SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Visible Human Projects”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 793 records · Page 44Linked to original sources

PubMed1997

How useful are cross-sectional data from surveys of dental caries?

Surveys are projects involving systematic data collection without a specific hypothesis to be tested and hence without a specific research design. This paper reviews their uses, and some of the issues involved with measuring dental caries in surveys. The principal benefits of surveys are in (a) monitoring trends in oral disease when the surveys are repeated periodically: and (b) giving dental health a visibility it might otherwise not get among policy-makers. On the other hand, they are of limited use in determining treatment needs for a population, evaluating treatment outcomes, and evaluating prevention programs. Some major issues in caries surveys today include difficulties with the DMF index; the use of exclusively visual versus visual-tactile criteria; "hidden" caries; and the appropriate role for early, non-cavitated carious lesions. The DMF index suffers from its mixing of disease and treatment, and more research is needed to determine the most appropriate role for exclusively visual criteria in surveys. Trade-offs, such as weighing the benefits of exclusively visual criteria against the probable greater difficulty in finding "hidden" caries, have not been determined. Inclusion of non-cavitated lesions in a survey will increase its cost. Organizers should therefore be clear before the survey on how this additional information will be used to justify the additional expense.

Costs and Cost Analysis↗

PubMed2004

[Selective stimulation of the equilibrium organ using monochromatic near infrared].

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was, to establish, if a selective thermal warm-stimulation using monochromatic near infrared radiation (NIR) in healthy persons, patients with chronic otitis media (chronic mucosal inflammation) and after radical surgery of one ear shows quantitative or qualitative changes of the nystagmus reaction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Healthy persons (n = 3), patients with a large central defect of the tympanic membrane (n = 5) and after radical ear surgery (n = 6) were examined. In healthy persons a stimulation with monochromatic NIR (lambda = 980 nm) of several areals of the external auditory canal was performed. In patients with large defects of the tympanic membrane the promontorium was stimulated. In patients with a radical cave of the ear a selective NIR-stimulation of the region of the vertical and the anterior semicircular canal was performed. The horizontal semicircular canal was visible as a landmark. Registration of the nystagmus was performed by means of videonystagmography. RESULTS: In healthy persons the mean slow phase velocity of the nystagmus depended on the stimulated region. But there was no qualitative change of three dimensional eye movement. Stimulation of the promontorium showed a strong directional horizontal nystagmus. In patients with a radical cave the stimulation of the regions of the three semicircular canals showed a qualitative difference in three dimensional eye movement. NIR-stimulation showed in all cases a nystagmus into the stimulated ear. CONCLUSIONS: The method of monochromatic near infrared stimulation can be used for selective stimulation of several regions of the external auditory canal, the promontorium and the regions of the semicircular canals in a radical cave of the ear as well as to prove the warm reaction of the equilibrium organ. A specific nystagmus after stimulation of the semicircular canal-region in a radical cave of the ear could be an indication for a normal semicircular canal function.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Safety, acceptability, and feasibility of a single-visit approach to cervical-cancer prevention in rural Thailand: a demonstration project.

BACKGROUND: To increase screening and treatment coverage, innovative approaches to cervical-cancer prevention are being investigated in rural Thailand. We assessed the value of a single-visit approach combining visual inspection of the cervix with acetic acid wash (VIA) and cryotherapy. METHODS: 12 trained nurses provided services in mobile (village health centre-based) and static (hospital-based) teams in four districts of Roi-et Province, Thailand. Over 7 months, 5999 women were tested by VIA. If they tested positive, after counselling about the benefits, potential risks, and probable side-effects they were offered cryotherapy. Data measuring safety, acceptability, feasibility, and effort to implement the programme were gathered. FINDINGS: The VIA test-positive rate was 13.3% (798/5999), and 98.5% (609/618) of those eligible accepted immediate treatment. Overall, 756 women received cryotherapy, 629 (83.2%) of whom returned for their first follow-up visit. No major complications were recorded, and 33 (4.4%) of those treated returned for a perceived problem. Only 17 (2.2%) of the treated women needed clinical management other than reassurance about side-effects. Both VIA and cryotherapy were highly acceptable to the patients (over 95% expressed satisfaction with their experience). At their 1-year visit, the squamocolumnar junction was visible to the nurses, and the VIA test-negative rate was 94.3%. INTERPRETATION: A single-visit approach with VIA and cryotherapy seems to be safe, acceptable, and feasible in rural Thailand, and is a potentially efficient method of cervical-cancer prevention in such settings.

