Contraception with two levonorgestrel rod implants. A 5-year study in the United States and Dominican Republic

A 5-year trial of a two-rod contraceptive implant, which releases the progestin levonorgestrel (LNG rod), was conducted at four clinics with 594 women. Mean age and weight at admission were 25.5 years and 62.4 kg, respectively. Consent to continue through 5 years was sought and obtained when the 3-year cumulative pregnancy rate proved to be 0.8 per 100. No pregnancies occurred in the fourth or fifth years. The 5-year cumulative pregnancy rate was, therefore, 0.8 per 100 with an annual average pregnancy rate below 2 per 1000 women. Prolonged bleeding/spotting (8.2% of subjects) and irregular bleeding (5.6%) were the most frequently cited medical reasons for removal. Removals for headache (4.7%) and weight change (4.0%) were the next most frequent medical reasons. Between 1% and 2% of subjects during the 5-year trial sought removals for each of the following conditions: mood changes, lower abdominal pain, depression, or pain at the implant site. The mean annual continuation rate during the study was 77 per 100. Use per woman averaged 2.96 years. Mean removal time was 5.9 +/- 0.6 min. These data indicate that, for a 5-year period, the two LNG rod implants are equivalent to the six Norplant capsule implants with respect to safety and efficacy parameters, but permit easier and more rapid implant removal.

[Long-term quality of life after continence-preserving proctocolectomy for ulcerative colitis and familial adenomatous polyposis]

After ileal pouch-anal anastomosis in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), quality of life is a relevant factor for the assessment of the operation's success, in addition to postoperative morbidity and functional outcome. Between 1982 and 1995 restorative proctocolectomy was performed in 453 patients (UC: n = 332; FAP: n = 121) at the Department of Surgery, University of Heidelberg. We studied postoperative quality of life through a long-term follow-up study (median follow-up time 43.2 months). This study 1 year or more following ileostomy closure of persons who had undergone J-pouch anastomosis (n = 243 total; UC n = 185, FAP n = 58) revealed that at the time of follow-up, the underlying disease (UC versus FAP) and successfully treated complications are without influence on the quality of life. The patient's age (P < 0.01) and the presence of unsuccessfully treated complications (P < 0.0001) showed a significant influence on the quality of life. There was a distinct relation between the functional index and the quality of life index (coefficient of correlation r = -0.714). However, quality of life, comparable to that of healthy controls, can be achieved with UC and FAP patients by restorative proctocolectomy only if postoperative complications can be avoided or are successfully treated.

MRI of pouch-related fistulas in ulcerative colitis after restorative proctocolectomy

PURPOSE

Our purpose was to determine the value of MRI in diagnosing pouch-related fistulas in patients with ulcerative colitis and to compare pulse sequences with and without contrast enhancement in their performance of visualization.

METHOD

Forty-four patients with pelvic symptoms after restorative proctocolectomy underwent MRI. All 26 patients with pouch-related fistulas were treated surgically; 18 patients with pouchitis were treated conservatively. MRI was performed at 1.0 T with T1-weighted FLASH sequences before and after administration of Gd-DTPA, T2-weighted and proton density-weighted turbo SE sequences, and a T2-weighted fat saturation sequence. Images were analyzed for the presence of fistula; pulse sequences were additionally compared for best visualization on a four point scale of diagnostic confidence.

RESULTS

MRI detected 23 of 26 cases of fistulas; there were no false-positive diagnoses. Surgery revealed fistulas in three cases in which no pathology was found on MRI. Two patients had a short sinus tract at the pouch-anal anastomosis, and a third patient had a pouch-vaginal fistula. The Gd-enhanced FLASH sequence obtained the highest score, and second best was the T2-weighted fat saturation technique.

CONCLUSION

MRI is a valuable technique for diagnosing pouch-related fistulas, However, there are limitations in detection of short sinus tracts and pouch-vaginal fistulas. Highest diagnostic confidence is obtained with a Gd-enhanced FLASH sequence, which might be helpful after pelvic surgery or if the fact saturation technique is equivocal.

