Biomedical subjects

G van Melle

Publications and source records attributed to G van Melle.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1999

[Iodine nutrition and prevalence of goiter in adolescents in the Canton of Vaud].

Iodine deficiency disorders virtually disappeared in Switzerland after iodized salt was introduced in 1922 and the iodine content increased from 3.75 to 7.5 mg/kg in 1962 and to 15 mg/kg in 1980. However, a decreasing iodine intake has recently been reported again. The status of iodine nutrition in the Canton of Vaud was therefore assessed in 348 representative adolescents aged 11 to 17 years from the urban area of Lausanne in 1995. Thyroid size was estimated by inspection and palpation and thyroid volume measured by ultrasonography. Iodine concentration was determined in urine. Thyroid enlargement, as assessed by clinical examination, was found in 15% of the adolescents (stage 1a: 12.9%, 1b: 1.8%, 2: 0.3%), but its positive predictive value was low. The goitre prevalence determined by ultrasonography was only 1.4%. In addition, 4% of the adolescents had nodular or diffuse echo-structure abnormalities. Percentiles of thyroid volume as a function of sex, chronological age and body surface area were lower than WHO reference values. Median iodine concentration in urine was 92 micrograms/l (56.6% < 100 micrograms/l), slightly below WHO recommendations. Iodized cooking salt was consumed by 82% of the adolescents. In conclusion, the adolescents living in the Canton of Vaud had a low normal iodine intake with subclinical thyroid abnormalities. These findings support the recent decision to increase the salt iodine content to 20-30 mg/kg in order to prevent iodine deficiency during puberty and pregnancy. Percentiles of thyroid volume determined in the present study can be used as local reference.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Prediction of in-hospital mortality after first-ever stroke: the Lausanne Stroke Registry.

We aimed to study in-hospital mortality after a first-ever stroke (brain infarction or parenchymatous hemorrhage) and to determine its predictors using easily obtainable variables. The main outcome measure was vital status at hospital discharge. Clinical features and type of stroke, with a particular emphasis on age, stroke topography and presumed causes of stroke, were studied in 3362 consecutive patients from the Lausanne Stroke Registry. Overall mortality was 4.8%. Brain hemorrhage mortality was 14.4% (48/333) and brain infarction mortality was 3.70% (112/3029). Localizations with high mortality included infratentorial (17.5%) and deep hemispheric (15.9%) territories for brain hemorrhage and, for brain infarction, multiple localizations in the posterior circulation (18.4%) and large middle cerebral artery territory (15.5%). Presumed causes of stroke associated with high mortality included saccular aneurysm (58.3%) and hypertensive arteriopathy (13.0%) for brain hemorrhage and, for brain infarction, dissection (10.4%), arteritis (8.3%), hematologic conditions (6.7%) and coexisting arterial and cardiac sources of embolism (5.2%). Multivariate logistic analysis showed that impaired consciousness on admission and limb weakness were good predictors of mortality for brain hemorrhage, while impaired consciousness and the cumulative effect of progressive worsening, limb weakness, left ventricular hypertrophy, past history of cardiac arrhythmia and previous transient ischemic attack were predictors of mortality for brain infarction. Age was not an independent predictor of stroke mortality, but for brain infarction the number of cumulative factors considered in the model increased with age. Our study shows that several factors associated with death risk are available during the first few hours after onset of stroke. Age alone is not critical, although its interaction with other factors should be considered.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Subjective experience and behavior in acute stroke: the Lausanne Emotion in Acute Stroke Study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess subjective experience in acute stroke and to correlate it with stroke features, acute emotional behavior, and impact on seeking of medical care. METHODS: The authors studied patients with acute first-ever stroke prospectively. During the first 4 days they rated subjective experience (happiness, sadness, irascibility, and fear); behavioral reactions, using a specifically designed scale; and mood (Hamilton anxiety and depression). Fifty-three patients (30 men, 23 women; age, 60 +/- 19 years) completed the 3-month follow-up. RESULTS: Seventeen patients failed to seek medical care spontaneously. Sixteen patients presented behavioral reactions of overt sadness, 20 presented indifference, 12 presented aggressiveness, 20 presented disinhibition, and 16 presented denial. Eight patients were anosognosic and 12 were anosodiaphoric. Twenty-four patients expressed happiness, 20 expressed sadness, 7 expressed anger, and 11 expressed fear. Ten patients with aphasia could be interviewed, but four required delayed questioning. Denial reactions and anosognosia were independent. Acute denial reactions were not dependent on the side of stroke, but were more frequent after deep lesions (p < 0.010). Patients with a denial reaction had a tendency to present less subjective experience of fear (p < 0.078) and a higher occurrence of delayed depression (p < 0.02). Intergroup comparison of all measures showed that lack of seeking care was related to reactions of indifference (p < 0.007), a tendency toward a less subjective experience of fear (p < 0.078), poor recall of the acute event (p < 0.001), decreased nosognosia (p < 0.001), and right-side lesions (p < 0.035). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with acute behavioral denial had a decreased occurrence of subjective experience of fear and a more frequent occurrence of delayed depression. These denial reactions were independent of anosognosia. A subjective experience of fear was related to appropriate care seeking. An impaired subjective experience of fear may contribute, as with anosognosia, to an increased delay in consultation. All other emotional reactions were dissociated from the patients' subjective experience.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1999