Acetic Acid↗

PubMed1998

Preoperative diagnosis with video-assisted thoracoscopy with miniaturized endoscopes in general thoracic surgery: a preliminary study.

Video-assisted thoracoscopy using a miniaturized endoscope (mini-VAT) was applied for preoperative diagnosis in general thoracic surgery. Thirty-one patients, including 27 with indeterminate pulmonary nodule and 4 with suspected pleural involvement of lung cancer or metastatic pleural tumor, underwent mini-VAT. As a pilot study, 14 of the former 27 patients underwent mini-VAT while receiving general anesthesia. As a prospective study, all the remaining 17 patients underwent mini-VAT while receiving local anesthesia. Solid scopes of three different sizes, 0.9, 1.9, or 4.0 mm diameter, were used. An artificial pneumothorax for scope introduction was produced by needle thoracentesis under atmospheric pressure. Automatic cutting needle biopsy was used for tissue sampling. In the pilot study group, mini-VAT with a 4.0-mm scope provided excellent visibility and diagnostic sensitivity of 100%. This study group showed the diagnostic sensitivity of needle biopsy for pulmonary nodule to be 100%. Hemorrhages and air leaks at biopsy sites were sealed with blood coagulation in a short time. In the prospective study group, mini-VAT with a 4.0-mm scope with the patients receiving local anesthesia provided a diagnostic sensitivity of 91% for pulmonary nodule and a diagnostic accuracy of 100% for suspected pleural involvement. Causes of failure of mini-VAT with the use of local anesthesia were cough reflex during needle biopsy and incomplete lung collapse for deeply located target in two cases. The adverse effects of the mini-VAT were paradoxical respiration in two cases in which local anesthesia was used. The patients who received only local anesthesia required no chest tube drainage. Mini-VAT is a simple, minimally invasive procedure suitable as a preoperative examination technique for histologic diagnosis, evaluation of disease progression, and selection of strategy in thoracic surgery.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Trends in the magnitude of educational inequalities in health in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Finland during 1994-2004.

BACKGROUND: Socioeconomic inequalities in health in the Baltic countries are possibly increasing due to concomitant pressures. This study compared time trends from 1994 to 2004 in the pattern and magnitude of educational inequalities in health in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Finland. METHODS: The data were gathered from cross-sectional postal surveys of the Finbalt project, conducted every second year since 1994 on adult populations (aged 20-64 years) in Estonia (n=9049), Latvia (n=7685), Lithuania (n=11,634) and Finland (n=18,821). Three self-reported health indicators were used: (i) less than good perceived health, (ii) diagnosed diseases, and (iii) symptoms. RESULTS: The existing educational inequalities in health in three Baltic countries and Finland remained generally stable over time from 1994 to 2004. Also, the overall prevalence of all three health indicators was generally stable, but in the Baltic countries improvement in perceived health was mainly found among the better-educated men and women. Diagnosed diseases increased in the Baltic countries, except Lithuania, where diseases decreased among the better-educated women. Symptoms increased among the better-educated Estonian and Finnish women. CONCLUSIONS: The period from 1994 to 2004 of relative stabilization since the worst conditions of the social transition has not been followed by notable changes in self-reported health, and this appears to be the situation across all educational groups in the Baltic countries. While health inequalities did not markedly change, substantial inequalities do remain, and there were indications of favourable developments mainly among the better-educated respondents. The factors contributing towards increasing health inequalities may only be visible in the future.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Measuring geographic atrophy in advanced age-related macular degeneration.

PURPOSE: To present a method developed for measuring areas of geographic atrophy (GA) in advanced age-related macular degeneration, METHODS: A microfilm reader projected the 30 degrees fundus photograph of the macula. Retinal landmarks, atrophic areas, and spared areas within the atrophy were traced, without access to drawings of other years. The total atrophic area was calculated, as was the atrophy within a four-disc-area circle entered on the estimated foveal center. The configuration of the atrophy was documented. RESULTS: Avoidable sources of discrepancy included variability in peripapillary atrophy seen on the photograph, and variability seen in the extent of the field. Reproducibility studies found a median absolute difference of 0.19 Macular Photocoagulation Study disc areas (DA) in total atrophy between repeat drawings, with 75% of repeat drawings having a difference of less than 0.33 DA. For central atrophy measures, there was a median difference of 0.08 DA, with 75% of pairs having a difference of less than 0.18 DA. Features making the definition of borders of GA difficult include the presence of drusen and pigmentary alteration, a fundus in which choroidal vessels are easily visible, and variation in the appearance of GA within a single area of atrophy. CONCLUSIONS: This method provides a reliable means of measuring the size of atrophic areas in GA and will be useful for measuring longitudinal change. It may be difficult to determine whether central spared areas are present, and correlation with visual acuity and macular perimetry may be helpful.

