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Stroke patient evaluation in the emergency department before pharmacologic therapy.

The standard of care for acute thromboembolic stroke is changing rapidly with the advent of new pharmacologic therapies. The deterioration of focal cerebral ischemia to infarction can be lessened with timely restoration of cerebral blood flow. As pharmacologic therapy of acute stroke evolves, emergency physicians will increasingly facilitate its implementation. The purpose of this study was to elucidate those factors significantly affecting the acute stroke patient's emergency department (ED) evaluation time. The pretreatment ED evaluations of 20 patients entered in an ongoing trial of a fibrinolytic agent (ancrod) for acute ischemic stroke were reviewed. Pretreatment screening factors included the assessment of hematologic status, concurrent illness, and potential neoplastic disease or cerebral hemorrhage as the etiology for the neurological deficit. The following factors had a statistically significant effect on pretreatment evaluation time (range, 2.6 to 11.4 hours) by multiple linear regression analysis: time from arrival until bleeding time completed (P less than .005), time from arrangement of computed head tomography until its completion (P less than .05), chosen site of treatment (ED v neurological step-down unit; P less than .005), order of patient entry (P less than .01), and time from arrival until completion of fibrinogen level assay (P less than .05). These results emphasize the need to coordinate and streamline the clinical evaluation process. The use of the ED as the site of treatment, abbreviating the time until pharmacologic therapy, has not been previously documented. Expedient completion of an evaluation compatible with safe pharmacologic therapy of acute ischemic stroke will dictate the time of definitive therapy. These results should assist other institutions considering rapid pharmacologic therapy for acute ischemic stroke.

Ancrod↗

A single institution experience with concurrent capecitabine and radiation therapy in weak and/or elderly patients with urothelial cancer.

PURPOSE: To describe a single institution experience in delivering concurrent capecitabine and radiation in elderly patients with urothelial cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The records of patients with urothelial carcinoma treated with capecitabine and radiation at Wayne State University were reviewed. Capecitabine was administered at a median dose of 1600 mg/m2/day (range, 1200-1800 mg/m2). Concurrent radiation therapy (RT) of 40-45 Gy was delivered to a small pelvic field with a four-field technique, with additional boost to tumor area (total, 54-68.4 Gy). RESULTS: Fourteen patients who were not candidates for cystectomy or cisplatin-based therapy were treated with capecitabine and concurrent radiation therapy. Median age was 80 years (range, 46-88 years). Five patients had a performance status of 3. Nine patients had localized disease, and 5 patients had advanced disease. The most common overall toxicities were fatigue (43%), diarrhea (Grade 2, 14% and Grade 3, 29%), and dehydration (43%), with no Grade 4 or 5 toxicities. Of 14 patients, 3 (20%) required hospitalization for management of toxicities. Seven patients required dose modification, and the therapy was relatively well tolerated. Clinical complete response was seen in 11 of 13 evaluable patients (77%). At a median follow-up of 10.5 months, only 3 of 11 responders had relapsed. CONCLUSION: Concurrent capecitabine and radiation therapy is well-tolerated and demonstrates promising efficacy in urothelial carcinoma, thus offering a tolerable therapeutic option in elderly patients or those with impaired performance status.

Aged↗

Vibrio infection associated with finning injury of the hand.

BACKGROUND: Penetrating injury by fish fins is common and often overlooked. Vibrio spp. are known worldwide for their virulence, quickly causing soft-tissue infection and lethal septicaemia. Vibrio infection following finning injury is rare, but can result in devastating complications in susceptible individuals. AIM: To elucidate the clinical significance of such injury. METHOD: Between July 2003 and September 2005, nine cases of Vibrio infection caused by finning injury to the hand were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical data, including skin presentations, treatment course and outcomes, were collected and reviewed. RESULTS: In our group of nine patients, seven had concurrent hepatoma, diabetes mellitus, cirrhosis, chronic renal insufficiency or the effects of long-term steroid use; three had wound infections manifested by cellulitis or tenosynovitis and six had life-threatening necrotising soft-tissue infections. Vibrio spp. were identified from the wound (n=4), blood (n=1), and both (n=4). Symptoms appeared within a few hours to 3 days after injury, with 50% of patients developing symptoms within 24h; three patients were hypotensive upon admission; one patient received antibiotic therapy only and eight required emergency fasciotomy. All patients survived and none required amputation. The mean hospital stay was 23.2 days. CONCLUSIONS: Vibrio infections after finning injury can produce bacteraemic necrotising soft tissue-infections, especially in individuals with a systemic illness. Health education should include a recommendation to wear protective gloves while handling fish. Early antibiotic and surgical treatment can avoid potentially life-threatening complications.

