A Double Blind,Placebo-Controlled Trial of Ipriflavone for Prevention of Postmenopausal Spinal Bone Loss

One hundred ninety-eight postmenopausal women (aged 50–65 years) with vertebral bone density (VBD) 1 SD below the mean value for normal, age-matched, postmenopausal subjects were enrolled in six Italian centers and 134 completed 2 years of treatment. All subjects were randomly allocated to a 2-year treatment with oral ipriflavone (200 mg t.i.d.) or a matching placebo, according to a double-blind, parallel group design. All patients also received an oral daily calcium supplement of 1 g as calcium carbonate. VBD and markers of bone turnover were measured at baseline, and every 6 months. A complete routine analysis of liver and kidney functions along with hematological parameters were measured before and at the end of treatment period. The valid completers analysis showed a significant increase of VBD in ipriflavone-treated women with average percent changes of +1.4 after 1 year, and +1% at the end of treatment period (P < 0.05). The placebo group presented a significant decrease of VBD after 2 years of treatment (P < 0.05). The difference between treatments was significant (P < 0.01). The intention to treat analysis confirmed the significant decrease of VBD in the placebo group, with no changes in ipriflavone-treated women. Skeletal ALP significantly decreased in ipriflavone-treated women (P < 0.05). Serum BGP and urine HOP/Cr showed a significant decrease only in ipriflavone-treated women, suggesting an inhibitory effect on bone turnover rate. Adverse reactions, mainly gastrointestinal, occurred to a similar extent in the two treatment groups. The evaluation of patients' compliance, assessed by residual tablets count, revealed a drug intake of more than 80% after 2 years in 92.5% and 92.8% of patients treated with ipriflavone or placebo, respectively. This study demonstrates that ipriflavone can prevent bone loss in postmenopausal women with low bone mass. Received: 1 April 1996 / Accepted: 5 March 1997     

Quality of life as outcome in the treatment of osteoporosis: The development of a questionnaire for quality of life by the European foundation for osteoporosis

The morbidity of osteoporosis is caused by fractures. Vertebral fractures lead to pain and disability and a decrease in quality of life. A Working Party of the European Foundation for Osteoporosis has developed a specific questionnaire for patients with established vertebral osteoporosis. This questionnaire is intended for use in clinical trials. The questionnaire consists of questions and visual analogue scales in the following domains: pain, activities of daily living, jobs around the house, mobility, leisure and social activities, general health perception and mood. The questionnaire has been translated from English into French, German, Italian, Hebrew, Swedish and Dutch. The questionnaire is currently being validated in a multicentre study involving patients with stable osteoporosis and control subjects. Preliminary results indicate that the reproducibility is sufficient and that the questionnaire is able to discriminate between patients with vertebral osteoporosis and control subjects.     

Evaluation of vertebral volumetric vs. areal bone mineral density during growth

Bone mineral “density” (BMD) measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) does not represent the volumetric density (grams per cubic centimeter), but rather the areal density (grams per square centimeter). This distinction is important during growth. The purpose of this study was to measure vertebral dimensions in cadavers of young pigtail macaques (Macaca nemestrina), and to derive equations to predict the volumetric bone density from noninvasive measurements. We measured the areal bone density by DEXA, vertebral volume by underwater weighing, mineral content by ashing, dimensions of lumbar vertebrae by calipers, and dimensions of vertebrae by radiography. Somatometric measurements of the female lumbar vertebral bodies showed that the shape changed during growth. The bone mineral content from the densitometer correlated significantly with the ash weight (r = 0.99, error 8.7%). The correlation coefficient between the volumetric bone mineral density and areal BMD measurement was significant (r = 0.68, p < 0.0001) with a 9.5% error; this improved significantly to 0.82 (7.2% error) when the BMD was divided by the vertebral depth from the radiograph. Areal BMD showed a strong correlation with age (r = 0.82, p < 0.0001), with an average increase of 7.4%/year. In contrast, volumetric mineral density showed a weak relationship with age (r = 0.43, p < 0.01), for an average increase of 1.5%/year. When studying bone mineral density during growth, the differences between volumetric and areal bone mineral density should be taken into consideration. (     

Intercostal hemangioma

This paper presents a case of intercostal hemangioma, in which a complete surgical resection was accomplished based upon a tentative diagnosis provided by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A 27-year-old man visited our hospital for the evaluation of chest pain and shortness of breath after exertion. Computed tomography showed a soft tissue mass, 5.5×3.5 cm in size, arising from the right lateral 7th intercostal space. Dynamic MRI showed that the mass was enhanced rapidly in the early phase and that this early enhancement was maintained during the delayed phase, which was compatible with a diagnosis of intercostal hemangioma. The patient underwent surgery, and a complete resection of the tumor with the right 7th and 8th ribs and their intercostal muscles was accomplished. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of intramuscular hemangioma of the large-vessel type. Presently, 6 months after the operation, the patient is doing well, without any evidence of local recurrence.     

