Radiological parameters of the bony nasopharynx and the adenotonsillar size compared with sleep apnea episodes in children

The role of enlarged adenoids and tonsils in recurrent respiratory infections and upper airway obstruction has become well-established earlier. In this study we investigated the relationship between the X-ray properties of the nasopharynx and the sleep quality by using a new sleep registration method: The Static Charge Sensitive Bed (SCSB). The estimation of the bony nasopharyngeal dimensions, the measurement of adenotonsillar volume and the sleep recordings were performed as adenoidectomy, tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy in hospitalized children. A surprisingly high frequency of sleep apnea episodes was found in sleep recordings of about 8 h. No correlations could be established between the X-ray anatomical estimates and sleep apnea episodes.     

Successful use of biosorb osteofixation devices in 165 cranial and maxillofacial cases: a multicenter report

Bioabsorbable osteofixation devices were developed to avoid problems associated with metals. Bioabsorbable devices are mostly made of the polymers polylactide, polyglycolide, and their copolymers [polyglycolide-co-polylactide and P(L/DL)LA]. Using the technique of self-reinforcement of bioabsorbable materials, it is possible to manufacture osteofixation devices with ultra high strength. Self-reinforced polyglycolide-co-polylactide 80/20 was selected to make devices (Biosorb PDX) for this study because of its favorable degradation characteristics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of using self-reinforced polyglycolide-co-polylactide 80/20 (Biosorb) plates and screws in the fixation of osteotomies in craniomaxillofacial surgery. In a prospective study, 165 patients (161 children and 4 adults) were operated on in four European Union centers (Paris, Innsbruck, London, and Oulu) from May 1, 1998 to January 31, 2002. Indications included correction of dyssynostotic deformities (n = 159), reconstruction of bone defects after trauma (n = 2), tumor removal (n= 2), and treatment of encephalocele (n = 2). Plates used were 0.8, 1, or 1.2 mm thick, and screws had an outer (thread) diameter of 1.5 or 2 mm and a length of 4, 6, or 8 mm. Tacks had an outer diameter of 1.5 or 2 mm and a length of 4 or 6 mm. During surgery, the devices were easy to handle and apply and provided stable fixation apart from 2 cases. Postoperative complications occurred in 12 cases (7.3%), comprising infection (n = 6), bone resorption (n = 4), diabetes insipidus (n = 1), delayed skin wound healing/skin slough (n = 2), and liquorrhea (n = 1). Accordingly, self-reinforced polyglycolide-co-polylactide 80/20 (Biosorb) plates and screws can be used safely and with a favorable outcome in corrective cranioplasties, especially in infants and young children.     

Hypokalaemia and other non-bronchial effects of inhaled fenoterol and salbutamol: a placebo-controlled dose-response study in healthy volunteers.

1. The hypokalaemia-inducing effects of two widely used inhaled antiasthmatic beta 2-adrenoceptor agonists, fenoterol and salbutamol, were compared in six healthy male volunteers. 2. Each drug was administered in three different doses, 400, 600 and 800 micrograms, which were repeated three times with 30 min intervals (total doses 1200, 1800 and 2400 micrograms in 1 h). The treatments were given at 1 week intervals in random order in a single-blind fashion. 3. The concentration of potassium in plasma was dose-dependently reduced by both drugs with peak effects 75-90 min after the first inhalations. The hypokalaemic effect of fenoterol was significantly greater than that of equal doses of salbutamol (average +/- s.d. reductions of 1.13 +/- 0.32 and 0.67 +/- 0.25 mEq l-1, respectively, after the highest doses, P less than 0.05). Concomitantly, decreases were noted in the amplitude of the T-wave on the ECG. 4. The concentration of cyclic AMP in plasma was measured and used as an indicator of systemic beta 2-adrenoceptor agonistic effects of the drugs. Increases in cAMP were a close mirror image of the drugs' effects on potassium in plasma. 5. Plasma renin activity, noradrenaline in plasma and heart rate were also dose-dependently increased by the treatments, whereas blood pressure remained unaltered. 6. While the clinical significance of hypokalaemia induced by inhaled beta 2-adrenoceptor sympathomimetics still is a matter of debate, our results point to possible differences between therapeutically equipotent doses of fenoterol and salbutamol in their propensity to cause hypokalaemia and other acute non-bronchial effects.     