Adult↗

Urinary dipstick protein: a poor predictor of absent or severe proteinuria.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to compare urinary protein dipstick values with standard 24-hour urinary protein excretion in women with hypertension in pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: Urinary protein dipstick determinations and concurrent 24-hour urinary protein excretion measurements were compared by review of 300 urine samples obtained from women with hypertension in pregnancy. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-three samples had negative to trace protein on dipstick on two occasions at least 6 hours apart. Eight-one (66%) of these patients had significant proteinuria (> or = 300 mg per 24 hours). Seventy-six samples revealed 3+ to 4+ protein on dipstick in at least two samples. Of these, 27 (36%) had heavy proteinuria (> or = 5 gm per 24 hours), and 42 (55%) had nephrotic range proteinuria of > or = 3.5 gm per 24 hours. One hundred one patients had urine dipstick values of 1+ to 2+, of whom 89 (88%) had significant proteinuria. CONCLUSION: Urinary protein dipstick values > or = 1+ have a positive predictive value of 92% (162/177) for predicting > or = 300 mg per 24 hours. In contrast, a dipstick of negative to trace should not be used to rule out significant proteinuria because its negative predictive value is only 34% (42/123) in hypertensive patients. Moreover, urine dipstick values of 3+ to 4+ should not be used to diagnose severe preeclampsia because their positive predictive value is only 36% (27/76).

Adult↗

Is the acquisition of a separate view of the sacroiliac joints in the prone position justified in patients with back pain?

One hundred consecutive patients in whom radiographs of the sacroiliac joints had been requested concurrently with radiographs of the lumbar spine and/or pelvis were reviewed to ascertain the diagnostic value of the sacroiliac radiograph. In 92 patients, radiographs of the lumbar spine or pelvis provided complete visualization of the sacroiliac joints, 81 of which were judged normal, six abnormal, and five equivocal. Review of the specific sacroiliac radiographs confirmed the six abnormal cases, and resulted in one equivocal case being judged abnormal. In no case did the sacroiliac joint radiograph result in a normal diagnosis being changed to abnormal. Where the sacroiliac joints appear normal on a lumbar spine or pelvic radiograph, there is no diagnostic benefit, and a considerable radiation penalty, from the performance of additional radiographs specific to those joints.

Adolescent↗

Psychosocial vulnerability, physical symptoms and physical impairment after lung and heart-lung transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Many lung and heart-lung transplant recipients experience distressing physical symptoms and elevated physical impairment levels. Although post-transplant complications and secondary illnesses may largely account for these health limitations, patients' psychosocial well-being may influence them as well. We examined the contribution of psychosocial variables to patients' experience of physical symptoms and physical impairment. METHODS: The study consisted of a cross-sectional sample of 50 patients (36 lung, 14 heart-lung) at between 2 and 17 months post-transplant. They were interviewed to assess physical symptoms, current physical impairment and psychosocial well-being in the areas of mental health, sense of mastery and coping. Medical record reviews established the presence of medical complications and secondary illnesses concurrent with the interviews. Descriptive analyses examined the range of symptoms and levels of physical impairment experienced. Bivariate analyses and multivariate linear regression examined relationships between key variables. RESULTS: Average number of physical symptoms and level of physical impairment met or exceeded levels reported in other transplant samples. Elevated depressive and anxiety symptoms, a low sense of mastery, and the presence of concurrent medical complications were each associated with increased number of physical symptoms and physical impairment level. When the impact of concurrent medical complications was controlled, recipients with elevated psychologic distress remained significantly more likely to report more physical symptoms and higher physical impairment levels. CONCLUSIONS: Patients' physical health status may be influenced by many factors. To the extent that psychologic distress increases the likelihood of perceived physical limitations, timely identification and treatment of distress may help to maximize quality of life after lung and heart-lung transplantation.

