Clinical outcomes of open treatment of old condylar head fractures in adults

The aim of this study was to classify the clinical feasibility and outcomes of open reduction treatment of old condylar head fractures (CHFs).This was a retrospective case series study of patients with old CHFs that were treated with open reduction and internal fixation, with anatomic reduction and sutured fixation of the articular disc. Preoperative and postoperative examinations were recorded and analyzed, including temporomandibular joint (TMJ) symptoms, occlusion, maximum interincisal opening (MIO), and mandibular deviation. Computed tomography (CT) was used to assess condylar morphology and position.Eleven patients with old CHFs were included (nine unilateral and two bilateral). The mean period from condylar fracture to operation was 8.9 months (ranging from 6 to 14 months). The mean follow-up period after surgery was 16.1 months (ranging from 12 to 22 months). At the end of follow-up period, no malocclusion was found, and the MIO had expanded considerably to 37.4 ± 3.8 mm. Postoperative CT showed that all fragments were properly reduced and the condyles were in the normal position. All patients showed apparently improved TMJ function, occlusion, and facial appearance.Our results showed that open reduction treatment could be an effective method for the treatment of old CHFs.     

Adjuvant treatment with pegylated interferon α-2a versus low-dose interferon α-2a in patients with high-risk melanoma: a randomized phase III DeCOG trial

BackgroundAdjuvant treatment with interferon (IFN)-α-2a improved disease-free survival (DFS) and showed a trend for improving overall survival (OS) in melanoma. This trial was designed to examine whether PEG-IFN is superior to IFN with regard to distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), DFS and OS.Patients and methodsIn this multicenter, open-label, prospective randomized phase III trial, patients with resected cutaneous melanoma stage IIA(T3a)–IIIB (AJCC 2002) were randomized to receive PEG-IFN (180 μg subcutaneously 1×/week; 24 months) or IFN α-2a (3MIU subcutaneously 3×/week; 24 months). Randomization was stratified for stage, number of metastatic nodes, age and previous IFN treatment. The primary end point was DMFS; secondary end points were OS, DFS, quality of life (QoL) and tolerability.ResultsA total of 909 patients were enrolled (451 PEG-IFN versus 458 IFN). Neither 5-year DMFS [PEG-IFN 61.0% versus IFN 67.3%; hazard ratio (HR) 1.16, P = 0.21] nor 5-year OS (PEG-IFN 73.2% versus IFN 75.2%; HR 1.05, P = 0.70) nor 5-year DFS (PEG-IFN 57.3% versus IFN 60.9%; HR 1.09, P = 0.40) showed significant differences. Subgroup analyses in patients ± ulcerated primaries and of different tumor stages did not find differences in DMFS, OS or DFS between the treatment groups. One hundred and eighteen patients (26.2%) in the PEG-IFN and 61 patients (13.3%) in the IFN population did not receive the full dosage and length of treatment due to adverse events (P < 0.001). Leukopenia and elevation of liver enzymes were more common in the PEG-IFN arm (56% versus 23.5% LCP; 19.1% versus 9.4% AST; 33.0% versus 16.5% ALT). QoL was identical for nearly all domains.ConclusionPEG-IFN did not improve the outcome over IFN. A higher percentage of patients under PEG-IFN discontinued treatment due to toxicity.Clinical Trials.gov IdentifierNCT00204529.     

The effect of N-acetylcysteine and working memory training on cocaine use,craving and inhibition in regular cocaine users: correspondence of lab assessments and Ecological Momentary Assessment

IntroductionEffective treatment for cocaine use disorder should dampen hypersensitive cue-induced motivational processes and/or strengthen executive control. Using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled intervention, the primary aim of this study was to investigate the effect of N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) and working memory (WM)-training to reduce cocaine use and craving and to improve inhibition assessed in the laboratory and during Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA). The second aim was to examine correspondence between laboratory and EMA data.MethodsTwenty-four of 38 cocaine-using men completed a 25-day intervention with 2400 mg/day NAC or placebo and WM-training as well as two lab-visits assessing cocaine use, craving and inhibition (Stop Signal task). Additionally, cocaine use, craving and cognition (Stroop task) were assessed using EMA during treatment, with 26 participants completing 819 assessments.ResultsCocaine problems according to the Drug Use Disorder Identification Test (DUDIT) decreased more after NAC than after placebo, and the proportion of cocaine-positive urines at lab-visit 2 was lower in the NAC group. No NAC effects were found on craving. For cocaine use and craving, results from the lab data were generally similar to EMA results. NAC also showed some effects on cognitive control: improved inhibition assessed with the Stop Signal task in the lab, and decreased classic Stroop performance during EMA. There were no significant effects of number of completed WM-training sessions.ConclusionsOverall this study revealed mixed findings regarding the treatment of cocaine use disorders with NAC and WM-training. The effect of NAC on inhibition should be further investigated.     

