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Social Corroboration and Opinion Extremity

Four studies found that social corroboration of one's (pro/con) attitudinal position leads to increases in attitude extremity. Study 1 focused on attraction ratings made by college women. This study demonstrated both increases in opinion extremity following corroboration and decreases in opinion extremity following contradiction. Study 2 focused on dental chair comfort ratings made by dental patients and found greater opinion extremity following corroboration from either fellow patients or the dentist. Study 3 reported greater charity donation amounts as well as heightened opinion confidence following corroboration. Study 4 replicated Study 1 varying duration of stimulus exposure and found that, as predicted, confidence scores were affected more by the corroboration/contradiction manipulation when initial exposures were brief. Unexpectedly, however, the affect of corroboration on attraction ratings, was not moderated by initial exposure time. Rather, across both long and short exposure times, attraction scores were most extreme following corroboration and least extreme following contradiction. Path analyses in Study 4 supported the view that this association between corroboration and extremity was mediated by confidence. This research indicates that the relationship between corroboration and opinion extremity appears to be respectably robust across populations and target variables, and is not specific to sensitive within subject designs. Moreover, Study 3 indicates that social corroboration is capable of increasing the extremity of behavior having real consequences for participants. The data are discussed in terms of possible moderator variables, as well as theories of group polarization and opinion extremity.

Journal Article↗

Results of reconstruction in major pelvic and extremity venous injuries.

PURPOSE: Outcome and venous patency after reconstruction in major pelvic and extremity venous injuries was studied. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 46 patients with 47 venous injuries. RESULTS: Injuries were caused by penetrating trauma in 37 extremities, blunt trauma in 6 patients, and were iatrogenic in 4 patients. Pelvic veins were injured in 4 patients, lower-extremity veins were injured in 39 limbs in 38 patients, and upper-extremity veins were injured in 4 patients. Concomitant arterial injuries occurred in 37 patients. Venous repairs were mostly of the complex type and included spiral or panel grafts in 15 (32%) reconstructions, interposition grafts or patch venoplasty in 19 (40%) reconstructions, end-to-end and lateral repair in 11 patients, and ligation in 2 patients. Two patients underwent early amputation. Early transient limb edema occurred in 2 patients, and postoperative venous occlusions were documented in 4 patients. Full function was regained in 39 (81%) extremities. No variable, including 4 retrospectively applied extremity injury scores (mangled extremity severity score [MESS], limb salvage index [LSI], mangled extremity syndrome index [MESI], predictive salvage index [PSI]), correlated with outcome. High values on all 4 scores were significantly associated with reexplorations (P <.02), which were done in 8 patients for debridement (5), arrest of bleeding (2), and repair of a missed arterial injury (1). Follow-up of 28 +/- 6 months on 27 patients (57%; duplex scan in 18, continuous-wave Doppler and plethysmography in 9, and venography in 3) showed 1 occlusion 6 weeks after the injury and patency of all other venous reconstructions. CONCLUSION: Reconstructions of major venous injuries with a high rate of complex repairs result in a large proportion of fully functional limbs and a high patency rate. A high extremity injury score predicts the need for reexploration of the extremity. Mostocclusions occur within weeks of injury, and the subsequent delayed occlusion rate is very low.

Adolescent↗

Periods of extreme ankle displacement during one-legged standing.