Assessing multiple sclerosis activity: is the in vitro production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukins 2, 6, 4, and 10, and immunoglobulin G of value?

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha, interleukins (IL) 2, 4, 6, and 10, and IgG oligoclonal bands (IgG OB) in vitro production was assessed, after whole-blood stimulation with lipopolysaccharide or concanavalin A, in 61 patients presenting with relapsing-remitting, relapsing-progressive, or chronic progressive multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis patients were receiving no treatment or azathioprine (AZA), cyclosporin, cyclophosphamide, subcutaneous interferon (IFN) beta 1 a, or corticosteroids (CST). Statistical correlations significantly showed that: (a) AZA lowers TNF-alpha (P = 0.002) and increases IL-4 production (P = 0.0024), and IFN-beta 1 a increases TNF-alpha and decreases IL-4 levels; (b) CST has a negative effect on TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-4 synthesis; and (c) AZA, IFN-beta 1 a, and CST diminish IgG OB synthesis (P = 0.001). Although our study of the dynamics of TNF-alpha, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 in vitro production generally found no statistically significant correlations (partly explained by the limited number of values in the various groups), IL-6 was shown to drop during the periods surrounding relapse (P = 0.05) in the absence of treatment, while TNF-alpha (P = 0.04) and IL-6 (P < 0.05) dropped before exacerbation in the presence of AZA. In vitro production of TNF-alpha was closely and positively correlated with that of IL-6, independently of clinical features. The enhanced production of IL-10 detected before or at relapse with AZA and IFN-beta 1 a (trends) may interfere with initiation of the immune reaction and with the development of new CNS lesions. Some discrepancies with previously published results stress the difficulties in studying the state of stimulation of different populations of leukocytes by using a variety of in vitro stimuli and in establishing a correlation between mRNA studies and the amount of final or active protein produced.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

PubMed1999

Death from ischemic stroke in the anterior circulation: the contralateral carotid matters.

