Functional Bowel Disorders in Iranian Population using Rome III Criteria

Background/Aim:

To study the prevalence and risk factors of functional bowel disorders (FBD) in Iranian community using Rome III criteria.

Materials and Methods:

This study was a cross-sectional household survey conducted from May 2006 to December 2007 in Tehran province, Iran, including 18,180 participants who were selected randomly and interviewed face-to-face by a validated questionnaire based on Rome III criteria.

Results:

In all, 1.1% met the Rome III criteria for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), 2.4% for functional constipation (FC), and 10.9% of the participants had any type of FBD. Among participants with functional dyspepsia, 83.8% had FBD; the majority cases were unspecified functional bowel disorder (U-FBD). Of the subjects fulfilling the IBS criteria, IBS with constipation (52%) was the most frequent subtype. In the multivariate analysis, women had a higher risk of any FBDs than men, except for functional diarrhea (FD). The prevalence of FBD, FC and FD increased and IBS decreased with increasing age. Marital status was only associated with a decrease in the risk of FBD and FD, respectively. IBS subtypes compared with FC and FD. There was no significant difference between FC and IBS with constipation (IBS-C), except for self-reported constipation; while, IBS with diarrhea (IBS-D) had more symptoms than FD.

Conclusion:

This study revealed a low rate of FBDs among the urban population of Tehran province. The ROME III criteria itself, and the problems with interpretation of the data collection tool may have contributed in underestimating the prevalence of FBD. In addition the reliability of recall over 6 months in Rome III criteria is questionable for our population.     

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Primary Care Physicians About Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Northern Saudi Arabia

Background/Aim:

Primary health care (PHC) physicians manage most patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). In Saudi Arabia, there are limited data on their knowledge, attitudes, and practices about this disorder. This study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices of primary care physicians about IBS.

Patients and Methods:

A cross-sectional survey of 70 practitioners aged 36 ± 10.25 years was carried out in primary care centers in AlJouf Province of Saudi Arabia. The physicians were asked to fill a valid questionnaire containing their sociodemographic data, and well-modified questions regarding their knowledge, attitudes, and practices about IBS. Data was processed and analyzed using SPSS (version 15) program, and the level of significance was set at P<0.05.

Results:

A response rate of 92.9% yielded 65 questionnaires for analysis. Majority of physicians surveyed (83.1%) considered IBS as a common health problem in Saudi Arabia, and (55.4%) believed it is underestimated. There was a significant association between physicians’ qualifications and using diagnostic tools to facilitate IBS diagnosis (14.3% vs 35.5%; P<0.05), while utilization of “Rome or Manning criteria” was more frequent by physicians with master''s degree (35.5%) compared to residents (14.3%). Also, 35.4% of physicians (15 males and 8 females) were not sure how to diagnose IBS.

Conclusions:

This study suggested that PHC physicians had a suitable attitude toward IBS, but they lacked knowledge, and their practices toward this condition were inappropriate.     

Clinically defined chemotherapy-associated bowel syndrome predicts severe complications and death in cancer patients

Background

Neutropenic patients are at risk of abdominal complications and yet the incidence and impact of these complications on patients’ morbidity and mortality have not been sufficiently evaluated. We aimed to assess a clinical rule for early detection of abdominal complications leading to death or transfer to intensive care in patients with chemotherapy-associated neutropenia.

Design and Methods

This observational multicenter study was carried out in seven German hematology-oncology departments. For inclusion, neutropenia of at least 5 consecutive days was required. Risk factors for “transfer to intensive care” and “death” were assessed by backward-stepwise binary logistic regression analyses. Chemotherapy-associated bowel syndrome was defined as a combination of fever (T ≥37.8 °C) and abdominal pain and/or lack of bowel movement for 72 hours or more. Five hundred and twenty-one neutropenic episodes were documented in 359 patients.

Results

The incidence of chemotherapy-associated bowel syndrome was 126/359 (35%) in first episodes of neutropenia. Transfer to intensive care occurred in 41/359 (11%) and death occurred in 17/359 (5%) first episodes. Chemotherapy-associated bowel syndrome and duration of neutropenia were identified as risk factors for transfer to intensive care (P<0.001; OR 4.753; 95% CI 2.297–9.833, and P=0.003; OR 1.061/d; 95% CI 1.021–1.103). Chemotherapy-associated bowel syndrome and mitoxantrone administration were identified as risk factors for death (P=0.005; OR 4.611; 95% CI 1.573–13.515 and P=0.026; OR 3.628; 95% CI 1.169–11.256).

