Does Raising Livestock Improve Household Food Security and Child Dietary Diversity in a Rural Region of Madagascar?

Madagascar is one of the poorest countries and has an alarming prevalence of food insecurity and child undernutrition. Most of the Malagasy population live from agricultural activities making livestock a livelihood asset and a source of animal-source foods, especially for smallholder farmers. This study aimed to examine the association between livestock ownership, household food security, and children's dietary diversity in a rural region of Madagascar. Data from a cross-sectional survey of 344 respondents were used to assess the association between household tropical livestock units (TLU) per capita, Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) scores, and dietary diversity scores (DDSs) among children aged 6-23 months. The estimation results from the ordered probit model showed that household TLU per capita is negatively associated with HFIAS scores and positively associated with DDSs among children. Additionally, households with mothers who received information on childcare and nutrition from health facilities and community nutrition agents were more likely to be food secure and have better dietary diversity. Therefore, promoting livestock ownership and strengthening nutrition-sensitive messages focusing on the benefits of raising livestock to mothers from rural Madagascar will likely be effective in improving household food security and nutrition for children.

Effect of Mid-Adolescent Dietary Practices on Eating Behaviors and Attitudes in Adulthood.

This paper aimed to clarify the association of mid-adolescent dietary practices and experiences with adult eating behavior and attitudes using individual data from the "Survey of Attitudes toward Shokuiku (food and nutrition education), 2019" put forth by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan. We applied conditional mixed-process models to estimate the parameters simultaneously, and used them to predict current eating consciousness, current eating behaviors in a balanced diet, dietary behavior, and attitudes toward preventing or improving lifestyle-related diseases as dependent variables. As a result, compared to those who did not have good dietary practices and experiences in mid-adolescence, participants who had good dietary practices and experiences in the same period displayed greater interest in practicing a healthier diet. These participants frequently consumed a combination of staple foods, main dishes, and side dishes, and were more concerned about preventing or improving lifestyle-related diseases. In conclusion, mid-adolescent dietary practices and experiences had a lasting influence on adult eating behaviors and attitudes in Japanese participants.

Phase II Trial of the Combination of Alectinib with Bevacizumab in Alectinib Refractory ALK-Positive Nonsquamous Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer (NLCTG1501).

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive lung cancer is a rare cancer that occurs in approximately 5% of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLCs) patients. Despite the excellent efficacy of ALK-tyrosine kinase inhibitor in ALK-positive NSCLCs, most patients experience resistance. We conducted a phase II study to investigate the combination of alectinib with bevacizumab in ALK-positive NSCLC patients after failure of alectinib. In this study, ALK-positive nonsquamous NSCLC patients previously treated with alectinib received bevacizumab 15 mg/kg on day 1 every 3 weeks and alectinib 600 mg/day until disease progression. The primary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) and the safety of alectinib and bevacizumab. The secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS) and correlation of circulating tumor DNA and plasma proteins with PFS. Of the 12 patients treated, the median PFS was 3.1 months (95% CI 1.2-16.1), and the median OS was 24.1 months (95% CI 8.3-not estimable). The EML4-ALK fusion gene in circulating tumor DNA was significantly correlated with shorter PFS (1.2 months vs. 11.4 months, HR 5.2, p = 0.0153). Two patients experienced grade 3 adverse events; however, none of the patients required dose reduction. Although the primary endpoint was not met, alectinib combined with bevacizumab showed clinical efficacy in ALK-positive patients.

Support for fungal infection treatment mediated by pharmacist-led antifungal stewardship activities.

OBJECTIVE: At the Yokohama General Hospital, pharmacist-led antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASP) including antifungal stewardship programs (AFP) were started in 2012. To investigate the efficacy of the programs, we compared several parameters that are recommended for the measurement of ASP in Japan based on pre- and post-AFP activities. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The subjects were inpatients who developed candidemia between April 2008 and March 2016. They were divided into two groups: pre-AFP (April 2008 until March 2012) and post-AFP (April 2012 until March 2016). The results were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The cumulative optimal antifungal drug usage rate, as a process parameter, significantly increased in the post-AFP group (p = 0.025). Furthermore, the days of therapy of antifungal drugs in the pre- and post-AFP groups was median 6.0 (interquartile range [IQR] 0.3-15.7) and median 3.4 (IQR 1.9-3.4) per 1,000 patient-days, respectively; there was a significant decrease in the post-AFP group (p < 0.001). Expenditure on antifungal drugs, as an outcome parameter, in the pre- and post-AFP groups was 9390.5 ± 5687.1 and 5930.8 ± 4687.0 US dollars, respectively; there was a significant decrease in the post-AFP group (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that pharmacist-led antifungal stewardship activities improve both outcome and process parameters.

