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Biomedical subjects

H Rode

Publications and source records attributed to H Rode.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Thermal injury in pregnancy--the neglected tragedy.

Thermal injury sustained during pregnancy presents special management problems for the gravid woman and her unborn child. Because of the reported high morbidity and mortality and lack of available data in South Africa, a multicentre retrospective review was undertaken by five burn centres. Thirty-three patients (average age 25,7 years) with mean 30% (range 1-80%) total body surface area burn were assessed. A review of the clinical material led to the following observations and conclusions. Pregnancy does not influence maternal outcome after thermal injury and maternal survival is usually accompanied by fetal survival in the absence of significant maternal complications. Maternal survival is less likely if the burn wound exceeds 50% total body surface area. Thermal injury does increase the risk of spontaneous abortion and premature labour, and fetal survival depends on fetal maturity. Early obstetric intervention is only indicated in the gravely ill patient where complications (hypoxia, hypotension, sepsis) jeopardize the life of a viable fetus. The mode of delivery should be determined by obstetric considerations.

Adolescent↗

Fine-needle cytology of solid tumors: method, diagnostic accuracy, and role in management.

Fine-needle cytology was obtained from 14 solid tumors in 12 children. Both aspiration and nonaspiration techniques were used and several staining methods were applied. May Grünwald Giemsa and Papanicolaou stains were preferred. The nonaspiration method yielded a superior quality cytology smear with less blood contamination. There were no complications recorded. Confirmation of the diagnosis with cytology allowed for planned management with preoperative cytotoxic chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy in 10 children, immediate surgery in one, and radiotherapy to a vertebral recurrence in one. Fine-needle cytology is considered a useful technique in the management of a selected group of children with solid tumors.

Biopsy, Needle↗

Bactericidal efficacy of 5 per cent povidone iodine cream in Pseudomonas aeruginosa burn wound infection.

A new topical antiseptic agent, 5 per cent polyvinylpyrrolidone-iodine (PVP-I) cream, with altered physicochemical properties, incorporated in a different carrier base has proved in vivo to be more effective in controlling burn wound infections than 10 per cent PVP-I ointment. Important biodynamic properties of the new formulation have not, however, been elucidated in vivo. Hence the need for a controlled study to evaluate the bioavailability of the active component after penetration through burn eschar; the bactericidal efficacy of the cream and determination of the bactericidal time of the cream in comparison with 10 per cent PVP-I ointment. A modified Walker burn wound model was used to define the rate of trans-eschar penetration, biodynamic availability and bactericidal efficacy of 5 per cent povidone iodine cream in established Pseudomonas aeruginosa burn wound infection. In vitro penetration confirmed the effective diffusion of PVP-I cream through 1.5 mm eschar within 6 h. A single topical application of PVP-I cream resulted in a 98.8 per cent (6.088 x 10(9) c.f.u./g of tissue to 7.367 x 10(7) c.f.u./g of tissue) reduction in intra-eschar viable organisms within 18 h after application. A second topical application of PVP-I cream at 18 h resulted in a total reduction of 99.8 per cent in viable organisms (2.90 x 10(9) c.f.u./g of tissue to 7.009 x 10(6) c.f.u./g of tissue) within 48 h. Comparing the in vitro bactericidal time of povidone iodine ointment with cream against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and a Klebsiella pneumoniae revealed that the PVP-I cream killed organisms ten-fold more quickly than the ointment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Administration, Topical↗

Topical anaesthesia for repair of minor lacerations.

One hundred traumatic skin wounds were sutured under topical anaesthesia using a solution of lignocaine, adrenaline, and cocaine, and the effectiveness of the anaesthesia produced was assessed on a behavioural scale. The procedure was tolerated well by 63 patients, poorly by 11, and in 26 the response was uncertain. The response correlated well with age and with the field of anaesthesia measured from the wound margin. No toxic reactions were observed.

Administration, Topical↗

Mucin-secreting Wilms' tumor. Report of two cases.

Two children, ages 7 years and 14 months, with mucin-secreting Wilms' tumor were treated at the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital in 1987. In both cases, examination of peripheral blood films disclosed the characteristic appearance of circulating mucin. In each case the blood film appearances returned to normal following nephrectomy. Both patients are in good health and apparently tumor free at 16 and 18 months follow-up.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Portal vein obstruction by ectopic liver tissue.

The causes of portal vein obstruction in children with extrahepatic portal hypertension are variable. We report on a case of portal vein obstruction by ectopic liver tissue in an 8-year-old boy. The ectopic liver had a normal architectural pattern. The clinical management and radiology are reviewed.

Child↗

Estimating mortality risk in preoperative patients using immunologic, nutritional, and acute-phase response variables.

