Background: Body weight (BW) and age have been shown to affect the dose of levothyroxine (LT 4 ) that results in normalization of serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in hypothyroid patients. Our objective was to determine whether gender, menstrual status, and ideal BW (IBW) also affect the LT 4 dose required to achieve a serum TSH within the normal range. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of patients being treated for primary hypothyroidism who had TSH values within a normal range. We selected patients aged 18-85 years who were taking LT 4 without any confounding medications, and who had no serious chronic conditions. Their LT 4 doses, referred to here as LT 4 dose requirements, based on both BW and IBW were documented. The relationship between gender, menstrual status, age, serum TSH concentrations, and the degree of overweight on LT 4 dose requirements were determined using multivariate analyses. Results: Women were significantly more overweight than men (ratio of BW/IBW was 1.35 for women vs. 1.17 for men, p < 0.0001). LT 4 requirements based on BW did not differ by gender when age was included in the model. However, when degree of overweight was also included, men required lower LT 4 doses than both premenopausal women (1.34 mg/kg vs. 1.51 mg/kg, p ¼ 0.038) and menopausal women (1.34 mg/kg vs. 1.49 mg/ kg, p ¼ 0.023). When examining IBW using a model incorporating age, men also required lower LT 4 doses than both premenopausal women (1.64 mg/kg vs. 1.92 mg/kg, p ¼ 0.0033) and menopausal women (1.64 mg/kg vs. 1.90 mg/kg, p ¼ 0.0024). Serum TSH concentrations were not significantly different in any of the gender groups. There was no relationship between serum TSH and either age or BW. The initial serum TSH concentration was by design with the normal range, but the concentration within that range was not a significant predictor of the LT 4 replacement dose in any of the models. Conclusion: In contrast to previous studies suggesting that age affects LT 4 replacement requirements, we found that age-based differences in doses are secondary to differences in BW and gender. In addition, in contrast to prior studies showing that lean body mass, but not gender, affected LT 4 dose, we instead found a significant impact of gender. Gender-based differences in dose requirement only became apparent either when IBW was used to correct for the dose or when degree of overweight was included in the model. Gender differences in LT 4 dose requirement exist, but are masked unless gender-based differences in degree of overweight are also considered.

Freshly harvested mushrooms are highly perishable because of high moisture content metabolism and susceptible to enzymatic browning. Mushroom is a fungal fruiting body which is cultivated throughout the world. Effect on quality of dried mushrooms was studied for various chemical pretreatments viz. 1.0% potassium metabisulphite, 0.5% citric acid, 0.5% potassium metabisulphite+0.2% citric acid, control and low cost drying methods viz. domestic solar dryer, medium size solar dryer and open sun drying. It was observed that application of 1% potassium metabisulphite treatment prior to drying using medium size solar dryer gave best quality dried mushrooms with results in accordance with statistical analysis. The drying time and final moisture content was also comparatively less than the mushrooms dried under shading plates and open sun drying.

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We examined treatment-seeking behaviours amongst a consecutive sample of 188 first-time attenders at a busy genitourinary (GU) clinic in a general hospital. Participants were interviewed and completed a battery of questionnaires prior to receiving diagnosis or treatment. Delay in treatment seeking was measured in 3 ways: utilization delay, illness behaviour delay and appraisal delay. Appraisal delay and illness behaviour were significantly related, but were unrelated to utilization delay. Substantial delays were reported before seeking treatment, with a median of 30 days elapsing between first noticing symptoms and attending the clinic. Analysis of age groups indicated that the oldest groups--45 and above were likely to delay longest, on all 3 measures of delay.

Background:The hyperoxidative and a modified inflammatory state in obese individuals cause higher susceptibility to bacterial infection which influences the initiation and progression of periodontal disease.Aim:Our study was aimed to evaluate the role of nonsurgical periodontal therapy on the clinical parameters such as gingival index (GI), plaque index, pocket probing depth (PPD) and clinical attachment level (CAL), plasma-reactive oxygen metabolite (ROM) levels, and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) resistin and serum resistin levels in obese or overweight and normal weight individuals with periodontitis.Material and Methods:Sixty individuals of age between 35 and 45 years of both the sexes were selected and categorized into two groups as thirty overweight or obese individuals with chronic periodontitis (Group I) and thirty normal weight individuals with chronic periodontitis (Group II). Clinical parameters, plasma ROM levels, and serum and GCF resistin levels were assessed at baseline and 2 months after periodontal therapy in both the groups and compared.Results:Intergroup comparison of clinical parameters (GI, CAL, PPD) 2 months after therapy showed a significant difference with more reduction in Group II compared to Group I. On comparison, mean plasma ROM, GCF, and serum resistin levels at baseline was higher in Group I compared to Group II. When plasma ROM, GCF, and serum resistin levels were compared 2 months after therapy, the reduction was more in Group II compared to Group I.Conclusion:It is concluded that along with periodontal therapy, motivation of patients for weight reduction program is mandatory for obese or overweight individuals with periodontitis in order to improve periodontal health.