First detection of Theileria parva in cattle from Cameroon in the absence of the main tick vector Rhipicephalus appendiculatus

A major risk factor for the spread of livestock diseases and their vectors is the uncontrolled transboundary movement of live animals for trade and grazing. Such movements constrain effective control of tick‐transmitted pathogens, including Theileria parva. Only limited studies have been undertaken to identify ticks and tick‐borne diseases (TTBDs) affecting cattle in central African countries, including Cameroon. We hereby report the collection of baseline data on the prevalence of T. parva in Cameroon through a countrywide cross‐sectional survey, conducted in 2016, involving collection of blood samples from cattle from 63 sites across the five agro‐ecological zones (AEZs) of the country. ELISA‐based surveillance of infected cattle was performed on 479 randomly selected samples and revealed specific antibodies to T. parva in 22.7% and T. mutans in 41.1% of cattle. Screening of 1,340 representative DNA samples for the presence of T. parva identified 25 (1.86%) positives using a p104 antigen gene‐based nested PCR assay. The positives were distributed across agro‐ecological zones I, II, III and V. None of the p104 positive cattle exhibited clinical symptoms of East Coast fever (ECF). Using reverse line blot (RLB), 58 (4.3%) and 1,139 (85%) of the samples reacted with the T. parva and T. mutans oligonucleotide probes, respectively. This represents the first report of T. parva from Cameroon. Surprisingly, no Rhipicephalus appendiculatus ticks, the main vector of T. parva, were identified in a parallel study involving comprehensive morphological and molecular survey of tick species present in the country. Only two of the 25 p104 positive cattle were PCR‐positive for the CD8+ T‐cell target schizont‐expressed antigen gene Tp1. Cloning and sequencing of Tp1 amplicons revealed sequence identity with the reference T. parva Muguga. This new finding raises serious concerns of a potential spread of ECF into the central African region.     

Outcome after traumatic brain injury improved by an organized secondary insult program and standardized neurointensive care

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate today's refined neurosurgical intensive care of patients with traumatic brain injury after implementation of an organized secondary insult program focused on the importance of avoiding secondary brain damage together with a standardized treatment protocol system. DESIGN: Clinical observational patient study. PATIENTS: A total of 154 patients 16-79 yrs of age with acute head trauma and pathologic computed tomographic findings treated between 1996 and 1997. SETTING: Neurointensive care unit. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Good recovery was obtained in 44% of the patients, moderate disability in 35%, severe disability in 16%, and no patient remained in a vegetative state. Six percent of the patients died, but only two of these patients (1.3%) died as direct result of their head injury. When the results for patients with Glasgow Coma Scale motor scores of >or=4 were compared with the periods 1980-1981 (preneurosurgical intensive care) and 1987-1988 (basic neurosurgical intensive care), mortality had decreased from 40% in the first period to 27% in the second period and to 2.8% in the present series. Favorable outcome in the same group of patients had increased steadily from 40% in the first period, to 68% in the second period, and finally, to 84% in the present series. CONCLUSIONS: The main observation in this hospital series of traumatic brain injury patients was a low rate of death directly caused by head injury and a high rate of favorable outcome. The comparison of patients with Glasgow Coma Scale motor scores of >or=4 with the previously reported results from the same unit indicate that substantial improvement in outcome has been achieved.     

Associations between biomarkers at discharge and co-morbidities and risk of readmission after community-acquired pneumonia: a retrospective cohort study

To investigate whether hemoglobin, white blood cell count (WBC), urea, sodium, albumin, and C-reactive protein at discharge in patients hospitalized for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) are associated with 30-day readmission. This study is a retrospective cohort study, which included all adult patients discharged after hospitalization for CAP from three Danish hospitals between January 2011 and July 2012. The outcome was all-cause, unplanned, 30-day readmission. Biomarker concentrations at discharge were transformed into binary variables by using either upper or lower quartiles as cut-off; the upper quartile was used for WBC, urea, and C-reactive protein, and the lower quartile was used for hemoglobin, sodium, and albumin. The study population consisted of 1149 patients. One hundred eighty-four (16.0%) patients were readmitted. Independent risk factors of readmission were WBC?≥?10.6 cells?×?10⁹/L (hazard ratio 1.50; 95% CI, 1.07–2.11) and albumin <32 g/L (hazard ratio 1.78; 95% CI, 1.24–2.54) at discharge and the presence of ≥?2 co-morbidities (hazard ratio 1.74; 95% CI, 1.15–2.64). When WBC, albumin, and co-morbidities were combined into a risk-stratification tool, there was a step-wise increase in risk of readmission for patients with 1, 2, or 3 risk factors with hazard ratios of 1.76 (95% CI, 1.25–2.49), 2.59 (95% CI, 1.71–3.93), and 6.15 (95% CI 3.33–11.38), respectively. WBC?≥?10.6 cells?×?10⁹/L and albumin <?32 g/L at discharge and the presence of ≥?2 co-morbidities were independently associated with increased risk of 30-day readmission.     