Aged↗

PubMed1996

Spiral CT angiography and selective digital subtraction angiography of internal carotid artery stenosis.

PURPOSE: To determine whether spiral CT angiography allows accurate, quantitative evaluation of anatomic abnormalities, including detection of additional lesions, delineation of plaque morphology, and estimation of degree of internal carotid artery stenosis. METHODS: Spiral CT angiography with a maximum intensity projection technique was compared with selective digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in 92 carotid arteries. The category of stenosis was determined according to the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial: mild (0% to 29%), moderate (30% to 69%), severe (70% to 99%), and occlusion (100%). RESULTS: In 78 (85%) of the 92 cases, spiral CT angiography and selective DSA demonstrated the same degree of stenosis. All occlusions (n = 19) were diagnosed correctly with spiral CT angiography. Spiral CT angiography agreed with selective DSA in the classification of stenosis in 59% of the group with mild stenosis, in 82% of the group with moderate stenosis, and in 90% of the group with severe stenosis. In the groups with mild (n = 13), moderate (n = 9), and severe (n = 27) stenosis, correlation of spiral CT angiography with selective DSA was significant. Calcified plaques were readily diagnosed with the use of spiral CT angiography but delineation of ulcers was poor. Tandem lesions were not visible owing to the limited coverage. CONCLUSION: Spiral CT angiography is useful for the detection of proximal internal carotid stenoses that are greater than 30%. Depiction of mild stenoses appears to be limited. CT is superior for the detection of calcified plaques but it is not useful for the detection of ulcers.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Simultaneous surgical revascularization and angiogenic gene therapy in diffuse coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVE: The cytokine vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is capable of triggering angiogenesis and at higher concentrations vasculogenesis. We report on a pilot study where VEGF-DNA as an additional therapy to coronary artery bypass grafting was injected into the myocardium in 24 patients (pts) with proximal coronary artery stenosis and diffuse peripheral disease. One region of the myocardium with proven ischemia remained unsupplied after surgery because the respective epicardial coronary artery was not graftable. METHODS AND RESULTS: Plasmid DNA encoding for the 165- and 167-amino acid isoform of the human VEGF genes was injected directly into the myocardium, not amenable to surgical revascularization at a dosage of 1000 microg each, using a standardized protocol. A (99m)Tc-sestamibi-SPECT at rest performed 7 days prior to the operation, had shown decreased marker activity in the region of interest. Controls were made 1 week and 80-100 days postoperatively. Transmural scarring was ruled out intraoperatively. Coronary and left ventricular angiographies were performed preoperatively and 3 months postsurgery, respectively. One or more of the following angiographic items were found in 16/24 patients postoperatively. (1) Improvement of regional left ventricular function at the VEGF treated myocardial sector (5/24 pts). (2) Newly visible vessels considered as collaterals (8/24 pts). (3) Earlier filling of parent vessels (6/24 pts). (4) An increase in diameter of preoperatively existing collateral vessels (7/24). An increased perfusion at rest in the region of gene application was detected in 3/24 patients by early postoperative (99m)Tc-sestamibi-SPECT investigation. In six additional cases, local perfusion increased markedly until the late examination. No perioperative myocardial infarctions and no signs of inflammation were observed. Newly developed abnormal vasculature was not detected in any patient. CONCLUSIONS: Direct intramyocardial administration of VEGF(165)-DNA and VEGF(167)-DNA may result occasionally in an enhancement of collateral vascularization in regions with diffuse peripheral coronary artery disease not surgically amenable. During midterm follow-up no adverse effects of VEGF-DNA application are observed so far. The very slight midterm improvements caused us to stop further VEGF-DNA application and, in our opinion, do not justify a prospective, and randomized study with a control group.

