A randomized-controlled single-blind trial was conducted to investigate the clinical, structural and functional effects of peritendinous corticosteroid injections (CORT), eccentric decline squat training (ECC) and heavy slow resistance training (HSR) in patellar tendinopathy. Thirty-nine male patients were randomized to CORT, ECC or HSR for 12 weeks. We assessed function and symptoms (VISA-p questionnaire), tendon pain during activity (VAS), treatment satisfaction, tendon swelling, tendon vascularization, tendon mechanical properties and collagen crosslink properties. Assessments were made at 0 weeks, 12 weeks and at follow-up (half-year). All groups improved in VISA-p and VAS from 0 to 12 weeks (Po0.05). VISA-p and VAS improvements were maintained at follow-up in ECC and HSR but deteriorated in CORT (Po0.05). In CORT and HSR, tendon swelling decreased ( À 13 AE 9% and À 12 AE 13%, Po0.05) and so did vascularization ( À 52 AE 49% and À 45 AE 23%, Po0.01) at 12 weeks. Tendon mechanical properties were similar in healthy and injured tendons and were unaffected by treatment. HSR yielded an elevated collagen network turnover. At the half-year follow-up, treatment satisfaction differed between groups, with HSR being most satisfied. Conclusively, CORT has good short-term but poor long-term clinical effects, in patellar tendinopathy. HSR has good short-and long-term clinical effects accompanied by pathology improvement and increased collagen turnover.

ObjectivesTo explore the relative importance of leisure time physical activity (LTPA), walking and jogging on risk of developing the metabolic syndrome (MS).DesignA prospective cohort study.SettingThe Copenhagen City Heart Study.Participants10 135 men and women aged 21–98 years who attended an initial examination in 1991–1994 and were re-examined after 10 years.Outcome measuresThe association of LTPA, jogging, walking speed and walking volume with MS at baseline and at 10-year follow-up was investigated by multiple logistic regression analyses.ResultsBaseline prevalence of MS was 20.7% in women and 27.3% in men. In both women and men, MS prevalence was associated with lower LTPA and walking speed and was lower in joggers compared to non-joggers. In subjects free of MS at baseline, 15.4% had developed MS at 10-year follow-up. Risk of developing MS was reduced in subjects with moderate or high LTPA, higher walking speed and in joggers whereas a higher volume of walking was not associated with reduced risk. After multiple adjustment, odds ratio (OR) of developing MS in moderate/high LTPA was 0.71 (95% CI 0.50 to 1.01), fast walking speed 0.51 (0.33 to 0.80) and joggers 0.60 (0.37 to 0.95) and walking >1 h daily 1.22 (0.91 to 1.65).ConclusionsOur results confirm the role of physical activity in reducing MS risk and suggest that intensity more than volume of physical activity is important.

A 48-year-old man was admitted to department of emergency medicine at a tertiary referral hospital due to dizziness and fatigue. Clinical features on admission were non-pitting oedema, dry skin, very sparse hair, a hoarse voice, hypothermia (rectal temperature 28.7°C), macroglossia, sinus bradycardia and slow cerebration. Blood tests revealed severe hypothyroidism. During admission, the patient developed respiratory failure, renal failure, bleeding symptoms and diffuse colitis. The patient was treated with hydrocortisone and levothyroxine and he survived miraculously. This case describes a patient with myxoedema coma with severe hypothermia and cardiac involvement with development of multiorgan dysfunction all linked to the severe depletion of triiodothyronine.

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Due to improvements in early detection and treatment of malignant disease, the population of cancer survivors is constantly expanding. Cancer survivors are faced with chemotherapy-related long-term side effects, including irreversible cardiac injury with risk of heart failure (HF). Numerous antineoplastic regimens are associated with risk of cardiac side effects, but anthracyclines in particular carry a severe risk of cardiotoxicity. Currently, serial echocardiographic evaluation of resting left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is the gold standard for monitoring anthracycline-induced cardiac side effects from chemotherapy. LVEF measurements are, however, limited by their low sensitivity. A normal LVEF does not exclude cardiotoxicity and declines in LVEF are usually not observed before the occurrence of irreversible cardiomyopathy. Hence, a clinically applicable high-sensitivity diagnostic tool for early detection of chemotherapy-related cardiotoxicity is still lacking and alternative non-invasive imaging modalities are therefore being investigated. I-MIBG is a noradrenaline (NA) analogue used for evaluation of cardiac adrenergic function, including assessment of HF prognosis and evaluation of HF treatment response. However, the role of I-MIBG for monitoring chemotherapy-related cardiotoxicity is still unclear. Here, we review the value of I-MIBG imaging for early detection and prevention of anthracycline-induced cardiomyopathy.

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HH-related mutations were the most frequent cause of hyperferritinaemia in a Danish blood donor population, and it appears that several different HH-genotypes can contribute to hyperferritinaemia. HH screening in blood donors with high ferritin levels could be warranted. HH-related iron overload should not in itself result in donor ineligibility.

demonstrate that this intensive regimen retains the potential for reproduction and social reintegration in pts with BL and PMBL, including AYAs.