It is concluded that the biochemical and virological response to IFN therapy is good in HD patients. In addition, IFN therapy appears to exert a beneficial effect on the course of liver disease following RT, regardless of the virological response. Despite the fact that IFN therapy was discontinued in 10 out of the 19 patients due to the occurrence of side effects, these disappeared following discontinuation of therapy. Therefore, IFN therapy is advisable for HCV-infected dialysis patients who are candidates for RT.
Background and objectives: Hemodialysis needs an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) that may influence the structure and growth of nearby bone and affect bone mass measurement. The study analyzed the effect of AVF in the assessment of forearm bone mineral density (BMD) measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and examined its influence on the final diagnosis of osteoporosis.Design, setting, participants, & measurements: Forty patients (52 ؎ 18 yr) in hemodialysis program (12 ؎ 8 yr) with permeable AVF in forearm were included. Patients were divided in two groups (over and under 50 yr). BMD of both forearms (three areas), lumbar spine, and femur was measured by DXA. Forearm measurements in each arm were compared. Patients were diagnosed as normal only if all territories were considered nonpathologic and osteoporosis/osteopenia was determined by the lowest score found.Results: Ten patients were excluded and 30 patients were analyzed. BMD in the forearm with AVF was significantly lower than that observed in the contralateral forearm in both groups of patients and in all forearm areas analyzed. When only lumbar spine and femur measurements were considered, 70% of patients were nonpathologic and 30% were osteoporotic. However, inclusion of AVF forearm classified 63% as osteoporotic and a further 27% as osteopenic, leaving only 10% as nonpathologic.Conclusions: Forearm AVF affects BMD measurements by decreasing their values in patients with end-stage renal failure. This may produce an overdiagnosis of osteoporosis, which should be taken into account when evaluating patients of this type.
Study Objectives: Mandibular advancement devices (MADs) constitute an alternative treatment in selected patients with OSA. A mandibular advanced position has been suggested to be beneficial, whereas its combination with an increased bite-raise may increase its adverse effects. The objective of this study was to assess upper airway (UA) volume and inspiratory pressure gradient variations in a group of 17 patients with OSA. The study was performed under 3 mandibular positions: intercuspal position (P1), MAD position in closed mouth (P2), and MAD position with an increased bite-raise (P3). Methods: We conducted a 3-dimensional reconstruction of the pharynx using the finite element method via a computed tomography scan and the subsequent calculation using fluid-dynamic analysis. Results: One hundred percent of the patients showed an increase in UA volume in both P2 and the MAD position with an increased bite-raise, P2 being the position where 76.47% of the patients showed the largest UA volume. P2/velopharynx was the position/region where the largest UA volume increase was achieved (4.73 mm 3 ). A better gradient in P2 (mean = 0.62) in 58.82% of the patients and a better gradient in P3 (mean = 0.74) in 41.18% of patients respect P1 was observed. In 82.35% of patients, a better volume-pressure gradient match was also found. Conclusions: The best efficiency scores for both volume increase and better inspiratory pressure gradient were obtained in P2. This study findings suggest that in a MAD, the minimal bite opening position necessary for mandibular protrusion is more effective in increasing airway volume and inspiratory gradient compared to a larger bite-raising (15 mm).
El colgajo submental es un procedimiento eficaz para la reconstrucción en el territorio maxilofacial. Caracterizado por su delgadez, versatilidad, excelente color y textura y mínima morbilidad en la zona donante, su utilización en lesiones malignas es controvertida, por el riesgo de trasladar enfermedad metastásica cervical a la zona receptora. Material y métodos: Se presentan 3 casos clínicos en los que se ha aplicado en pacientes afectos de un carcinoma epidermoide de cabeza y cuello. Describimos las particularidades anatómicas, y se realiza una revisión de la técnica quirúrgica. Resultados: Fueron óptimos en cuanto a cobertura del defecto, estética y función salvo por una necrosis parcial en uno de ellos. En todos los casos la morbilidad en la zona donante fue mínima. Conclusiones: El colgajo submental es una opción a considerar incluso en pacientes oncológicos sobre todo en los que, por edad avanzada o presentar patología asociada no están indicados procedimientos más agresivos.
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