The goal of this study was to describe the movement patterns of the ankle joint whilst standing on one leg. Ten healthy adult females (age 24 +/- 5.3 years) performed a one-legged standing task with eyes closed. Force platform recordings and video analyses were used to describe the kinematic and kinetic characteristics of the ankle joint during this task. A rocking movement of the foot (heel inversion-eversion) was documented by examining instances of extreme ankle displacement. Extreme ankle displacement was defined as any instant when the ankle position was more than +/- 2 SD away from the mean ankle joint position. Extreme values of lateral and medial ankle joint displacement were 14.8 and 9.2 mm, correspondingly. These instances of extreme foot inversion-eversion were characterized by large medial-lateral displacement of the gravity line (GLP) and center of pressure (COP) and large horizontal forces. Comparing instances of extreme ankle joint displacement to periods of non-extreme ankle displacement, the ankle joint moment remained fairly constant, averaging 8.4 +/- 4 and 6.9 +/- 3.5 Nm, respectively. The moment about the 'body-minus-foot' center of mass generated by the ankle joint reaction force, however, was on average over four times larger during instances of extreme ankle displacement (3.4 +/- 2.8 Nm), than during periods of non-extreme ankle displacement (0.8 +/- 0.4 Nm). In utmost situations, the moment due to the joint reaction force was up to 73% of the ankle joint moment. These results suggest that at least two different techniques are used to maintain balance during one-legged standing. The first technique, termed the ankle torque technique, involves a large restorative moment at a stationary ankle joint for balance maintenance. The other technique, the shear force technique, involves a large horizontal force at a moving ankle joint for balance maintenance. During non-extreme periods, balance was maintained primarily through the ankle torque technique. During extreme instances, a combination of both techniques was observed.

Adult↗

Upper extremity dysfunction in children with myelomeningocele.

A retrospective chart review of 138 subjects with myelomeningocele was performed to determine factors affecting upper extremity function in this population. Upper extremity dysfunction was found in 62 subjects (46.6%). A relationship was found between upper extremity dysfunction and hydrocephalus. Subjects with hydrocephalus had a significantly greater incidence of upper extremity dysfunction than subjects without hydrocephalus. No significant relationship was found between surgically treated versus spontaneously arrested hydrocephalus or number of shunt revisions and upper extremity dysfunction. A relationship was found between level of lesion of the spinal cord and upper extremity dysfunction. High level lesions had a significantly higher incidence of upper extremity dysfunction. Of 62 patients with upper extremity dysfunction only 3 (3.2%) had normal development. This was statistically significant. Little attention has been given to general developmental status in myelomeningocele children with upper extremity dysfunction. This study suggests a strong correlation between these two variables. In conclusion, hydrocephalus, level of spinal cord lesion, and developmental status, appear to be significant factors affecting upper extremity dysfunction in children with myelomeningocele.

Adolescent↗

Upper extremity functional assessment after anterior spinal fusion via thoracotomy for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: prospective study of twenty-five patients.

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective review of upper extremity function in 25 patients after anterior thoracotomy for instrumentation and fusion of thoracic adolescent idiopathic scoliosis was conducted. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of anterior spinal fusion with open thoracotomy on upper extremity function. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The treatment of idiopathic scoliosis through anterior thoracotomy and spinal fusion using instrumentation is a new method for correcting and stabilizing patients with major thoracic and thoracolumbar curves. No studies have assessed the functional outcome for the upper extremities after anterior open thoracotomy that involves splitting through the latissimus dorsi and serratus anterior muscles. METHODS: For this study, 25 adolescent patients with idiopathic scoliosis treated surgically were examined over a 3-year period. The average patient age was 15 years and 3 months, with a range of 11 years and 11 months to 20 years and 9 months. Preoperative activities of daily living, active range of motion, and strength were recorded by an independent occupational therapist (L.P.) for both upper extremities. Postoperative measurements were assessed at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. All the patients underwent a right thoracotomy with ribs used for autograft. The left upper extremity served as the control limb. No patients had associated anomalies or previous upper extremity surgery. All the patients underwent an upper extremity postoperative stretching and strengthening protocol. RESULTS: At 1 month, 35% of the patients had some difficulty with activities of daily living, primarily in tying their shoes and cutting meat with a knife during meals (P = 0.03). However, by 3 months, all the patients could equivocally and independently perform activities of daily living: dressing, bathing, grooming, attending to hygiene, and feeding (P = 1). Full active range of motion in their upper extremities and shoulder was achieved in all the patients by 1 month (P = 1). All 25 patients had regained normal, bilaterally symmetric strength by 3 months (P = 0.25). No postoperative complications occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing anterior spinal fusion with instrumentation after open thoracotomy can expect to regain full function of the ipsilateral upper extremity in terms of strength, active range of motion, and activities of daily living within 3 months. Compliance with a structured postoperative flexibility and strengthening protocol is recommended to optimize functional outcomes. A novel rehabilitation protocol for the upper extremities is presented.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Risk factors and recurrence rate of primary deep vein thrombosis of the upper extremities.