We measured the delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) skin test response, along with additional variables of host immunocompetence in 245 preoperative patients to determine which variables are associated with septic-related deaths following operation. Of the 14 deaths (5.7%), 12 were related to sepsis and in 2 sepsis was contributory. The DTH response (p less than 0.00001), age (p less than 0.0002), serum albumin (p less than 0.003), hemoglobin (p less than 0.02), and total hemolytic complement (p less than 0.03), were significantly different between those who died and those who lived. By logistic regression analysis, only the DTH skin test response (log likelihood = 41.7, improvement X2 = 6.24, p less than 0.012) and the serum albumin (log likelihood = 44.8, improvement X2 = 17.7, p less than 0.001) were significantly and independently associated with the deaths. The resultant probability of mortality calculation equation was tested in a separate validation group of 519 patients (mortality = 5%) and yielded a good predictive capability as assessed by (1) X2 = 0.08 between observed and expected deaths, NS; (2) Goodman-Kruskall G statistic = 0.673) Receiver-Operating-Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis with an area under the ROC curve, Az = 0.79 +/- 0.05. We conclude that a reduced immune response (DTH skin test anergy) plus a nutritional deficit and/or acute-phase response change are both associated with increased septic-related deaths in elective surgical patients.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗

Efficacy of mupirocin in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus burn wound infection.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains (MRSA) have become increasingly prevalent as nosocomial pathogens, especially in burn wounds. MRSA constituted 38% of all S. aureus isolates in our 25-bed burns unit despite the utilization of a combination of 1% silver sulfadiazine and 0.2% chlorhexidine as topical therapy. Mupirocin, a new antibiotic, has proved in vitro and in vivo to be highly effective in the treatment of MRSA infections. A prospective clinical trial with mupirocin ointment in MRSA burn wound infection was untertaken. Forty-five children with 59 discrete burn wounds and from whom MRSA were isolated were treated with 2% mupirocin ointment under occlusive dressings, applied twice daily for 5 days. The average burned area treated was 8% (range, 2 to 20%) of the total body surface area. The burn wounds were assessed clinically and bacteriologically daily. Mupirocin eliminated MRSA in all 59 wounds treated, with the maximum therapeutic response seen within 4 days. In three wounds, gram-negative organisms persisted after 5 days of topical therapy. Treatment was well tolerated by all children. We recommend that mupirocin in its present polyethylene glycol base should be used only on a selective basis, when current prophylactic topical therapy has failed to control MRSA infection in burns of less than 20% of the total body surface area, and that it should be applied only for a limited period of 5 days. The safety and the efficacy of mupirocin in burns exceeding 20% of the total body surface area need to be established.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Characterization of lymphoid cells isolated from human gliomas.

To analyze the phenotypic profile of lymphoid cells freshly isolated from surgically resected human gliomas, a double-immunostaining technique was developed which permitted the investigators simultaneously to distinguish between hematogenous and tumor cell populations and to detect expression of lymphocyte-monocyte subset-specific antigens on hematogenous cells. With this technique, the profiles of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL's) derived from high- and low-grade gliomas were compared with phenotypes of lymphocytes concurrently isolated from peripheral blood. The total leukocyte cell yield from high-grade glioma cases exceeded that of low-grade cases. In nine high-grade glioma cases the proportion of CD8-positive cells was increased within the TIL population (41.2% +/- 1.9%, mean +/- standard error of the mean) as compared to the corresponding peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) population (30.8% +/- 4.1%, p less than 0.05). The proportion of natural killer HNK-positive cells, some of which bear the CD8 antigen (although not necessarily the pan T cell antigens CD2 and CD3), was also increased in the TIL's (41.9% +/- 4.2%) compared to that found in PBL's (32.1 +/- 5.6%, p less than 0.05) of high-grade glioma cases. The observed phenotypic pattern of high-grade glioma TIL's is similar to that reported based on immunohistochemical analysis of tumor tissue sections, suggesting that the techniques described here resulted in isolation of lymphoid cells representative of TIL's.

Antigens, CD↗

Quantitative and qualitative study of the restoration by cytokines of mononuclear cell delivery to skin test sites in anergic surgical patients.

We tested the hypothesis that anergy is associated with reduced delivery of mononuclear cells (MNCs) to delayed-type hypersensitivity sites and that cytokine (CK)-rich supernatants from mixed lymphocyte cultures overcome the defect. Significantly fewer MNCs were delivered to skin window chambers placed over purified protein derivative (PPD) injection sites of previously sensitized anergic patients compared with hospitalized PPD-reactive patients; coinjection of CK with PPD restored the MNC delivery in anergic patients to normal levels. The T cells cloned from a PPD + CK site of an anergic patient consisted of CD4+ and CD8+ cells whose capacities included cytotoxicity and lymphokine production. The frequency of PPD-reactive cells was 15 times greater than in the blood. Thus, the restoration by CK of the delivery of antigen-specific cells capable of participating in cell-mediated immunity in anergic patients may be feasible.