Conclusions

The occurrence of chemotherapy-associated bowel syndrome has a significant impact on patients’ outcome. In future interventional clinical trials, this definition might be used as a selection criterion for early treatment of patients at risk of severe complications.     

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus among hemodialysis patients in Bushehr province, southern Iran: HBV seroprevalence in hemodialysis patients

Background

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is still reported from adult hemodialysis units.

Objectives

To determine the prevalence of anti-HBs antibody in hemodialysis patients and the correlation between levels of anti-HBs antibody with other factors.

Patients and Methods

HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc antibodies level in 119 hemodialysis patients were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

Seroconversion (anti-HBs antibody >10 IU/L) was found in 22 patients. Minimum protective antibody level was found in patients aged ≥60 years. Statistically significant correlation was not found between anti-HBs antibody and gender. Ten (8.4%) patients had abnormal ALT and/or AST. Prevalence of HBsAg, anti-HBc antibody, HBeAg and anti-HBe antibody were found in 8 (6.72%), 24 (25.16%), 2 (1.68%) and 3 (2.52%) patients, respectively.

Conclusions

Periodic assessment of anti-HBs antibody level is strongly recommended in patients undergoing hemodialysis.     

Lack of Knowledge About Hepatitis C Infection Rates Among Patients With Inherited Coagulation Disorders in Countries Under the Eastern Mediterranean Region Office of WHO (EMRO): A Meta-Analysis

Context

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a public health problem. HCV alone is responsible for 90% cases of acute hepatitis among multiply transfused patients who are at risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Objectives

To provide a clear picture of available data, we performed a systematic review of the epidemiological characteristics of HCV infection among patients with inherited coagulation disorders in the countries under the Eastern Mediterranean Region Office (EMRO).

Evidence Acquisition

Meta-analysis was carried out on the basis of results of electronic and manual search. This analysis included studies in English, French, and Persian that met with the following criteria: (1) appropriate study design: cross-sectional, case-control, and cohort; (2) studies reporting HCV prevalence according to enzyme immune assay; (3) studies in which the sample population was enrolled from EMRO countries. According to the results of the heterogeneity tests, we used fixed-effect/random-effect model for our meta-analysis, with the “Metan” command.

Results

We included 30 studies, most of which were from Iran. The mean age of the subjects ranged from 13 to 27.1 years. The majority of the patients were male (range, 81% to 100%). The pooled estimate of HCV infection among patients with inherited coagulation disorders was 48.07% (95% confidence interval [CI], range: 27.39–55.68) in Iran, 36.03% (95% CI, range: 4.466–67.598) in Pakistan, and 48.27% (95% CI, range: 36.12–60.43) in all the EMRO countries taken together.

Conclusions

In Iran and other EMRO countries, the HCV infection rate among patients with inherited coagulation disorders is high. Our study shows that there is a lack of knowledge about infections in such patients in most of the EMRO countries. It is the responsibility of health-policy makers to address this knowledge gap and provide safe and adequate treatment for patients in high-risk groups.     

In-Hospital Mortality Among a Cohort of Cirrhotic Patients Admitted to a Tertiary Hospital

Background/Aim:

To determine the mortality rate in a cohort of hospitalized patients with cirrhosis and examine their resuscitation status at admission.

Materials and Methods:

A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients with cirrhosis who were admitted to a tertiary care hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2009.

Results:

We reviewed 226 cirrhotic patients during the study period. The hospital mortality rate was 35%. A univariate analysis revealed that worse outcomes were seen in patients with advanced age or who had worse child-turcotte-pugh (CPT) scores, worse model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores, low albumin and high serum creatinine. Using a multivariate analysis, we found that advanced age (P=0.004) and high MELD (P=0.001) scores were independent risk factors for the mortality of cirrhotic patients. The end-of-life decision were made in 34% of cirrhotic patients, and the majority of deceased patients were “no resuscitation” status (90% vs. 4%, P<0.001).

Conclusions:

The relatively high mortality in cirrhotic patients admitted for care in a tertiary hospital, Saudi Arabia was comparable to that reported in the literature. Furthermore, end-of-life discussions should be addressed early in the hospitalization of cirrhotic patients.     

