Reduction of Mortality in the Stockholm Ischaemic Heart Disease Secondary Prevention Study by Combined Treatment with Clofibrate and Nicotinic Acid

Consecutive survivors of a myocardial infarction from the Southern Hospital, below 70 years of age, were randomized into a Control group (n=276) and a Treatment group (n=279). The latter was openly prescribed the combination of clofibrate and nicotinic acid for serum lipid lowering. Each patient should remain in the study for 5 years and be seen regularly every 4 months at a special IHD outpatient clinic within the hospital. The concentration of serum cholesterol and triglyceride was lowered by 13% and 19%, respectively, in the Treatment group compared to the Control group. Total mortality was 82 cases in the Control group and 61 in the Treatment group, a 26% reduction (p<0.05). For patients above 60 years of age in the Treatment group the reduction in mortality was 28% (p<0.05). IHD mortality was reduced by 36% (p<0.01)in the Treatment group compared to the Control group. The beneficial effect of the serum lipid lowering treatment was related to the serum triglyceride concentration in two ways. First, it only occurred in patients with a triglyceride level >1.5 mmol/l (n=216). Secondly, it was most pronounced in the 44% of the treated patients who had a lowering of the serum triglyceride concentration by 30% or more, and in this subgroup the reduction of IHD mortality was 60% (p<0.01). For serum cholesterol there were no such relations. The difference between serum triglycerides and cholesterol concerning these relations to the treatment outcome may be due to the fact that hypertriglyceridaemia was the most common hyperlipidaemia among our patients, occurring in 50%, while hypercholesterolaemia only occurred in 13 %. Caution should be exercised in the interpretation of the results as the trial was not blind. However, the fact that the decrease in IHD deaths was directly related to the degree of serum triglyceride lowering indicates that it was the drug effect on serum lipids that was reponsible for the beneficial effect of the treatment.     

Gastrointestinal damage associated with the use of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs.

BACKGROUND. Long-term use of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may lead to inflammation of the small intestine associated with occult blood and protein loss. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and structural correlates of this enteropathy. METHODS. We examined the stomach, duodenum, and small intestine of 713 patients post mortem. Of these patients, 249 had had NSAIDs prescribed during the six months before death and 464 patients had not. All visible small intestinal lesions were removed for histologic examination, and specific etiologic factors were sought. The prevalence of nonspecific small-intestinal ulcers and ulcers of the stomach and duodenum was compared in the two groups of patients. RESULTS. Nonspecific small-intestinal ulceration was found in 21 (8.4 percent) of the users of NSAIDs and 3 (0.6 percent) of the nonusers (difference, 7.8 percent; 95 percent confidence interval, 5.0 to 10.6 percent; P less than 0.001). Three patients who were long-term users of NSAIDs were found to have died of perforated nonspecific small-intestinal ulcers. Ulcers of the stomach or duodenum were found in 54 (21.7 percent) of the patients who used these drugs and 57 (12.3 percent) of those who had not (difference, 9.4 percent; 95 percent confidence interval, 3.9 to 15.1 percent; P less than 0.001). CONCLUSIONS. Patients who take NSAIDs have an increased risk of nonspecific ulceration of the small-intestinal mucosa. These ulcers are less common than ulcers of the stomach or duodenum, but can lead to life-threatening complications.     

An Evaluation of Barrier Efficacy and Cognitive Evaluation Theory as Predictors of Exercise Attendance

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the barrier efficacy and cognitive evaluation theory with regard to predicting exercise attendance. Participants consisted of 189 undergraduates attending not-for-credit fitness classes at a regional comprehensive university in the Midwest. A revised 17-item version of the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory was used to assess exercise enjoyment and the three components of self-determination theory (competence, autonomy, and relatedness). A modified version of the Self-Efficacy Scale was used to assess self-efficacy. Attendance was significantly correlated with competency and self-efficacy. Regression results revealed that class, relatedness, and competence accounted for a significant amount of variance in attendance. Future research should examine the effects of competence-enhancing strategies on exercise adherence.     

Total reconstruction of the hypopharynx and cervical esophagus: a 20-year experience.