Adult↗

Combined valproate or carbamazepine and electroconvulsive therapy.

This pharmacoepidemiological study was undertaken to determine if the combination of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and the anticonvulsants valproate (VPA) or carbamazepine (CBZ) is safe and efficacious. The charts of seven patients receiving ECT and VPA or CBZ (ECT-anticonvulsant group) concurrently between May 8, 1989, and May 9, 1993, were reviewed to determine the indication for each treatment, the number and type of ECT treatments, the seizure duration, adverse events, and the efficacy of the combination. The ECT-anticonvulsant group was compared to patients not treated with anticonvulsants (ECT-alone group) to determine if there were any differences in the two groups. Three patients had a marked clinical improvement, two a moderate response, one a minimal response, and one no response. The ECT-AC group, compared to the control group, had a shorter duration of seizures when unilateral treatments were used. However, there were no differences in the other variables compared. One patient had moderate confusion, and the other mild confusion and hypomania. This small case series suggests that the combination of ECT and anticonvulsants is safe and may be considered in patients for whom prophylaxis with anticonvulsant drugs is planned. Further controlled studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Adult↗

The risk of alloimmunization to c (Rh4) in R1R1 patients who present with anti-E.

BACKGROUND: Because the Rh antigens E (Rh3) and c (Rh4) are relatively immunogenic, it has been suggested that R1R1 (E-, c-) patients who present with anti-E alone receive prophylactic c- (Rh: -4) red cell transfusions. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: To determine the utility of this approach, the transfusion records of 100 consecutive R1R1 patients with anti-E identified over a 6-year period were reviewed. RESULTS: Thirty-two (32%) had anti-c concurrent with anti-E. Twenty-seven of the 68 patients who presented with anti-E alone received random (i.e., not typed for c [Rh4]) red cell transfusions. Five (18.5%) of the 27 subsequently developed anti-c 13 to 193 days (mean, 50) after transfusion of 2 to 14 (mean, 8) red cell units. None of the five had clinical evidence of hemolysis that could be attributed to a delayed hemolytic transfusion reaction. Twenty-two (81.5%) of the 27 failed to develop anti-c even after transfusion of 1 to 41 (mean, 9; median, 7) red cell units. CONCLUSION: The overall rate of immunization to c (Rh4) antigen in R1R1 patients with anti-E was 37 percent. Production of anti-c following transfusion to R1R1 patients with anti-E occurred in 18.5 percent of the cases in this series, which could have been avoided by the prophylactic use of R1R1 (E-, c-) blood for transfusion. The prophylactic use of c- (Rh: -4) blood in this patient population may be justified by the high immunization rate and the potential risk of delayed hemolytic transfusion reaction.

Adult↗

Results of medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction in the treatment of patellar dislocation.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to describe the technique of medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction using autogenous hamstrings or autogenous fascia lata and report the results at a minimum 2-year follow-up. Type of Study: This study represents a case series. Patients with patellofemoral instability following patellar dislocation were restrospectively reviewed after being treated with medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction. No concurrent control group was used. METHODS: Nineteen consecutive patients underwent medial patellofemoral repair or reconstruction in the treatment of patellar instability after patellar dislocation. The reconstructions were performed using autogenous gracilis and/or semitendinosus tendons or a strip of autogenous fascia lata. Fifteen patients were available for interview, examination, and radiographic evaluation, with a mean follow-up of 31.5 months. RESULTS: Subjectively, 10 knees had excellent results, 3 knees obtained good results, 1 knee had a fair result, and 1 knee had a poor result, for a total of 93% improvement overall. Using Fulkerson's functional knee score, 93% had good or excellent results. The average postoperative result on Kujala's score for anterior knee symptoms was 88 (range, 80-100). The Tegner activity level averaged 6.8 preinjury and 6.7 postoperatively. Radiographic evaluation showed significant improvements in the congruence angle by an average of 20 degrees (P =.0006), and in the lateral patellofemoral angle by an average of 10 degrees (P =.0003). CONCLUSIONS: Surgical reconstruction or repair of the medial patellofemoral ligament provides favorable results for the treatment of recurrent patellofemoral dislocations with regard to radiographic findings, patient satisfaction, and functional outcome.