Aged↗

PubMed2004

Feasibility of MR-guided angioplasty of femoral artery stenoses using real-time imaging and intraarterial contrast-enhanced MR angiography.

PURPOSE: To show the feasibility of magnetic resonance (MR) for guided interventional therapy of femoral and popliteal artery stenoses with commercially available materials supported by MR real-time imaging and intraarterial MR angiography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three patients (1 female, 2male), suffering from symptomatic arterial occlusive disease with stenoses of the femoral (n = 2) or popliteal (n = 1) arteries were included. Intraarterial digital subtraction angiography was performed in each patient pre- and post-interventionally as standard of reference to quantify stenoses. The degree of the stenoses reached from 71 - 88 %. The MR images were acquired on a 1.5 T MR scanner (Magnetom Sonata; Siemens, Erlangen, Germany). For MR-angiography, a Flash 3D sequence was utilized following injection of 5 mL diluted gadodiamide (Omniscan; Amersham Buchler, Braunschweig, Germany) via the arterial access. Two maximum intensity projections (MIP) were used as road maps and localizer for the interactive positioning of a continuously running 2D-FLASH sequence with a temporal solution of 2 images per second. During the intervention, an MR compatible monitor provided the image display inside the scanner room. Safety guidelines were followed during imaging in the presence of a conductive guidewire. The lesion was crossed by a commercially available balloon catheter (Wanda, Boston Scientific; Ratingen, Germany), which was mounted on a 0.035" guidewire (Terumo; Leuven, Belgium). The visibility was provided by radiopaque markers embedded in the balloon and was improved by injection of 1 mL gadodiamide into the balloon. After dilation, the result was checked by intraarterial MR angiography and catheter angiography. RESULTS: The stenoses could be correctly localized by intraarterial MR angiography. There was complete correlation between intraarterial MR angiography and digital subtraction angiography. The combination of guidewire and balloon was visible and the balloon was placed correctly to cover the entire stenoses. Balloon dilation reduced the degree of stenosis about 45 % on average. A prolonged dilation was necessary in one patient due to a relevant residual stenosis, which was recognized by intraarterial MR angiography. CONCLUSION: MR-guided balloon dilatation of femoral and popliteal artery stenoses supported by real time imaging and intraarterial MR angiography is feasible with commercially available materials in the above mentioned way.

Aged↗

PubMed2001

Neural dynamics of motion integration and segmentation within and across apertures.

A neural model is developed of how motion integration and segmentation processes, both within and across apertures, compute global motion percepts. Figure-ground properties, such as occlusion, influence which motion signals determine the percept. For visible apertures, a line's terminators do not specify true line motion. For invisible apertures, a line's intrinsic terminators create veridical feature-tracking signals. Sparse feature-tracking signals can be amplified before they propagate across position and are integrated with ambiguous motion signals within line interiors. This integration process determines the global percept. It is the result of several processing stages: directional transient cells respond to image transients and input to a directional short-range filter that selectively boosts feature-tracking signals with the help of competitive signals. Then, a long-range filter inputs to directional cells that pool signals over multiple orientations, opposite contrast polarities, and depths. This all happens no later than cortical area MT. The directional cells activate a directional grouping network, proposed to occur within cortical area MST, within which directions compete to determine a local winner. Enhanced feature-tracking signals typically win over ambiguous motion signals. Model MST cells that encode the winning direction feed back to model MT cells, where they boost directionally consistent cell activities and suppress inconsistent activities over the spatial region to which they project. This feedback accomplishes directional and depthful motion capture within that region. Model simulations include the barberpole illusion, motion capture, the spotted barberpole, the triple barberpole, the occluded translating square illusion, motion transparency and the chopsticks illusion. Qualitative explanations of illusory contours from translating terminators and plaid adaptation are also given.

Computer Simulation↗

PubMed1993

Oxygen binding by single crystals of hemoglobin.

