The association between body mass index and musculoskeletal foot disorders: a systematic review

The primary aim of this systematic review was to investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and foot disorders. The secondary aim was to investigate whether weight loss is effective for reducing foot pain. Five electronic databases (Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE, Ovid AMED, CINAHL and The Cochrane Library) and reference lists from relevant papers were searched in April 2011. Twenty‐five papers that reported on the association between BMI and musculoskeletal foot disorders met our inclusion criteria and were reviewed. The evidence indicates: (i) a strong association between increased BMI and non‐specific foot pain; and (ii) a strong association between increased BMI and chronic plantar heel pain in a non‐athletic population. The evidence is inconclusive regarding the relationship between BMI and the following specific disorders of the foot; hallux valgus, tendonitis, osteoarthritis and flat foot. With respect to our second aim, there were only two prospective cohort studies that reported a reduction in foot symptoms following weight loss surgery. In summary, increased BMI is strongly associated with non‐specific foot pain in the general population and chronic plantar heel pain in a non‐athletic population. However, there is currently limited evidence to support weight loss to reduce foot pain.     

Systematic review of primary osseointegrated dental implants in head and neck oncology

The aim of this paper is to provide a systematic review of articles concerning primary osseointegrated dental implants in the head and neck oncology setting. We searched MEDLINE (1950 to March 2009) and Embase (1980 to March 2009) using the terms head and neck, oral, maxillofacial, craniofacial, jaws, mandible, maxilla, zygoma, dental implants, osseointegrated implants, implants, tumour, cancer, oncology, immediate, simultaneous, and primary. Two authors independently reviewed the abstracts, and all those written in the English language that referred to the placement of primary dental implants in patients with cancer of the head neck were included. Articles that referred to craniofacial or extraoral implants were excluded. Of 892 abstracts 83 were eligible for further consideration; the full articles were evaluated, and 41 that complied fully with the inclusion criteria are presented as a tabulated summary. There are three case reports, 13 reviews, and 25 clinical studies. Eight of the clinical studies refer solely to the insertion of dental implants at the time of primary oncological resection, and only two were of a prospective design. We have concisely summarised publications concerning primary dental implants, and our findings will help to inform head and neck cancer teams, particularly oncological surgeons, restorative dentists, and maxillofacial prosthodontists of the evidence base surrounding this approach to oral rehabilitation.     

Informant ratings of cognitive decline of elderly people: relationship to longitudinal change on cognitive tests

Formal assessment of cognitive decline with cognitive tests can be difficult, requiring either two measurement points or a comparison of 'hold' with 'don't hold' tests. Informant-based assessment provides an alternative approach because informants can adopt a longitudinal perspective and directly rate cognitive change. A study was carried out to assess the validity of informant ratings collected by means of the Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCODE). A community sample of 500 subjects aged 74 or over underwent four cognitive tests on two occasions 3½ years apart. On the second occasion, informants filled out the IQCODE. Subjects rated as having moderate or severe decline were found to have greater change on the cognitive tests. These findings support the validity of informant ratings of cognitive decline.