Journal Article↗

Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.

A 51-year woman with a seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) developed antiLa/SSB antibodies and erythematosquamous lesions on her upper back. The histological diagnosis was subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE) (papulosquamous form). There was no indication or a drug-induced SCLE. The concurrence of RA and SCLE seems to be rare. We review the clinical, serologic and immunogenetic features in these patients with coexistent RA and SCLE.

Antibody Formation↗

Femur fracture immobilization with traction splints in multisystem trauma patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the frequency of concomitant injuries that can complicate and/or contraindicate the use of traction splints (TSs) for femur fracture immobilization (FFI) in a population of multisystem trauma patients. METHODS: This was a descriptive, prospective study utilizing a data collection tool to identify patients with multisystem trauma for which a TS was in place for FFI. Patient care records and follow-up diagnoses were reviewed to identify patients with positive femur fracture(s) who concurrently had injuries that can complicate and/or contraindicate TS use. Injuries considered to complicate or contraindicate traction splint use include 1) pelvic injury, 2) patellar fracture or ligamentous knee injury, and 3) tibia/fibula fracture. RESULTS: Forty patients were identified as having a TS in place with an underlying diagnosis of multisystem trauma. All 40 had follow-up diagnosis information available, 39 of which were positive for femur fracture on the side of the extremity on which the splint was placed, or bilaterally. The incidence of complicating and/or contraindicating injuries was 38%. CONCLUSION: Traction splints are commonly used in the prehospital and transport setting for immobilization of femur fractures. There are limited data available on the benefit of traction splint use for femur fracture in the prehospital or transport environment. This study identified that concomitant injuries that complicate and/or contraindicate traction splint use are common.

Adolescent↗

An evaluation of provider-related and disease-related morbidity in a level I university trauma service: directions for quality improvement.

As the number of preventable trauma-related deaths plateaus as a result of trauma system development, new directions for quality improvement in trauma care must come from analyzing morbidity with standardized methods to establish thresholds for provider-related and disease-specific complications. To establish such thresholds and determine priorities for improvements in quality all trauma patients who died, who were admitted to the ICU or OR, who were hospitalized for more than 3 days, or who were interfacility transfers to an academic trauma service, were concurrently evaluated for 1 year. All complication events were defined, reviewed, tabulated, and classified using 135 categories of complications. These categories were subdivided into provider-specific and disease-specific complications. Provider-related complications were classified as justified or unjustified to allow identification of events with a potential for improvement. A total of 1108 patients were admitted (mean ISS, 17); there were 97 deaths. Three potentially preventable deaths were identified, 857 complication events were identified, and 285 provider-related complications were responsible for errors with potential for improvement in 59 events (21%). Disease-specific morbidity was primarily related to infection; pneumonia accounted for 36% of all infectious complications and systemic infection for only 8.6% of infectious complications. Organ failure and other major systemic complications occurred in 2%-8% of patients. This type of analysis forms the basis on which to determine thresholds of provider-specific and disease-specific morbidity in a trauma hospital and serves as a guide to direct efforts toward continuous quality improvement.

Adult↗

Laparoscopic assisted reconstructive surgery: a 7-year experience.