复方平阳霉素液治疗口腔颌面部海绵状血管瘤的临床观察

目的观察复方平阳霉素液（PYMco）瘤内注射治疗口腔颌面部海绵状血管瘤的疗效.方法在1999年1月～2004年1月5年间用PYMco瘤腔内注射治疗口腔颌面部海绵状血管瘤61例.每周一次,2～4次为一个疗程.结果经2～6年随访,治愈18例（29.5%）,显效29例（47.5%）,有效12例（19.6%）,无效2例（3.2%）,总有效率96.7%.结论 PYMco治疗口腔颌面部海绵状血管瘤疗效高,疗程短,副反应少,是一种简便安全的有效方法.     

Duplicated origin of right vertebral artery with rudimentary and accessory left vertebral arteries

Summary We observed a rare cerebrovascular anomaly in a patient with brain-stem infarction. Two right vertebral arteries arose from the subclavian artery and communicated directly with each other under the transverse foramen of the fourth cervical vertebra. The left vertebral artery consisted of a rudimentary artery that arose from the left subclavian artery, ran through the transverse foramen of the sixth cervical vertebra and then tapered down to disappear at the fourth/fifth cervical vertebrae, plus a second, accessory artery that arose from a branch of the left thyrocervical trunk, ran through the transverse foramen of the fifth cervical vertebra and tapered off to disappear at the first/second cervical vertebrae.     

寰椎变异的观测 Ⅰ.中国人寰椎后桥和侧桥的观测

本文对300个寰椎的后桥和侧桥的存在情况作了观察。其中129个寰椎(43.0％)有后部分桥,22个寰椎(7.3％)有后完整桥;34个寰椎有侧部分桥(11.3％),16个寰椎(5.3％)有侧完整桥。经统计学检验,在左右侧后完整桥及左右侧侧完整桥间均无显著性差异。对寰椎横突孔、后弧孔及侧弧孔内径的测量显示,绝大部分后弧孔(92.0％)较同侧横突孔小,且右横突孔与右后弧孔间存在高度显著性差异(P<0.01)。此外,还测量了两种完整骨桥的宽度,探讨了狭小后弧孔对正常椎动脉机能的可能影响,分析了文献中关于寰椎桥的起源。     

Candida albicans osteomyelitis of the spine: progressive clinical and radiological features and surgical management in three cases

Candida albicans vertebral osteomyelitis is rare. Three cases are presented. Without antifungal treatment, they developed spinal collapse and neurological deterioration within 3–6 months from the onset of symptoms. There was a delay of 4.5 and 7.5 months between the onset of symptoms and surgery. All patients were managed with surgical debridement and reconstruction and 12-week fluconazole treatment. The neurological deficits resolved completely. The infection has not recurred clinically or radiologically at 5–6 years follow-up. Although rare, Candida should be suspected as a causative pathogen in cases of spinal osteomyelitis. Without treatment the disease is progressive. As soon as osteomyelitis is suspected, investigations with MRI and percutaneous biopsy should be performed followed by medical therapy. This may prevent the need for surgery. However, if vertebral collapse and spinal cord compression occurs, surgical debridement, fusion and stabilisation combined with antifungal medications can successfully eradicate the infection and resolve the neurological deficits.     

婴幼儿血管瘤病理结构变化与临床演变过程的联系

目的探讨婴幼儿血管瘤患者临床演变过程和病理结构变化的内在联系。方法选取52例婴幼儿血管瘤标本,年龄2个月至11岁。采用HE染色观察各阶段血管瘤的病理特点,使用图像分析系统分析血管瘤组织中的细胞总数量、微血管总数量和总面积。结果按患儿出生后时间:1~6个月,血管瘤中细胞增殖速度快、排列紧密,微血管数量迅速增加;7~12个月,血管瘤中细胞数量迅速减少,微血管数量减少,但总面积继续扩大;1~3岁,大部分血管瘤组织呈微血管团样,微血管面积最大;3~5岁,微血管数量和总面积均迅速减少;5岁之后,大部分血管瘤消退完成,被纤维脂肪组织代替。结论婴幼儿血管瘤患者临床演变过程和病理结构变化有密切联系,病理结构变化主导临床演变过程。