National Osteoporosis Society, 1998/1999). The multifactorial aetiology of osteoporosis and difficulties in deciding the most effective treatment to suit individual sufferer makes preventative measures more suitable in lowering the incidence of this disease and therefore reduces human sufferings, cost and mortality. Boron, a ubiquitous element in soil, water, ground vegetables and fruits modulates sex hormones in animals. Its role in human is unclear and inconclusive. Boron prolonged the half-life of 17(3 oestradiol and delayed the loss of bone mass particularly in post-menopausal women with low magnesium (Neilsen, 1990) and increased absorption and retention of calcium, phosphate and magnesium during vitamin D deficiency (Hunt, 1994). Excessively high level of boron suppressed sex steroids and increased the loss of bone minerals (Benderdour et al, 1998). Cortisol reduced bone mass (Delany et al, 1995) but the effects of catecholamines on bone are largely undetermined. This study aims to assess the relationship between boron, cortisol, catecholamines, serotonin and bone turnover in relation to age, gender, life style, nutrition, reproductive history and health status in men and women of 3 age groups, mainly nurses and to make recommendations, if appropriate, to improve bone mass or reduce the rate of bone loss. 172 male and female volunteers were placed in respective groups aged 11-20, 20-40, over 40 years old and all the pregnant subjects in one group. Early morning urine was analysed for calcium and magnesium by flame spectrophotometry, phosphate, hydroxyproline and creatinine by spectrophotometry, boron by inductive coupled plasma spectrophotometry and cortisol, adrenaline, dopamine and serotonin by high performance liquid chromatography. Information about each subject's life style, nutrition and health was obtained using a questionnaire. Data were processed and analysed using excel and minitab packages and only significance level at P<0.05 or less was accepted using ANOVA, t-test and Pearson's correlation coefficient. There were positive trends between urinary levels of boron and calcium and significant correlation (P40 with the history of osteoporosis compared to those in M>40 as well as in F20-40 heavy smokers compared to those in M20-40 and in subjects taking the contraceptive pill. Age, exercise, hysterectomy, HRT, vegetables consumption and vitamin supplements did not significantly influence urinary boron levels. Heavy alcohol consumption, greater stress, heavy smoking and family history of osteoporosis increase urinary boron levels and this might enhance bone damage, particularly in post-menopausal subjects. Urinary cortisol, adrenaline and dopamine levels were raised (P40 and M>40 and correlated with an increased calcium excretion which suggest that the increased catecholamine levels in these subjects may promote calcium loss and compromise ageing bone. Regular intake of alcohol above 1500 ml of beer, 750 ml of wine and 150 ml of spirits per week, heavy smoking of over 10 cigarettes or 3 ounces of tobacco per day, eating less than 3 vegetables, not taking weight bearing exercises at least 3 times per week and a lack of multivitamin supplements during puberty and middle age, increased bone turnover and may predispose bone to fractures. Male nurses were at a greater risk (PO.05) than the females from increased turnover of phosphate, magnesium, calcium and hydroxyproline as these also positively correlated with either boron, adrenaline or cortisol. The levels of urinary catecholamines were significantly (PO.05) higher in M20-40 compared to F20-40 who were stressed and suggested either male subjects had poor coping mechanism or that female subjects had a different response mechanism. The correlation between boron, cortisol, adrenaline and phosphate in the male subjects as a whole but particularly in M20-40, in whom adrenaline also correlated with hydroxyproline, suggest that these male subjects are at greater risks of bone damage and poor health. Improved dietary intakes of calcium, vegetables and boron and a healthier life style of reduced alcohol and smoking with more weight-bearing exercises could significantly reduced bone loss and therefore prevent osteoporosis. In addition, male nurses should minimise stress levels not only to protect bone loss but for a better health

Original Research By Young Twinkle Students (ORBYTS): Ephemeris Refinement of Transiting Exoplanets III

We report photometric follow-up observations of thirteen exoplanets (HATS-1 b, HATS-2 b, HATS-3 b, HAT-P-18 b, HAT-P-27 b, HAT-P-30 b, HAT-P-55 b, KELT-4A b, WASP-25 b, WASP-42 b, WASP-57 b, WASP-61 b and WASP-123 b), as part of the Original Research By Young Twinkle Students (ORBYTS) programme. All these planets are potentially viable targets for atmospheric characterisation and our data, which were taken using the LCOGT network of ground-based telescopes, will be combined with observations from other users of ExoClock to ensure that the transit times of these planets continue to be well-known, far into the future