BACKGROUND: One third of cases of upper-extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT) are primary, ie, they occur in the absence of central venous catheters or cancer. Risk factors for primary upper-extremity DVT are not well established, and the recurrence rate is unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 115 primary upper-extremity DVT patients and 797 healthy controls for the presence of thrombophilia due to factor V Leiden, prothrombin G20210A, antithrombin, protein C, protein S deficiency, and hyperhomocysteinemia. Transient risk factors for venous thromboembolism were recorded. Recurrent upper-extremity DVT was evaluated prospectively over a median of 5.1 years of follow-up. The adjusted odds ratio for upper-extremity DVT was 6.2 (95% CI 2.5 to 15.7) for factor V Leiden, 5.0 (95% CI 2.0 to 12.2) for prothrombin G20210A, and 4.9 (95% CI 1.1 to 22.0) for the anticoagulant protein deficiencies. Hyperhomocysteinemia and oral contraceptives were not associated with upper-extremity DVT. However, in women with factor V Leiden or prothrombin G20210A who were taking oral contraceptives, the odds ratio for upper-extremity DVT was increased up to 13.6 (95% CI 2.7 to 67.3). The recurrence rate was 4.4% patient-years in patients with thrombophilia and 1.6% patient-years in those without thrombophilia. The hazard ratio for recurrent upper-extremity DVT in patients with thrombophilia compared with those without was 2.7 (95% CI 0.7 to 9.8). CONCLUSIONS: Inherited thrombophilia is associated with an increased risk of upper-extremity DVT. Oral contraceptives increase the risk only when combined with inherited thrombophilia. The recurrence rate of primary upper-extremity DVT is low but tends to be higher in patients with thrombophilia than in those without.

Activated Protein C Resistance↗

The impact of extremely low birth weight on the families of school-aged children.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to document the impact and burden of extremely low birth weight (<1000 g) and associated problems on the families of school-aged children in a controlled study. The study was also designed to document the salient predictors of individual differences of family impact within the extremely low birth weight group. METHODS: A prospective study was completed at 8 years of a cohort of 219 children with extremely low birth weight born 1992-1995 and 176 children with normal birth weight. Measures included the following predictor variables: socioeconomic status and parent risk, birth risk, neonatal risk, neurodevelopmental outcome, impairment in adaptive abilities, and functional impact of chronic conditions. The primary outcome measure was the Impact on Family scale. A measure of family stressors and resources (the Life Stressors and Social Resources Inventory) was also obtained. RESULTS: The primary finding was that the total family impact was greater in the extremely low birth weight group compared with controls. Moreover, the negative impact on family in specific domains was greater in the extremely low birth weight group in financial impact, caretaker burden, and familial burden. These differences were not attributable to general family stressors, socioeconomic status, child, gender, or race. Higher parent/socioeconomic risk, neurodevelopmental outcomes, and the functional impact of chronic conditions predicted greater family impact within the extremely low birth weight group, whereas birth and neonatal risk scores did not. CONCLUSIONS: Extremely low birth weight was associated with a negative impact on families. Socioeconomic parental risk, but most especially child-related factors such as neurodevelopmental and the functional impact of chronic conditions, predicted the negative family impact within the extremely low birth weight group. Findings underscore the need to develop and test interventions to provide support for families of extremely low birth weight infants to ameliorate the burden of extremely low birth weight and associated risk factors on families.

Family↗

[Surgery of the low extremity varices as a part of a same-day surgery programme].

