Arthrodesis for chronic static scapholunate dissociation: a prospective study in 12 patients.

Twelve patients had limited arthrodesis between the scaphoid and the lunate for chronic static scapholunate dissociation using internal plate osteosynthesis. The median time between the injury and surgery was 50 months (range 9-180). They were followed up for a year postoperatively. Preoperative symptoms were pain, functional impairment, and restricted movement. During operation the scapholunate interosseous ligament was completely torn and the scaphoid malrotated in all patients. The range of motion was measured preoperatively and postoperatively, and the unaffected side used for control. For all patients except one postoperative extension, flexion, and radial deviation had considerably decreased. However, supination increased in seven of 12 patients postoperatively and so did pronation in seven of 12 patients. One patient (case 12) had an improved range of motion postoperatively in all directions. The mean grip strength was 76% of the unaffected side preoperatively, and has increased to 85% postoperatively. We found that bone healing was rare and most arthrodeses healed by a fibrous union. We found no correlation with preoperative arthrosis and clinical outcome. One patient had retired from work before operation because of back pain and one because of age. Two patients had taken early retirement because of wrist pain, and one patient was still on sick-leave at the follow-up a year postoperatively. Five patients returned to full-time work and two patients to part-time work. Four patients were on long-term sick-leave preoperatively and three of them returned to their previous occupations. Analysis of the patients' subjective outcome (including pain and functional scores) showed overall satisfaction, and objective data show that scapholunate arthrodesis for chronic static scapholunate dissociation provides substantial improvement over the preoperative condition.     

Popular snore aids: do they work?

OBJECTIVE: The study goal was to critically evaluate 3 popular noninvasive treatments for snoring: an oral spray lubricant applied before bedtime, a nasal strip designed to maintain nasal valve patency, and a head-positioning pillow. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized blinded clinical trial of 3 popular noninvasive snore aids using objective acoustic snoring analysis and subjective patient and bed-partner questionnaires in 40 snoring patients. A digital recorder allowed snoring analysis with data collected in the home environment over 1 week. RESULTS: There is neither objective nor subjective benefit to the use of tested popular noninvasive snore aids. Palatal snoring, palatal loudness, average loudness of snoring, averaged palatal flutter frequency, and respiratory disturbance index did not significantly change when comparing the 3 snoring aids with no treatment. Subjective comments and complications are reviewed as well. CONCLUSION: This is the first prospective comparison trial of popular noninvasive snoring aids. There is no significant objective or subjective snoring improvement in the anti-snoring aids studied compared with the use of no aid. SIGNIFICANCE: Outcome studies aid in verifying or refuting claims made by popular noninvasive snore aids.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bcl11b</Emphasis>mutations identified in murine lymphomas increase the proliferation rate of hematopoietic progenitor cells

Background  

The telomeric region of mouse chromosome 12 has previously shown frequent allelic loss in murine lymphoma. The Bcl11b gene has been identified and suggested as a candidate tumor suppressor gene within this region. In this study, we aimed to elucidate whether Bcl11b is mutated in lymphomas with allelic loss, and whether the mutations we detected conferred any effect on cell proliferation and apoptosis.     

Factors determining the ability of parents to effectively administer intramuscular adrenaline to food allergic children

Intramuscular adrenaline is the treatment of choice for food-related anaphylactic reactions. Although auto-injectable adrenaline devices are routinely prescribed for patients at risk of serious reactions, previous studies have shown that only one-third to one and a half of patients or their carers are able to properly use these devices. The aim of this study was to determine which factors are most strongly associated with the effective use of these devices. A 122 children with food allergies who had previously been prescribed EpiPens and were attending a single specialist pediatric allergy center in the UK. were studied prospectively. A 69% of parents were unable to use the EpiPen, did not have it available, or did not know when it should be administered. A prior practical demonstration was associated with a 4-5 fold greater chance that parents would be able to use the device (p < 0.005). Prior consultation with an allergy specialist rather than a general physician, and parents who independently sought additional information from the national self-help allergy organization were also four to six times more likely to be competent with these devices (p < 0.005). The study clearly shows that for EpiPens to be used safely and effectively it is essential to educate the carer at the time the device is prescribed.     

Effects of tracheal extubation on coronary blood flow,myocardial metabolism and systemic haemodynamic responses

Global coronary blood flow and metabolism were measured in seven patients on the first postoperative day following coronary revascularization to test the hypothesis that tracheal extubation produces adverse haemodynamic responses akin to those observed during tracheal intubation. Regional coronary flow and metabolic measurements were made in five of the seven patients. Extubation from a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) of 5 cm H₂O was associated with a statistically significant rise in cardiac index from 3.44 ± 0.23 L · min^-1 · m^-2 to 3.73 ± 0.15L·min^-1 ·m^-2 related to an increase in stroke index, without significant changes in heart rate, mean arterial and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure. Consequently the changes in myocardial oxygen consumption (8.52 ± 0.55 to 8.85 ± 0.93 ml · min^-1) and coronary blood flow (172 ± 18 to 179 ± 17 ml·min^-1) were less prominent than those reported during intubation, where substantial rises in myocardial oxygen consumption and coronary flow occurred. Two patients experienced cardiac lactate production but there were no changes in systemic or coronary haemodynamics, nor were there clinical or electrocardiographic signs of ischaemia. We conclude that extubation does not appear to be associated with adverse systemic or coronary haemodynamic responses in patients following coronary bypass grafting. However, the revascularized myocardium may remain vulnerable to anaerobic metabolism in the immediate postoperative period. Pour savoir si comme ľintubation, ľextubation de la trachée provoque des perturbations hémodynamiques, on a mesuré le métabolisme et la circulation coronarienne globale chez sept patients, au lendemain ďun pontage aorto-coronarien. On a aussi calculé les valeurs régionales de ces mêmes variables pour cinq ďentre eux. Ľindex cardiaque de 3.44 ± 0.23 L · min^-1 · m^-2 sous pression positive en respiration spontanée (CPAP) de 5 cm. H₂O s’est élevé à 3.73 ± 0.15 L · min^-1 · m^-2 post-extubation avec une augmentation significative du volume ďéjection. La fréquence cardiaque et les pressions artérielles moyennes et capillaires pulmonaires n’ont pas changé. Ainsi ľaugmentation de la consommation ďoxygène du myocarde de 8.52 ± 0.55 à 8.85 ± 0.93 ml · min^-1 et celle du flot coronarien de 172 ± 18 à 179 ± 17 ml · min^-1 ont été moindres que celles, importantes, déjà observées lors de ľintubation. On a noté chez deux patients une production de lactate par le myocarde, sans changement de ľhémodynamic systémique et coronarienne non plus que de signe clinique ou électrocardiographique ďischémie. Donc, après un pontage coronarien, ľextubation ne semble pas causer ďeffet néfaste sur les circulations systémique et coronarienne, toutefois, le myocarde revascularisé peut demeurer sensible au métabolisme anaérobique.