One leg standing time predicts fracture risk in older women independent of clinical risk factors and BMD.

In women of ages 75-80 years, a low one leg standing time (OLST) was associated with an increased risk of incident fractures, independently of bone mineral density and clinical risk factors. OLST contributed substantially to fracture probability, indicating that the test should be considered when evaluating fracture risk in older women. INTRODUCTION: Physical function and risk of falls are important risk factors for fracture. A few previous studies have suggested that a one leg standing time (OLST) less than 10 s predicts fracture risk, but the impact of OLST, in addition to known clinical risk factors, for fracture probability is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the independent contribution of OLST to fracture probability in older women. METHODS: The Sahlgrenska University Hospital Prospective Evaluation of Risk of Bone Fractures (SUPERB) is a prospective population-based study of 3028 women 75-80 years old, recruited from the greater Gothenburg area in Sweden. At baseline, information on risk factors was collected using questionnaires, bone mineral density was measured with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and OLST was performed. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 3.6 years (IQR 1.5 years), X-ray-verified incident fractures were identified using health records. OLST was available in 2405 women. OLST less than 10 s was associated with an increased risk for incident hip fracture (Hazard Ratio (HR) 3.02, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) [1.49-6.10]), major osteoporotic fracture (HR 95% CI 1.76 [1.34-1.46]), and nonvertebral fracture (HR 95% CI 1.61 [1.26-2.05]) in Cox regression analyses adjusted for age, height, and weight. Depending on BMD, the 4-year fracture probability increased by a factor of 1.3 to 1.5 in a 75-year-old woman with a low OLST (<10 s). CONCLUSION: A low OLST has a substantial impact on fracture probability and should be considered when evaluating fracture risk in older women.

The timed up and go test predicts fracture risk in older women independently of clinical risk factors and bone mineral density.

The timed up and go (TUG) test measures physical performance and predicts falls in the elderly. In older women, TUG time predicts the risk of major osteoporotic fracture and hip fracture independently of clinical risk factors and bone mineral density, and has a substantial impact on fracture probabilities. INTRODUCTION: The timed up and go (TUG) test measures physical performance and predicts falls in the elderly. A slow TUG has been associated with an increased fracture risk, but it is unclear whether the association is independent of clinical risk factors and bone mineral density (BMD). The aim of this study was to investigate if TUG time was associated with fracture risk independently of clinical risk factors and BMD and to determine its impact on fracture probabilities in older women. METHODS: A standardized questionnaire was used to assess information regarding clinical risk factors in the large population-based SUPERB study of 3028 older women (75-80 years). At baseline, the TUG test was performed and BMD measured with DXA. The association between TUG time and the risk of hip fracture and major osteoporotic fracture (MOF) was examined using an extension of Poisson regression. RESULTS: Fracture incidence increased steeply with increasing TUG time up to 12 s and subsequently started to level off. A slow TUG time was therefore defined as TUG > 12 s, a cutoff level then used in Cox models to study the association between slow TUG and fracture risk. A slow TUG time was associated with an increased risk of fracture (MOF 2.39 [1.80-3.18] and hip fracture 2.96 [1.62-5.40]). These associations were slightly attenuated but remained significant after adjustment for clinical risk factors and femoral neck BMD. Depending on BMD, the 4-year fracture probability of MOF increased by a factor of 1.5-1.9 in a 75-year-old woman with slow TUG (> 12 s). CONCLUSION: The TUG time predicts the risk of MOF and hip fracture independently of clinical risk factors and BMD and has a substantial impact on fracture probabilities, indicating that inclusion of the TUG test in patient evaluation should be considered in order to improve fracture prediction in older women.

[Pain and pain relief during the neonatal period. Early pain experiences can result in negative late-effects]. / Smärta och smärtbehandling i nyföddhetsperioden. Tidiga smärtupplevelser kan ha negativa seneffekter.

The neonate has a functional nociceptive system. However, recent research suggests that infants may be more vulnerable to the negative effects of pain than older children and adults. Apart from short-term effects, untreated pain may also have long-term effects, which may later affect neurological development, including the reaction to pain. Despite convincing evidence from recent research, the neonate is still subjected to painful procedures, even surgery, without adequate treatment.

A methodological note on combining health and social care expenditures into a single statistic for policy-making purposes.

Current national expenditure series in the health sector focus predominantly on spending for medical services. However, as the percentage of elderly individuals grows, national policy makers will increasingly require an expenditure series which includes combined expenditure for social care as well as medical expenditures. In one country, Sweden, national policy makers have begun to relate policy decisions to a 12.0% (1996) figure for combined health and social care expenditures. Calculating such a combined figure presents a number of methodological issues, such as which social care services to include and how to reflect donated care from relatives and friends. An international comparison of this new health and social care figure would enable national decision makers to judge better the efficiency and effectiveness of current policy.

