The volumetric bone density and cortical thickness in adult patients affected by osteogenesis imperfecta.

In patients with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), a disease characterized by abnormal bone fragility, bone mineral density (BMD) was found to be relatively preserved. Quantitative computed tomography (QCT) is the only available method for directly measuring in vivo both volumetric density and the cross-sectional area. Here we report the data from dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry DXA (spine and hip) and peripheral (pQCT) (ultradistal and proximal radius) measurement of 27 adult patients affected by OI, mostly of type I, compared with a group of healthy persons. In the patients with OI, areal BMD values at both femoral neck and lumbar spine were considerably lower than in control subjects (-32 and -36%, respectively; p<0.001 for body weight and height adjusted values). pQCT volumetric density at the ultradistal radius was 19% lower than in control subjects and this difference rose to 32% for purely cancellous bone tissue. The whole bone cross-sectional area of ultradistal radius, as measured by pQCT, was superimposable to normal. At the proximal radius, both cross-sectional area and cortical area, together with Bending Breaking Resistance Index (BBRI), were significantly lower in OI (-23; -22; -32% respectively; p<0.001 for body weight and height adjusted values), but cortical volumetric density was even slightly higher in the OI group than in control subjects. In conclusion, it appears that the most obvious defect in adults with OI is the inability to acquire an adequate thickness of the cortices of long bone and to achieve or maintain normal trabecular density.     

Method of single-lung transplantation in the absence of a left atrial cuff.

A method used clinically for anastomosing the pulmonary veins to the left atrium, in the absence of a left atrial cuff, during single-lung transplantation by reconstructing the atrium with pericardium is described. Postoperative ventilation/perfusion scans show normal pulmonary blood flow.     

The effects of shivering on oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production in patients rewarming from hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass

Oxygen consumption (VO2), carbon dioxide production (VCO2), end-tidal carbon dioxide partial pressure (PETCO2), mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO2) and haemodynamic variables were recorded every 30 min for four hours in 15 patients recovering from hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). All patients had been anaesthetised with fentanyl 40 micrograms.kg-1, supplemented with isoflurane, and pancuronium 0.15 mg.kg-1 for muscle relaxation. Three of the 15 patients (20 per cent) shivered, defined as intermittent or continuous, vigorous movements of chest or limb muscles. Patients who shivered had a VO2 of 159 +/- 16.4 ml.min-1.m-2 on arrival in the ICU which rose to a maximum value of 254 +/- 28.3 ml.min-1.m-2 by 150 min post-CPB. In contrast, patients who did not shiver had a significantly lower VO2 of 93.1 +/- 6.9 ml.min-1.m-2 on arrival in the ICU which rose to a maximal value of only 168 +/- 11.5 ml.min-1.m-2 by 180 min post-CPB. Maximal VO2 in both groups was reached when the nasopharyngeal temperature (NPT) was approaching normal. VCO2 paralleled the increase in VO2 in both groups. By four hours there was no significant difference between the two groups; however, the VO2 in both groups (160.5 +/- 21.3 ml.min-1.m-2 and 173.9 +/- 12.3 ml.min-1.m-2 respectively) was approximately twice values commonly measured in anaesthetized patients. Patients who shivered had a significantly higher heart rate and cardiac index and significantly lower SvO2. We conclude that the high VO2 and VCO2 associated with shivering causing increased myocardial work may be detrimental to patients who have impaired cardiac function post-coronary artery surgery (CAS).     

Depression in the elderly

Received from the Geriatric Medicine/Gerontology Division of General Internal Medicine, and the Department of Psychiatry. Medical College of Ohio, C. S. # 10008, Toledo, OH 43699.     

Quality assurance, efficiency indicators and cost-utility of the evaluation workup for liver transplantation.

We report the results of a retrospective review of the outpatient pretransplantation workup for United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) 3 patients adopted at a liver transplantation (LT) center and illustrate the efficiency indicators used for quality evaluation and cost-analysis. A single-center, pre-LT evaluation workup was performed on an outpatient basis at a cost per patient evaluation of 2,770 Euros (). Objective measures were: the number of patients admitted to and excluded from each phase of the algorithm; the rate of patients admitted to pre-LT evaluation out of the total of referred patients (the referral efficiency rate); the rate of waitlisted patients out of those admitted to pre-LT evaluation (the evaluation efficiency rate); the rate of waitlisted patients out of those referred for LT (the process efficiency rate); and the cost per waitlisted patient, as the ratio of the cost per patient evaluation to the evaluation efficiency rate. From January 1, 1996, to October 1, 2004, 1,837 patients were referred for LT on an outpatient basis. Based on preemptive evaluation of the available clinical data, 412 patients (22.4%) were excluded from pre-LT evaluation and 1,425 (77.6%) were admitted to preliminary consultation. Among these, 603 (42.3%) were excluded from and 822 (57.7%) were admitted to pre-LT evaluation with a referral efficiency rate of 44.7% (822 of 1,837). Out of the patients evaluated for LT, 484 were waitlisted with a cost-utility and evaluation efficiency rate of 58.8% each (484 of 822). Of the 1,837 patients originally addressed for LT 484 were waitlisted, yielding a process efficiency rate of 26.3% (484 of 1,837) and a cost per waitlisted patient of 4,710.8. In conclusion, the 3 indicators allowed monitoring of the efficiency of the pre-LT evaluation algorithm. The current process efficiency rate at our center is low (26.3%), but avoiding early referrals we might increase it to 31.6%, with a 12% net saving on costs per waitlisted patient (from 4,710.8 to 4,165.4).     