Plasma lidocaine concentrations after different methods of releasing the tourniquet during intravenous regional anaesthesia

Different methods of tourniquet release have been proposed to decrease the concentrations of local anaesthetic released into the systemic circulation at the end of intravenous regional anaesthesia. The effect of releasing the tourniquet intermittently with 5 seconds (group I) and 30 seconds (group II) deflation periods or at once (group III) was studied in 25 adult patients after intravenous regional anaesthesia with 40 ml of 0.5% lidocaine. The venous plasma lidocaine concentrations from the contralateral arm were measured by gas chromatography. There was no leakage of lidocaine from the occluded arm into the systemic circulation. The mean maximum plasma lidocaine concentration in group I 1.99 +/- 1.45 (SD) microgram/ml, in group II 1.33 +/- 0.54 microgram/ml and in group III 1.56 +/- 0.88 microgram/ml (P greater than 0.05) was below the toxic concentrations reported in the literature. There were subjective complaints such as dizziness and ringing in the ears in 4 out of the 7 patients in group I, in 2 out of the 9 patients in group II and in one of the 9 patients in group III (P greater than 0.05). There was no correlation between the duration of tourniquet time (range 12-87 minutes) and the maximum plasma lidocaine concentration. The intermittent release of the tourniquet did not decrease the venous plasma lidocaine concentrations in the contralateral arm; neither did comparing the lidocaine pharmacokinetics in 5 patients of group II after tourniquet release and in the 5 healthy volunteers after a single 100 mg intravenous lidocaine injection reveal any differences.     

Hypertension in developing economies: a review of population-based studies carried out from 1980 to 1998

AIM: Hypertension is an established major risk factor underlying the epidemic of coronary and cardiovascular diseases in most developed countries, and it has been shown to be a public health problem in many developing countries since the 1970s. This review was carried out to illustrate the current situation with regard to blood pressure levels and the prevalence and management of hypertension in developing countries. METHODS: A search for papers published in medical journals from 1991 to 1998 was performed using the MEDLINE database. A total of 40 articles were selected according to previously defined criteria. RESULTS: Hypertension is a public health problem for most of the developing countries reviewed, and it is frequently associated with low levels of awareness, treatment and control. A positive association between the gross national product per capita and the prevalence of hypertension in developing countries is also evident. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in methodology between national surveys make international comparisons difficult. Nevertheless, low-cost hypertension control programmes in developing countries are needed, along with development of the primary prevention of hypertension.     

Tension‐free vaginal tape procedure without preoperative urodynamic examination: Long‐term outcome

Objectives: To evaluate the long‐term outcome of the tension‐free vaginal tape procedure. Methods: A total of 191 patients were operated on with tension‐free vaginal tape between January 1998 and May 2000. Of these, 127 (66%) had stress urinary incontinence, 64 (34%) had mixed urinary incontinence and 39 (20%) had recurrent incontinence. A total of 34 (18%) patients had had concomitant surgery. The diagnosis of incontinence was based on a history of leakage during stress and physical examination with a supine stress test in all patients. Tension‐free vaginal tape was carried out under local (82%) or spinal (18%) anesthesia. After a mean of 10.5 years follow up, the assessment included a gynecological examination and a supine stress test. Subjective outcome was evaluated with Urinary Incontinence Severity Score, Detrusor Instability Score, visual analog scale, European quality of life‐five dimensions, European quality of life – visual analog scale and short versions of Incontinence Impact Questionnaire‐7 and Urogenital Distress Inventory‐6. Objective cure was defined as a negative stress test and an absence of reoperation for incontinence during the follow up. Results: A total of 138 (72%) of 191 patients were evaluated. Patients with minimally invasive surgery before operation had significantly higher scores in Urinary Incontinence Severity Score, Detrusor Instability Score, Incontinence Impact Questionnaire‐7 and Urogenital Distress Inventory‐6 at follow up than the patients with stress urinary incontinence (P < 0.01). Recurrent incontinence and concomitant surgery did not affect the long‐term outcome. Three patients (2.3%) had late‐onset adverse events. The objective and subjective cure rates were 90% and 78%, respectively. Conclusions: The tension‐free vaginal tape procedure is effective and safe even after 10 years. The objective cure rate is high, but the subjective outcome is significantly lower in mixed urinary incontinence patients compared with patients with pure stress urinary incontinence. Recurrent stress urinary incontinence does not affect the outcome, and tape‐related problems are rare.     

