OBJECTIVE: selleck chemicals To estimate TB incidence
rates in patients of a health micro-network, and the percentage of transport sector workers among TB and multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) patients.
DESIGN: Crude and indirect standardised incidence rates of TB were calculated from an exhaustive analysis of all clinical histories of incident patients in a health micro-network between 1 January 2007 and 30 June 2008. The percentage of transport sector workers and the association between MDR-TB and working in the transport sector were analysed.
RESULTS: Standardised incidence rates for transport sector workers are 2.7-4.5 times higher than those in the total working-age male and global population of the micro-network studied. The association between TB and transport occupation and MDR-TB and transport occupation is high (respectively OR 3.06, 95%CI 2.2-4.2 and OR 3.14, 95%CI 1.1-9.1).
CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the use of informal public transport is a risk factor for TB infection and an occupational risk in countries with characteristics
similar to those in Peru.”
“Anterior cervical decompression and fusion is a well-established procedure for the treatment of cervical spinal canal stenosis. In this study, we evaluated the necessity of spinal instrumentation after four-level anterior cervical decompression and cage fusion.
From
January 2006 until August 2008, 25 patients (8 females and 17 males) (mean age 63.9 +/- A 7.9 years) suffering Selleck Caspase inhibitor from spinal stenosis C3-C7 underwent Barasertib anterior decompression and interbody fusion. The patients were divided into two groups. Four-level discectomy and cage fusion was performed in all patients. In group A including nine patients, posterior instrumentation with a lateral mass screw-rod system was added, while in group B including 16 patients, additional instrumentation was not performed. The mean duration of follow-up was 48.6 months (average 25-67 months).
Clinically, the mean value for the Neck Disability Index improved from 40 +/- A 23.25 at presentation to 16.31 +/- A 15.09 at the final follow-up. The difference between the two groups was statistically not significant. Radiologically, the criteria for solid bony fusion were achieved successfully in all patients of group A, and in 87.5 % of patients in group B. The difference between the two groups was statistically not significant. The fused segment was then evaluated in the sagittal radiographs as regards the height and the lordosis angle. The loss in the height as well as the loss in the lordosis angle was more when posterior instrumentation was not added. However, the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant.