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[Countermeasures for urinary incontinence in patients with senile dementia: correlation between urinary incontinence severity, senile dementia severity, and activity of daily living].

The actual conditions of urinary incontinence in 101 patients with senile dementia (23 men and 78 women, average age 80 years) and their urinary control was studied. The three categories of 1) dementia severity, 2) activity of daily living and 3) degree of urinary incontinence, were each divided into five grades and the patients were evaluated accordingly. The correlation among the grades was studied. Of the 101 patients, 87 had urinary incontinence. These 87 were further subdivided into two groups: an ambulatory patient group (25) in which the patients could manage their own daily activity, and the bedridden group (62). The countermeasures for the first group of patients were, usage of a portable chamber pot for 6 patients and induced urination in 5. An anticholinergic agent was administered to 47 of the bedridden patients. The condition of urinary incontinence was reevaluated in both groups 4 weeks later. A high degree of correlation was observed among the grades of dementia severity, activity of daily living and urinary incontinence severity. After the countermeasures taken, improvement in urinary incontinence was observed in the 6 patients who used a portable chamber pot, and in the 5 patients who were subjected to induced urination. No improvement was seen in urinary incontinence in the bedridden patients who were treated with an anticholinergic agent. In conclusion, countermeasures for urinary incontinence in senile dementia should be indicated primarily for patients who can manage their own daily activity.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Disseminated BCG infection in severe combined immunodeficiency presenting with severe anaemia and associated with gross hypersplenism after bone marrow transplantation.

An infant with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) is described, who presented with severe anaemia and hepatosplenomegaly due to disseminated Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) infection involving the bone marrow, liver and spleen. After BMT, huge splenic enlargement occurred, presumably due to proliferation of engrafted donor lymphocytes, leading to severe hypersplenism. Peripheral blood cell consumption was resolved by splenectomy, but gradual loss of the marrow graft followed.

Anemia↗

Measuring delirium severity in older general hospital inpatients without dementia. The Delirium Severity Scale.

The authors evaluated the validity, reliability, and sensitivity to change of the Delirium Severity Scale (DSS), a 10-minute assessment consisting of Forward Digit Span and Similarities. Twenty-two older inpatients with delirium but not dementia and 15 control patients were administered the DSS during hospitalization. Scores were significantly inversely correlated with experts' quantitative ratings of severity at all three time-points examined. The DSS showed significant improvement over time (P < 0.001) and significant correlation with improvement in expert ratings (P = 0.026). The DSS shows promise as a valid and reliable measure sensitive to changing symptom severity.

Age Factors↗

Percutaneous closure of a secundum atrial septal defect and double balloon valvotomies of a severe mitral and aortic valve stenosis in a patient with Lutembacher's syndrome and severe pulmonary hypertension.

This is a 43-yr-old female presenting with recurrent atrial septal defect, closed surgically, 10 years prior, severe aortic and mitral stenosis, and severe tricuspid regurgitation. She was considered inoperable because of the severe pulmonary hypertension and the complexity of the disease. A percutaneous umbrella closure of the atrial septal defect in conjunction with mitral and aortic balloon valvotomies could be safely and successfully performed. After significant clinical and hemodynamic improvement, surgery was judged feasible, but was refused by the patient who suddenly expired 8 weeks later. The usefulness of percutaneous therapy as a rescue procedure and the management of patients with Eisenmenger's physiology are discussed.

Adult↗

Intracerebral haemorrhages in surfactant treated neonates with severe respiratory distress syndrome: age at diagnosis, severity and risk factors.

UNLABELLED: Within a randomized European multicentre trial the time of onset, severity and progression of intracerebral haemorrhages (ICH) were investigated prospectively by serial cranial ultrasonography in 343 ventilated infants with severe respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) following instillation of single or multiple doses of a natural porcine surfactant (Curosurf). In 148/343 infants (43%) ICH was diagnosed (grade I or II: 22%, grade III or IV: 21%). In 26 cases (8%) ICH was present on the ultrasound scan prior to surfactant instillation at a median age of 6 h. Incidence and severity of ICH was similar after single- or multiple-dose surfactant treatment. Using a logistic regression model the following risk factors predictive of ICH were defined: low birth weight, allocation to certain hospitals, vaginal delivery, Apgar score < or = 6, rectal temperature on admission < or = 36 degrees C, primary anaemia, acidosis prior to treatment, RDS grade IV in pre-treatment chest films and poor response to surfactant treatment. CONCLUSION: Our study provides supportive evidence that multiple doses of Curosurf do not increase the risk for ICH as compared to single-dose administration.