INTRODUCTION: One-day surgical methods lower the procedures costs as well the need for urgent beds in surgical clinics. The varix operation seem to be the optimal diagnosis suitable for the one-day surgical procedure. AIM: The aim of this work is to assess a feasibility of the one-day surgery for the low extremities varix operations. METHODOLOGY: During the period starting in January until December 2003, 98 extremities were operated for varices. The surgical procedure was the same for the hospitalized as well as for the patients assigned to the one-day surgery programme. Each patient was examined with the duplex ultrasound prior to the surgery, after the surgery a compressive bandage was indicated. RESULTS: We operated 98 extremities in 96 patients suffering from varices during the period from January 2003 to December 2003. The trial group consisted of 67 females and 29 males aged 21-79 years of age (the average of 45.3 years). According to the CEAP classification, 57 extremities (58.2%) were assigned to the C2 category, 30 extremities (30.6%) to the C3 category, 6 extremities (6%) to the C4 category, 4 extremities (4%) to the C5 category and one extremity (1%) to the C6 category. 14 extremities in the group were operated due to the disease relapse. 62 patients (i.e. 65%) were released for the home-care on the day of the operation, 27 patients (28%) were released the following day. One patient was hospitalized for two days, three patients for three days, one patient for four days and two patients for five days. 91 out of the total 98 extremities (i.e. 93%) underwent the one-day surgery. CONCLUSION: Although some patients require hospitalization, the varix surgery is safe and suitable for the one-day surgery. A thorough preoperative examination as well each patient's cooperation are both very important.

Adult↗

Blunt vascular trauma in the extremity: diagnosis, management, and outcome.

BACKGROUND: Blunt vascular trauma in an extremity is an uncommon diagnosis. Considering the complexity of these injuries, it is worthwhile to determine how select factors affect the outcome of the limb and the patient. The objectives of this study were to review the diagnosis, management, and outcomes of patients who sustained blunt vascular injuries in the extremities and relate factors in their treatment to the outcome of the injured extremity. METHODS: A retrospective review of data on adult and pediatric patients who had a diagnosis of blunt vascular injury in an extremity and underwent some attempt at restoration of vascular flow was conducted. RESULTS: From January 1995 to December 2002, 62 patients (80.3% male; mean age, 33.2 +/- 15.8 years) sustained blunt trauma (mean Injury Severity Score, 14.6 +/- 8.4), with 93 vascular injuries in 65 extremities (16 upper and 49 lower). Hard signs of vascular injury occurred in 41 (66%) patients. An associated fracture and/or dislocation was present in 59 patients (95%). Preoperative arteriograms were obtained in 20 patients (17 occlusions, 2 embolizations, and 1 untreated). Vessel injuries were as follows: 16 upper (brachial artery, 50%) and 63 lower (tibial/peroneal/popliteal, 84%), with ligation being the most common treatment in the latter. Intravascular shunts were used to restore blood flow in 18 vessels (13 arteries and 5 veins) in 13 patients. Delays in diagnosis or treatment occurred in six patients, mostly because of errors in management/judgment. Delayed or late fasciotomies were performed in six patients, and five developed rhabdomyolysis. Six patients died. The age (p = 0.0006), Injury Severity Score (p = 0.0007), and Mangled Extremity Severity Score (p = 0.0009) were significantly different for the survivors compared with the nonsurvivors. CONCLUSION: Blunt vascular injuries in the lower extremities occur most commonly in the anteroposterior tibial arteries; injured arteries in the proximal upper and lower extremity require resection with interposition grafting, whereas those in the forearm or calf are usually ligated; the amputation rate in 65 injured extremities with blunt vascular trauma was 18.%, which is at least three times that for those who sustain penetrating injury; and delays in diagnosis and treatment are uncommon in these patients with multiple injuries.

Accidents, Traffic↗

Tissue expansion in the extremities using external reservoirs.

Over a 24-month period, 18 patients had 33 expanders placed in the extremities. Twelve expansions were performed in the upper extremity, and 21 in the lower extremity. Indications for expansion include scarring, excision of skin grafts, tumor excision, burn scars, tattoos, or unacceptable incisional scars for revision. Of the 12 expansions performed in the upper extremity in seven patients, nine were successful. Nine expansions in the thigh and two expansions in the region of the knee were completed without complication. Three expansions were performed in the distal lower extremity following crush injury to remove scarring, and all three failed. Seven expansions were performed in the foot for removal of scarred tissue. There was one infection, two skin necroses on the dorsum of the foot, and one implant exposure. Seven complications in the lower extremity occurred in these areas with an infection rate of 20%. The remaining 23 expansions were performed for soft tissue defects in the upper extremity or in the lower extremity above the level of the mid-calf, with only two complications of implant exposure or infection. Therefore, the infection rate and complication rate in the upper extremity and above the knee was only 6%. Overall, 23 of the 33 expansions, or 70%, were taken to completion with a successful advancement of expanded flaps. Overall, complications occurred in 30% of patients, all eventually requiring removal of the expander.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Comparison of arteriovenous grafts in the thigh and upper extremities in hemodialysis patients.