Interface Fluid Syndrome Induced by Uncontrolled Intraocular Pressure Without Triggering Factors After LASIK in a Glaucoma Patient: A Case Report.

This study sought to describe a glaucoma patient with interface fluid syndrome (IFS) induced by uncontrolled intraocular pressure (IOP) without triggering factors after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). Case report and review of the literature. A 23-year-old man with open-angle glaucoma underwent bilateral LASIK for myopia in 2009. Two years later, the patient reported sudden vision loss. The IOP in the right eye was not measurable using Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT), but was determined to be 33.7 mm Hg using a noncontact tonometer. IFS was diagnosed based on the presence of space-occupying interface fluid on anterior segment optical coherence tomography images. After a trabeculectomy was performed, the IOP decreased to 10 mm Hg, and GAT measurement became possible. However, the corneal fold remained visible in the flap interface. Six months later, the IOP in the left eye increased, and a trabeculectomy was performed during the early stages of this increase in IOP. Following this procedure, the IOP decreased, and visual acuity remained stable. In glaucoma cases that involve a prior increase in IOP, IOP can continue to increase during the disease course even if temporary control of IOP has been achieved. If LASIK is performed in such cases, the treatment of glaucoma becomes insufficient because of underestimation of the typical IOP. In fact, the measurement of IOP can become difficult because of high-IOP levels. Therefore, LASIK should not be performed on patients with glaucoma who are at high risk of elevated IOP.

Successful treatment with noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation based on the prediction of disease onset using CT and respiratory function tests in an elderly patient with relapsing polychondritis.

An 83-year-old man who had been receiving treatment for bronchial asthma since 62 years of age experienced difficulty breathing on exertion and was admitted to the hospital. On admission, computed tomography revealed tracheal wall thickening, while test results for antinuclear antibodies and anti-type II collagen antibodies were positive. Since a saddle nose deformity, malacia of the auricles and sensorineural deafness were also observed, relapsing polychondritis was diagnosed. Measuring the peak expiratory flow rate was useful in the early airway assessment. During the follow-up period, the patient's dyspnea worsened and noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation was introduced. As a result, the subjective symptoms improved.

Evolução etária do ângulo de carregamento do cotovelo: estudo clínico-radiográfico / Evolution of the carrying angle of the elbow: a clinical and radiographic study

OBJETIVO: Avaliar clínica e radiograficamente o ângulo de carregamento do cotovelo (ACC) determinando uma curva de normalidade de acordo com faixas etárias (da infância à maturidade esquelética) e comparar as medidas clínicas e radiográficas. MÉTODOS: Avaliamos 510 indivíduos (1020 cotovelos), com idades entre 1 e 18 anos, distribuídos em grupos de 30 conforme faixas etárias, com intervalo de 1 ano. Excluímos os portadores de: fraturas do cotovelo, sequelas, malformações, doenças genéticas, afecções inflamatórias e frouxidão ligamentar. Mensuramos clinicamente o ACC bilateralmente com goniômetro, onde obtivemos duas medidas por dois examinadores onde média destas foi considerada. Realizamos radiografias ântero-posteriores dos cotovelos e aferimos os ângulos formados pelos eixos do úmero e da ulna. Todos os dados foram analisados estatisticamente pelo teste t student. RESULTADOS: Determinamos uma curva de normalidade onde observamos aumento deste parâmetro conforme a progressão da idade. Não observamos diferença significante entre as medidas clínicas e radiográficas. CONCLUSÃO: A média do ângulo de carregamento para o sexo feminino foi 12,78º ± 5,35 e para o masculino 11,20º ± 4,45. Este valor aumenta progressivamente da infância até os 16 anos quando observamos estabilização. Não houve diferença estatística significante das medidas clínicas e radiográficas.

