Self-reported and technician-measured waist circumferences differ in middle-aged men and women

We investigated the agreement between 1) self-reported and technician-measured waist circumference at the level of the umbilicus, 2) circumference measured at the level of the umbilicus and halfway between the lower rib and the iliac crest (the natural waist), and 3) self-reported circumference at the level of the umbilicus and technician-measured circumference at the natural waist. At follow-up in the Danish "Diet, Cancer and Health" study, we recruited 176 men and 240 women for a validation study. Bland-Altman plots were used to evaluate agreement among measurement sites. Multiple regression was used to identify variables explaining the difference between measurements. The participants underestimated their waist circumference; the mean differences were -1.6 cm (95% CI: -2.4 cm, -0.8 cm) in men and -3.0 cm (95% CI: -3.8 cm, -2.3 cm) in women. Limits of agreement were from -11.9 to +8.7 cm among men and -14.9 to +8.9 cm among women. High BMI and large baseline waist circumference were associated with a larger degree of underreporting. Waist circumference measured at the level of the umbilicus was larger than at the natural waist; the mean differences were +0.7 cm (95% CI: +0.4 cm, +1.1 cm) in men and +5.0 cm (95% CI: +4.4 cm, +5.6 cm) in women. The self-reported waist circumference at the level of the umbilicus was correlated with the technician-measured circumference at the natural waist. The circumference at the natural waist was overestimated for women, depending on baseline waist circumference, and slightly underestimated for men, depending on baseline BMI.     

Therapeutic advances in interventional neurology

Rapid advances in the field of interventional neurology and the development of minimally invasive techniques have resulted in a great expansion of potential therapeutic applications. We discuss therapeutic interventional neurology as applied in clinical practice in one of the two possible ways: 1) embolization leading to occlusion of blood vessels; and 2) revascularization leading to reopening of blood vessels. These procedures can be applied to a broad range of cerebrovascular diseases. In the first section of this review, we will explore the evolution of these interventions to occlude aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, neurovascular tumors, and injuries. In the second section, revascularization in acute ischemic stroke, stenosis, and dural venous thrombosis will be discussed.     

Autologous cartilage grafts enhanced by a novel transplant medium using fibrin sealant and fibroblast growth factor

OBJECTIVE: To introduce and assess a system for the delivery of fibroblast growth factor to autologous cartilage grafts using fibrin sealant and analyze whether this "enhancement" results in reduced rates of cartilage resorption and greater preservation of normal architectural features compared with "unenhanced" cartilage grafts. METHODS: Auricular cartilage segments measuring 1 cm(2) were harvested from 12 New Zealand white rabbits, morselized, and implanted into the subcutaneous dorsum of the upper back for 3 months. The conditions included (1) cartilage alone; (2) cartilage + fibrin sealant; (3/4) cartilage + acidic or basic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF or bFGF); and (5/6) cartilage + fibrin sealant + aFGF or bFGF. Subsequent to graft harvest, gross and microscopic assessments were performed to assess size, structural integrity, and architectural features, with comparisons performed between each of the conditions. RESULTS: The mean areas of the harvested cartilage grafts treated with fibrin sealant + aFGF or bFGF were 1.23 cm(2) and 1.19 cm(2), respectively, while the corresponding value for the untreated (ie, cartilage alone) specimens was 1.03 cm(2). The percentage of decrease in size was 45% for the untreated specimens and 0% for the specimens treated with fibrin sealant + aFGF or fibrin sealant + bFGF. Cartilage treated with fibrin sealant + bFGF had the greatest quantity of elastin fibers of the 6 conditions. Cartilage grafts treated with fibrin sealant alone demonstrated the most intense ground substance staining on a computerized measure of pixel intensity. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrated significant improvements in graft quality using fibroblast growth factor and fibrin sealant or even fibrin sealant alone. These findings may justify changes in how cartilage grafts are prepared and delivered for facial augmentation procedures to reduce graft resorption and maintain the structural integrity of the cartilage. Further trials will be performed to elucidate the optimal growth factor concentrations for maximum structural and architectural benefits.     

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura following cardiovascular surgery: a case report

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, a rare clinical syndrome characterized by thrombocytopenia and microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, was almost uniformly fatal until the introduction of plasma exchange in 1970. The thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura following cardiovascular surgeries is relatively a new entity with high mortality if untreated. Plasma exchange is the most important therapy in this disease with good clinical outcomes. With the addition of this report, there are now 13 cases of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura in association with coronary artery bypass graft reported in the literature.     

Methadone-induced torsade de pointes in a patient with normal baseline QT interval

Torsade de pointes (TdP) is a life threatening cardiac arrhythmia that is typically associated with prolongation of the QT interval. A wide variety of nonantiarrthymic medications may trigger TdP in patients with prolonged QT interval, only a few reports have described an association between TdP and methadone. We report a case of TdP caused by a large dose of methadone in a patient with presumably normal QT interval at baseline prior to his presentation at the hospital.     

Hydatic pulmonary embolism complicating a cardiac hydatic cyst. A case report

Hydatic pulmonary embolism: complication of a cardiac hydatic cyst:a case report hydatic cardiac cyst is a rare condition and represents only 0.5 to 2% of all visceral localisations of the hydatid disease. We reported a 28 year old patient with a multiple hydatic pulmonary embolism caused by the rupture of a hydatic cyst of the interventricular septum. The diagnosis was established by transthoracic echocardiography and CT Scan. Surgery was performed without delay and the outcome was good after a five month follow-up. This case illustrates the diagnostic value of the non invasive imaging means in hydatic cyst of the heart and underlines the importance of surgery realized before complications occur.