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PubMed2005

Prevalence and prognostic factors of disability after childhood injury.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and the prognostic factors of disabilities after minor and major childhood injuries and to analyze which sociodemographic and injury-related factors are predictive for suboptimal functioning in the long term. METHOD: We conducted a patient follow-up study in a stratified sample of 1221 injured children who were aged 5 to 14 years and had visited an emergency department in The Netherlands. Our study sample was stratified so that severe, less common injuries were overrepresented. Postal questionnaires were sent 2.5, 5, and 9 months after the injury. We gathered injury and external cause data, sociodemographic information, and data on functional outcome with a generic health status measure EuroQol (EQ-5D) with an additional cognitive dimension. A nonresponse analysis was performed by multivariate logistic regression, and the data were adjusted for nonresponse and the sample stratification. We performed bootstrap analysis to estimate the prevalence of disability in terms of the EQ-5D summary score and the occurrence of limitations in separate health domains: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, anxiety/depression, and cognition. Respondents also rated their own health state on a visual analog scale, between 0 (worst imaginable health state) and 100 (best imaginable health state). We analyzed the relationship between functional outcome and sociodemographic (age and gender) and injury-related determinants (type of injury, external cause, multiple injury, admission to hospital, and length of stay) by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Response rates with respect to the original sample were 43%, 31%, and 30%, respectively. A total of 37% of the children were admitted to the hospital. The mean age of the children was 9.6 years. In two thirds (65%) of the cases, the injury was attributed to a home and/or leisure injury. The health status of injured children improved from 0.92 (EQ-5D summary score) at 2.5 months to 0.96 at 5 months and 0.98 at 9 months. Of all injured children, 26% had at least 1 functional limitation after 2.5 months, 18% after 5 months, and 8% still experienced functional limitations after 9 months. After 2.5 months, lower extremity fractures and other injuries (eg, spinal cord injury, injury of the nerves) demonstrated the worst functional outcome. Independent of the type of injury, our sample of injured children generally showed good recovery between 2.5 and 9 months. The highest prevalence of dysfunction after 9 months existed for pain/discomfort (7%) and usual activities (5%). Hospital admission (odds ratio: 3.6-5.8) and female gender (odds ratio: 3.0) were predictive for long-term disability. Girls reported more problems for all health domains (except self-care) compared with boys after 9 months, which was also confirmed by the visual analog scale score for self-related health (89 for girls vs 95 for boys). Almost one fifth of injured children with a hospital stay of >3 days still had pain and problems with usual activities 9 months after the injury. Three quarters of all residual problems were caused by nonhospitalized injuries. CONCLUSION: Most children show quick and full recovery after injury, but a small subgroup of patients (8%) have residual disabilities after 9 months. Girls have a 3-fold risk compared with boys for long-term disability after childhood injury. Prognosis in the long-term is also negatively influenced by hospitalization, but in absolute terms, residual disabilities are frequently caused by injuries that are treated fully in the emergency department. The group of injured children with persistent health problems as identified in this study indicates the importance of health monitoring over a longer period in trauma care, whereas trauma care should be targeted at early identification and management of the particular needs of these patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1966

[Salmonellosis in children: study of 95 cases in the Hospital Ste-Justine, Montreal, in 1963-1964].

A retrospective study was done in children in whom salmonellosis was confirmed by laboratory findings with the aim of reviewing etiology, epidemiology, clinical manifestations and therapy. The 15 serotypes most frequently isolated from stool, and in exceptional cases from urine, are discussed. If patients with typhoid fever are excluded, only one patient (who subsequently died) had a blood culture positive for Salmonella, specifically S. enteritidis.No seasonal or other peaks of incidence were noted. Age appeared to be important; of 81 patients with gastroenteritis, 30 were less than 6 months old.Two children in the older age group developed complications; one with appendicitis required surgery.Ten strains of Salmonella out of 23 tested by the disc method showed in vitro resistance to ampicillin on primary isolation.Acquired in vitro resistance to one or more antibiotics appeared to develop with six Salmonella strains reisolated from patients after or during antibiotic treatment.In several children the stool cultures remained positive after clinical signs had disappeared. These findings strongly suggest that, even though antibiotic therapy may improve the symptoms of Salmonella infection, it does not decrease the number of carriers during the convalescent period.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Fast-track surgery: the Heidelberg experience.

