Radiography of the medial elbow ligaments

The anterior, posterior, and transverse bundles of the medial collateral ligaments of fresh cadaveric elbows were painted with a special radiopaque tantalum cyanoacrylic preparation. The extent of each ligament and their origins and insertions were examined with radiography. This study provided radiographic correlation for these important soft tissue structures and an anatomic understanding of elbow fractures with ligament avulsion.     

Excessive scarring as a consequence of healing

Synthesis and degradation of collagen is an essential component of wound healing. In most persons, this deposition of collagen results in the formation of a fine line scar which restores much of the tensile strength to the injured tissue and is cosmetically acceptable. However, in certain individuals, the result of wound healing is the excessive accumulation of collagen, resulting in a hypertrophic scar or keloid. The precise origin of this abnormal collagen deposition is unknown, but recent studies have begun to identify potential mechanisms for these disfiguring and painful lesions. This article will review the clinical and laboratory findings pertinent to understanding the origin and treatment of excessive scarring.     

Air Embolism Death of a Pregnant Woman Secondary to Orogenital Sex

Air embolism produced by vaginal insufflation is an unusual but potentially lethal consequence of sexual activity, especially in the pregnant patient. Reported here is the case of a young pregnant woman who presented to the ED in full cardiac arrest, with little history to explain her condition. Despite aggressive resuscitative measures, the patient died, but her infant son was delivered via perimortem cesarean section and survived. A high level of suspicion for air embolism should be maintained for young women who unexpectedly develop cardiac arrest, particularly during sexual activity. Air embolism patients may require vigorous medical resuscitation, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or surgical intervention to survive. The emergency physician should be familiar with the indications for perimortem cesarean delivery in the third-trimester patient presenting to the ED with cardiac arrest.     

Low HIV-1 proviral DNA burden detected by negative polymerase chain reaction in seropositive individuals correlates with slower disease progression.

During 1989, 316 members of a cohort of homosexual men were tested for HIV-specific DNA by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using a pair of gag-region primers. Of 125 HIV-seronegative subjects, 123 (98.4%) were PCR-negative while 158 (82.7%) of 191 HIV-seropositive subjects were PCR-positive. Fewer of the 33 subjects who were seropositive and PCR-negative were at Centers for Disease Control (CDC) stage IV than the seropositive, PCR-positive subjects (6 versus 25%; P = 0.030). The seropositive, PCR-negative group had higher mean CD4 counts (640 versus 490 x 10(6) cells/l; P = 0.006), higher CD4: CD8 ratios (0.92 versus 0.64; P = 0.004), lower immunoglobulin (Ig) G levels (1290 versus 1645 mg/dl; P = 0.002), lower IgA levels (168 versus 251 mg/dl; P less than 0.001), and lower C1q binding activity (8 versus 14%; P = 0.010) than the seropositive, PCR-positive subjects. The median rate of CD4 cell decline in the 3 years preceding the PCR sample was less marked in the seropositive, PCR-negative group than the seropositive, PCR-positive group (-58 versus -77 x 10(6) cells/l per year; P = 0.028). To control for duration of infection, we restricted the analysis to the subgroups of 11 seropositive, PCR-negative subjects and 34 seropositive, PCR-positive subjects who had seroconverted earlier in the cohort study. Both subgroups had similar durations of infection, yet the same pattern of differences persisted.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Development and evaluation of a breast cancer prevention decision aid for higher-risk women

Objective To develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a breast cancer prevention decision aid for women aged 50 and older at higher risk of breast cancer. Design Pre‐test–post‐test study using decision aid alone and in combination with counselling. Setting Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Clinic. Participants Twenty‐seven women aged 50–69 with 1.66% or higher 5‐year risk of breast cancer. Intervention Self‐administered breast cancer prevention decision aid. Main outcome measures Acceptability; decisional conflict; knowledge; realistic expectations; choice predisposition; intention to improve life‐style practices; psychological distress; and satisfaction with preparation for consultation. Results The decision aid alone, or in combination with counselling, decreased some dimensions of decisional conflict, increased knowledge (P < 0.01), and created more realistic expectations (P < 0.01). The aid in combination with counselling, significantly reduced decisional conflict (P < 0.01) and psychological distress (P < 0.02), helped the uncertain become certain (P < 0.02), and increased intentions to adopt healthier life‐style practices (P < 0.03). Women rated the aid as acceptable, and both women and practitioners were satisfied with the effect it had on the counselling session. Conclusion The decision aid shows promise as a useful decision support tool. Further research should compare the effect of the decision aid in combination with counselling to counselling alone.