Biological Products↗

[Severe pelvic injury with pelvic mass hemorrhage: determining severity of hemorrhage and clinical experience with emergency stabilization].

The blood loss during the acute period after complex pelvic trauma is finally responsible for the high mortality associated with this specific type of injury. Several protocols have been published for optimized management, but up to now comparable data are not available as no exact definitions exist judging the severity of trauma and blood loss. As part of a prospective study 19 patients after unstable pelvic injuries with unstable circulation underwent emergency stabilization by the pelvic C-clamp. Beside standard clinical parameter the initial hemoglobin value was converted into a "blood volume equivalent". 18 of the 19 patients had an injury severity according to group III and IV of the Hannover Polytrauma Score (PTS). Concommitant abdominal injuries were seen in 12 cases (23 injuries), concommitant urological injuries in 12 cases (14 injuries). In 13 cases the pelvis was the major source of bleeding in 9 cases an additional intraabdominal hemorrhage was observed. 11 patients died due to sequelae of their injury, 8 patients survived. Although the initial blood loss was comparable both in the group of the deceased patients and the survivors, a 44% higher subsequent blood substitution (= 10089 ml) was observed in the nonsurvivor group. In conclusion the data proofed that early control of hemorrhage is fundamental for the prognoses after complex pelvic trauma. The estimation of the blood loss may help in indicating aggressive emergency procedures like emergency stabilisation, pelvic clamps, surgical exploration and tamponade. This calculation may be a basis for a more detailed analyses of this devastating injury and judging the benefit of different management protocols.

Blood Loss, Surgical↗

Severe cardiac failure in newborns with VGAM. Prognosis significance of hemodynamic parameters in neonates presenting with severe heart failure owing to vein of Galen arteriovenous malformation.

OBJECTIVE: Neonatal vein of Galen malformation complicated by severe cardiac failure is a rare disease. The purpose was to assess the outcome of this life-threatening malformation and identify hemodynamic prognostic factors. DESIGN: Retrospective study. PATIENTS: Twenty-four newborns with cardiac failure requiring mechanical ventilation were consecutively admitted from 1986 to 2000. INTERVENTIONS: Cardiovascular evaluation including echocardiogram was performed in all cases. Eighteen transarterial shunt occlusions with glue were applied by the same team of three physicians. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Twelve babies survived and underwent one endovascular session at least (median age 20 days) with a mean 63 months follow-up. Embolization was not performed in 6 of the 12 nonsurvivors because of severe brain damage or profound hypotension Cardiogenic shock occurred in all nonsurvivors, but also in one long-term survivor (p<0.0001). Echocardiogram showed signs of right ventricular failure, most often in the dead babies (p=0.005). The pulmonary systemic arterial pressure ratio was significantly higher in the nonsurvivor group (p=0.031), and it decreased significantly after the first embolization only in patients who survived (p=0.01). Patent ductus arteriosus and a diastolic aortic reversed-flow were present in all nonsurvivors in contrast to 30% of the long-term survivors (p=0.003 ). There was no difference in the left ventricular contractility and mean cardiac output between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The outcome of vein of Galen malformation complicated by severe cardiac failure requiring mechanical ventilation remains poor. Neonatal embolization seems to be beneficial only in babies without suprasystemic pulmonary hypertension.

Arteriovenous Malformations↗

[Cyclosporin A therapy in severe anterior scleritis. 5 severe courses without verification of associated systemic disease treated with cyclosporin A].