OBJECTIVE: This paper has the purpose of evaluate the elbow carrying angle by clinic and radiographic examination in normal children and determine the range of normality according to age from childhood to skeletal maturity and also check if there is a statistically significant difference between the clinical and radiographic measurements. METHODS: We evaluated 510 persons with ages varying from 1 to 18 years distributed in groups with 30 subjects according to the age group with 1-year interval. We performed radiographic examination of the elbow and measured the angle formed by the long axis of the humerus and ulna. The data were statistically analyzed using the student t-test. RESULTS: We determined a normal curve of the study population where there was an increase of this parameter with the progression of age. No statistically significant difference between the clinical and radiographic measures. CONCLUSION: The average of the elbow carrying angle was 12,78 ± 5,35 degrees for females and 11,20 ± 4,45 degrees for males. This values increase progressively from childhood until 16 years when we notice stabilization. There was no statistical difference between the clinical and radiographic measurements.

[A case of severe influenza (H1N1) 2009 virus pneumonia identified by virus culture instead of PCR].

A 70-year-old man was being treated for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which had been well controlled. He was seen at our emergency outpatient department on October 24, 2009, for respiratory distress and mild fever. Point-of-care testing for influenza, general bacteria, and acid-fast bacilli in the sputum, were negative. With antibiotics ineffective, his respiratory status worsened, requiring him to be intubated and ventilated mechanically. Steroid pulse therapy temporarily improved his condition, as confirmed by imaging studies, but he died on hospital day 38. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of tracheal secretion and bronchial washings collected on hospital day 14 and 21 were negative for influenza (H1N1) 2009 virus, which was identified in a subsequent culture. Negative results for reverse transcriptase-PCR analysis leave (H1N1) 2009 virus unable to be diagnosed clinically. Culture tests and repeated PCR analysis have been done in cases of strongly suspected clinical infection to confirm results. Our case, in which the virus was identified by culture, suggests that the viral load may have been too low or the time of culture inappropriate.

COMPARISON OF THE FEMORAL HEAD HEIGHT/NECK LENGTH RATIO BETWEEN THE UNAFFECTED HIP OF PATIENTS WITH A UNILATERAL SLIPPED FEMORAL HEAD AND THE HIPS OF INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT A SLIPPED FEMORAL HEAD.

Objective - To compare the head/neck ratio on the contralateral side of patients with a unilateral slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) with control individuals. Methods - Seventeen patients who were followed up at the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil, between 1985 and 2007, were assessed. The control group consisted of 34 individuals from the same place who were matched for gender and age, with a history of trauma that necessitated pelvic radiography. The femoral head height and femoral neck measurements were made using simple pelvic radiography in accordance with the criteria of Bleck (1983), on both sides in the control group and on the contralateral hip in the patients. Nonparametric statistics were used, with a p-value ≤ 0.05. Results - There was no difference in the distribution of age, gender, body mass index and bone age between the groups. The head/neck ratio on the right and left side in the controls did not differ (p = 0.64). However, the head/neck ratio from the contralateral hip of the patients with SCFE was significantly lower than that of the control group (p = 0.00). Conclusion - The significantly lower head/neck ratio in the patients with epiphysiolysis could be indicative of a risk of SCFE.

Comparação da razão altura da cabeça/comprimento do colo femoral entre o quadril não acometido de pacientes com epifisiólise proximal unilateral e os quadris de indivíduos sem epifisiólise / Comparison of the femoral head height/neck length ratio between the unaffected hip of patients with a unilateral slipped femoral head and the hips of individuals without a slipped femoral head

