Magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of temporomandibular joint disc displacement--a review of 144 cases

One hundred and forty four patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for evaluation of suspected internal derangement (ID) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). All scans were performed on a state-of-the-art scanner by highly experienced technologists and evaluated by a single Head and Neck/Maxillofacial radiologist. Seventy-nine percent of patients were female and 21% male. Age distribution of the cases was bi-modal with first peak at 20-30 years of age and second peak at 50-60 years of age. Of the 82.5% of cases with disc displacement, 59.5% demonstrated reduction with opening and 40.5% did not reduce. Anterior disc displacement is common (44%) and sideways displacement rare (4%). Antero-lateral displacement was the second commonest type of displacement (29%) probably related to the weakness of the lateral disc attachment.

Care plans for acutely deteriorating COPD: a randomized controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are a frequent reason for admission to hospital and are responsible for the majority of the direct economic costs of treating COPD.

AIMS

To test whether an individualized care plan for patients experiencing acute exacerbations of COPD result in reduced health care utilization and improved quality of life for patients.

METHODS

Ninety-two patients with confirmed COPD were selected by general practitioners or district nurses, and randomly assigned to care plan or usual care groups. The care plan was developed in collaboration with general practitioners, secondary care specialists, specialist nurses, ambulance service providers and the after hours clinic. Patients were followed for 12 months, and the primary end-points were frequency of use of primary care services and hospital admissions.

RESULTS

There was no significant reduction in hospital admissions or improvement in quality of life in the group of patients who used the care plan compared to controls. The care plan group called out the ambulance service more frequently [2.8 (1.3, 4.3) versus 1.1 (0.7, 1.5) calls per 12 months; P = 0.03], and there was a trend towards greater use of oral prednisone [2.3 (1.4, 3.2) versus 1.3 (0.8, 1.8) courses per 12 months; P = 0.06].

CONCLUSION

In contrast to asthma, the provision of individualized self-management plans, whose content was enhanced to provide guidance to carers and health care professionals, did not reduce health care utilization or improve overall quality of life during acute exacerbations of COPD. Other strategies are required.

Proinflammatory cytokine and nuclear factor kappa-B expression along the inflammation-metaplasia-dysplasia-adenocarcinoma sequence in the esophagus

BACKGROUND

The incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma has increased significantly in the western world over the last 20 yr. Most cases arise in a background of chronic gastroesophageal reflux, and specialized intestinal metaplasia in Barrett's esophagus is frequently an antecedent phenotype or evident in association with adenocarcinoma. The molecular events that characterize the pathway from inflammation to metaplasia to dysplasia and adenocarcinoma are poorly understood.

AIMS

To examine the expression of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-8 and IL-1beta along the esophagitis, metaplasia, dysplasia, and adenocarcinoma pathway, and to correlate this with histological changes and expression of the transcription factor NF-kappaB.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Fresh biopsy specimens were collected from patients with reflux esophagitis (n=15), Barrett's esophagus (n=35), Barrett's adjacent to adenocarcinoma (n=8), and esophageal adenocarcinoma (n=35). IL-8 and IL-1beta expression were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. NF-kappaB expression was measured by electrophoretic mobility shift assay.

RESULTS

Elevated expression of NF-kappaB was found in 2 (13%) out of 15 patients with reflux esophagitis, 21 (60%) out of 35 patients with Barrett's esophagus, and 28 (80%) out of 35 patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma. All 5 patients with Barrett's esophagus and high-grade dysplasia showed elevated expression of NF-kappaB. IL-8 and IL-1beta were significantly increased in esophagitis, Barrett's, and adenocarcinoma compared with squamous epithelium, and in adenocarcinoma compared with all other groups. There was a stepwise increase in the expression of IL-8, IL-1beta, and NF-kappaB from normal through Barrett's epithelium to adenocarcinoma in eight cases of esophageal adenocarcinoma. The levels of both IL-8 and IL-1beta in adenocarcinoma patients correlated with stage of disease. Patients with adenocarcinoma who were NF-kappaB positive had significantly higher levels of both IL-8 (p=0.04) and IL-1beta (p=0.03) compared to adenocarcinoma patients who were NF-kappaB negative.