Placement of a thigh graft is an option in hemodialysis patients who have exhausted all upper extremity sites for permanent vascular access. The outcome of thigh grafts has been reported only in retrospective studies. The outcomes of 409 grafts placed at a single institution during a 3.5-yr period were evaluated prospectively, including 63 thigh grafts (15% of the total). Information was recorded on surgical complications, dates of radiologic and surgical interventions, and date of graft failure. The technical failure rate was approximately twice as high for thigh grafts, as compared with upper extremity grafts (12.7 versus 5.8%; P = 0.046). Intervention-free survival was similar for thigh and upper extremity grafts (median, 3.9 versus 3.5 mo; P = 0.55). Thrombosis-free survival was also comparable for thigh and upper extremity grafts (median, 5.7 versus 5.5 mo; P = 0.94). Cumulative survival (time to permanent failure) was similar for thigh and upper extremity grafts (median, 14.8 versus 20.8 mo; P = 0.62). When technical failures were excluded, the median cumulative survival was 27.6 mo for thigh grafts and 22.5 mo for upper extremity grafts (P = 0.72). The frequency of angioplasty (0.28 versus 0.57 per year), thrombectomy (1.58 versus 0.94 per year), surgical revision (0.28 versus 0.18 per year), and total intervention rate (2.15 versus 1.70 per year) was similar between thigh and upper extremity grafts. Access loss as a result of infection tended to be higher for thigh grafts than for upper extremity grafts (11.1 versus 5.2%; P = 0.07). In conclusion, placement of thigh grafts should be considered a viable option among hemodialysis patients who have exhausted all options for a permanent vascular access in both upper extremities.

Aged↗

The use of somatosensory evoked potentials to determine the relationship between patient positioning and impending upper extremity nerve injury during spine surgery: a retrospective analysis.

Somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) monitoring is used to prevent nerve damage in spine surgery and to detect changes in upper extremity nerve function. Upper extremity SSEP conduction changes may indicate impending nerve injury. We investigated the effect of operative positioning on upper extremity nerve function retrospectively in 1000 consecutive spine surgeries that used SSEP monitoring. The vast majority (92%) of upper extremity SSEP changes were reversed by modifying the arm position and were therefore classified as position-related. The incidence of position-related upper extremity SSEP changes was calculated and compared for five different surgical positions: supine arms out, supine arms tucked, lateral decubitus position, prone arms tucked, and the prone "superman" position. The overall incidence of position-related upper extremity SSEP changes was 6.1%. The lateral decubitus position (7.5%) and prone superman position (7.0%) had a significantly more frequent incidence of position-related upper extremity SSEP changes (P < 0.0001, Z-test for Poisson counts) compared with other positions (1.8%-3.2%). No patient with a reversible SSEP change developed a new postoperative deficit in the affected extremity. SSEP monitoring is of value in identifying and reversing impending upper extremity peripheral nerve injury.

Adolescent↗

ILEAD--ischemia of the lower extremities due to aortic dissection: the isolated presentation.

BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS: Lower extremity symptoms accompanying dissecting hematomas of the aorta are well described. Isolated lower extremity ischemia as the presenting syndrome of aortic dissection is rare and frequently misinterpreted so that the diagnosis of aortic dissection is delayed or missed, often with catastrophic results. This study was undertaken to determine its common characteristics and to reinforce recognition of this life-threatening phenomenon. METHODS: After the first patient in our series presented with isolated lower extremity ischemia due to aortic dissection, a prospective search for similar presentations was undertaken over 2 years. We also conducted a retrospective search for all aortic dissections at our hospital for the past 10 years and a MEDLINE search for all reported aortic dissections in the literature of the past 20 years, as well as for all reports of isolated ischemia of the lower extremities due to aortic dissection. RESULTS: Three patients with isolated ischemia of the lower extremities due to aortic dissection were found prospectively after the index case. Over 10 years, 40 patients with acute aortic dissection were diagnosed at our hospital. The MEDLINE search revealed 1,751 aortic dissections of which 10% had lower extremity symptoms. Only 10 cases of aortic dissection were reported as lower extremity ischemia with symptoms isolated to one or both lower extremities. Smoking, hypertension, male gender, hypercholesterolemia, and recent history of coronary artery bypass grafting were common predisposing risk factors for this rare presentation. CONCLUSION: Symptomatic isolated ischemia of the lower extremities due to aortic dissection is rare and often missed. Awareness of its characteristics, aided by the acronym ILEAD, made it possible to suspect the true origin of this misleading syndrome.

Aortic Dissection↗

Reconstructing metabolic flux vectors from extreme pathways: defining the alpha-spectrum.

The move towards genome-scale analysis of cellular functions has necessitated the development of analytical (in silico) methods to understand such large and complex biochemical reaction networks. One such method is extreme pathway analysis that uses stoichiometry and thermodynamic irreversibly to define mathematically unique, systemic metabolic pathways. These extreme pathways form the edges of a high-dimensional convex cone in the flux space that contains all the attainable steady state solutions, or flux distributions, for the metabolic network. By definition, any steady state flux distribution can be described as a nonnegative linear combination of the extreme pathways. To date, much effort has been focused on calculating, defining, and understanding these extreme pathways. However, little work has been performed to determine how these extreme pathways contribute to a given steady state flux distribution. This study represents an initial effort aimed at defining how physiological steady state solutions can be reconstructed from a network's extreme pathways. In general, there is not a unique set of nonnegative weightings on the extreme pathways that produce a given steady state flux distribution but rather a range of possible values. This range can be determined using linear optimization to maximize and minimize the weightings of a particular extreme pathway in the reconstruction, resulting in what we have termed the alpha-spectrum. The alpha-spectrum defines which extreme pathways can and cannot be included in the reconstruction of a given steady state flux distribution and to what extent they individually contribute to the reconstruction. It is shown that accounting for transcriptional regulatory constraints can considerably shrink the alpha-spectrum. The alpha-spectrum is computed and interpreted for two cases; first, optimal states of a skeleton representation of core metabolism that include transcriptional regulation, and second for human red blood cell metabolism under various physiological, non-optimal conditions.

Computer Simulation↗

Power and sample sizes for linkage with extreme sampling under an oligogenic model for quantitative traits.

Extreme sampling of sibling pairs has been shown to be efficient in terms of statistical power and sample sizes (in number of sibling pairs needed to genotype) to detect a quantitative trait locus (QTL) when the residual distribution is normal. In the present study, the efficiency of extreme sampling strategies to detect each locus under an oligogenic model is analytically explored with a test statistic based on identical-by-descent (IBD) statuses of independent sibling pairs. In the oligogenic model, the joint effect of oligogenes is the sum of the effects of each locus. Under this model, detecting each single locus will depend, in part, on the allele frequencies and magnitudes of effect of the other loci. Effects of two QTLs with different magnitudes of displacement and acting nonepistatically are considered. Three types of extreme sampling-that is, extreme concordant high (ECH), extreme concordant low (ECL), and extreme discordant (ED)-are primarily considered herein. Among these, ED sampling under the oligogenic model is shown to be most efficient in most situations considered here in terms of allele frequency and mode of inheritance. Differences in results between ECH and ECL sampling are purely arbitrary, brought up mostly by the directions of displacement effects. However, power to detect a locus with the lesser (in magnitude) displacement effect does not necessarily increase with extremity of sampling. Combinations of extreme discordant and extreme concordant sibling pairs are briefly discussed.

Alleles↗

When exceptions prove the rule: how extremity of deviance determines the impact of deviant examples on stereotypes.