Fast-track surgery is an interdisciplinary multimodal concept of minimally invasive surgery or new incision lines and "cutting old plaits" (e.g., the use of drains or tubes). It uses modern intraoperative anesthesia (e.g., fluid restriction) and analgesia, including new drugs and novel ways of administration (e.g., thoracic epidural analgesia) for postoperative pain relief, in combination with the immediate mobilization of the patient and early oral nutrition after the operation. This approach requires a cooperating team of motivated nurses, physiotherapists, anesthesiologists, and surgeons, in addition to continuous improvement of the processes involved. Moreover, extended patient education and information about the procedures and the expected time course are of the highest importance, as the active role of the patient is to be emphasized. This chapter describes the development and implementation of fast-track surgery in colorectal diseases at the Department of Surgery of the University Hospital of Heidelberg, Germany. Preliminary results of fast-track surgery suggest a significant and clear overall benefit for the patient. A shorter hospital stay and reduced systemic morbidity in addition to no increase in postoperative complications on an out-patient basis were found. However, to exclude a "bloody discharge" of the patients, thorough follow-up and quality control are mandatory. Although in the initial phase increased personnel care is necessary, in the new German reimbursement system with G-DRGs (German diagnosis-related groups) fast-track surgery seems to save resources in the long term.

Clinical Protocols↗
PubMed2005

Electrocardiographic changes and myocarditis in trichinellosis: a retrospective study of 154 patients.

The frequencies of electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities and myocarditis were determined, retrospectively, among 154 cases of trichinellosis [101 males and 53 females, with a mean (S.D.) age of 35.60 (14.64) years] who were hospitalized at the University Hospital for Infectious Diseases in Zagreb, Croatia, over a 5-year period. Eighty-seven (56%) of the patients, most of them in the invasive phase of infection with Trichinella spiralis, were found to have abnormalities when examined by 12-lead, resting electrocardiography. The ECG disorder most frequently observed was a non-specific ventricular repolarization disturbance (with ST-T wave changes), followed by bundle-branch conduction disturbances, and sinus tachycardia. The other ECG disorders recorded, during various phases of the infection, were sinus bradycardia, right bundle-branch block, supraventricular and ventricular extrasystoles, low-voltage QRS complexes in standard limb leads, first-degree atrio-ventricular block, and atrial fibrillation. Eighteen (12%) of the patients were identified as cases of myocarditis (13 in the invasive phase and five in the convalescent) and two (1.3%) as cases of myopericarditis. One patient developed acute myocardial infarction 28 days after the onset of disease and died soon thereafter; an autopsy revealed multiple necroses and fibroses of the myocardium and thrombus of a coronary artery. Although ECG abnormalities appear to be a common feature of trichinellosis, especially during the invasive phase of the disease, they are rarely associated with a poor prognosis. A transient, non-specific, ventricular-repolarization disturbance is the abnormality most commonly observed.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Surgeon-led initiatives cut costs and enhance the quality of endoscopic and laparoscopic procedures.