Death from acute hemispheric infarction is commonly associated with stroke size, but the potential role of the internal carotid artery (ICA) in this phenomenon is poorly understood. The aim of the present study was to analyse the relation between the degree of ipsilateral and contralateral ICA stenosis, infarct type and death. We studied 2,148 first-ever stroke patients with anterior circulation infarction from the Lausanne Stroke Registry. Doppler ultrasonography with frequency spectral analysis and Duplex-scanning were performed systematically during the acute phase of stroke. The patients were divided into groups according to the degree of ipsilateral and contralateral ICA stenosis. The case fatality ratios (CFR) at hospital discharge were obtained for each group. Several clinical features including age, stroke topography, level of consciousness, limb weakness on admission, type of onset, hyperglycemia, previous transient ischemic attack, cardiac ischemia, cardiac arrhythmia and left ventricular hypertrophy were also studied. Mortality increased significantly with ipsilateral ICA stenosis: </=50% stenosis, 2.8%, (44/1,549); >50% and </=90% stenosis, 3.5%, (6/170); >90% stenosis, 5.6%, (24/429); p = 0.026, but not significantly with contralateral ICA stenosis. However, patients without ipsilateral ICA stenosis had significantly higher mortality when contralateral stenosis was present: 16.7% (3/18) versus 2.7% (41/1,531), p = 0.013. This corresponded to an increased frequency of strokes involving the whole middle cerebral artery territory, with impaired consciousness at onset of stroke. Patients with ipsilateral stenosis had similar CFR independently of the presence or absence of contralateral stenosis. In conclusion, patency of the contralateral ICA may be an important contributory factor of larger infarction and indirectly of stroke mortality in patients with no ipsilateral stenosis.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1999

Isolated and combined lesions of the axillary nerve. A review of 146 cases.

We have assessed the final strength of the deltoid in 121 patients who had repair of isolated or combined lesions of the axillary (circumflex) nerve and were available for statistical analysis. Successful or useful results were achieved in 85% after grafting of isolated lesions. The strength was statistically better when patients had grafting of the axillary nerve within 5.3 months from the time of injury. The dramatic decrease in the rate of success seen with longer delays suggests that surgery should be undertaken within three months of injury. A statistically significant downward trend of the rate of success was noted with increasing age. The force and level of injury to the shoulder play an important role in the type, combination and level of nerve damage and the incidence of associated rotator-cuff, vascular and other injuries to the upper limb. Management of isolated and combined lesions of the axillary nerve after injury to the shoulder needs to be thorough and systematic.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Different predictors of neurological worsening in different causes of stroke.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate clinical determinants of neurological worsening and to delineate its predictors. DESIGN: Restrospective analysis of the data from the Lausanne Stroke Registry. PATIENTS: A total of 3038 patients with first-ever stroke consecutively admitted to a primary-care stroke center. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Neurological worsening in the acute phase of stroke. RESULTS: Neurological worsening was observed in 38% of 300 patients with brain hemorrhage, 34% of 1968 patients with noncardioembolic infarction, and 15% of 770 patients with cardioembolic infarction (P<.001). Neurological worsening was significantly less frequent in patients with small-artery disease than in those with large-artery atherosclerosis or other causes. A logistic multiple regression model in patients with noncardioembolic infarction showed age less than 65 years, hypertension, lesion outside the superficial anterior circulation, absence of transient ischemic attack, and reduced level of consciousness as the independent factors in the patients with small-artery disease, while it showed involvement of the posterior circulation and reduced level of consciousness in the patients with large-artery atherosclerosis. Severe functional disability or death was more common in patients with neurological worsening, both in patients with large-artery atherosclerosis and in those with small-artery disease (18% vs 9%; P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Determinants of neurological worsening may include causative aspects rather than just the evolution of the ischemic or hemorrhagic process itself. For a better comprehension and treatment of neurological worsening, the causative and pathophysiological conditions underlying stroke should be differentiated as early as possible.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Change in capsulorhexis size with four foldable loop-haptic lenses over 6 months.