Telemedicine applications in otolaryngology

A prospective study of the use of realtime and store-and-forward teleconsulting was carried out in patients who presented to the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary for otolaryngology care. Forty-five patients were seen in the study. There were no significant differences between local and remote otolaryngologists when interpreting the examinations, indicating that transmission did not affect the ability of a qualified physician to make an accurate diagnosis. In the store-and-forward examinations only 62% of the electronic records provided sufficient information for a confident diagnosis. Records were judged inadequate primarily due to poor selection, or an insufficient number of stored images. The study demonstrates that both interactive and store-and-forward techniques can be used to provide accurate clinical consultations in nasopharyngolaryngoscopic examinations. However, since store-and-forward consultations include less information and do not provide immediate feedback, as well defined clinical protocol for assembling the electronic consultation is needed.

[Effect of proctocolectomy on fluid balance--comparison of conventional ileostomy, ileorectal anastomosis and ileoanal pouch operation]

Total colectomy for ulcerative colitis (UC) and familiar adenomatous polyposis coli (FAP) is mainly performed as an ileoanal Pouch procedure (IAP). Alternatives are ileorectal anastomosis (IRA) and conventional proctocolectomy with Brooke ileostomy (CPS). The different surgical techniques may influence the excretion of water and electrolytes in stool and urine and may lead to a higher risk for urolithiasis. We investigated patients (12 IAP, 12 IRA and 8 CPS) several years after surgery and compared them to twelve normal controls. Total fecal and urinary output was collected at two consecutive days. Volume and electrolytes were determined in stool and urine. The risk for urinary stone formation was calculated by nomograms. Fecal volume and sodium (Na+) excretion was increased in all therapy groups compared to controls. IAP and IRA had significant less stool volume and Na+ excretion compared to CPS. Augmented fecal Na+ excretion was compensated by reduction of renal output after colectomy compared to controls. There were no significant differences in the daily urine volume between any groups. There was no urolithiasis in any groups. The nomograms showed a risk for all groups and controls to develop urinary stones.

[Complications and late outcome of restorative proctocolectomy]

The restorative proctocolectomy with ileoanal pouch is a sophisticated operative procedure with considerable postoperative complications. The main problems are postoperative ileus (11%), anastomotic stricture (9%), local septic complications (13%) and pouchitis (29%). A variety of other complications also occur. Most of the problems can be successfully managed by conservative or surgical treatment. In only 2.5% (n = 15/593) was final pouch extirpation necessary. Postoperative function showed elevated stool frequency (6 per day) and slightly compromised stool continence. Most patients confirm good quality of life.

[Heidelberg polyposis register. Experiences with ileoanal pouch in familial adenomatous polyposis coli (FAP): the ileoanal anastomosis problem zone]

Restorative proctocolectomy and ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) is the therapy of choice for the prophylactic treatment of FAP. Despite maximal radicality, we frequently observed remaining rectal mucosa and in some cases even adenomas at the pouch-anal anastomosis. Therefore, we changed our postoperative care by adding a yearly proctoscopy to regular pouchoscopies.

[GSG (Structured Health Regulation)-conforming documentation of surgical interventions in a university clinic--3 years clinical experiences 1994-1996]

The cost increase in the public health sector is steadily mounting and hence politicians are forced to redefine the economic conditions for regulations. As a new quality in the area of inpatient hospital care the new German law of structural health care (GSG), valid as of January 1, 1993 replaces the principle of covering full costs. The GSG law required in our hospital an adjustment of existing EDP structures with integrated automatic remuneration estimate and the installation of a medical structure of the organisation for complete and correct documentation. Weakpoints of the prescribed obligatory ICPM codes and inadequate legal regulations result in a lack of separation or wrong integration of the lump sum payment in individual cases (FP) and special compensation (SE). The summary analysis of the compensation system with a subsequent medical control system showed a primarily inaccurate classification by 12%. There is as yet no proof for the usefulness of a lump sum payment system resulting in a selection of risks.

Impact of comorbidity on outcome of young patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Comorbid conditions have a significant impact on the actuarial survival of patients with head and neck cancer. However, no studies have evaluated the impact of comorbidity on tumor- and treatment-specific outcomes. This study was performed to evaluate the impact of comorbidity, graded by the Kaplan-Feinstein comorbidity index (KFI) on the incidence and severity of complications, disease-free interval, and tumor-specific survival in patients undergoing curative treatment for head and neck cancer.

METHODS

A multi-institutional, retrospective cohort of 70 patients 45 years of age and under with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) presenting over an 11-year period was studied.