We have reviewed 145 patients who underwent 148 total reconstructions of the hypopharynx and cervical esophagus between 1970 and 1989. The types and numbers of reconstruction included 45 deltopectoral (DP) flaps, 35 musculocutaneous (MC) flaps, 19 colon interpositions, 23 gastric transpositions, and 26 free jejunal transfers. Median hospitalization was 51 days for DP flaps, 24 days for MC flaps, 28 days for colon, 30 days for gastric, and 14 days for jejunum. Median resumption of oral intake was 92 days for DP flaps, 19 days for MC flaps, 12 days for colon, 13 days for gastric, and 9 days for jejunum. Functional failure, defined as the inability to maintain adequate nutrition without tube feedings, was 40% for MC flaps, 42% for colon interposition, 17% for gastric transposition, and 20% for free jejunal transfer. Microvascular free jejunal transfer has become our method of choice for reconstruction of the hypopharynx and cervical esophagus. Gastric transposition is an alternative when resection of the thoracic esophagus is necessary.     

Central serous chorioretinopathy in U.S. Air Force aviators: a review

Idiopathic central serous chorioretinopathy (ICSC) is an uncommon disease with the potential to cause loss of visual acuity, decreased color vision, and decreased depth perception. These visual changes may become permanent and require removal of aviators from flight status. This study reviews 55 eyes of 47 USAF aviators with ICSC examined at the United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine (USAFSAM), Brooks AFB, TX. Clinical and aeromedical findings, both on initial and on follow-up ophthalmic examination were studied. Ninety-seven percent of aviators otherwise medically qualified were ultimately returned to flight status. Overall, 51% had recurrent episodes, 17% had bilateral disease, and 13% underwent laser photocoagulation. Visual acuity correlated with active disease, and there was a trend toward poor stereopsis and diminished color vision with worsening visual acuity. Eighty-six percent attained a final visual acuity of 20/20 or better. On final examination, 90% had normal stereopsis, 87% had normal color vision, and 49% had a normal central visual field. Eyes with recurrent disease tended to have degraded final visual acuity, stereopsis, color vision, and central visual field. The visual and aeromedical prognosis from a single attack of ICSC is generally favorable, but repeated attacks can lead to a significant decrease in visual functions that may jeopardize flying status.     

Close correlation between high-density lipoprotein and triglycerides in normotriglyceridaemia.

The relationship between high-density-lipoprotein (HDL) particle size subclasses and the levels of the major lipoprotein lipids was studied in 74 men consecutively referred to the lipid clinic. HDL (density 1.070-1.21 kg l-1) was separated by polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis (GGE) into five size-defined subclasses, in order of decreasing size as follows: HDL2b, HDL2a, HDL3a, HDL3b and HDL3c. Cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in very-low-density (VLDL), low-density (LDL) and high-density (HDL) lipoproteins were determined. The level of VLDL triglycerides was negatively correlated with HDL2b (r = -0.66, P less than 0.0001), and positively correlated with HDL3b concentrations (r = 0.65, P less than 0.0001). Both correlations were restricted to subjects with VLDL triglyceride concentrations of less than 1.80 mmol l-1, i.e. those with normotriglyceridaemia. Patients with a history of myocardial infarction and/or angina pectoris (n = 18) had significantly lower HDL2b levels than subjects with asymptomatic hyperlipidaemia (n = 50), i.e. 0.16 vs. 0.22 mg protein ml-1 (P less than 0.05), despite essentially similar cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the VLDL, LDL and HDL fractions, including HDL2 and HDL3 cholesterol.     

Mechanism of UV-related carcinogenesis and its contribution to nevi/melanoma

Melanoma consists 4-5 % of all skin cancers, but it contributes to 71-80 % of skin cancers deaths. UV light affects cell and tissue homeostasis due to its damaging effects on DNA integrity and modification of expression of a plethora of genes. DNA repair systems protect cells from UV-induced lesions. Several animal models of melanoma have been developed (Xiphophorus, Opossum Monodelphis domestica, mouse models and human skin engrafts into other animals). This review discusses possible links between UV and genes significantly related to melanoma but does not discuss melanoma genetics. These include oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, genes related to melanocyte-keratinocyte and melanocyte-matrix interaction, growth factors and their receptors, CRH, ACTH, α-MSH, glucocorticoids, ID1, NF-kappaB and vitamin D3.     

Detecting possible vaccine adverse events in clinical notes of the electronic medical record

The Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD) is a collaboration between the CDC and eight large HMOs to investigate adverse events following immunization through analyses of clinical data. We modified an existing system, called MediClass, that uses natural language processing to identify clinical events recorded in electronic medical records (EMRs). We customized MediClass so it could detect possible vaccine adverse events (VAEs) generally, and gastrointestinal-related VAEs in particular, in the text clinical notes of encounters recorded in the EMR of a large HMO. Compared to methods that use diagnosis and utilization codes assigned to encounters by clinicians and administrators, the MediClass system can both find more adverse events and improve the positive predictive value for detecting possible VAEs.