Varices of the round ligament mimicking an inguinal hernia – an important differential diagnosis during pregnancy

Pregnancy is a recognised risk factor for the development of inguinal hernias due to an increase in intra-abdominal pressure. Whilst often managed conservatively until after the pregnancy, if the hernia presents acutely as a painful or tender groin lump, urgent or emergency repair may be required. Many clinicians rely heavily on clinical examination alone in order to diagnose the presence of such a hernia. In pregnancy, however, in order to prevent unnecessary surgery, the use of ultrasound has a more important role to play in reaching this diagnosis. We report a cautionary case that highlights the need for ultrasound evaluation of all painful groin lumps in pregnant women prior to considering surgery.     

Newly diagnosed single unprovoked seizures and epilepsy in Stockholm, Sweden: First report from the Stockholm Incidence Registry of Epilepsy (SIRE)

Purpose:   To describe and report initial findings of a system for prospective identification and follow-up of patients with newly diagnosed single unprovoked seizures and epilepsy in Stockholm, Sweden, the Stockholm Incidence Registry of Epilepsy (SIRE).
Methods:   From September 2001 through August 2004, a surveillance system has been in use to identify incident cases of first unprovoked seizures (neonatal seizures excluded) and epilepsy among residents of Northern Stockholm, an urban area with approximately 998,500 inhabitants. Potential cases are identified through multiple mechanisms: Network of health care professionals, medical record screening in specific hospital units, including outpatient clinics, emergency room services, and review of requests for electroencephalography (EEG) examination. Potential cases are classified 6 months after the index seizure based on review of medical records.
Results:   After screening approximately 10,500 EEG requests and 3,300 medical records, 1,015 persons met the criteria for newly diagnosed unprovoked seizures (430 single seizures; 585 epilepsy). The crude incidence for first unprovoked seizures and epilepsy was 33.9/100,000 person years, (the same adjusted to the European Standard Million), highest the first year of life (77.1/100,000) and in the elderly. No cause could be identified in 62.4%.
Conclusions:   We have established a sustainable system for prospective identification of new onset epilepsy cases in Stockholm. Despite a possible under-ascertainment, the registry provides a useful starting point for follow-up studies.     

Undetected chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma in people over 50 years with persistent cough

Background

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma are underdiagnosed in primary care.

Aim

To determine how often COPD or asthma are present in middle-aged and older patients who consult their GP for persistent cough.

Design of study

A cross-sectional study in 353 patients older than 50 years, visiting their GP for persistent cough and not known to have COPD or asthma.

Setting

General practice in the Netherlands.

Method

All participants underwent extensive diagnostic work-up, including symptoms, signs, spirometry, and body plethysmography. All results were studied by an expert panel to diagnose or exclude COPD and/or asthma. The reproducibility of the panel diagnosis was assessed by calculation of Cohen''s κ statistic in a sample of 41 participants.

Results

Of the 353 participants, 102 (29%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 24 to 34%) were diagnosed with COPD. In 14 of these 102 participants, both COPD and asthma were diagnosed (4%, 95% CI = 2 to 7%). Asthma (without COPD) was diagnosed in 23 (7%, 95% CI = 4 to 10%) participants. Mean duration of cough was 93 days (median 40 days). The reproducibility of the expert panel was good (Cohen''s κ = 0.90).

Conclusion

In patients aged over 50 years who consult their GP for persistent cough, undetected COPD or asthma is frequently present.     

