Wound management for 287 patients with chronic leg ulcers demands 12 full-time nurses Leg ulcer epidemiology and care in a well-defined population in southern Sweden

Objective. To investigate quality of life, measured by the SF-36 scales, in a population-based sample of women who have survived cancer at any site and, specifically, breast cancer. Design. A representative cohort of women was observed over 24 years with regard to cancer prevalence, incidence, and quality of life. Setting. Gothenburg, Sweden. Subjects. A total of 1462 women aged 38–60 years at baseline. Main outcome measures. Differences in quality of life between cancer survivors and cancer-free controls measured by the SF-36 Short Form Health Survey, with adjustment for age and additionally for social status, and history of major disease (diabetes, stroke, and myocardial infarction) at follow-up in 1992–93. Results. In women who had survived cancer, a lower feeling of general health was the only score found to be significantly associated with having had cancer. Similar analysis was conducted separately for breast cancer cases. Survivors of breast cancer reported lower vitality and when controlled for major disease also lower general health compared with women who had not had cancer. All other results were independent when adjusted for social status, and also for history of major disease. Conclusions. Women who have survived cancer report lowered general health, and breast cancer cases lowered vitality, but considering the non-significant results for the other scores and summary scales it can be concluded that the well-being of women who have survived a cancer on the whole did not differ profoundly from that of other women.     

超声引导经皮穿刺下腔静脉滤器置入术的初步研究

目的 探讨超声引导经皮穿刺下腔静脉滤器置入(IVCFI)术的可行性、安全性和临床实用价值。方法 在彩色多普勒血流显像(CDFI)引导下，对连续收治的31例下肢深静脉血栓患者行经皮穿刺IVCFI术。结果 31例患者术前CDFI检查下腔静脉、肾静脉及其最低人121显示清晰，下腔静脉平均内径19．7mm，无变异和血栓，符合所选滤器置入要求。在CDFI引导下，置入Vena Teeh永久型滤器31只，其中经右股静脉置入20只，左股静脉置入11只。术后CDFI和X线腹部平片均证实滤器置入位置正确，张开完全，无并发症，技术成功率为100％。随访结果，栓子俘获率29％，滤器无变形和移位，局部无血栓形成，也无滤器置入后肺血栓栓塞临床病例发生。结论 超声引导是经皮穿刺IVCFI术安全、可靠的方法，同时也是简便易行、无污染、费用低廉的实用方法。     

Effect of lower leg compression during cesarean section on post-spinal hypotension and neonatal hemodynamic parameters: nonrandomized controlled clinical trial

ObjectivesThis study aimed to determine the effect of lower leg compression during cesarean section (CS) on post-spinal hypotension (PSH) and neonatal hemodynamic parameters.MethodsThis study is a nonrandomized controlled clinical trial conducted in the cesarean delivery unit of the National Medical institute, Damanhour, Egypt. The sample included 120 parturients (60 intervention and 60 control). The researchers developed three tools for data collection: sociodemographic data and reproductive history interview schedule, electronic monitoring of maternal hemodynamic parameters, and neonatal hemodynamic assessment sheet. All parturients received ordinary pre-operative care. For the intervention group, a long elastic stocking (ordinary pressure 20–30 mmHg, 1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa) was applied on both legs during cesarean section. The control group received the same care without the elastic stocking.ResultsSystolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and mean arterial blood pressure were significantly higher in the intervention group throughout the entire operation period except in the last 5–15 min. Heart rate was significantly lower in the intervention group. Only 13.3% of the intervention group took ephedrine compared with 45% of the control group. Apgar score was higher among neonates of intervention group compared with the control group at 1 min. Neonatal acidosis was significantly higher in the control group than in the contral group.ConclusionLower leg compression technique can effectively reduce PSH and neonatal acidosis.     

The effects of a closed-chain, eccentric training program on hamstring injuries of a professional football cheerleading team

Objective

Hamstring injuries are a common occurrence among professional football cheerleaders. The purpose of this study is to identify the effects of an eccentric, closed-chain hamstring exercise intervention on hamstring injury-associated pain during the course of the football season among professional football cheerleaders.

Methods

Forty-three female cheerleaders participated in an eccentric, closed-chain hamstring exercise intervention protocol provided by doctors of chiropractic that incorporated loops of elastic-band or Thera-Band Loops (Hygenic Corporation, Akron, OH) during practice and at home during the regular football season. Hamstring injury-related pain was assessed in June, during team selection; in September, at the start of the season; and in December, at the end of season. No intervention was applied between June and September, although the sample participated in 4 hours of practice 2 to 3 times per week. The intervention was applied to the entire sample regardless of hamstring injury-related pain during the regular football season between September and December. The interventions included 2 exercises and were completed bilaterally 2 times per week at each biweekly practice and were encouraged to be done at least 3 additional times per week at home on nonpractice days.

Results

Among the subsample who reported hamstring-related injury pain between June and September, the exercise intervention significantly decreased (P < .007) pain between September (6.07 ± 0.58) and December (3.67 ± 0.65).

Conclusions

The eccentric, closed-chain hamstring exercise intervention reduced hamstring injury-related pain among this group of professional football cheerleaders.     