Metabolic Syndrome Frequency in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Background/Aim:

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a clinical condition characterized by central obesity, elevated triglycerides, low–high density lipoproteins, impaired fasting glucose, and hypertension. There is insufficient data on the prevalence of MetS in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study sought to determine the prevalence of MetS in a Turkish cohort of patients with IBD and the association between insulin resistance (IR) and the MetS parameters, in this population.

Patients and Methods:

A total of 177 patients over 18 years of age (62 with Crohn''s disease (CD) and 115 with ulcerative colitis (UC)) were enrolled in the study. The presence of at least three criteria of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) was accepted for the diagnosis of MetS. The Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA) was used to determine IR. HOMA values < 1 were considered normal and values > 2.5 indicated a high probability of IR.

Results:

MetS frequency was higher in patients n=34 (29.5%) with UC than in patients n=11 (17.7%) with CD (P < 0.01). MetS was detected in 12 of the 117 patients (10.3%) with IBD, under 45 years of age, and in 33 of 60 patients (55%) over 45 years of age. HOMA value in n=31 patients (27%) with UC was > 2.5. Body mass index, insulin (P < 0.001), waist circumference, fasting plasma glucose, leukocyte count (P < 0.01), triglycerides, C-reactive protein, and uric acid values (P < 0.05) were significantly higher in UC patients with IR than those without IR.

Conclusion:

Frequent occurrence of MS with increasing age in IBD, particularly in UC, showed the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease risk factors in the long-term follow-up of these diseases.     

Challenges in Glycemic Control in Perioperative and Critically Ill Patients: Glycemic Variability and Mortality in Critically Ill Patients: The Impact of Diabetes

Background

Glycemic variability (GV) has recently been associated with mortality in critically ill patients. The impact of diabetes or its absence on GV as a risk factor for mortality is unknown.

Methods

A total of 4084 adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients admitted between October 15, 1999, and June 30, 2009, with at least three central laboratory measurements of venous glucose samples during ICU stay were studied retrospectively. The patients were analyzed according to treatment era and presence or absence of diabetes: 1460 admitted before February 1, 2003, when there was no specific treatment protocol for hyperglycemia (“PRE”) and 2624 patients admitted after a glycemic control protocol was instituted (“GC”). 3142 were patients without diabetes (“NON”), and 942 were patients with diabetes (“DM”). The coefficient of variation (CV) [standard deviation (SD)/mean glucose level (MGL)] of each patient was used as a measure of GV. Patients were grouped by MGL (mg/dl) during ICU stay (70–99, 100–119, 120–139, 140–179, and 180+) as well as by CV (<15%, 15–30%, 30–50%, and 50%+).

Results

Patients with diabetes had higher MGL, SD, and CV than did NON (p < .0001 for all comparisons). Mean glucose level was lower among both GC groups compared to their corresponding PRE groups (p < .0001), but CV did not change significantly between eras. Multivariable logistic regression analysis demonstrated that low CV was independently associated with decreased risk of mortality and high CV was independently associated with increased risk of mortality among NON PRE and GC patients, even after exclusion of patients with severe (<40 mg/dl) or moderate (40–59 mg/dl) hypoglycemia. There was no association between CV and mortality among DM using the same multivariable model. Mortality among NON from the entire cohort, with MGL 70–99 mg/dl during ICU stay, was 10.2% for patients with CV < 15% versus 58.3% for those with CV 50%+; for NON with MGL 100–119 mg/dl, corresponding rates were 10.6% and 55.6%.

Conclusions

Low GV during ICU stay was associated with increased survival among NON, and high GV was associated with increased mortality, even after adjustment for severity of illness. There was no independent association of GV with mortality among DM. Attempts to minimize GV may have a significant beneficial impact on outcomes of critically ill patients without diabetes.     

The prevalence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth in non-surgical patients with chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI)

Background

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is a condition characterised by symptoms similar to pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI) in chronic pancreatitis patients. SIBO is thought to complicate chronic pancreatitis in up to 92% of cases; however, studies are heterogeneous and protocols non-standardised. SIBO may be determined by measuring lung air-expiration of either hydrogen or methane which are by-products of small bowel bacterial fermentation of intraluminal substrates such as carbohydrates. We evaluated the prevalence of SIBO among a defined cohort of non-surgical chronic pancreatitics with mild to severe PEI compared with matched healthy controls.

