Getting out of Procrustes' bed: The needs and benefits of qualitative research in stuttering

Qualitative research has a vast potential for understanding complex issues such as stuttering, and is becoming more common in that research field. The purpose of this article is to highlight the potential benefits of qualitative research in stuttering through exploration of four different research paradigms and their knowledge claims. Through this explanation, a case is built for the benefits of applying qualitative methods to stuttering research. Questions such as “how” a certain behavior or process take places, rather than just “if” a certain behavior or process takes place, are possible within the qualitative paradigm. It is concluded that future knowledge about stuttering and its treatment will be well served by applying the most appropriate investigative methods to it rather than by attempting to establish information with a restricted set of quantitative approaches.     

The opacified maxillary sinus: CT findings in chronic sinusitis and malignant tumors

To distinguish opacification owing to inflammatory conditions (sinusitis) from that caused by nasomaxillary malignancy, computed tomography scans in 24 proved cases of sinusitis or tumor were reviewed for features related to sinus size, wall thickness, and character of bone erosion. An anatomic system was defined for classifying lesions according to the surface and type of bony involvement. In 12 cases of chronic maxillary sinusitis, the involved sinus was usually small and thick walled. The nasal surface of the involved sinus usually was eroded; often the orbital surface was eroded. The erosion was, however, short, irregular, and in the region of a normal dehiscence (semilunar hiatus or infraorbital canal) in all cases. The infratemporal surface was never eroded. In 12 cases of nasomaxillary neoplasia, the sinus was enlarged, one or more walls of the involved sinus being thinned and expanded. Bone erosion was present in all cases; erosion of the infratemporal surface was specific for neoplasia and significant as the usual site of recurrence.     

The Effect of Bolus Vitamin D3 Supplementation on Distal Radius Fracture Healing: A Randomized Controlled Trial Using HR-pQCT

Vitamin D is an important factor in bone metabolism. Animal studies have shown a positive effect of vitamin D₃ supplementation on fracture healing, but evidence from clinical trials is inconclusive. A randomized controlled trial was performed to assess the effects of vitamin D₃ supplementation on fracture healing using HR-pQCT–based outcome parameters. Thirty-two postmenopausal women with a conservatively treated distal radius fracture were included within 2 weeks postfracture and randomized to a low-dose (N = 10) and a high-dose (N = 11) vitamin D intervention group receiving a 6-week bolus dose, equivalent to 700 and 1800 IU vitamin D₃ supplementation per day, respectively, in addition to a control group (N = 11) receiving no supplementation. After the baseline visit 1–2 weeks postfracture, follow-up visits were scheduled at 3–4, 6–8, and 12 weeks postfracture. At each visit, HR-pQCT scans of the fractured radius were performed. Cortical and trabecular bone density and microarchitectural parameters and microfinite element analysis–derived torsion, compression, and bending stiffness were assessed. Additionally, serum markers of bone resorption (CTX) and bone formation (PINP) were measured. Baseline serum levels of 25OHD₃ were <50 nmol/L in 33% of all participants and <75 nmol/L in 70%. Compared with the control group, high-dose vitamin D₃ supplementation resulted in a decreased trabecular number (regression coefficient β: −0.22; p < 0.01) and lower compression stiffness (B: −3.63; p < 0.05, together with an increase in the bone resorption marker CTX (B: 0.062; p < 0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed between the control and low-dose intervention group. In conclusion, the bolus equivalent of 700 U/day vitamin D₃ supplementation in a Western postmenopausal population does not improve distal radius fracture healing and an equivalent dose of 1800 IU/day may be detrimental in restoring bone stiffness during the first 12 weeks of fracture healing. © 2021 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).     

Contrast medium-induced adverse reactions: economic outcome

Because the cost of managing an expected greater number of adverse reactions when high-osmolality contrast media (HOM) are used could offset the higher material cost of low-osmolality contrast media (LOM), a prospective study was done of 795 inpatients undergoing any of four procedures involving intravascular injection of HOM: cardiac catheterization, peripheral angiography, head computed tomography (CT), or body CT. The resources used in managing HOM-induced adverse reactions were measured, and the costs of these resources were estimated. Four hundred five patients (51%) had adverse reactions. Reactions were grouped into three classes according to their severity. Class 1 (mild) reactions occurred in 358 patients (45%), class 2 (moderate) reactions occurred in 44 patients (6%), and class 3 (severe) reactions occurred in three patients (0.4%). Ninety-nine patients (12%) consumed resources as a result of an adverse reaction. The average cost of these resources per patient undergoing examination was $1.07 to the radiology department, $5.83 to the hospital, and $12.93 to a charge-paying insurer. Mean (+/- standard deviation) cost to the hospital for managing class 1, class 2, and class 3 reactions were $2.52 +/- $5.33, $24 +/- $54, and $910 +/- $749, respectively. By comparison, the difference in material cost of HOM versus LOM ranged from $93 for body CT to $179 for cardiac catheterization. Even if LOM were to induce no adverse reactions, the increased material cost associated with universal substitution of LOM for HOM would be greater than the expected cost of managing adverse reactions when HOM are used.     

Intraarterial digital subtraction arteriographic evaluation of extremity tumors: comparison with conventional arteriography

Conventional arteriography and intraarterial digital subtraction arteriography (IADSA) were compared in 36 patients with primary bone or soft-tissue tumors of the extremities. The sensitivity of IADSA was at least equal to conventional arteriography for demonstrating normal or abnormal major arteries and feeding arteries, equal to or superior for depicting tumor stains or draining veins, but slightly inferior for revealing minute tumor vessels. An increase of the matrix size from 256 X 256 to 512 X 512 improved these sensitivities. IADSA with 15% diatrizoate contrast material eliminated the contrast material-induced pain in all patients. With a computer-controlled iris setting, an average of 5 minutes of procedure time and 1.7 R of radiation (0.44 mC kg) per examination could be saved. IADSA reduced the cost of an examination by an average of $67. The results indicate that IADSA was diagnostic in all instances and can replace conventional arteriography for the evaluation of extremity tumors.