Trapeziometacarpal joint osteoarthritis: a retrospective study comparing arthrodesis to tendon interposition arthroplasty

Abstract Surgical management of trapeziometacarpal joint osteoarthritis (OA) is still controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare results of trapeziometacarpal arthrodesis and of tendon interposition arthroplasty. One hundred twenty-six patients suffering from trapeziometacarpal OA underwent surgery between 1996 and 2001. Of these patients, 62 (78 thumbs) treated with joint arthrodesis and 33 (41 thumbs) treated with tendon interposition arthroplasty with abductor pollicis longus (APL) have been evaluated at follow-up and therefore entered this study. Mean age was 53 years, while the mean follow-up was 36 months. Overall results were satisfactory in 84 patients with good pain improvement. Patients treated with arthrodesis showed better functional ability in bi-digital pinch and grip strength. First finger opposition motion, however, was better conserved in patients treated with interposition arthroplasty. Fusions had an 11.5% complication rate (9 thumbs) with nonunions, whereas 14.8% (6 thumbs) of patients treated with interposition arthroplasty developed 1 first metacarpal base collapse, resulting in 1 first ray length reduction. Despite complications, however, patients did not report unsatisfactory results and generally experienced marked pain reduction. This study shows that arthrodesis can be considered the treatment of choice in patients suffering from trapeziometacarpal OA at Eaton stage III or less, whatever the age and when a good pinch strength is needed.     

Arthroscopic Latissimus Dorsi Transfer

The patient is placed in lateral decubitus. A 6-cm incision made in the axilla allows access to the latissimus dorsi tendon and its neurovascular pedicle. Holding the arm in internal rotation, the surgeon detaches sharply the tendon off the humeral shaft and then reinforces it with wrapping sutures. Pulling the free limbs of the sutures exposes the under surface of the muscle and helps to identify the neurovascular pedicle. Special lighting retractors suited for a large diameter scope are helpful. Mobilization is completed when 2 cm of the tendon crosses the posterior edge of the acromion. The standard lateral portal is used for visualization. A silicon drain tube stiffened by a Wissinger rod is advanced from the posterior portal under direct visualization in the space between teres minor and deltoid, exiting in the auxiliary incision. A suture loop passed down the tube retrieves the tendon sutures out the posterior portal. These are then moved out the anterior portal, thus pulling the tendon over the tuberosity. The first anchor is inserted at the anterior aspect of the greater tuberosity, close to the articular cartilage and long head of the biceps tendon. Two to 3 anchors are inserted fixing the tendon to the tuberosity until it is stable.     

临床护士锐器伤调查与预防

目的探讨护士预防锐器伤的对策。方法对某所综合性医院193名护士在2004年1月~2005年6月发生的锐器伤进行问卷调查。结果46.1%护士发生锐器伤,人均1.6次;发生锐器伤的锐器主要是注射器针头(36.7%),其次是玻璃(32.4%);护士主要在掰安瓿(29.5%)、使用后处理锐器(22.3%)、安装调整针头(15.8%)、医护配合传递锐器(10.1%)等环节容易发生锐器伤;有79.1%护士发生锐器伤时未戴手套。结论护士面临锐器伤职业危险,各方应当采取对策,预防和控制锐器伤。     

头发、血浆、红细胞中铅对评价职业性接触水平的作用

[目的]探讨发铅、血浆和红细胞中铅对评价职业性铅接触水平的作用。[方法]用原子吸收分光光度计测定接触铅组与不接触铅对照组工人的血浆、红细胞及发中铅、铁、铜、镁、钙含量，测量数据用SAS软件处理。[结果]用0．25mol／L的HCl处理发样，能有效去除发表面的铅污染。接触组与对照组血浆铅无显著差异，而红细胞铅、发铅差异显著，血中其他元素含量无显著差异。[结论]去除表面污染的发铅和红细胞铅可作为铅接触指标。血浆铅则无意义。     

Prevalence of occupational allergy due to live fish bait

BACKGROUND: Larvae of insects and worms, used as live fish bait (LFB), are a common source of allergy in anglers and occupationally exposed workers, but the prevalence and predictors have not yet been investigated. OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the prevalence and associated factors of occupational allergy in workers exposed to LFB. METHODS: We assessed the prevalence of sensitization to LFB and work-related symptoms (WRS) in 76 workers occupationally exposed to it. All workers completed a case history questionnaire and underwent skin prick tests (SPT) for common aeroallergens and bluebottle (Calliphora vomitoria), bee moth (Galleria mellonella), mealworm (Tenebrio molitor), and gusano rojo (Cilecomadia moorei). Specific IgE were tested in 64 subjects. Two-thirds of the workers had a high level of LFB exposure. RESULTS: Sensitization to LFB was found in 24 workers (31.6%). Seven subjects (9.2%) reported WRS (asthma in 3, rhinoconjunctivitis in 5, and contact urticaria in 1), and 5 were positive for SPT and serum IgE to one or more LFB extracts. One was also exposed to LFB while fishing. Sensitization to LFB extracts and WRS were strongly associated (Odds Ratio = 6.6, P < 0.05). The 7 subjects with WRS had been exposed longer than asymptomatic subjects with positive skin tests to LFB (P < 0.05). No differences in sex, age, smoking habit, duration or level of exposure, and atopy were detected in symptomatic or in sensitized subjects, compared with normal workers. CONCLUSION: Sensitization to LFB and WRS are relatively frequent in occupationally exposed workers. No associated factors of occupational allergy to LFB could be detected.     