BACKGROUND: Public perception depicts surgical cost control and quality of care as polar opposites. We describe a program led by practicing surgeons that demonstrates that quality can be maintained, and often improved, while substantial cost reductions are realized. METHODS: A set of evidence-based protocols was developed, revised, and followed for 42 procedures in general, otolaryngologic, urologic, and orthopedic surgery. Each protocol consists of surgeon-initiated guidelines on operative indications, preoperative testing, preadmission planning, length of stay, resource utilization, convalescence, and pharmacy services. Information was collected for 24 months from July 1998 to July 2000 by 62 surgeons in Kentucky and Indiana. Data were obtained for 4302 cases, among them colonoscopy (1145), esophagogastroduodenoscopy (714), laparoscopic cholecystectomy (418), endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (235), and laparoscopic fundoplication (87). RESULTS: Specific cost reductions occurred in laparoscopic cholecystectomy by limiting the administration of perioperative antibiotics. Sixty-seven percent of patients did not receive antibiotics. Outpatient cholecystectomy was the norm (60%), due primarily to preadmission planning through discussion with the patients and their family. Interestingly, when surgeons were educated on the costs of certain instruments and medications, their practices changed. The avoidance of a particular postoperative antiemetic, which was more than tenfold more expensive than other choices, was rapidly adopted by all surgeons when the costs were discovered. One participating teaching hospital used its own financial data and predicted that if all surgeons at their facility followed the protocols and had similar results, a savings of dollar 1.1 million per quarter would be obtained.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2006

Elective laparoscopically assisted sigmoidectomy for the sigmoid volvulus.

BACKGROUND: The laparoscopic approach for the treatment of sigmoid volvulus has been a rare surgical indication. This phase 2 study investigated the feasibility and surgical outcomes of elective laparoscopic surgery for sigmoid volvulus. METHODS: Patients with sigmoid volvulus were first offered colonoscopic decompression for their acute colonic obstruction. If the colonic decompression was successful, complete bowel preparation was performed, followed by elective laparoscopically assisted sigmoidectomy. The details of the laparoscopic procedures are shown in the video. Briefly, the redundant sigmoid colon is totally mobilized by a laparoscopic medial-to-lateral dissection sequence, after which it is exteriorized, transected, and reconstructed by end-to-end anastomosis. In the authors' experience, the medial-to-lateral approach is highly efficient for the laparoscopic mobilization of the redundant sigmoid colon. We believe that the longer the lateral abdominal wall attachment of the sigmoid colon is preserved, the better the exposure and the easier the dissection. If the risk of anastomotic leakage is considered high in a specific case, protective ileostomy is selectively preformed. Before entering the current study, the patients were well informed about the advantages and disadvantages of laparoscopic surgery. The enrollment of patients was selective according to the appropriate eligibility criteria. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the National Taiwan University Hospital. The patients' clinicopathologic data and surgical outcomes were prospectively evaluated. RESULTS: Between August 2001 and April, 2005, a total of 14 patients (10 men and 4 women) with sigmoid volvulus were treated with the described procedure. The age distribution of the patients was 68.4 +/- 12.2 years. The attack of sigmoid volvulus was the first episode for eight patients, the second episode for 4 patients, and the third episode (or more) for two patients. The body mass index (BMI) of the patients was 26.8 +/- 4.4 kg/m(2). The physical status (classification of American Society of Anesthesiology [ASA]) was 1 for five patients, 2 for eight patients, and 3 for 1 patient. During the laparoscopy, all the patients presented with the pathognomonic findings of sigmoid volvulus including redundant sigmoid colon, narrow sigmoid mesenteric pedicle, and mesosigmoiditis with mesenteric fibrosis and scarring, as shown in the video. The length of the resected colon was 32 +/- 6 cm. The operation time was 194.6 +/- 32.4 min, and the blood loss was 44.0 +/- 12.4 ml. The abdominal wound consisted of four 5 to 12 mm working ports and a 5 cm major wound for exteriorization of the sigmoid colon. Some surgeons have shown that a sigmoid volvulus can be resected through a 5-cm left lower quadrant incision with very little mobilization of the colon because of its redundancy. In this context, the laparoscopic approach competed with the minilaparotomy method in terms of adequate sigmoid resection, lysis of mesosigmoid adhesion, and tension-free colorectal anastomosis. Protective ileostomy was performed for the only patient with a physical status of ASA 3. There was no mortality in this case series. However, pneumonia developed postoperatively in one patient, acute myocardial infarction in one patient, and wound infection in two patients. Excluding the two patients who experienced postoperative pneumonia and acute myocardial infarction, the duration of the postoperative ileus was 48 +/- 12 h, the postoperative hospitalization was 7 +/- 1 days, and the degree of postoperative pain was 3.5 +/- 0.5 according to the visual analog scale. The return to partial activity required 18 +/- 2.5 days, and the return to full activity required 28.4 +/- 5.6 days. As compared with the overall costs for a conventional sigmoid colectomy, which are completely covered by the National Bureau of Health Insurance of Taiwan, the expenses for the patients undergoing laparoscopic procedures were significantly higher by approximately 24,000.0 NT dollars +/- 2,635.0 (1 U.S. dollar = 32 NT dollars). These higher expenses must be borne by the patients themselves. CONCLUSION: Considering that patients with sigmoid volvulus often are elderly and chronically ill, laparoscopic elective surgery after a successful colonoscopic decompression may be a good choice for a selected group of patients in terms of minimized surgical complications and quick convalescence.