PURPOSE: To compare the change in continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (CCC) size after implantation of four types of three-piece foldable intraocular lenses (IOLs) and determine whether initial CCC size and IOL characteristics play a role in the change. METHODS: This study comprised 133 eyes that had phacoemulsification and in-the-bag implantation of one of four types of foldable IOLs: Alcon AcrySof MA30BA (n = 36); lovision 127 (n = 29); Mentor ORC MemoryLens (n = 39); Allergan PhacoFlex II (n = 29). Photographs of the CCCs were taken with a digital retinograph 1 day and 6 months after surgery. Using image-analysis software, the CCC surface was measured and changes between 1 week and 6 months were evaluated. Characteristics of the IOLs including overall diameter, optic thickness, and haptic centrifugal force were measured with micrometric tools. RESULTS: The median change in CCC surface size at 6 months was +5.5% in the lovision group, indicating a slight enlargement. This finding was significantly different from that in the other three IOL groups (P < .0001), which had a tendency toward CCC contraction. Median change in CCC size was -2.3% in the MemoryLens group, -2.8% in the AcrySof group, and -6% in the PhacoFlex group. The MemoryLens was the most predictive IOL, with the smallest standard deviation; it was the only group in which no patient developed CCC contraction of more than 10%. Although the lovision and PhacoFlex IOLs have common physical characteristics except for optic thickness (lovision 30% thicker), the CCCs in the lovision group were significantly more stable (P < .0001). Results indicate that the high centrifugal haptic force associated with acrylate/methacrylate polymer optics of the AcrySof and MemoryLens IOLs may prevent CCC contraction of greater than 10% in 97.4% of cases. CONCLUSION: Although there were statistically significant differences, patients in all four three-piece foldable IOL groups had good CCC stability. However, the more stable and predictable CCCs were in the IOL groups that had the strongest centrifugal haptic force and an acrylate/methacrylate polymer optic (AcrySof and MemoryLens).

Acrylic Resins↗

PubMed1998

In vitro cytokine profiles as indicators of relapse activity and clinical course in multiple sclerosis.

In vitro production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-4, IL-6, IL-10 and oligoclonal IgG (IgG OB) was evaluated in the aim to investigate their profile in correlation with multiple sclerosis (MS) clinical activity and clinical course. Whole blood stimulation with lipopolysaccharide or concanavalin A was performed in 61 patients presenting with relapsing-remitting, relapsing-progressive or chronic progressive MS; treatments received were: none, azathioprine (AZA), cyclosporin, cyclophosphamide, subcutaneous interferon-beta 1a (IFN-beta 1a) and corticosteroids (CST). The cinetics of cytokine production showed that (i) in the absence of treatment, TNF-alpha and IL-6 dropped respectively after and during the periods surrounding relapse, while IL-4 was increasing before and IL-10 after relapse; (ii) with AZA, TNF-alpha and IL-6 lowered before exacerbation, IL-4 prolonged high levels after and IL-10 before relapse; (iii) with IFN-beta 1a, IL-10 was already increasing before relapse, and TNF-alpha was higher after relapse. When cytokine levels were analysed independently from MS clinical activity, the use of AZA inhibited IgG OB and TNF-alpha synthesis (P = 0.002) but increased IL-4 (P = 0.0024), whereas IFN-beta 1a stimulated TNF-alpha and inhibited IgG OB and IL-4 production. CST inhibited TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-4 and IgG OB synthesis. This study stresses both the weight of clinical parameters and of methodology used in results obtained in cytokine analysis in MS.

Biomarkers↗

PubMed1998

Reproducibility of twitch mouth pressure, sniff nasal inspiratory pressure, and maximal inspiratory pressure.

Twitch mouth pressure (Pmo,tw) during magnetic phrenic nerve stimulation and sniff nasal inspiratory pressure (SNIP) were recently proposed as alternative noninvasive methods for assessing inspiratory muscle strength. This study aimed to compare their reproducibility with maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) in normal subjects. Ten healthy subjects were studied at functional residual capacity in semirecumbent position. Cervical magnetic phrenic nerve stimulation was performed during gentle expiration against an occlusion incorporating a small leak. Constancy of stimulation was controlled by recording diaphragmatic electromyogram. Within and between-session reproducibility of pressure were studied for Pmo,tw, SNIP, and MIP. The subjects were studied during a session of 10 manoeuvres repeated after 1 day and 1 month. The mean values were 16 cmH2O for Pmo,tw, 118 cmH2O for SNIP, and 115 cmH2O for MIP. For the three tests, the within subject variation was small in relation to between-subject variation, with the intraclass correlation coefficient ranging 0.79-0.90 for Pmo,tw, 0.85-0.92 for SNIP, and 0.88-0.92 for MIP. At 1 day interval, the coefficient of repeatability (2 SD of differences) was 3.6 cmH2O for Pmo,tw, 32 cmH2O for SNIP and 28 cmH2O for MIP. At 1 month interval, the coefficient of repeatability was 5.8 cmH2O for Pmo,tw, 23 cmH2O for SNIP and 21 cmH2O for MIP. We conclude that the within session reproducibility of the new tests twitch mouth pressure and sniff nasal inspiratory pressure is sufficient to be clinically useful. For sniff nasal inspiratory pressure, the between session reproducibility established after 1 day was maintained after 1 month. For twitch mouth pressure, the between session reproducibility declined slightly after 1 month. These characteristics should be considered when using these methods to follow an individual patient over time.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