Differences in urinary stress hormones in male and female nurses at different ages

Aim. The aim of this study was to assess the levels of urinary stress hormones in male and female nurses and to determine their contribution to sex-determined health outcomes. Rationale/background. While the use of questionnaires have shown that there is a high degree of stress in health care workers, these results are inconclusive. In this study a more objective approach was used by assessing the levels of urinary stress hormones, adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol. In premenopausal women oestrogen may attenuate sympathetic nervous system activity and the secretion of adrenaline and cortisol and therefore lower the stress response and incidence of stress-related illnesses. Methods. Three hundred and fifteen nurses of both sexes were separated into two age groups, 20–40 and 45–60 years, and for postmenopausal women into those taking or not taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Early morning urine sample were collected and stress hormones determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results. Urinary cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenaline levels were all increased with age in both sexes, with a greater difference in the younger age group compared with the older group. These hormones were lower in premenopausal women compared with male nurses of similar age. The difference between the sexes in the high age group was less compared with the lower one. Postmenopausal women on HRT had lower levels of these hormones. Conclusion. The age-related changes were surprising but may be because of higher stress levels in the older groups of both sexes. However, the gender difference supports the view that oestrogen reduces sympathetic activity and the secretion of cortisol and adrenaline. HRT reduces the stress response and therefore may have additional benefits by reducing the level of stress-related illnesses. These results were surprising but may suggest that oestrogen reduces the stress response in women and therefore offers protection against stress-related disorders

Current guidance on the management of acute coronary syndrome

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) describes a spectrum of symptoms arising from the development of atherosclerosis. The degree of myocardial ischaemia depends on plaque stability and the extent of vessel occlusion. This article examines underlying pathophysiological processes and reviews current guidance and principles of managing ACS through symptom control, reducing mortality and maximizing secondary prevention. Nurses have a vital role in all aspects of delivering this care and meeting National Service Framework Standards for Coronary Heart Diseases (CHD) (2000). A clear understanding of the pathophysiological basis for ACS will reinforce clinical work, particularly in the recognition, monitoring and early management

Intervenções de enfermagem relacionadas à promoção da saúde em portadores de hipertensão Intervenciones de enfermería relacionadas a la promoción de la salud en portadores de hipertensión Nursing interventions related to health promotion in hypertensive patients

OBJETIVOS: Identificar as competências de promoção da saúde em intervenções de enfermagem em portadores de hipertensão arterial. MÉTODOS: Seguiu-se a metodologia de revisão integrativa da literatura, utilizando as oito competências para a prática de promoção da saúde definidas na Conferência de Galway. Foram analisados 16 artigos. RESULTADOS: Os domínios de competência para a prática de promoção da saúde mais evidenciados foram Catalisar mudanças, Avaliação das necessidades e Parcerias. Apenas um artigo mencionou o uso das taxonomias de enfermagem para o planejamento da assistência em portadores de hipertensão arterial. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados deste estudo poderão subsidiar as competências dos enfermeiros para a prática da promoção da saúde em portadores de hipertensão arterial.<br>OBJETIVOS: Identificar las competencias de promoción de la salud en intervenciones de enfermería en portadores de hipertensión arterial. MÉTODOS: Se siguió la metodología de La revisión integrativa de la literatura, utilizando las ocho competencias para la práctica de la promoción de la salud definidas en la Conferencia de Galway. Fueron analizados 16 artículos. RESULTADOS: Los dominios de competencia para la práctica de promoción de la salud más evidenciados fueron Catalizar cambios, Evaluación de las necesidades y sociedades. Sólo un artículo mencionó el uso de las taxonomías de enfermería para la planificación de la asistencia en portadores de hipertensión arterial. CONCLUSIÓN: Los resultados de este estudo pueden subsidiar las competencias de los enfermeros para la práctica de la promoción de la salud en portadores de hipertensión arterial.<br>OBJECTIVES: To identify the health promotion compentencies of nursing interventions for patient with hypertension. METHODS: The methodology of an integrative literature review was followed, using the eight competencies for the practice of health promotion that were defined at the Galway Consensus Conference. Sixteen articles were analyzed. RESULTS: The domains of competence for health promotion practice that were most evident were: catalyzing change, assessment of needs, and partnerships. Only one article mentioned the use of nursing taxonomies for planning care in patients with hypertension. CONCLUSION: The results of this study will support nursing competencies for practicing health promotion in patients with hypertension