A generic model for the assessment of disease epidemiology: the computational basis of DisMod II

Reliable and comparable analysis of risks to health is key for preventing disease and injury. Causal attribution of morbidity and mortality to risk factors has traditionally been conducted in the context of methodological traditions of individual risk factors, often in a limited number of settings, restricting comparability.     

The Günther Tulip retrievable filter: prolonged temporary filtration by repositioning within the inferior vena cava

PURPOSE: To report experience with the retrievable Günther Tulip filter (GTF) as a means of temporary caval filtration for the prevention of pulmonary embolism (PE) with use of a technique that prolongs filter dwell time beyond 14 days. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-eight GTFs were implanted in 87 patients. The GTFs were placed with the intention of retrieval in all patients within 14 days after initial implantation. In 23 of the 87 patients (26%), there was a need to prolong temporary caval filtration beyond the recommended period of 14 days. This was successfully achieved with use of percutaneous techniques from the right internal jugular vein whereby the filter was repositioned to a different location within the inferior vena cava (IVC) before definitive device removal. RESULTS: Of 88 GTFs implanted in 87 patients, 70 were successfully retrieved and 18 were left in place permanently. Forty-seven filters in 46 patients were removed after initial implantation with no need for percutaneous repositioning within the IVC to prolong dwell time (mean dwell time, 13 days). In the 23 patients who required repositioning of 23 GTFs within the IVC to prolong temporary caval filtration, the mean dwell time was 34.8 days; the mean number of repositioning procedures was 1.5, the mean time between repositioning procedures was 13.8 days, and the mean fluoroscopy time was 4.4 minutes in patients in whom filter retrieval was attempted. One patient underwent placement and subsequent removal of the GTF twice for perioperative prophylaxis against PE on two separate occasions. No filters were misplaced in an unintended location or tilted (>15 degrees ) in relation to the main caval axis after deployment. In one patient, a GTF became permanently fixed in the IVC 16 days after initial implantation and could not be removed percutaneously. Nine patients had mild or moderate-sized cervical hematomas. One patient had recurrent asymptomatic PE 2 months after filter insertion. CONCLUSION: Dwell times of 14 days can be achieved in most patients before device removal. Prolongation of the dwell time beyond 14 days can be safely and easily achieved by performing percutaneous repositioning of the device within the IVC via a jugular approach.     

Percutaneous treatment of superior vena cava syndrome using metallic stents

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of treatment of superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) in patients with benign and malignant disease using expandable metallic stent. From January 1995 to April 2000, 87 expandable stents were implanted in 82 patients (59 men, 23 women; mean age 57.8 years, age range 39–79 years) for the treatment of SVCS. The SVCS was defined as symptomatic bilateral obstruction of venous drainage from head, neck and upper extremities. In 68 patients SVCS was due to malignant neoplasia, and in 14 cases it was due to benign aetiology. All patients were treated with expandable stent. We implanted 81 Wallstent prostheses and 6 Palmaz stents. Adjuvant thrombolysis was applied in 12 patients who required fibrinolysis. After recanalization, the stent was implanted in all cases in SVC (infra- or supra-azygos vein). All patients were treated with heparin of low molecular weight (HBPM) during 6 months. Patency was analyzed according to clinical symptoms and Doppler US or venograms exploration. Technical success was observed in all cases. Clinical success was reached in 78 of 82 patients (95.1%) (absence of symptoms in 2 or 3 days). Four patients suffered immediate thrombosis which required fibrinolitic treatment with a new prosthesis placement in 1 case. The follow-up for the malignant process was of 7.1 months (range 1–39 months) and in benign cases was 31.2 months (range 11–61 months). Sixty-two (91.1%) patients with malignancy died without SVCS symptomatology. All the patients with benign pathology are alive. Clinical primary patency in malignant cases was 87% with assisted patency of 96.2%. Endovascular therapy using metallic stent and thrombolysis is a successful method to treat SVCS due to benign or malignant aetiology. Electronic Publication     

Two cases of severe sepsis successfully treated with activated protein C

A 64-year-old man and a 52-year-old woman in shock with multiple organ failure and worsening of sepsis related organ failure assessment SOFA scores in the early days of care were treated with recombinant human activated protein C (rhAPC). In the woman sepsis was associated with reversible heart failure, with decreased ejection fraction, biventricular dilatation, and a sharp increase of troponin I, observations that have been linked to a higher rate of multiorgan failure and higher mortality. The man began to improve after 24 hours and the woman after 48 hours of rhAPC treatment, with both continuing to improve after withdrawal of treatment. Severe sepsis remains a therapeutic challenge. Among the many treatments based on the physiopathology of the disease, so far only rhAPC seems to improve outcome and reduce mortality.     

Basophil activation test in the diagnosis of allergy to medicines

In this paper we study the reliability of the basophil activation test (BAT) in the "in-vitro" diagnosis of allergy to betalactams and to metamizol, and the sensitivity and specificity of the technique are analyzed. To this end, we studied 58 patients allergic to betalactam antibiotics with a positive cutaneous test facing any derivative of penicillin and 30 healthy controls who tolerated betalactams, and 26 patients allergic to metamizol with an immediate reaction and 30 healthy controls who tolerated the medicine. Sensitivity to BAT in allergy to betalactams was 52.8%, and specificity was 92.6%. For metamizol, sensitivity was 42.3% and specificity was 100%. The positive predictive value of BAT in allergy to betalactams was 18.9% and the negative predictive value was 98.4%. For metamizol, the positive predictive value of the technique was 100% and the negative predictive value was 99.4%. The joint use of BAT and CAP (specific IgE) makes it possible to diagnose some 65% of patients allergic to betalactams. The combined use of cutaneous tests and BAT in allergy to metamizol detects 70% of the cases. BAT is a useful, non-invasive technique in the "in-vitro" diagnosis of allergy to betalactams and metamizol.     

