Mapping translational research into individualized prognosis of fracture risk

The assessment of fracture risk has until now been based on the measurement of bone mineral density (BMD) and/or a prior fracture. Individuals with BMD T‐scores < –2.5 (e.g. osteoporosis) or with prior fractures are indicated for treatment. However, recent data have suggested that 55% of women and 74% of men who sustained a fracture did not have osteoporosis. Therefore, the current strategy reduces a small number of fractures in the general population, and new thinking is required for that majority of individuals whose BMD measurements are at or near (both sides) the current threshold of osteoporosis. An individual's absolute risk of fracture can be estimated from the individual risk profile, which includes age, BMD, weight or body mass index, prior fracture, comorbidities, corticosteroid use, lifestyle factors, and falls. Therefore, risk assessment must simultaneously consider all risk factors to which the individual is exposed. A number of prognostic models and predictive nomograms have been developed to estimate an individual's absolute risk of fracture, but they have not been externally validated. Nevertheless, these prognostic models can be effective tools for individualizing short‐term and long‐term risks of fracture, which can help patient counseling and selecting appropriate patients for intervention to maximize the benefit of fracture reduction in the general population.     

FES for Bladder: Direct or Indirect Means?

Efforts to restore function to the neuroiogically disabled lower urinary trad by direct electrical stimulation of the bladder wall have met with only very limited success. This has been due to pain and cocontraction of bladder outlet mechanisms caused by presumed spread of the large currents required to effectively directly stimulate the detrasor muscle. Stimulation at the four anatomical sites of the sacral neural outflow on the other hand has been more successful. Conus medullaris stimulation has resulted in "good results" in just over half of the 28 patients so treated. Acceptance of this technique has been limited by the poor selectivity of the intramedullary electrodes in stimulating only the target motor neurons and the resultant clinical problems with the consequent stimulus current spread. Sacral anterior root stimulation has been used in at least 88 patients with generally good results. Cocontraction of the detrusor and external urethral sphincter are circumvented by the use of an intermittent pattern of stimulation. The primary disadvantage of this technique is the obligatory placement of the electrodes within the cerebrospinal fluid compartment. Clinical experience with stimulation of the extradural sacral mixed nerves is limited. Experimental studies indicate that success with this technique requires dorsal rhizotomy and pudendal neurotomy. Preliminary clinical experience suggests that these surgical manipulations may not be necessary for a successful outcome. The literature on clinical application of pelvic nerve stimulation is too limited for detailed comment on this technique. A definitive technique for restoration of bladder function by electrical stimulation remains to be developed.     

糖尿病并骨质疏松症病机和研究探讨

糖尿病并骨质疏松症病机复杂，治疗困难，保健费用大。从辨证分型、实验研究、作用机制和临床研究等方面以简要综述其研究发展。     

Nutritional status of low-birthweight ethnic minority infants in Backan province, Vietnam

BACKGROUND: Birthweight and length have been reported to be important determinants of infant growth and future nutritional status. The study aims to describe the weight and length growth patterns during the first year of life of low-birthweight (LBW) ethnic minority infants in the mountainous province Backan, Vietnam. METHODS: A total of 64 LBW and normal birthweight infants of ethnic minority mothers were recruited from 2001 to 2002 into a prospective cohort study. The weight and length of infants were measured monthly for 1 year. Data on nutritional status and feeding practices of the infants were collected from monthly health records and face-to-face interviews with mothers while their infants were 6 and 12 months of age. RESULTS: Most of the increase in weight, length and catch-up to the 10th percentile for LBW infants occurred during the first 3 and 6 months for boys and for girls, respectively. After these ages, the mean weight and length diverged from National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) reference curves to below the 10th percentile. LBW infants' weight-for-age z-scores was below the NCHS standard at birth (-2.16 SD), caught up after birth, became sustainable by 4 months, fell rapidly from the sixth month, then decreased to -2 SD at 12 months of age. LBW infants' length-for-age z-scores increased in the first month after birth, decreased in the second month and sharply increased again until 5 months of age before decreasing. CONCLUSIONS: For LBW infants, it is difficult to achieve the same weight or length curves at 12 months of age as the NCHS standard.     

A Prospective study of septic complications of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

Abstract Prophylactic antibiotics are used in an attempt to avoid the septic complications of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). We prospectively performed blood cultures and surveyed patients for complications. The aims were first, to determine the incidence of bacteraemia associated with ERCP, second, to assess the incidence of clinical sepsis following the procedure and third, to evaluate the effectiveness of our antibiotic prophylaxis.
One hundred and fifty successive patients underwent 179 ERCP. Bacteraemia related to the procedure or the underlying pathology was found in nine procedures (5.2%). Bacteraemias were more likely to complicate therapeutic procedures ( P = 0.015), biliary obstruction ( P = 0.045) or underlying pathology ( P = 0.022).
Although 61% of ERCP received antibiotics, 22 septic events occurred. Five bacteraemic patients were septic despite antibiotics. Septic complications were associated with the same factors as bacteraemia.
It was concluded that patients with biliary obstruction and undergoing therapeutic endoscopic procedures are at greatest risk of bacteraemia. Single dose prophylactic antibiotics may not prevent sepsis in these patients and longer-acting drugs or repeated dosing may be necessary.