BACKGROUND: Patients with severe scleritis who do not respond to high-dose corticosteroid therapy, or who require a daily corticosteroid maintenance dose higher than 30 mg prednisone should be treated by other immunosuppressants. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In five patients with various types of severe anterior scleritis a long-term high-dose steroid treatment failed to control scleral inflammation. They therefore received cyclosporin (CsA). Follow-up was 16-26 months. RESULTS: Scleral inflammation and ocular complications were controlled in all patients by a regimen of systemic CsA combined with a low maintenance steroid dose below the Cushing threshold. We observed no side effects under CsA serum levels of 120-150 ng/ml. In only one patient was scleral inflammation totally and lastingly eliminated. CONCLUSIONS: Systemic CsA therapy is of definite therapeutic value in the symptomatic management of steroid refractory severe anterior scleritis without associated systemic disease. Complete healing, however, is achieved only in a minority of cases.

Adult↗

Severe chronic pancreatitis and severe liver cirrhosis have different frequencies and are independent risk factors in male Japanese alcoholics.

BACKGROUND: Chronic pancreatitis and liver cirrhosis are major alcohol-related diseases in most countries. Neither their specific etiologies nor the relationship between them is fully understood. This study was designed to examine a possible association between alcoholic chronic pancreatitis (ACP) and alcoholic liver cirrhosis (ALC), and to identify factors relating to them. METHODS: The subjects were 141 consenting participants from 1087 male patients consecutively admitted to Kurihama National Hospital from July 2000 to November 2002. All were negative for major medical disorders (e.g., viral hepatitis, operative history, malignancy), except for ACP and ALC. Analysis of each subject included background information (collected by face-to-face interview, regarding quantity and duration of drinking, usual alcoholic drinks, smoking, education, employment, and marital status) and signs of ACP detected on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and ALC indicated by Child-Pugh classification. Subjects consenting to genome analyses ( n = 83) were genotyped for two key alcohol-metabolizing enzymes: alcohol dehydrogenase-2 and aldehyde dehydrogenase-2. RESULTS: Grouping patients by ERCP grading and Child classification revealed a nonparallel relationship between the severities of the two diseases. This relationship held, even after controlling for several pertinent background variables (sociofamilial, drinking, clinical, and genetic factors) by logistic regression analysis. The drinking of spirits and a high daily consumption of alcohol were independent risk factors for ACP, while never-married status was the only risk factor identified with ALC among these male Japanese patients. CONCLUSIONS: Different risk factors may confer susceptibility to ACP versus ALC, which may explain the nonparallel relationship between the severities of the two diseases in Japanese alcoholics.

Adult↗

Severe congenital skin defects in a newborn. Case report and relevance of several obstetrical parameters.

The clinical, laboratory, histologic and autopsy findings are reported from a live-born male infant with severe congenital skin defects (CSD) who survived for 2 days. The family history revealed consanguinity of the (Turkish) parents. The patient was compared with 10 cases from the literature with the most severe form of CSD. The combination of severe CSD, parental consanguinity and gastrointestinal atresia was found in 3 of these 11 cases, including our own patient. Differentiation from an atypical form of epidermolysis bullosa, complicated by pyloric atresia, is difficult. The mechanism of the (prenatally detected) elevated amniotic fluid alpha 1-fetoprotein (AFP) level is discussed. The finding of a balanced 13q14q chromosome translocation in the infant and his mother is considered a coincidence.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Comparison of metabolic risk factors between severely and very severely obese patients.

OBJECTIVE: A prospective clinical intervention study was performed to estimate the metabolic risk factors in patients with very severe obesity (VSO) vs. severe obesity (SO). RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Two hundred twenty-eight VSO (BMI > or = 50 kg/m(2)) and 221 SO patients (BMI = 40 to 49.9 kg/m(2)) participated in the study (367 women and 82 men). Metabolic measurements included plasma lipids, glucose and insulin, hemoglobin A(1c), leptin, and sex hormones, as well as hepatic steatosis in a subgroup of patients. Subgroups of patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes and hyperlipidemia (HLP) were examined. RESULTS: The most unexpected result of our study was that VSO men showed significantly better lipid profiles than SO men. Furthermore, 18% of VSO men had no metabolic aberrations, whereas all SO men did. The advantageous metabolic status of VSO men was associated with sex hormone changes that favor gynoid fat distribution. The beneficial metabolic situation with VSO seems to be sex specific for men. DISCUSSION: This study shows that the metabolic situation in VSO is not more severe than in the less obese cohort. These findings distinctly differ from the positive associations that have previously been reported between BMI, lipids, and other metabolic indices among individuals whose BMI is <40 kg/m(2).

