Geometric indices of bone strength are associated with physical activity and dietary calcium intake in healthy older women.

A population-based study on 1008 postmenopausal women identified that the 24% of women achieving high levels of PA and CI had 3.4-4.4% higher femoral bone strength in axial compression and 1.7-5.2% in bending than those achieving low levels, indicating that lifestyle factors influence bone strength in the proximal femur. INTRODUCTION: Extensive research has shown that increased physical activity (PA) and calcium intake (CI) decrease the rate of bone loss; however, there is little research on how these lifestyle variables affect bone geometry. This study was designed to investigate the effects of modifiable lifestyle variables, habitual PA and dietary CI, on femoral geometry in older women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Femoral geometry, habitual PA, and dietary CI were measured in a population-based sample of 1008 women (median age+/-interquartile range, 75+/-4years) enrolled in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of calcium supplementation. Baseline PA and CI were assessed by validated questionnaires, and 1-year DXA scans (Hologic 4500A) were analyzed using the hip structural analysis technique. Section modulus (Z), an index of bending strength, cross-sectional area (CSA), an index of axial compression strength, subperiosteal width (SPW), and centroid position, the position of the center of mass, were measured at the femoral neck (NN), intertrochanter (IT), and femoral shaft (FS) sites. These data were divided into tertiles of PA and CI, and the results were compared using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), with corrections for age, height, weight, and treatment (calcium/placebo). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: PA showed a significant dose-response effect on CSA all hip sites (p<0.03) and Z at the narrow neck and intertrochanter sites (p<0.02). For CI, there was a dose-response effect for centroid position at the intertrochanter (p=0.03). These effects were additive, such that the women (n=240) with PA in excess of 65.5 kcal/day and CI in excess of 1039 mg/day had significantly greater CSA (NN, 4.4%; IT, 4.3%; FS, 3.4%) and Z (NN, 3.9%; IT, 5.2%). These data show a favorable association between PA and aspects of bone structural geometry consistent with better bone strength. Association between CI and bone structure was only evident in 1 of 15 variables tested. However, there was evidence that there may be additive effects, whereby women with high levels of PA and CI in excess of 1039 mg/day had significantly greater CSA (NN, 0.4%; FS, 2.1%) and Z (IT, 3.0%) than women with high PA but low CI. These data show that current public health guidelines for PA and dietary CI are not inappropriate where bone structure is the health component of interest.     

Arthroscopic Chondral Cyst Excision in a Stiff Perthes’ Hip

Persistent hip stiffness in Perthes’ disease indicates a poor prognosis and is a therapeutic challenge. We report a case of a 13-year-old boy with a stiff Perthes’ hip that was nonresponsive to prolonged nonsurgical treatment. Imaging revealed Catterall group IV Perthes’ disease in an advanced reossification stage, with a focal defect in the weight-bearing area of the capital femoral epiphysis. A focal, compressible chondral elevation was detected on hip arthroscopy; on incision, flocculent fluid was released. After the cyst was excised, microfracture revascularization of the chondral defect was undertaken. Postoperatively, the patient had immediate pain relief, correction of deformity, and restoration of painless range of motion; this has continued for 4 years since surgery was performed. Persistence of an unhealed necrotic segment in Perthes’ disease has traditionally been associated with osteochondritis dissecans; however, in this case, the unhealed and nonossified segment produced an elevated painful chondral cyst that caused spasm and stiffness of the hip. Although 2 distinct types of chondral lesions have been described in Perthes’ disease, stiffness arising because of these lesions has not been reported. Patients with this unusual third type of chondral lesion of the capital femoral epiphysis, which causes persistent stiffness in Perthes’ hip, may be identified and successfully treated with the use of arthroscopic techniques.     

Effects of self-management training in Type 2 diabetes: a randomized, prospective trial.