OBJETIVO: Comparar a razão cabeça/colo do lado contralateral em pacientes com epifisiólise proximal do fêmur unilateral com indivíduos controles. MÉTODOS: Foram estudados 17 pacientes com diagnóstico de epifisiólise proximal do fêmur unilateral no período de 1985 a 2007, acompanhados no Departamento de Ortopedia e Traumatologia da Unifesp. O grupo controle consistiu de 34 indivíduos do mesmo local, pareados por idade e gênero, com história de trauma que necessitou de radiografia da bacia. A mensuração do comprimento da altura da cabeça e do colo do fêmur foi realizada na radiografia simples da bacia, segundo os critérios de Bleck, em ambos os lados no grupo controle, e no quadril contralateral dos pacientes. Foi utilizada estatística não paramétrica, com valor de p < 0,05. RESULTADOS: A distribuição das idades, gênero, IMC e idade óssea não diferiram entre os grupos. A razão cabeça/colo do lado direito e esquerdo não diferiram entre si no grupo controle (p = 0,64). Entretanto, a razão cabeça/colo do lado contralateral dos pacientes com epifisiólise proximal do fêmur foi significativamente menor que a encontrada no grupo controle (p = 0,00). CONCLUSÃO: A diminuição significativa da razão cabeça/colo nos pacientes com epifisiólise pode ser indicativa de risco de epifisiólise proximal do fêmur.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the head/neck ratio on the contralateral side of patients with a unilateral slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) with control individuals. METHODS: Seventeen patients who were followed up at the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil, between 1985 and 2007, were assessed. The control group consisted of 34 individuals from the same place who were matched for gender and age, with a history of trauma that necessitated pelvic radiography. The femoral head height and femoral neck measurements were made using simple pelvic radiography in accordance with the criteria of Bleck (1983), on both sides in the control group and on the contralateral hip in the patients. Nonparametric statistics were used, with a p-value < 0.05. RESULTS: There was no difference in the distribution of age, gender, body mass index and bone age between the groups. The head/neck ratio on the right and left side in the controls did not differ (p = 0.64). However, the head/neck ratio from the contralateral hip of the patients with SCFE was significantly lower than that of the control group (p = 0.00). CONCLUSION: The significantly lower head/neck ratio in the patients with epiphysiolysis could be indicative of a risk of SCFE.

Artroscopia do quadril na epifisiólise grave / Hip arthroscopy in severe epiphysiolisis

Apresenta-se o caso de um indivíduo de 12 anos de idade, do sexo masculino, com diagnóstico de epifisiólise femoral proximal grau III em sua forma crônica agudizada, associada à limitação funcional grave e restrição importante do arco de movimento do quadril. O paciente foi submetido à osteotomia de ressecção de uma cunha trapezoide do colo femoral tipo Dunn por via artroscópica, seguido da redução e fixação percutânea com parafuso de 6,5mm. Houve melhora significativa do quadro clínico logo no primeiro pós-operatório, o que permitiu a reabilitação precoce. Os autores apresentam uma breve revisão de literatura e propõem esta técnica como um método adjuvante viável no tratamento da epifisiólise femoral proximal grave, encorajando o desenvolvimento de estudos sobre o tema.

We present a case report of a 12-year-old boy diagnosed with slipped capital femoral epiphysis grade III, with an acute-on-chronic presentation, associated with severe functional impairment and significant reduction in hip range of motion. The patient underwent a Dunn-type trapezoidal wedge femoral neck subtraction osteotomy by hip arthroscopy, followed by closed reduction and fixation with a 6.5mm percutaneous screw. There was significant improvement of the clinical picture on the first postoperative day, allowing for early rehabilitation. After a brief review of the literature, the authors propose this novel surgical technique as a viable method to treat severe slipped capital femoral epiphysis, encouraging the development of new studies on the subject.

Correlations between radiographic, magnetic resonance and histological examinations on the degeneration of human lumbar intervertebral discs.

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: There is controversy regarding which imaging method is best for identifying early degenerative alterations in intervertebral discs. No correlations between such methods and histological finds are presented in the literature. The aim of this study was to correlate the thickness of intervertebral discs measured on simple radiographs with the degree of degeneration seen on magnetic resonance images and the histological findings relating to nerve ends inside the discs. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional correlation study on the lumbar spines of human cadavers, at Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp), São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: Ten lumbar spinal columns were extracted from human cadavers and subjected to magnetic resonance imaging and simple radiography. They were classified according to the degree of disc degeneration seen on magnetic resonance, and the thickness of the discs was measured on radiographs. The intervertebral discs were then extracted, embedded in paraffin and analyzed immunohistochemically with protein S100, and the nerve fibers were counted and classified. RESULTS: No correlation was observed between the thickness of the intervertebral discs and the degree of degeneration seen on magnetic resonance images. Only the uppermost lumbar discs (L1/L2 and L2/L3) presented a correlation between their thickness and type I and IV nerve endings. CONCLUSION: Reduced disc thickness is unrelated to increased presence of nerve ends in intervertebral discs, or to the degree of disc degeneration.

Genetic aspects of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in a family with multiple affected members: a research article.