Reversible oxygen binding curves for single crystals of hemoglobin in the T quaternary structure have been measured using microspectrophotometry. Saturations were determined from complete visible spectra measured with light linearly polarized parallel to the a and c crystal axes. Striking differences were observed between the binding properties of hemoglobin in the crystal and those of hemoglobin in solution. Oxygen binding to the crystal is effectively noncooperative, the Bohr effect is absent, and there is no effect of chloride ion. Also, the oxygen affinity is lower than that of the T quaternary structure in solution. The absence of the Bohr effect supports Perutz's hypothesis on the key role of the salt bridges, which are known from X-ray crystallography to remain intact upon oxygenation. The low affinity and absence of the Bohr effect can be explained by a generalization of the MWC-PSK model (Monod, Wyman, & Changeux, 1965; Perutz, 1970; Szabo & Karplus, 1972) in which both high- and low-affinity tertiary conformations, with broken and unbroken salt bridges, respectively, are populated in the T quaternary structure. Because the alpha and beta hemes make different projections onto the two crystal axes, separate binding curves for the alpha and beta subunits could be calculated from the two measured binding curves. The approximately 5-fold difference between the oxygen affinities of the alpha and beta subunits is much smaller than that predicted from the crystallographic study of Dodson, Liddington, and co-workers, which suggested that oxygen binds only to the alpha hemes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Crystallization↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Improving pain management practice. A medical center moves beyond education to document and manage patient care.

In 1993 nurses at Providence/ Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR, initiated a quality improvement project to assess pain levels in the facility's inpatients. A convenience sample in April 1993 showed an average pain intensity of 6.30 on a 0-10 scale (where O equals no pain and 10 is the worst pain imaginable). With the nursing administrator's support, pain management nurses presented a four-hour course in the basics of pain assessment and intervention to more than 850 nurses and 100 other professionals. In August 1993 nurses found that the intensity of patient pain had dropped to 5.70 on the 0-10 scale. Still dissatisfied with this situation, the nurses proceeded with a three-pronged approach to improve the medical center's quality of pain management: making the problem visible by better documentation and communication about pain; making an institutional commitment to pain management, including establishing pain management quality improvement as the medical center's first patient outcome institutional objective; eliciting the endorsement of influential committees. In August 1994 a random sample revealed patient pain had decreased to 3.21. The next step focused on empowering patients and families through education (e.g., revising the booklet on patient rights and responsibilities, posting signs in rooms encouraging patients to report pain) and clearing up myths and misconceptions through inservices and posters. A sampling in November 1995 showed that the average pain intensity of inpatients had been reduced to 2.32. Plans for continuous quality improvement interventions will further enhance patient comfort and recovery.

Clinical Nursing Research↗

PubMed2000

Ballistic characterization of the Remington Premier Copper Solid sabot shotgun slug.

We evaluated the impact and penetration characteristics of the Remington Copper Solid sabot shotgun slug with standardized ballistic tests and used this information to predict tissue wounding patterns. This unique ammunition, first distributed in 1993, is composed of a solid copper, hollow-point slug with longitudinal slots cut into the nose. The slug is fitted into a hard plastic sabot with 8 finger-like projections and loaded into a shotgun shell with two plastic wads separating it from the underlying gunpowder charge. The ammunition was fired through a 12-gage shotgun using a rifled barrel, a smooth-bore barrel with rifled choke, and a smooth-bore barrel with a smooth modified choke into targets consisting of poster board and 10% ballistic gelatin at a variety of distances. The copper slug and plastic sabot created single 8-fingered asterisk-shaped defects in the poster board when fired at distances of less than 7 to 9 ft (approximately 2 to 3 m). All three barrel types performed similarly. At greater distances, the sabot impacted the targets separately from the slugs and created variably shaped defects that reflected base-first, nose-first, and side-first impacts. Increasing muzzle-to-target distances generally increased the impact distances between the slug and sabot. There was no predictable relationship between the sabot and slug impact points for any of the three barrel types. With each barrel tested, the wads created separate defects from the slug at distances greater than 5 ft (1.5 m). The distances between the slug and the wad impact points increased with increasing muzzle-to-target distances up to 40 ft (12 m), after which the wads generally no longer struck the targets. The slug created atypical defects at distances between 7 and 150 ft (approximately 2 to 45 m), probably due to yawing or tumbling. When the slug impacted the gelatin block in a nose-first orientation, the slotted nose portion tended to fragment and radially deposit pieces in the gelatin that were visible on radiographs. When the slug struck the gelatin target in a side-first orientation, it passed through the gelatin intact. The slug, sabot, and wads of this unique projectile separate and create independent impact points in a stereotypical manner independent of barrel type. This pattern of separation allows estimates to be made of ranges of fire. Wounds created in human tissues by this ammunition would likely have similar asterisk-shaped configurations, and nose fragments may be deposited in tissues and seen radiographically. Rectangular wounds created by the tumbling or yawing slug might be mistaken for intermediate target wounds.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2004

Vitrectomy and radial optic neurotomy for central retinal vein occlusion: effects on visual acuity and macular anatomy.

