Effect of gender on strength gains after isometric exercise coupled with electromyographic biofeedback in knee osteoarthritis: A preliminary study

ObjectiveThe objective of this trial was to evaluate the effect of gender on strength gains after five week training programme that consisted of isometric exercise coupled with electromyographic biofeedback to the quadriceps muscle.Materials and methodsForty-three (20 men and 23 women) patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA), were placed into two groups based on their gender. Both groups performed isometric exercise coupled with electromyographic biofeedback for five days a week for five weeks.ResultsBoth groups reported gains in muscle strength after five week training. However, the difference was found to be statistically insignificant between the two groups (P = 0.224).ConclusionThe results suggest that gender did not affect gains in muscle strength by isometric exercise coupled with electromyographic biofeedback in patients with knee OA.     

Benzodiazepine-resistant "brown fat" pattern in positron emission tomography: two case reports of resolution with temperature control.

PURPOSE: Supraclavicular uptake of 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose (FDG) on positron emission tomography (PET) scan is attributed to lymph node, muscle, or brown fat activity. Differentiation between physiological or pathological etiologies is necessary. Benzodiazepine premedication to reduce physiological uptake has been attempted with variable success. A relationship between brown-fat FDG uptake and cold temperature has also been established. To our knowledge, no case reports or studies have been published to demonstrate whether controlling the temperature can alter the physiological uptake in these regions. PROCEDURES: Two teenage female patients with these patterns on PET scans performed with oral benzodiazepine administration underwent repeat imaging with temperature-controlled environment settings. RESULTS: Resolution of supraclavicular FDG uptake with temperature control in two patients in whom benzodiazepine had no prior effect. CONCLUSION: Although the exact mechanism remains unknown, we propose that the control of temperature reduces the metabolism of glucose by brown fat. Further studies are warranted to confirm the above observations, and, if confirmed, to determine the most efficient and effective use of temperature control to minimize supraclavicular and axillary FDG uptake.     

Carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater: results of surgical treatment of a single center

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate our experience with ampulla of Vater tumors at the Creighton University and to establish the role of curative pancreaticoduodenectomy on the long-term survival rate of patients. METHODOLOGY: Between 1975 and 1997, 21 patients (15 M, 6 F) with ampulla of Vater tumors were identified using our tumor registry database. The mean age at diagnosis was 74 years (range 45-85). Family history of other types of cancers was positive in 11 patients. The two most common presenting symptoms were painless jaundice (75%) and abdominal pain (31%). RESULTS: Thirteen patients (62%) underwent curative pancreaticoduodenectomy and eight patients (38%) underwent palliative biliary bypass procedures. Pathological staging of thirteen pancreaticoduodenectomy patients included stage I, 5 patients; stage II, 1 patient; stage III, 2 patients and stage IV, 5 patients. There were nine patients with NO disease and 4 patients with N1 disease. The Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed significant survival benefit for pancreaticoduodenectomy patients (69.9 months) compared to the palliative procedure (4.8 months). Furthermore NO patients had a far better survival (69.9 months) compared to N1 patients (5.9 months) although this difference was not significant. There were no operative mortalities. CONCLUSIONS: Radical surgery such as pancreaticoduodenectomy seems to confirm long-term survival in patients with ampulla of Vater tumors especially when no nodal or distant metastases are present at the time of surgery. An aggressive approach, therefore, in such patients is justifiable.     

Plerixafor as a salvage mobilization strategy for haploidentical peripheral blood allogeneic stem cell transplantation

In allogeneic stem cell mobilization, peripheral blood stem cell mobilization with filgrastim can be considered standard of care. Poor mobilizers may be at risk for inadequate stem cell collection during apheresis. He we present a successful case of salvage plerixafor use with filgrastim in a haploidentical identical transplant patient.