Effects of acute liver injury on blood coagulation

Summary.  The mechanisms leading to the hemostatic changes of acute liver injury are poorly understood. To study these further we have assessed coagulation and immune changes in patients with acute paracetamol overdose and compared the results to patients with chronic cirrhosis and normal healthy controls. The results demonstrate that in paracetamol overdose coagulation factors (F)II, V, VII and X were reduced to a similar degree and were significantly lower than FIX and FXI (mean levels 0.28, 0.16, 0.13, 0.19, 0.51 and 0.72 IU mL⁻¹, respectively). In cirrhosis, by contrast, FII, FV, FVII, FIX and FX were equally reduced whilst FXI was lower than the other factors (mean levels 0.64, 0.69, 0.62, 0.60, 0.66 and 0.40 IU mL⁻¹, respectively). FVIII was raised in paracetamol overdose patients but normal in those with cirrhosis (mean levels 1.95 and 1.01 IU mL⁻¹, respectively). Interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α levels were raised in both patient groups, but higher levels were found in paracetamol overdose, compared to cirrhosis. Thrombin-antithrombin and soluble tissue factor levels were higher in those with acute liver injury but normal in cirrhosis. Antithrombin levels were reduced in both acute liver injury and cirrhosis. From these data we put forward a novel mechanism for the coagulation changes in acute paracetamol induced liver injury. We propose that immune activation leads to tissue factor-initiated consumption of FII, FV, FVII and FX, but that levels of FIX and FXI are better preserved because antithrombin inhibits the thrombin induced positive feedback loop that activates these latter factors.     

经关节入路微创钢板固定技术治疗股骨远端C型骨折

目的探讨经关节入路微创钢板固定(MIPPO)技术治疗股骨远端C型骨折的临床疗效。方法2002年4月～2005年2月,应用MIPPO技术治疗股骨远端C型骨折14例,按AO/ASIF分类：C1型3例,C2型6例,C3型5例。先行关节内骨折切开复位、松质骨螺钉固定,再行髁上部分骨折间接复位、经关节内切口插入髁支撑钢板或LISS钢板桥接固定骨折。结果12例患者获得10～32个月(平均18．4个月)随访,骨折均获愈合,愈合时间10周～12个月,平均4．6个月。按Kolmert和Wulff的评价标准：优4例,良5例,可2例,差1例,优良率为75%。结论应用MIPPO技术治疗股骨远端C型骨折实现了微创操作,具有创伤小、软组织干扰少、骨折愈合快等优点,疗效满意。     

Influenza vaccination: incidence of symptoms and resulting absenteeism in hospital employees.

A convenience sample of hospital workers, those receiving influenza vaccine and those not receiving vaccine, were asked to complete questionnaires delineating the occurrence of symptoms (e.g., fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny nose, stuffy nose, muscle aches) and absenteeism in the 7-day period post-vaccination if vaccinated. Those unvaccinated completed the questionnaire in a self-selected 7 consecutive day period during the study conducted from November 2004 to February 2005. Those receiving either Fluzone or FluMist reported significantly fewer symptoms and related absenteeism than the unvaccinated group (p < .05). Administration of influenza vaccine did not result in higher rates of post-vaccination symptoms as compared to an unvaccinated group. Further, vaccinated employees did not experience higher absenteeism rates as a result of receiving either influenza vaccine. However, for those reporting absenteeism as a result of symptoms, mean absenteeism days were highest in the FluMist group (4.5 days) compared to the unvaccinated group (2.1 days) and the Fluzone group (1.9 days).     

Popliteal artery pseudoaneurysm following total knee arthroplasty: a case report

Direct vascular injury after primary total knee arthroplasty is rare. This case report illustrates a 65-year-old female who was diagnosed with a pseudoaneurysm of the popliteal artery when she was investigated for increased leg swelling and pain 1 week after total knee arthroplasty. She had a percutaneous endovascular repair with a stent after thrombectomy.     

Ketotifen in asthma

Sixty children aged 5-13 years with moderately severe asthma took part in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of ketotifen. The design incorporated a 22 week study period, the addition of ketotifen or placebo to the current medication, and a controlled withdrawal of the regular therapy. Children receiving ketotifen showed significantly lower mean numbers of asthma attacks and less absence from school. The addition of ketotifen to existing treatment was associated with marginally significant changes in rates of day and night wheezing. In the second phase of study, additional therapy was withdrawn from both the ketotifen and placebo groups which resulted in a high (percentage) withdrawal. Children receiving ketotifen did not have a significantly lower failure rate than those given placebo.