Financial Responsibility of Hospitalized Patients Who Left Against Medical Advice: Medical Urban Legend?

BACKGROUND

Physicians may counsel patients who leave against medical advice (AMA) that insurance will not pay for their care. However, it is unclear whether insurers deny payment for hospitalization in these cases.

OBJECTIVE

To review whether insurers denied payment for patients discharged AMA and assess physician beliefs and counseling practices when patients leave AMA.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort of medical inpatients from 2001 to 2010; cross-sectional survey of physician beliefs and counseling practices for AMA patients in 2010.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients who left AMA from 2001 to 2010, internal medicine residents and attendings at a single academic institution, and a convenience sample of residents from 13 Illinois hospitals in June 2010.

MAIN MEASURES

Percent of AMA patients for which insurance denied payment, percent of physicians who agreed insurance denies payment for patients who leave AMA and who counsel patients leaving AMA they are financially responsible.

KEY RESULTS

Of 46,319 patients admitted from 2001 to 2010, 526 (1.1%) patients left AMA. Among insured patients, payment was refused in 4.1% of cases. Reasons for refusal were largely administrative (wrong name, etc.). No cases of payment refusal were because patient left AMA. Nevertheless, most residents (68.6%) and nearly half of attendings (43.9%) believed insurance denies payment when a patient leaves AMA. Attendings who believed that insurance denied payment were more likely to report informing AMA patients they may be held financially responsible (mean 4.2 vs. 1.7 on a Likert 1–5 scale, in which 5 is “always” inform, p < 0.001). This relationship was not observed among residents. The most common reason for counseling patients was “so they will reconsider staying in the hospital” (84.8% residents, 66.7% attendings, p = 0.008)

CONCLUSIONS

Contrary to popular belief, we found no evidence that insurance denied payment for patients leaving AMA. Residency programs and hospitals should ensure that patients are not misinformed.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11606-012-1984-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.KEY WORDS: patient discharge, financial responsibility, hospital reimbursement     

Neurological events related to influenza A (H1N1) pdm09

Objectives

To review neurological complications after the influenza A (H1N1) pdm09, highlighting the clinical differences between patients with post-vaccine or viral infection.

Design

A search on Medline, Ovid, EMBASE, and PubMed databases using the keywords “neurological complications of Influenza AH1N1” or “post-vaccine Influenza AH1N1.”

Setting

Only papers written in English, Spanish, German, French, Portuguese, and Italian published from March 2009 to December 2012 were included.

Sample

We included 104 articles presenting a total of 1636 patient cases. In addition, two cases of influenza vaccine-related neurological events from our neurological care center, arising during the period of study, were also included.

Main outcome measures

Demographic data and clinical diagnosis of neurological complications and outcomes: death, neurological sequelae or recovery after influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 vaccine or infection.

Results

The retrieved cases were divided into two groups: the post-vaccination group, with 287 patients, and the viral infection group, with 1349 patients. Most patients in the first group were adults. The main neurological complications were Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) or polyneuropathy (125), and seizures (23). All patients survived. Pediatric patients were predominant in the viral infection group. In this group, 60 patients (4.7%) died and 52 (30.1%) developed permanent sequelae. A wide spectrum of neurological complications was observed.

Conclusions

Fatal cases and severe, permanent, neurological sequelae were observed in the infection group only. Clinical outcome was more favorable in the post-vaccination group. In this context, the relevance of an accurate neurological evaluation is demonstrated for all suspicious cases, as well as the need of an appropriate long-term clinical and imaging follow-up of infection and post-vaccination events related to influenza A (H1N1) pdm09, to clearly estimate the magnitude of neurological complications leading to permanent disability.     

Irritable Bowel Syndrome in a Bangladeshi Urban Community: Prevalence and Health Care Seeking Pattern

Background/Aims:

Although irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder, its prevalence is unknown, especially in the urban population of Bangladesh. This community-based study aimed to find out the prevalence of IBS and healthcare-seeking patterns using the Rome-II definition.

Materials and Methods:

A population-based cross-sectional survey of 1503 persons aged 15 years and above was carried out in an urban community of Bangladesh. The subjects were interviewed using a valid questionnaire based on Rome-II criteria in a home setting. Statistical analysis was performed with Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) Programmers and the level of significance was set at P ≤ 0.05.

