Upsala journal of medical sciences
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Accumulating evidence suggests that enhanced inflammatory responses contribute to the pathogenesis of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD). Blood transfusion can trigger an enhancement of acute inflammatory responses. Therefore, we hypothesized that perioperative blood transfusion is associated with a higher risk of POCD in aged patients following total hip replacement surgery. ⋯ Our data suggested that perioperative blood transfusion of more than 3 units of RBCs is an independent risk factor for POCD in aged patients following total hip replacement surgery.
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The aetiology and early pathophysiological mechanisms of aortic aneurysm formation are still unknown and challenging to study in vivo. Positron emission tomography (PET) is a potentially valuable instrument for non-invasive in vivo pathophysiological studies. No specific tracer to identify the pathophysiological process of aneurysmal dilatation is yet available, however. The aim of this study was to explore if different PET tracers could be useful to image aneurysmal disease. ⋯ It seems likely that αVβ3 integrin expression in AAA can be visualized with PET and that the αVβ3 selective tracer, [(18)F]fluciclatide, may be suitable for in vivo molecular imaging of asymptomatic AAA. Additional evaluation of [(18)F]fluciclatide and αVβ3 integrin expression in AAA will be performed in vitro as well as in vivo.
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The purpose was to analyse the properties of two models for the assessment of return to work after sickness certification, a manual one based on clinical judgement including non-measurable information ('gut feeling'), and a computer-based one. ⋯ The computer-based model had a higher precision and gave more detailed information than the manual model.
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Senile systemic amyloidosis (SSA) derived from wild-type transthyretin is a fairly common condition of old individuals, particularly men. The main presentation is by cardiac involvement, which can lead to severe restrictive cardiomyopathy. SSA is, however, a systemic disease, and amyloid deposits may appear in many other tissues but are thought to be without clinical symptoms outside the heart. Amyloid is a very common finding in cartilage and ligaments of elderly subjects, and transthyretin has been demonstrated in some deposits. Lumbar spinal stenosis is also a condition of usually elderly individuals in whom narrowing of the lumbar spinal canal leads to compression of nerves to the lower limbs. ⋯ We conclude that lumbar spinal stenosis quite frequently may be a consequence of SSA and that further studies are warranted.
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The increase of live kidney donation (LKD) demands that we scrutinize its long-term consequences. Socialized medicine in Sweden has allowed us to survey long-term consequences of LKD with a high response rate. ⋯ Renal function is well preserved in the long term after donation, no case of end-stage renal disease was identified, and a large majority of our donors would donate again if it were possible. Although rates of microalbuminuria and hypertension were at expected levels, a significant number of donors demonstrated elevated blood pressure levels and inadequate antihypertensive treatment. A relatively large number of donors did not receive regular check-ups. Both of these issues demonstrate the need for a better-structured lifelong follow-up.