Avascular osteonecrosis after hyperthermia in children and adolescents with pelvic malignancies: a retrospective analysis of potential risk factors.

PURPOSE: In children with locally advanced or recurrent malignant tumours, prognosis can be improved by regional deep hyperthermia (RHT) in combination with platin-based chemotherapy. However, because of the increasing number of patients that achieve long-time remission with this therapy, it is necessary to evaluate long-term sequelae of thermochemotherapy. During the years 1993-2004 one has observed avascular osteonecrosis (AON) of the femoral head after RHT in seven children with pelvic germ cell tumours or rhabdomyosarcomas. METHODS: Although AON may develop in patients with malignancies treated with chemo- or radiotherapy alone, RHT might nevertheless contribute to the occurrence of AON. In order to determine potential risk factors for AON after RHT, this study analysed the relationship of AON to the patient's age, medical history and treatment parameters such as thermal dose equivalent and power output. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: In the present study AON was associated with young age as well as intensity of hyperthermia indicated by high power levels that exceed 20 W per kg body weight and/or application of eight or more heat sessions as well as additional radiotherapy. Based on this observation, it was assumed that an optimized three dimensional thermal field modelling may be helpful to avoid hazardous temperatures in the femoral heads during RHT treatment and to reduce AON of the femoral heads.     

Fetal growth patterns in fetuses of women with pregestational diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of glucose control on the rate of growth of fetuses in women with pregestational diabetes mellitus (Types 1 and 2). METHODS: All pregestational diabetic women booked at Mater Mothers' Hospital, Brisbane, Australia, between 1 January 1994 and 31 December 2002, were included. Pregnancies with congenital fetal anomalies, multiple pregnancies, and pregnancies terminated prior to 20 weeks' gestation were excluded. Dating scans were performed before 14 weeks' gestation and serial scans were performed at 18, 24, 28, 32 and 36 weeks. Fetal parameters, including biparietal diameter, femur length and abdominal circumference, were recorded. The daily growth rates for biparietal diameter, femur length, and fetal abdominal area were calculated and compared with those in a low-risk (non-diabetic) population. The growth rates in fetuses of women with satisfactory diabetic control (HbA1c < 6.5%) and unsatisfactory control (HbA1c > or = 6.5%) in the three trimesters were compared. RESULTS: A total of 174 diabetic pregnancies were included and a total of 997 ultrasound scans were performed. The growth rates for fetuses of mothers with diabetes mellitus were significantly higher than for those in the low-risk population. The z-scores for biparietal diameter, femur length, and fetal abdominal area were 0.18, 0.59 and 1.44, respectively. Fetuses of diabetic mothers with high HbA1c in the first trimester had significantly greater fetal abdominal area growth rate than those with normal HbA1c (fetal abdominal area z-score of 1.7 vs. 0.75, P = 0.009). Although the fetal abdominal area z-scores in fetuses of diabetic mothers with high HbA1c in the second or third trimesters were also higher than those with normal HbA1c levels, the differences did not reach statistical significance. Maternal obesity did not influence the fetal growth rate. CONCLUSION: The rate of growth of fetuses of diabetic mothers differs from that of the normal population. Growth acceleration persists until the late third trimester. Moreover, periconceptional glucose control appears to have a significant effect on accelerated growth of the fetal abdominal area.     

Obstructive and restrictive spirometric patterns: fixed cut-offs for FEV1/FEV6 and FEV6.

The purpose of this study was to determine fixed cut-off points for forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1))/FEV(6) and FEV(6) as an alternative for FEV(1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) and FVC in the detection of obstructive and restrictive spirometric patterns, respectively. For the study, a total of 11,676 spirometric examinations, which took place on Caucasian subjects aged between 20-80 yrs, were analysed. Receiver-operator characteristic curves were used to determine the FEV(1)/FEV(6) ratio and FEV(6) value that corresponded to the optimal combination of sensitivity and specificity, compared with the commonly used fixed cut-off term for FEV(1)/FVC and FVC. The data from the current study indicate that FEV(1)/ FEV(6) <73% and FEV(6) <82% predicted can be used as a valid alternative for the FEV(1)/FVC <70% and FVC <80% pred cut-off points for the detection of obstruction and restriction, respectively. The statistical analysis demonstrated very good, overall, agreement between the two categorisation schemes. For the spirometric diagnosis of airway obstruction (prevalence of 45.9%), FEV(1)/FEV(6) sensitivity and specificity were 94.4 and 93.3%, respectively; the positive and negative predictive values were 92.2 and 95.2%, respectively. For the spirometric detection of a restrictive pattern (prevalence of 14.9%), FEV(6) sensitivity and specificity were 95.9 and 98.6%, respectively; the positive and negative predictive values were 92.2 and 99.3%, respectively. This study demonstrates that forced expiratory volume in one second/forced expiratory volume in six seconds <73% and forced expiratory volume in six seconds <82% predicted, can be used as valid alternatives to forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity <70% and forced vital capacity <80% predicted, as fixed cut-off terms for the detection of an obstructive or restrictive spirometric pattern in adults.     

Bifid mandibular canal.

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence and characteristics of bifid mandibular canals. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed using panoramic radiographs of 2012 patients subjected to dental treatment in the Dental Clinic of the Valencia University Dental School (Valencia, Spain) between 1996 and 1999. The goal was to investigate the presence of double mandibular canals. RESULTS: The extraoral panoramic radiographs revealed a total of 7 images suggestive of bifid canals. Mandibular computed tomography revealed the existence of this anatomic variant in 2 of 3 patients. An analysis was performed on the incidence of this type of image in extraoral panoramic radiography, its possible interpretations, and the clinical implications of bifid mandibular canals. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, 0.35% of canals were bifid. All cases were in women.     

Modifying integra as a regeneration template in deep tissue planes.

Contour defects resulting in deformity caused by lack of tissue can be improved by conventional surgery using autologous tissue, but there is always a donor site morbidity. Integra has been available since the early 1980's for use in acute burns and more recently in reconstruction. It has been shown histologically to act as a tissue regeneration template. The regenerated dermis is buried under an autologous thin split-skin graft. In this study, the principle of burying Integra (without the silicone layer) has been applied to deep tissue defects in 12 reconstructive cases. Such regenerated tissues survive at least 3 years after burying. Modification to the technique to avoid visible edges are being developed.     

Learning a high-precision locomotor task in patients with Parkinson's disease.

We evaluated the acquisition and performance of a high-precision locomotor task in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and healthy subjects. All subjects walked on a treadmill and had to step repetitively as low as possible over an obstacle without touching it. During blocks 1 and 2, the subjects had full vision and received additional acoustic warning and feedback signals. During block 3, vision became restricted. Changes in foot clearance and the number of obstacle hits were evaluated. Initially, PD patients performed poorer and improved foot clearance slower. After task repetition, the groups performed similarly. Restricting vision deteriorated performance in both groups. The similar performance of PD patients after task repetition might indicate that adequate training could improve adaptive locomotor behavior in PD patients.