Platelet alpha granule secretion in cerebral ischemia: effect of short and long term low dose aspirin treatment

The effect of short and long-term therapy with aspirin (50 mg/day) on platelet alpha granule secretion was studied in 11 healthy controls and 57 patients suffering from transient cerebral ischemic attacks (TIA) with and without accompanying diabetes and hypertension. Plasma levels of beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG) and platelet factor 4 (PF 4) were measured as indicators of platelet alpha granule secretion. beta-TG and PF 4 levels were increased following cerebral ischemia. Aspirin treatment failed to suppress plasma levels of both proteins when measured a month and then a year after initiation of treatment. Therefore, these proteins may be poor indicators of platelet inhibition by aspirin.     

Anesthesia and/or Sedation for Pulsed Dye Laser Therapy

One of the most exciting developments in pediatric dermatology has been the use of the flashlamp-pumped, 585-nm, pulsed dye laser for treatment of vascular birthmarks. In many cases the results are miraculous. The increase in self-esteem and happiness of many children and adolescents has been overwhelming; for some, depression has been lifted, stuttering has ceased, social involvement has increased, and antidepressants have been discontinued. There are many success stories to tell.
Despite the remarkable effects of the pulsed dye laser and the medical and psychosocial indications for its use, the issue of pain control remains significant. We have no perfect outpatient pediatric anesthetic. Most methods carry either some risk or, if not hazardous, often are not very effective for controlling pain. Needless to say, a diversity of opinions exist on how to manage discomfort from this treatment modality. Therefore, we thought it would be useful to share the experiences and opinions of several dermatologists who have extensive experience with the pulsed dye laser.     

Correlation and comparison of body mass index on hemodynamics in hypertensive and normotensive patients undergoing intravenous sedation.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this project was to retrospectively compare and correlate body mass index (BMI) and hemodynamics in hypertensive and normotensive patients undergoing intravenous sedation for dentoalveolar surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart analysis of 263 consecutive male patients undergoing intravenous (IV) sedation for dentoalveolar surgery was divided into 5 BMI groups: underweight, normal weight, overweight, obese, extremely obese. Data recorded were noninvasive baseline and intraoperative hemodynamic measurements at 5-minute intervals for systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), pulse pressure (PP), and pulse (P). Statistical analysis of mean values between groups was carried out using multivariate linear regression analysis, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and Student's t test and found significant for P < .05. RESULTS: Average hemodynamic values for normotensive patients were significantly lower for all groups except for pulse in the normal group, pulse in the obese group, and DBP in the extremely obese group. For normotensive patients, there were statistically significant strong positive correlation for elevated BMI and increased baseline changes in SBP and PP. For the hypertensive group, there was a statistically significant moderate positive correlation for elevated BMI and increased baseline changes in PP and statistically significant strong positive correlation for baseline changes in MAP. Baseline changes were significant for greater increases in SBP and decreases in DBP and MAP in the underweight hypertensive group. Significant increases from baseline in the normotensive group were for PP in the normal BMI group and for pulse in the obese group. All baseline changes, with the exception of normotensive underweight SBP (+26.7%) and hypertensive PP (+23.9%), were within +/-20% of baseline (range, -12.2% to +17.4%). CONCLUSION: In general, normotensive patients in this study had lower average hemodynamic values than hypertensive patients in all BMI groups. Great variability was seen in baseline changes for all BMI groups, but a substantial majority of changes were within +/-20% of baseline. There were statistically significant moderate and positive correlations in BMI for changes from baseline for several hemodynamic measurements. Intravenous sedation for oral and maxillofacial surgery procedures maintains a stable hemodynamic state in hypertensive and normotensive patients regardless of BMI.     

Forehead Pulse Oximetry: Headband Use Helps Alleviate False Low Readings Likely Related to Venous Pulsation Artifact

Background: This study investigated whether a tensioning headband that applies up to 20 mmHg pressure over a forehead pulse oximetry sensor could improve arterial hemoglobin oxygen saturation reading accuracy in presence of venous pooling and pulsations at the forehead site.

Methods: Healthy volunteers were studied breathing room air in supine and various levels of negative incline (Trendelenburg position) using the forehead sensor with the headband adjusted to its maximum and minimum recommended pressure limits. Saturation readings obtained from the forehead sensor with the subjects supine and the headband in place were used as a baseline to compare the effects of negative incline on reading accuracy when using and not using the headband. Occurrences of false low-saturation readings detected by forehead sensors were compared with those from digit sensors.

Results: No difference was observed between saturation readings obtained from the forehead sensor in supine and negative incline positions when the headband was applied. Forehead sensor readings obtained while subjects were inclined and the headband was not used were significantly lower (P < 0.05) than the supine readings. There was no statistically significant difference between the digit and forehead sensor in reporting false low-saturation readings when the headband was applied, regardless of body incline.     

