Obesity in pregnancy

The incidence of obesity in the UK is increasing, meaning more women booking for antenatal care are obese. Obesity poses many additional risks to the mother and fetus during pregnancy, labour and the puerperium. Care of obese women should aim to reduce these risks. This article will discuss the risks associated with obesity in pregnancy and the management of obese women, from preconception through to completion of the postnatal period.     

Continuously moving table 3D MRI with lateral frequency-encoding direction.

A method is presented for 3D MRI in an extended field of view (FOV) based on continuous motion of the patient table and an efficient acquisition scheme. A gradient-echo MR pulse sequence is applied with lateral (left-right (L/R)) frequency-encoding direction and slab selection along the direction of motion. Compensation for the table motion is achieved by a combination of slab tracking and data alignment in hybrid space. The method allows fast k-space coverage to be achieved, especially when a short sampling FOV is chosen along the direction of table motion, as is desirable for good image quality. The method can be incorporated into different acquisitions schemes, including segmented k-space scanning, which allows for contrast variation with the use of magnetization preparation. Head-to-toe images of volunteers were obtained with good quality using 3D spoiled gradient-echo sequences. As an example of magnetization-prepared imaging, fat/water separated images were acquired using chemical shift selective (CHESS) presaturation pulses.     

Body weight in patients with Parkinson's disease.

There is some evidence suggesting that Parkinson's disease (PD) patients exhibit lower body weight when compared to age-matched healthy subjects. Low body mass index (BMI) is correlated with low bone mineral density, both of which are major risk factors for hip fractures. Possible determinants of weight loss in PD patients include hyposmia, impaired hand-mouth coordination, difficulty chewing, dysphagia, intestinal hypomotility, depression, decreased reward processing of dopaminergic mesolimbic regions, nausea, and anorexia as the side effects of medication, and increased energy requirements due to muscular rigidity and involuntary movements. It is unclear whether PD patients in general, or only a subgroup of those affected, definitely show lower BMI in the advanced stages of the disease. We therefore recommend that the body weight of PD patients be monitored monthly as the disease progresses, and that a patient's nutrition should be supplemented with sufficient amounts of vitamin D and calcium to reduce the risk of hip fractures and strengthen bone density. Because meal times may coincide with unpredictable off periods associated with akinesia and impaired hand-mouth coordination, PD patients also need flexible food schedules that accommodate the associated symptoms of this disease.     

Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding for patients with body mass index of ≤35 kg/m

BACKGROUND: Many mild-to-moderately obese individuals (body mass index [BMI] 30-35 kg/m(2)) have serious diseases related to their obesity. Nonoperative therapy is ineffective in the long term, yet surgery has never been made widely available to this population. METHODS: Between 1996 and 2004, 93 patients with a BMI of 30-35 kg/m(2) underwent laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding with the LAP-BAND. All patients were referred by their primary physician, entered into a comprehensive bariatric surgery program at one Australian center, and operated on by one surgeon. Data on all patients were collected prospectively and entered into an electronic registry. The study parameters included preoperative age, gender, BMI, presence of co-morbidities, percentage of excess weight loss, and resolution of co-morbidities. RESULTS: The mean age was 44.6 years (range 16-76), mean weight was 98 kg, and the mean BMI was 32.7 kg/m(2) (range 30-34). Of the 93 patients, 42 (45%) had co-morbidities, including asthma, diabetes, hypertension, and sleep apnea. The proportion of patients in follow-up was 79%, 85%, and 89% at 1, 2, and 3 years, respectively. The mean weight was reduced to 71 kg at 1 year, 72 kg at 2 years, and 72 kg at 3 years. The mean BMI was reduced to 27.2 +/- 2.2, 27.3 +/- 3.1, and 27.6 +/- 3.7 kg/m(2), respectively, and the mean percentage of excess weight loss was 57.9% +/- 24.5%, 57.6 +/- 29.3%, and 53.8% +/- 32.8% at 1, 2, and 3 years, respectively. At 3 years, the BMI was 18-24 kg/m(2) in 34%, 25-29 kg/m(2) in 51%, and 30-35 kg/m(2) in 10%. At 3 years, the percentage of excess weight loss was <25% in 10%, 25-50% in 24%, 50-75% in 51%, and >75% in 10%. The co-morbidities improved or completely resolved in most patients. No mortality occurred. CONCLUSION: We are very encouraged by this series of low BMI patients treated with the LAP-BAND. Their weight loss has been good, the complications have been minimal, and the co-morbidities have partially or wholly resolved. With additional study, it is reasonable to expect the weight guidelines for bariatric surgery to be altered to include patients with a BMI of 30-35 kg/m(2).     