Ropivacaine pharmacokinetics after caudal block in 1-8 year old children.

We studied the pharmacokinetics after caudal block of ropivacaine (2 mg ml-1, 1 ml kg-1) performed in 20 children aged 1-8 yr undergoing subumbilical surgery, in this open, non-comparative, multicentre study. Venous blood samples were collected up to 12-36 h. The mean (SD) peak plasma concentration, 0.47 (0.16) mg litre-1, was achieved after 12-249 min. The free fraction was 5% and the highest individual peak plasma concentration of free ropivacaine was 0.04 mg litre-1. Clearance was 7.4 (1.9) ml min-1 kg-1 and the terminal half-life 3.2 (0.8) h. Thus, the free plasma concentrations of ropivacaine were well below those associated with toxic symptoms in adults and the capacity to eliminate ropivacaine seems to be well developed in this age group. In this open study of 20 patients, ropivacaine was well tolerated and provided satisfactory postoperative pain relief without observable motor block.

Pain management in neonates.

Recent research suggests that infants may be more vulnerable to the negative effects of pain than older children and adults. Apart from short-term effects, untreated pain and stressful stimuli may also have long-term effects, which may later affect their neurological development, including the reaction to pain. The preterm neonate is at especially high risk. Despite convincing evidence from recent research of the necessity to treat pain and to avoid early exposure to pain, the neonate is still subjected to painful procedures and even surgery without adequate pain treatment. This inadequacy could be due to insecurity regarding the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of pain-related drugs, to a limited understanding of the pain behaviour and pain physiology and the lack of appropriate measurement tools. The present paper reviews recent research in relation to management of pain in the newborn and considers implications for practice and future studies.

Alleviation of the pain of venepuncture in neonates.

UNLABELLED: A recent study has shown venepuncture to be more effective and less painful than heel-lancing when a single blood test is performed in neonates [Larsson, Pediatrics (in press)]. The aim of the present study was to investigate the value of EMLA applied on the dorsum of the hand when sampling blood in neonates. METHODS: This was a controlled randomized and double-blinded study. One hundred and twenty neonates were randomly allocated to two groups, EMLA or placebo. Five hundred milligrams (0.5 ml) of EMLA or placebo was placed on the dorsum of the hand, covered with an occlusive dressing, and left in place for 60 minutes. For venepuncture, a needle measuring 0.9 x 40 mm was used. The two groups were also compared as regards the total time needed to complete the PKU test and the number of skin punctures required. The facial reaction was videotaped and later analysed by two blinded observers using the Neonatal Facial Coding System (NFCS). RESULTS: No side effects occurred, except for a temporary blanching or redness of the skin, which disappeared within minutes. Nociceptive response: After skin puncture, the NFCS scores were significantly lower in the EMLA group than in the placebo group (median 287 and 374, respectively). After the first skin puncture, a cry was recorded in 35/55 cases (64%) in the EMLA group and in 38/56 cases (68%) in the placebo group, this difference was not significant. The duration of the first cry was significantly shorter in the EMLA than in the placebo group (median 12 and 31 s, respectively). CONCLUSION: In comparison with a placebo, EMLA significantly reduces the pain caused by venepuncture on the dorsum of the hand and does not complicate puncture of the vein.

Venipuncture is more effective and less painful than heel lancing for blood tests in neonates.

OBJECTIVE: Heel lancing has hitherto been the method of choice for screening tests of inborn errors of metabolism in neonates. Eutectic mixture of local anesthetic has little, if any, analgesic effect when applied to the heel of pre- and full-term infants. Today there seems to be no practical method that effectively alleviates the pain caused by heel lancing. The aim of this study was to investigate whether other methods, such as venipuncture of the dorsal side of the hand, are less painful and more efficient than heel lancing in neonates. METHODS: One hundred twenty healthy, full-term infants who underwent testing for phenylketonuria (PKU) were included in the study. They were randomized into three groups: a venipuncture group (VP) (n = 50), a heel-lance group with a small lancet (SL) (n = 50), or a large lancet (LL) (n = 20). Pain reactions were assessed by the Neonatal Facial Coding System (NFCS). The latency and duration of the first cry as well as the total screaming time was analyzed. The efficacy of the method was assessed by the time taken to complete the PKU test and number of times the skin had to be punctured. RESULTS: Nociceptive response. The NFCS scores after the first skin puncture were: VP, 247; SL, 333; and LL, 460. The NFCS scores were significantly lower in the VP than in the groups subjected to heel lancing. During the first 60 seconds after skin puncture, 44% of the infants cried in the VP group, compared with 72% and 85% in the SL and LL groups, respectively. Efficacy. A successful PKU test with only one skin puncture was performed in 86% of the VP group, but in only 19% in the SL group and 40% in the LL group. The total time needed to obtain the PKU blood sample was 191 seconds (median) in the VP group, 419 seconds in the SL group, and 279 seconds in the LL group. CONCLUSION: Venipuncture is more effective and less painful than heel lancing for blood tests in neonates.

