Analysis of arterial intimal hyperplasia: review and hypothesis

which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Background: Despite a prodigious investment of funds, we cannot treat or prevent arteriosclerosis and restenosis, particularly its major pathology, arterial intimal hyperplasia. A cornerstone question lies behind all approaches to the disease: what causes the pathology? Hypothesis: I argue that the question itself is misplaced because it implies that intimal hyperplasia is a novel pathological phenomenon caused by new mechanisms. A simple inquiry into arterial morphology shows the opposite is true. The normal multi-layer cellular organization of the tunica intima is identical to that of diseased hyperplasia; it is the standard arterial system design in all placentals at least as large as rabbits, including humans. Formed initially as one-layer endothelium lining, this phenotype can either be maintained or differentiate into a normal multi-layer cellular lining, so striking in its resemblance to diseased hyperplasia that we have to name it "benign intimal hyperplasia". However, normal or "benign " intimal hyperplasia, although microscopically identical to pathology, is a controllable phenotype that rarely compromises blood supply. It is remarkable that each human heart has coronary arteries in which a single-layer endothelium differentiates earl

Associação entre espessura da pele e densidade óssea em mulheres adultas

FUNDAMENTOS: Osteoporose acomete principalmente mulheres em menopausa e idosos, predispondo a fraturas que geram morbidade, mortalidade e custos ao sistema de saúde. Como o colágeno dérmico diminui paralelamente à redução da massa óssea com o envelhecimento, a medida da espessura da pele pode ser indício do risco de osteoporose. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar a correlação entre densidade óssea e espessura da pele do dorso das mãos de mulheres adultas. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal envolvendo mulheres adultas atendidas em ambulatório de hospital universitário submetidas à densitometria óssea, que foram avaliadas individualmente e mensurada, por paquímetro, a espessura da pele no dorso das mãos, além de investigados demais fatores de risco para osteoporose. RESULTADOS: Avaliaram-se 140 pacientes. A média (±dp) de idade foi de 57 (±11) anos; a média da espessura da pele do dorso das mãos foi de 1,4 (±0,4) mm. Houve correlação entre as medidas das mãos direita e esquerda (R=0,9; pBACKGROUND: Osteoporosis mainly affects menopausal women and the elderly, predisposing these individuals to fractures that result in morbidity, mortality and costs to the healthcare system. Since dermal collagen reduces in parallel with a decrease in bone mass with aging, skin thickness may be indicative of a risk of osteoporosis. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the correlation between bone density and skin thickness on the backs of the hands of adult women. METHODS: A cross sectional study involving adult women attending a university hospital outpatient clinic who were interviewed individually and submitted to bone densitometry and measurement of skin thickness on the backs of their hands using skinfold calipers. Other risk factors for osteoporosis were also investigated. RESULTS: A total of 140 patients were evaluated. Mean age (± standard deviation) was 57 ± 11 years. Mean skin thickness on the backs of the hands was 1.4 ± 0.4 mm. There was a correlation between the right and left hands (R = 0.9; p<0.01). A direct correlation was found between skin thickness on the backs of the hands and bone density at the lumbar spine and femur (p<0.01). These results remained consistent even following adjustment for the covariables of age, skin phototype, body mass index, smoking, use of oral corticoids, anti-inflammatory use and time since menopause. Osteoporosis was inversely associated with the thickness of the skin on the back of the hands (odds ratio = 0.10; p<0.03) CONCLUSION: An independent correlation was found between skin thickness and bone density, suggesting that these events occur simultaneously. Skin signs may represent a non-invasive method of stratifying risk in these patients, helping identify cases requiring early treatmen