Results:

A response rate of 97.2% yielded 1503 questionnaires for analysis. The prevalence of IBS was found to be 7.7% (n = 116) with a male to female ratio of 1:1.36 (49 vs. 67). “Diarrhoea-predominant IBS” (50%, n = 58) was the predominant IBS subgroup. Symptoms of abdominal pain associated with a change in stool frequency (100%) and consistency (88.8%) were quite common. All IBS symptoms were more prevalent among women (P < 0.000). In the past one year, 65.5% (n = 76) IBS subjects had consulted a physician with a slightly higher rate of women consulters (68.6 vs. 61.2%). The main predictor for healthcare-seeking was the presence of multiple dyspeptic symptoms.

Conclusions:

The prevalence of IBS in the urban community was found to be similar to that in rural communities. A higher rate of consultation was found among urban IBS subjects than in the rural subjects, with sex not seen to be a discriminator to seek consultation.     

Expanded and highly active proliferation centers identify a histological subtype of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (��accelerated�� chronic lymphocytic leukemia) with aggressive clinical behavior

Background

The concept of “accelerated” chronic lymphocytic leukemia is frequently used by both pathologists and clinicians. However, neither histological criteria to define this form of chronic lymphocytic leukemia nor its clinical correlates and prognostic impact have been formally defined in large series of patients.

Design and Methods

Tissue biopsies from 100 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia were analyzed for the size of proliferation centers and their proliferation rate as assessed by mitosis count and Ki-67 immunostaining. Histological patterns were correlated with main clinico-biological features and outcome.

Results

A suspicion of disease transformation was the main reason for carrying out tissue biopsy, which was performed at a median time of 14 months (range, 0 to 204 months) after the diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The biopsy showed histological transformation to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in 22 cases. In the remaining 78 patients, the presence of expanded proliferation centers (broader than a 20x field) and high proliferation rate (either >2.4 mitoses/proliferation center or Ki-67 >40%/proliferation center) predicted a poor outcome and were selected to define a highly proliferative group. Thus, 23 patients with either expanded proliferation centers or high proliferation rate were considered as having “accelerated” chronic lymphocytic leukemia. These patients displayed particular features, including higher serum lactate dehydrogenase levels and more frequently elevated ZAP-70 than “non-accelerated” cases. The median survival from biopsy of patients with “non-accelerated” chronic lymphocytic leukemia, “accelerated” chronic lymphocytic leukemia and transformation to diffuse large B-cell leukemia was 76, 34, and 4.3 months, respectively (P<0.001).

Conclusions

The presence of expanded and/or highly active proliferation centers identifies a group of patients with “accelerated” chronic lymphocytic leukemia characterized by an aggressive clinical behavior.     

Asthma Beliefs Are Associated with Medication Adherence in Older Asthmatics

BACKGROUND

Empirical research and health policies on asthma have focused on children and young adults, even though asthma morbidity and mortality are higher among older asthmatics.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the relationship of asthma-related beliefs and self-reported controller medication adherence in older asthmatics.

DESIGN

An observational study of asthma beliefs and self-management among older adults.

PARTICIPANTS

Asthmatics ages ≥60 years (N = 324, mean age 67.4 ± 6.8, 28 % white, 32 % black, 30 % Hispanic) were recruited from primary care practices in New York City and Chicago.

MAIN MEASURES

Self-reported controller medication adherence was assessed using the Medication Adherence Report Scale. Based on the Common Sense Model of Self-Regulation, patients were asked if they believe they only have asthma with symptoms, their physician can cure their asthma, and if their asthma will persist. Beliefs on the benefit, necessity and concerns of treatment use were also assessed. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine the association of beliefs with self-reported medication adherence.

KEY RESULTS

The majority (57.0 %) of patients reported poor adherence. Poor self-reported adherence was more common among those with erroneous beliefs about asthma illness and treatments, including the “no symptoms, no asthma” belief (58.7 % vs. 31.7 %, respectively, p < 0.001), “will not always have asthma” belief (34.8 % vs. 12.5 %, p < 0.001), and the “MD can cure asthma” belief (21.7 % vs. 9.6 %, p = 0.01). Adjusting for illness beliefs, treatment beliefs and demographics, patients with a “no symptoms, no asthma” belief had lower odds of having good self-reported adherence (odds ratio [OR] 0.45, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.23-0.86), as did those with negative beliefs about the benefits (OR 0.73, 95 % CI 0.57-0.94) and necessity (OR 0.89, 95 % CI 0.83-0.96) of treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Illness and treatment beliefs have a strong influence on self-reported medication adherence in older asthmatics. Interventions to improve medication adherence in older asthmatics by modifying illness and treatment beliefs warrant study.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11606-012-2160-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.KEY WORDS: asthma, disease management, medication adherence, aging, health beliefs.     

