Contamination of detergent cleaning solutions during hospital cleaning

Twenty-two detergent cleaning solutions from different ward areas were sampled for bacteria when freshly prepared, during use and at discard. Contamination, mainly by Gram-negative bacilli, was found in 10 freshly prepared solutions and in 21 of the 22 at discard. Preliminary studies showed that the detergent solution was bactericidal to Staphylococcus aureus but allowed the survival but not multiplication of Escherichia coli.     

HEPARINEMIA (?) : AN ANTICOAGULANT IN THE BLOOD OF DOGS WITH HEMORRHAGIC TENDENCY AFTER TOTAL BODY EXPOSURE TO ROENTGEN RAYS

When the entire body of dogs was exposed to 450 units of Roentgen irradiation a hemorrhagic syndrome developed which was characterized by thrombo-cytopenia, prolonged clotting and bleeding times, and neutropenia. The prothrombin time remained normal until about 24 hours before death. The calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium levels were not altered. Fibrinogen was present but syneresis was poor. Toluidine blue and protamine sulfate, substances which can inhibit the biologic action of heparin, restored the clotting time to normal. The hemorrhagic state was not materially altered by transfusions, vitamin K, or vitamin C. Toluidine blue and protamine sulfate were ineffective in the control of hemorrhage produced by dicumarol. The defect responsible for bleeding after irradiation appeared to be the presence in the circulation of an anticoagulant whose properties, so far as tested, were indistinguishable from those of heparin.     

Preliminary evidence for a role of apolipoprotein E alleles in identifying haemodialysis patients at high vascular risk

Conventional risk factors have very low predictive power in identifying haemodialysis patients at high risk of vascular accidents. A role for apolipoprotein E isotypes was looked for in a small, but rigorously defined, cohort of longterm haemodialysis patients. In individuals with high vascular risk, as identified by higher common carotid intima/media thickness, we found an excess of apolipoprotein E4 alleles. This preliminary result requires confirmation in large patient cohorts.      

Frozen section analysis of esophageal endoscopic mucosal resection specimens in the real-time management of Barrett's esophagus.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The aim of this study was to assess the validity of frozen section analysis of endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) specimens from Barrett's esophagus as compared with permanent sections for the detection of neoplasia. Frozen sections help to give immediate feedback for surgical procedures. It has not been determined whether EMR can be adequately interpreted by using frozen sections to aid endoscopists in completely resecting neoplastic lesions. METHODS: EMR specimens from Barrett's esophagus with high-grade dysplasia (HGD) and/or carcinoma were tested by frozen section. Pathologists evaluated EMR specimens for the depth of invasion as well as the appearance of clear margins of resection. The kappa statistic was calculated to assess the degree of agreement between the frozen section and permanent section diagnoses. RESULTS: Twenty-three consecutive patients underwent 30 EMRs with frozen section diagnosis. Frozen section revealed a carcinoma in 7 specimens (23%) and dysplasia in 20 (66%). Permanent sections found carcinoma in 8 specimens (26%), dysplasia in 19 specimens (63%), and normal or nondysplastic Barrett's esophagus in the remainder. The kappa statistic for the depth of invasion of EMR specimens was 0.93 (near perfect agreement). The kappa statistic for the margins of the EMR specimens was 0.80 (excellent agreement). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated that frozen section analysis of esophageal EMR specimens is valid as compared with permanent section. This technique might allow rapid evaluation about the degree and depth of involvement of cancers. This allows physicians to make decisions regarding further therapy if margins are involved or decrease the use of EMR for histologically benign-appearing lesions.     

Assessment of ventricular dyssynchrony: global or regional function?

A common cliché states that if you stand still every10 years, you will find yourself in the forefront of fashion.Thus it seems with the analysis of ventricular function. Ithas been recognized for many years that incoordinate or non-uniformcontraction reduces global left ventricular (LV) function. Wiggersdemonstrated in 1922 that stimulation from a ventricular focusrather than supraventricular produced a reduced pulse pressure,prolonged isometric contraction, and systolic ejection timein normal hearts. Although regional wall motion abnormalitieswere recognized early in ischaemic heart disease, it was alsodemonstrated later that it occurs in dilated or hypertrophiccardiomyopathy.¹ However, the realization that asynchronouswall motion due to delayed activation such as in the presenceof a left bundle branch block profoundly affected global functiondid not take place until more recently.² Developments in cardiacimaging     

Symptoms and health status before and six weeks after open cholecystectomy: a European cohort study.ECHSS Group. European Collaborative Health Services Study Group.

The impact of open cholecystectomy on patients' symptoms and health status and their level of satisfaction has been examined to provide a basis for comparison with newer rival treatments. A prospective cohort study using patient and surgeon completed questionnaires before and six weeks after surgery was carried out in 14 general hospitals in eight European countries. Five hundred and eighty three patients were recruited consecutively in 1990 to 1991. Information on their symptoms, general health status, activities of daily living, and satisfaction with their care were collected. After surgery 42.8% of patients reported that they were free of symptoms. Symptoms varied in their responsiveness to surgery--six weeks after surgery 89% of those who had complained of vomiting had improved, 81% of nausea, 69% of loss of appetite, 65% of abdominal pain, and 51% of flatulence. In contrast 28.1% of patients still suffered from flatulence and 23.5% continued to complain of abdominal pain. Most patients' (62.7%) general health improved, 28% were unchanged, and 9.3% were worse. After surgery most patients reported no restrictions in their normal social activities (75-90% depending on the activity) and most (89.5%) felt the results of their operation had been as expected or better than expected. Most patients undergoing open cholecystectomy reported an improvement in their symptoms, health status, and social functioning. This was reflected in their high level of satisfaction. Some patients, however, gained no benefit and a small proportion were worse than before surgery.     

Hodgkin disease: CT of the thymus

The computed tomography (CT) scans in two groups of patients with Hodgkin disease were reviewed to determine the frequency of thymic enlargement. In 50 CT scans from 50 patients with evidence of thoracic disease on CT scans who were examined for primary staging, the thymus was enlarged in 15 of 50 (30%). Fifty CT scans were obtained from 44 patients at the time of 50 separate episodes of known or suspected relapse. Relapse occurred in the mediastinum in 12 episodes, lung parenchyma in five, and both sites in one. Thymic enlargement thought to be due to involvement by disease was present in seven of 18 (38%). Mediastinal disease was associated with thymic enlargement in all but one patient in whom a thymic cyst developed after radiation therapy. Differentiation of thymic enlargement from enlarged superior mediastinal lymph nodes was easily made in all but two patients. Thymic enlargement in the absence of lymph node enlargement may indicate a different disease, since isolated Hodgkin disease of the thymus is uncommon. Primary thymic tumor should be considered initially, whereas after treatment, rebound hyperplasia of the thymus may be the cause of enlargement.