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic assisted surgery results in an improved cosmetic appearance by allowing complex reconstruction without a midline upper abdominal incision. We report technique and outcomes in patients undergoing laparoscopic assisted reconstruction during a 7-year period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 31 consecutive patients with a mean age of 14 years (range 1 to 36) underwent laparoscopic assisted reconstructive surgery through a lower midline or Pfannenstiel incision by a single surgeon (SGD) between June 1995 and July 2002. Diagnoses included myelomeningocele (17), sacral agenesis (2), posterior urethral valves (2), classic bladder exstrophy (5), complicated ectopic ureter with ureterocele (1) and quadriplegia due to trauma (4). A total of 29 patients had 39 continent stomas (antegrade continence enema [ACE] or Mitrofanoff) created as part of the reconstruction. One case was converted to an open procedure due to dense adhesions and was excluded from the study. Continent stoma construction included Mitrofanoff stomas created from appendix (17), ileum (3), sigmoid (5) and bladder (1), and ACE stomas from appendix (12) and ileum (1). Ten patients underwent concurrent Mitrofanoff and ACE procedures. Laparoscopy was used for lysis of adhesions, mobilization of colon and/or harvesting the appendix, nephrectomy in preparation for ureteral augmentation, division of pedicle for gastrocystoplasty takedown and harvesting of omentum for interposition. Bladder augmentation (15), bladder neck reconstruction (7), fascial sling (3), ureteral reimplants (1), revision of epispadias (2) and/or redo orchiopexy (1) were concurrently performed in 19 patients. Data were obtained through chart review and personal communication. RESULTS: Median hospital stay was 6 days (range 2 to 20). Mean followup was 32 months (range 3 to 57). Revisions were required in 3 stomas (7.7%) at a mean of 19 months (range 8 to 36) postoperatively. Minor procedures were required in 10 stomas (25.6%) consisting of indwelling catheterization, dilation, collagen injection and cystoscopy. Of the 39 stomas 37 (94.9%) were continent of urine and/or stool, and easily catheterizable at last followup. Adequate capacity and compliance were maintained in all augmented bladders. No patient experienced delayed small bowel obstruction or other sequela of abdominal adhesions. CONCLUSIONS: At almost 3 years of mean followup laparoscopic assisted reconstructive surgery offers functional outcomes at least equivalent to conventional open surgery in complicated cases with excellent cosmesis. Laparoscopic assisted surgery remains our approach of choice for children and adults who require lower urinary tract reconstruction with a continent catheterizable stoma.

Adolescent↗

Pharmacokinetic drug interactions between opioid agonist therapy and antiretroviral medications: implications and management for clinical practice.

BACKGROUND: Opioid dependence and HIV/AIDS are 2 of the most serious yet treatable diseases worldwide. Global access to opioid agonist therapy and HIV treatment is expanding but when concurrently used, problematic pharmacokinetic drug interactions can occur. METHODS: We reviewed English, Spanish, French, and Italian language articles from 1966 to 2005 in Medline using the following keywords: HIV, AIDS, HIV therapy, antiretroviral therapy, HAART, drug interactions, methadone, and buprenorphine. Additionally, we reviewed abstracts from national and international meetings and conference proceedings. Selected references from these articles were reviewed as well. RESULTS: Clinical case series and carefully controlled pharmacokinetic interaction studies have been conducted between methadone and most approved antiretroviral therapies. Important pharmacokinetic drug interactions have been demonstrated within each class of agents, affecting either methadone or antiretroviral agents. Few studies, however, have been conducted with buprenorphine. The metabolism of both therapies, description of the known interactions, and clinical implications and management of these interactions are reviewed. CONCLUSIONS: Certain interactions between methadone and antiretroviral medications are known and may have important clinical consequences. To optimize care, clinicians must be alert to these interactions and have a basic knowledge regarding their management.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Effective treatment of biliary cystadenoma.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate experience over 15 years with treatment of this lesion. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Biliary cystadenoma, a benign hepatic tumor arising from Von Meyenberg complexes, usually present as septated intrahepatic cystic lesions. METHODS: Data were collected concurrently and retrospectively on patients identified from hospital medical records reviewed for pertinent International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification and CPT codes, pathology logs, and from operative case logs. Pathology specimens were rereviewed to confirm the diagnosis of biliary cystadenoma or biliary cystadenocarcinoma by 2 GI pathologists. RESULTS: From October 1989 to April 2004 at our institution, 19 (18F:1M) patients had pathologically confirmed biliary cystadenomas, including one with a biliary cystadenocarcinoma. The mean age was 48 +/- 15 years at initial evaluation. Complaints included abdominal pain in 74%, abdominal distension in 26%, and nausea/vomiting in 11%. Only 1 patient presented with an incidental finding. Symptoms had been present for 3 +/- 5 years, with 1 to 4 different surgeons and many other physicians involved in the diagnosis or treatment prior to definitive ablation. Eight patients had undergone 20 previous treatments, including multiple percutaneous aspirations in 4 and 11 operative procedures. CT or US was diagnostic in 95%, with internal septations present in the hepatic cysts. Definitive operative intervention consisted of hepatic resection in 12 patients, enucleation in 6 patients, and fenestration and complete fulguration in 1 patient. There were no perioperative deaths. No recurrences were observed after definitive therapy, with follow-up of 4 +/- 4 years. CONCLUSIONS: Biliary cystadenoma must be recognized and treated differently than most hepatic cysts. There remains a need for education about the imaging findings for biliary cystadenoma to reduce the demonstrated delay in appropriate treatment. Traditional treatment of simple cysts such as aspiration, drainage, and marsupialization results in near universal recurrence and occasional malignant degeneration. This experience demonstrates effective options include total ablation by standard hepatic resection and cyst enucleation.