AIMS: The efficacy of three education programmes for Type 2 diabetic patients was tested in a randomized trial. A didactic-oriented training programme (treatment A) was compared with a self-management-oriented programme delivered in group sessions (treatment B). The latter programme was compared with a more individualized approach (treatment C). METHODS: One hundred and eighty-one Type 2 diabetic patients (age 55.6 +/- 6.3 years, diabetes duration 6.6 +/- 6.2 years, HbA(1c) 7.8 +/- 1.6%, female 49.7%) took part. Efficacy was assessed 3 months (t1) after baseline (t0) and at a follow-up 15 months (t2) after baseline. RESULTS: The fall in HbA(1c) in treatment B at t1 was sustained at t2 (t0 8.1 +/- 1.8%, t1 7.3 +/- 1.7%, t2 7.4 +/- 1.9%). In treatment A, HbA(1c) was unchanged throughout (t0 7.6 +/- 1.5%, t1 7.5 +/- 1.3%, t2 7.7 +/- 1.7%; treatment A vs. treatment B; P < 0.05). With the more individualized approach of treatment C, there was a fall in HbA(1c) at t1, but this was not sustained at t2 (t0 7.8 +/- 1.6%, t1 7.1 +/- 1.3%, t2 7.6 +/- 1.6%; treatment B vs. treatment C; P = 0.73). There were also significant benefits in treatment B subjects compared with treatment A in further medical (body mass index and fasting blood glucose), psychological (control, irritability and hunger dependency of eating behaviour, and trait anxiety) and behavioural (exercise) variables. There were no significant benefits of the more individualized treatment C compared with group treatment B. No significant differences were found regarding triglyceride levels, high-density lipoprotein, diabetes-related knowledge, negative well-being, urine or blood glucose levels or foot care. CONCLUSION: Self-management training had a significantly higher medium-term efficacy than didactic diabetes education. The group sessions were more effective than a more individualized approach.     

Bimodal dialysis: an integrated approach to renal replacement therapy.

BACKGROUND: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) and hemodialysis (HD) are both widely used as sole therapies for end-stage renal disease (ESRD). There is still controversy over which (if either) is superior in terms of patient outcomes. Peritoneal dialysis offers the advantages of long, slow, continuous ultrafiltration and potentially enhanced protection of residual renal function (RRF). In contrast, HD offers superior solute removal at the cost of undesirable cardiovascular tolerance of high rates of sodium and water removal. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical feasibility of offering a combined treatment of both modalities [bimodal dialysis (BMD)] to incident patients reaching ESRD. We set out to investigate if it might be possible to utilize the intrinsic advantages of both modalities within a setting of good patient acceptability. METHODS: We prospectively studied 8 patients. They were recruited in the pre-ESRD phase from a specialist low clearance clinic. An arteriovenous fistula was formed and peritoneal catheters were inserted. The BMD consisted of 2, 3-hour, high efficiency, euvolemic HD sessions per week in combination with 2 PD exchanges per day to provide a degree of solute clearance and all of the ultrafiltration. Adequacy was measured independently for each modality. Patients were followed using the standard range of evaluations in addition to RRF (by creatinine clearance and EDTA clearance), echocardiography (left ventricular mass and ventricular performance), treatment outcomes, patient symptoms, and complications. RESULTS: Mean time on BMD was 346 +/- 74.9 (range 245 - 431) days. Peritonitis rate was 21 months per episode (mean 0.6 +/- 0.9, 0 - 2 episodes per patient). Mean peritoneal ultrafiltration volume was 1.58 +/- 0.32 (1.3 - 2.1) L per day. Delivered Kt/V and weekly PD Kt/V did not change significantly. Patients' RRF was maintained over the study period, as were serum albumin and control of serum phosphorus. Blood pressure was controlled with a reduction in the number of antihypertensive agents. Left ventricular mass index reduced over the treatment period, from a mean of 194 +/- 31.2 (161 - 265) to 156 +/- 21.2 (138 - 189) g/m2 (p = 0.05). Ventricular performance remained unchanged over the study [ejection fraction 50.4 +/- 11.1 (38 - 67) % to 48 +/- 8.0 (48 - 67) %]. Mean time during BMD spent on HD alone was 4.2 +/- 6.9 (0 - 16) days, and on PD alone 9.2 +/- 10.6 (0 - 25) days. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that BMD is a feasible treatment for ESRD. It is associated with adequate solute removal and good hemodynamic/volume control, and allows increased treatment flexibility for coping with complications normally requiring recourse to unplanned HD with temporary central venous access.