52Fe for additional marrow ablation before bone marrow transplantation

The effectiveness of bone marrow transplantation (BMT) for malignant blood diseases remains limited by the inability of the preparative regimen to eliminate the disease without causing toxicity to normal organs. We have used 52Fe to deliver radiotherapy selectively to the BM. Fourteen patients with hematologic malignancies received 52Fe before a conventional BMT conditioning regimen. The median 52Fe dose was 58 mCi (range, 32 to 85 mCi). As evaluated by quantitative scanning, the median percentage of 52Fe taken up by the BM was 82% (range, 36% to 90%). This resulted in a median radiation-absorbed dose to the BM of 632 rad (range, 151 to 1,144 rad). The median uptake of 52Fe by the liver was 18% (range, 10% to 64%) and the median radiation- absorbed dose to the liver was 239 rad (range, 82 to 526 rad). The median whole body radiation-absorbed dose was 46 rad (range, 22 to 68 rad). No untoward effects were noted after the injections of 52Fe. The patients recovered hematopoiesis without toxicity in excess of that expected with conventional conditioning alone. The median follow-up was 8 months and three patients have relapsed. 52Fe should provide a way to boost the radiation dose to marrow-based diseases before marrow transplantation without increasing toxicity.     

黄河流域11个地区51个干休所离退休干部认知障碍及老年痴呆危险因素分析

目的:调查兰州部队辖区黄河流域老年痴呆及认知障碍的患病率并分析其危险因素。方法:应用《长谷川智力量表》(22～30.5分为轻度异常,10.5～21.5分为痴呆前期,≤10分为痴呆期)和《临床记忆量表》(≤80分为异常),对黄河流域11个地区51个干休所16538人群中2944名60岁以上人员进行调查。采用挨家挨户一对一的的方法开展调查检测,只有2个量表评分均为异常才列为病例组,同时对一般情况、驻地海拔高度、家族遗传史、既往病史、生活习惯等5个方面30个危险因素进行调查,并应用SPSS10.0软件包将调查结果进行多元回归分析。结果:2944名受试者全部完成测试进入结果分析。①老年痴呆的患病率分别为痴呆0.71%,痴呆前期2.11%,轻度异常28.46%,总患病率为31.28%。②多元回归分析结果:脑萎缩(t=-6.304)、重大生活事件(t=-5.328)、高龄(t=-5.415)、无喝茶嗜好(t=-3.802)、脑梗死(t=-3.343)、女性(t=-2.604)、冠心病(t=2.496)、低文化程度(t=1.973)、职业(t=1.965)、高海拔地区(t=1.957)与老年痴呆相关(P均<0.05)。结论:①黄河流域老年痴呆及认知障碍发生与脑萎缩、重大生活事件、高龄、无喝茶嗜好、脑梗死、女性、冠心病、低文化程度、职业、高海拔地区等10种危险因素有关。②结果显示痴呆发病率较低,而痴呆前期及轻度异常发病率较高,所以应重视痴呆前期及轻度异常患者的干预治疗。     

The role of pancreatic venous sampling in the localization of occult insulinomas

The palpation and enucleation of occult insulinomas (less than 15 mm) can be a difficult surgical problem even with good arteriographic localization. In the authors' limited experience, confirmation of arteriographic findings by pancreatic venous sampling provided little additional localizing information. However, if arteriography is negative or equivocal, venous sampling can indicate the segment of pancreas to be "blindly" resected if the adenoma is not palpable. Venous sampling may be misleading in polyendocrine syndromes because of the frequency of multiple adenomas and variable hormone production.     

Fatal CNS vasculopathy in a patient with refractory celiac disease and lymph node cavitation

Celiac disease is an enteropathy occurring in genetically predisposed individuals due to a dietary intolerance to gluten. Patients with celiac disease may develop a neurological disorder of unknown cause, although autoimmune mechanisms are suspected. We report on a 56-year-old man with celiac disease, who became refractory to a gluten-free diet and died of a rapidly progressive encephalopathy. Magnetic resonance imaging indicated focal lesions of the cerebellum and brainstem, and electrodiagnostic studies suggested an axonal neuropathy. Autopsy revealed a flattened small-bowel mucosa with intraepithelial lymphocytosis, a spectrum of degenerative changes of the intra-abdominal and mediastinal lymph nodes, including cavitary degeneration, and splenomegaly. Histologically, the lymph nodes showed pseudocyst formation and lymphocytic vasculitis with fibrinoid necrosis, and sections of the brain exhibited fibrinoid degeneration of small blood vessels, sparse perivascular lymphocytic infiltrates, and perivascular ischemic lesions. Identical T-cell clones were identified in the duodenum, stomach, lymph nodes, and spleen. This patient had an unusual neurological disorder related to a vasculopathy, probably mediated by a circulating neoplastic clone of activated T cells.