Efficacy of foot orthoses. What does the literature tell us?

This paper reviews the literature relating to foot orthoses, in particular foot orthoses that attempt to alter biomechanical function. Whilst few well-controlled studies have been performed, the findings from the available literature are generally positive. The authors provide an overview of this literature and then summarise the findings.

Syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone in malignancy.

Objectives: To provide a review of pathophysiology, epidemiology, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and nursing management of the syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) in malignancy.

Data Sources: Research reports, review articles, and book chapters relevant to SIADH.

Conclusions: The principle cause of hyponatremia in malignancy is SIADH.

Lithium as a potential adjuvant to 131I therapy of metastatic, well differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

As lithium inhibits the release of iodine from the thyroid but does not change iodine uptake, it may potentiate 131I therapy of thyroid cancer. The effects of lithium on the accumulation and retention of 131I in metastatic lesions and thyroid remnants were evaluated in 15 patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Two 131I turnover studies were performed while the patients were hypothyroid.

Cytotoxicity-associated effects of reactive oxygen species on endothelin-1 secretion by pulmonary endothelial cells.

In this study bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells (BPAEC) were used as a model system to investigate the effects of the hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase (HXXO) oxygen radical donor system on ET-1 secretion into pulmonary vasculature. Incubation of BPAEC with HXXO for 4 h caused a significant reduction in ET-1 secretion, which was significantly offset by allopurinol or catalase, but not by Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD). ET-1 secretion was also reduced by H2O2, and this effect was again significantly offset by catalase.

Endothelial barrier dysfunction and oxidative stress: roles for nitric oxide?

Endothelial dysfunction has an important role to play in the pathophysiology of human vascular disease. The maintenance of barrier function is critical to the role of vascular endothelium in cardiovascular haemostasis and this function can be compromised by inflammatory mediators, cytokines or oxidants. Under conditions of oxidative stress a variety of reactive oxygen species (ROS) may be generated, which increase the permeability of the endothelial monolayer to fluid, macromolecules and inflammatory cells.

Evidence for the presence of G-proteins, adenylyl cyclase and phospholipase C activities in lymphatic smooth muscle cell membranes.

In plasma membranes derived from bovine mesenteric lymphatic smooth muscle cells, guanine nucleotide and forskolin stimulated adenylyl cyclase (AC) activity in a concentration-dependent manner, indicative of the presence of the stimulatory G-protein Gs linked to AC. There was no significant enzyme inhibition by low concentrations of guanine nucleotide and no effect on basal or guanine nucleotide-stimulated activity following pertussis toxin treatment of cells, suggesting the absence of Gi linked to inhibition of AC. Furthermore, there was no effect of adrenaline, isoprenaline or clonidine on basal or forskolin-stimulated activities, nor was there any specific binding of the beta-adrenoceptor ligand [125I]cyanopindolol to membranes, suggesting that catecholamine receptors do not modulate AC activity in these membranes.

Adenylyl cyclase activity in clonally derived human myoblast cultures: evidence for myoblast heterogeneity.

In vitro myogenesis recapitulates the programme of myogenesis in vivo. During the process of muscle differentiation, cAMP plays an important role in the control of gene expression and in the integration of metabolic functions. cAMP generation may be affected by drugs or hormones that interact with the membrane-bound enzyme adenylyl cyclase, including adrenergic agents and glucocorticoids.

Plasma atrial natriuretic peptide is elevated in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Study Objectives: To determine if plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide are elevated in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and to determine the relationship of atrial natriuretic peptide to symptoms and echocardiographic indices of left ventricular structure and diastolic function in these patients.

Design: A prospective study in which atrial natriuretic peptide was measured in peripheral venous plasma in 14 patients (age 44 +/- 14 years) with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and 17 healthy controls. Echocardiography was performed in all cases and 30 controls to examine indices of left heart structure and function.

Video assessment of rearfoot movements during walking: a reliability study.

Objective: Rearfoot motion, particularly rearfoot pronation, has been associated with many foot and leg pathologies. The assessment of abnormal rearfoot pronation frequently involves the use of video assessment in both clinical and research settings, but the reliability of this assessment has not been addressed.

Design: In this study, 14 participants were videotaped during walking.

Evidence for modulation of hydrogen peroxide-induced endothelial barrier dysfunction by nitric oxide in vitro.

Acute effects of the nitric oxide (NO) donors sodium nitroprusside and glyceryl trinitrate on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced increases in endothelial monolayer permeability to trypan blue-labelled bovine serum albumin have been investigated in vitro. Exposure of bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cell monolayers to 0.2 mM H2O2 for 20 min caused a significant increase in percentage trypan blue-labelled albumin transfer from the lumenal to the ablumenal compartment (basal 6.

Prognostic significance of prior preterm twin delivery on subsequent singleton pregnancy.

Objective: Our purpose was to determine whether preterm birth of twins is associated with an increased risk of preterm birth in a subsequent singleton pregnancy.

