Development of a medical nutrition therapy protocol for female collegiate athletes.

Nutrition intervention can improve athletic performance and reduce the risk of nutrition related problems in women athletes. The current healthcare environment demands that dietitians document the outcomes of the medical nutrition therapy (MNT) they provide. This requires the development and validation of MNT protocols so that outcomes can be documented and compared in similar populations across multiple settings. The purpose of this project was to develop a sports nutrition management MNT protocol for collegiate women athletes. A registered dietitian currently working with collegiate women athletes collaborated with four dietitians from the community to develop an MNT protocol. Further testing and validation using this MNT protocol will help dietitians document the outcomes of their interventions in this population.

Power Doppler imaging: initial evaluation as a screening examination for carotid artery stenosis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate power Doppler imaging as a possible screening examination for carotid artery stenosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the principal pilot study, a prospective, blinded comparison of power Doppler imaging with duplex Doppler imaging, the reference-standard method, was conducted in 100 consecutive patients routinely referred for carotid artery imaging at a large, private multispecialty clinic. In the validation pilot study, a prospective, blinded comparison of power Doppler imaging with digital subtraction angiography, the reference-standard method, was conducted in 20 consecutive patients routinely referred at a teaching hospital. Using conservative assumptions, the authors performed cost-effectiveness analysis. RESULTS: Power Doppler imaging produced diagnostic-quality images in 89% of patients. When the images of the patients with nondiagnostic examinations were regarded as positive, power Doppler imaging had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, A(z), of 0.87, sensitivity of 70%, and specificity of 91%. The validation study results were very similar. The cost-effectiveness of screening and, as indicated, duplex Doppler imaging as the definitive diagnostic examination and endarterectomy was $47,000 per quality-adjusted life-year. CONCLUSION: The A(z) value for power Doppler imaging compares well with that for mammography, a generally accepted screening examination, and with most other imaging examinations. Power Doppler imaging is likely to be a reasonably accurate and cost-effective screening examination for carotid artery stenosis in asymptomatic populations.

Fitting the SoftPerm contact lens after keratoplasty.

We fit 22 eyes (20 patients) with the SoftPerm lens following keratoplasty when the potential acuity meter test exceeded the best corrected spectacle refraction. Fourteen eyes had more than 4 D of astigmatism. Fourteen of the 22 lenses were worn successfully for more than 3 months. Nineteen of 22 eyes achieved better acuity than with spectacles alone. Separation of the lens at the bonded junction and an inability to insert and remove the lens accounted for the majority of failures. We consider the SoftPerm lens whenever we encounter high astigmatism cases that have better potential acuity readings than best corrected spectacle acuity.

[The effect of serious diseases on the average life span of the population in Czechoslovakia]. / Vliv nekterých závazných nemocí na strední délku zivota obyvatel CSSR.

PIP: Changes in life expectancy in Czechoslovakia since 1920 are examined by sex. The authors note that although life expectancy has increased over time, the trends since 1960 have been less favorable, particularly for men. The major causes of death are described. The authors suggest that further improvements in life expectancy will more likely be achieved through preventive measures rather than curative medicine. (summary in ENG, RUS)^ieng