BACKGROUND: The etiology of idiopathic scoliosis remains unknown and different factors have been suggested as causal. Hereditary factors can also determine the etiology of the disease; however, the pattern of inheritance remains unknown. Autosomal dominant, X-linked and multifactorial patterns of inheritances have been reported. Other studies have suggested possible chromosome regions related to the etiology of idiopathic scoliosis. We report the genetic aspects of and investigate chromosome regions for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in a Brazilian family. METHODS: Evaluation of 57 family members, distributed over 4 generations of a Brazilian family, with 9 carriers of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. The proband presented a scoliotic curve of 75 degrees, as determined by the Cobb method. Genomic DNA from family members was genotyped. RESULTS: Locating a chromosome region linked to adolescent idiopathic scoliosis was not possible in the family studied. CONCLUSION: While it was not possible to determine a chromosome region responsible for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis by investigation of genetic linkage using microsatellites markers during analysis of four generations of a Brazilian family with multiple affected members, analysis including other types of genomic variations, like single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) could contribute to the continuity of this study.

Assessment of a new piezoelectric transducer sensor for noninvasive cardiorespiratory monitoring of newborn infants in the NICU.

BACKGROUND: Electrocardiogram (ECG) and impedance pneumography (IPG), the most widely used techniques for cardiorespiratory monitoring in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), have the disadvantage of causing skin damage when used for very premature newborn infants. To prevent skin damage, we designed a new piezoelectric transducer (PZT) sensor. OBJECTIVE: To assess the potential of the PZT sensor for cardiorespiratory monitoring in the NICU. METHODS: The PZT sensor was placed under a folded towel under a neonate to detect an acoustic cardiorespiratory signal, from which heart rate (HR) and breathing rate (BR) were calculated, together with simultaneous ECG/IPG recording for 1-9 days for long and brief (1-min) assessment. RESULTS: The brief assessment showed average correlation coefficients of 0.92 +/- 0.12 and 0.95 +/- 0.02 between instantaneous HRs/BRs detected by the PZT sensor and ECG/IPG in 27 and 11 neonates examined. During the long assessment, the HR detection rate by the PZT sensor was approximately 10% lower than that by ECG (82.6 +/- 12.9 vs. 91.8 +/- 4.1%; p = 0.001, n = 27), although comparable (90.3 +/- 4.1 vs. 92.5 +/- 3.4%, p = 0.081) in approximately 70% (18/27) of neonates examined; BR detection rate was comparable between the PZT sensor and IPG during relatively stable signal conditions (95.9 +/- 4.0 vs. 95.3 +/- 3.5%; p = 0.38, n = 11). The PZT sensor caused neither skin damage nor body movement increase in all neonates examined. CONCLUSION: The PZT sensor is noninvasive and does not cause skin irritation, and we believe it does provide a reliable, accurate cardiorespiratory monitoring tool for use in the NICU, although the issue of mechanical-ventilation noise remains to be solved.

CORRELATION BETWEEN AVASCULAR NECROSIS AND EARLY STABILIZATION OF PROXIMAL FEMORAL FRACTURES IN CHILDHOOD.

OBJECTIVE: We developed this study with the aim of evaluating the results from treating patients with proximal femoral fractures, in a series of cases. We sought to observe the influence of the most prevalent complications on the final results after a minimum follow-up of two years. We especially considered the relationship between establishment of avascular necrosis and the time between the accident and the therapeutic intervention. METHOD: We retrospectively studied proximal extremity fractures of the femur in 29 patients under 14 years of age between 1988 and 2007. We analyzed the following variables: sex, age, mechanism of injury, fracture classification (Delbet), treatment administered, complications (pseudarthrosis, varus deformity, leg length discrepancy and avascular necrosis), duration of surgery and results (Ratliff). We carried out individual descriptive analysis on each variable. The tests were used in accordance with the premise that normality applied. For the evaluation, we used Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: Five patients (17.2%) had avascular necrosis, and three of them (60.0%) were over 10 years of age. 73.3% of the patients treated within the first 24 hours showed good results. The most common cause of fractures was traffic accidents (44.8%). The best results were observed among patients who were treated surgically. 41.4% developed some type of complication. CONCLUSIONS: Among the 29 patients treated, 58.6% had good, 27.6% had regular and 13.8% had poor results, according to the Ratliff criteria. When conservative treatment was applied, only 17.0% had good results, while 69.3% had good results from surgical intervention. Likewise, 73.3% of the results were good results when surgery was performed within the first 24 hours and only 42.8% of the results were good among patients who underwent surgery after this period. Patients operated within the first 24 hours developed necrosis of the femoral head in 13.3% of cases, while 21.4% of those operated after this period developed this complication.

