Assessment of bone mineral content byin vivo measurement of flexural wave velocities

The determination of loss of bone mineral in an early stage of development is important. At the present time there exists no noninvasive or nonradiological methods which can be used for routine checks. An alternative method to obtain information about mineral content of bone is to measure the mechanical properties. A new method to measure the mechanical properties of long bones by means of the dispersion analysis of flexural waves is proposed. To be independent of the frequency spectrum of the impact pulse, the phase velocities were calculated from the signals of two accelerometers placed in vivo on the tibia. This method has the advantage that the velocities can be calculated for a frequency range. The results from this method were compared with the results from a well established measurement method for bone mineral content. Both methods were applied to 43 subjects selected in such a way that a broad range of bone mineral values was covered. The results imply that the proposed method can be used to test the mechanical properties of long bones.     

Evaluation of the E test for the assessment of synergy of antibiotic combinations against multiresistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from cystic fibrosis patients

The determination of synergistic effects of antimicrobial drug combinations can lead to improved therapeutic options in the antibiotic treatment of cystic fibrosis patients who are chronically infected with multiresistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of the E test versus the standard agar dilution checkerboard susceptibility test in the assessment of synergy and, in addition, to determine the activity of two antimicrobial combinations against 163 multiresistant P. aeruginosa isolates from cystic fibrosis patients. The agreement between the checkerboard method and the E test was excellent (>90%) for nonmucoid as well as mucoid isolates from cystic fibrosis patients. The rate of synergy was higher for the antibiotic combination of ceftazidime and tobramycin (28.8% of the cystic fibrosis strains) than for the combination of meropenem and tobramycin (19.0%). However, the probability of synergy for the second antibiotic combination increased significantly when the synergy of the first antibiotic combination had already been demonstrated (Fischer’s exact test, p=0.049). The results show that the E test is a valuable and practical method for routine microbiological diagnostics and can aid in the selection of improved antibiotic options in the treatment of cystic fibrosis patients chronically infected with P. aeruginosa.     

Ultrasound-Guided Interstitial Brachytherapy in the Treatment of Advanced Vaginal Recurrences from Cervical and Endometrial Carcinoma

BACKGROUND: In advanced vaginal recurrences of cervical and endometrial carcinomas therapeutic options are rare because of preceding therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 23 patients developing advanced vaginal recurrences of cervical and endometrial carcinomas were included. 15 patients started with external-beam therapy to the pelvis and eight patients after preceding radiotherapy underwent brachytherapy alone. All patients had ultrasound-guided implantation of transvaginal or transperineal interstitial needles for brachytherapy. Median prescribed total dose was 64 Gy. RESULTS: 18 patients (78%) achieved complete remission. Six patients are alive without tumor and one with tumor after a median follow-up of 64 months. 14 patients died of tumor and two of intercurrent disease. 5-year disease-specific survival and local control rate were 43% and 47%, respectively, in patients with complete remission. Univariate analysis found time to relapse > 2 years, initial diameter < or = 4 cm, initial volume < 15 cm(3), no extension to the pelvic side wall, volume before brachytherapy < 7.5 cm(3), brachytherapy coverage index > 0.8, and prescribed total dose > 64 Gy being positive predictors for local control and survival. CONCLUSION: The use of ultrasound guidance for placement of interstitial needles in template-based brachytherapy of advanced recurrent gynecologic malignancies is a feasible, safe, and cheap method with encouraging results. Today, ultrasound imaging can be also used to some extent for treatment planning which requires further development. Patient- and treatment-related prognostic factors can be defined.     