[Pain management by nursing teams: exploratory research in 9 wards of the Vaud University Hospital Center (CHUV, Lausanne, Switzerland) 2].

Using both nursing documents and verbal reports as well as client interviews, the authors review pain management by nursing teams in 9 wards of a university hospital. The results were obtained using descriptive and inferential analyses. Looking at each situation from three different view-points reveals the absence of a systematic approach to the reporting and evaluation of pain and the usage of a sometimes very vague language. In addition, the preponderance of medically-oriented interventions in the reports considerably overshadowed the autonomous nursing role. The authors propose a basic structure for pain reporting which should help to improve its overall management.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Clinical and prognostic features in unilateral femoral neuropathies.

We have examined the clinical features of patients with femoral neuropathy and the factors that influence the prognosis. Of 80 consecutive patients referred for neurophysiological evaluations of proximal lower limb weakness, 32 fulfilled strict inclusion criteria and had adequate information, including estimates of axon loss (AxL) by stimulation of the bilateral femoral nerve. In 31, the Kaplan-Meier method was used to describe the time course of the outcome, while logistic regression was employed to determine the contributing factors. Excellent, satisfactory, and poor outcomes were seen in 10 (31%), 11 (34%), and 10 (31%) patients, respectively. Logistic regression analysis of seven factors demonstrated that the estimate of AxL was the only significant variable. The best prognostic factor was an estimate of AxL < or = 50%, with all patients fulfilling this criterion showing improvement with 1 year; fewer than half the patients with AxL > 50% should be expected to improve. This study clearly shows that, irrespective of the cause of femoral neuropathy, functional improvement is seen in 2 out of 3 patients within 2 years and that the estimate of AxL is the only factor influencing prognosis.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Urinary phosphate/creatinine, calcium/creatinine, and magnesium/creatinine ratios in a healthy pediatric population.

OBJECTIVE: To determine reference values for urinary phosphate/creatinine (Cr) concentration ratios and to complete reference values for urinary calcium/creatinine and magnesium/creatinine ratios in the second morning urine sample of healthy infants, children, and adolescents. DESIGN: Urinary P/Cr, Ca/Cr, and Mg/Cr ratios were determined from the second morning urine sample. Two urine samples were obtained 1 week apart from most subjects to assess reproducibility. SETTING: Kindergartens and schools of Lausanne, Switzerland. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 410 healthy children aged 1 month to 17 years (197 girls and 213 boys) participated in the study. RESULTS: The 5th and 95th percentiles were estimated from 664 urine samples. There were no differences related to sex. A nonlinear regression in terms of age was used to smooth the estimated percentiles yielding reference curves from which critical values may be obtained for any given age. The 95th percentile for urinary Ca/Cr and Mg/Cr agreed with previously reported values in children older than 7 years. The upper limit of the three solute/creatinine ratios decreased significantly with age: for urinary P/Cr from 19.0 mol/mol at 1 month to 2.7 at 14 years; for urinary Ca/Cr from 2.2 to 0.7 mol/mol, and for urinary Mg/Cr from 2.2 to 0.6 mol/mol. Lower limits varied little. Interindividual and intraindividual variations decreased with age. CONCLUSIONS: Urinary P/Cr, Ca/Cr, and Mg/Cr ratios vary strongly with age. We provide reference values, expressed both in SI and in mass units, for urinary P/Cr, Ca/Cr, and Mg/Cr in children aged one month to 17 years.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

St. Jude Medical valve prosthesis: an analysis of long-term outcome and prognostic factors.