CONCLUSIONS

The proinflammatory cytokines IL-8 and IL-1beta are elevated in esophagitis and Barrett's epithelium, and markedly elevated in adenocarcinoma. NF-kappaB activation is infrequent in esophagitis, but is increased in Barrett's epithelium and adenocarcinoma. The association of NF-kappaB activation with cytokine upregulation was only evident in patients with adenocarcinoma. These patterns may play an important role in Barrett's inflammation and tumourigenesis, and inhibition of the NF-kappaB/proinflammatory cytokine pathway may be an important target for future chemoprevention strategies.

Association between β-adrenergic receptor polymorphisms and their G-protein-coupled receptors with body mass index and obesity in women: a report from the NHLBI-sponsored WISE study

OBJECTIVES

The beta-adrenergic receptor (betaAR) genes are candidate genes for obesity because of their roles in energy homeostasis and promotion of lipolysis in human adipose tissue. Objective is to determine the association between obesity and polymorphisms in genes of the beta(1)AR (ADRB1), beta(2)AR (ADRB2), beta(3)AR (ADRB3), Gs protein alpha (GNAS1), to which all three beta-receptors couple and the G protein beta3 subunit (GNB3), to which beta(3)ARs couple.

DESIGN

A case-control genetic association study.

SUBJECTS

A total of 643 black or white women enrolled in Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE) study.

MEASUREMENTS

Genotypes were determined by PCR with single primer extension. Associations between genotype and body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist circumference, and obesity were made.

RESULTS

Polymorphisms in the three betaAR genes, GNAS1, and GNB3 were not associated with BMI, WHR, waist circumference, or obesity. Linear and logistic regression analyses found no contribution of either genotype or haplotype with anthropometric measurements or obesity.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that among American women with suspected coronary heart disease, polymorphisms in the betaARs and their G-protein-coupled receptors do not contribute to increased BMI, WHR, waist circumference, or obesity. Given that 50% of all women die from coronary heart disease, and a higher percentage have heart disease during their lifetime, our results are likely generalizable to many American women.

Ultralow anterior resection with intersphincteric dissection--what is the limit of safe sphincter preservation?

INTRODUCTION

In the treatment of low rectal cancer, the possibility of sphincter preserving surgery is increased by partial sphincteric resection which may allow an oncologically safe resection margin in some patients who would traditionally have been treated by abdominoperineal resection. The aim of this study is to evaluate the morbidity, mortality and the oncological and functional results of intersphincteric resection to determine whether the technique may be considered a safe means of sphincter preservation.

METHODS

Between May 1992 and December 1999, 26 patients (mean age 55 years, range 28-82) with adenocarcinoma of the rectum had partial sphincteric resection by an abdominal approach with a colonic J-pouch anal anastomosis. The mean distance between the tumour and the anal verge 4.25 (range 3.1-5.25) cm. Four tumours were T1, 14 T2 (3 N+), 7 T3 (3 N+), and 1 T4 (N+). Neoadjuvant radiotherapy was used in 10 patients. The distal resection margin was positive in one patient who then proceeded to safe abdominoperineal resection (APR). In the remaining patient the mean distal resection margin on the fixed specimen was 1.6 (range 0.3-3.5) cm.

RESULTS

There were no deaths. Morbidity was 30% with an anastomotic leak rate of 11%. At mean follow-up of 39 (range 11-93) months the local recurrence rate was 3.4%. Functional results were evaluated in 25 patients at mean follow-up of 27 (8-66) months: 65% had 0-2 bowel motions per 24 h, 31% had 3-5 and 4% between 6 and 9. Nine patients (36%) had nocturnal defecation. Continence was normal in 50% with 23% reporting incontinence to gas and 27% reporting minor episodes of incontinence. None had major incontinence and 85% considered their outcome satisfactory.

CONCLUSION

This study supports the current literature indicating that partial sphincteric resection is an oncologically and functionally safe alternative to abdominoperineal resection for some selected low rectal tumours.

Does Helicobacter pylori eradication affect symptoms in nonulcer dyspepsia: a 5-year follow-up study

The role of Helicobacter pylori infection in nonulcer dyspepsia remains controversial. To date studies exploring the effect of H. pylori eradication on symptoms have reported conflicting results. Randomised control trials employing validated outcome measures have also been difficult to interpret because of several important issues such as the large placebo response seen in patients with nonulcer dyspepsia and both the natural variability in symptoms and symptom severity with time. The association of symptom improvement with resolution of gastritis has meant that the length of follow up employed in most studies has been insufficient. We report the findings of a randomised placebo controlled trial (n = 100), using a validated symptom questionnaire and 5 year follow up to determine the effect of H. pylori eradication on symptoms in nonulcer dyspepsia. In all 64 that were reviewed at 5 years there was a significant difference between patients who were H. pylori negative and those who remained positive with regard to complete symptom resolution, consumption of relevant medications and peptic ulcer disease development, in favour of active treatment. There was a trend for gradual symptom improvement over time irrespective of H. pylori status, which may reflect the natural history of this condition. For those who remained symptomatic at 5 years, there was no difference in symptom severity based on H. pylori status. The findings of this study support the use of H. pylori eradication in symptomatic patients with nonulcer dyspepsia both to induce symptom resolution and to prevent disease progression.