Correlação entre os índices de necrose e a estabilização precoce nas fraturas da extremidade proximal do fêmur na infância / Correlation between avascular necrosis and early stabilization of proximal femoral fractures in childhood

OBJETIVO: Desenvolvemos este trabalho, com o intuito de avaliar o resultado do tratamento de pacientes portadores de fraturas do fêmur proximal, em uma série de casos. Procuramos observar a influência das complicações mais prevalentes nos resultados finais após o mínimo de dois anos de seguimento. Correlacionamos especialmente a instalação da necrose avascular e o tempo entre o acidente e a instituição da terapêutica. MÉTODOS: Estudamos, retrospectivamente, 29 pacientes com fraturas da extremidade proximal do fêmur, com idade inferior a 14 anos entre 1988 e 2007. Analisamos as seguintes variáveis: sexo, idade, mecanismo de trauma, classificação da fratura (Delbet), tratamento realizado, complicações (pseudartrose, deformidade em varo, anisomelia e necrose avascular), tempo para cirurgia e resultado (Ratliff). Obtivemos uma análise descritiva individual de cada variável. Os testes foram utilizados de acordo com a adequação das premissas de normalidade e para avaliação utilizamos o teste exato de Fisher. RESULTADOS: Obtivemos cinco (17,2 por cento) pacientes com necrose avascular sendo três (60,0 por cento) com idade superior a 10 anos; 73,3 por cento dos pacientes tratados nas primeiras 24 horas apresentaram bons resultados; a causa mais comum de fratura foi acidente automobilístico (44,8 por cento); os melhores resultados foram observados nos pacientes tratados cirurgicamente; 41,4 por cento evoluíram com algum tipo de complicação...

OBJETIVE: This study was developed with the main purpose of evaluating treatment results of proximal femoral fractures in a series of cases. We sought to observe the influence of the most frequent complications on the final results after a minimum follow-up of 2 years. We have especially considered the relationship between development of avascular necrosis and time between the accident and therapeutic intervention. METHOD: We retrospectively studied proximal femoral fractures in 29 patients under 14 years of age from 1988 to 2007. The following parameters were analyzed: sex, age, mechanism of injury, fracture classification (Delbet), treatment, complications (pseudoarthrosis, coxa vara, leg length discrepancy and avascular necrosis), time for surgery, and results (Ratliff). Statistical analysis was performed according to the descriptive evaluation of each parameter by using Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: Five (17.2 percent) patients had avascular necrosis, 3 of whom (60.0 percent) were older than 10 years of age. Seventy-three point three percent of patients treated in the first 24 hours showed good results. The most common cause of fracture was traffic accident (44.8 percent). The best results were observed in patients who were treated surgically; 41.4 percent developed some type of complication...

Análise radiográfica dos fatores prognósticos no tratamento do quadril displásico inveterado / Radiographic analysis of prognostic factors in DDH treatment after walking age