Three-dimensional color Doppler sonography and uterine artery arteriography of fibroids: assessment of changes in vascularity before and after embolization.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the accuracy of three-dimensional color Doppler sonography and uterine artery arteriography in depicting changes in fibroid vascularity before and after embolization. METHODS: Preembolization and postembolization three-dimensional color Doppler sonography and selective uterine artery arteriography were retrospectively compared in 15 patients who underwent uterine artery embolization for treatment of symptomatic fibroids. Three-dimensional color Doppler sonography was performed by using a scanner with color power angiographic imaging capability. Vascularity was quantified by using an estimation of power-weighted pixel density as described by our group in previously published studies. Uterine artery arteriography was performed by using a standard selective microcatheter embolization technique. For purposes of comparison, fibroids were classified as either hypervascular or hypovascular relative to myometrial vascularity before and minutes to several hours after uterine artery embolization. Changes in fibroid vascularity (i.e., from hypervascular to hypovascular) as depicted by three-dimensional color Doppler sonography were compared with those shown on uterine artery arteriography and classified as being in agreement or disagreement. RESULTS: In 13 (87%) of 15 patients there was agreement; in 2 (13%) of 15 there was disagreement. In both cases of disagreement, three-dimensional color Doppler sonography showed collateral flow not depicted by uterine artery arteriography The mean reduction in quantitated vascularity after uterine artery embolization was 44% (range, 19%-78%). CONCLUSIONS: Three-dimensional color Doppler sonography accurately depicts fibroid vascularity and in some cases can reveal collateral flow not depicted by uterine artery arteriography.     

Adverse outcomes of osteoporotic fractures in the general population.

Osteoporotic fractures exact a terrible toll on the population with respect to morbidity and cost, and to a lesser extent mortality, which will increase dramatically with the growing elderly population. Attention has focused on the 12-20% excess deaths after hip fracture, but most are caused by underlying medical conditions unrelated to osteoporosis. More important is fracture-related morbidity. An estimated 10% of patients are disabled by hip fracture, and 19% require institutionalization, accounting for almost 140,000 nursing home admissions annually in this country. Distal forearm and vertebral fractures less commonly result in nursing home placement, but about 10% of postmenopausal women have vertebral deformities that cause chronic pain, and a substantial minority have poor function after forearm fracture. These fractures interfere greatly with the activities of daily living, and all of them can have a substantial negative impact on quality of life. Annual expenditures for osteoporotic fracture care in the United States (dollar 17.5 million in 2002 dollars) are dominated by hip fracture treatment, but vertebral fractures, distal forearm fractures, and importantly, the other fractures related to osteoporosis contribute one-third of the total. Although all fracture patients are at increased risk of future fractures, few of them are currently treated for osteoporosis, and only a subset (i.e., those with vertebral fractures) are considered candidates for many clinical trials. Eligibility criteria should be expanded and fracture end-points generalized to acknowledge the overall burden of osteoporotic fractures.     

Impaired cortisol stress response in fish from environments polluted by PAHs,PCBs, and mercury

The cortisol stress response to capture was investigated in two species of fish (Perca flavescens and Esox lucius) from sites polluted by high levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and mercury, and from reference sites in the St. Lawrence river system. Fish from the reference sites exhibited the normal elevation of serum cortisol in response to the acute stress of capture and had large pituitary corticotropes. In contrast, fish from the most polluted sites were unable to increase their serum cortisol in response to the acute stress of capture and their pituitary corticotropes were atrophied. These results suggest that a life-long exposure to chemical pollutants may lead to an exhaustion of the cortisol-producing endocrine system, possibly as a result of prolonged hyperactivity of the system.     

Artifacts due to stimulus correlated motion in functional imaging of the brain

To assess the effect of stimulus correlated motion on the appearance of functional magnetic resonance images, conventional visual and motor protocols were each performed by four normal volunteers and an image co-registration technique was used to retrospectively monitor subject motion. In three studies synthetic data sets were constructed from single baseline images using the positional information obtained from the co-registration procedure. Cumulative difference images were then created from both the synthetic and functional image sets. Stimulus correlated motion was detected in all eight studies and the synthetic cumulative difference images showed striking similarities to the equivalent functional images in each case.     

Multiple sclerosis: genetic versus environmental aetiology: epidemiology in Israel updated

The incidence and prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) were compared, controlling for age, in native-born Israelis of different origins and in immigrants to Israel. This comparison was carried out in two populations, countrywide and in Jerusalem. In the countrywide population, ascertainment was based mainly on hospitalizations; it included 252 patients who were native-born and 150 who had immigrated from Africa-Asia (AA immigrants). The 89 MS patients of Jerusalem also included patients diagnosed in outpatient clinics. In native-born Israelis whose father was born in Europe-America (I-EA), the incidence and prevalence of MS were found to be as high as or even higher than that found previously in immigrants from Europe-America. Among native-born Israelis whose father was born in Africa or Asia (I-AA), the yearly age-adjusted incidence and prevalence rates were found to be 1.4- to 1.8-fold higher than among AA immigrants, pointing to environmental factors. The incidence and prevalence rates in the I-EA were 1.2- to 1.6-fold higher than in the I-AA, pointing to genetic factors. These results seem to point to both environmental and genetic factors in the aetiology of MS. Further research is needed, however, to disentangle the genetic factors from possible environmental differences in the two ethnic groups.