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A new compact, multiband, single-feed planar inverted-F antenna (PIFA) for laptop computers is presented. The proposed large-bandwidth radiating system is designed to operate in the IEEE 802.11a (5.725–5.825 GHz), IEEE 802.11b (2.4–2.48 GHz), and HIPERLAN2 (5.470–5.725 GHz) frequency bands. The overall size of the antenna and its dimensions are suitable for its installation in any position along the border of the display of a laptop computer. The design procedure is illustrated and discussed. The antenna behavior has been analyzed by resorting to both a conformal finite-difference time-domain (CFDTD) simulation procedure and a finite-element method (FEM) based technique. The simulation results are shown for the antenna in free space as well as when it is mounted in the border of a notebook display. A prototype is realized and the measurement results show good agreement with the simulation data. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 46: 454–458, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.21015 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of inhaled heparin on bronchoconstriction induced by ultrasonically nebulised distilled water (UNDW) in allergic asthmatics. Methods: Eight atopic asthmatics, hyperresponsive to UNDW, were selected for this randomised, placebo-controlled, crossover double-blind study. On two consecutive days, these subjects underwent a UNDW challenge 45 min after inhaling aerosolised heparin (1000 U/kg) or placebo. Results: Neither heparin nor placebo had a significant effect on base-line forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), but heparin significantly attenuated UNDW-induced bronchoconstriction, as shown by its efficacy in preventing the decreases in FEV1 produced by all doses of water (in comparison with placebo: P<0.05 after 2 ml water; P<0.01 after 4, 8 and 16 ml water). Conclusion: Inhaled heparin is able to exert a protective effect against the bronchoconstrictive response to UNDW in allergic asthmatics, and this action is likely due to inhibition of mast cell degranulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dietary Ca and osteocalcin (OC), parathyroid hormone (PTH), 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-D), insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) were assessed simultaneously to bone mineral density (BMD) in 200 adolescent girls (aged 11???15 years) and 100 young women (aged 20???23 years), selected from the lowest and highest end of the Ca intake distribution of a larger population sample. Ca intake was evaluated by food frequency questionnaires, BMD was measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry at ultradistal and proximal radius of non-dominant arm, bone age was estimated from x-rays of left hand and wrist according to. Surprisingly, mean Ca intakes were below the dietary reference intakes in the subgroups of girls and women with the highest measured Ca consumption. Postmenarcheal, but not premenarcheal girls showed radial densities as high as the women and in no group was BMD associated with Ca intake. In all adolescents serum PTH was negatively related to dietary Ca. In girls before menarche IGF-I was positively associated with bone age, while in the same subjects the negative relationship between SHBG and BMD pointed to the crucial role of bioavailable sex steroids on bone mass apposition in early puberty. OC levels decreased progressively with age, while serum 25-OH-D significantly increased after menarche. In conclusion, although in adolescents low Ca intake has not been shown to induce any immediate deleterious effect on radial density, the compensatory hypersecretion of PTH supports the need for an adequate Ca intake to achieve peak bone mass. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: The association between forearm bone mineral areal density (BMD) and dietary calcium, anthropometric characteristics, puberty, and physical activity was studied for the first time in 200 girls (aged 11-15 years) and 100 women (aged 20-23 years) living in Southern Italy.Methods: The BMD was assessed by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry at ultradistal (ud) and proximal (pr) radial sites and dietary calcium was evaluated using Food Frequency Questionnaires and detailed 3-day food records.Results: For population samples grouped according to low and high calcium intake levels, forearm densities were quite similar among both girls and women. Independently of calcium intake, girls displayed strong correlations between ud/pr-BMD and age, bone age, weight, height and BMI. Furthermore, in girls of similar age and BMI, radial densities were substantially increased following menarche. Positive relationships between weight, BMI and both ud/pr-BMD were only evident in women with high calcium intake.Conclusions: This study showed that different calcium intake values do not appear to affect forearm mineral densities at the ages investigated, however puberty represents the major event in radial bone mass acquisition during adolescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies have investigated the possible relationship between fertility drugs and the risk of breast cancer. To provide further information on this issue, we analysed data from a case control study, conducted in Northern Italy between 1983 and 1991. Trained interviewers identified and questioned 3415 cases (women aged 23-74 years with histologically confirmed breast cancer) and 2916 controls (women aged 21-74 years admitted to the same hospitals for diseases other than malignant, hormonal or gynaecological conditions). Fifty (1.5%) cases and 53 (1.8%) controls reported any history of infertility; the corresponding multivariate odds ratios (OR) of breast cancer was 0.8 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.5-1.1]. Sixteen (0.5%) cases and 11 (0.4%) controls reported ever using fertility drugs; the corresponding OR was 1.2 (95% CI 0.5-2.6). Allowance for potential confounding factors did not markedly modify these estimates. In conclusion, this study provides reassuring evidence on the absence of an association between fertility drug treatment and breast cancer risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Short-acting β2-agonists are currently recommended for symptom relief in asthma and the treatment of mild, acute exacerbations in COPD. However, formoterol has as fast an onset of action as salbutamol with the additional benefit of longer-lasting bronchodilation (approximately 12 h). Furthermore, systemic side effects observed with formoterol are of a similar duration but less pronounced than with short-acting β2-agonists. In this double-blind, randomized, cross-over study, 20 adult patients with reversible chronic airway obstruction (intrinsic asthma or COPD) inhaled single doses of formoterol 9 μg or salbutamol 100 μg (group A) or formoterol 18 μg or salbutamol 200 μg (group B). FEV1 was measured prior to and 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 min following inhalation of study drug. No significant differences in FEV1 values were observed between group A (P=0.704) or group B (P=0.270) at baseline, or at 5 (Group A: P=0.340; Group B: P=0.559) and 15 min (Group A: P=0.526; Group B: P=0.818) post dose. No adverse events were reported during the study. Formoterol Turbuhaler has as rapid an onset of action as salbutamol pMDI when given at the recommended doses. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]