A 1000 cc Intragastric Balloon for Weight Reduction

Objective: To examine the efficiency of a 1000 cc intragastric balloon as an aid for weight reduction.Subject: Thirty-three morbidly obese persons, after multiple attempts for weight loss.Design: Intragastric 1000 cc balloons were endoscopically inserted into the stomachs of subjects. The balloons were left in place for six months. During that period the patients received dietary therapy. Hormone levels were measured prior to insertion and upon withdrawal of balloons.Results: After a brief initial weight loss, most patients regained the weight initially lost. Mean weight loss after six months was only 8 kg (range 0-22 kg). We found that Bombesin levels, but not Gastrin levels, were significantly lower at the end of therapy than before insertion of the balloon.Conclusion: We conclude that a large intragastric balloon for a prolonged time did not assist in weight loss. Our preliminary results show Bombesin levels change significantly, a finding which warrants further study.     

Body mass index predicts risk of complications in lumbar spine surgery based on surgical invasiveness

Background Context

Obesity as a comorbidity in spine pathology may increase the risk of complications following surgical treatment. The body mass index (BMI) threshold at which obesity becomes clinically relevant, and the exact nature of that effect, remains poorly understood.

Treatment of intrabony defects using guided tissue regeneration and autogenous spongiosa alone or combined with hydroxyapatite/beta-tricalcium phosphate bone substitute or bovine-derived xenograft

BACKGROUND: The aim of this case-control study was to investigate the clinical regeneration of deep intrabony defects using guided tissue regeneration (GTR) with autogenous spongiosa (ASB) alone or using GTR with a mixture of ASB with a bovine-derived xenograft (BDX) or a synthetic composite bone substitute (hydroxyapatite/beta-tricalcium phosphate [HA/beta-TCP]). METHODS: Sixty-four patients with a total of 93 intrabony defects of 2- or 3-wall morphology and an intrabony component (IC)>or=4 mm participated in this study. Defects were treated with a bioabsorbable membrane and ASB alone or ASB mixed with HA/beta-TCP or BDX. Clinical parameters measured at baseline and 12 months after surgery included IC, bleeding on probing (BOP), and plaque accumulation (PLI). Vertical bone gain (VBG) and percentage relative bone gain (RBG) were used as indicators of treatment efficacy. A stringent plaque control regimen was enforced in all patients during the 12-month observation period. RESULTS: At baseline, no statistically significant differences in any of the clinical parameters were observed between the groups. At 12 months, HA/beta-TCP and BDX treatments produced similar improvements in intrabony tissue regeneration as shown by VBG (P=0.616) and RBG (P=0.826) with significantly better outcomes than ASB alone (P<0.0001). Changes in BOP and PLI did not differ significantly between the groups. CONCLUSION: The combined use of ASB with BDX or HA/beta-TCP led to significantly greater gain of clinical attachment and hard tissue formation compared to the use of ASB alone.     

Tx-discs--no effect against subjective health complaints: a randomised controlled study

BACKGROUND: Dowsers claim unhealthy effects of 'earth rays', and the producer of TX-discs claims that these discs may shield a person from the influence of 'earth rays', thereby relieving most illness in the person shielded. OBJECTIVES: To compare the effects of the TX-disc versus a placebo disc in patients with longstanding muscular-skeletal complaints. SETTING: Self-recruited community living persons in the Bergen area, Western Norway. PATIENTS: 67 women and 13 men with longstanding muscular-skeletal complaints, recruited by advertisements in local newspapers. DESIGN: A randomised and double-blinded controlled trial with a 6 months follow-up period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENT: The Subjective Health Complaints (SHC) questionnaire. RESULTS: We found a substantial reduction on the mean SHC sub-scale scores of muscular-skeletal, pseudo-neurological, gastro-intestinal, and allergic complaints, mainly occurring from baseline to 6 weeks (28-45%, P < 0.05-0.001). There were however no statistically significant differences for these variables between the TX group and the placebo group at any time point. IMPLICATIONS: TX-discs used in accordance with the instructions had no clinically or statistically significant effect on muscular-skeletal pain, pseudo-neurological complaints, gastro-intestinal, or allergic complaints during this study.     