RESULTS

Advanced comorbidity (KFI grade 2 or 3) was present in 21 patients (30%). Patients with advanced comorbidity did not differ from patients with low-level comorbidity (KFI grades 0 or 1) in sex distribution, race, presence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, tobacco use, location of primary lesion, stage at presentation, pathologic differentiation of the tumor, or type of initial treatment. The overall incidence of treatment-associated complications was similar between the groups (57% versus 49%; p > 0.05), but a higher proportion of patients with advanced comorbidity developed high-grade complications (24% versus 6%; p = .04). The median disease-free interval (11.1 months versus 21.6 months; p = .045) and tumor-specific survival (13.7 months versus 57.6 months; p = .03) was poorer for patients with advanced comorbidity. The effects of comorbidity on survival remained significant even after adjusting for the confounding effects of HIV status and tumor stage (p = .05).

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of comorbid conditions has a significant impact on tumor- and treatment-specific outcomes. Although the presence of advanced comorbid conditions is not associated with an increase in the rate of treatment-associated complications, complications tend to be more severe in this population. More importantly, advanced comorbidity has a detrimental effect on the disease-free interval and tumor-specific survival in patients with head and neck cancer, independent of other factors. This suggests that comorbidity may impact on tumor behavior, presumably by altering the host's response to cancer. Accordingly, to be more predictive and reliable, the current staging system for head and neck cancer should include a description of the patient's comorbidity.

Validation of the Charlson comorbidity index in patients with head and neck cancer: a multi-institutional study

Comorbid conditions are medical illnesses that accompany cancer. The impact of these conditions on the outcome of patients with head and neck cancer is well established. However, all of the comorbidity studies in patients with head and neck cancer reported in the literature have been performed using the Kaplan-Feinstein index (KFI), which may be too complicated for routine use. This study was performed to introduce and validate the use of the Charlson comorbidity index (CI) in patients with head and neck cancer and to compare it with the Kaplan-Feinstein comorbidity index for accuracy and ease of use. Study design was a retrospective cohort study. The study population was drawn for three academic tertiary care centers and included 88 patients 45 years of age and under who underwent curative treatment for head and neck cancer. All patients were staged by the KFI and the CI for comorbidity and divided into two groups based on the comorbidity severity staging. Group 1 included patients with advanced comorbidity (stages 2 or 3), and group 2 included those with low-level comorbidity (stages 0 or 1). Outcomes were compared based on these divisions. The KFI was successfully applied to 80% of this study population, and the CI was successfully applied in all cases (P < 0.0001). In addition, the KFI was found to be more difficult to use than the CI (P < 0.0001). However, both indices independently predicted the tumor-specific survival (P = 0.007), even after adjusting for the confounding effects of TNM stage by multivariate analysis. Overall, the CI was found to be a valid prognostic indicator in patients with head and neck cancer. In addition, because comorbidity staging by the CI independently predicted survival, was easier to use, and more readily applied, it may be better suited for use for retrospective comorbidity studies.

First week drug concentrations in women with levonorgestrel rod or Norplant capsule implants

Forty-two healthy women volunteered to have blood samples drawn at 2, 4, 8, 24, 48, and 168 h (7 days) following placement of levonorgestrel-releasing rod (LNG rod) or of Norplant capsule implants to permit measurement of drug concentrations. Three clinics recruited 10 women each, half of whom used each type of implant. Twelve additional subjects were later enrolled at one site to provide greater detail for the capsule implants. Throughout the week, women with Norplant implants had apparently higher mean drug concentrations than did women with LNG rod implants, but the differences were significant only in the first 48 h after placement (p < 0.05). Maximum levels for capsule implants were found at the 24-h sample (mean, 1358 to 1474 pg/mL) and for the LNG rod implants at 48 h (772 pg/mL). Body weight was negatively correlated with levonorgestrel concentrations at all times (p < 0.05). For several sampling times, differences between clinics in mean concentrations were statistically significant after weight adjustment. Despite differences by implant type, weight, or clinic location, drug concentrations compatible with contraceptive effect were attained within 24 h in users of LNG rod or of Norplant implants, insofar as all women had levonorgestrel concentrations above 250 pg/mL at the 24-h sample.