心梗后患者12周康复锻炼后一次递增负荷运动中VO2、HR、%HRmax、RPP、ST、RPE变化及其相互关系

目的:探讨12周运动心脏康复锻炼对心梗后患者(PMI患者)心脏机能的影响。方法:112名男性PMI患者(均进行了12周运动心脏康复锻炼)进行一次递增负荷运动实验(Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ级负荷跑速分别为1.7、1.7、1.7、2.5、3.5mph;坡度分别为0.5 %、10 %、12 %、14 %,每一级负荷运动3分钟) ,其间记录每级负荷时的VO2、HR、血压和自我用力感觉(RPE) ,计算心率血压乘积(RPP) ,并持续监测12导联心电图(ECG) ,然后对上述指标进行相关分析并建立了用HR和RPE推测VO2和RPP的回归方程。结果:(1)相邻两级负荷间的VO2、HR、RPP、RPE具有显著差异(P<0.01) ;(2)VO2、HR、最大心率百分数( %HRmax)、RPP、ST段水平(ST)和RPE的峰值分别为26.4±7.1ml·kg-1·min-1、126.8±20.3beats·min-1、80.4±12.9 %、209.0±46.3beats·mmHg·100-1、-1.0±0.7mm和14.9±2.1;(3)运动中VO2、HR、%HRmax、RPP、RPE呈高度正相关,它们与ST呈高度负相关(P<0.01或P<0.05) ,建立了用HR和RPE推测VO2和RPP的回归方程。结论:(1)康复锻炼后利用改良Bruce跑台方案进行机能测试有效;(2)12周康复锻炼后,PMI患者进行运动时其强度不宜超过80 %HRmax或RPE不超过15 ;(3)利用本研究建立的预测方程,可在PMI患者康复活动中,根据其心率或RPE变化间接得知其呼吸循环机能的反应和心肌的耗氧状况。     

老年人群亚健康成因及运动处方干预探讨

从当前我国老年退休人群亚健康现状出发,运用文献资料法对老年人群这一特殊群体的亚健康成因进行了探讨与分析,指出社会环境因素、饮食营养因素、生活行为因素、精神心理因素以及自身躯体因素是其产生亚健康状态的主要原因,同时提出了相应的运动干预对策,以其为改善老年人群亚健康状态提供科学依据。     

Randomized phase II – study evaluating EGFR targeting therapy with Cetuximab in combination with radiotherapy and chemotherapy for patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer – PARC: study protocol [ISRCTN56652283]

Background

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth commonest cause of death from cancer in men and women. Advantages in surgical techniques, radiation therapy techniques, chemotherapeutic regimes, and different combined-modality approaches have yielded only a modest impact on the prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer. Thus there is clearly a need for additional strategies. One approach involves using the identification of a number of molecular targets that may be responsible for the resistance of cancer cells to radiation or to other cytotoxic agents. As such, these molecular determinants may serve as targets for augmentation of the radiotherapy or chemotherapy response. Of these, the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has been a molecular target of considerable interest and investigation, and there has been a tremendous surge of interest in pursuing targeted therapy of cancers via inhibition of the EGFR.

Methods/design

The PARC study is designed as an open, controlled, prospective, randomized phase II trial. Patients in study arm A will be treated with chemoradiation using intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) combined with gemcitabine and simultaneous cetuximab infusions. After chemoradiation the patients receive gemcitabine infusions weekly over 4 weeks. Patients in study arm B will be treated with chemoradiation using intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) combined with gemcitabine and simultaneous cetuximab infusions. After chemoradiation the patients receive gemcitabine weekly over 4 weeks and cetuximab infusions over 12 weeks. A total of 66 patients with locally advanced adenocarcinoma of the pancreas will be enrolled. An interim analysis for patient safety reasons will be done one year after start of recruitment. Evaluation of the primary endpoint will be performed two years after the last patient's enrolment.

Discussion

The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and the toxicity profile of trimodal therapy in pancreatic adenocarcinoma with chemoradiation therapy with gemcitabine and intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and EGFR-targeted therapy using cetuximab and to compare between two different methods of cetuximab treatment schedules (concomitant versus concomitant and sequential cetuximab treatment). Secondary objectives are to determine the role and the mechanism of cetuximab in patient's chemoradiation regimen, the response rate, the potential of this combined modality treatment to concert locally advanced lesions to potentially resectable lesions, the time to progression interval and the quality of life.