Elderly cohort study subjects unable to return for follow-up have lower bone mass than those who can return

Longitudinal studies of osteoporosis in older persons may underestimate bone loss because of a lack of follow-up measurements on subjects too frail to return. The authors addressed this possible bias as part of the population-based Framingham Study; in 1996-1997, they used quantitative ultrasound to assess the bone status of elderly subjects regardless of their ability to return to the clinic. Broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) and speed of sound of the calcaneus (heel) were measured in 433 subjects at the Framingham, Massachusetts, clinic and in 167 subjects at their homes or nursing homes. All ultrasound parameters were measured with intramachine coefficients of variation of <6.0%. The mean BUA for those subjects evaluated at the clinic was higher than for those measured at home (9.2% higher for men, p = 0.081; 8.6% higher for women, p = 0.034). After adjustment for age and weight, the differences in BUA were no longer significant. Among the elderly subjects participating in this longitudinal cohort study, those who were unable to return for follow-up were older, weighed less, and had a lower BUA than those who did return, suggesting that longitudinal studies of changes in bone mass with aging may underestimate the true population values.     

Osteochondritis dissecans of the patellofemoral joint

Osteochondritis dissecans of the patellofemoral joint is an uncommon condition that may be the cause of anterior knee pain or crepitus. We present the clinical features of 37 patients with osteochondritis dissecans lesions of the patellofemoral joint (24 on the patella, 13 on the trochlear groove), including two patients with medial trochlear groove lesions, which have not, to our knowledge, been previously reported. The osteochondral lesions involved the convex articular surfaces. The median age of patients when first examined was 15 years, and 54% of patients had open epiphyses. These lesions were more common in male patients than in female patients (four-to-one ratio). Osteochondritis dissecans of the patellofemoral joint can be overlooked unless quality radiographs are viewed with care and, at arthroscopy, both the patella and trochlear groove are assessed. Treatment depends on the symptoms, site, and nature of the lesion and the patient's age. Nonoperative management includes patellar taping and vastus medialis obliquus muscle exercises. Operative intervention is indicated for patients with mechanical symptoms and includes arthroscopy, consisting of chondroplasty and removal of loose bodies, and lateral retinacular release. In this study treatment generally improved the symptoms, but patients with articular cartilage loss had persistent patellofemoral crepitus and discomfort.     

Local synthesis of IgA in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with neurological diseases

To date qualitative studies of IgA in the cerebrospinal fluid in neurological disease, particularly multiple sclerosis, have been few and given mixed results. The aim of this study was to identify local synthesis of IgA by detection of clonal IgA bands, in a large cohort of patients with a variety of neurological disorders, using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, transfer of protein to nitrocellulose membranes and specific staining. Of 2,097 sequentially analysed patients with suspected neurological disease 54 (2.6%) had locally synthesised IgA; most notably, IgA was present in 39 of 291 (13%) patients with suspected multiple sclerosis. The latter group also had a significant excess of light-chain production, particularly free kappa, when compared to multiple sclerosis patients without local synthesis of IgA. Locally synthesised IgA was also demonstrated in inflammatory, infectious and autoimmune diseases of the central nervous system. This qualitative technique is simple and suitable for routine analysis of cerebrospinal fluid, and further qualitative studies of IgA may be useful in investigating the pathophysiology of certain neurological disorders.     

The effect of low volume sprint interval training in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Objectives: Exercise is an important part of disease management in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but adherence to current exercise recommendations is poor. Novel low-volume sprint interval training (SIT) protocols with total training time commitments of ≤30 min per week have been shown to improve cardiometabolic risk and functional capacity in healthy sedentary participants, but the efficacy of such protocols in the management of NAFLD remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to examine whether a low-volume SIT protocol can be used to improve liver function, insulin resistance, body composition, physical fitness, cognitive function and general well-being in patients with NAFLD.

Methods: In the present study, 7 men and 2 women with NAFLD (age: 45 ± 8 y, BMI: 28.7 ± 4.1 kg·m^?2) completed a 6-week control period followed by 6 weeks of twice-weekly SIT sessions (5–10 × 6-s ‘all-out’ cycle sprints). Body composition, blood pressure, liver function, metabolic function, functional capacity, cognitive function and quality of life were assessed at baseline, following the control period, and following the SIT intervention.

Results: Walking speed during the walk test (+12%), estimated V?O₂max (+8%), verbal fluency (+44%), and blood platelet count (+12%; all p < 0.05) significantly increased during the control period. These measures remained significantly raised compared to baseline following the SIT intervention, but did not significantly change any further compared to the post-control time-point. Diastolic blood pressure decreased from 87 ± 10 to 77 ± 8 mm Hg from the end of the control period to the end of the SIT intervention (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: This study does not support the use of 6 weeks of a low volume SIT protocol involving twice-weekly sessions with 5–10 × 6-s ‘all-out’ cycle sprints as an intervention for NAFLD disease management.     

A minimally invasive tool to study immune response and skin barrier in children with atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (AD, atopic eczema) is a very common skin condition affecting 10-20% of children. It affects children of all skin colours and seems to occur more often in Asian children and children with dark skin types. However, most research is performed on children with light skin types. This study, performed in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, aimed to investigate differences between AD in children with dark and light skin types. To study this, the investigators took tape strips from 53 AD children aged 0-12 years and 50 healthy children as control (comparison). Tape stripping is a painless procedure which is ideal to perform in children, in which a small round sticker is attached to the skin. When removing this special sticker, a thin layer of skin cells remains attached to the sticker, allowing the investigators to study several aspects of skin inflammation and skin barrier. The authors found that AD skin from children with light and dark skin have similar levels and types of skin inflammation. However, they found differences in skin barrier markers between these two groups. In light skinned children, markers of good skin barrier were lower in AD skin when compared to healthy children's skin, while in dark AD skin these skin barrier markers were not significantly different from healthy dark skin. This study showed that dark-skinned and light-skinned AD children are similar when it concerns skin inflammation, but in light skinned AD children the skin barrier dysfunction may play an additional role in the development of AD. This suggests that AD in light and dark skin has different mechanisms of development.