老年人支气管异物延误诊治原因

目的探讨老年人支气管异物延误诊治的原因。方法对28例误诊的老年人支气管异物临床表现及误诊情况进行分析。结果老年人支气管异物病史诉说不清,临床缺乏特异性,医生重视不够,容易误诊为呼吸系统疾病。结论老年患者疑为支气管异物者,应详细询问病史,抗感染治疗无效时,应及时行纤维支气管镜检查。     

Reproducibility of Computerized Measurements of QT Interval from Multiple Leads at Rest and During Exercise

Background: Accurate measurement of the QT interval is important for diagnosing long QT syndrome (LQTS), and in research on determinants of ventricular repolarization time. We tested automatic analysis of QT intervals from multiple ECG leads on chest. Methods: Eleven healthy volunteers and 10 genotyped LQTS patients were tested at rest and during exercise with a bicycle ergometer twice 1–31 months apart. Electrocardiograms were recorded with the body surface potential mapping system, and 12 precordial channels were selected for analysis. Averaged QT peak and QT end intervals were determined with an automated algorithm, and the difference QT end minus QT peak (Tp‐e) was calculated. Repeatability was assessed by coefficient of variation (CV) between measurements. Results: Within one test at rest the QT end intervals were highly repeatable with CV 0.6%. In repeated tests CV was 4.4% for QT end interval and 3.5% when the QT interval was corrected for heart rate. In exercise test at specified heart rates, mean CV was 3.0% for QT end and 2.9% for QT peak interval. The CV of Tp‐e interval was 10.2% at rest, and 9.3% in exercise test. Reproducibility was comparable between healthy subjects and LQTS patients. Conclusions: The BSPM system with automated analysis produced accurate and highly repeatable QT interval measurements. Reproducibility was adequate also over prolonged time periods both at rest and in exercise stress test. The method can be applied in studying duration of ventricular repolarization time in different physiologic and pharmacologic interventions.     

2004年和2005年鲁东大学女教职工妇科查体结果分析

目的通过2004年和2005年本校女教职工妇科查体结果的分析，发现女教职工中未被识别的疾病与致病因子，从而达到防病、治病的目的。通过两年查体结果的分析比较，进一步说明高校女教职工定期进行妇科查体的必要性。方法收集、整理2004年和2005年两年的妇科查体结果，并对不同年龄组的患病率进行分析、比较，查找原因。结果两年的查体结果表明，2005年各年龄段妇科疾病的发病率明显较2004年低，经卡方比较，差异有显著性。结论对女教职工实施定期的妇科查体，对及旱发现妇科疾病、及时进行适当的治疗、保障女教职工的身体健康起了重要作用。     

我国大陆恶性高热病例的分析

目的 分析我国大陆恶性高热（MH）病例的临床资料，探讨诊断和治疗中应注意的问题。方法 检索中国生物医学文献数据库，收集1978年1月至2004年3月报道的MH病例34例，分析其流行病学特征、发病特点、临床表现、治疗及转归。结果 我国大陆报道的MH病例以青少年居多，男性多于女性，集中在口腔科手术（尤其是唇腭裂修补术）、骨科手术和小儿外科手术（尤其是先天畸形矫治术），典型的临床表现为突然发生的高碳酸血症、体温急剧升高和骨骼肌僵直等。诊断上主要是根据临床表现，尚未建立骨骼肌体外收缩试验方法，治疗上主要是对症处理，缺乏特效药物（丹曲林）。结论 近几年我国大陆MH病例逐渐增加，应加强对MH发病机制的研究，尽快建立MH的实验诊断标准，增强预防、诊断和治疗MH的能力。     

体重指数分级标准应用方法的探讨

目的探讨按照体重指数分级标准计算出的体重值应用表的实用价值。方法将身高作为选定变量,其变量值间距为1 cm,按照体重指数分级标准上、下限值,分别乘以身高2(m2),即求出相对应的体重(kg),依此制成应用表。判定时依据身高和实测的体重,对照应用表得出其体重指数分级范围。结果制成并列出以体重值查对其相对应危险值应用表。结论本查对表适用于大规模的预防性健康体检。在人体生长发育阶段能做到自身动态监测,对早期预防肥胖症具有积极作用。