Adult↗

Successful induction of severe destructive arthritis by the transfer of in vitro-activated synovial fluid T cells from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice.

In order to investigate the role of pathogenic T cells in RA, the establishment of an RA model using patients' T cells is thought to be essential. In this study, multiple and severe destructive arthritis was established by transferring in vitro-stimulated synovial fluid T (SFT) cells from patients with RA through simultaneous injection into knee joint and peritoneal cavity of SCID mice without causing xenogeneic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Neither the transfer of unstimulated SFT cells nor sole i.p. injection was sufficient to induce severe arthritis. Interestingly, in contrast with SFT cells, in vitro-activated peripheral blood lymphocytes from RA patients failed to trigger such arthritis, suggesting that pathogenic T cells might be concentrated in synovial fluid of RA patients. This, the first severe arthritis model mimicking RA induced by RA patients' T cells, is expected to provide important information about RA pathogenesis and a possible therapeutic approach.

Aged↗

The value of technetium 99 scintigraphy in the prognosis of amputation in severe frostbite injuries of the extremities: A retrospective study of 92 severe frostbite injuries.

We report a retrospective study of the prognostic value of 2-phase technetium 99m bone scanning performed in 92 patients who presented to Chamonix Hospital with severe frostbite of the extremities in the past 12 years. The results of this study show that an initial bone scan (as early as day 3) has excellent specificity in evaluating the severity of frostbite injury. There was a direct correlation between the demarcation zone of uptake in the phalanges and the eventual level of amputation (positive predictive value, 0.84). A second scan on approximately day 7 was even more sensitive and informative. A strong correlation existed between positive uptake and eventual healing (negative predictive value, 0.99). This study showed that (99m)Tc bone scanning in the first few days after frostbite injury indicates the level of amputation in severe frostbite in more than 84% of cases. We propose an algorithm based on the results of this study that can be used to evaluate new medical and surgical management of frostbite injury.

Adult↗

Frequency and severity of cyclic flow alternations and platelet aggregation predict the severity of neointimal proliferation following experimental coronary stenosis and endothelial injury.

The role of recurrent platelet aggregation in the development of neointimal proliferation of coronary arteries was explored in this study, and the hypothesis was evaluated that recurrent platelet aggregation and the consequent frequency and severity of cyclic coronary blood flow variations are important pathophysiologic factors in the subsequent development of neointimal proliferation. In 24 chronically instrumented dogs, variable degrees of coronary artery neointimal proliferation were observed 3 weeks after mechanical injury of the arterial endothelium and the placement of an external coronary artery constrictor. The severity of neointimal proliferation at 21 days was closely related to the frequency and severity of cyclic coronary blood flow variations during the initial 7 days after instrumentation of the animals, itself a manifestation of recurrent platelet aggregation and dislodgement. Pharmacological therapy with a dual thromboxane A2 synthetase inhibitor and receptor antagonist and with a serotonin S2 receptor antagonist frequently was successful in abolishing cyclic blood flow variations and in retarding neointimal proliferation.

Animals↗

Subjective appraisal of problem severity and the ASI: secondary data or second opinion? Addiction Severity Index.

The Addiction Severity Index is a popular research and clinical tool for the characterization of individuals grappling with substance abuse problems. For research, use of the seven objectively calculated composite scores of problem severity is recommended. In contrast, clinical use of the instrument relies more upon its subjectively derived interviewer and client severity rating scores. However, little systematic research has looked at the comparability of these two sources of client data. This study compared the objective and subjective scores of the ASI of male (n=141) and female (n=58) clients entering substance abuse treatment. In addition, clients' narratives about their most worrisome problems were recorded and put to content analyses. While significant correlations were found among the various subjective indices, little relationship could be discerned between the objective composite scores and any of the subjective indices derived from either the ASI or the clients' narratives. As the focus of outcome research shifts from objective client and treatment characteristics to a better understanding of the process of intervention, empirical characterization of substance abuse treatment outcome may be enriched by the inclusion of subjective data that taps into the client's own perceptions of problems and treatment efficacy in addition to more objective sources of data.