Aerosol and lobar administration of a recombinant adenovirus to individuals with cystic fibrosis. I. Methods, safety, and clinical implications

Cystic fibrosis (CF), an autosomal recessive disorder resulting from mutations in the cystic fibrosis trans-membrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, is the most common lethal genetic illness in the Caucasian population. Gene transfer to airway epithelium, using adenoviruses containing normal CFTR cDNA, leads to transient production of CFTR mRNA and, in some studies, to correction of the airway epithelial ion transport defect caused by dysfunctional CFTR. Inflammatory responses to the adenoviral vector have been reported, particularly at high viral titers. We evaluated the effects of adenovirus-mediated CFTR gene transfer to airway epithelium in 36 subjects with CF (34 individuals, 2 of whom received two separate doses of vector), 20 by lobar instillation and 16 by aerosol administration. Doses ranged from 8 x 10(6) to 2.5 x 10(10) infective units (IU), in 0.5-log increments. After lobar administration of low doses there were occasional reports of cough, low-grade temperature, and myalgias. At the highest lobar dose (2.5 x 10(9) IU) two of three patients had transient myalgias, fever, and increased sputum production with obvious infiltrates on CT scan. After aerosol administration there were no significant systemic symptoms until the 2.5 x 10(10) IU dose, when both patients experienced myalgias and fever that resolved within 24 hr. There were no infiltrates seen on chest CT scans in any of the patients in the aerosol administration group. There were no consistent changes in pulmonary function tests or any significant rise in serum IgG or neutralizing antibodies in patients from either group. Serum, sputum, and nasal cytokines, measured before and after vector administration, showed no correlation with adenoviral dose. Gene transfer to lung cells was inefficient and expression was transient. Cells infected with the vector included mononuclear inflammatory cells as well as cuboidal and columnar epithelial cells. In summary, we found no consistent immune response, no evidence of viral shedding, and no consistent change in pulmonary function in response to adenovirus-mediated CFTR gene transfer. At higher doses there was a mild, nonspecific inflammatory response, as evidenced by fevers and myalgias. Overall, vector administration was tolerated but transfer of CFTR cDNA was inefficient and transgene expression was transient for the doses and method of administration used here.     

Combined subcranial approaches for excision of complex anterior skull base tumors

OBJECTIVE: To present our method for excision of complex anterior skull base tumors via combinations of the subcranial approach. PATIENTS: Of 120 anterior skull base tumor resections, 41 that included 27 (66%) malignant and 14 (34%) benign lesions were performed via combinations of the subcranial approach. Unilateral or bilateral medial maxillectomy was performed using the subcranial approach alone for 13 tumors infiltrating the anterior skull base, ethmoid bones, and medial maxillary wall. A combined subcranial-transfacial approach in 2 lesions or a combined subcranial-midfacial degloving approach in 14 lesions was performed for tumors involving the skull base and the lower or lateral segments of the maxilla. A combined subcranial-transorbital or transfacial-transorbital approach was used for 5 tumors invading the orbit. An extended subcranial-orbitozygomatic approach was used for 6 tumors invading the middle cranial fossa or involving the cavernous sinus. A combined subcranial-Le Fort I down-fracture approach was used for 1 dedifferentiated chordoma invading the anterior skull base and lower clivus. The surgical results, patient quality of life, survival, and complications were measured. RESULTS: Thirty-seven of 41 tumors (90%) were completely resected. Fifteen patients (35.5%) had perioperative complications. There were no postoperative deaths. Two-year overall and disease-free survival in patients with malignant tumors who underwent combined approaches was 66% and 60%, respectively. There was no significant difference in the quality of life between patients operated on via combined or classic subcranial approaches. CONCLUSION: Combinations and modifications of the subcranial approach for excision of complex anterior skull base tumors yield surgical results, survival, quality of life, and complications similar to those found with the classic subcranial technique.     

Gli activity correlates with tumor grade in platelet-derived growth factor-induced gliomas

Gli signaling is critical for central nervous system development and is implicated in tumorigenesis. To monitor Gli signaling in gliomas in vivo, we created platelet-derived growth factor-induced gliomas in a Gli-luciferase reporter mouse. We find that Gli activation is found in gliomas and correlates with grade. In addition, we find that sonic hedgehog (SHH) is expressed in these tumors and also correlates with grade. We identify microvascular proliferation and pseudopalisades, elements that define high-grade gliomas as SHH-producing microenvironments. We describe two populations of SHH-producing stromal cells that reside in perivascular niche (PVN), namely low-cycling astrocytes and endothelial cells. Using the Ptc-LacZ knock-in mouse as a second Gli responsive reporter, we show beta-galactosidase activity in the PVN and in some tumors diffusely throughout the tumor. Lastly, we observe that SHH is similarly expressed in human gliomas and note that an intact tumor microenvironment or neurosphere conditions in vitro are required for Gli activity.     

Familial Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease homozygous to the E200K mutation: clinical characteristics and disease course

Journal of Neurology - To characterize the demographic, clinical features and disease course of familial Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (fCJD) patients homozygous to the E200K mutation. The...