Einsatzmöglichkeiten der Chromosomenfeinanalyse (CFA) in Gynäkologie,Geburtshilfe und Pädiatrie

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Magnetic Forces on Orthodontic Wires in High Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) at 3 Tesla

BACKGROUND: In a previous investigation we reported on magnetic forces in the static magnetic field of a 1.5 Tesla MRI system. The aim of the present investigation was to assess forces on orthodontic wires in a high field strength MRI system at 3 Tesla. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two different orthodontic wires (21 archwires, eight ligature wires and three retainer wires) were investigated in a 3 Tesla high field strength MRI system (Intera, Philips Medical Systems, Best, The Netherlands). Translational forces were measured by the deflection angle test (ASTM F2052-02), and rotational forces assessed on a 5-point qualitative scale. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Translational forces ranged between 43.5 mN and 136.1 mN for retainer wires and between 0.6 mN (Noninium) and 208.4 mN (Orthos Stainless Steel) for steel archwires. Translational forces were up to 53.8 times as high as gravitational forces for retainer wires and up to 54.5 times as high for steel archwires, associated with marked rotational forces for the most part. Archwires manufactured from nickel-titanium, titanium-molybdenum and cobalt-chromium and different ligature wires showed no or negligible forces in the magnetic field. Carefully ligated wires should not present a risk due to translational and rotational forces in the high field MRI system at 3 Tesla.     

Rotatory palmar subluxation of the lunate in post-traumatic ulnar carpal translocation

Post-traumatic ulnar carpal translocation is a rare, severe ligamentous injury to the wrist. Radiologic findings include widening of the radiocarpal joint space at the radial styloid process and ulnar displacement of the carpus. Less than 50% of the lunate articulates with the radius in the neutral position; the lunate is tilted dorsally with palmar subluxation due to a ruptured radioscapholunate (RSL) ligament. This malposition should be called rotatory palmar subluxation of the lunate (RPSL), by analogy to rotatory subluxation of the scaphoid (RSS). In contrast to dorsiflexed intercalated segment instability (DISI), in RPSL the RSL ligament is ruptured and, in the majority of cases, the scapholunate ligament remains intact. A prompt diagnosis should lead to successful treatment.     

Bone disorders following total gastrectomy

Bone disorders following gastrectomy were studied by measuring absolute and relative bone mineral density of the Wards triangle, serum 1,25-(OH)₂-D, alkaline phosphatase, and total serum calcium. The subjects were 20 males who had undergone total gastrectomy not more than three months previously (group A₁). Seventeen of these patients were reviewed three years later (group A₂). Absolute and relative bone density were significantly lower in group A₂ than in A₁ (0.52 ± 0.011 g/cm² versus 0.6 ± 0.014 g/cm²,P<0.01 and 85.5 ± 1.4% age-matched control versus 95 ± 1.3%,P<0.01). 1,25-(OH)₂-D was significantly lower in group A₂ than in group A₁ (14.3 ± 0.97 pg/ml versus 20.6 ± 1.02 pg/ml,P<0.01). There was no difference in alkaline phosphatase and calcium serum concentration. The mean weight loss was 6.26 ± 0.57% over the follow-up period, and weight loss correlated with absolute and relative bone density (r=–0.74,P<0.01). There was a positive correlation between 1,25-(OH)₂-D and absolute or relative bone density (r=0.67,r=0.62 andP<0.01). These data suggest that bone density decrease has already occurred three years after total gastrectomy and is positively correlated to 1,25-(OH)₂-D deficiency. As no differences in serum alkaline phosphatase and serum calcium concentration were found, these factors are of little value for the early detection of postgastrectomy bone disorders, whereas weight loss is a valuable screening parameter.     

Lens opacity in patients with hypercholesterolemia and ischaemic heart disease

Lens opacity studies were performed using an electronic Lens Opacity Meter (Interzeag Opacity Lensmeter 701) in a population (n = 321) with ischaemic heart disease. These patients are participating in a trial targetting at the reduction of mortality and incidence of myocardial infarction using a cholesterol-lowering drug, simvastatin. A separate study to evaluate the reliability of the method showed good reproducibility. Repeated measurements after a short time-interval (2–10 days) gave statistically lower opacity values either due to a change in lens transparency or perhaps a change in pigment and cell dispersion in the acqueous caused by repeated mydriasis. Lens opacity values showed a highly significant positive correlation to age. Serum cholesterol, systolic blood pressure and smoking habits showed no significant correlations to the levels of lens opacity when adjustments for age were made.Abbreviations HMG-CoA hydroxy-methylglutarylcoenzyme A - 4S Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study - LOM lens opacity meter