Absence of surface roughness changes after insertion of one type of matte cemented femoral component during 2 to 15 years

Theoretically, micromotion might occur even in stable cement-implant interface conditions. It was hypothesized that smoothing of the matte surfaces of femoral components because of abrasion or corrosion phenomena is a possible consequence of micromotion. Two new and 11 femoral components that were retrieved after 2 to 15 years of stable cement-implant interface conditions were inspected, investigated with light microscopy, and evaluated with surface roughness measurement by a profilometer. No surface changes were observed such as abrasion or corrosion phenomena except at the tip and the collar of the femoral components. The surface roughness was Ra = 1.0 and 1.1 micro m in the new femoral components and Ra (mean) = 0.96 micro m (range; 0.8-1.5 micro m) in the retrieved components. There was no correlation between time in situ and surface roughness as confirmed by regression analysis. These data suggest that significant micromotion was not present at the studied interface.     

Increased prevalence of hypertension in a population exposed to aircraft noise

OBJECTIVES—To investigate whether there is a relation between residential exposure to aircraft noise and hypertension.
METHODS—The study population comprised two random samples of subjects aged 19-80 years, one including 266 residents in the vicinity of Stockholm Arlanda airport, and another comprising 2693 inhabitants in other parts of Stockholm county. The subjects were classified according to the time weighted equal energy and maximum aircraft noise levels at their residence. A questionnaire provided information on individual characteristics including history of hypertension.
RESULTS—The prevalence odds ratio for hypertension adjusted for age, sex, smoking, and education was 1.6 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.0 to 2.5) among those with energy averaged aircraft noise levels exceeding 55 dBA, and 1.8 (95% CI 1.1 to 2.8) among those with maximum aircraft noise levels exceeding 72 dBA. An exposure-response relation was suggested for both exposure measures. The exposure to aircraft noise seemed particularly important for older subjects and for those not reporting impaired hearing ability.
CONCLUSIONS—Community exposure to aircraft noise may be associated with hypertension.     

Elemental mercury vapour toxicity, treatment, and prognosis after acute, intensive exposure in chloralkali plant workers. Part II: Hyperchloraemia and genitourinary symptoms.

Exposure to elemental mercury vapour is known to influence renal function; however, severe renal disease has not been consistently identified. Eleven men were evaluated for renal disease after acute, massive mercury poisoning. Significant hyperchloraemia was identified in this group of patient and a reversible renal tubular defect was suggested by low normal serum bicarbonate, a normal serum anion gap and a positive urinary anion gap. The only other evidence of renal dysfunction was transient, mild proteinuria in one of the 11 patients. During this same time period, neuropsychological impairment was identified on a test of cognitive and visual-motor function, 'Trailmaking B', in seven of the 11 patients. Additionally, dysuria and ejaculatory pain occurred without evidence of urological disease. These complaints were more frequent in those patients with impairment on 'Trailmaking B' suggesting a neurological basis for these symptoms. The findings of this study support earlier observations that the brain rather than the kidney is the critical target organ after elemental mercury vapour exposure.     

Immunomodulation of cimetidine in healthy volunteers

Summary The effect of cimetidine, a histamine H2-receptor antagonist, on the immune system in man was investigated in 11 healthy volunteers. Cimetidine was administered orally in daily doses of 800 mg for a period of 7 days. At the end of the administration period the number of peripheral CD8+ (cytotoxic/suppressor) cells had diminished significantly (P<0.05) along with a corresponding increase in the CD4+ (helper/inducer): CD8+ (cytotoxic/suppressor) cell ratio (P<0.01). Compared with pretreatment values, a significant in vitro blastogenic response to mitogen stimulation with concanavalin A (P<0.005), phytohemagglutinin (P<0.01), and pokeweed mitogen (P<0.05) was observed in lymphocytes of volunteers after cimetidine intake. The cell-mediated hypersensitivity as assessed by skin testing of seven recall antigens was also enhanced significantly (P<0.001). Using Spearman's coefficient of correlation to compare mitogen-stimulation tests and skin tests of delayed hypersensitivity to the CD4+:CD8+ ratio, yielded a positive correlation (r=0.89;r=0.85, respectively). These effects were reversible 96 h after the last cimetidine dose. In contrast, leukocytes, total T lymphocytes (CD2+, CD3+), CD4+ (helper/inducer) cells, natural killer cells (Leu7+), immunoglobulins, and total complement, C3, C4 were unaffected by cimetidine administration.Abbreviations Con A concanavalin A - NK natural killer - PHA phytohemagglutinin - PWM pokeweed mitogen This work is dedicated to the memory of Professor Dr. med. E.E. Ohnhaus, a stimulating teacher and a great person, who passed away in 1988     

Schwangerschaft. Fehlgeburt. Geburt. Kindesmord

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

血浆内皮素对慢性病黄疸发生的影响

血浆内皮素（ＥＴ）是血管内皮细胞分泌的,由２１个氨基酸组成的具有强烈缩血管作用的活性肽,其与心血管系统在生理和病理方面的关系已受到广泛关注。近年来有研究表明,肝脏可能与ＥＴ的产生和清除有着较密切的关系。用ＥＴ灌注鼠肝可导致肝内胆汁的淤滞［１］,由此推测黄疸的发生可能与ＥＴ的增多有某种联系。材料与方法一、病例选择根据１９９０年全国病毒性肝炎会议修订的诊断标准,选择我院门诊及病房接治的慢性肝病患者５１例,女２４例,年龄为２９～７６岁,平均５５．３岁。其中肝硬化３１例,伴黄疸者１５例（ＴＢ＞２．０ｍｇ…     

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma: overview of the descriptive epidemiology

The 2001 World Health Organization classification scheme considers B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) in an aggregate category (CLL/SLL) because of shared clinicopathological features. We have estimated age-adjusted incidence rates (IRs) of CLL and SLL in the population-based Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program in the United States to analyse patterns of CLL and SLL separately and jointly. Age-standardized to the 2000 US population, overall IRs were 3.83 per 100 000 person-years for CLL (n = 15 676) and 1.31 for SLL (n = 5382) during 1993-2004. Incidence of the combined entity, CLL/SLL, was 90% higher among males compared to females, and the male:female IR ratio was significantly higher for CLL (1.98) than for SLL (1.67). CLL/SLL IRs were 25% and 77% lower among Blacks and Asian/Pacific Islanders, respectively, compared to Whites. A significant reporting delay was evident for CLL but not for SLL, so that CLL/SLL temporal trends must be interpreted cautiously. CLL and SLL IRs increased exponentially with age among all gender/race groups, with CLL IRs increasing more steeply with advancing age than SLL. Avenues of future research include assessment of delayed- and under-reporting to cancer registries and exploration of race, gender, and age effects in epidemiological studies.