Treatment of type B aortic dissection: endoluminal repair or conventional medical therapy?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the mid-term results of endovascular stent-grafting for type B aortic dissection, in comparison with those of standard medical therapy in uncomplicated cases. METHODS: Between January 1999 and 2004, among 56 patients (mean age 59.5+/-11.5 years) with type B aortic dissection, hypotensive medical therapy was the only treatment in 28 uncomplicated cases, (group A), while stent-graft implantation was performed in 28 patients with uncontrolled hypertension, persistent pain or evidence of dissection progression or complication (group B). In 14 cases (50%) the procedure was performed in an acute setting. Stent-grafting procedures were monitored with intraoperative trans-esophageal echocardiography and cine-angiography. CT scan and trans-esophageal echocardiography were performed before hospital discharge, at 6 and 12 months and then yearly. RESULTS: Follow-up (range 1-61 months, average 18.1+/-16.9 months) was 100% complete. In-hospital mortality was 10.7% (three patients, all belonging to Group B; P=0.24). No spinal cord injuries were observed. Early endoleak occurred in one patient (3.5%). Mid-term mortality was lower in Group B, although the difference was not significant (10.7 versus 14.3% in Group A, P=0.71). Follow-up CT scans evidenced complete thrombosis of the false lumen in 75% cases in Group B, 10.7% in Group A (P=0.0001), and an aneurismal dilatation of the descending aorta in 3.5% cases in Group B, 28.5% in Group A (P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Although with still considerable early mortality, endovascular stent-graft implantation is an effective option for the treatment of complicated type B aortic dissection. Endovascular treatment achieved a better mid-term fate of the descending thoracic aorta than medical therapy alone, even in patients with worse preoperative conditions.     

Human papillomavirus and HIV coinfection and the risk of neoplasias of the lower genital tract: a review of recent developments

ONE OF THE RISK FACTORS FOR HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS (HPV) INFECTION and subsequent lower genital tract neoplasias and cancers is impaired cell-mediated immunity. HIV-positive women with severe immunosuppression are 5 times more likely than HIV-negative women to have lower genital tract neoplasias. A corresponding increase in the risk of invasive vulvar and anal cancers, but not of cervical cancer, has also been observed among HIV-positive women. Treatment failure and recurrence of neoplasia occur much more frequently among HIV-positive than among HIV-negative women. In this review, we discuss recent advances in the understanding of the relation between HIV and HPV coinfection and the development of lower genital tract neoplasias and cancers in women. In addition, we present strategies for monitoring and treating noninvasive and invasive neoplasias of the lower genital tract in HIV-positive women.     

Hepatitis B and Delta virus infection among heterosexuals,homosexuals and bisexual men

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis Delta virus (HDV) infection rates were estimated in patients attending a venereal disease outpatient clinic: 759 heterosexuals and 154 homosexual-bisexual men. The anti-HBC prevalence was higher in homo-bisexual men (68.8 per 100) than in heterosexuals (41.8 per 100), whereas HBsAg was roughly the same in the two groups (about 6 per 100). The anti-HBc prevalence rate among heterosexuals was higher than that estimated in hospital personnel from the same geographical area. A positive association between anti-HBc prevalence and present or past sexually transmitted diseases (STD) was found among homo-bisexual men. Anti-HBc was also positively associated with herpes simplex type 2 antibodies in both heterosexuals and homo-bisexual men. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that sexual behavior also plays a role in the spread of infection among heterosexuals. Ten of the 46 HBsAg-positive subjects were anti-HDV positive: 6 of the 36 heterosexuals and 4 of the 10 homosexuals. All HDV-positive subjects had present or past STDs. These findings suggest sexual transmission of HDV infection.     

Intraocular penetration of fosfomycin in man and rabbits

The intraocular distribution of fosfomycin was studied in 32 patients undergoing cataract surgery and or vitrectomy and in 8 rabbits after experimental infection of one eye by Staphylococcus aureus. In subjects perfused with 4 g of fosfomycin, concentrations ranged from 14 to 18.8 mg/l in aqueous humour (AH) and from 8 to 12.5 mg/l in vitreous fluid (VF) between 1 and 6 hours after the end of the perfusion; these levels were higher than MICs for 80-90 per cent of bacteria found in endophthalmitis. In rabbits the concentration in infected eyes with respect to healthy eyes was found to be from 2.5 to 5 times in AH and from 4.9 to 19.2 times higher in VF. Therefore fosfomycin in association with third generation cephalosporins (ceftriaxone) or with new quinolones can be recommended in the prevention and early treatment of endophthalmitis.