174 research outputs found
Estudio de la densidad mineral ósea mediante osteosonografía en niños y adolescentes sanos: valores de normalidad
Osteoporosis is a frequent health problem in adults. Optimization of
bone mass acquisition during childhood and adolescence may play a major role in
the prevention of this disease. Osteosonography is a recent technique for
measuring bone mineralization without exposing the patient to radiation.
OBJECTIVES: To measure bone mineral density using osteosonography in healthy
Spanish Caucasian children and adolescents in order to determine normal values.
METHODS: We performed a cross sectional study of 829 healthy child and adolescent
volunteers (360 girls and 469 boys) randomly selected from the urban area of
Pamplona in Navarre (Spain). Ages ranged from 6 to 18 years. ADBM Sonic 1200
ultrasound densitometer from IGEA was used. Daily calcium dietary intake and
amount of physical activity were recorded. RESULTS: Cross sectional standards for
Ad-SOS are presented. Ad-SOS did not significantly change between the ages of 6
and 9 years in girls or until the age of 10 years in boys. From the ages of 10 to
14 years, Ad-SOS values were higher in girls than in boys. After the age of 14
years, no significant differences were found. No correlation was found between
calcium dietary intake, amount of physical exercise or bone mineralization
values. CONCLUSIONS: Measurement of Ad-SOS by osteosonography is an easy, fast
and inexpensive method for measuring bone mineral density in children and
adolescents without exposing them to radiation. It can be used in the pediatric
population to detect early alterations in bone mineralization
Bone Mineral Density and Bone Metabolism In Children Treated for Bone Sarcomas
In adolescent bone sarcoma patients, bone mass acquisition is potentially compromised at a time in which it should be at a maximum. To evaluate the problem we measured bone mineral density (BMD) and serum markers of bone formation and resorption in a series of pediatric patients with bone tumors. BMD was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, at clinical remission, for lumbar spine and the neck of the femur in 38 osteosarcoma and 25 Ewing's sarcoma patients. Mean age was 20.65 and 19.13 y respectively. Serum markers of bone metabolism were: OC, PICP, ICTP, 25-OH vit D and 1,25-(OH)(2) vit D, IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and intact PTH. Serum was sampled throughout anti-tumoral treatments and follow-up. We analyzed 85 samples from 59 osteosarcoma patients and 54 samples from 36 Ewing's sarcoma patients. Patients had decreased lumbar and femoral BMD. The decrease was more pronounced in pubertal patients compared with those who had completed pubertal development at the time of disease diagnosis. Multivariate analysis indicated that sex, age, weight and BMI were significant in lumbar BMD depletion. Weight and BMI were significant in femoral BMD depletion. Serum markers of bone formation (PICP and OC) and resorption (ICTP) were, throughout, lower than reference values. Significant alterations in other markers were also observed. Up to a third of osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma patients in clinical remission had some degree of BMD deficit. The corresponding increased risk of pathologic bone fractures constitutes a reduction in future quality o
Eficiencia en la administración de justicia en Argentina
This paper uses a non-parametric model to evaluate the performance of the administration of ordinary justice in the provinces of Argentina. The number of judges, officers and judicial employees were considered as dimensions of analysis; the resolution rate of cases entered and the resolution rate through mediation, as measures of performance. We applied the DEA VRS model and Super-efficient model. The results allowed the identification of best practice jurisdictions and suggested intervention measures for inefficient provinces to improve their performance.En el trabajo se utiliza un modelo no paramétrico para evaluar el desempeño de la administración de justicia ordinaria en las provincias de Argentina. Se consideraron como dimensiones de análisis: la cantidad de magistrados, funcionarios y empleados judiciales; la tasa de resolución de causas ingresadas y la tasa de resolución por mediación, como medidas de desempeño. Se aplicaron los modelos DEA VRS y Supereficiente. Los resultados permitieron identificar las jurisdicciones de mejores prácticas y sugerir medidas de intervención a las provincias ineficientes para mejorar su desempeño
Reduced Bone Mineralization in Adolescent Survivors of Malignant Bone Tumors: Comparison of Quantitative Ultrasound and Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry
To assess bone mineralization in adolescents with bone tumors at
remission using quantitative digital ultrasound (QUS) and dual-energy x-ray
absorptiometry (DEXA), and to compare the bone mineralization values obtained by
both methods. METHODS: Patients studied were 36 adolescents (21 boys, 15 girls)
who had completed treatment of a bone tumor at the University Hospital of the
University of Navarra (Pamplona, Spain). QUS was performed at the distal
metaphysis of the proximal phalanxes of the last four fingers of the nondominant
hand. A DBM Sonic 1200 Ultrasound densitometer was used. DEXA measurements were
made at the lumbar spine (vertebrae L1-L4) using the Hologic QDR 4500 W device.
