Surgeon eye lens dose monitoring in interventional neuroradiology, cardiovascular and radiology procedures.

PURPOSE: This study investigated the radiation dose to surgeon eye lens for single procedure and normalised to exposure parameters for eight selected neuroradiology, cardiovascular and radiology interventional procedures. METHODS: The procedures investigated were diagnostic study, Arteriovenous Malformations treatment (AVM) and aneurysm embolization for neuroradiology procedures, Coronary Angiography and Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (CA-PTCA), Pacemaker and Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator implantation (PM-ICD), Endovascular Aortic Repair (EVAR) and Fenestrated Endovascular Aortic Repair (FEVAR) for cardiovascular and electrophysiology procedures. CT-guided lung biopsy was also monitored. All procedures were performed with table-mounted and ceiling-suspended shields (0.5 mm lead equivalent thickness), except for FEVAR and PM-ICD where only a table mounted shield was present, and CT-guided lung biopsy where no shield was used. Dose assessment was performed using a dosemeter positioned close to the most exposed eye of the surgeon, outside the protective eyewear. RESULTS: The surgeon most exposed eye lens median Hp(3) equivalent dose for a single procedure, without protective eyewear contribution, was 18 µSv for neuroradiology diagnostic study, 62 µSv for AVM, 38 µSv for aneurysm embolization, 33 µSv for CA-PTCA, 39 µSv for PM-ICD, 49 µSv for EVAR, 2500 µSv for FEVAR, 153 µSv for CT-guided lung biopsy. CONCLUSIONS: In interventional procedures, the 20 mSv/year dose limit for surgeon eye lens exposure might be exceeded if shields or protective eyewear are not used. Surgeon eye lens doses, normalised to single procedures and to exposure parameters, are a valuable tool for determining appropriate radiation protection measures and dedicated eye lens dosemeter assignment.

Evaluation of body composition during low-dose estrogen oral contraceptives treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To determine in a prospective study if the use of two low-dose estrogen oral contraceptives is associated with changes in weight or body composition. DESIGN: 80 outpatients referring to the family planning service, aged 18-43 years were randomly assigned to a treatment with the EE/desogestrel or EE/gestodene association, 20 patients with IUD, aged 26-40 years, were selected as a control group. Anthropometric data and body composition were taken at enrollment and after 6 and 12 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Anthropometric measurements included body mass index (BMI), body composition estimated by mean of Bioelectrical Impendance Analysis (BIA). RESULTS: In the three groups weight, BMI, and total body water (TBW), and body cellular mass (BCM) remained unchanged during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: The use of EE/desogestrel and EE/gestodene is not associated with significant variations of body weight and body composition during one year treatment.

PIP: The effect of two low-dose oral contraceptives (OCs) on weight and body composition was evaluated in 80 family planning clinic outpatients 18-43 years of age. These women were randomly assigned to receive OCs containing either 20 mcg ethinyl estradiol and 150 mcg desogestrel or 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol and 75 mcg gestodene. 20 IUD users served as controls. Anthropometric measurements and body composition (estimated by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis) were assessed at baseline and after 6 and 12 months of OC use. In all three groups, body weight, body mass index, total body water, and body cellular mass remained unchanged during the 12-month study period. These findings confirm that the new low-dose OCs have no significant effects on body weight or composition.

[Platelet aggregation inhibitory therapy in chronic arterial occlusive disease of the lower limbs: results of short-term clinico-instrumental study with indobufen]. / La terapia antiaggregante piastrinica nelle arteriopatie obliteranti croniche degli arti inferiori: risultati di uno studio clinico-strumentale a breve termin con indobufene.

Aim of our study was to evaluate the effectiveness of indobufen in the treatment of II degree stage lower limb occlusive arterial disease. Forty patients were randomly assigned to the iIndobufen (400 mg/die) treatment group or the no treatment control group (20 patients each). Doppler pressure measurement (Winsor index) and subjective symptomatology were evaluated at the time of enrollment and after one month. A significant improvement (p less than 0.01) was noted only in the treated group. We conclude that indobufen may be of therapeutic value in the treatment of peripheral occlusive arterial disease.

[Treatment of postoperative pain with non-narcotic drugs; evaluation of lysine acetylsalicylate in high doses. Double-blind controlled study]. / Trattamento del dolore post-operatorio con farmaci non narcotici: valutazione dell'acetilsalicilato di lisina ad alto dosaggio. Studio controllato a doppio cieco.

Further work on the treatment of postoperative pain with non-narcotic analgesics involving an investigation of the effect of twice the customary dose of lysine acetylsalicylate in a double-blind trial versus meperidine is reported. In addition to subjective and objective pain, the parameters included blood pressure, pulse rate, breathing rate, sweating, pupil diameter, nausea, vomiting, somnolence, hiccuping feeling of cold, erythema, dizziness, and nasograstric sound intolerance. Application of Wilcoxon's non-parametric tests and the chi-square test showed that the drug was as good as or better than meperidine with regard to pain, and performed very well overall with respect to the other parameters. The conclusion is drawn that its administration in high doses is justified in many patients subjected to general surgery.