Trochanteric bursitis information on the internet; can we trust the information presented?

Trochanteric bursitis is one of the most common causes of lateral hip pain in adults. The prevalence of unilateral trochanteric bursitis is 15.0% in women and 8.5% in men. Access to internet based information has increased dramatically and health related information is now one of the most popular searches in online activity, despite this the quality of information can vary. The objective of this paper is to examine the quality and readability of internet based information of trochanteric bursitis. Overall, we have found a high variability among not only the quality but also the readability of information published. Websites that appeared first on each search engine for trochanteric bursitis did not necessarily score better, demonstrating the importance of providing patients with high quality resources. Future articles should use more critical appraisal tools in order to provide the reader with more high quality and readable information.     

Effect of Achilles tendon vibration on postural orientation

Vibration applied to the Achilles tendon is well known to induce in freely standing subjects a backward body displacement and in restrained subjects an illusory forward body tilt. The purpose of the present experiment was to evaluate the effect of Achilles tendon vibration (90Hz) on postural orientation in subjects free of equilibrium constraints. Subjects (n=12) were strapped on a backboard that could be rotated in the antero-posterior direction with the axis of rotation at the level of the ankles. They stood on a rigid horizontal floor with the soles of their feet parallel to the ground. They were initially positioned 7 degrees backward or forward or vertical and were required to adjust their body (the backboard) to the vertical orientation via a joystick. Firstly, results showed that in response to Achilles tendon vibration, subjects adjusted their body backward compared to the condition without vibration. This backward body adjustment likely cancel the appearance of an illusory forward body tilt. It was also observed that the vibratory stimulus applied to the Achilles tendon elicited in restrained standing subjects an increased EMG activity in both the gastrocnemius lateralis and the soleus muscles. Secondly, this vibration effect was more pronounced when passive displacement during the adjustment phase was congruent with the simulated elongation of calf muscles. These results indicated that the perception of body orientation is coherent with the postural response classically observed in freely standing subjects although the relationship between these two responses remains to be elucidated.     

Twenty-four-hour ambulatory blood pressure in community-dwelling elderly men and women,aged 60-102 years

OBJECTIVE: To investigate ambulatory blood pressure in elderly people, including 'old elderly' subjects, aged over 80 years. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study of community-dwelling, elderly subjects. METHODS: Subjects were healthy, self-caring, and living independently. Those who were taking medication affecting blood pressure were excluded. Conventional blood pressure was the mean of two measurements. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was performed using the SpaceLabs 90207 device. Daytime and night-time blood pressure were defined by fixed clock intervals. RESULTS: Seventy-five 'young elderly', aged 60-79 years, (39 men, 36 women) and 81 'old elderly' aged 80 years and older (37 men, 44 women) underwent 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was related to age, correlation coefficients between age and SBP were 0.31, 0.25 and 0.31, respectively, for conventional SBP, daytime SBP and night-time SBP (P < 0.01 for all). There was no correlation between age and diastolic blood pressure. Blood pressure levels were similar in men and women. Mean conventional blood pressure, daytime blood pressure and night-time blood pressure were found to be 149/81, 138/82 and 119/69 mmHg, respectively, in the 'young elderly' and 162/82, 147/83, and 133/71 mmHg, respectively, in the 'old elderly (P < 0.01 for SBP). The night : day SBP ratio was significantly higher in the 'old' elderly compared with the 'young' elderly (0.90 versus 0.86, respectively; P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Ambulatory blood pressure levels in healthy, community-dwelling 'old elderly' are higher than those reported for younger adults and reflect the prominent age-related rise in SBP associated with advanced old age. Advanced old age is associated with a diminished nocturnal dip in blood pressure.     

A comprehensive management system for heart failure improves clinical outcomes and reduces medical resource utilization]

BACKGROUND: Hospital admissions for heart failure are common and readmission rates are high. Many admissions and readmissions may be avoidable, so that alternative strategies are needed to improve long-term management. METHODS: We conducted a randomized trial of the effect of a guideline-based intervention on rates of readmission within 90 days of hospital discharge and costs of care for patients who were hospitalized due to decompensated heart failure. The intervention consisted of comprehensive education of the patient and family, a prescribed diet and intensive application of guidelines' recommendations on pharmacological therapy. The intervention started before discharge and continued thereafter with follow-up visits for up to 3 months. Two hundred and nine guideline-managed patients were compared to 209 concurrent normally-discharged patients. RESULTS: Patients in the study group were more prescribed beta-blockers, ACE-inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, and spironolactone. Sixteen patients (8%) in the intervention group and 31 (15%) among controls were readmitted for DRG 127, within 3 months of discharge (Fisher's exact test, p < 0.01), while the 6-month mortality rate was similar between groups (9 and 11.5% respectively). Quality of life significantly improved from 5.6 +/- 1.0 to 6.1 +/- 1.9 (Mann-Whitney U-test, p < 0.05). The overall costs of care were lower for guideline-managed patients (110 vs 150 Euro per patient per month), due to the lower readmission rates. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that a guideline-based management program for patients with heart failure at discharge improves quality of life and reduces readmission for DRG 127 and total bed days, allowing relevant cost savings.