Between 1979 and 1984, 321 patients received 354 St. Jude Medical prostheses (194 aortic, 94 mitral, 1 tricuspid, and 32 multiple valve replacements). Follow-up was 96% complete (2967 patient-years; mean 9.5 years per patient). Actuarial event-free rates at 10 years and linearized rates (in parentheses) of late complications were as follows: embolism, 85.0% +/- 2.3% (2.3% per patient-year); anticoagulant-related hemorrhage, 74.8% +/- 2.7% (3.3% per patient-year); cerebrovascular accident, 81.8% +/- 2.5% (2.6% per patient-year); prosthesis thrombosis, 98.5% +/- 0.7% (0.1% per patient-year); endocarditis, 97.2% +/- 1.1% (0.4% per patient-year); prosthesis dysfunction, 97.1% +/- 1.0% (0.4% per patient-year); hemolytic anemia, 98.5% +/- 0.7% (0.1% per patient-year); reoperation, 97.4% +/- 1.0% (0.4% per patient-year); overall mortality, 63.3% +/- 2.7% (4.2% per patient-year); and valve-related death (including sudden death), 84.7% +/- 2.2% (1.4% per patient-year). Independent preoperative risk factors were as follows: (1) for embolism, cardiac failure as indication for operation and history of prior systemic embolism; (2) for cerebrovascular accidents, the same two factors and age; (3) for endocarditis, diabetes, chronic alcoholism, and aortic valve replacement; (4) for overall mortality, age, ejection fraction (or cardiac index or cardiothoracic index), chronic alcoholism, and history of systemic embolism; and (5) for valve-related death, chronic alcoholism, degenerative cause of valve disease, and prosthetic diameter 23 mm or smaller. Ninety percent of survivors were in New York Heart Association functional class I or II at the end of follow-up. In conclusion, this study confirms the excellent durability of the St. Jude Medical valve and the remarkable functional benefit for the majority of the patients. However, prosthesis-related complications are still common, particularly for small-diameter prostheses. Outcome is strongly related to the patient's preoperative cardiac condition and to the adequacy of anticoagulation control.

Aged↗

PubMed1997

Effect of conditioned media, nutritive elements, and mitotic synchronization on the accuracy of the cytogenetic analysis in acute nonlymphocytic leukemia patients presenting with inv(16)/t(16;16) or t(15;17).

To improve the yield of the cytogenetic analysis in patients with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL), six culture conditions for bone marrow or peripheral blood cells were tested in parallel. Two conditioned media (CM), phytohemagglutinin leukocyte PHA-LCM and 5637 CM, nutritive elements (NE), and methotrexate (MTX) cell synchronization were investigated in 14 patients presenting with either inv(16)/ t(16;16) (group 1, n = 9 patients) or t(15;17) (group 2, n = 5). The criteria used to identify the most favorable culture conditions were the mitotic index (MI), the morphological index (MorI), and the percentage of abnormal metaphases. In the presence of PHA-LCM and 5637 CM, the MI were significantly increased in group 2, whereas in the MTX conditions, MI remained very low in both groups. The values of the MorI did not reveal any significant changes in chromosome resolution between the conditions in either group. The addition of NE did not have a positive effect in quantity or quality of metaphases. Because of the variability of the response of leukemic cells to different stimulations in vitro, several culture conditions in parallel are required to ensure a satisfactory yield of the chromosome analysis in ANLL.

Bone Marrow↗

PubMed1997

Change in capsulorhexis size after implantation of three types of intraocular lenses.

