Investigation of the Prevalent Fall-Related Risk Factors of Fractures in Elderly Referred to Tehran Hospitals.

Investigation of the prevalent fall-related risk factors of fractures in elderly referred to Tehran hospitals.

Med J Islam Repub Iran. 2013 Feb; 27(1): 23-30
Jamebozorgi AA, Kavoosi A, Shafiee Z, Kahlaee AH, Raei M

Prevalence of fall-related mortality is rising in the elderly population. Falling is one of the causes of the murderous and non-murderous injuries in the elderly population which can lead to disability, dependence and decline of quality of life. Fractures constitute a major part of the fall-related injuries. The present study is designed to investigate the prevalence of fall-related risk factors of fractures in the Iranian elderly population.This descriptive study was performed on 240 elderly adults (aged 72.24±8.81 years) referred to Tehran hospitals in 2011 with wrist, femoral and proximal humeral fractures, using a questionnaire designed for this purpose.Ninety four (39.2%) cases were males and 146 (60.8%) were females. Slipping was the most prevalent mechanism of falling with the rate of 26.9% followed by falling from height and falling outdoors. Femur was the most frequently injured site (57.5%) while wrist and humerus were the next sites to be injured. Only 7.5% of the cases lived in a safe environment while in 37.2% and 55.2% cases, home environment was partly safe and non-safe, respectively.Fall-related fractures in the studied population is related to cardiovascular and musculoskeletal disorders, low level of physical activity and ignorance of safety principles but, the prevalence of neurologic diseases and drug and alcohol abuse, which have been mentioned as relevant risk factors in some studies, was very low in this population. HubMed – rehab

Hyperbaric oxygen treatment therapy.

Ann Neurol. 2013 Mar 8;
Md PM

HubMed – rehab

Laryngotracheal transplantation: Technical modifications and functional outcomes.

Laryngoscope. 2013 Mar 11;
Farwell DG, Birchall MA, Macchiarini P, Luu QC, de Mattos AM, Gallay BJ, Perez RV, Grow MP, Ramsamooj R, Salgado MD, Brodie HA, Belafsky PC

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Laryngeal transplantation offers the potential for patients without a larynx to recover their voice, which is critical in our communication age. We report clinical and functional outcomes from a laryngotracheal transplant. Widespread adoption of this technique has been slowed due to the ethical concerns of life-long immunosuppression after a nonvital organ transplant. Our patient was already on immunosuppressive medication from prior kidney-pancreas transplantation, and therefore was not exposed to added long-term risk. We describe the unique technical advances, clinical course, and rehabilitation of this patient and the implications for future laryngeal transplantation. STUDY DESIGN: Case report. METHODS: A laryngotracheal transplantation was performed in a 51-year-old prior kidney-pancreas transplant recipient presenting with complete laryngotracheal stenosis. Surgical modifications were made in the previously described technique related to retrieval, vascular supply, and reinnervation. This resulted in a robustly vascularized organ with well-perfused long-segment tracheal transplant and early return of motor reinnervation. RESULTS: A multidisciplinary approach resulted in a successful transplant without evidence of rejection to date. Postoperatively, the patient continues to rely on a tracheotomy but has had the return of an oral and nasal airway, vocalization, smell, and taste, all experienced for the first time in 11 years. CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated that our methods may result in a successful laryngotracheal transplant. We describe the preparation, surgical technique, rehabilitation, and interventions employed in achieving optimal outcomes. This report contributes valuable information on this rarely performed composite transplant. Laryngoscope, 2013. HubMed – rehab

Generalized Epilepsy in Two Patients with 5p Duplication.

Neuropediatrics. 2013 Mar 12;
Kluger G, Koehler U, Neuhann TM, Pieper T, Staudt M, von Stülpnagel C

Background There are only few reports on patients with duplications of the short arm of chromosome 5, with little information about concomitant epilepsy.Patients We report on two patients with generalized epilepsies since age 2.5 years, in whom array comparative genomic hybridization revealed microduplications of different sizes in the short arm of chromosome 5. Both patients showed developmental delay, and magnetic resonance images were normal. The larger duplication in patient 1, who additionally exhibited dysmorphic features and photosensivity on electroencephalogram, occurred de novo, whereas the smaller duplication in patient 2 was paternally inherited.Discussion The overlapping duplicated region in band 5p13.1 comprises four genes (RICTOR, FYB, C9, and DAB2). Further investigation on patients with duplication 5p and epilepsy are needed to possibly identify a potential susceptibility locus for epilepsy at chromosome 5p13.1. HubMed – rehab

H-FABP, cardiovascular risk factors, and functional status in asymptomatic spinal cord injury patients.

Herz. 2013 Mar 14;
Akbal A, Kurtaran A, Selçuk B, Akyüz M

BACKGROUND: This was a cross-sectional study in the setting of a rehabilitation hospital. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine the serum levels of heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). A further goal was to examine whether there is a relationship between H-FABP levels and Functional Ambulation Classification (FAC) scale, Functional Independence Measure (FIM) score, American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) status, and metabolic syndrome (MetS). METHODS: The study included 56 SCI patients and 37 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects who had not been diagnosed with coronary artery disease in the past. RESULTS: Serum H-FABP levels were significantly higher in patients with SCI than in control subjects: paraplegia group, 18.5?±?11.4; tetraplegia group, 16.3?±?9.1; control group, 6.7?±?5.1 ng/ml (p??12 months (n?=?29). H-FABP levels showed statistically significant differences between the two groups (14.8?±?11.7 ng/dl and 20.9?±?9.9 ng/dl, respectively; p?=?0.036). CONCLUSION: H-FABP is related to MetS and FAC status in asymptomatic SCI patients. HubMed – rehab