An interview project with native American people: a community-based study to identify actionable steps to reduce health disparities.

OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this study was to work with tribal communities to define and develop their own healthcare services and strategies for positive change regarding injection drug use, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The secondary objective of this study was to incorporate community capacity building strategies to develop and sustain programming and resources to optimize tribal communities' responsiveness to reduce health disparities. STUDY DESIGN: Semi-structured qualitative interviews. METHODS: Interviews were guided by community-based participatory research (CBPR) principles to create programs, projects, and policy recommendations meaningful to American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people. RESULTS: The study generated a formative understanding of the context of AI/AN people who inject drugs (PWID) in three distinct AI/AN communities as well as developed local capacity for future programming, projects, and policy. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms CBPR methods should be part of an iterative cycle to inform policy and programs. CBPR has helped strengthen local research capacity and has formed ongoing relationships between study investigators, local liaisons, and the community that will be essential for next phases of program design and policy implementation. This cycle of CBPR could be replicated in other tribal communities to bring awareness of the opioid epidemic and its effects and to prioritize local indigenous and community-led responses.

Melatonin: Physiological effects in humans.

Melatonin is a methoxyindole synthesized and secreted principally by the pineal gland at night under normal light/dark conditions. The endogenous rhythm of secretion is generated by the suprachiasmatic nuclei and entrained to the light/dark cycle. Light is able to either suppress or synchronize melatonin production according to the light schedule. The nycthohemeral rhythm of this hormone can be evaluated by repeated measurement of plasma or saliva melatonin or urine sulfatoxymelatonin, the main hepatic metabolite. The primary physiological function of melatonin, whose secretion adjusts to night length, is to convey information concerning the daily cycle of light and darkness to body structures. This information is used for the organisation of functions, which respond to changes in the photoperiod such as the seasonal rhythms. Seasonal rhythmicity of physiological functions in humans related to possible alteration of the melatonin message remains, however, of limited evidence in temperate areas under field conditions. Also, the daily melatonin secretion, which is a very robust biochemical signal of night, can be used for the organisation of circadian rhythms. Although functions of this hormone in humans are mainly based on correlations between clinical observations and melatonin secretion, there is some evidence that melatonin stabilises and strengthens coupling of circadian rhythms, especially of core temperature and sleep-wake rhythms. The circadian organisation of other physiological functions depend also on the melatonin signal, for instance immune, antioxidant defences, haemostasis and glucose regulation. The difference between physiological and pharmacological effects of melatonin is not always clear but is based upon consideration of dose and not of duration of the hormone message. It is admitted that a "physiological" dose provides plasma melatonin levels in the same order of magnitude as a nocturnal peak. Since the regulating system of melatonin secretion is complex, following central and autonomic pathways, there are many pathophysiological situations where melatonin secretion can be disturbed. The resulting alteration could increase the predisposition to disease, add to the severity of symptoms or modify the course and outcome of the disorder. Since melatonin receptors display a very wide distribution in the body, putative therapeutic indications of this compound are multiple. Great advances in this field could be achieved by developing multicentre trials in a large series of patients, in order to establish efficacy of melatonin and absence of long-term toxicity.

Is pineal melatonin released in the third ventricle in humans? A study in movement disorders.

In order to determine sources and metabolism of melatonin in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), melatonin and 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (aMT6S) concentrations were measured in CSF sampled during neurosurgery in both lateral and third ventricles in patients displaying movement disorder (Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, dystonia or dyskinesia) and compared with their plasma levels. Previous determinations in nocturnal urine had showed that the patients displayed melatonin excretion in the normal range, compared with healthy controls matched according to age. A significant difference in melatonin concentration was observed between lateral and third ventricles, with the highest levels in the third ventricle (8.75±2.75pg/mL vs. 3.20±0.33pg/mL, P=0.01). CSF aMT6s levels were similar in both ventricles and of low magnitude, less than 5pg/mL. They were not correlated with melatonin levels or influenced by the area of sampling. Melatonin levels were significantly higher in third ventricle than in the plasma, whereas there was no difference between plasma and lateral ventricle levels. These findings show that melatonin may enter directly the CSF through the pineal recess in humans. The physiological meaning of these data remains to be elucidated.

[Treatment of trigeminal neuralgia with microvascular decompression]. / Traitement de la névralgie trigéminale par décompression vasculaire microchirurgicale.