Aged↗
PubMed1975

Acute respiratory disease of university students with special reference to the etiologic role of Herpesvirus hominis.

Infections with Herpesvirus hominis type 1 were associated with 11.5% of acute respiratory illnesses of university students who were admitted to the student infirmary over a 6-year period. Over three-quarters of these infections were detected in students with pharyngitis or tonsillitis; 42% had ulcerated lesions on tonsils or posterior pharynx but only 11% had lesions in the anterior portion of the mouth or lips. Almost all of the H. hominis infections were accompanied by significant rises in neutralizing antibodies and few students had detectable antibodies in the initial serum collected during the acute phase of illness. Special studies revealed herpes-specific IgM antibodies in the early convalescent sera of some of these patients. The data demonstrate that 80% of the infections detected were primary infections with H. hominis. Only 30% of university students possessed neutralizing antibodies to H. hominis and about 10% of those without antibodies acquired antibodies each year. These data suggest that the majority of persons from middle income families reach young adulthood without acquiring infections of H. hominis and the spread of the virus requires close and intimate contact.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed1988

Home health care. What's happening and what to look for.

Home health care services have undergone tremendous growth in recent years thanks to increased need, Medicare reimbursement, improved technology, and preference for care at home rather than in the hospital. Criteria are listed for choosing the best agency for your patients' needs, in terms both of accreditation and certification factors and of specific services provided. Services may include home use of such sophisticated technologies as intravenous chemotherapy, total parenteral nutrition, and peritoneal dialysis; long-term assistance with daily needs for clinically stable patients; and home hospice care. Effectiveness and quality of care at home will be strengthened if you yourself participate in the operation of home health agencies at both advisory and policy-making levels.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1998

Usefulness of nested PCR and sequence analysis in a nosocomial outbreak of neonatal enterovirus infection.

BACKGROUND: Non-polio enterovirus infections are recognized in children during summer-fall seasons and they sometimes cause large outbreaks. We experienced a nosocomial infection in the neonatal nursery and echovirus type 7 was isolated from samples of four patients. OBJECTIVES: We diagnosed the horizontal infection of four neonates by reverse transcriptase-nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-nested PCR) and the nucleotide sequence. STUDY DESIGN: Total RNA was extracted from clinical isolates, serum samples and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). We amplified enterovirus genome in the 5'-noncoding region by nested PCR and determined the nucleotide sequences. RESULTS: Enterovirus genome was detected in all isolates, in the acute-phase sera in all four patients and in the CSF in one patient by the first PCR. By using nested PCR, the genome was detected from convalescent-phase sera in two patients. All enterovirus genome obtained from the nursery outbreak showed the same sequences with 100% homology. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated the clinical advantages of RT-nested PCR from serum samples and the analysis of nucleotide sequencing gave the supportive evidence of identification of transmission pathway.

5' Untranslated Regions↗
PubMed2004

Serum vitamin B12 and folic Acid levels in acute cerebral atherothrombotic infarction.

Hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for atherothrombotic cerebral stroke. Vitamin B12 and folic acid are important determinants of homocysteine metabolism. We aimed to evaluate the relationship, if present, between vitamin B12 and folic acid levels and acute cerebral stroke in this study. Blood aliquots drawn within 24 hours after the stroke from hospitalized patients (n=66) with the diagnosis of acute ischemic cerebrovascular episode and also blood samples from 38 healthy controls without any vascular risk factor were analyzed. With a competitive, chemoluminescence assay, serum levels of vitamin B12 and folic acid were measured in blood samples taken within 24 hours after the stroke. The differences and correlations were tested using frequency test, student-t test and multivariate analysis. Mean serum vitamin B12 levels were significantly lower in the patients than in the control subjects, 245.40 (S.D.: 72.9) and 343.2 (S.D.: 113.0) pg/ml respectively (p=0.0001). This difference was independent from other risk factors. Likewise, mean serum folic acid levels were lower in the patients than in the control subjects, 4.62 (S.D.: 1.94) and 5.97 (S.D.: 1.19) ng/ml, respectively (p=0.003). Mean serum levels of vitamin B12 and folate at the convalescence phase were 253.05 (S.D.: 68.78) pg/ml and 4.48 (S.D.: 2.08) ng/ml, respectively; the values obtained at the acute phase were not significantly different from the values obtained at the convalescence phase. We conclude that low vitamin B12 and folic acid concentrations are associated with an increased risk of stroke, and the relationship for vitamin B12 is independent from the other known modifiable stroke risk factors. For understanding the effects of B12 and folate in stroke patients, more detailed follow-up studies with long period are needed.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1992

[Human parvovirus-induced transient anemia and leukopenia after delivery].

A 30-year-old female at 27 weeks' gestation, was hospitalized on September 24 1990 because of the premature rupture of the amniotic sac. She underwent Caesarean section on the same day with 700 ml blood loss, but no blood transfusion was required. For several days after the operation, her hemoglobin level remained 7.8 g/dl and did not increase significantly in spite of parenteral iron therapy. On the 9th postoperative day, chills and pyrexia developed with leukopenia. Bone-marrow aspiration revealed severe erythroblastopenia with giant proerythroblasts, suggesting recent HPV infection, which was confirmed by the presence of anti-HPV IgM and HPV antigen by ELISA. The hemoglobin level gradually decreased to 6.0 g/dl by the 21st day, then began to increase rapidly. The serum of acute-phase containing HPV antigens inhibited BFU-E and CFU-E but not CFU-GM. The serum of convalescent-phase inhibited neither erythroid colony growth nor myeloid colony growth. These results indicate that the inhibitory effect of HPV in colony assay is highly specific for erythropoiesis and that HPV play a role in transient cessation of erythropoiesis. The reason, however, for leukopenia in HPV infection remained unclear. This case shows that HPV infection may induce severe hematological disorders even in normal person under erythropoietic stress.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

[The living kidney donor: laparoscopy versus open surgery].

INTRODUCTION: Living renal donors are an important source of transplanted kidneys due to the number of patients on waiting list is progressively increasing. On the other side, they allow the pre-emptive kidney transplantation. With the aim of reducing donor obstacles such as pain, hospital stay or cosmetic results and in creasing the number of living donors, in 1995 Ratner performed the first laparoscopic nephrectomy (LLDN). By now, LLDN is a routine procedure in more than 200 centres worldwide. METHODS: Literature databases are searched. We have reviewed the data from our experience after performing 50 laparoscopic nephrectomies. RESULTS: Preoperative living donor assessment and contraindications to LLDN do not differ from the open approach. Results are very influenced by the surgeon's situation in the learnig curve. Operating times use to be longer in laparoscopic procedures. The overall complication rate and mortality of LLDN are the same for both of the approaches. Conversion to open-donor nephrectomy has been reported in 0-13% of cases (8% in our data). Postoperative pain and donor estimated blood loss are lower for LLDN, as well as the convalescence period. To avoid the possible negative effects of the laparoscopic technique on kidney graft function a lot of method's variations have been proposed for gaining access and harvesting the kidney, including the hand-assistance techniques, with the aim of minimizing operative time, pneumoperitoneus negative effect on graft function and warm ischemia time (WIT). The higher WIT is not related to delayed graft function or acute rejections when it is less than ten minutes. Delayed graft function does not differ in both approaches and creatinine values from the first month until the third year after transplantation show no differences in randomized studies. CONCLUSIONS: The laparoscopic approach to harvest the allograft from the living donor is a save and effective technique and has the advantage of being less invasive and allowing the donor a shorter convalescence. It has no negative effects on allograft function in the short term follow-up. Further studies are required to evaluate long term donor complications and allograft function and survival.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1981

