The definition of osteoporosis is a systematic skeletal disease characterized by low bone mass and micro-architectural deterioration of bone tissue, with a subsequent increase in bone fragility and susceptibility to fracture (Anonymous, 1993). This description is both concerning bone mineral density (BMD) and bone quality, but at present we can only measure BMD. Thus, the [...]
DXA examination has always involved low radiation dose both to patients and operators. With modern machines the dose to patients varies from 20 to 100 micro Sv, according to different exam typology; at these exposures, operators distant more than 2 meters from the x-ray source do not need any protection. The vast majority of machines [...]
DXA densitometers have undergone remarkable technological improvements both in the process of x-ray emission and x-ray absorption. These facts have allowed a shorter scan time, increased diagnostic accuracy (accuracy of density measurements) and a reduction of the dose to the patient. In first generation DXA densitometers the x-ray beam is extremely thin (pencil beam), as [...]
Introduction Dual x-ray absorpiometry (DXA) was introduced in 1987 and, to date, it still represents the most widely used technique for the diagnosis of osteoporosis in the clinical practice. The World Health Organization (WHO) has defined the threshold levels for the diagnosis of osteopenia and osteoporosis using DXA technique. DXA machines consist of a mobile [...]
Generalized tetanus has become very rare in developed countries because of successful active immunization programs. For instance, by September 1986, only 46 cases had been reported to the Centers for Disease Control for 1985 in the United States, information quite consistent with our incidence of 0.07 cases per 100,000 per year in Geneva between 1968 [...]
According to previous studies showing an increased mortality in elderly patients, we divided the study group according to age (Tables 2 and 3). There was no difference between groups in terms of duration of intubation, hospital stay, and frequency of cardiovascular complications. Infectious complications were fairly common in both groups. Two patients died: a 63-year-old [...]
Case 3 An 81-year-old female patient was hospitalized on March 28, 1989, for progressive cervical and dorsal muscle contractures, trismus, and swallowing difficulty for eight days before hospitalization. A superficial wound on the left foot was noted, tetanus was diagnosed, and she was transferred to the medical intensive care unit. She had never been vaccinated [...]