Pure microvascular decompression (MVD) can cure (that is, no pain, no medication) primary trigeminal neuralgia (TN) caused by vascular compression in 75% of patients (90% when compression is pronounced), according to a Kaplan-Meier survival study at 15 years. MRI with high resolution evidences neurovascular conflicts with good reliability. The results were found to be significantly better when the prosthesis implanted to maintain the compressive vessel away was not touching the nerve. This argues in favor of a real decompressive mechanism of the MVD procedure, rather than a conduction block. Because pure MVD generally does not produce hypoesthesia in the painful territory, MVD is the first surgical therapeutic option for patients with neuralgia resistant to anticonvulsive medications.

[Functional anatomy of the trigeminal nerve]. / Anatomie fonctionnelle du nerf trijumeau.

The cranial nerve (CN) V is a mixed nerve that consists primarily of sensory neurons. It exits the brain on the lateral surface of the pons, entering the trigeminal ganglion within a few millimeters. Three major branches emerge from the trigeminal ganglion. The first division (V1, the ophthalmic nerve) exits the cranium through the superior orbital fissure, entering the orbit to innervate the globe and skin in the area above the eye and forehead. The second division (V2, the maxillary nerve) exits through a round hole, the foramen rotundum, into a space posterior to the orbit, the pterygopalatine fossa. It then re-enters a canal running inferior to the orbit, the infraorbital canal, and exits through a small hole, the infraorbital foramen, to innervate the skin below the eye and above the mouth. The third division (V3, the mandibular nerve) exits the cranium through an oval hole, the foramen ovale. The third division also has an additional motor component, which may run in a separate fascial compartment. Most fibers travel directly to their target tissues. Sensory axons innervate skin on the lateral side of the head, the tongue, and the mucosal wall of the oral cavity. Motor fibers innervate the muscles that are attached to the mandible. Some sensory axons enter in the mandible to innervate the teeth and emerge from the mental foramen to innervate the skin of the lower jaw.

Influence of years of professional experience in relation to the diagnostic skill of general dental practitioners (GDPs) in identifying oral cancer and precancerous lesions.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate skill in diagnosing cancer and oral precancerous lesions among general dentists in the Autonomous Community of Murcia (Spain). MATERIAL AND METHOD: Twenty randomly distributed clinical images were used, of which 45% corresponded to benign lesions, 35% to oral precancerous lesions, and 20% to oral cancer. Each case was accompanied by a summarised clinical history. The study sample comprised 150 general dentists divided into two groups: group I (60 recently graduated dentists without professional experience) and group II (90 dentists with established professional activity). RESULTS: In group I, the sensitivity of oral cancer diagnosis was 61.3% versus 85.5% in group II (p < 0.001), while the sensitivity of precancerous lesion diagnosis was 71.7% in group I versus 80.7% in group II (p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained show that junior dentists and general dentists with public or private practice need more training and more experience in diagnosing cancer and oral precancerous lesions.

Micro-vascular decompression for primary Trigeminal Neuralgia (typical or atypical). Long-term effectiveness on pain; prospective study with survival analysis in a consecutive series of 362 patients.

BACKGROUND: Few publications on primary Trigeminal Neuralgia treated by Micro-Vascular Decompression (MVD) report large series, with long-term follow-up, using Kaplan-Meier (K-M) analysis. None was specifically directed to the comparative study of MVD effectiveness on Trigeminal Neuralgia with typical (i.e., with paroxysmal pain only) and atypical features (i.e., with association of a permanent background of pain). METHOD: The authors report a series of 362 patients having clearcut vascular compression and treated with pure MVD - i.e., without any additional cut or coagulation of the adjacent root fibers. Follow-up was 1 to 18 y (8 y on average, with a median of 7.2 y). Results were considered overall, then separately for patients with typical (237 (65.5%)) and atypical (125 (34.5%)) clinical presentation. FINDINGS: One year after operation, (294 (81.2%) of patients were totally-free - of paroxysmal pain, and also of permanent background pain - and not needing any medication) 13 (3.6%) still had a background of pain but without the need for medication which 55 patients (15.2%), treatment had failed. At latest review (8 y on average) the corresponding rates were 80, 4.9 and 15.1%, respectively. Kaplan-Meier analysis estimated the probability of total cure at 15 y to be 73.4%. There was no difference in the cure rate between patients with typical and atypical features at one year: 81 and 81.16%, respectively. The probability of cure at 15 y was identical for the two clinical presentations. CONCLUSIONS: Pure MVD offers patients affected by Trigeminal Neuralgia due to vascular compression a long-lasting cure in three-fourths of the cases. Both typical and atypical presentations respond well to MVD, view in contrast to the classical view that an atypical presentation has an adverse effect on outcome after surgery.

"Scheduling delay" in oral cancer diagnosis: a new protagonist.

Diagnostic delays in oral cancer have been classified as "patient delay" and "delay by the clinicians". However, the influence of the accessibility (scheduling delay) to the health care system in oral cancer diagnosis has not been studied before. To assess scheduling delay, a descriptive, cross-sectional study was designed. This study was based upon role-play telephone conversations with two standardised patients (lingual ulceration-SP1 and patient seeking fixed prosthodontics-SP2). that followed a structured script. The variables considered in the study were days to go until the arranged appointment, professional degree of the contacted person and referral to other provider of care. The scheduling delay for SP1 reached a median value of 1 day, and for SP2 was 6 days. When the professional degree (receptionist vs GDP) of the person arranging the appointment for the patient with lingual ulceration was considered, the scheduling delay was significantly shorter when the appointment was fixed by the GDP (X approximately i-X approximately j=4.5; 95%CI=-7.48,-1.51). GDPs gave priority to the patients with lingual ulcerations over those demanding fixed bridgework (X approximately i-X approximately j=6.48; 95%CI=-9.46,-3.50). The GDPs showed a high level of awareness of the oral cancer, however, educational interventions seem to be necessary for dental surgery receptionists.

Comparative efficacy of eletriptan vs. naratriptan in the acute treatment of migraine.

This was a randomized, double-blind study designed to evaluate the comparative efficacy and tolerability of the 40-mg dose of eletriptan and the 2.5-mg dose of naratriptan. Patients (n = 548) meeting International Headache Society (IHS) criteria for migraine were randomized to treat a single migraine attack with either eletriptan 40 mg, naratriptan 2.5 mg, or placebo. Headache response rates at 2 h and 4 h, respectively, were 56% and 80% for eletriptan, 42% and 67% for naratriptan (P < 0.01 for both time-points vs. eletriptan), and 31% and 44% for placebo (P < 0.0001 vs. both active drugs at both time-points). Eletriptan also showed a significantly greater pain-free response at 2 h (35% vs. 18%; P < 0.001) as well as lower use of rescue medication (15% vs. 27%; P < 0.01) and higher sustained headache response at 24 h (38%) compared with naratriptan (27%; P < 0.05) and placebo (19%; P < 0.01). Both eletriptan and naratriptan were well tolerated. The results confirm previous meta-analyses that have suggested the superiority of eletriptan vs. naratriptan in the acute treatment of migraine.

Oral mucosa: variations from normalcy, part II.

This is the second article in a 2-part series on the variations of oral mucosa. We describe the following 5 conditions that deviate from normalcy: lateral soft palate fistulas, double lip, fissured tongue, racial gingival pigmentation, and geographic tongue.

Oral mucosa: variations from normalcy, part I.

Many lesions can be identified in the oral mucosa. Some are indicative of pathologic conditions restricted to the oral cavity, whereas others are signs of systemic disorders. A third group of alterations is not severe enough to be considered pathologic; however, knowledge of this group is mandatory for a correct differential diagnosis to be established. This is the first article in a 2-part series concerning all of these pseudopathologic conditions.

[Guidelines for antibiotic prophylaxis of bacterial endocarditis in patients undergoing dental therapy]. / Pautas de profilaxis antibiótica de la endocarditis bacteriana en pacientes sometidos a tratamiento odontológico.

The objective of the present work was to know the guidelines of antibiotic prophylaxis in bacterial endocarditis used in different spanish health centers. A general dental practitioner asked orally in 50 Cardiology and/or Internal Medicine departments throughout Spain which prophylaxis should be administered to a patient with a mitral valve prosthesis before a dental extraction. The results obtained showed that only 36 (72%) departments used the latest prophylactic guidelines recommended by the American Heart Association or the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. Among penicillin allergic patients the antibiotic of choice was erythromycin (60%) followed by clindamycin (28%), although administered at very different dosages (11 and 3, respectively). Only in 44% of the surveyed departments did the guidelines for allergic and non allergic patients correspond to the recommended protocol by the same study group. The controversy generated regarding the prophylactic indications for bacterial endocarditis might partially account for the results obtained in this study.