广东省放射工作人员健康状况调查

目的　了解长期小剂量电离辐射对放射工作人员健康的影响 ,为保障其工作者的健康和改进防护措施提供依据。方法　通过职业流行病学现况调查的方法 ,按照广东省放射工作人员职业健康体检规范要求 ,对 2 0 0 2年广东省999例放射工作人员的职业健康状况进行分析。结果　随着工龄增加 ,放射工作人员眼科检查的异常率增加。血液常规检查和细胞遗传学指标 (外周血淋巴细胞微核率 )及眼晶状体混浊率 ,部分组间指标差异有统计学意义。男性微核率的异常率 >15年组是 <5年组的 5 2倍 ,是 5～ 15年组的 1 4倍 ,女性微核率异常率 >15年组是 <5年组的 3 3倍 ,是 5～15年组的 2 5倍。结论　加强放射卫生监督管理 ,重点保护暴露工龄较长的放射工作人员 ,以减低放射对该人群的影响     

Localized pleural plaques and lung cancer.

In a mass chest radiography survey conducted in 1971 for 7,986 residents of three Finnish communities, 604 subjects (7.6%) with pleural plaques but not other asbestos-related radiographic signs were identified. The same number of referents, each individually matched to each plaque carrier on sex, birth year, and community, was selected from among persons in the same source population with no pleural plaques. The two groups were followed for investigation of incidence of lung cancer during 1972-1989. Twenty-eight of those with plaques and 25 referents contracted lung cancer (crude conditional RR = 1.1; CL95 = 0.7, 1.9). The application of the proportional hazards model, with adjustment for sex, age, and residence, resulted in a hazard ratio of 1.1 (CL = 0.6, 1.8). The risk ratio estimate may be biased; hence, the result is inconclusive in regard to the predictive assessment of lung cancer risk among carriers of pleural plaques.     

五型病毒性肝炎的暴露因素与临床表现的比较

比较急性病毒性肝炎患者感染打危险因素，同时比较五型肝炎的症状和体征。连续收集急性病毒性肝炎患者血清２９３份，用ＥＬＩＳＡ法检测了五型肝炎病毒的病原学指标，并进行了流赞美同学调查。暴露因素：丙肝的肠道外暴露外明显多于甲肝；甲肝和戊肝有较高的“甲肝”患者接触史；乙肝，丙肝和丁肝有高的“乙肝”接触史，与甲肝，戊肝相比差异显著。     

Epidemiological aspects of prenatal exposure to high doses of vitamin a in Spain

Reports of the human teratogenicity of retinoids have raised concern about the potential human teratogenicity of high doses of vitamin A. Nevertheless, there are few human case reports of excess intake of vitamin A during pregnancy and defective outcomes. No epidemiological studies have been carried out on this subject. Here we present the results of an epidemiological study of prenatal exposure to high doses of vitamin A in Spain, using data from the Spanish hospital-based, case-control registry. Although it is difficult to reach conclusions with such a very low exposure level (1.3 per 1,000 livebirths), our results suggest that a teratogenic effect might exist for exposures to high doses of vitamin A (OR = 0.5, p = 0.15 for less than 40,000 FU and OR = 2.7, p = 0.06 for 40,000 1U or more). As we might expect, this effect also seems to be related to the organogenetic status (OR = 5.4, p = 0.1 for 1^st –2^nd month, OR = 1.8, p = 0.4 for 3^rd onwards) at the time of exposure.     

Immunoassays for proteins alkylated by nicotine-derived N-nitrosamines

Polyclonal antibodies recognizing the pyridyloxobutyl (POB) moiety of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) were produced in rabbits immunized either with POB-bovine albumin or POB-Sepharose. The POB intermediates necessary to modify the protein were generated by alkaline (pH 9.0) treatment of the synthetic precursor 4-(carbethoxynitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone. In a competitive enzyme linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA), 70 pmole NNK inhibited 50% of the binding of the anti-POB antibodies to POB-protein absorbed on microtiterplates. This 50% inhibition varied from 70 pmole to 200 nmole using a series of NNK analogues, depending on the integrity of the POB moiety. Immunological techniques initiated in this study detect NNK-protein conjugates or measure the quantity of POB groups liberated upon alkaline or acid treatment of NNK modified protein.