Search PubMed⌕ Search
Home/Archive/PubMed

PubMed · 12171663

Are we getting the point? Needlestick injuries-an ongoing problem.

T K McAdam·R E McLaughlin·B McNicholl
View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

The pattern of glove perforation using hollow needles is unknown and the incidence, using sensitive electronic methods has not been described. We wished to identify the glove perforation rate following the use of hollow needles in our Emergency Department. Two hundred and eighty-nine gloves were collected over three months. These gloves were electronically tested and compared with one hundred unused control gloves. There were 28/298 perforations (9.7%) vs 1/100 in the control group (P<0.01 Fisher's exact probability). Most perforations were located on the thumb and index fingers. There were no needlestick injuries reported during this period. The glove perforation rate following hollow needle use in our Emergency Department is higher than previously reported. The pattern of perforation suggests injury by the needle held in the dominant hand.

Explore related subjects

BiopsyDiagnostic Techniques and ProceduresElectric ConductivityEmergency Service, HospitalGloves, ProtectiveHand InjuriesHumansIrelandLatexMaterials TestingNeedlestick InjuriesSafetyJournal Article

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

T K McAdam, R E McLaughlin, B McNicholl. 2002. Are we getting the point? Needlestick injuries-an ongoing problem.. https://doi.org/10.1258/09564620260079590

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related citations

PubMed2003

Clinical utility of endorectal MRI in determining PSA outcome for patients with biopsy Gleason score 7, PSA <or=10, and clinically localized prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: Although the optimal management for patients with high-grade clinically localized prostate cancer is undefined, radical prostatectomy (RP) or external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) is performed. The clinical utility of the pretreatment prostrate-specific antigen (PSA) level ( 10 ng/mL) and endorectal MRI (erMRI) stage (T3 vs. T2) to stratify PSA outcome after RP in these patients was evaluated. METHODS AND MATERIALS: erMRI was performed in 147 men with biopsy Gleason score >or=7 and 1992 AJCC clinical Stage T1c or T2a disease before RP. Enumerations of the biopsy and prostatectomy Gleason scores, pathologic stage, and margin status were performed for each pretreatment group on the basis of erMRI findings and PSA level. Comparisons were made using a chi-square metric. The median follow-up was 4.5 years (range 1-10 years). Comparisons of the actuarial freedom from PSA failure (bNED) were made using the log-rank test. RESULTS: erMRI Stage T2 and T3 disease was found in 132 and 15 patients, respectively. On stratification by PSA level, patients with erMRI T3 disease had similar bNED outcomes (p = 0.46), regardless of the PSA level. The 3-year bNED rate was 82%, 64%, and 25% (p <0.0001) for Group 1 (erMRI T2 and PSA 10 ng/mL), and Group 3 (erMRI T3 with any PSA level), respectively. The rates of prostatectomy T3 disease, biopsy and prostatectomy Gleason score 8-10, and positive surgical margins were significantly higher (p or=7, PSA <or=10 ng/mL, and clinically localized disease, local therapy alone may be adequate for patients with erMRI T2 disease. On the other hand, these data suggest that more aggressive therapy may be warranted in patients with erMRI T3 disease. Given the survival benefit established for patients with locally advanced prostate cancer treated with EBRT and androgen suppression therapy compared with EBRT alone, erMRI staging may help identify patients with high biopsy Gleason score and clinically localized disease who may benefit most from treatment with EBRT and hormonal therapy as opposed to EBRT alone.

Biopsy↗
PubMed2003

Regulation of matrix metalloproteinase-1 by Epstein-Barr virus proteins.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play crucial roles in tumor progression. To investigate the roles of MMPs in the progression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), the expression of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-7, MMP-12, MMP-13, MMP-14, and MMP-19 was explored by microarray assay. Among them, MMP-1 was significantly up-regulated in NPC biopsies. These results were confirmed further by real-time quantitative PCR in additional NPC biopsies and comparison with normal tissues and other head and neck cancers. Moreover, the use of RNA from different cellular constituents of NPC biopsies revealed that MMP-1 was detected predominantly in epithelial cells. Immunohistochemical staining of paraffin-fixed NPC sections confirmed that MMP-1 protein was expressed in the epithelial tumor cells. Because EBV is strongly associated with NPC formation, we sought a correlation between viral gene expression and MMP-1 up-regulation. The results showed clearly that the amounts of transcripts, proteins, and enzyme activities of MMP-1 were increased in cells expressing EBV proteins, LMP1 (latent membrane protein 1) and Zta (Z transactivator; also named as BZLF1 or ZEBRA) but not EBNA-1 (EBV nuclear antigen-1). Additionally, the mobility of LMP1 and Zta transfectants was increased in scrape-wound migration assays. The invasiveness and ability to survive in a three-dimensional collagen gel also were enhanced in LMP1- and Zta-expressing cells. Furthermore, anti-MMP-1 antibody and peptide inhibitors could block the invasiveness and survival properties of LMP1 and Zta transfectants, suggesting a real contribution of MMP-1 to cell mobility and survival. Taken together, our data show that the viral LMP1 and Zta proteins regulate the expression and activity of MMP-1, and thereby confer the invasive properties of the cells. This study presents the first evidence that viral proteins are capable of regulating MMP-1 and also provides clues for the role of EBV in NPC progression.

Biopsy↗
PubMed2003

Correlation between prostate cancer grade and vascularity on color doppler imaging: preliminary findings.

PURPOSE: We examined the relationship between the amount of prostate cancer-associated vascularity as seen on color Doppler imaging and the tumor grade. METHODS: Transrectal color Doppler imaging of the prostate was performed in 54 patients with prostate cancer. Color flow signal/total pixel ratios (SPRs) of selected images were calculated using the ratio of the number of pixels showing color Doppler signals to the total number of pixels within the lesion. All the patients underwent prostate biopsy guided by transrectal sonography. Gleason scores were determined from the biopsy specimens. RESULTS: Color Doppler signals were demonstrated in the lesions of 91% (49/54) of the patients. The mean SPRs of prostate cancers 3 cm or smaller and larger than 3 cm were 0.15 +/- 0.07 and 0.11 +/- 0.04 (+/- standard deviation), respectively (p < 0.05). The mean SPRs of well- (Gleason score of 2-4), moderately (Gleason 5-7), and poorly (Gleason 8-10) differentiated prostate cancers were 0.08 +/- 0.03, 0.12 +/- 0.06, and 0.17 +/- 0.11, respectively (r = 0.45; p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The refinement of color Doppler equipment has improved the detection of color Doppler signals associated with prostate cancer. Our study shows a correlation between prostate cancer-associated vascularity as shown on color Doppler imaging and the tumor grade.

Biopsy↗