Pautas de profilaxis antibiótica de la endocarditis bacteriana en pacientes sometidos a tratamiento odontológico / Guidelines for antibiotic prophylaxis of bacterial endocarditis in patients undergoing dental therapy

El objetivo de este trabajo fue conocer las pautas de profilaxis antibiótica de la endocarditis bacteriana empleadas en diferentes centros sanitarios españoles. Para ello un odontólogo preguntó de forma oral en 50 Servicios de Cardiología y/o Medicina Interna distribuidos por toda la geografía española la profilaxis que debía administrar a un paciente portador de una prótesis valvular mitral antes de una exodoncia. Los resultados obtenidos demuestran que sólo 36 (72 por ciento) utilizaron las últimas pautas profilácticas recomendadas por la Asociación Americana de Cardiología o la Sociedad Británica de Quimioterapia Antimicrobiana. En pacientes alérgicos a la penicilina el antibiótico de elección fue la eritromicina (60 por ciento) seguida de la clindamicina (28 por ciento), aunque administradas en posologías muy diferentes (11 y 3 pautas, respectivamente). Sólo en el 44 por ciento de los centros encuestados las pautas aplicadas a pacientes alérgicos y no alérgicos correspondían al protocolo recomendado por el mismo grupo de estudio. La controversia generada en torno a las indicaciones profilácticas de la endocarditis bacteriana podría justificar en parte los resultados de este trabajo (AU)

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Derivación lumbo-peritoneal: análisis de 18 casos y revión bibliográfica / Lumbo-peritoneal derivatons: analysis of 18 cases and bibliographic review

Se analizan 18 casos de pacientes derivados con un sistema lumbo-periotoneal (DLP) entre junio de 1991 y junio del 2000 en nuestro servicio. Siete pacientes presentaron hidrocefalia comunicante (4 post-meningiticas y 3 post-HSA), 4 fistulas de liquido cefalorraquídeo (LCR), 4 pacientes hipertensión endocraneana benigna y 2 hidrocefalía normotensiva. Catorce de los 18 casos (83,3 por ciento) resolvieron su problema con la derivación, mientras que los restantes 4 no lo hicieron y requirieron de otro tipo de sistema o tratamiento. Las complicaciones mas frecuentemente observadas fueron dolor radicular y cefaléa a la sedestación. El sistema debió ser revisado en 5 pacientes. El análisis bibligráfico muestran cifras similares a las halladas en esta serie, respecto a indices de reexploraciones y éxitos terapéuticos. En conclusión, la DLP es un metodo de derivación de LCR en las hidrocefalías comunicantes de cualquier etiología, en fístulas de LCR abiertas o cerradas y en hipertensión endocraneana benigna. Presenta indice bajo de fracasos terapéuticos, pero como contralpartida genera una relativamente alta tasa de disfunsiones y complicaciones leves, que suelen requerir reexploraciones quirúrgicas frecuentes. (AU)

Derivación lumbo-peritoneal: análisis de 18 casos y revión bibliográfica / Lumbo-peritoneal derivatons: analysis of 18 cases and bibliographic review

Se analizan 18 casos de pacientes derivados con un sistema lumbo-periotoneal (DLP) entre junio de 1991 y junio del 2000 en nuestro servicio. Siete pacientes presentaron hidrocefalia comunicante (4 post-meningiticas y 3 post-HSA), 4 fistulas de liquido cefalorraquídeo (LCR), 4 pacientes hipertensión endocraneana benigna y 2 hidrocefalía normotensiva. Catorce de los 18 casos (83,3 por ciento) resolvieron su problema con la derivación, mientras que los restantes 4 no lo hicieron y requirieron de otro tipo de sistema o tratamiento. Las complicaciones mas frecuentemente observadas fueron dolor radicular y cefaléa a la sedestación. El sistema debió ser revisado en 5 pacientes. El análisis bibligráfico muestran cifras similares a las halladas en esta serie, respecto a indices de reexploraciones y éxitos terapéuticos. En conclusión, la DLP es un metodo de derivación de LCR en las hidrocefalías comunicantes de cualquier etiología, en fístulas de LCR abiertas o cerradas y en hipertensión endocraneana benigna. Presenta indice bajo de fracasos terapéuticos, pero como contralpartida genera una relativamente alta tasa de disfunsiones y complicaciones leves, que suelen requerir reexploraciones quirúrgicas frecuentes.

Intracranial hypotension: the nonspecific nature of MRI findings.

We present three patients who complained of postural headache related to different types of intracranial hypotension: spontaneous or primary, and secondary, but presenting the same findings on brain magnetic resonance imaging. Diffuse pachymeningeal gadolinium enhancement supports the belief that the enhancement is a nonspecific meningeal reaction to low pressure.