Radiologic long-term results after cervical vertebral interbody fusion with Polymethyl Methacrylat (PMMA)

Long-term results of cervical interbody fusion with PMMA were evaluated in a retrospective study. X-ray films of 83 patients were obtainable. Post-operative follow-up in this series was between 15 and 20 years. The results show that PMMA is engrafted after about 2 years. Stable vertebral interbody fusion is obtained in about 90% of cases. Development of malignoma was not observed. Resorptive bone alterations, which can be seen in about 2% of cases one to two years after operation are shown not to be progressive. This process heals and stable fusion develops.     

Treatment of craniopharyngiomas—the stereotactic approach in a ten to twenty-three years' perspective

Summary Fourty-two consecutive patients with craniopharyngioma were treated by stereotactic approach, i.e. preferentially stereotactic puncture and installation of colloid isotope into cystic tumours and external stereotactic single dose irradiation to solid tumour parts. In a minority of cases, such treatment was less suitable, and surgical removal and/or radiotherapy was used. There was no peroperative mortality. A long-term follow up (observation time 10–23 years) of the 31 patients alive indicated that they were socially well adapted with a high rate of fulltime work and a low rate of intercurrent disease. In spite of substitution therapy for pituitary insufficiency in most cases, the patients were subjectively seldom disturbed by their disease.Our results support a change in the choice of therapy for craniopharyngioma patients, from open neurosurgery to the less invasive stereotactic techniques.     

Clinical evaluation of 430 MHz microwave hyperthermia system with lens applicator for cancer therapy

The clinical efficacy of a microwave (MW) hyperthermia system using an electric-field converging (lens) applicator is evaluated for 42 malignant tumours with a maximum tumour depth of less than 7 cm. The mean of the maximum, average and minimum tumour temperature of the 42 tumours are 44,5, 42.5 and 40.7 C, respectively. The thermal parameters are higher for tumours in the chest, abdominal walls and hip than for those in the neck, groin and extremities. No apparent difference in thermal parameters according to the depth of tumour is shown. Of 40 tumours treated by hyperthermia in combination with radiotherapy, 20 (50%) showed complete regression, 14 (35%) showed partial regression, and six (15%) showed no change. This phase I and II study indicates clinical feasibility of the newly developed MW heating apparatus, and strongly suggests the usefulness of thermoradiotherapy in the treatment of localised superficial and subsurface malignancies.     

Konsekutive Serie von 100 Colonresektionen mit einer modifizierten fortlaufenden Nahttechnik

Zusammenfassung Es wird anhand einer konsekutiven Serie über eine modifizierte fortlaufende Nahttechnik am Colon berichtet, die gerade bei älteren Patienten eine sichere und rasche Methode der Anastomosierung darstellt. Die klinisch relevante Insuffizienzrate sowie auch die Letalitätsrate betrugen in dieser Serie je 2%, wobei die Ursachen für die Letalität aber keine Folge der Insuffizienz waren. Die Komplikationsrate betrug 11%, die urologischen Komplikationen mit 6% standen hierbei im Vordergrund.

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A consecutive series of 100 resections of the colon using a modified technique of continuous (running away) suture

Summary Based on a consecutive series it is reported about a modified type of continuous suture on the colon, used especially in elderly patients for being a secure and prompt method of anastomosing. The rate of insufficiency and mortality, as far as the clinical relevance is concerned, turns out to be 2% each and there was no relation between mortality and insufficient anastomosis. The complication rate was 11%, whereby the urological complications predominated with 6% of the total.

     

False results associated with darkground microscopy of subgingival plaque

This study considers false results which may arise due to problems in the preparation or examination of specimens for darkground microscopy of subgingival plaque. Subgingival plaque samples obtained with a sterile curette were placed in 0.1-0.3 ml sterile full or 1/4 strength Ringer's solution: 0.85% saline, 1% gelatin in 0.85% saline, formal saline or pyrogen-free water for injection. Test slides were prepared from the original dispersion, and control slides from the corresponding sterile solution. Optimal dispersion solution, syringe dispersion frequency and the effect on motility of delay in processing samples were tested. Slides were also prepared from dispersions of 11 representative subgingival "periodontopathic" organisms. Problems in sampling included variability in counts between sites with comparable pocket depths, contamination of the sample and reduction of the sample volume after scaling. Problems in dispersion included contamination, uneven distribution of the different morphotypes and destruction of delicate organisms. Problems in slide preparation included slide contamination, limitation in the number of samples that can be assessed by one examiner at a given time without loss of activity of motile cells, and preparation of a cell monolayer. Problems in identification and counting included confusion of Brownian movements with motility, coccoid particles with cocci, spirochetes with campylobacter, flagella with flagella-like structures, size of cocci, counting of fragmented spirochetes and non-motile flagellated organisms and motile cells, and also bias in counting. Problems in morphotype grouping included the observation that many (10 of the 11 representative) periodontitis-related organisms were in the non-motile groups and not all cells of the motile species (Campylobacter, Capnocytophaga) showed motility. The results indicate that each stage of subgingival plaque darkground microscopy, sampling, dispersion, slide preparation, counting, morphotype grouping and interpretation may lead to false results if not representative or reproducible. Procedures are suggested for the minimisation of problems in the preparation and examination of subgingival plaque specimens for darkground microscopy.     

