Ethnic differences in self-reported functional status in the rural south: The johnston county osteoarthritis project

Objective. We examined ethnic differences in self-reported functional status in a rural, population-based sample in North Carolina. Methods. Data from 1,197 African-American and Caucasian participants, aged 45 and older, in the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project were analyzed using multiple logistic regression to examine ethnic differences in difficulty performing tasks of the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and in risk factor profiles associated with difficulty. Results. Forty-three percent reported difficulty in one or more HAQ tasks. African-Americans were more likely than Caucasians to report difficulty performing 3 tasks (P < 0.04); these differences were minimal after adjustment for confounders. For some tasks, risk factor profiles included body mass index in African-Americans only, and age and female gender more often in Caucasians. Low educational attainment was part of the risk factor profile for walking in African-Americans. Conclusions. Differences in proportions of African-Americans and Caucasians reporting difficulty in performance of HAQ tasks were minimal, but risk factor profiles for difficulty appeared to vary by ethnicity.     

Value of duplex Doppler ultrasonography in renal colic

OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to determine the value of duplex Doppler ultrasonography (DDU) in the patients' evolution with renal colic. The study of the resistive index (RI), difference of the RI (ARI) associated with a DDU intravesical recording (ureteral jets) were compared with renographic findings in renal colic. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between October 1998 and January 2001 we studied 377 cases with suspected renal colic by intravenous pyelography (IVP), grey-scale ultrasonography and DDU with determination of the RI, the difference between the RI of ipsilateral and contralateral kidneys (ARI) and the amplitude (maximum length of the intravesical ureteral jet), velocity and frequency of the urine bolus. We considered normal values RI < or = 0.70 and ARI < or = 0.06. VP was used as a referee investigation and the ureteral intravesical jets were determined in standard conditions. All patients came to the hospital between 4 and 12 h after the onset of the renal colic. RESULTS: We found four series of patients: 1, acute (complete) obstructed kidney (IVP nonfunctional) and dilatation at normal grey-scale, with normal contralateral kidney (n = 153). In this series we found RI > 0.70 in 87%, RI > 0.06 in 90% and absent ureteral intravesical jet of the obstructed kidney site in 89%; 2, acute (complete) obstructed kidney (IVP nonfunctional) without abnormalities at normal grey-scale, with normal contralateral kidney (n = 57). In this series we found RI > or = 0.70 in 73.5%, deltaRI > 0.06 in 82.5% of patients, absent or asymmetric ureteral intravesical jet in 80.7% of cases; 3, incomplete obstructed kidney (IVP with various degree of ureterohydronephrosis) with normal contralateral kidney (n = 96). In this series we found RI > or = 0.70 in 58.3% and deltaRI > 0.06 in 64.5% of patients, asymmetric ureteral intravesical jets in 74% of cases; 4, normal both kidneys normal IVP) were found in 71 cases (18.8%). In this series we found RI < 0.70 in 80.2%, deltaRI < or = 0.06 in 89% of cases, normal ureteral intravesical jets in 93% of cases. The mean RI was 0.76 (0.05) in 306 obstructed kidneys, significantly higher than the mean RI of 0.62 (0.05) in 448 normal kidneys (P < 0.001). The ARI in patients with obstruction was significantly higher than in patients with normal both kidneys, at 0.08 (0.05) and -0.001 (0.03), respectively (P < 0.001). The RI was sensitive in 75.5% and specific in 92.5% and ARI was sensitive in 80.7% and specific in 95.7% (versus IVP, considered the referee value). The presence of the intravesical ureteral jets of the renal colic side, associated with the values of RI (RI < or = 0.70) and deltaRI (deltaRI < or = 0.06), was followed by spontaneous passage of the stones in 71% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: Renal DDU and consecutively, intravesical evaluation of ureteral jets could detect acute renal obstruction and, as a functional investigation, could have a predictive value regarding the ureteral stones passage. It could replace the IVP, being a sensitive and highly specific test.     