OBJETIVO: Avaliar os resultados do tratamento cirúrgico da Displasia do Desenvolvimento do Quadril na idade da marcha. MÉTODOS: Avaliamos 33 quadris operados entre novembro de 1992 e setembro de 1997. A média de idade foi 4 anos e 5 meses na ocasião da cirurgia e 11 anos e 7 meses quando avaliamos os resultados. O seguimento médio foi de 10 anos e 2 meses. Realizamos o encurtamento femoral, redução cruenta e osteotomia pélvica (Salter ou Chiari). Radiograficamente avaliamos: grau da luxação, índice acetabular; ângulo acetabular; arco de Shenton; linha de Hilgenheiner; coeficientes c/b, c/h, centro-acetábulo e cabeça-acetábulo; largura da cartilagem trirradiada; relação cabeça trocânter; esfericidade da epífise femoral; ângulo de Wiberg; necrose avascular e anisomelia. Os parâmetros radiográficos foram avaliados nos períodos pré-operatório, pós-operatório imediato e tardio. RESULTADOS: Verificamos estatisticamente melhora significante destes no momento pré-operatório para o pós-operatório imediato (p=0,0001) porém não houve variação significante entre o pós-operatório imediato e o tardio (p=0.5958). CONCLUSÃO: Pela classificação utilizada para avaliação dos resultados observamos 23 (69,70 por cento) bons, 5 (15,15 por cento) regulares e 5 (15,15 por cento) maus resultados.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results of surgical treatment of Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH) treated in the walking age. METHODS: We evaluated 33 hips in 30 patients operated between November of 1992 and September of 1997. The mean age was 4 years and 5 months at surgical period and the mean age at the last evaluation was 11 years and 7 months. The mean follow up time was 10 years and 2 months. We performed femoral shortening, open reduction and pelvic osteotomy (Salter or Chiari). Radiographic assessment considered: acetabular index; acetabular angle; Shenton's line; Hilgenreiner's line; the c/b, c/h, acetabulum-center and acetabulum-head ratios; the width of the triradiate cartilage; the trochanter and femoral head relationship; femoral head sphericity; Wiberg angle; avascular necrosis and leg length discrepancy. These parameters were measured and compared in pre-operative, early and late post-operative period. RESULTS: After statistical analysis we observed a significant decrease in these parameters from pre-operative period to immediate post-operative period (p=0.0001) and those have not changed between the immediate post-operative period and late post-operative period (p=0.5958). CONCLUSION: By the classification used we observed 23 (69.70 percent) good, 5 (15.15 percent) regular and 5 (15.15 percent) bad results. None of these radiographic parameters were relevant to predicting final results.

Tratamento das fraturas da diáfise dos ossos do antebraço em crianças e adolescentes / Treatment of forearm fractures in children and adolescents

OBJETIVO: O tratamento e os desvios angulares tolerados nas fraturas diafisárias do antebraço em crianças evoca opiniões divergentes na literatura. Frente a esta indefinição, idealizamos este trabalho com o objetivo de avaliar transversalmente os métodos terapêuticos preferenciais para esta lesão durante o 39º Congresso Brasileiro de Ortopedia e Traumatologia. MÉTODO: Foram respondidos 759 questionários (13 por cento do total de inscritos). Abordamos os aspectos gerais da amostra estudada para traçar o perfil do ortopedista questionado. Foram expostas duas situações clínicas em indivíduos de 12 (CASO 1) e 5 anos (CASO 2), sendo apresentadas radiografias com fraturas do antebraço destes pacientes. Os dados obtidos foram compilados e submetidos à análise estatística. RESULTADO: O tratamento mais indicado no CASO 1 foi redução incruenta e fixação com fios de Kirschner (26 por cento), enquanto no CASO 2 foi redução incruenta seguida de aparelho gessado (46 por cento). CONCLUSÃO: Entre os ortopedistas com menos de 30 anos, a escolha por tratamentos menos invasivos e aceitação de maiores angulações prevaleceu para ambos os casos. Os traumatologistas aceitam menor angulação e tendem aos tratamentos invasivos, particularmente para o CASO 2. Já o ortopedista pediátrico opta por tratamentos menos invasivos e aceita maiores desvios angulares.

OBJECTIVE: The treatment and the angular deviations tolerated in diaphyseal forearm fractures in children evoke divergent opinions in literature. In view of this controversy, we idealized this study to evaluate the preferred treatment methods for this injury, during the 39th Brazilian Congress on Orthopedics and Traumatology. METHODS: A total 759 questionnaires were answered (13 percent of total entrants). We addressed the general aspects of the study sample to obtain a profile of the orthopedic surgeons questioned. RESULTS: Two clinical subjects were presented, aged 12 (CASE 1) and 5 years old (CASE 2), along with radiographs depicting forearm diaphyseal fractures of these patients. Data was gathered and submitted to statistical analysis. The overall preferred treatment in CASE 1 was closed reduction and fixation with Kirschner wires (26 percent), while in case 2 it was closed reduction followed by plaster cast (46 percent). CONCLUSION: Among orthopedic surgeons less than 30 years old, the choice for less invasive treatments and greater acceptance of angular values prevailed in both cases. The traumatologists accepted lower angular values and tended towards more invasive treatments, particularly for CASE 2. On the other hand, the pediatric orthopedic surgeon prefers less invasive treatments and accepts greater angular deviations.

