Arterial stiffness in women previously with preeclampsia from a semi-rural region of South Africa

Women with pre-eclampsia have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease later in life. The aim of the study was to establish the presence and pattern of arterial stiffness in women previously with pre-eclampsia from a semi-rural region of South Africa. This was a prospective longitudinal study which involved 36 previously pre-eclamptic women and 86 non-pregnant controls (NPC) who had a past history of non-complicated pregnancy. Maternal wave reflection (augmentation index) and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity were assessed noninvasively, using applanation tonometry with the SphygmoCor device. Endothelial function was assessed by EndoPAT 2000 device; pneumatic probes were fitted to the index fingers; induced flow-mediated reactive hyperemia; the ratio of the readings before and after occlusion was then used to calculate the score, the reactive hyperemia index (RHI) as a measure of endothelial function.

Pulse wave velocity remained significantly higher in previously pre-eclamptic women than non-pregnant controls up to three months after delivery (p < 0.05), then it reduced to nonsignificant values. All blood pressure indices (central and brachial pressures), were higher in previously pre-eclamptic women as compared to nonpregnant controls up to one year postpartum.

Regional (aortic) arterial stiffness, though it persists for some time after delivery, is transitory in previously pre-eclamptic women from the rural Africa setting. However, their increase blood pressure is an indication of compromised arterial compliance in women previously with pre-eclampsia.     

X线及MRI对聚丙烯酰胺凝胶隆胸后乳腺病变诊断价值的评价与比较

目的对聚丙烯酰胺凝胶(PAG)注射式隆胸术后,出现并发症或合并乳腺其他病变的X线与MRI的诊断价值进行评估。方法回顾性分析26例PAG隆胸术后钼靶X线与MRI的影像表现。结果钼靶X线及MRI能显示充填物位置、形态,合并乳腺病变4例,X线全部漏诊,MRI能检出病灶。结论钼靶X线是PAG隆胸术后普查、随访的首选方法,但出现并发症或者合并乳腺病变时,MRI具有无法比拟的优越性,在临床诊断与治疗中发挥了重要作用。     

颈椎旋转、半失稳在椎动脉型、交感型、神经根型颈椎病间的相关研究

目的:探讨椎动脉型颈椎病、交感型颈椎病、神经根型颈椎病之间颈椎旋转、半失稳的关系。方法:本组112例,其中椎动脉型38型、交感型36例、神经根型38例,应用图像存档和传输系统(picture archiving and communication systems,PACS)在X线正位片上测量患者每个颈椎椎体的旋转度和在侧位片上测量椎体半失稳的位移距离。结果:在C6旋转度上,椎动脉型颈椎病和交感型颈椎病均与神经根型颈椎病有统计学差异(P<0·01),椎动脉型颈椎病和交感型颈椎病间的C2旋转度有统计学差异(P<0·05),椎动脉型颈椎病和神经根型颈椎病间的C4旋转度有统计学差异(P<0·05)。在椎体半失稳的位移距离和椎体半失稳率上,椎动脉型颈椎病和交感型颈椎病均与神经根型颈椎病有统计学差异(P<0·01)。结论:在椎动脉型颈椎病和交感型颈椎病中椎体半失稳和颈椎旋转是它们发病的一个重要因素,而在神经根型颈椎病中不是发病的重要因素。     

Risedronate Reduces the Risk of First Vertebral Fracture in Osteoporotic Women

Risedronate treatment reduces the risk of vertebral fracture in women with existing vertebral fractures, but its efficacy in prevention of the first vertebral fracture in women with osteoporosis but without vertebral fractures has not been determined. We examined the risk of first vertebral fracture in postmenopausal women who were enrolled in four placebo-controlled clinical trials of risedronate and who had low lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) (mean T-score =–3.3) and no vertebral fractures at baseline. Subjects received risedronate 5 mg (n= 328) or placebo (n= 312) daily for up to 3 years; all subjects were given calcium (1000 mg daily), as well as vitamin D supplementation (up to 500 IU daily) if baseline serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were low. The incidence of first vertebral fracture was 9.4% in the women treated with placebo and 2.6% in those treated with risedronate 5 mg (risk reduction of 75%, 95% confidence interval 37% to 90%; P= 0.002). The number of patients who would need to be treated to prevent one new vertebral fracture is 15. When subjects were stratified by age, similar significant reductions were observed in patients with a mean age of 64 years (risk reduction of 70%, 95% CI 8% to 90%; P= 0.030) and in those with a mean age of 76 years (risk reduction of 80%, 95% CI 7% to 96%; P= 0.024). Risedronate treatment therefore significantly reduces the risk of first vertebral fracture in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, with a similar magnitude of effect early and late after the menopause. Received: 12 September 2001 / Accepted: 11 December 2001     

Vertical interpositional augmentation genioplasty with porous polyethylene

Recent advances in the field of biomatrix porous implant technology has stirred the interest of the oral and maxillofacial surgical community. One such material (Medpor), is a biocompatible, large-pore, high-density polyethylene implant which has proven both experimentally and clinically to fulfil the criterion for maxillofacial reconstructive and aesthetic surgical grafting.