Bone remodelling in human immunodeficiency virus-1-infected patients. A histomorphometric study.

The aim of this study was to identify and describe possible alterations of bone histomorphometry in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) infection and to assess the relation between these alterations and disease severity. Forty-four HIV-1-infected patients seen successively at our hospital were evaluated for the study. In an attempt to avoid confounding factors as far as possible, we excluded patients who fulfilled any of the following criteria: age less than 18 or greater than 40 years; recent history of extended bed rest; previous diagnosis of metabolic bone disease, renal insufficiency, or hepatic failure; clinical or echographic signs of liver cirrhosis; diabetes mellitus or previous diagnosis of other endocrine diseases; drug therapy that could act on bone metabolism; and/or moderate to severe nutritional alteration. Twenty-two patients (13 men, 9 women; age: 27.9 +/- 4.1 years, mean +/- standard deviation) were included in the study. Plasma and urine biochemistry and calcium-regulating hormones were determined. Bone mineral content was measured on vertebrae L2 to L4 and on the neck and intertrochanteric areas of the femur by dual-photon absorptiometry. A transiliac bone biopsy was performed after double-tetracycline labelling, with histomorphometric study of undecalcified bone. Serum osteocalcin was found to be lower in patients who, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) classification, had greater disease severity, and showed a positive correlation with the number of CD4+ T lymphocytes. No alterations in bone densitometry were observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Hip fracture as risk factor for mortality in patients over 65 years of age. Case-control study]. / Fractura de cadera como factor de riesgo en la mortalidad en pacientes mayores de 65 años. Estudio de casos y controles.

INTRODUCTION: Hip fracture among older patients is a devastating injury in most cases. It profoundly affects the physical, mental, functional and social balance that patients used to have and, beyond the orthopedic injury, it reflects the aging process and its dire consequences. Some reports show that up to 50% of patients with hip fracture die within six months and many of those who survive do not recover their baseline independence and function. In recent decades the increase in life expectancy after 60 years of age has led to an exponential growth in hip fractures. This is why it is essential to determine the patient-related and environmental factors leading to the increased mortality rates seen in patients with hip fracture, to improve the survival and quality of life of older adults. The objective was to determine the association between hip fracture and mortality in patients over 65 years of age. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An observational, longitudinal, retrospective, descriptive, comparative case-control study was conducted. The clinical records of all patients over 65 years of age admitted to the Orthopedics Service, Hospital Regional <>, ISSSTE, with a diagnosis of hip fracture during the previous 12 months were analyzed, regardless of the type of fracture and treatment they received. A group of patients without hip fracture was used as control group. Total sample size was 50 patients with hip fracture and 50 patients without hip fracture. The following data were collected in data collection forms: age, sex, time elapsed since the fracture, survival at one year and, in the case of deceased patients, the cause of death (pneumonia, sepsis, arrhythmia, hydroelectrolytic imbalance, heart failure and others). The results obtained are shown as tables and charts to facilitate their visual understanding. RESULTS: Patient demographics show that there were 40 (80%) female patients and 10 (20%) male patients with a diagnosis of hip fracture. The control group included 35 (70%) females and 15 (30) males. An association between hip fracture and increased mortality was found, with a significant p value of 0.001. The main cause of death among hip fracture patients in our study was sepsis in 7 (35%), while among the control group it was myocardial infarction in 3 (15%). Time wise, mortality was found to be higher within the first six months, with 10 deaths (50%), and within the first year, with six deaths (30%). DISCUSSION: Hip fracture is in fact a risk factor associated with mortality among patients over 65 years of age. Females are the group most prone to sustaining a hip fracture and, therefore, to increased mortality rates. The major cause of death among our patient population was sepsis, apparently caused by mismanagement of soft tissues, a poor aseptic technique during the surgical procedure, a long hospital stay or a poor family support network, and dementia, which is related to poor surgical wound care. The highest mortality rates were found in ages over 90 years, and they were associated with preexisting chronic-degenerative conditions. The age group at highest risk of hip fracture was 80-89 years. Patients with hip fracture should always be managed together with the internist and the geriatrician and they should be considered as orthopedic emergencies, as a long hospital stay and delayed surgical treatment are associated with major complications and increased mortality rates.

On-line monitoring of one-step laser fabrication of micro-optical components.

The use of an on-line monitoring method based on photoelasticity techniques for the fabrication of micro-optical components by means of controlled laser heating is described. From this description it is possible to show in real time the mechanical stresses that form the microelement. A new parameter, stressed area, is introduced that quantifies the stresses of a microelement during its fabrication, facilitating a deeper understanding of the physical phenomena involved in the process as well as being a useful test of quality. It also permits the stress produced in the manufacturing process and the optical properties of the final microelement to be correlated. The results for several microlenses monitored with this technique are presented.

Primary Sjögren's syndrome associated with chronic atrophic gastritis and pernicious anemia.

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is a systemic, autoimmune exocrinopathy in which destructive, inflammatory-cell infiltration can affect any gland. Although chronic atrophic gastritis is the most common form of gastrointestinal involvement in SS, pernicious anemia develops in rare cases. We therefore report a patient with these three associated diseases.

Increased radionuclide uptake on bone scintiscans: a common but not clinically significant finding for human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected patients free of osteoarticular symptoms.

The aim of this study was to describe findings of bone scintiscans and their clinical significance for patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1); 33 HIV-1-infected patients (22 men and 11 women) free of osteoarticular symptoms were included in the study. Plain bone roentgenograms, bone mineral contents (measured by dual-photon absorptiometry), and scintiscans (determined with 99mTc diphosphonate) were obtained for all subjects. Plain bone roentgenograms showed no abnormalities, and bone mineral contents were within the normal range for all patients. Radionuclide bone scans were unremarkable for eight patients (24%) and showed symmetrical abnormally increased uptake in the epiphyseal region of the appendicular skeleton in 25 (76%). Follow-up of the patients for > or = 1 year ruled out subsequent development of osteoarticular disorders. Generalized, symmetrical increased radionuclide uptake on bone scans is a common finding for HIV-1 infected patients free of osteoarticular symptoms. This finding is probably related to bone marrow hypercellularity and is of no clinical significance; therefore, other diagnostic procedures are not required in the workup of these patients.

[Epidemiologic and therapeutic aspects of bacteremic infections of the urinary tract]. / Aspectos epidemiológicos y terapéuticos de las infecciones bacteriémicas del tracto urinario.

A survey was carried out of all urinary tract infections which developed bacteremia during an 18 month period. The number of episodes of bacteremia of urinary origin (BUO) detected in our institution during that period was 108. The urinary tract was the most common origin of the cases of community acquired (CA) bacteremia and the third in the hospital acquired (HA) cases. In both types, the most frequent organism was E. coli (69.6% and 40%, respectively). The most common underlying diseases were diabetes mellitus (25.7%) and neoplasia (20%); nephrourologic disorders of some type were present in 29.6% of cases. In 81% of HA episodes there were urinary catheters as risk factors. In the CA bacteremias, the gram-negative bacilli except Pseudomonas aeruginosa had a 100% sensitivity to aminoglycosides. Sensitivity to first generation cephalosporins was detected in 81% of the E. coli and in 100% of the Klebsiella spp strains. In HA cases, amikacin (100% of E. coli, Pseudomonas, Klebsiella and Proteus) and cefotaxime (except Pseudomonas) were the antibiotics to which the highest rates of sensitivity were found. Overall mortality rate of BUO was 16.6% (13.6% for CA and 21.5% for HA); in 6% and 5% of cases, respectively, death was directly associated with bacteremia.