Detection of intestinal metaplasia in distal esophagus and esophagogastric junction by enhanced-magnification endoscopy

BACKGROUND: Standard videoendoscopy identifies columnar-lined esophagus but cannot distinguish intestinal metaplasia from other types of epithelium. Enhanced-magnification endoscopy identifies different mucosal pit patterns. A preliminary study suggested that a type 3 pattern is associated with the presence of intestinal metaplasia. This study assesses the value of enhanced-magnification endoscopy for the detection of intestinal metaplasia in the distal esophagus and esophagogastric junction in patients undergoing diagnostic EGD. METHODS: Patients undergoing diagnostic endoscopy for upper-GI symptoms underwent enhanced-magnification endoscopy after instillation of 1.5% acetic acid. The enhanced-magnification endoscopy mucosal pattern was classified into 3 types: 1, normal pits; 2, slit-reticular pattern; and 3, gyrus-villous pattern. Preliminary studies indicated that the type 3 pattern was related to intestinal metaplasia. One to 6 biopsies were targeted to areas having a type 3 pattern in columnar-appearing mucosa in the distal esophagus or esophagogastric junction. In the absence of type 3 pattern, one to 8 biopsies were targeted to areas with a type 2 pattern in columnar-appearing mucosa in the distal esophagus or esophagogastric junction. RESULTS: The overall frequency of intestinal metaplasia in the esophagus and esophagogastric junction was 38.8% (26/67 patients). There was a good correlation between the type 3 pattern and intestinal metaplasia in targeted biopsy specimens (sensitivity 88.5%, specificity 90.2%, positive predictive value 85.2%, negative predictive value 92.5%, overall accuracy 90.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Enhanced-magnification endoscopy is useful for detection of intestinal metaplasia in distal esophagus and esophagogastric junction.     

Development and Evaluation of a Semi-automated Segmentation Tool and a Modified Ellipsoid Formula for Volumetric Analysis of the Kidney in Non-contrast T2-Weighted MR Images

Volumetric analysis of the kidney parenchyma provides additional information for the detection and monitoring of various renal diseases. Therefore the purposes of the study were to develop and evaluate a semi-automated segmentation tool and a modified ellipsoid formula for volumetric analysis of the kidney in non-contrast T2-weighted magnetic resonance (MR)-images. Three readers performed semi-automated segmentation of the total kidney volume (TKV) in axial, non-contrast-enhanced T2-weighted MR-images of 24 healthy volunteers (48 kidneys) twice. A semi-automated threshold-based segmentation tool was developed to segment the kidney parenchyma. Furthermore, the three readers measured renal dimensions (length, width, depth) and applied different formulas to calculate the TKV. Manual segmentation served as a reference volume. Volumes of the different methods were compared and time required was recorded. There was no significant difference between the semi-automatically and manually segmented TKV (p = 0.31). The difference in mean volumes was 0.3 ml (95% confidence interval (CI), ?10.1 to 10.7 ml). Semi-automated segmentation was significantly faster than manual segmentation, with a mean difference = 188 s (220 vs. 408 s); p < 0.05. Volumes did not differ significantly comparing the results of different readers. Calculation of TKV with a modified ellipsoid formula (ellipsoid volume × 0.85) did not differ significantly from the reference volume; however, the mean error was three times higher (difference of mean volumes ?0.1 ml; CI ?31.1 to 30.9 ml; p = 0.95). Applying the modified ellipsoid formula was the fastest way to get an estimation of the renal volume (41 s). Semi-automated segmentation and volumetric analysis of the kidney in native T2-weighted MR data delivers accurate and reproducible results and was significantly faster than manual segmentation. Applying a modified ellipsoid formula quickly provides an accurate kidney volume.     

Nocturnal giddiness in relation to nocturia and other symptoms and to medication in the elderly

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation of nocturia, somatic diseases, symptoms, and medication to nocturnal giddiness in a group of elderly men and women. A questionnaire survey was undertaken among 10,216 elderly subjects. The mean (+/-S.D.) ages of the men and women were 73.0 +/- 6.0 and 72.6 +/- 6.7 years, respectively. Nocturnal giddiness was reported by 14.1% of the men and 9.1% of the women. Poor health was reported by 44.4% (P < 0.0001) of the men with nocturnal giddiness and by 14.0% of the men without, and among the women these figures were 45.5% and 20.0% (P < 0.0001), respectively. In a multiple logistic regression analysis significant independent correlates of nocturnal giddiness were: nocturnal micturition episodes >or=3 versus nocturia or=80 years versus <70 years (2.5; 1.7-3.6); eyesight, poor versus good (1.8; 1.4-2.4); hearing, poor versus good (1.4; 1.1-1.9); pain in the cervical spine (2.1; 1.5-2.8); spasmodic chest pain (1.5; 1.1-2.0); diabetes (1.6; 1.0-2.4); analgesics (1.8; 1.3-2.4); and diuretics (1.4; 1.1-21.8). Sex, irregular heartbeats, and sleep medication were deleted by the logistic model.     