The authors examined how the extent to which counterstereotypic individuals deviate from perceivers' stereotypes affects their impact on these stereotypes and found that extremely deviant group members provoke less stereotype assimilation than do moderately deviant ones. Extremely deviant examples can even provoke boomerang effects, that is, enhance the very stereotype that they violate. When participants whose prior stereotype were moderate or extreme were exposed to moderately or extremely deviant examples, the deviant examples' impact on stereotypes depended both on their extremity and on the extremity of perceivers' prior stereotypes. Boomerang effects were obtained only for extreme-stereotype participants exposed to extremely deviant examples and were mediated by perceptions of the typicality of the deviant examples. Open-ended explanations revealed that the atypicality of extremely deviant examples was used as grounds for dismissing them.

Adult↗

Increased limb salvage with intraoperative and postoperative ankle level urokinase infusion in acute lower extremity ischemia.

Over a 30-month period (May 1988 to November 1990) 143 acutely ischemic lower extremities (126 patients) were treated with an aggressive surgical approach that included ankle level tibial-peroneal artery thromboembolectomy. Twelve lower extremities in 10 patients that remained ischemic were further treated with adjuvant ankle level urokinase infusion. Sixteen ankle level arteries in 12 extremities were infused with an intraoperative bolus (1 to 2) of urokinase (50,000 to 100,000 units). Continuous postoperative urokinase (25,000 to 50,000 units per catheter per hour x 1 to 5 days) was infused through ankle level arteriotomies in 10 extremities (14 arteries) that did not improve with the initial intraoperative bolus. Concomitant bypass grafting was necessary in four extremities. With adequate inflow established, adjuvant ankle level urokinase salvaged all 12 extremities. The mean increase in ankle/brachial pressure index was 0.84. During continuous postoperative urokinase infusion, lower extremity bleeding requiring blood transfusion occurred in four patients (50%). No deaths occurred in the operative period. Although rhabdomyolysis occurred in 90% of patients, no patients had renal insufficiency. The addition of ankle level urokinase delivery increased the potential limb salvage from 90% of the entire 143 extremities treated during this period to an actual limb salvage of 98%. A mean follow up of 13 months (6 to 36 months) identified one late amputation. Despite the demanding postoperative management required in these patients and the frequent need for early reoperation, the limb salvage obtained justifies this aggressive adjuvant technique in the management of the acutely ischemic lower extremity.

Aged↗

Causes of death and clinical diagnostic errors in extreme aged hospitalized people: a retrospective clinical-necropsy survey.

BACKGROUND: There are little data on causes of death in extreme aged. We compared, using autopsy findings, main cause of death, overall disease status, and accuracy rate of clinical diagnoses in extreme aged and persons dying at younger ages. METHODS: We reviewed the complete clinical and autopsy records of 114 consecutive inpatients (97 women, 17 men, age range 97-106, mean 99, median 98) who died in Trieste, Italy, and represented 99% of all extreme-aged person deaths in the hospital and 70% in the area. The control group included 151 patients (66 women, 85 men, age range 65-74, mean 70, median 70) who died during the same period in that hospital. RESULTS: Vascular and respiratory diseases together caused 84% of deaths in extreme aged. The main causes of death were pneumonia (n = 40, 35%), pulmonary embolism (n = 16, 14%), stroke (n = 12, 11%), and myocardial infarction (n = 8, 7%). Cancer was responsible for 6% (7/114) of deaths in extreme aged and 42% (64/151) in the control group. In 5% of extreme aged, autopsy findings did not explain death. The premortem diagnostic accuracy rate for clinical diagnoses was good in 44% of extreme aged, sufficient in 18%, poor in 28%, and not evaluable in 10%, and was significantly different from controls. Pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, and myocardial infarction were markedly underestimated by clinicians in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Extreme aged die mainly of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and, in most cases, of acute events. Senescence is a rare cause of death. Death from cancer is substantially lower than in persons dying at younger ages. In contrast to no autopsy studies, most extreme aged in our study were found to have specific diseases that explained their deaths.

Aged↗