Hepatitis D virus infection in Isfahan, central Iran: Prevalence and risk factors among chronic HBV infection cases

Background

Hepatitis D virus (HDV) is dependent on hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Acute infection with HDV can occur simultaneously with acute HBV infection or be superimposed onto a chronic HBV infection.

Objectives

This study aimed to identify cases of HDV and determine its prevalence in patients with chronic HBV infection for the first time study in Isfahan, central Iran.

Patients and Methods

In a cross-sectional study in 2009, 346 who had been diagnosed for at least 6 months with chronic HBV were enrolled consecutively. Anti-HDV was measured by ELISA in the serum of these patients.

Results

The study included 245 males (70.8%) and 101 (29.2%) females with a mean age of 39 ± 12.4 years. Anti-HDV was present in 8 (3.5%) HBe antibody-positive patients (p = 0.36) and in 2 (2.3%) HBe antigen-positive cases (p = 0.68). No association was found between hepatitis D and probable risk factors.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that the prevalence of HDV infection is higher in patients who are positive for HBeAb compared those who are HBeAg-positive. Therefore, most HDV antibody-positive cases in Isfahan are HBV/HDV superinfections but not coinfections.     

Thrombolytic therapy for central venous catheter occlusion

Background

Long-term central venous catheters have improved the quality of care for patients with chronic illnesses, but are complicated by obstructions which can result in delay of treatment or catheter removal.

Design and Methods

This paper reviews thrombolytic treatment for catheter obstruction. Literature from Medline searches using the terms “central venous catheter”, “central venous access device” OR “central venous line” associated with the terms “obstruction”, “occlusion” OR “thrombolytic” was reviewed. Efficacy of thrombolytic therapy, central venous catheter clearance rates and time to clearance were assessed.

Results

Alteplase, one of the current therapies, clears 52% of obstructed catheters within 30 min with 86% overall clearance (after 2 doses, when necessary). However, newer medications may have higher efficacy or shorter time to clearance. Reteplase cleared 67–74% within 30–40 min and 95% of catheters overall. Occlusions were resolved in 70 and 83% of patients with one and 2 doses of tenecteplase, respectively. Recombinant urokinase cleared 60% of catheters at 30 min and 73% overall. Alfimeprase demonstrated rapid catheter clearance with resolution in 40% of subjects within 5 min, 60% within 30 min, and 80% within 2 h. Additionally, urokinase prophylaxis decreased the incidence of catheter occlusions from 16–68% in the control group to 4–23% in the treatment group; in some studies, rates of catheter infections were also decreased in the urokinase group.

Conclusions

Thrombolytic agents successfully clear central venous catheter occlusions in most cases. Newer agents may act more rapidly and effectively than currently utilized therapies, but randomized studies with direct comparisons of these agents are needed to determine optimal management for catheter obstruction.     

Prospective study of the meaning of indeterminate results of the Recombinant Immunoblot Assay for hepatitis C virus in blood donors

Background

The interpretation of “indeterminate” results of the recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA) is a particularly sensitive issue for Transfusion Services, and donors with such a serological condition require long-term follow-up.

Materials and methods

In the Immunohaematology and Transfusion Medicine Division of Umberto I University Hospital (Rome, Italy), 102,979 donor blood units were screened for hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) over a 5-year period (01.01.2000 – 31.12.2004). Since 24.10.2001, HCV -RNA testing was added. All samples repeatedly reactive by ELISA were then submitted to a HCV confirmatory assay (RIBA).

Results

Among the 102,979 donors we found 271 positive to HCV ELISA testing. The results of the RIBA assay for these donors were negative in 178 (65.7%) cases, positive in 28 (10.3%) and indeterminate in 65 (24.0 %).Of the 65 subjects with an indeterminate pattern, 24 completed a sufficient follow-up (median 25 months; range, 6 – 52), during which some (n=8; 33%) converted to a negative status, some (n=16; 67%) maintained their reactivity pattern, but none became seropositive for HCV.