意外跌落伤住院儿童转归的影响因素分析

为探讨影响意外跌落伤住院儿童转归的有关因素,提高患儿的住院治疗质量,促进医院建立有效的院内医疗系统,利用多项有序分类反应变量的逐步Logistic回归对3035例0～14岁意外跌落伤住院患儿的转归进行影响因素分析.发现影响转归的因素有住院时间、确诊时间、院前时间、病情程度、受伤部位、并发症、生活环境、手术及术前住院天数、住院费用.结果表明医院要正确处理缩短住院时间与提高治疗效果之间的关系,并通过缩短院前时间、及时确诊、降低并发症、控制病情、降低住院费用、尽量减少术前住院天数,强化和贯彻整体医疗观念等综合措施即可有效地提高意外跌落伤住院儿童的治疗效果.     

Pseudotumors in Small-Head Metal-on-Metal Total Hip Arthroplasties at a Minimum Follow-Up of 20 Years

BackgroundMetal-on-metal (MOM) surfaces in total hip arthroplasty (THA) have been used widely. Serum cobalt and chromium levels have been the standard investigation for follow-up examinations, but magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with metal artifact reducing sequences has shown good results in detecting pseudotumors. The aim of this study is to survey a significant correlation among MRI findings, serum metal levels, and clinical scores in patients with small-head MOM implants and if serum cobalt and chromium levels are sufficient in detecting patients with pseudotumors in the long-term follow-up.MethodsAt a minimum follow-up of 20 years, 26 patients (29 THAs) of the original 98 patients (105 THAs) included in this study between November 1992 and May 1994 were available for follow-up examination. Clinical scores, serum metal ion levels, and MRIs were obtained.ResultsWe found mean serum cobalt levels of 1.87 μg/L (±3.44) and chromium levels of 2.23 μg/L (±2.96) and very good clinical and functional results (mean Harris Hip Score 88.6) in the long-term follow-up. Pseudotumors were detected in MRIs of 21 hips. There were no significant differences between patients with or without pseudotumors regarding serum metal levels and the correlation for clinical outcome scores, demographic data, and cup inclination. The cumulative rate of survival was still at 91.4% at 22.8 years.ConclusionThis study presents the first published data on small-head MOM hips, comparing metal ion levels, pseudotumors, clinical, and radiological results in a follow-up period of more than 20 years and reveals that serum metal levels are not significantly higher in patients with pseudotumors.Level of EvidenceTherapeutic Level III     

妊娠期糖尿病对妊娠结局的影响

目的研究GDM对母婴的影响。方法对112例GDM孕妇和112例健康孕妇的妊娠结局进行分析。采用11配对病例—对照研究,配对的条件是孕妇年龄相近(±2),同年同月同医院分娩。结果GDM孕妇手术分娩率、早产率、妊娠高血压综合征和巨大儿发生率都较对照组高。GDM的及早诊断和及时治疗可使巨大儿发生率降低。与新生儿病率有关的因素是GDM的严重程度、血糖控制情况及巨大儿。结论早期诊断GDM及控制血糖是减少妇婴并发症的关键。     

The treatment of spondylotic cervical myelopathy by ventral discectomy. Long term results on 121 patients

The pathophysiology of spondylotic cervical myeolopathy is still a matter of discussion. This paper presents a series of 126 patients operated on using a ventral approach. In 47% of the patients only a spondylotic narrowing of the spinal canal was present and in 35% an additional disc herniation was found. In 13% of the cases however a soft disc without spondylotic spures was found and in 5% a dislocation of vertebral bodies. We found a marked male preponderance of 77%, mean age was 51.6 years, ranging from 25–50 years. Most patients were operated on at the levels of C4/5 and C5/6. Observation time covered a period of 3–10 years. The outcome was rated relatively to the preoperative degree of disablement using a questionnaire for the patients and their family doctors. We found a marked difference in the answers, especially in rating deterioration, which was stated by patients in 34%, by physicians only in 12%. Another finding was the time-related out-come. We found best results with 75% improvement and 5% deterioration between 3–6 months postoperatively, with increasing time the results decreased to 33% improvement, 33% identical statys and in 33% a deterioration related to the preoperative status must be noted.     

High balloon dilatation pressures in percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty are not associated with higher rate of significant complications

To examine the results of high balloon dilatation pressures during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), we retrospectively reviewed 482 angioplasty cases from our institution and divided them into three groups by the peak inflation pressure used during the procedure. Group one was defined by inflation pressures of 1–6 atmospheres (atm), group two by 7–12 atm, and group three by 13–20 atm. There were 166 patients in group 1 (34.4%), 235 in group 2 (48.8%), and 81 (16.8%) in group 3. The success rates were not statistically different; 90% in group 1, 96% in group 2, and 95% in group 3. Large dissections occurred in 27 patients in group 1 (16.3%), 19 in group 2 (8.1%), and 4 (4.9%) in group 3 (P > 0.006). There were no differences in the rates of death (1.2% vs. 0.9% vs. 1.2%), myocardial infarction (3.0% vs. 1.3% vs. 3.7%), or in-hospital CABG (3.0% vs. 1.7% vs. 1.2%) in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Six-mo target vessel revascularization rates also were not different: 19% vs. 13% vs. 18%. In summary, selectively using high balloon pressures during PTCA does not result in increased complications. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

1 This article is a US Government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.