The Harrington reconstruction for advanced periacetabular metastatic destruction: Good outcome in 32 patients

We report the outcome in 32 patients operated on for advanced periacetabular metastatic destruction, where all but 2 had Harrington class III destruction. The patients were operated on using the Harrington reconstruction technique, where threaded pins and cement and a total hip replacement are used to reconstruct the acetabulum and ilium. The median survival was 11 (0-106+) months. 13 patients lived for a year or more. At follow-up after 1 year, 10 of the 13 were free of pain at rest and weight-bearing, 6 were walking with and 7 without support, and 11 lived outside a health care facility. 2 patients died within 2 weeks of surgery, both of excessive peroperative bleeding. 2 patients had dislocations, 1 developed a deep infection, and 2 patients deep vein thrombosis. There were no complications caused by erroneous pin placement or intraoperative thromboembolic incidents. There were no mechanical failures, or radiographic signs of loosening, of the pelvic components. The Harrington reconstruction technique is an effective and long-lasting method to relieve pain and restore function in patients with advanced periacetabular metastatic destruction.     

Intracerebral Microdialysis and Intracranial Compliance Monitoring of Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury

Objective. The aims of this study were to get an impression of the relationships between intracranial compliance (IC) and Lactate/Pyruvate (L/P) ratio and temperature and L/P ratio, and to determine if patients with low IC had an increased vulnerability for the secondary insult hyperthermia (as reflected in the L/P ratio). The effects of coma treatment on the results were also studied. Methods. Ten TBI patients were monitored for IC, in vivo microdialysis (MD) and bladder temperature. Mean Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score was 7 (range 4–10). Three patients underwent induced coma treatment. Three statistical models were used to look at the relationships between IC, temperature and L/P ratio in patients with and without coma. Results. We found that with high temperature L/P ratios increased as IC decreased (P < 0.0001). The patients with coma treatment had significantly higher average L/P ratios (P < 0.02). The effect of IC on the L/P ratio differed by coma treatment (P < 0.02). The temperature effect was not dependent on coma treatment (P < 0.49). Conclusions. These findings suggest the importance of avoiding hyperthermia in TBI patients, especially in patients with low or decreased IC (monitored or anticipated). The present technical solution seems promising for analysis of complex clinical data.     

Oral contraception and energy intake in women: impact on substrate oxidation during exercise

Oral contraception (OC) and energy intake may play a role in fuel selection during exercise. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of OCs (OC+ vs. OC-) in fed and fasting conditions on substrate oxidation and metabolic and hormonal responses in women during exercise. Substrate oxidation (respiratory exchange ratio and lipid and carbohydrates oxidation rates), metabolic (glycerol, free fatty acids (FFA), and glucose), and hormonal (insulin, adrenaline, and noradrenaline) responses were determined in 21 women: 10 regularly menstruating women (OC-) and 11 women using OCs (OC+: low-dose monophasic pill; ethinyl estradiol ≤ 30 μg) during 45 min at 65% of maximal oxygen consumption in fasting and postprandial states. At rest, OC+ presented higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triglyceride plasma concentrations as compared with OC-. OC status had no influence on substrate oxidation and metabolic and hormonal responses during exercise. In the fasting state, whatever the OC status, women exhibited greater reliance on fat than in postprandial condition. This occurred in the presence of lower plasma insulin concentrations and higher plasma FFA and glycerol levels. The results indicated that the use of low-dose monophasic combined with OCs did not modify fuel selection and metabolic and hormonal responses during exercise in women. The fasting condition, compared with the fed condition, decreased carbohydrate oxidation during exercise, leading to a greater lipid mobilization and utilization whatever the OC status. Thus, in women, the realization of an exercise in either the fed or fasting conditions had a greater impact on substrate oxidation than OC status.     

Chlorambucil therapy in hairy cell leukemia: effects on lipid composition and lymphocyte subpopulations

Two patients with progressive hairy cell leukemia following splenectomy were treated with low-dose daily chlorambucil. Both had an objective hematologic response as determined by a return to normal hematocrit and platelet count. This was also reflected in the mononuclear cell fraction by the normalization of cholesterol content, cholesterol/phospholipid ratio, and the lymphocyte subpopulations. This article confirms previous reports on the efficacy of chlorambucil in this setting and describes some morphological, and biochemical concomitant events.