Correlations between radiographic, magnetic resonance and histological examinations on the degeneration of human lumbar intervertebral discs / Correlação entre exame radiológico, ressonância magnética e exame histológico na degeneração dos discos intervertebrais lombares humanos

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: There is controversy regarding which imaging method is best for identifying early degenerative alterations in intervertebral discs. No correlations between such methods and histological finds are presented in the literature. The aim of this study was to correlate the thickness of intervertebral discs measured on simple radiographs with the degree of degeneration seen on magnetic resonance images and the histological findings relating to nerve ends inside the discs. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional correlation study on the lumbar spines of human cadavers, at Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp), São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: Ten lumbar spinal columns were extracted from human cadavers and subjected to magnetic resonance imaging and simple radiography. They were classified according to the degree of disc degeneration seen on magnetic resonance, and the thickness of the discs was measured on radiographs. The intervertebral discs were then extracted, embedded in paraffin and analyzed immunohistochemically with protein S100, and the nerve fibers were counted and classified. RESULTS: No correlation was observed between the thickness of the intervertebral discs and the degree of degeneration seen on magnetic resonance images. Only the uppermost lumbar discs (L1/L2 and L2/L3) presented a correlation between their thickness and type I and IV nerve endings. CONCLUSION: Reduced disc thickness is unrelated to increased presence of nerve ends in intervertebral discs, or to the degree of disc degeneration.

CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO: Há controvérsia sobre qual o melhor método de imagem para identificar alterações degenerativas precoces do disco intervertebral. Falta na literatura correlação desses métodos com os achados histológicos. O objetivo deste estudo foi relacionar a altura dos discos intervertebrais medidos em radiografias simples com o grau de degeneração nas imagens de ressonância magnética e os achados histológicos das terminações nervosas encontradas no interior do disco. TIPO DE ESTUDO E LOCAL: Estudo transversal de correlação em coluna lombar de cadáveres humanos, na Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp), São Paulo, Brasil. MÉTODOS: Dez colunas lombares foram retiradas de cadáveres humanos e submetidas a imagens de ressonância magnética e radiografias simples. Foram classificadas de acordo com o grau de degeneração dos discos pela ressonância e mensuradas as alturas dos discos nas radiografias. Os discos intervertebrais foram retirados, incluídos em parafina e foi realizado estudo imunoistoquímico com proteína S100; as fibras nervosas foram contadas e classificadas. RESULTADOS: Não foi observada correlação entre a altura dos discos intervertebrais com o grau de degeneração nas imagens de ressonância magnética. Apenas os discos lombares altos (L1/L2 e L2/L3) apresentaram correlação entre a altura e as terminações nervosas dos tipos I e IV. CONCLUSÃO: A diminuição da altura dos discos não está relacionada ao aumento de terminações nervosas nos discos intervertebrais e nem com o grau de degeneração dos discos.

Ascorbic acid protects the newborn rat brain from hypoxic-ischemia.

Ascorbic acid (AA) is a potent antioxidant, and its neuroprotective effect has not been established yet. Using the Rice-Vannucci model, we examined the effect of AA on hypoxic-ischemic (HI) injury in the immature rat brain. Under isoflurane anesthesia, 7-day-old rat pups received 750 mg/kg of AA by intraperitoneal injection just before hypoxic exposure; 8% oxygen for 90 min. Vehicle controls received an equal volume of saline. AA decreased a macroscopic brain injury score at 48 and 168 h post-HI compared with vehicle controls (48 h post-HI, AA 1.38+/-0.45 vs. controls 2.94+/-0.24, p<0.05; 168 h post-HI, 1.13+/-0.44 vs. 2.50+/-0.25, p<0.05). AA injection significantly decreased the number of both necrotic and apoptotic cells in cortex, caudate putamen, thalamus and hippocampus, and also seemed to reduce the number of TUNEL-positive cells. Western blot analysis showed that AA significantly suppressed 150/145 kDa subunits of alpha-fodrin breakdown products (FBDP) in cortex, striatum, thalamus and hippocampus at 24 and 48 h post-HI, and also 120 kDa subunit of FBDP in all examined regions except for thalamus, which indicated that AA injection inhibited both calpain and caspase-3 activation. Western blot analysis of nitrotyrosine failed to show inhibition of free radical production by AA, however, our results show that AA inhibits both necrotic and apoptotic cell death and that AA is neuroprotective after HI in immature rat brain.