Plasma concentrations of bupivacaine in neonates after continuous epidural infusion.

This study reports plasma bupivacaine concentrations in 13 neonates who received lumbar epidural anesthesia during major abdominal surgery. A bolus of 1.8 mg/kg of bupivacaine (2.5 mg/mL) was administered after induction of anesthesia, followed by a continuous infusion of 0.2 mg.kg-1.h-1 (1.25 mg/mL). Plasma concentrations of total and free bupivacaine and alpha 1-acid-glycoprotein (AAG) were determined. Results are presented as mean (+/-SEM). At 48 h, five of nine patients still had increasing total plasma concentrations, and the total bupivacaine concentrations ranged between 0.7 and 3.1 micrograms/mL. The plasma levels of AAG increased significantly between 1 and 24 h (4.3 +/- 2.3 nM and 7.7 +/- 2.3 nM, respectively) (P = 0.018). The free concentrations of bupivacaine were relatively unchanged at 1 and 24 h (84 +/- 20 ng/mL and 58 +/- 15 ng/mL, respectively). No adverse events occurred during the study period. In conclusion, the dose administered in this study appears to be safe. However, a substantial number of patients still had increasing concentrations of total plasma bupivacaine at 48 h. Furthermore, the interindividual variation was considerable. These observations cause concern about the safety of epidural infusions longer than 48 h in the age group studied.

[The routine sampling procedure for PKU should be changed. Venous puncture is less painful than heel lancing]. / Praxis vid PKU-provtagning bör ändras. Venpunktion gör mindre ont än hälstick.

All newborns in Sweden are screened for phenylketonuria (PKU), among other things, blood usually being sampled by heel lancing. Because it is unnecessarily painful, however, this form of sampling in newborns has recently been questioned. There is reason to recommend sampling from a dorsal hand vein as the method of choice for PKU screening purposes.

Regional variations in skin perfusion and skin thickness may contribute to varying efficacy of topical, local anaesthetics in neonates.

The national Swedish screening programme for inborn errors of metabolism includes blood sampling from all neonates. Heel lancing has hitherto been the method of choice for these screening tests. Studies have recently been done to find out whether the use of EMLA can alleviate pain caused by heel lancing. EMLA had little, if any effect when applied to the heel of full term babies. Similar results were reported concerning preterm infants. Other authors have found that differences in skin thickness or in skin blood perfusion may influence the effect of EMLA. The aim of this study was to establish whether differences in skin thickness or in skin blood perfusion were present in three regions: the forehead, the dorsum of the hand and the heel. Ten healthy full term neonates were included in the study on skin perfusion. Measurements were made with a laser Doppler flux meter. Twenty-seven healthy full term neonates were included for measurements of skin thickness using a high frequency B-mode ultrasonic meter. The heel skin perfusion was two to three times higher than the skin perfusion at the dorsum of the hand and at the forehead but there was no significant difference when comparing skin thickness of the heel with the dorsum of the hand and the forehead. A rapid clearance of a topically applied local anaesthetic, due to high cutaneous blood flow, may explain why EMLA seems to be of little value when it is applied to the neonatal heel.

Does a local anaesthetic cream (EMLA) alleviate pain from heel-lancing in neonates?

EMLA cream is an effective local anaesthetic agent for venipunctures in adults and children. The aim of this double-blind, randomised, and placebo-controlled study was to evaluate the effect of EMLA when heel-lancing was performed in neonates. On their third day of life, fullterm healthy infants, who underwent testing for phenylketonuria (PKU) by heel-lancing, were consecutively included in the study. One hundred and twelve neonates were allocated to eight groups according to the application time of EMLA or placebo (10 to 120 minutes). Thus in each group seven infants received active substance and seven placebo. The response to the nociceptive stimulation was assessed by studying the occurrence of a pain cry. No analgesic effect of EMLA was found. There were no adverse effects.