Conclusions

The HCV-RIBA indeterminate status may indicate either a non-specific reaction (false positive) or a real pre-existing or initial infection and does not, therefore, enable a prediction of outcome. The use of HCV genomic assays (nucleic acid amplification testing), which are more specific than antibody-based assays (ELISA, RIBA), therefore improves HCV blood donor testing by allowing an accurate interpretation of such primary assays.     

The Effects of Guided Care on the Perceived Quality of Health Care for Multi-morbid Older Persons: 18-Month Outcomes from a Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

The quality of health care for older Americans with chronic conditions is suboptimal.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects of “Guided Care” on patient-reported quality of chronic illness care.

DESIGN

Cluster-randomized controlled trial of Guided Care in 14 primary care teams.

PARTICIPANTS

Older patients of these teams were eligible to participate if, based on analysis of their recent insurance claims, they were at risk for incurring high health-care costs during the coming year. Small teams of physicians and their at-risk older patients were randomized to receive either Guided Care (GC) or usual care (UC).

INTERVENTION

“Guided Care” is designed to enhance the quality of health care by integrating a registered nurse, trained in chronic care, into a primary care practice to work with 2–5 physicians in providing comprehensive chronic care to 50–60 multi-morbid older patients.

MEASUREMENTS

Eighteen months after baseline, interviewers blinded to group assignment administered the Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (PACIC) survey by telephone. Logistic and linear regression was used to evaluate the effect of the intervention on patient-reported quality of chronic illness care.

RESULTS

Of the 13,534 older patients screened, 2,391 (17.7%) were eligible to participate in the study, of which 904 (37.8%) gave informed consent and were cluster-randomized. After 18 months, 95.3% and 92.2% of the GC and UC recipients who remained alive and eligible completed interviews. Compared to UC recipients, GC recipients had twice greater odds of rating their chronic care highly (aOR = 2.13, 95% CI = 1.30–3.50, p = 0.003).

CONCLUSION

Guided Care improves self-reported quality of chronic health care for multi-morbid older persons.KEY WORDS: quality of care, chronic illness, older     

Epidemiological features of patients infected with HCV genotype 4 in Poland: Epidemiology of HCV genotype 4 in Poland

Background

Hepatitis C genotype 4 (HCV-4) is considered to be rare outside northern Africa and southern Europe.

Objectives

To describe the epidemiological characteristics of patients infected with HCV-4 in Poland.

Patients and Methods

The study group included 290 patients with HCV-related chronic liver disease and intravenous drug users with HCV infection recruited in years 2002-2006 in Podlaskie region, north-eastern Poland. In all cases, HCV infection was confirmed by HCV-RNA detection by qualitative nested RT-PCR. HCV genotype was determined by 5''UTR sequencing and comparison with known genotype-specific sequences.

Results

HCV 4 was found in 45 (15.5%) of 290 HCV-infected and HCV RNA-positive individuals. 60% of HCV 4 infections occurred in intravenous drug users; 51% of HCV 4-infected patients were also HIV-positive. Among 119 patients whose source of infection was other than drug use, there were 16 (10.5%) HCV 4 cases. Seven (46%) of 13 HCV 4-positive and HIV-negative patients who received combined antiviral treatment had sustained viral response.

Conclusions

HCV 4 exists in eastern Poland, and the infection is frequently related to intravenous drug use and accompanied by HIV infection. HCV 4 also causes a proportion of non-drug-related HCV infections.     

Mucosal Invasion by Fusobacteria is a Common Feature of Acute Appendicitis in Germany, Russia, and China

Background/Aim:

To investigate the geographic occurrence of mucosa-invading Fusobacteria in acute appendicitis.

Patients and Methods:

Carnoy- and formalin-fixated appendices from Germany, Russia, and China were comparatively investigated. Bacteria were detected using fluorescent in situ hybridization. Cecal biopsies from patients with inflammatory bowel disease and other conditions were used as disease controls.

Results:

Fusobacteria represented mainly by Fusobacterium nucleatum were the major invasive component in bacterial infiltrates in acute appendicitis but were completely absent in controls. The occurrence of invasive Fusobacteria in Germany, Russia, and China was the same. The detection rate in Carnoy-fixated material was 70–71% and in formalin-fixated material was 30–36%.

Conclusions:

Acute appendicitis is a polymicrobial infectious disease in which F. nucleatum and other Fusobacteria play a key role.