The effects of postmenopausal hormone therapy on social activity, partner relationship, and sexual life – experience from the EPHT trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>With the exception of sexual functioning and weight, social and behavioural effects of postmenopausal hormone therapy (HT) have not been reported from trials. This paper reports such results from the EPHT-trial in Estonia.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A randomized trial, with a blind and non-blind sub-trial in Estonia. From 1999–2001, 1778 women were recruited. The mean follow-up was 3.6 years. Women's experiences were asked in the first and final study year by mailed questionnaires (74 and 81% response rates). Comparisons of the groups were made by cross-tabulation and logistic regression, adjusting for age.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There were no differences between the HT and non-HT groups in regard to being employed, the extent of social involvement or marital status or opinions on aging. There was no difference in the frequency of free-time exercise, or overweight. Some of the indicators suggested less sexual inactivity, but the differences were small.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In a trial setting, postmenopausal hormone therapy did not influence work or social involvement or health behaviour.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>ISRCTN35338757</p

Numerical investigation of generalized Graetz problem in circular tube with a mass transfer coupling between the solid and the liquid

International audienceThe unsteady diffusion equation in a tube and the advection/diffusion equation in laminar flow in a liquid of a solute are theoretically established. The most important parameters are the migration strength α and the so-called Graetz number Gr. The former dimen-sionless number is the product of the partition coefficient of the solute at the solid/liquid interface, the ratio of the tube thickness to the interior radius and the ratio of diffusion coefficients of the solute in the liquid and in the solid. The Graetz number Gr is the ratio of the diffusion time scale in the liquid based on the interior radius of the pipe to the advection time over the tube length. The problem is applied to the plasticizer migration from a polyvinyl chloride material to a liquid with the safety food applications in mind. The migration of the plasticizer is solved numerically for various tube sizes, flow conditions and partition coefficients of the plasticizer in the liquid. For comparison, the numerical results obtained in static condition are also provided. The average plasticizer concentration in the liquid behaves following two main regimes as a function of the migration strength. When α is much smaller than one, the average plasticizer concentration in the liquid is an algebraic function of the axial coordinate, z, at the power two third and increases linearly with time. Conversely, when α is much larger than one, the average plasticizer concentration is linear as a function of axial distance and increases as a function of the square root of time. Moreover, the concentration is much smaller of few orders of magnitude in dynamic condition than in static working showing that in the context of food contamination the dynamic approach is more appropriate and relevant for demonstration of compliance with the safety authorities requirements

Bovine Q fever. Effets of the vaccination and the antibiotherapy on the clinical evolution and the excretion of Coxiella burnetti in the milk and the uterine secretions

Une expérimentation a été menée pendant plusieurs années, en milieu infecté, sur 30 000 bovins en France et 4 100 bovins de 88 exploitations en Allemagne. Elle a prouvé que : 1. L’efficacité de la vaccination dans les formes cliniques de fièvre O est indiscutable ; les rares échecs partiels ou totaux sont attribués à des infections intercurrentes (I.B.R., B.V.D., etc.). 2. L'éradication de la fièvre O dans les troupeaux infectés peut être obtenue en 4 à 5 ans, par des vaccinations répétées couplées ou non à l’élimination des animaux excréteurs. 3. Cet assainissement peut être considérablement raccourci et ramené à 1 an, lorsque l’on associe l’antibiothérapie (Terramycine LA) à la vaccination. 4. Cette association thérapeutique diminue encore les risques de contamination du consommateur de lait cru ; elle devrait être préconisée pour toutes les exploitations vendant du lait cru et infectées par Coxiella Burnetti.An experimentation has been carried for several years, in infected environment on 30 000 cattles in France and 4 100 cattles belonging to 88 farms in Germany. It has shown that: 1. The efficacy of vaccination on clinical forms of Q fever is beyond argument. The few partial or total failures are attributed to intercurrent infections (I.B.R., B.V.D., etc.). 2. The eradication of Q fever in infected herds can be obtained within four to five years, with repeated vaccinations associated or not with withdrawing of excreting animals. 3. This sanitation period may be considerably shortened to 1 year, when Antibiotherapy (Terramycine LA) is associated to vaccination. 4. This therapeutical association lessens even more the risks of contamination of crude milk consumers. It should be advocated for all farms selling crude milk and infected by Coxiella Bumetti

Relationship between Tactics and Energy Expenditure According to Level of Experience in Badminton

Research on racket sports has traditionally focused on expert players and has treated energy expenditure and tactics as independent factors. These prior studies could not assess how energy expenditure and tactics changed as a function of experience and skill. Here, the specific relationship between playing tactics and energy expenditure in badminton were assessed. Participants were classified into five stages of badminton experience on the basis of conative criteria: structural (physical abilities), technical (technical skills), and functional (tactics). The physical activity of 99 players (47 beginners, 15 intermediates, 30 advanced, and 7 experts) was measured using a three-axis accelerometer during a badminton set (21 points, no extra scoring). The results showed that physical activity (counts/sec.) ranged between about 115 (Stage 1) and 155 (Stage 5), and differed significantly across the conative stages. For Stages 2 and 4, defined by an increase in use of tactics, physical activity increased substantially. For Stage 3, defined by a decrease in use of tactics, physical activity decreased significantly. Thus, tactically-oriented play appears to be closely related to physical activity