Localized intermittent delivery of simvastatin hydroxyacid stimulates bone formation in rats.

Background: The cholesterol-lowering drug simvastatin promotes bone formation in cell cultures and animal models. In previous studies, devices for the controlled, localized delivery of simvastatin hydroxyacid enhanced osteoblastic activity in vitro. The objective of this investigation was to determine bioactivity of the delivery system in vivo.

End-stage reflex sympathetic dystrophy.

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy is an automatic dysfunction that occasionally complicates healing after trauma or surgery. The syndrome is characterized by pain, swelling, stiffness, and discoloration often out of proportion to the original injury. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are the most important factors in the successful outcome of this disabling condition.

Anticoagulant-induced hematomas of the small intestine.

Intramural hematomas of the small bowel, an uncommon complication of anticoagulant therapy, usually present with nausea, vomiting, crampy abdominal pain, and often gastrointestinal bleeding of some degree. The diagnosis can be suggested by history and by a plain abdominal x-ray film, but an upper GI series is the most reliable means of confirming the diagnosis. Treatment is nonoperative, with emphasis on correction of clotting abnormalities, and blood loss, continuous nasogastric decompression, parenteral alimentation, and hydration.

The design of the normal aortic valve.

The design parameters of the natural aortic valve in vivo were not known, which may explain why various bioprosthetic valves have been designed differently. The design of the aortic valve was studied in vivo by placing radiopaque markers in the valve. The marker movement revealed that, during a cardiac cycle, the design parameters of the valve were changing continuously with changing aortic pressure and ventricular geometry.