Multiple primary (even in situ) melanomas in a patient pose significant risk to family members

BackgroundWe aimed at assessing familial risk of melanoma by considering a detailed family history of multiple primary (invasive/in situ) melanomas (MPM), stratified by histology and location.MethodsAmong 65,429 melanoma patients diagnosed in 1958–2010 in the Swedish Family-Cancer Database, there were 4248 patients with familial melanoma. A detailed family history of MPM was investigated by number of melanomas in one first-degree relative (FDR) and in ⩾2 FDRs. Familial melanoma risk was assessed by standardised incidence ratios (SIRs) comparing those with family history of melanoma to those without. Combining invasive/in situ melanoma was due to essentially identical familial risks.ResultsFor one affected FDR, familial risk increased from SIR = 2.2 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.2–2.3) for single melanoma to 16.3 (9.5–26.1) for ⩾5 melanomas, while for ⩾2 affected FDRs, the risk increased from 5.5 (4.8–6.2) for single melanoma to 23.9 (13.6–38.8) for ⩾2 melanomas. Significantly higher familial risks for superficial spreading melanoma (SSM) [2.5 (2.3–2.6)] than lentigo maligna melanoma (LMM) [1.8 (1.6–2.1)], and for multiple parts [5.3 (3.1–8.4)] and trunk [2.6 (2.5–2.8)] than head/neck [2.0 (1.8–2.2)] were observed. Only at head/neck, significantly higher risk for SSM [2.4 (1.9–3.0)] than LMM [1.6 (1.4–1.8)] was noted.ConclusionWe found, for the first time, that familial risks were similar for two/three melanomas in one FDR or for a single melanoma in ⩾2 FDRs and, higher familial risks for SSM than LMM occurred only at head/neck. This study provides new evidence for genetic counselling in melanoma, suggesting the need for considering not only the number of affected family members but also the diagnosis of MPM (even in situ) in relatives.     

Pseudohyperchloremia and Negative Anion Gap – Think Salicylate!

BackgroundPseudohyperchloremia results in a very low or negative anion gap. Historically, the most common cause of this artifact was bromide poisoning. Bromide salts have been removed from most medications and bromism has become very uncommon. More recently, the introduction of chloride ion selective sensing electrodes (Cl-ISE) has generated a new cause of pseudohyperchloremia—salicylate poisoning. We describe 5 such patients and quantitate the error generated by this measurement artifact.MethodsThe magnitude of artifactual hyperchloremia generated by high salicylate levels was quantified in 5 patients by measuring chloride concentration with several Cl-ISEs from different manufacturers and with Cl-ISEs of different “ages,” and comparing these results to measurements with a chloridometer (coulometric titration), which is free of the salicylate artifact.ResultsCl-ISEs from different manufacturers generated a wide range of artifactual chloride concentration elevation. Furthermore, the same Cl-ISE generated increasingly severe pseudohyperchloremia as it was repeatedly reused over time and “aged.”ConclusionsSalicylate interferes with measurement of the blood chloride concentration when a Cl-ISE is used. The severity of this artifact is related to the salicylate level, the specific Cl-ISE, and the “age” of the electrode. Toxic blood salicylate levels can generate marked pseudohyperchloremia, and consequently, an artifactual very small or negative anion gap. The large anion gap metabolic acidosis typical of salicylate poisoning is masked by this artifact. Salicylate has become the most common cause of pseudohyperchloremia, and physicians should immediately consider salicylate poisoning whenever the combination of hyperchloremia and a very small or negative anion gap is reported by the laboratory.     

Information handoff and outcomes of critically ill patients transferred between hospitals

PurposePatients transferred between hospitals are at high risk of adverse events and mortality. This study aims to identify which components of the transfer handoff process are important predictors of adverse events and mortality.Materials and methodsWe conducted a retrospective, observational study of 335 consecutive patient transfers to 3 intensive care units at an academic tertiary referral center. We assessed the relationship between handoff documentation completeness and patient outcomes. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included adverse events, duplication of labor, disposition error, and length of stay.ResultsTransfer documentation was frequently absent with overall completeness of 58.3%. Adverse events occurred in 42% of patients within 24 hours of arrival, with an overall in-hospital mortality of 17.3%. Higher documentation completeness was associated with reduced in-hospital mortality (odds ratio [OR], 0.07; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.02 to 0.38; P = .002), reduced adverse events (coefficient, −2.08; 95% CI, −2.76 to −1.390; P < .001), and reduced duplication of labor (OR, 0.19; 95% CI, 0.04 to 0.88; P = .033) when controlling for severity of illness.ConclusionsDocumentation completeness is associated with improved outcomes and resource utilization in patients transferred between hospitals.