The effects of illicit drug use and HIV infection on sex hormone levels in women.

Drug use and HIV infection may affect sex hormone levels in women. One hundred and ninety-six women with and without a history of illicit drug use (50 HIV-negative and 148 HIV-infected), with regular menses, who never used antiretrovirals, were evaluated. Luteinizing hormone levels were significantly higher in women with a CD4 cell count <200/microl (p < 0.002). Current methadone use was associated with lower levels of total testosterone (p = 0.03) and higher levels of prolactin (p = 0.002); mean estradiol levels were 43% lower in women who used intravenous drugs (p < 0.001). Alcohol and crack cocaine use was not associated with sex hormone levels. Age, race, body mass index and degree of HIV immunosuppression were also associated with differences in sex hormone levels.     

Best-practice algorithms for the use of a bilayered living cell therapy (Apligraf®) in the treatment of lower-extremity ulcers

Tissue-engineered skin substitutes such as Apligraf have emerged over the past 20 years as among the most carefully studied and efficacious of the advanced wound modalities. These products have been proven as effective enhancements to general wound care, promoting wound closure particularly in instances where conventional wound care fails. Marketed for hard-to-heal wounds since 1998, Apligraf has become part of standard wound care in many wound centers across the United States. Despite this situation, few general wound care guidelines incorporate advanced and active wound-healing technologies, such as tissue-engineered skin products. Because of this deficiency, appropriate patient selection and proper use of these product remain largely unaddressed within the general wound care community. Here, we describe the development of guidelines surrounding optimal use of the bilayered living cell therapy, Apligraf, in the treatment of the two types of lower extremity ulcers for which the product is FDA approved: venous leg ulcer and diabetic foot ulcer. The guidelines detailed in this article focus on the identification and selection of patients who are at risk for failure of standard wound care therapy and thus appropriate for Apligraf treatment. The intended audience for these guidelines is the general wound care practitioner, for whom the developed treatment algorithms and accompanying figure legends should provide practical, user-friendly direction simplifying both patient selection and appropriate use of Apligraf within the context of good wound-healing practice.     

Hemiballismus from a parietal stroke in a Parkinson patient.

Stroke-induced hemiballismus (HB) has been reported to improve motor function in people with Parkinson's disease (PD). We report on a patient who developed HB from a parietal infarct. The HB was improved by very low-dose clozapine but the HB did not improve the parkinsonism. This suggests that HB itself, whether from a lesion in the subthalamic nucleus or elsewhere, is not what improves motor function in PD; instead, the physiological function of the damaged structure is the determining factor.     

National intercomparisons of I radioactivity measurements in nuclear medicine centres in India

National intercomparisons of activity measurements of ¹³¹I, a radioisotope widely used for diagnosis and therapy of thyroid related ailments, were initiated in 1979 as a quality assurance program, towards improving radiation safety procedures and related dosimetry in Nuclear Medicine Centres (NMCs) in India. Oral administration of a known quantity of radioiodine to patients requires accurate radioactivity measurements to be performed on a well-calibrated isotope calibrators. Under or over estimation of the activity due to a faulty or uncalibrated isotope calibrator could provide misleading results. Calibration of isotope calibrators and the traceablity of subsequent measurements to the national standards laboratory is one of the essential basic radiation safety requirement of the IAEA. In view of the stringent quality assurance requirements for activity measurements imposed by Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, a National Intercomparison Program was initiated and to date ten such intercomparison programs have been conducted by the Radiation Safety Systems Division, of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. This program has benefited the participants by making their measurements traceable to the National Primary Standards. Over the years there has been a marked increase in the number of NMCs participating in the intercomparison programs. As a result, the number of institution showing large deviation from the correct value has decreased considerably over the years. This program thus, has enabled participating NMCs to check their isotope calibrators so as to ensure proper delivery of radiation dose to the patients and hence to optimise patient exposure.     

肱骨干骨折--髓内钉与钢板固定的比较

总体而言，这些报道提示：采用髓内钉治疗肱骨干骨折较采用钢板带来更多的并发症，尤其是采用顺行人路。同时，这些报道没有提供确切的证据证明何种方法在骨折愈合、减少感染或上肢总体功能上优于另一种。     

Increased Ventricular Vulnerability in a Chronic Ethanol Model Despite Reduced Electrophysiologic Responses to Catecholamines

An increased incidence of sudden death has been reported in chronic alcoholism. To assess electrical vulnerability of the heart, action potential responses, and the role of the sympathetic system, a well-nourished canine model has been studied intact under chloralose anesthesia after 1 year of ethanol consumption at 36% of caloric intake. Two alcoholic groups were compared with controls (Group 1). In Group 2 myocardial vulnerability was assessed after chronic EtOH and superimposed acute administration. In Group 3 basal vulnerability was related to circulating norepinephrine and release of neurohormone from the myocardium. Subsequently the responsiveness to catecholamine infusion was determined. To assess vulnerability an electrode catheter was placed in the right ventricular apex. The basal ventricular fibrillation threshold (VFT) was reduced to 27 +/- 3 ma in Group 2 versus 43 +/- 1.0 in Group 1. Acute infusion of ethanol in Group 2 further reduced the threshold. Group 3 had a reduced basal VFT. Baseline arterial plasma levels of norepinephrine were 8-fold higher and coronary venous levels 13 times higher in the alcoholic group than in Group 1. However, VFT was not responsive to infused epinephrine, compared with Group 1 controls. In vitro study of superfused ventricular tissue from Group 3 revealed that basal action potential amplitude, overshoot, and resting potential were comparable with normals. Basal repolarization time (90%) was 198 +/- 12 msec in Group 3 versus 215 +/- 6 msec in Group 1 (p less than 0.05). After acute EtOH, repolarization time was shortened to 170 +/- 8.6 in Group 1 at 90 mg% ethanol (p less than 0.002), with minimal further change up to 280 mg%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effect of bite tray impression technique on relocation accuracy in frameless stereotactic radiotherapy.

A previously developed method for achieving patient relocation in fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (attachment of an infrared fiducial system to a bite tray) relies on the integrity of a bite tray system that incorporates moulding to the patient's upper dentition. Reproducible and accurate patient positioning requires stability of the bite tray and mould during the full treatment process, both during the time the bite tray is inserted in the patient's mouth, and between separate bite tray insertions. The optimum construction method for a stable reproducible tray has not been sufficiently investigated. We undertook a study to identify factors which might influence the integrity of the hard palate bite tray system. Reprosil Fast Set Putty was used to construct 3 impression conditions; teeth only; teeth and alveolar sulcus; and teeth, alveolar sulcus, and the hard palate. Reproducibility was assessed by volunteers inserting the impressions multiple times and recording the locations of 8 standard reference points. Our results showed the optimal impression technique (i.e., the one that led to the smallest ranges in positional and rotational errors) was that which incorporated the teeth, alveolar sulcus, and hard palate.