[Restorative proctectomy. A comparison of direct colo-anal and colon-pouch-anal anastomoses for reconstructing continuity]

Thirty-nine of 63 patients undergoing deep anterior rectal resection received a straight coloanal anastomosis (CAA); the remaining 24 patients additionally had a colon-j-pouch (CPA) constructed. After pouch-anal anastomosis, local septic complications occurred in 12.5% of patients compared to 20.5% after coloanal anastomosis. Stool frequency after pouch-anal anastomosis was 3.3 per 24 h compared to 5.2 per 24 h after straight anastomosis within the first year after ileostomy closure (P = 0.053). Continence was slightly better in the pouch group (n.s.), and anal manometry showed a significant postoperative decrease only in resting pressure after straight colonal anastomosis (P < 0.001). This study supports the construction of a colon-j-pouch after deep rectal resection, as the pouch-anal anastomosis has fewer local septic complications and seems to improve functional outcome.

Contraceptives for lactating women: a comparative trial of a progesterone-releasing vaginal ring and the copper T 380A IUD

From approximately one week before normal ovulation resumes, lactating women require protection against pregnancy by a contraceptive that is safe for both infant and mother in a multicenter one-year study, the natural hormone, progesterone, delivered vaginally by a sequence of four contraceptive rings designed for continuous use, was evaluated as a contraceptive for nursing mothers in comparison with the Copper T 380A IUD. Individual rings release in effective average dose of 10 mg day for a 3 month period. Evaluation included measures of lactational performance as well as of contraceptive efficacy and safety to mother and child. Nine participating clinics enrolled 802 ring users and 734 IUD acceptors between postpartum days 29 and 63. Life table analyses were performed with parallel decrements for ring and IUD subjects. Continuation in the study and analysis required that subjects not stop breastfeeding. The ring, with a one-year pregnancy rate of 1.5 per 100, did not differ significantly from the IUD with respect to contraceptive effectiveness (p > 0.05). More than half of the ring subjects were continuing at 6 months post admission and a quarter (23.5 per hundred) were still using the ring and breastfeeding one year after admission. Women with the IUD, however, had higher continuation rates (p < 0.001) at both time points. The largest single decrement for each method was that for weaning. Ring users had more complaints of vaginal problems but had fewer vaginal disorders on examination. At 12 months postpartum, 46 per 100 continuing ring users remained in amenorrhea. Lactation performance and the health and weight gain of the infants were similar among users of either regimen.

Levonorgestrel concentrations during use of levonorgestrel rod (LNG ROD) implants

In a three-year randomized trial that included 398 women, blood samples were collected for the purpose of assaying levonorgestrel concentrations in women using a new two-rod contraceptive implant system or an earlier implant formulation, Norplant-2 implants. Sample collection was at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after placement and semiannually thereafter through three years. Resulting assays and analyses showed that levonorgestrel concentrations of each implant formulation decreased significantly with time after placement, with increasing body weight, and with ponderal index. In the third year, several measures indicated that concentrations of the contraceptive drug were higher in women using the LNG ROD implants than in users of the original formulation. No pregnancies occurred among women in either group in the three years. This study provides evidence that the minimum levonorgestrel concentration needed to protect against pregnancy is below 200 pg/ml, and possibly is below 175 pg/ml.

Clinical performance of a new two-rod levonorgestrel contraceptive implant: a three-year randomized study with Norplant implants as controls

In a randomized three-year clinical trial at seven clinics, the performance of levonorgestrel rod (LNG ROD) implants used by 600 women was compared with that of soft tubing NORPLANT implants used by 598 women. No pregnancies occurred in either group of women and, accordingly, body weight did not affect the efficacy of either type of implant. There were neither statistically significant nor important differences in termination rates for any reason over the three years. Complaint and illness rates during use of either of the two implant types were statistically indistinguishable and were attributable to the same set of conditions. Seventy-one per 100 of the women using each implant regimen continued to the three-year point, for an average annual continuation rate of 89 per 100. Removals of LNG ROD implants were accomplished in about half the time required for removal of Norplant capsule implants (p < 0.001).

HM-PAO (CERETEC) SPECT brain scanning in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the accuracy of Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) scanning in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and its capacity to improve the diagnostic accuracy of conventional clinical evaluation.

DESIGN

Comparison of SPECT scanning of AD and normal subjects with the criterion standard of clinical diagnosis confirmed by 1-year repeated evaluation.

SETTING

A memory clinic in a tertiary care university hospital.