Calcium and vitamin D daily intake and grade of physical activity were recorded.
RESULTS: Mean age at bone mineralization determination was 19.11 years.
Disease-free survival was 4.97 years. Decreased bone mineralization was observed
by both methods. Bone mineralization absolute values measured by QUS and DEXA
were significantly correlated. The sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic accuracy,
and positive and negative predictive values of QUS for predicting osteopenia were
36.4%, 80.0%, 66.7%, 44.4%, and 74.1%, respectively. Daily vitamin D intake was
below the recommended dietary allowances. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents in remission
from bone tumors have low bone mineralization determined by DEXA or QUS
Analysis of Polymorphisms of the Vitamin D Receptor, Estrogen Receptor, and Collagen Iα1 Genes and Their Relationship With Height in Children With Bone Cancer
The authors' objectives were to compare height at diagnosis of children
with bone tumors with that of Spanish reference children; to analyze the
frequency of the genotypes for the polymorphisms of the vitamin D receptor (VDR),
estrogen receptor (ER), and collagen Ialpha1 (COLIalpha1) genes in patients and
in healthy controls; and to test the relationship between the genetic markers and
height. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Height and weight at diagnosis were measured in 58
osteosarcoma and 36 Ewing sarcoma patients and compared with standards published
for Spanish reference children according to sex and age. For the molecular
analysis, genetic polymorphisms of the VDR (Fok I, Apa I, and TaqI), ER (Pvu II
and XbaI), and COLIalpha1 (Msc I) genes were characterized in 72 osteosarcoma and
53 Ewing sarcomas and in a group of 143 healthy matched children. RESULTS:
Osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma patients were significantly taller than Spanish
reference children. Osteosarcoma patients showed a significantly higher frequency
of the Ff genotype for the Fok I polymorphism (VDR gene) than the control group.
The odds ratio for this genotype was 1.78, with an increased relative risk of 78%
for heterozygous Ff carriers. Among Ewing sarcoma patients, this same genotype
was significantly associated with lower height than homozygotes (FF or ff).
CONCLUSIONS: Children with bone cancer are significantly taller than the
reference population, which may be influenced by the genotype for the Fok I
polymorphism of the VDR gene
The short and long-term effects of aerobic, strength, or mixed exercise programs on schizophrenia symptomatology
The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of three different physical exercise programs on the symptomatology, body composition, physical activity, physical fitness, and quality of life of individuals with schizophrenia. A total of 432 patients were assessed for eligibility and 86 were randomized into the aerobic (n = 28), strength (n = 29) or mixed (n = 29) groups. Positive, negative, and general symptoms of psychosis, body mass index (BMI), physical activity (IPAQ-SF), physical fitness (6-min walk test [6MWT] and hand-grip strength [HGS]), and quality of life (WHOQUOL-BREF) were assessed at baseline, post-intervention (16 weeks), and at 10-months. Our results at 16 weeks showed significant improvements in all three groups in the negative, general, and total symptoms with moderate to large effect sizes (P < 0.01, ¿p2 > 0.11), no change in the BMI, 6MWT or IPAQ-SF, and a significant improvement in the HGS test in the strength and mixed groups (P = 0.05, ¿p2 > 0.08). Nonetheless, all the improvements had disappeared at 10 months. We concluded that 3 weekly sessions of a moderate to vigorous progressive exercise program for 16 weeks improved the symptomatology of individuals with schizophrenia in all three groups, with no differences between them. However, the effects had declined to baseline levels by the 10-month follow-up, suggesting that exercise interventions should be maintained over time. © 2021, The Author(s)
Use of recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor in an infant with reticular dysgenesis
We present the case of a 2-month-old infant with reticular dysgenesis who was
treated with recombinant granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor with
the aim of stimulating granulopoiesis while awaiting bone marrow transplant
- …