Asthma and climatic conditions--experience from Kuantan, Malaysia.

Data on number of cases of acute asthma seen at casualty department in 1987 as well as daily metereological data for 1987 were obtained and analysed for relation between climatic factors and acute asthma. Ambient temperature was significantly associated with acute asthma; the lower the temperature, the more the number of cases of asthma were seen. No association however was observed between asthma and the other climatic factors viz, rainfall, humidity, daily change in humidity and daily drop in temperature. We further discuss our finding.     

评价哮喘控制的调查问卷研究概况

支气管哮喘是一种常见的慢性呼吸系统疾病，病情轻重不一，至今对哮喘控制的界定尚缺乏一项有效、简便的检测方法。由于对哮喘控制未达到共识，使得临床医生在哮喘管理中感到困惑。为寻找评价哮喘控制的理想方法，近年来，欧美一些专家相继设计了一些调查问卷。临床实践表明这些问卷对于哮喘病情及疗效的评估起到了积极的作用，具有较好的实用性和可行性。本文就评价哮喘控制的调查问卷研究概况作一综述。     

The development of a stroke clinical pathway: an experience in a medium-sized community hospital

Patients with acute ischemic strokes were studied in a medium-sized community hospital in Mississippi. Studies were done before and after implementation of the stroke clinical care pathway with emphasis on the following clinical indicators: 1) performance of a brain CT scan, 2) the search for the etiology of the stroke, 3) whether the patient was treated emergently for hypertension, 4) the use of measures to prevent deep-vein thrombosis, and 5) prophylactic drug treatment against recurrent stroke after hospital discharge. Following application of the clinical pathway, there was a significant improvement in all the clinical indicators that were felt to require further attention and none had a setback. The length of hospital stay was decreased, and there was no significant increase in the hospital costs in the post-pathway study despite an increase in the number of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed. When applied properly, clinical pathways can effectively mobilize hospital resources, maximize quality of care, and at the same time minimize costs.     

Management of isolated splenic injuries after blunt trauma: an institution's experience over 6 years

Forty-two patients with traumatic blunt splenic injuries were admitted over a six year period. Vehicular-related collisions and fall from height accounted for the injuries in 38 (90.5%) of them. Eleven (26.2%) underwent immediate surgery (7 splenectomy and 4 splenorrhaphy), while the remaining 31 patients were treated nonoperatively of which 3 underwent angio-embolisation. Twenty seven patients had either grade III or IV splenic injuries. Operative management was more likely in patients with lower haemoglobin or with more severe splenic injury. Nonoperative management can be adopted in patients with blunt isolated splenic injuries but operative management is still indispensable in certain instances.     

Leptospirosis: an institutional experience

Leptospirosis, a common zoonotic disease, may present with variable clinical manifestations in between two extremes. Possibility must be excluded in any febrile patient with hepatorenal derangement. There are different reports regarding prevalence pattern, presentations and case fatality rate from different parts of the country. The purpose of this study was to find out the mode of presentation, biochemical profile and complications of leptospirosis cases in an apical level and make a comparison of same with other parts of India. Fifty-one consecutive cases of leptospirosis were selected for this study. Thorough clinical examination was done. ELISA test was done in the second week of illness. Haemogram, liver and renal function tests, coagulation profile, creatine phosphokinase (CPK), chest xray, ECG were done in all patients. Presenting features were fever (100%), myalgia (78.4%), headache (41.2%), jaundice (17.6%), oliguria (29.4%), respiratory distress (25.5%), bleeding manifestations (9.8%), altered sensorium (21.6%). Icterus was found in 74.5% of patients, hepatosplenomegaly in 72.5%, tachypnoea in 52.9%, bleeding manifestations in 35.3%, encephalopathy in 21.6%, hypotension in 15.7% and meningeal signs in 5.9% cases. Case fatality rate was 7.8%. From the study, it becomes evident that though severe leptospirosis has declined, mild leptospirosis has Increased. The reasons for decline of severe leptospirosis may be greater awareness, availability of better diagnostic tool along with widespread use of antibiotics. So, high index of suspicion may eventually reduce complications. It would be wise to start appropriate antibiotics empirically in suspected cases of leptospirosis.     

Organizing communities around care transitions: the community connections experience

The Community Connections initiative provides an example of building collaboration and partnerships across traditional boundaries--public-private, medical home, and community-based services--to improve care transitions and support for older adults and adults with disabilities. This approach was inspired by the self-governance and community engagement model, with the knowledge, experience, and participation of community stakeholders.