An association between physical activity and myopia was observed, suggesting a protective effect of physical activity on the development and progression of myopia in university students. The results confirm that intensive studying is a risk factor of myopia and that myopic progression or development is more likely in medical students in their early 20s than in their late 20s.

This review aims at elucidating the interaction between genetic and environmental factors in the aetiology of primarily low myopia. Genetics greatly influence the growth of the eye, but the fine correlation between the components of refraction for the eye to become emmetrope is affected by environmental factors such as education, metabolism, physical activity, and outdoor activity.

This paper presents the development, optimization and validation of a methodology to determine nine key steroid hormones (viz. pregnenolone, progesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenedione, testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, estrone, 17α-estradiol and 17β-estradiol) expressed in the steroidogenesis in biological fluids. The analytical method allows for the determination of steroid hormones in blood plasma and serum down to 0.08-0.16 ng/mL for estrogens, 0.20-0.36 ng/mL for androgens and 0.36-0.43 ng/mL for progestagens. These limits of detection were obtainable using a two-step solid-phase clean-up for fractionation and elimination of interfering lipids (fatty acids, phospholipids, glycerides and sterols) from the steroid hormones. The accuracy of the method was 50-112% in the range 0.10 to 2.00 ng/mL.

ABSTRACT.Purpose: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of myopia among Danish conscripts and compare the results with those from similar Danish studies carried out in 1882 and 1964. Furthermore, the relationships between myopia and educational level, ethnicity, intelligence (IQ), body mass index (BMI) and height were analysed. Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study based on medical reports for 4681 male conscripts. The following data were collected from September to December 2004: age; place of birth; weight; height; power of spectacles or contact lenses; visual acuity; number of years at school (8-13 years); occupation; intelligence test (IQ test) score, and ethnicity. The prevalence of high myopia has decreased significantly since 1882 and has also tended to decrease from 1964. Number of years in education and IQ test score were related to myopia.

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The prevalence of myopia among Danish children was 17.9%. By logistic regression and slope analysis, we found no association between PA and myopia, in this first of its kind study based on objective and repeated PA data.

AimTo investigate the chemical interaction of calcium hydroxide with the corticosteroid triamcinolone acetonide in Ledermix® Paste and in Odontopaste®, a new steroid/antibiotic paste.MethodologyValidated methods were developed to analyse the interaction of calcium hydroxide in two forms, Pulpdent® Paste and calcium hydroxide powder, with triamcinolone acetonide within Odontopaste® and Ledermix® Paste. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to analyse the mixed samples of the pastes and calcium hydroxide. The concentration of triamcinolone acetonide within the pastes was determined over 0, 2, 6, 24 and 72-h time-points. All tests with the HPLC involved the testing of the standard with triplicate injections alongside the samples. All samples were tested in duplicate with each injected twice; therefore, four tests were performed for each investigation. Linearity, precision and specificity of the testing procedures and apparatus were validated. Descriptive statistics are provided.ResultsIn both pastes, there was a marked rapid destruction of the triamcinolone acetonide steroid upon mixing with calcium hydroxide. Odontopaste® suffered a lower rate of destruction of the triamcinolone acetonide component than Ledermix® Paste, but both pastes showed very similar degrees of steroid destruction after 72 h. When using calcium hydroxide powder with Ledermix® Paste, the triamcinolone was destroyed entirely and immediately.ConclusionThe addition of calcium hydroxide to Odontopaste® or Ledermix® Paste results in the rapid destruction of the steroid.

ABSTRACT.Purpose: As a consequence of an increasing prevalence of short-sightedness (myopia) in countries that have adopted western dietary patterns, it has been hypothesized that hyperglycaemia and hyperinsulinaemia induce myopia. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relation between glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA 1c ), insulin dosage and myopia in diabetic patients. Methods: All type 1 diabetic patients aged 16-26 years [mean age 22.0, standard deviation (SD) 2.9] attending the eye clinic at Steno Diabetes Center, Copenhagen, in 1995-1997 were included in the study (n = 393). The following data were collected from the medical records from baseline to 2005: age at diabetes onset, age at baseline, sex, weight, HbA 1c , insulin dosage, refractive error, visual acuity and ocular diabetes complications. Results: The prevalence of myopia [spherical equivalent (SE) £ )0.5 D] was 53.3% [95% confidence interval (CI) ± 5.29] at baseline. We followed 252 patients for 7.1 years (SD 2.2). In a logistic regression analysis, age at baseline [odds ratio (OR) 0.90 (95% CI 0.82; 0.99), P = 0.031], duration of diabetes at baseline [OR 0.95 (95% CI 0.91; 0.99), P = 0.047] and HbA 1c [OR 1.26 (95% CI 1.03; 1.47), P = 0.022] were associated with myopia. The relative risk of a myopic shift was 1.7 (95% CI 1.28; 2.26) in patients aged 16-21 years and 1.6 (95% CI 1.19; 2.14) in patients with HbA 1c above 8.8%. Insulin dosage was not related to myopia. Conclusion: The prevalence of myopia in diabetic patients is considerably higher than in the background Danish population. Poor metabolic control of glucose is a suggested risk factor of myopia. The study suggests that myopia may be regarded as a complication of hyperglycaemia in diabetes.