Cytomegalovirus retinitis in HIV positive patients

First it is shown an up-date about cytomegalovirus retinitis, concerning pathogeny, diagnosis, evolution and treatment. Then is a study about incidence and evolution of cytomegalovirus retinitis in AIDS patients, which have the diagnosis among january 1994-september 2002. CONCLUSIONS: In Romania the incidence of cytomegalovirus retinitis in AIDS patients is lower than in western countries, because over 60% of patients are children.     

Argon plasma coagulation for radiation proctitis

Radiation proctitis is a well-recognized complication following radiotherapy for pelvic malignancy. This study was designed to compare the efficacy and complications of argon plasma coagulation (APC) using the power setting of 50 W vs. 60 W in a group of patients with radiation proctitis. Forty-two patients were randomized to undergo APC using the electrical power setting of 60 W (23 patients, group A) or 50 W (19 patients, group B). Patients were asked to estimate the severity of major symptoms before and after APC using a scoring system graded 0-4. The score of major symptoms before and after APC, mean duration of the procedure, number of sessions, side effects/complications were noted. Statistical analysis was performed using Fisher's Exact Test and the 2-tailed p value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. A significant improvement of major symptoms was noted in all patients treated with APC, irrespective of the wattage we used, apart from the presence and severity of tenesmus. The mean number of treatment sessions to achieve control of bleeding was 1.34 for group A and 1.9 for group B and the mean time of treatment sessions was significantly shorter for group A (15 min vs. 17 min for group B). No significant differences in early side effects and long term complications between the two groups were evidenced. We can conclude that there is no statistical significance concerning efficacy and side effects of APC application between the 60W and 50W power setting, but the number of sessions and duration of the procedure tend to differ significantly. Rectal stenoses have been described only in patients treated with higher power settings.     

Chemoembolization in the treatment of metastatic ileocolic carcinoid

Carcinoid tumours are enigmatic, slow growing malignancies, which occur most frequently (74%) in the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms of the carcinoid syndrome (flushing and diarrhoea) are infrequent, occurring in approximately 10% of the patients with small bowel carcinoid. A 45-year-old patient with multiple liver metastases, diagnosed in 1994 with nonHodgkin's lymphoma after undergoing surgery for a distal ileal tumour, was referred to us by the Department of Haematology. At that moment the issue of a differential diagnosis with a carcinoid tumour arose, due to the long evolution and lack of evidence to support the initial diagnosis. The carcinoid syndrome was in fact present (the patient experiencing flush after small amounts of alcohol and emotions) and also we identified elevated values of 5HIAA. Reevaluation of the histologic sections of the ileal tumour as well as an ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration of an intrahepatic lesion confirmed the diagnosis of "carcinoid tumour". This conclusion lead to new therapeutic options for this patient. One of the main therapeutic options used in treating multiple liver metastases from a carcinoid tumour is chemoembolization and this case offered an excellent opportunity to present this therapy.     

Post-caustic esophageal stenosis

This study treats the last 13-year experience of the Surgical Department from the Fundeni Hospital Bucharest (Romania) regarding the surgery of the postcaustical esophageal stenoses. The series is composed of 25 patients (10 males and 15 women), with ages between 19 and 58 years. The patients were admitted in our unit at an interval between 2 months and 20 years from the caustical ingestion. In 20 cases we preferred seriate procedures (gastrostomy or jejunostomy as a first operation, followed after 2 months to 20 years by a reconstructive procedure). The reconstructive operation was accompanied by resection of the stenotic esophagus in 15 cases (60%); in 10 cases we performed a bypassing (without resection) presternal esophagoplasty. Resection of the esophagus implied a combined abdomino-thoracic approach in 10 cases and an cervico-thoraco-abdominal approach in 5 (depending upon the extent of the lesions). The early postoperative course was complicated by anastomotic leakage's in 5 patients (20%) and by pulmonary complications in another 5 (20%) cases. There were no postoperative deaths. The late follow-up showed a good functional result in 24 patients with medium weight gain of 2.6 kilograms and a normal social reintegration. In conclusion, we consider that the esophagus resection in postcaustical stenoses is indicated when there are no counterindications, with a low morbidity when it is performed in specialized surgical services.