BACKGROUND: Central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) is a common retinal vascular disorder and a leading cause of visual loss. It is thought to arise from vascular obstruction at the level of the lamina cribrosa. The purpose of the study reported here was to evaluate the potential benefit of radial optic neurotomy (RON) and determine its effect on foveal thickness and macular volume in patients with CRVO. METHODS: We conducted a prospective pilot study of ten patients with CRVO. Visual acuity (VA) score measured with the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study chart and the corresponding Snellen equivalent were assessed before and 6 months after surgery. Colour fundus photography, fluorescein angiography (FA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were carried out before and at 2, 6, 12 and 24 weeks after surgery. Foveal thickness and macular volumes were assessed using OCT. RESULTS: Visible reperfusion was observed in four of the ten patients at the time of surgery. VA score improved in eight of the ten patients from a median score of 11.50 (range 0-68) to a median score of 35.00 (range 3-79). Macular volumes decreased in six of seven patients from a median of 4.99 mm3 (range 2.68-6.77) to a median of 3.11 mm3 (range 1.11-5.02). Foveal thickness decreased in six of seven patients from a median of 596.50 microm (range 338.50-745.50) to a median of 330.50 microm (range 118-634.50). Six of ten patients developed a chorioretinal venous anastomosis. Macular oedema on OCT persisted in six of ten patients. CONCLUSIONS: We observed an improvement in VA score and a corresponding reduction in foveal thickness and macular volume following RON, but macular oedema persisted in 60% of patients. Whilst optimisation of patient selection criteria remains a challenge, this pilot study suggests that RON has a beneficial effect on VA in patients presenting with CRVO.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

"Light" versus "classic" laser treatment for clinically significant diabetic macular oedema.

AIM: To compare the effectiveness of "light" versus "classic" laser photocoagulation in diabetic patients with clinically significant macular oedema (CSMO). METHODS: A prospective randomised pilot clinical trial in which 29 eyes of 24 diabetic patients with mild to moderate non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) and CSMO were randomised to either "classic" or "light" Nd:YAG 532 nm (frequency doubled) green laser. "Light" laser treatment differed from conventional ("classic") photocoagulation in that the energy employed was the lowest capable to produce barely visible burns at the level of the retinal pigment epithelium. Primary outcome measure was the change in foveal retinal thickness as measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT); secondary outcomes were the reduction/elimination of macular oedema on contact lens biomicroscopy and fluorescein angiography, change in visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and mean deviation in the central 10 degrees visual field. Examiners were masked to patients' treatment. RESULTS: 14 eyes were assigned to "classic" and 15 were assigned to "light" laser treatment. At 12 months, seven (50%) of 14 eyes treated with "classic" and six (43%) of 14 eyes treated with "light" laser had a decrease of foveal retinal thickness on OCT (p = 0.79). A comparison of reduction/elimination of oedema, visual improvement, visual loss, change in contrast sensitivity, and mean deviation in the central 10 degrees showed no statistical difference between the groups at 12 months (p>0.05 for all groups). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that "light" photocoagulation for CSMO may be as effective as "classic" laser treatment, thus supporting the rationale for a larger equivalence trial.

Aged↗

PubMed2004

Differences in food habits and cardiovascular disease risk factors among Native Americans with and without diabetes: the Inter-Tribal Heart Project.

OBJECTIVE: To examine differences in food habits among Native Americans with and without diabetes. DESIGN: A cross-sectional epidemiological study in which participants underwent a physical examination and answered an extensive interviewer-administered questionnaire to assess differences in food servings, preparation and eating habits. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Participants aged >/=25 years were randomly selected from three reservations in Minnesota and Wisconsin. There were 990 persons without diabetes, 294 with a prior diagnosis of diabetes, and 80 with fasting glucose >125 mg dl(-1) but no prior diabetes diagnosis. RESULTS: Persons with prior diabetes diagnosis were less likely than those without diabetes to report eating fast-food meals two or more times per week, eat visible fat on meat or the skin on poultry, eat fried chicken or fried fish, to add fat to cooked vegetables and drink whole milk. Persons with previously undiagnosed diabetes were more likely than previously diagnosed persons to report eating fast-food meals two or more times per week, eat visible fat on meat and the skin on poultry, drink whole milk and eat fried fish, but were less likely to drink low-fat milk. Previously undiagnosed persons were more likely than either diagnosed persons or persons without diabetes to consume lard from cooked foods and use it when cooking. CONCLUSION: Persons with diagnosed diabetes showed healthier eating patterns than those without diabetes, while undiagnosed persons showed some less favourable patterns. Because virtually all persons with diabetes in these communities receive nutrition education, the results suggest that nutrition education programmes for diabetics may be associated with healthier eating patterns.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

[Dual articulation retentive acetabular liners and wear: surface analysis of 40 retrieved polyethylene implants].

