Kidney disease as a predictor of mortality in chronic spinal cord injury.

Background: The purpose of this study is to assess the predictive value of proteinuria and creatinine clearance (CrCl) in relation to mortality in patients with spinal cord injury.

Methods: Computerized medical records covering 6 to 11 years were reviewed in 2004 to determine all-cause mortality. Long-term survival was assessed by means of Kaplan-Meier analysis.

Bone mineral density and turnover in non-corticosteroid treated African American children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To determine bone mineral content (BMC), bone mineral density (BMD), Z scores, and markers of bone turnover in African American children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA).

Methods: Eight children with JRA with no prior exposure to corticosteroids were evaluated. Lumbar spine (L1-L4) and total body and total hip BMC and BMD were determined using dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and Z scores (BMD) were calculated.