Review of the liposuction, abdominoplasty, and face-lift mortality and morbidity risk literature.

Background: The statistical discrepancies that exist in the mortality and morbidity risk literature are such that surgeons and patients cannot accurately assess the true risk rates associated with plastic surgery procedures.

Objectives And Methods: To review any relevant literature published to date in which the risk rates from liposuction, abdominoplasty, and rhytidectomy are cited and to reassess these figures alongside those published for both elective and emergency general surgeries.

Results And Conclusion: Despite the lack of reliable, comprehensive reporting of deaths and complications resulting from cosmetic surgeries, published data demonstrate that the risks associated with liposuction and rhytidectomy compare favorably with those from most general surgical procedures.

African Americans and HIV/AIDS: cultural concerns.

AIDS is a disease that has had a disproportionate effect on African Americans. While there has been significant progress in the treatment of people with HIV infection, there are obstacles to the optimal treatment of African Americans, such as distrust of the medical system, cultural differences between patients and providers, and institutional racism. To optimize treatment of African Americans with HIV/AIDS, health care providers must learn more about cultural issues that impact treatment.

Natural history of multifocal solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura: a 25-year follow-up report.

We report this case with "multifocal solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura," which recurred at different sites in the left pleura at different time intervals over a span of 25 years, finally exhibiting features of malignant transformation. This patient was first seen in 1978, when she was 58 years of age, for episodic attacks of hypoglycemia and a mass occupying the entire left hemithorax. The operative findings and histologic appearance were that of a solitary fibrous tumor.

Role of alpha-blockers in the treatment of chronic prostatitis.

Treatment of nonbacterial chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome continues to be a challenge for the treating physician. However, results from studies on the use of alpha-blockers seem to show some promise. Further studies on this class of drugs in the treatment of this condition are recommended.

Technical note: A new TLD-phantom measurement system for determining dose distribution levels in the right and left breast from spiral CT chest imaging.

Two specially designed plastic/aluminum phantoms positioned thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) at the right and left breast location of an anthrophomorophic chest torso. Imaging was performed on a spiral CT for a Volume of the chest phantom through the breast area for a noncontiguous (pitch 1.5) helical chest scan.

Echocardiography and Doppler ultrasound in the evaluation of pericardial disease.

Echocardiography and Doppler ultrasound are useful in evaluating a variety of pathological conditions affecting the pericardium. Cardiac tamponade results in right atrial collapse and right ventricular diastolic collapse detectable by echocardiography. These echocardiographic signs have a high degree of sensitivity and specificity.