Cardiovascular and metabolic effects of CPAP in obese males with OSA.

Obstructive sleep apnoea is associated with increased blood pressure and other features of the metabolic syndrome. The aim of the present study was to determine the relative effectiveness of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in modifying these outcomes. A randomised placebo-controlled blinded crossover trial comparing cardiovascular and metabolic outcomes after 6 weeks of therapeutic and sham CPAP was performed in 34 CPAP-na?ve patients (mean+/-SD body mass and respiratory disturbance indices were 36.1+/-7.6 and 39.7+/-13.8, respectively). Mean waking systolic and diastolic blood pressure fell by 6.7 and 4.9 mmHg, respectively, when compared with sham CPAP. No change was observed in glucose, lipids, insulin resistance or the proportion of patients with metabolic syndrome. In CPAP-compliant patients the fall in blood pressure was greater and the baroreceptor sensitivity improved significantly but no metabolic variable changed. In obese Caucasians with untreated obstructive sleep apnoea, continuous positive airways pressure can improve baroreceptor responsiveness and reduce waking blood pressure within 6 weeks, but this treatment period was insufficient to modify insulin resistance or change the metabolic profile. The mechanisms underlying this difference in the time course of blood pressure and metabolic response to continuous positive airway pressure in obstructive sleep apnoea requires further exploration.     

Unterkieferrekonstruktion mit autologem Knochen und einem induktiven Implantat beim G?ttinger Minischwein

ZusammenfassungFragestellung In der vorliegenden Studie am Göttinger Minischwein wurde die direkte Rekonstruktion des Unterkiefers nach ausgedehnter Kontinuitätsresektion mit autologem Knochen und einem osteoinduktiven Implantat untersucht.Methode An neun ausgewachsenen Göttinger Minischweinen wurde ein einseitiger, 5 cm langer Unterkieferkontinuitätsdefekt gesetzt. Die Rekonstruktion erfolgte bei vier Tieren mit einem 50×25×15 mm³ großen, kollagenen Träger, dotiert mit rhBMP-2 (400 µg/cm³). Bei zwei Tieren wurde nur der Träger alleine implantiert und bei drei Tieren das lokal resezierte Knochensegment replantiert. Die Knochenregeneration und Konsolidierung der Defekte wurde radiologisch und histologisch analysiert.Ergebnisse Nach Rekonstruktion mit dem osteoinduktiven Implantat zeigte sich bei allen Versuchstieren eine komplette knöcherne Konsolidierung des gesetzten Unterkieferkontinuitätsdefekts. Der gesamte Defekt wurde von einem biomechanisch hochwertigen, sich funktionell anpassenden Knochen überbrückt. Nach Replantation des ortsständigen autologen Knochens wird dieser nicht schnell genug knöchern integriert. In der Peripherie bilden sich nur unvollständige Knochenbrücken aus; dies führt zum vollständigen Versagen der Rekonstruktion. Ebenso findet bei der Implantation des Trägers alleine keine Konsolidierung statt.Schlussfolgerung Die direkte Rekonstruktion eines ausgedehnten, biomechanisch belasteten Defekts mit einem osteoinduktiven Implantat erwies sich als die überlegene Methode. Das hierbei entstehende knöcherne Regenerat erfährt eine unmittelbare funktionelle Strukturierung. Die Notwendigkeit zu extensiven adaptiven Umbauvorgängen wird hierdurch minimiert.     

Truncus-coeliacus-Kompressionssyndrom

The celiac axis compression syndrome is a rare disease in adults. In childhood it is extremely uncommon. Vascular reasons or chronic irritation of the celiac ganglion are discussed as causes for this syndrome, leading to chronic abdominal pain. Lateral aortography is acknowledged to be the best method for diagnosis of the celiac axis compression syndrome. New duplex scanning methods are gaining more and more importance. The indication for surgery is the subject of controversy in the current literature. We present the case of a 15-year-old girl who recovered completely after transsection of the ligamentum arcuatum medianum and resection of the celiac ganglion.     

Impact of neuronavigation and image-guided extensive resection for adult patients with supratentorial malignant astrocytomas: a single-institution retrospective study.

Neuronavigation has become an effective therapeutic modality and is used routinely for intra-axial tumor removal. This retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the clinical impact of neuronavigation and image-guided extensive resection for adult patients with supratentorial malignant astrocytomas. Between 1990 and 2002, 76 adult patients with pathologically confirmed malignant astrocytomas underwent craniotomy and removal of the tumors at the Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University Hospital. Of these 76 patients, 42 were treated using neuronavigation with conventional microneurosurgery and the other 34 were treated with conventional microneurosurgery alone. Postoperative early MRI with contrast enhancement was done, and gross total resection was defined as the complete absence of residual tumor. Survival time was analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier method. Prognostic factors were obtained from the Cox proportional hazards model. In univariate analysis, age (< 65), grade 3, preoperative KPS (>/= 80), use of neuronavigation, and gross total resection were significantly associated with longer survival. However, when the data were submitted to multivariate analysis, grade 3, preoperative KPS (>/= 80), and gross total resection were independent prognostic factors. The median survival periods of patients receiving gross total resection (vs. partial resection) and neuronavigation (vs. no neuronavigation) were 16 (vs. 9) months and 16 (vs. 10) months, respectively. The percentage of a gross total resection was significantly higher in the neuronavigation group compared to that in the no-navigation group (64.3 % vs. 38.2 %, p < 0.05). Neurological deterioration occurred in 4 of 42 (9.5 %) and in 6 of 34 (17.6 %) patients after surgery with neuronavigation and surgery without neuronavigation, respectively, although this difference was not statistically significant. Our results showed that neuronavigation increases the radicality in the resection of malignant astrocytomas and is objectively useful for improving survival time.     

Pharmacotherapy for cancer pain

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below. Key points Cancer pain management services must integrate withpalliative and primary care. Pain is common in cancer and usuallyoccurs in more than one site. Careful assessment and treatmentsaimed at the causes of the pain are essential. Optimal oralpharmacotherapy manages more than 75% of patients with cancerpain. If specific anti-cancer therapy, drugs, physical andpsychological treatments fail, then more invasive therapiesshould be considered early.