Parkinsonism as a late presentation of lymphomatosis cerebri following high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation for primary central nervous system lymphoma

Journal of Neurology - Primary central nervous system lymphoma is an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma arising in the eyes, meninges, spinal cord, or brain. Treatment of primary CNS lymphoma...     

Efficacy and safety of beating heart coronary revascularization coupled with ascending aorta-bifemoral grafting: Analysis of short term results

Introduction  

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) frequently coexists with Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD) and poses management issues. When there is a concomitant infrarenal aortic occlusive disease, abdominal aorta is the traditional donor of bypass inflow to the lower limbs. However, the ascending aorta may also be used as the source of inflow to both the femoral and coronary arteries in patients who present with combined CAD and PVD. Here, 5 year follow up results of simultaneous off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) and Ascending Aorto-Bifemoral Grafting [AABG] are presented and merits of the procedure are discussed.     

Free fibula flap in the reconstruction of mandible: a report of six cases

The defects secondary to surgical ablation of the mandible have far reaching consequences. Speech, respiration, mastication, deglutition and cosmesis are severely affected. Restoring these functions is a challenging task. Till the late eighties, myocutaneous flaps were the rule for mandibular reconstruction and free bone was used to restore bony continuity. In spite of the result being predictable the outcome left much to be desired. There was also a fairly regular crop of complications. Acceptable dental rehabilitation was almost non-existent. With the introduction of free flaps as a consequence of the development of the operating microscope, the field of reconstruction was revolutionized.     

The relationship between left ventricular shape and QT interval dispersion

Left ventricular geometry is suspected to affect heterogeneity of myocardial repolarization; therefore, it is plausible but unproven that increased sphericity of the left ventricle is associated with greater QT interval dispersion. In 60 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy with left ventricular ejection fraction < or = 30%, we found that spherical distortion of the left ventricle was associated with increased QT dispersion, implying increased heterogeneity of myocardial repolarization.     

Evaluating the quality of rosacea studies: implications for the patient and physician

BACKGROUND: Patients suffering from rosacea may experience frequent blushing and flushing, erythema, telangiectasia, and/or rhinophyma. In an attempt to find effective treatments, many studies have been performed. OBJECTIVE: It is important to be able to evaluate the quality of clinical trials where agents have been used to treat rosacea, and to compare the effectiveness of the different therapies used for this indication. METHODS: The reports on the efficacy and safety of the different drug therapies were evaluated using predetermined criteria. We searched MEDLINE (1966-2002) for studies where rosacea was treated with the various therapies. The criteria used to assess the quality of the studies were: randomization, blinding (double, single, or open), aims clearly defined, prior sample size calculation, whether inclusion and/or exclusion criteria were outlined, baseline comparison of patient characteristics and demographics, interventions and efficacy parameters defined, compliance assessed, statistical analysis performed including intention-to-treat evaluation of efficacy of therapy. RESULTS: Using the above-mentioned criteria, each study was rated in order to determine the quality of the clinical trial. The maximum score a study could attain was 20. To determine if high-quality studies are cited more often than the lower-quality papers, the number of times a study had been cited since its publication was measured. We found 13 of the 42 studies scored greater than 14; these studies were rated as high-quality studies. There was no significant association between high-quality papers and the number of times they had been cited, suggesting that other factors are also taken into consideration when a given study is cited. CONCLUSION: It is important for investigators and clinicians to be aware of the parameters that count towards designing a high-quality protocol since such studies are more likely to reflect efficacy rates that are accurate. Furthermore, it is essential that when a study is written up, the pertinent information regarding the design of the trial and the manner in which it was conducted are conveyed to the reader.     

Treatment of dermatophyte toenail onychomycosis in the United States. A pharmacoeconomic analysis

This study attempted to determine the cost-effectiveness of therapies for dermatophyte toenail onychomycosis in the United States in 2001. The antimycotic agents evaluated were ciclopirox 8% nail lacquer and the oral agents terbinafine, itraconazole (pulse), itraconazole (continuous), fluconazole, and griseofulvin. A treatment algorithm for the management of onychomycosis was developed, and a meta-analysis was carried out to determine the average mycologic and clinical response rates for the various agents. The cost of the regimen was figured as the sum of the costs of drug acquisition, medical management, and management of adverse effects. The expected cost of management and disease-free days were determined, and a sensitivity analysis was conducted. It was concluded that ciclopirox 8% nail lacquer, which has recently become available in the larger size of 6.6 mL, is a cost-effective agent for the management of toenail onychomycosis.