Acute viral infection of the central nervous system in children: an 8-year review.

Reliable information on acute viral infections of the central nervous system (CNS) in Canadian children has not been available. To investigation this disease in Halifax the medical records of 180 patients with presumed or definite acute viral CNS infection diagnosed at the Izaak Walton Killam Hospital for Children over an 8-year period were reviewed. The yearly incidence was estimated at 19.5/100 000 for children up to 16 years of age, and the peak incidence was in July, August and September. The cause was determined in 64 (36%) of the 180 patients; it was most commonly a known infectious disease -- mumps (in 24 patients) or varicella (in 9 patients). An enterovirus was responsible in nine cases, herpes simplex virus in eight and measles virus in six. The clinical manifestations were variable and included apnea in three infants who would otherwise have been considered to have nearly suffered the sudden infant death syndrome. Localizing features were present on the electroencephalograms of nine patients, including six with herpes simplex infection. Serologic study of paired serum samples obtained during the acute phase of the illness and during convalescence was the most useful laboratory method of establishing the diagnosis. As medical therapy for specific causes of acute viral CNS infection advances, greater attention should be placed on establishing the correct diagnosis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1988

A prospective study of viral hepatitis A and the question of chronicity.

In a prospective study, the author followed up the course of hepatitis A (HA) in 451 patients, predominantly schoolchildren, who were treated in the years 1982-1985 in the Department for Infectious Diseases of the Celje Municipal Hospital. HA was identified by the present of hepatitis A virus IgM class (anti-HAV-IgGM) in the serum, and in one-third of the patients (38.6%) also with serological proof of the presence of the hepatitis A virus antigen (HAAg) in the feces. Other liver diseases which might present a similar picture were excluded. In 378 patients (83.8%) the course of the disease was mild, the biochemical "liver tests" normalised within three months; in 73 patients (16.2%) the course was prolonged up to twelve months. In eight patients with a relapsed or protracted course that lasted from six to twelve months after the normalization of clinical and biochemical results, a liver biopsy was performed. The histologic picture revealed only slight residual changes which were evident mainly in portal and periportal areas of the liver. All of the HA convalescents were free of subjective signs and had no clinical symptoms after two to three years. In 23 patients (5.1%) posthepatitic indirect hyperbilirubinemia remained a laboratory finding. On the basis of our results, we came to the conclusion that, also in patients with a protracted and relapsed course, HA takes a benign course which in itself tends toward recovery and does not leave any permanent sequelae in the liver.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Abdominal malignancies missed during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: We present our experience with intra-abdominal malignancies different from gallbladder cancer not diagnosed preoperatively and undiscovered during laparoscopic cholecystectomy METHODS: This study involved retrospective analysis of 10 patients hospitalized in the Second Department of General Surgery between 1993 and 2000. In all of them, laparoscopic cholecystectomy had been performed between one week and 21 months earlier. RESULTS: Primary or metastatic neoplasms were diagnosed in five men and five women patients ages 38 to 79 years. In three patients with colorectal cancer, a radical resection was possible. Nonresectable pancreatic cancer was found in three patients. In one of two patients with gastric cancer, palliative, distal gastrectomy was performed. In a patient who had small bowel cancer with metastasis to the ovary, a radical operation was possible. In one patient, liver metastasis from lung cancer was found. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with atypical symptoms of gallbladder lithiasis, a thorough workup before laparoscopic cholecystectomy should be performed. During the laparoscopic procedure, a detailed examination of the whole peritoneal cavity is essential. In cases of prolonged convalescence after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, a source of symptoms different from cholelithiasis should be suspected.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗
PubMed2006