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The original concept of dual articulation retentive liners has been implemented in routine clinical practice for total hip arthroplasty since 1976. The retentive liner improves stability and the dual mobility favors preservation of joint motion. In this study, we analyzed wear of the two concave and convex surfaces in 40 retrieved polyethylene implants in order to search for factors favoring wear. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty polyethylene inserts were examined. These implants had been removed after mean implantation of eight years. Mean patient age at implantation was 48 years. The inserts were removed because of prosthesis infection or mechanical failure. Macroscopic examination was followed by a surface analysis with direct measurement of alterations of the curvature radii. Internal concavity was measured in the three dimensions using a 4-mm stylus (BNH 706). External convexity was measured by lateral projection. The estimated error was +/- 5 microm for both measurement methods. Manufacturers' tolerances for these implants were approximately 50 microm. Linear and volumetric wear was determined by comparing the measured dimensions with the theoretical dimensions of new inserts. RESULTS: Macroscopically, all of the pieces studied had lost their initial striation on the convex surface; 40% of the pieces displayed visible wear of the retentive collar. Mean annual wear was 9 microm (SD 9microm) for the convex surface and 73 microm (SD 69 microm) for the concave surface. Mean total wear, taken as the sum of the wears on the convex and concave surfaces was 82 microm (SD 72 microm). Volumetric wear was 28.9 mm3/yr for the convex surface (SD 27.6) and 25.5 for the concave surface (SD 23.2) giving a mean annual total volumetric wear of 54.3 mm3/yr (SD 39.6). DISCUSSION: Total wear observed for these 40 dual articulation liners which had functioned in vivo was to the same order as reported for the metal-polyethylene bearing with 22.2 mm femoral heads. Considering the wear on both the convex and concave surface, the dual articulation was not associated with increased wear compared with the conventional metal-polyethylene bearings, but with the advantages of retention and greater stability. CONCLUSION: Use of a dual articulation acetabular liner is an attractive solution when a metal-polyethylene bearing is considered. The benefit in terms of joint stability does not increase wear.

Acetabulum↗

PubMed2000

Contrast-enhanced MR angiography of the epigastric and hepatic regions: visibility in three-dimensional reconstructions.

PURPOSE: We applied the Maximum Intensity Projection method (MIP method), volume rendering method (VR method) and Shading process in reconstruction of arteries, portal veins and hepatic veins using Contrast-enhanced MR Angiography (MRA) in the epigastric region and examined its usefulness. In addition, the visibility of tumor vessels in the liver was evaluated using original images. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The subjects were 85 patients. Abdominal dynamic imaging was performed using the efgre3d sequence. We reconstructed MRA for stereoscopic images using the MIP, VR, or VR + Shading process method and evaluated the visibility rates and score of each artery, portal vein and hepatic vein. The visibility of tumor vessels in the liver was also evaluated from original images obtained using MRA. RESULTS: In the arterial phase, the VR method and shading process yielded greater visibility than the MIP method. The average score was highest in the shading process followed by the VR method, and then the MIP method. In the portal phase, there was little difference in visibility among the reconstruction methods. The average score with the MIP method was slightly, but not significantly, higher than with the VR method and Shading process. For the hepatic veins, visibility rates of each three-dimensional reconstruction image were markedly lower than in original images. Tumor vessels were visualized over 85% using MRA. CONCLUSION: The VR method and Shading process were useful for evaluation of arteries. The MIP method was useful for evaluation of the portal vein. Original images were useful for evaluation of the hepatic veins. Contrast-enhanced MRA of the epigastric and hepatic regions was clinically quite useful in that it permitted evaluation of all vessels including arteries, portal vein and other veins throughout the liver as well as evaluation of tumor vessels.

Adult↗