Comparison of therapeutic efficacy and biodistribution of 213Bi- and 211At-labeled monoclonal antibody MX35 in an ovarian cancer model

IntroductionThe purpose of this study was to compare the therapeutic efficacy and biodistribution of the monoclonal antibody MX35 labeled with either ²¹³Bi or ²¹¹At, both α-emitters, in an ovarian cancer model.MethodsOne hundred female nude BALB/c (nu/nu) mice were inoculated intraperitoneally with human ovarian cancer cells (OVCAR-3). Two weeks later, 40 of these mice were injected intraperitoneally with ～2.7 MBq of ²¹³Bi-MX35 (n=20) or ～0.44 MBq of ²¹¹At-MX35 (n=20). Four weeks after inoculation, 40 new OVCAR-3-inoculated mice were injected with the same activities of ²¹³Bi-MX35 (n=20) or ²¹¹At-MX35 (n=20). Presence of tumors and ascites was investigated 8 weeks after therapy. Biodistributions of intraperitoneally injected ²¹³Bi-MX35 and ²¹¹At-MX35 were studied in tumor-free nude BALB/c (nu/nu) mice (n=16).ResultsThe animals injected with ²¹³Bi-MX35 or ²¹¹At-MX35 2 weeks after cell inoculation had tumor-free fractions (TFFs) of 0.60 and 0.90, respectively. The untreated reference group had a TFF of 0.20. The groups treated with ²¹³Bi-MX35 or ²¹¹At-MX35 4 weeks after inoculation both had TFFs of 0.25, and the reference animals all exhibited evidence of disease. The biodistributions of ²¹³Bi-MX35 and ²¹¹At-MX35 were very similar to each other and displayed no alarming activity levels in the investigated organs.ConclusionsMicrometastatic growth of an ovarian cancer cell line was reduced in nude mice after treatment with ²¹³Bi-MX35or ²¹¹At-MX35. Treatment with ²¹¹At-MX35 provided a non-significantly better result for the chosen activity levels. The radiolabeled MX35 did not accumulate to a high extent in the investigated organs. No considerable signs of toxicity were observed.     

Physical activity promotion in schools: which strategies do schools (not) implement and which socioecological factors are associated with implementation?

We studied the implementation and associated factors of strategies (e.g. sports after school and during lunch break, active schoolyards, active school commuting) and organizational principles (e.g. safe bike racks, pupil involvement) that facilitate the physical activity (PA)-promoting role of schools. Key representatives of 111 elementary and 125 secondary schools filled out an online survey. Less than half of the elementary schools organized sports during lunch-break or after school. In secondary schools the least implemented strategies were the promotion of active school commuting and after-school sports. In general pupil, parental and community involvement scored low. Better knowledge of community schools and having attended in-service training were associated with higher implementation scores in elementary and secondary schools. Better implementation of the strategies was found in larger schools. Participation in activities from the School Sports Association and more perceived interest from parents and the school board were also associated with higher implementation scores. In conclusion, knowledge of community schools and in-service training next to sufficient human resources are potential key factors to promote PA. Efforts are needed to convince and help schools to increase parental and pupil involvement and to build a policy on school-community partnerships.     

Osteoprotegerin is associated with hip fracture incidence: the Tromso Study

BACKGROUND: Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a cytokine essential for the regulation of bone resorption, but large longitudinal studies on its relationship to fracture risk in humans are lacking. In this population-based study of 2740 men and 2857 post-menopausal women, it was examined whether serum OPG was associated with hip fracture incidence. The participants were followed for 15 years. METHODS: Baseline measurements included height, weight and serum OPG, and information about lifestyle, prevalent diseases and use of medication. RESULTS: Men with OPG in the highest quartile were 2.79-fold [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.34-5.82] more likely to have a hip fracture during follow-up, compared with those with OPG in the lowest quartile (P-trend over OPG quartiles ≤0.001, after adjustments for age and other confounders). In women not using post-menopausal hormone therapy (HT), the risk of hip fracture was 1.64-fold higher (95% CI 0.94-2.86) in the highest quartile compared with the lowest OPG quartile (P-trend over OPG quartiles?=?0.05). No relationship was found in post-menopausal women using HT (P-trend over OPG quartiles?=?0.23). CONCLUSIONS: In men, OPG was positively associated with the incidence of hip fracture. In post-menopausal women not using HT a similar, but weaker, relationship was found.     