Adult↗

Three days of incubation may be sufficient for routine blood cultures with BacT/Alert FAN blood culture bottles.

BacT/Alert FAN blood culture bottles have been shown to enhance the recovery of bacteria and yeast from blood compared with standard BacT/Alert bottles. It is well established that standard BacT/Alert blood culture bottles require no more than 5 days of incubation for the detection of routine bacteria and yeast. It is less clear, however, whether FAN bottles also routinely require 5 days of incubation. To address this question, we recently reviewed the results of 17,887 blood culture sets collected in FAN blood culture bottles at Geisinger Medical Center. Of these cultures, 1,780 were positive for bacteria or yeast, yielding a total of 1,242 clinically significant isolates. The numbers of isolates recovered on days 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 were as follows: (values in parentheses are percentages of total significant isolates): 877 (71%), 269 (22%), 65 (5%), 18 (1%) and, 13 (1%), respectively. In total, 97.5% of all clinically significant isolates were detected in the first 3 days of incubation. Of the 31 significant isolates detected on day 4 or 5 of incubation, 17 were detected in concurrent blood cultures within the first 3 days of incubation. Chart reviews were conducted for the 13 patients with the remaining 14 isolates detected on day 4 or 5 to determine whether therapy was changed due to this blood culture result. Therapy was changed for only 1 patient. These results suggest that it may not be necessary to routinely incubate FAN blood culture bottles for more than 3 days.

Aerobiosis↗

The molecular basis of skeletal muscle atrophy.

Skeletal muscle atrophy attributable to muscular inactivity has significant adverse functional consequences. While the initiating physiological event leading to atrophy seems to be the loss of muscle tension and a good deal of the physiology of muscle atrophy has been characterized, little is known about the triggers or the molecular signaling events underlying this process. Decreases in protein synthesis and increases in protein degradation both have been shown to contribute to muscle protein loss due to disuse, and recent work has delineated elements of both synthetic and proteolytic processes underlying muscle atrophy. It is also becoming evident that interactions among known proteolytic pathways (ubiquitin-proteasome, lysosomal, and calpain) are involved in muscle proteolysis during atrophy. Factors such as TNF-alpha, glucocorticoids, myostatin, and reactive oxygen species can induce muscle protein loss under specified conditions. Also, it is now apparent that the transcription factor NF-kappaB is a key intracellular signal transducer in disuse atrophy. Transcriptional profiles of atrophying muscle show both up- and downregulation of various genes over time, thus providing further evidence that there are multiple concurrent processes involved in muscle atrophy. The purpose of this review is to synthesize our current understanding of the molecular regulation of muscle atrophy. We also discuss how ongoing work should uncover more about the molecular underpinnings of muscle wasting, particularly that due to disuse.

Gene Expression↗