PATIENTS

One hundred twenty patients were evaluated upon entering the Jewish General Hospital (McGill University) Memory Clinic. Fifty-eight patients were diagnosed as having AD and 17 as having vascular dementia. Twenty unmatched controls (recruited mainly through newspaper advertisements) were normal, and 25 had cognitive impairment without dementia (not included in the statistical analysis).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Comparison of visual inspection of SPECT, based on the system of classification developed by Holman et al., using B pattern alone as positive or B (bilateral posterior temporal and/or parietal cortex deficits) or C (bilateral posterior temporal and/or parietal deficits with additional defects) pattern and B or C or D (unilateral posterior temporal and/or parietal defects with or without additional defects) as positive compared with clinical diagnosis after repeated evaluations. Sensitivity and specificity, as well as positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) based on the prevalence of AD in a memory clinic setting of 30% or 50%, were calculated.

RESULTS

With B pattern as positive, the sensitivity of SPECT was 21% whereas the specificity was 80%. With B or C as positive, the sensitivity was 29% and the specificity was 75%. With B or C or D as positive, the sensitivity was 55% and the specificity was 65%. With a 30% prevalence, the PPV with B pattern as positive was 31% whereas the NPV was 30%. The PPV with B or C as positive was 33% while the NPV was 29%, and the PPV with B or C or D as positive was 40% whereas the NPV was 23%. With a 50% prevalence, the PPV with B pattern as positive was 51% and the NPV 49.6%; the PPV with B or C as positive was 54% and the NPV 48.6%; the PPV with B or C or D as positive was 61% while NPV was 41%.

CONCLUSION

The sensitivity and specificity were too low for SPECT to be useful as a diagnostic test for AD. The poor positive and negative predictive values in our tertiary care clinic mean that SPECT is not useful in "ruling-in" or "ruling-out" AD in that setting. In fact, clinical evaluation is more accurate.

[Decompensated acute gastric dilatation caused by a bulimic attack in anorexia nervosa]

HISTORY AND CLINICAL FINDINGS

Abdominal pain developed after a bulimic binge in a 19-year-old girl with anorexia nervosa. She had unsuccessfully tried to induce vomiting. Physical examination showed no clinical sign of peritonitis, although there was diffuse abdominal tenderness on pressure.

INVESTIGATIONS

There was leukopenia (2200 G/l) and a raised serum lactate level (58 mg/dl). No free air was seen on a plain film of the abdomen. Abdominal sonography revealed little free fluid subhepatically.

TREATMENT AND COURSE

Acute respiratory impairment during investigations required emergency intubation. As bronchoscopy revealed aspiration a bronchial lavage was performed. Under gastroscopic control gastric emptying was achieved through a large gastric tube. After early improvement the patient developed the full picture of sepsis. Ultrasonography and needle puncture having revealed purulent intraabdominal fluid, a laparotomy was performed, which showed necrosis of the anterior and posterior walls of the stomach with free perforation. The greater curvature was resected. The patient slowly recovered but a relaparotomy for a subphrenic abscess became necessary on the 10th postoperative day. A year later there was free food passage, but the anorexia nervosa was unchanged.

CONCLUSION

A bulimic binge can become life-threatening if the stomach does not empty spontaneously. Surgical intervention is required, if the patient's condition does not improve despite gastric emptying.

Pouch-anal cancer after restorative proctocolectomy for familial adenomatous polyposis

Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and idiopathic ulcerative colitis are both mucosal diseases that bear a significant risk of developing colorectal cancer. As a consequence, their surgical treatment is currently widely performed by restorative proctocolectomy with pelvic ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA). Herein we report a new case of cancer after IPAA that developed in a 33-year-old woman with FAP. Pouch-anal cancer was diagnosed 8 years after restorative proctocolectomy, including anorectal mucosectomy, for FAP with manifest cancer in the sigmoid colon. This case observation reemphasizes that the risk of cancer for FAP patients persists as long as any rectal mucosa remains after IPAA surgery.

Albert F. Ax (1913-1994)

Al Ax's contributions to psychology and psychophysiology span almost 40 years. He had many colleagues with whom he communicated openly and generously about his early psychophysiological research. One of these, John Stern, comments below. Joanne Fetzner, a close associate of Al's during his years as director of the Psychophysiology Laboratory of the Lafayette Clinic in Detroit, Michigan, and as founder of the Society for Psychophysiological Research and founding editor of Psychophysiology, provides a more detailed account of Al's life and his contributions to psychophysiological research as well as his untiring efforts to gather together this research into a scientific journal and its scientists into a formal society, both dedicated to the furtherance and scientific recognition of psychophysiological research.