For both boys and girls, a 1-year increase in BMI was larger in those who reported more time with TV/videos/games during the year between the 2 BMI measurements, and in those who reported that their caloric intakes increased more from 1 year to the next. Larger year-to-year increases in BMI were also seen among girls who reported higher caloric intakes and less physical activity during the year between the 2 BMI measurements. Although the magnitudes of these estimated effects were small, their cumulative effects, year after year during adolescence, would produce substantial gains in body weight. Strategies to prevent excessive caloric intakes, to decrease time with TV/videos/games, and to increase physical activity would be promising as a means to prevent obesity.

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Despite the widespread use of androgen in the treatment of hypogonadal men, its efficacy in restoring sexual behavior to hypogonadal patients has not been established in appropriately controlled behavioral studies. Accordingly, testosterone enanthate or vehicle was injected once every 4 weeks im in a double blind experiment. The subjects were six adult males, aged 32-65 yr, two with gonadal failure and four with secondary hypogonadism. Two doses of testosterone (100 and 400 mg) were administered for approximately 5 months, with the treatments varied at random within and among subjects. Details of sexual activity and experience were followed by the use of daily logs. Frequencies of erections, including nocturnal erections and coitus, showed significant dose-related responses to androgen treatment which closely followed the fluctuations in the circulating testosterone level. As indicated by the Profile of Mood States test, behavioral responses did not appear to be mediated by changes in mood. We concluded that the stimulatory effects of testosterone on sexual activity are rapid, reliable, and not due to a placebo effect. To maintain plasma testosterone and adequate sexual function within normal levels, even high doses of testosterone enanthate should be given no less frequency than once every 3 weeks.

Disinfectant use has been associated with adverse respiratory effects among healthcare workers. However, the specific harmful agents have not been elucidated. We examined the association between occupational exposure to disinfectants and asthma control in the Nurses’ Health Study II, a large cohort of female nurses. Nurses with asthma were invited in 2014 to complete two questionnaires on their current occupation and asthma (response rate: 80%). Asthma control was defined by the Asthma Control Test (ACT). Exposure to major disinfectants was evaluated by a Job-Task-Exposure Matrix (JTEM). Analyses included 4,102 nurses with asthma (mean age: 58 years). Asthma control was poor (ACT=16–19) in 12% of nurses and very poor (≤15) in 6%. Use of disinfectants to clean medical instruments (19% exposed) was associated with poorly (odds ratio 1.37; 95%CI: [1.05–1.79]) and very poorly (1.88 [1.38–2.56]) controlled asthma (P-trend 0.004, after adjustment for potential confounders). Using JTEM estimates, exposure to formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, hypochlorite bleach, hydrogen peroxide and enzymatic cleaners was associated with poor asthma control (all P-trend<0.05); exposure to quaternary ammonium compounds and alcohol was not. Use of several disinfectants was associated with poor asthma control. Our findings suggest targets for future efforts to prevent worsening of asthma control in healthcare workers.

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Acute care settings are important targets for reducing inappropriate antibiotic prescribing. The mechanisms accounting for lower antibiotic prescription rates observed with housestaff-associated visits merit further study.