Change in women's dietary fat intake following an acute cardiac event: Extent, predictors and comparison with non-cardiac Australian women and older adults.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac patients are encouraged to reduce their dietary fat intake, yet few studies have assessed fat intake in female cardiac patients. AIM: We assessed changes in fat intake for female cardiac patients at four occasions during the first year following their event, and compared it with fat intake for a non-cardiac sample. METHODS: The Short Fat Questionnaire (SFQ) was administered to 239 women aged 36 to 84 years consecutively admitted to four hospitals at the time of an acute event. Mplus was used to analyse change over time in SFQ scores and to identify predictors of change. Mean SFQ scores were compared with those for a sample of randomly selected Australian women and older adults. RESULTS: Mean SFQ scores decreased substantially during the first two months (t(139) = 8.374, p < 0.001), then increased over the subsequent 10 months (t(146) = 4.656, p < 0.001). By 12 months, SFQ scores remained significantly lower than at baseline. Older women and those with hypertension showed less reduction in fat intake. At all four time-points, mean SFQ scores were significantly lower than those reported for other Australian women and older adults. CONCLUSION: Even prior to their event, female cardiac patients reported lower fat intake than other Australian women and older adults, but showed partial deterioration in adherence following convalescence. Future studies could investigate options for assisting patients to sustain dietary changes, with attention to older patients and those with hypertension.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Effectiveness of interscalene plexus block for open subacromion decompression].

AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the influence of interscalene brachial plexus blocks on the functional outcome, subjective pain appraisal and patient satisfaction after open shoulder surgery. These results were compared with patients treated by conventional analgesic measures. METHOD: 23 patients with interscalene brachial plexus block (ISB) and 21 patients without ISB were evaluated preoperatively as well as 1, 7, 12 and 90 days after open surgery of the shoulder. By means of a visual analogue scale (VAS) subjective postoperative pain intensity was assessed. Using the Constant score preoperatively and 6 months after surgery the functional status of the treated shoulder was evaluated. At discharge from hospital patients were asked whether they were satisfied with the analgesic measures taken. RESULTS: The range of motion of the shoulder of patients treated with an ISB was significantly higher 1 and 7 days after surgery than those without ISB. 12 and 90 days postoperatively the range of motion in the ISB group was still higher, but no longer statistically significant. Assessment of the postoperative subjective pain status showed that patients with an ISB had significantly lower values and required less additional analgesia. In both groups the Constant score was significantly higher 6 months after surgery, compared to the preoperative condition. Compared to the control group, patients treated with ISB were clearly more satisfied with the postoperative pain management. CONCLUSION: By implementing ISB sufficient analgesia in the early postoperative period after open shoulder surgery is attained, allowing for early physiotherapy. This positively influences convalescence and the outcome of the surgical procedure. Furthermore, patients are visibly more satisfied with the postoperative pain management.

Acromion↗
PubMed1967

Mumps and enteroviral meningitis in Toronto, 1966.

Of 52 children admitted to hospital for apparently typical mumps meningitis in 1966, 50 had their cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examined. In only 17 was the mumps virus isolated from the CSF. Mumps antihemagglutinin conversions or increments were detected in 32 subjects including 10 whose CSF yielded virus. Antibody conversions were found in 16 patients and fourfold increments in another nine whose serum pairs were collected only one to four days apart. Initial sera from 20 patients were obtained three days or less after the onset of meningitis. Antibody increments were frequently noted about one day after defervescence and clinical improvement. Interferon was detected in CSF from two of eight patients, both of whom yielded virus. Enteroviruses were isolated from CSF and/or feces in seven of 15 cases of aseptic meningitis which occurred between July and October. Six patients including three virus excretors showed enteroviral neutralizing antibody increments during convalescence. The dominant enteroviral serotype was coxsackievirus A9.

Child↗