Adult↗

Lack of cytokine-induced skin reaction correlates with acute physiology score and mortality in patients receiving intensive care.

Because the majority of patients receiving intensive care are anergic to ubiquitous skin test antigens, prediction of clinical outcome cannot be based on their delayed-type hypersensitivity score, which is 0, but which is also a strong indicator of sepsis-related mortality in the preoperative patient. However, a cytokine-rich supernatant generated in the mixed lymphocyte culture reaction is able to induce an early skin reaction that peaks at 12 hours and wanes by 24 hours in some, but not all, anergic patients. Assessment of the clinical course of these patients demonstrated that only three of 25 patients who had a skin reaction larger than 5 mm died, compared with ten of 16 patients who failed to display this early reaction. Further analysis showed that both the cytokine-induced reaction and the acute physiology score significantly and independently contributed to the probability of death in anergic patients. These data suggest that the ability to generate a local inflammatory response to cytokines in anergic patients identifies a subpopulation of patients who have maintained some host-defense responsiveness and this response can be utilized to predict outcome.

Acute Disease↗

Selective bronchial intubation for acute post-operative atelectasis in neonates and infants.

Selective bronchial intubation and lavage under fluoroscopic control was performed in 10 surgical neonates and infants to clear lobar atelectasis, after standard physiotherapeutic techniques had failed. Full re-expansion of the lung was obtained in all cases. The indications and techniques of selective bronchial intubation and lavage are described. This manoeuvre can be recommended in early post-operative atelectasis in neonates and infants if non-invasive measures have failed.

Bronchi↗

Management of pancreatic pseudocysts in children.

The management of 25 children with pseudocyst of the pancreas presenting over a 30-year period is reviewed. Nearly a third could be managed nonoperatively, monitoring clinical signs, serum amylase, and in recent years the findings of ultrasound and CT scan. Persistence of symptoms, signs, and hyperamylasemia for more than 4 weeks indicated failed resolution in all but one case. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) done in those who did not improve spontaneously facilitated operative strategy. Early operation and internal drainage in selected cases was well tolerated. Individualization of treatment is emphasized.

Child↗

Umbilical gangrene in the newborn.

Six neonates are described with a gangrenous omphalitis, a disease not reported for many years. They had many features in common including previous good health. In two, the disease was preceded by the application of tobacco ash to the umbilical stump. Clinically there was gangrene of the umbilicus with a blood-stained discharge and extensive cellulitis radiating into the abdominal wall. Despite aggressive therapy including excision of the affected area, the systemic effects of the local disease progressed rapidly until all of the first five infants who presented, died. Microbiologically there was a polybacterial infection involving a wide variety of organisms particularly E coli and Clostridia species. There appeared to be an appropriate response by the infants to an acute bacterial infection, and two patients investigated showed no evidence of cellular or humoral immunodeficiency. The pathology was an infection causing local tissue necrosis with a vasculitis and microabscess formation, which involved adjacent structures by direct extension. The severe systemic symptoms were attributable to an endotoxemia or exotoxemia. The evolution of therapy for gangreneous omphalitis in the newborn, successful in the sixth patient, is discussed.

Bacterial Infections↗

Bactericidal efficacy of mupirocin in multi-antibiotic resistant Staphylococcus aureus burn wound infection.

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains (MRSA) have become increasingly prevalent as pathogenic organisms, especially in burn wounds, with an associated mortality of 20-40% among those clinically infected. Mupirocin ointment, a new topical antibiotic, has proved in vitro and in vivo to be highly effective in the treatment of MRSA infections. A modified Walker burn wound model was used to define the rate of trans-eschar penetration, biodynamic availability and bactericidal efficacy of 2% mupirocin ointment in established MRSA burn wound infection. In-vitro penetration trials confirmed the effective diffusion of mupirocin through 1.5 mm eschar within 2 h. A single topical application of mupirocin resulted in a 98.3% (5.67 x 10(8) cfu/g of tissue--1.0 x 10(7) cfu/g of tissue) reduction in intra-eschar viable organisms within 36 h post application. A second topical application of mupirocin at 24 h resulted in a total reduction of 99.6% in viable intra-eschar organisms (1.85 x 10(8) cfu/gram of tissue--6.76 x 10(5) cfu/g of tissue). It is concluded that mupirocin is highly effective in controlling MRSA burn wound infection and should be applied topically every 24 h.

Animals↗