[(18)F]FDG in childhood lymphoma: clinical utility and impact on management

Positron emission tomography (PET) with fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) is a very useful technique for the imaging of lymphomas in the adult population. It provides unique information about the behaviour of malignant cells and contributes to more accurate staging of the illness and better assessment of response to therapy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of FDG PET in childhood lymphoma compared with conventional imaging methods (CIMs) and clinical data. Between July 1998 and August 2001, 42 FDG PET examinations were performed using a dedicated PET system (27 examinations) or a hybrid coincidence PET system (15 examinations) for initial tumour staging ( n=7), restaging ( n=5) or assessment of response to therapy or residual masses ( n=30) in 27 children with Hodgkin's disease (HD) ( n=20) or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) ( n=7). FDG PET results were compared with CIM findings and clinical data. Since 2000, a standardised questionnaire for evaluation of the clinical impact of FDG PET on both staging and therapy has been sent to the 16 referring physicians and 13 have replied. In all children, FDG PET was performed without any side-effects. FDG PET was found to be very sensitive (Se=12/12) for staging and restaging of the illness, showing more lesions than CIMs, with a 50% patient upstaging rate (6/12). It was very accurate for monitoring response to therapy and for characterisation of residual masses. False-positive results were observed in two NHL patients with thymic uptake and one false-negative result was obtained in a patient whose NHL relapsed 1 month after a negative FDG PET. The questionnaire emphasised the impact of FDG PET on clinical management, which was modified on the basis of the FDG PET results in 23% of patients. As previously demonstrated in the adult population, FDG PET appeared to be a very sensitive imaging technique for staging and restaging of lymphoma in children and was very useful for monitoring the response to therapy.

Altered hypothalamic cholinergic responses in patients with nonulcer dyspepsia: a study of pyridostigmine-stimulated growth hormone release

OBJECTIVE

Acetylcholine plays a central and peripheral role in regulating gastric motility. In the hypothalamus, it is a key neuroendocrine modulator; acting through somatostatin, it brings about the release of growth hormone (GH). We measured hypothalamic cholinergic receptor sensitivity in patients with nonulcer dyspepsia (NUD) by examining GH release in response to cholinergic challenge.

METHODS

Forty patients with NUD and 40 healthy comparison subjects were administered pyridostigmine (the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, 120 mg), and GH release over a 3-h period was monitored.

RESULTS

Calculating response as the maximum GH relative to baseline (delta GH), the mean +/- SEM response in the patients was 11.9 +/- 1.9 U/L and in the healthy subjects 6.7 +/- 0.7 mU/L (t = 2.1, df = 78, p = 0.03). Helicobacter pylori status had no appreciable impact on GH response with H. pylori-positive patients having a mean response of 10.5 +/- 2.1 mU/L and negative patients a mean response of 13.2 +/- 3.4 mU/L. Overall, patients with NUD release more GH in response to pyridostigmine challenge than healthy subjects.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with NUD may have a pathophysiological disturbance involving central cholinergic systems.

Carditis: all Helicobacter pylori or is there a role for gastro-oesophageal reflux?

BACKGROUND

Recent epidemiological studies have reported a threefold increase in the incidence of adenocarcinoma of the lower oesophagus and gastro-oesophageal junction (cardia). There are conflicting reports available implicating both gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and Helicobacter pylori infection in the aetiology of carditis and cardia intestinal metaplasia, despite strong evidence to show that these two conditions are, if anything, inversely related. We aimed to determine the prevalence of carditis and cardia intestinal metaplasia in dyspeptic subjects and also their association with H. pylori infection and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

METHOD

Histological samples from the gastric cardia were obtained from dyspeptic subjects. H. pylori status was assessed based on histological, microbiological and rapid urease testing. Gastro-oesophageal disease was diagnosed on the basis of histological evidence and/or erosive oesophagitis. Patient demographics were recorded. Cardia intestinal metaplasia (CIM), when present, was subgrouped as complete or incomplete.

RESULTS

Overall, 276 subjects were enrolled; 163 (59%) had carditis and 36 (13%) CIM. H. pylori infection and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease occurred in 64 (23%) and 150 (54%), respectively. H. pylori infection was strongly associated with carditis and CIM (P<0.001 and P<0.01). Older age and male gender were also associated with inflammation and intestinal metaplasia of the cardia. Gastro-oesophageal reflux was not associated with either entity.

CONCLUSION

Carditis and CIM occur frequently. Both conditions are strongly associated with H. pylori infection, older age and male gender. There was no association with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

New molecular insights into heart failure and cardiomyopathy: potential strategies and therapies

BACKGROUND

In the most severely affected patients the mortality for congestive heart failure exceeds that of many cancers. While therapies are largely aimed at attenuating neurohumoral responses recent molecular insights reveal other potential targets for therapy.

AIMS

To summarise some of the recent developments in the management of heart failure and provide the clinician who treats heart failure with new insights into emerging approaches.

METHODS

A literature review was conducted of the recent literature together with personal research data.

RESULTS

Large randomised trials will provide a more comprehensive understanding of the interaction of beta-blockers and other heart failure therapies with gene polymorphisms. Cytokines are important in the progression of heart failure, yet therapy aimed at blocking cytokine effects has not been successful. More selective use of anti-cytokine therapy may have beneficial effects. Gene therapy to improve heart failure has not yet reached clinical trials. The molecular genetics of hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathy is rapidly improving our understanding so that genetic diagnostics and counselling may soon be performed for patients and families.

CONCLUSIONS

The emergence of a molecular based understanding of heart failure will hopefully improve therapy of this common condition.

Lack of tacrolimus-induced cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) has been reported in pediatric transplant patients receiving tacrolimus. It is unclear whether tacrolimus is associated with HCM in adult transplant recipients.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence of HCM in noncardlac adult transplant patients receiving tacrolimus.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of nonheart transplant recipients who received tacrolimus at our institution from January 1982 to April 1996 was conducted. Patients with left-ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) defined as a posterior or septal wall thickness > or = 1.3 cm by echocardiography (ECHO) were independently evaluated.

RESULTS

There were 3609 patients who met entry criteria including 2257 liver, 1333 kidney, and 19 other organ transplants. Of the 502 patients who had undergone ECHOs after transplantation, 171 had LVH. The etiology of LVH was categorized as valvular disease (36%), hypertensive disease (29%), ischemic heart disease (17%), or multifactonal (15%). There were six patients in whom, after detailed chart review, no underlying cause of LVH was evident. Five of these patients had HCM, representing an overall prevalence of 0.1% in the entire group of tacrolimus-treated patients, and 1% in patients referred for ECHO.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of HCM in our tacrolimus-treated adult transplant population is similar to that reported in general population studies. These data suggest that tacrolimus is not a risk factor for HCM in adult transplant recipients.

Controlled trial of intravenous immune globulin in recent-onset dilated cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND

This prospective placebo-controlled trial was designed to determine whether intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) improves left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in adults with recent onset of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy or myocarditis.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Sixty-two patients (37 men, 25 women; mean age +/-SD 43.0+/-12.3 years) with recent onset (</=6 months of symptoms) of dilated cardiomyopathy and LVEF </=0.40 were randomized to 2 g/kg IVIG or placebo. All underwent an endomyocardial biopsy before randomization, which revealed cellular inflammation in 16%. The primary outcome was change in LVEF at 6 and 12 months after randomiz. Overall, LVEF improved from 0.25+/-0.08 to 0.41+/-0.17 at 6 months (P<0.001) and 0.42+/-0.14 (P<0.001 versus baseline) at 12 months. The increase was virtually identical in patients receiving IVIG and those given placebo (6 months: IVIG 0.14+/-0.12, placebo 0.14+/-0.14; 12 months: IVIG 0.16+/-0.12, placebo 0.15+/-0.16). Overall, 31 (56%) of 55 patients at 1 year had an increase in LVEF >/=0.10 from study entry, and 20 (36%) of 56 normalized their ejection fraction (>/=0.50). The transplant-free survival rate was 92% at 1 year and 88% at 2 years.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that for patients with recent-onset dilated cardiomyopathy, IVIG does not augment the improvement in LVEF. However, in this overall cohort, LVEF improved significantly during follow-up, and the short-term prognosis remains favorable.