Normal MR imaging anatomy of the knee

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is the preferred imaging modality for evaluating internal derangement of the knee, due to its superior soft tissue contrast resolution, multiplanar imaging capability, and lack of ionizing radiation. The superb image quality facilitates learning of normal imaging anatomy and conceptualizing spatial relationships of anatomic structures, leading to improved understanding of pathologic processes, mechanisms of injury, and injury patterns, and ultimately increased diagnostic accuracy. This article depicts normal MR imaging anatomy and commonly encountered anatomic variants using representative MR images of the knee, and describes and explains the rationale of routine knee MR imaging protocol.     

不同血液净化方式改善尿毒症血液透析患者不宁腿综合征的临床研究

目的研究常规血液透析（CHD）、在线血液透析滤过（on-line HDF）、血液透析联合血液灌流（HD＋HP）的中分子清除及不宁腿综合征（RLS）的改善情况。方法根据国际不宁腿综合征委员会（IRLSSG）的诊断标准,对患有RLS的尿毒症血液透析患者的严重程度进行评分,选择评分较高的患者30例,随机分为3组,每组10例。A组（每周CHD3次）,B组（每周CHD2次,on-line HDF1次）,C组（每周CHD2次,HD＋HP1次）,疗程为3月。观察患者甲状旁腺激素（iPTH）、β2微球蛋白（β2-MG）、RLS评分的变化。结果①三组治疗前后比较RLS评分之间差异有统计学意义,每两组之间相比RLS评分下降均有统计学意义,C组下降最明显,B组其次;②A组与B组、A组与C组之间的iPTH、β2-MG下降有统计学意义,A组治疗前后、B组与C组比较iPTH、β2-MG下降无统计学意义。结论三种不同血液净化方式均能改善尿毒症血液透析患者RLS症状,HD＋HP疗效最好,on-line HDF其次。CHD对iPTH、β2-MG的清除无明显效果,on-line HDF与HD＋HP对中分子的清除相比无统计学意义。     

彩色多普勒超声探测小腿肌间静脉扩张与单纯肌间静脉血栓的关系

目的探讨彩色多普勒超声在观察小腿肌间静脉扩张与肌间静脉血栓关系中的价值。方法1500例疑为下肢深静脉血栓患者行彩色多普勒超声检查,检测其下肢肌间静脉有无扩张和栓塞。结果1500例患者3000条下肢血管中肌间静脉扩张482条（16．1％）,扩张病例中发生单纯小腿肌间静脉血栓者103条（21．4％）;无肌间静脉扩张2518条（83．9％）,发生单纯小腿肌间静脉血栓28条（1．1％）。小腿肌间静脉血栓发生于单侧肢体者109例（109条）,明显多于双侧肢体者（11例,22条）,其中左侧（76条）多于右侧（55条）。结论小腿肌间静脉扩张与肌间静脉血栓有明显相关性。     

First growth reference curves for Tunisian children and adolescents

A growth chart is a powerful graphical tool displaying children's growth patterns. The aim of this study was to develop growth reference curves appropriate for Tunisian children. The collection of data from this cross-sectional study was conducted on 4358 healthy subjects (2182 girls and 2176 boys) in three pediatric centers and 15 schools. Smoothed growth curves were estimated using the LMS method. The smoothed percentile curves for height, weight, sitting height (SH), and leg length (LL) increase rapidly during the 1st years of life and then progress slowly until 18 years. However, the sitting height-to-height ratio (SHTHR) curves decrease sharply before the age of 4 and then stabilize in both sexes. In addition, the comparison between boys and girls indicated that the values are very similar at most ages. Except during puberty, the values in boys increase (P < 0.0001) for the weight, height, SH, and LL parameters and decline (P < 0.0001) in the SHTHR compared to the values in girls. The growth rate curves presented two remarkable velocity peaks: the first appears during the 1st years of life and the second at puberty. Height gains at the last stage of growth (puberty) are around 15.45% of final height for boys and 15.52% for girls. This study showed a number of discrepancies for certain age groups when comparing the median weight and height values with those of the World Health Organization, the National Center for Health Statistics, and Algerian references in both sexes. Conclusion: The smoothed percentile curves for weight and height will be useful to access the general growth of Tunisian children. Furthermore, the SH, LL, and SHTHR curves can be used to monitor body proportions during childhood.     

Critical limb ischemia: endovascular strategies for limb salvage

Critical limb ischemia (CLI) represents the most severe clinical manifestation of peripheral arterial disease, defined as the presence of chronic ischemic rest pain, ulcers, or gangrene attributable to objectively proven arterial occlusive disease. The dominant pathology underlying CLI is atherosclerosis, distributed at multiple levels along the length of the lower extremity and with a propensity for involvement of the tibial vessels in the leg and the small vessels of the foot. To achieve limb salvage in patients with CLI, revascularization of the affected limb is generally required. In contemporary practice, endovascular techniques are rapidly replacing surgical bypass as the first option for revascularization for CLI based on high technical success rates and low rates of procedure-related morbidity and mortality. This review will describe the clinical strategy of the authors who have adopted an endovascular-first approach to revascularization in treating patients with CLI and summarize the clinical outcomes of endovascular therapy in this population.