Penetration of lidocaine and its active desethylated metabolite into cerebrospinal fluid in man

Summary Penetration into lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of lidocaine and its active desethylated metabolite, monoethylglycinxylidide (MEGX), has been studied in 10 neurological patients after a single subcutaneous injection of 2 mg/kg prior to lumbar puncture. An HPLC method was used to assay lidocaine, MEGX and glycinxylidide (GX) in serum and CSF. The serum protein unbound fraction of lidocaine was determined by equilibrium dialysis. The mean peak serum lidocaine concentration was found 25 minutes after injection, and the corresponding peak CSF level occurred after 70 min. A similar slow penetration of MEGX into CSF was observed, which indicates low membrane permeability for these two agents. No GX was found. The steadily increasing CSF lidocaine/serum total lidocaine ratio throughout the period of study up to 120 min and the higher level in CSF than the corresponding unbound fraction of the total serum lidocaine indicate that serum protein binding is not the sole determinant of the penetration of lidocaine into lumbar CSF. Rapid accumulation in brain tissue and diffusion back into cerebral extracellular fluid and to lumbar CSF may also occur. The apparent slow membrane penetration of lidocaine and its desethylated metabolite may be one reason for the difficulty of controlling lidocaine infusion rates according to therapeutic effectiveness and side-effects.     

Comparison study of streptavidin-coated microtitration plates

Streptavidin (SAv)-coated 96-well microtitration plates from commercial suppliers (six plates) and our laboratory (two plates) were tested with respect to their binding capacity for small and large molecules, leaching, well-to-well variation and immunoassay performance. The binding capacities for europium-labelled biotin (Eu-biotin) varied from 4.4 to above 150 pmol/well depending on the plate, and for biotinylated monoclonal antibody from 1.2 to 6.4 pmol/well (190-1030 ng). Incubation for 1 h in regular immunoassay buffer resulted in leaching of 0.6-76 ng of SAv from unwashed wells and 0.5-60 ng from pre-washed wells. The desorbed quantity represented up to 3.4% of the maximal Eu-biotin binding capacity. Coating-related variation of 96 wells (CV% values) ranged from 1.2% to 8.0% when tested with respect to maximum binding capacity. Immunofluorometric assay for TSH as well as enzyme immunoassays for CA125 and PSA revealed immunoassay-related performance of the plates, regarding signal levels, variation and non-specific binding characteristics. Non-specific binding and variation tended to increase in the highest capacity plates, whereas some low capacity plates fulfilled the assay requirements optimally. Good performance with respect to capacity, coating homogeneity or leaching was not by definition reflected in the performance of two-site heterogeneous immunoassays.     

Audiovestibular findings and location of an acoustic neuroma

Forty-one patients with unilateral acoustic neuroma (AN) were diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) between 1992 and 1997. All cases were analyzed with respect to tumor location and the results of audiometric examinations, auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing, and electronystagmography (ENG). Tumor location was determined by MRI and cases were divided into intracanalicular and extracanalicular sites. Intracanalicular tumors were significantly smaller than the extracanalicular ones The pure-tone hearing thresholds were better in ears with intracanalicular lesions than in those with extracanalicular ones. Respectively, speech reception thresholds were 33 dB and 45 dB, and speech discrimination scores 79% and 65%. ABR was abnormal in 98% of ANs, but was insufficient for determining tumor location. The ENG pursuit test was more frequently normal and the caloric side difference was smaller in ears with intracanalicular than extracanalicular AN. These findings show that the results of pure-tone and speech audiometry and ENG are better in ears with intracanalicular AN, while ABR results are similar regardless of tumor location. Received: 11 August 1999 / Accepted: 16 November 1999