Who pays for the drinking? Characteristics of the extent and distribution of social harms from others’ drinking

AIMS: To explore the extent and distribution of experienced negative consequences from other people's drinking and to explore what characterizes the victims of these harms. DESIGN, PARTICIPANTS AND MEASUREMENTS: Cross-sectional survey in a national sample of adults. Net sample comprised 2170 respondents. Negative consequences from others' drinking during the past 12 months were assessed by seven items. RESULTS: The more severe types of consequences (being physically hurt or property damage) were reported less often (by 3.1% and 4.8%, respectively) than the least severe type of consequence (being kept awake at night by drunk people, reported by 21.2%), thus leaving the four other types of consequences (being harassed in public places, being harassed in private parties, being scolded at and being afraid of drunk people in public areas) somewhere in between. The extent to which the respondents had been subject to social harm from others' drinking displayed a very skewed distribution. The majority reported not to have experienced any such harms, whereas a small proportion had been harmed repeatedly and in various ways. Multivariate analyses showed that social harms from others' drinking were most often reported by younger persons, women, those with high education level, those who reported a higher annual alcohol intake, more frequent episodes of intoxication and more frequent visits to public drinking places. The impact of intoxication frequency on victimization from alcohol-related social harms was stronger for women than for men. Similar individual characteristics were also associated with victimization from physical harm and victimization in the public sphere. CONCLUSIONS: Relatively minor harms from others' drinking are experienced quite frequently. The social victims of others' drinking tend to drink heavily themselves, yet in contrast to what characterizes social consequences of own drinking, we find that the burden of social harms from others' drinking is to a larger extent carried by women than by men.     

Back to work – a two-year outcome of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme focused on physical function and pain

Purpose. To analyze why some responded positively to rehabilitation and why some did not.

Method. Sixty participants with musculoskeletal disorders, mainly neck and back pain participated in a 7-week rehabilitation programme which was based on a combination of theoretical and practical education and physical activities. Before and after the programme and 6, 12 and 24 months after completion of the programme all participants were evaluated with the Disability Rating Index (DRI) and Pain Intensity Rating on a Visual analogue scale (VAS).

Results. In the participants who had full-time sick leave from the start of the programme to the 2-year follow-up (Group I) self-experienced physical disability and pain ratings were high and showed no decrease and were maintained up until the 2-year follow-up. For the participants who had part-time sick leave or no sick leave (Group II) physical disability and pain ratings were initially lower than in Group I and decreased gradually, (p < 0.01) and (p < 0.05), respectively throughout the 2-year follow-up period.

Conclusion. Participants in Group I did not benefit from the rehabilitation programme and did not show improvement in their physical disability and pain rating. Group II showed decreased physical disability and pain rating. The decrease was gradual and was maintained up until the 2-year follow-up period. These results may indicate that persons with musculoskeletal pain with severe disability and pain require other rehabilitation programmes than those with moderate symptoms. This research has highlighted the need for development of such programmes.     

Back to work – evaluation of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme with emphasis on musculoskeletal disorders. A two-year follow-up

Purpose. The aim of this study was to evaluate the 2-year outcome of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme for working-age people, regarding sick leave and mental health.

Method. The test persons consisted of 40 women and 20 men (mean age 46.8 ± SD 7.9) with musculoskeletal disorders, mainly neck and back pain. The rehabilitation programme was individually adapted and consisted of physical activity in several forms, relaxation, theoretical and practical education and individual guidance. Before, during and after the programme all participants were evaluated with the Global Self-Efficacy Index, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and stress test.

Results. At the 2-year follow-up full-time sick leave had decreased by 37% (p < 0.0001) in the women, and by 25% (p < 0.05) in the men. Both women and men showed an increased quality of life (QoL) and decreased anxiety, depression and self-experienced stress at the 2-year follow-up compared with the start of the rehabilitation programme.

Conclusions. The most important conclusion was that the effects of the rehabilitation programme persisted for up to 2 years. At 2 years the majority of the participants were still physically active, their QoL was increased, and most participants had returned to work.