PURPOSE: To compare the change in size of continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (CCC) used for implantation of three types of intraocular lenses (IOLs) and to determine the role of postoperative inflammation, initial CCC dimension, haptic design, and optic material. SETTING: Hôpital Ophtalmique Universitaire Jules Gonin, Lausanne, Switzerland. METHOD: Twenty-nine three-piece, silicone/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) IOLs (lovision 127), 26 one-piece PMMA IOLs (Pharmacia 812A), and 27 plate-haptic silicone IOLs (Staar AA4203) were implanted in the capsular bag after phacoemulsification. Photographs of the CCCs taken 1 day and 6 months after surgery were scanned and digitized on a computer. Using different software, the surface of the CCC was measured and the 6 month change evaluated. Flare, measured the day before surgery and postoperatively at days 1, 7, 30, and 180, was integrated to obtain a global estimate of inflammation during the 180 day follow-up. RESULTS: The CCCs used with three-piece, silicone/PMMA IOLs showed little changes in surface, with a mean enlargement of +0.57 mm2 +/- 1.15 (SD) (+3.5%). The CCCs used with the one-piece PMMA IOLs had a slight tendency to constrict, with a mean surface decrease of -0.59 +/- 2.16 mm2 (-4.3%). The CCCs used with plate-haptic silicone IOLs showed a marked and statistically significant constriction, with a mean decrease of -2.55 +/- 3.51 mm2 (-14.4%). The change in CCC size was not associated with the integrated flare, and no correlation was found between the initial CCC size and the magnitude of change. There was no statistically significant difference in CCC change between the PMMA optic IOL (Pharmacia) and silicone optic IOL (lovision and Staar) groups. The CCC in the plate-haptic IOL (Staar) group showed a significant (P < .0002) constriction when compared with that in the loop-haptic IOL (Pharmacia and lovision) group. CONCLUSION: The IOLs' haptic design seemed to play a major role in the evolution of the CCC. The CCC constriction seen with the Staar IOLs was related to their plate haptics.

Aged↗

PubMed1996

Predictors of stroke pattern in hypertensive patients.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Hypertension is a recognized risk factor for stroke. However, it is not clear why hypertensive patients may have different types and causes of stroke. METHODS: The possible role of coexisting factors was studied in 1057 patients with hypertension and first stroke admitted to a population-based stroke center. We used logistic regression analysis (multivariate and polychotomous) and the Lausanne Stroke Registry definitions of cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral infarction, lacunar infarction, cardioembolism and large artery disease. RESULTS: Cerebral hemorrhage was not more frequent in these hypertensive patients (111/1057 = 10.5%) than in the total population of the registry (213/2145 = 10%). Cerebral infarction was associated with age above the median (69 years), diabetes, smoking history, family history of cardiac or cerebrovascular disease, hypercholesterolemia and previous TIA. In the ischemic group (n = 946), patients suffered from a lacunar infarction in 36% of the cases, large artery disease was present in 21% of them and cardioembolism in 14.5%. Large artery disease correlated with smoking history (odds ratio: 2.14; 95% confidence intervals: 1.55-2.95) and previous TIA (OR:1.96; 95% CI:1.39-2.75). Cardioembolism correlated with age over 69 years (OR:2.13; 95% CI:1.47-3.09). In patients with previous TIA and smoking history, large artery disease was presumed in 45% of the cases (vs 21%). Patients aged over 69, suffered a cardioembolic stroke in 29% of the cases (vs 14.5%). Lacunar infarction occurred in 49% of patients aged less than 70 years when no history of smoking or previous TIA was present (vs 36%). CONCLUSION: The associations between hypertension, TIA, age and smoking history may partially explain why patients with hypertension are more likely to develop a cerebral hemorrhage, lacunar infarction, cardioembolic or a large artery disease stroke.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Haemodynamic changes during high frequency oscillation for respiratory distress syndrome.

In a crossover trial left ventricular output (LVO), cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV), and resistance index (RI) of the anterior cerebral artery were compared using Doppler ultrasonography, in eight preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) during conventional mechanical ventilation and high frequency oscillation. LVO was 14% to 18% lower with high frequency oscillation. There were no significant changes in CBFV. On the first day of life there was a trend towards lower RI on high frequency oscillation; the fall in LVO on high frequency oscillation was not related to lung hyperinflation. Changes in ventilation type (from conventional mechanical ventilation to high frequency oscillation, or vice versa) can induce significant LVO changes in preterm infants with RDS.

Blood Flow Velocity↗