Study Design: The Medical University of South Carolina perinatal database was accessed to identify a cohort of patients who were delivered of twins followed by a singleton gestation (1981 to 1993). Maternal transports were excluded to minimize referral bias.

Blanket use of intranasal mupirocin for outbreak control and long-term prophylaxis of endemic methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in an open ward.

In December 1992, a thoracic ward in a Melbourne teaching hospital experienced an increase in patients infected with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). It was decided to attempt to control the outbreak by cohorting positive patients (infected and colonized), as well as nurse cohorting, emphasis on handwashing, and use of intranasal mupirocin initially three times a day for three days, then thrice weekly, for all patients in the ward (with or without MRSA). The campaign comprised for phases of 53, 45, 92 and 365 days, respectively.

Bacterial and fungal infection in neonates undergoing venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: an analysis of the registry data of the extracorporeal life support organization.

A review and analysis of 5,001 neonatal venoarterial (VA) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) cases showed that bacterial and fungal infection occurred in 147 (2.9%) and 26 (0.6%) patients, respectively, with an overall incidence of 3.

Aspirin and warfarin for thromboembolic disease after total joint arthroplasty.

This study compares the benefits of aspirin and warfarin prophylactic agents for patients with thromboembolic disease after total joint arthroplasty. It is a prospective randomized study of 388 patients having total hip or total knee surgery. All consecutive patients having total hip or total knee surgery were entered into this study and evaluated with preoperative and postoperative ventilation perfusion scans and a postoperative venogram.

Secretion of transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF alpha) by postnatal rabbit alveolar macrophages.

Transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF alpha) is a cytokine secreted by stimulated alveolar macrophages (AM) in vitro and after in vivo particulate or hyperoxia exposure and has been implicated in the processes of postnatal lung development. It is unknown if AM TGF alpha secretion changes during normal postnatal lung development. After sacrifice of New Zealand white rabbits on postnatal d 0-2, 5-7, 9-10, 14, 21, and 28 and > 4 mo (adult), AM were isolated by discontinuous density centrifugation and placed in culture in the presence or absence of concanavalin A (ConA) for 24 h.

Evidence for signalling by big endothelin-1 via conversion to endothelin-1 in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells.

In this study, signalling by big endothelin-1 (big ET-1) and a role for the phosphoramidon-sensitive endothelin converting enzyme in this signalling was investigated in smooth muscle cells cultured from bovine pulmonary artery. In whole cells, both ET-1 and big ET-1 stimulated inositol phosphate accumulation in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. The endothelin ET-A receptor antagonist (BQ 123, 1 microM) significantly inhibited stimulation by ET-1 (10 nM) or big ET-1 (100 nM).

Inhibition by fatty acids of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity in brush border membranes isolated from human placental vesicles.

1. The inhibitory effects of arachidonic acid (AA) and a number of structurally related fatty acids on cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity have been investigated in brush border membranes (BBM) prepared from human placental vesicles. 2.

Effects of the ANF-C receptor ligand des[Cys105,Cys121]rANF(104-126) on ANF internalization and cGMP production by bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells.

A role for the ANF-C receptor ligand des[Cys105,Cys121]rANF(104-126) in ANF receptor-effector coupling was investigated using cultured bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells as a model system. The ligand was equipotent with rANF(99-126) in displacement of [125I]des[Cys105,Cys121]rANF(104-126) binding to whole cells and labelled only one population of ANF receptors as shown by affinity crosslinking experiments. In cells pretreated with des[Cys105, Cys121]rANF(104-126), internalization of [125I]rANF(99-126) binding was reduced and enhanced accumulation of cGMP was observed under basal conditions, or in the presence of a low concentration (0.

Risks of antepartum cervical examination in multifetal gestations.

Objective: This study was performed to determine the risks associated with antepartum cervical examination in women with multifetal gestations attending a specialized antepartum Twin Clinic.

Study Design: Patients followed up in a specialized Twin Clinic from 1988 through 1991 (N = 89) received extensive preterm birth prevention education and routine cervical examination at each clinic visit. Obstetric outcome was compared between these patients and 288 other twin gestations followed up in the high-risk obstetric clinics between 1981 and 1991.

Paternity patterns and risk of preeclampsia in the last pregnancy in multiparae.

Few authors have published investigations regarding a possible association between preeclampsia and changing paternity. This study employs an epidemiological approach to explore the relationship between severe preeclampsia and changes in paternity patterns among multigravidae in a Caribbean community (Guadeloupe, French West Indies). Multiparae who were diagnosed with preeclampsia or eclampsia with fetal complications (transfer of their infants in the Neonatal Department) and controls were examined (134 mothers' interviews).

Reduction in very low birth weight deliveries and perinatal mortality in a specialized, multidisciplinary twin clinic.

Objective: To determine whether a specialized, multidisciplinary twin clinic could reduce rates of very low birth weight (VLBW) and perinatal mortality. Multifetal gestations account for only 1% of all pregnancies, yet are responsible for nearly 10% of all perinatal mortality. Very low birth weight (less than 1500 g) infants are the major contributors to this increased perinatal mortality rate.