Showing papers by "Bethesda Hospital published in 2006"

Endothelial Dysfunction and Low-Grade Inflammation Explain Much of the Excess Cardiovascular Mortality in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes. The Hoorn Study

Abstract: Objective— The mechanisms responsible for the increased cardiovascular disease risk that accompanies type 2 diabetes (T2D) remain poorly understood. It is commonly held that endothelial dysfunction and low-grade inflammation can explain, at least in part, why deteriorating glucose tolerance is associated with cardiovascular disease. However, there is no direct evidence for this contention. Methods and Results— In this population-based study (n=631), T2D was cross-sectionally associated with both endothelial dysfunction and low-grade inflammation, whereas impaired glucose metabolism (IGM) was associated only with low-grade inflammation. These findings were independent of other risk factors that accompany T2D or IGM. During a follow-up of 11.7 years (median; range 0.5 to 13.2 years), low-grade inflammation was associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular mortality (hazard ratio, 1.43 [95% CI, 1.17 to 1.77] per 1 SD difference). For endothelial dysfunction, the association with cardiovascular mortality was stronger in diabetic (hazard ratio, 1.87 [95% CI, 1.43 to 2.45]) than in nondiabetic individuals (hazard ratio, 1.23 [95% CI, 0.86 to 1.75]; P interaction=0.06). Finally, T2D-associated endothelial dysfunction and low-grade inflammation explained ≈43% of the increase in cardiovascular mortality risk conferred by T2D. Conclusions— These data emphasize the necessity of randomized controlled trials of strategies that aim to decrease cardiovascular disease risk by improving endothelial function and decreasing low-grade inflammation, especially for T2D patients.

Piezoelectric osteotomy in hand surgery: first experiences with a new technique

Abstract: Background In hand and spinal surgery nerve lesions are feared complications with the use of standard oscillating saws. Oral surgeons have started using a newly developed ultrasound bone scalpel when performing precise osteotomies. By using a frequency of 25–29 kHz only mineralized tissue is cut, sparing the soft tissue. This reduces the risk of nerve lesions. As there is a lack of experience with this technique in the field of orthopaedic bone surgery, we performed the first ultrasound osteotomy in hand surgery.

Hungarian experience with Langerhans cell histiocytosis in childhood.

Abstract: The Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) in children is relatively rare and the long-term analysis of therapy results has not been done yet in Hungary. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence, clinical features, prognostic risk factors, and treatment results of children's LCH in Hungary in a 20-year period. Children less than 18 years of age with newly diagnosed LCH in Hungary were entered in this study. Clinical data of all children with LCH were reported to the National Childhood Cancer Registry in Hungary from 1981 to 2000. The clinical files were collected and abstracted for information regarding age at diagnosis, gender, disease characteristics, treatment, and outcome of treatment. Median follow-up duration of surviving patients is 10.98 years. Between January 1981 and December 2000, 111 children under 18 years of age were newly diagnosed with LCH in Hungary. The annual incidence of LCH in children younger than 18 years of age was 2.24/million children. The male–female ratio was 1.36:1;...

Modifying effects of the R389G β1-adrenoceptor polymorphism on resting heart rate and blood pressure in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea

Abstract: OSA (obstructive sleep apnoea) stimulates sympathetic nervous activity and elevates resting HR (heart rate) and BP (blood pressure). In the present study in a cohort of 309 untreated OSA patients, the resting HR and BP during the daytime were correlated with AHI (apnoea/hypopnea index) and compared with patients with R389R (n = 162), R389G (n = 125) and G389G (n = 22) genotypes of the β1-adrenoreceptor R389G polymorphism. We analysed the impact of the genotype on the decline of HR and BP in a subgroup of 148 patients (R389R, n = 86; R389G, n = 54; G389G, n = 8) during a 6-month follow-up period under CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) therapy during which cardiovascular medication remained unchanged. In untreated OSA patients, we found an independent relationship between AHI and resting HR (β = 0.096, P < 0.001), systolic BP (β = 0.09, P = 0.021) and diastolic BP (β = 0.059, P = 0.016). The resting HR/BP, however, did not differ among carriers with the R389R, R389G and G389G genotypes. CPAP therapy significantly reduced HR [− 2.5 (− 1.1 to − 4.0) beats/min; values are mean difference (95 % confidence intervals)] and diastolic BP [− 3.2 (− 1.5 to − 5.0) mmHg]. The decline in HR was more significantly pronounced in the R389R group compared with the Gly 389 carriers [− 4.1 (− 2.3 to − 5.9) beats/min (P < 0.001) compared with − 0.2 (2.1 to − 2.6) beats/min (P = 0.854) respectively; Student’s t test between groups, P = 0.008]. Diastolic BP was decreased significantly (P < 0.001) only in Gly 389 carriers (R389G or G389G) compared with R389R carriers [− 5.0 (− 2.3 to − 7.6) mmHg compared with − 2.0 (0.4 to − 4.3) mmHg respectively]. ANOVA revealed a significant difference (P = 0.023) in HR reduction between the three genotypes [− 4.1 (+ 8.4) beats/ min for R389R, − 0.5 (+ 9.3) beats/min for R389G and + 1.9 (+ 7.2) beats/min for G389G]. In conclusion, although the R389G polymorphism of the β1-adrenoceptor gene did not influence resting HR or BP in untreated OSA patients, it may modify the beneficial effects of CPAP therapy on these parameters.

Evolving Perspectives on Clopidogrel in the Treatment of Ischemic Stroke

Abstract: Antiplatelet therapy is indicated for the treatment of ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). Aspirin reduces subsequent occlusive vascular events, including recurrent stroke, by about 25%. In such patients, clopidogrel has been evaluated in an effort to further reduce risk. In the Management of Atherothrombosis with Clopidogrel in High-risk Patients trial, the combination of clopidogrel plus aspirin was compared with clopidogrel alone, and the Clopidogrel for High Atherothrombotic Risk and Ischemic Stabilization, Management, and Avoidance trial tested the addition of clopidogrel to aspirin. Combination therapy with aspirin plus clopidogrel provided no significant incremental benefit compared with aspirin or clopidogrel alone. In addition, combination therapy increased the risk of serious bleeding. On the basis of the current totality of evidence for long-term treatment of survivors of ischemic stroke or TIA, clopidogrel is an effective alternative for patients who are intolerant to aspirin.