Adolescent↗

Variations in adrenocortical responsiveness during severe bacterial infections. Unrecognized adrenocortical insufficiency in severe bacterial infections.

Plasma cortisol levels and their response to .25 mg synthetic A.C.T.H. (Cortrosyn) were studied in 26 septic patients. Four (15.4%) of these patients appeared to have greatly increased adrenocortical activity with plasma cortisol levels averaging 65.4 +/- 14.8 microgram/dl (normal = 8-18 microgram/dl. All four of these patients were agonal and died within five days. Seventeen (65.4%) of these 26 patients appeared to have an appropriate adrenocortical response to severe infection in that their plasma cortisol levels increased (averaging 19.2 +/- 6.0 microngram/dl) following synthetic A.C.T.H. The remaining five patients, who constituted 19.2% of the 26 patients studied, appeared to have some impairment of adrenocortical function. In spite of severe bacterial infections and no history to support Addison's disease, their plasma cortisol levels (averaging 13.8 +/- 3.3 microgram/dl) were not increased above normal and their response to Cortrosyn was much less than would be expected; the increase in plasma cortisol levels in these patients following the synthetic A.C.T.H. averaged 1.1 +/- 3.6 microgram/dl. It is reemphasized that patients with severe sepsis who are not responding adequately to standard therapy should be suspected of having adrenocortical insufficiency and treated accordingly.

Adrenal Cortex↗

Detrimental effects of high-dose methylprednisolone sodium succinate on serum concentrations of hepatic and renal function indicators in severe sepsis and septic shock. The Methylprednisolone Severe Sepsis Study Group.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of high-dose methylprednisolone sodium succinate on biochemical markers of hepatic and renal function in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of serial serum chemistries in 382 patients who were entered prospectively into a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial of high-dose methylprednisolone or placebo in the sepsis syndrome. SETTING: The original study was conducted at 19 academic centers. PATIENTS: Adult patients in severe sepsis or septic shock who met the study entry criteria, which included a clinically defined source of infection and signs of systemic sepsis, were enrolled into the study. Three hundred eighty-two patients were evaluated. INTERVENTIONS: Patients received either methylprednisolone (30 mg/kg) or placebo by iv infusion every 6 hrs for four doses. Hemodynamic variables and serum concentrations of creatinine, urea nitrogen, bilirubin, and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were recorded on entering the study, at 12 and 24 hrs, and at 3, 7, and 14 days after the first infusion of methylprednisolone or placebo. These data were analyzed retrospectively. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Hemodynamic and biochemical data were analyzed to determine whether or not hepatic and renal function in the sepsis syndrome had been influenced by methylprednisolone treatment. RESULTS: Differences between methylprednisolone and placebo in hemodynamic variables, the occurrence rate of shock and recovery from shock, mortality rates and serum concentrations of creatinine and AST were not statistically significant. At 12 and 24 hrs, and at 3 and 7 days after the first drug infusion (of methylprednisolone or placebo), blood urea nitrogen was increased from baseline values in a significantly (p < .01) greater proportion of the methylprednisolone-treated patients compared with placebo-treated patients. The frequency of increased serum bilirubin concentrations was significantly (p < .01) greater among methylprednisolone patients vs. the placebo group at 12 and 24 hrs. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of acutely increased blood urea nitrogen and bilirubin concentrations in severe sepsis was increased significantly with high-dose methylprednisolone therapy. Similar frequencies of circulatory shock in the study groups excluded differences in global perfusion as a cause of this phenomenon. Possible adverse effects of pharmacologic concentrations of methylprednisolone in critically ill patients should be considered in planning treatment.

Aspartate Aminotransferases↗