Disclosure of protein C deficiency with pulmonary embolism followed by cardiac arrest during the recovery period]

A case of unexpected cardiac arrest occurring in a 17-year-old male patient is reported. The patient had been admitted after sustaining hand trauma. A first emergency surgical procedure was carried out, followed about three weeks later by another one. No incidents occurred during or after either of these two operations. A third procedure was required about two months after the accident (free toe graft to the thumb of the left hand). The twelve-hour operation was carried out under general anaesthesia and axillary block. The patient was given intravenous heparin (800 IU.h-1) during the procedure on the arm. The patient recovered quickly, and was extubated before his transfer to the recovery room. Fifteen minutes later, the patient's heart rate decreased to 40 b.min-1, followed by a transient cardiorespiratory arrest. The suspicion of pulmonary embolism was confirmed by pulmonary scintigraphy. Thrombolysis was carried out with 2,000 IU.kg-1.h-1 of urokinase for a 72 h period, combined with continuous heparin administration (16 to 36 x 10(3) IU.day-1). The patient recovered after one week. No thrombophlebitis was found for origin of the emboli. Biological investigations carried out both before and after 10 minutes of anoxia revealed a normal fibrinolytic system, but a deficit in protein C (62% antigen, 64% activity). Two years after the episode of pulmonary embolism, the patient, still taking acenocoumarol, remained free from any sequela. Current perioperative management of patients with a known protein C deficit is discussed.     

In situ characterization of T lymphocyte subsets in the reactional states of leprosy.

Using monoclonal antibodies and the immunoperoxidase technique, the numbers and distribution of T lymphocyte subsets in the tissues of reactional states of leprosy (six reversal reaction, nine erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) and two Lucio's reaction) were determined and compared with those found in stable, non-reactional patients (six tuberculoid, two borderline lepromatous and seven lepromatous). The pattern of segregation of the suppressor/cytotoxic phenotype at the periphery of the granuloma was found in both non-reactional tuberculoid lesions and reversal reactions, but was better developed in the former. In ENL and Lucio's reaction, as well as in non-reactional lepromatous tissue, the helper/inducer and suppressor/cytotoxic phenotypes were both admixed with the aggregated histiocytes. However, the helper/suppressor ratio in ENL (2.1 +/- 0.4) was significantly larger than that in non-reactional lepromatous tissue (0.7 +/- 0.4, P less than 0.001). The immature thymocyte antigen OKT6 was found on scattered large non-lymphoid cells, most commonly in tuberculoid and reversal reaction tissues, less commonly in ENL, but only irregularly in non-reactional lepromatous tissue. The peripheral pattern of the suppressor/cytotoxic phenotype may be an immunohistological reflection of a cell-mediated immune response common to both non-reactional tuberculoid and reversal reaction patients. The reversal of the helper/suppressor ratio in ENL as compared to non-reactional lepromatous disease suggests some role for cell-mediated immunity in the pathogenesis of ENL. The OKT6 positive cell is of unknown origin and function.     

In situ characterization of T lymphocyte subpopulations in leprosy in the mangabey monkey.

Leprosy in the mangabey monkey is an experimental model which is similar both clinically and histologically to human lepromatous leprosy. The immunopathology of these diseases was compared using monoclonal antibodies against T lymphocyte subpopulations in frozen tissue sections with an immunoperoxidase technique. In both mangabey and human lepromatous granulomas OKT4 (or Leu 3a) and Leu 2a cells were scattered among macrophages with greater numbers of Leu 2a as compared with OKT4 (or Leu 3a) cells. The results suggest that from an immunopathological standpoint experimental leprosy in mangabeys will provide a suitable model for the investigation of the pathogenesis of human lepromatous leprosy and for the evaluation of new antileprosy vaccines.     

Wellbeing of Breastfeeding Women in Australia and New Zealand during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

During the COVID-19 pandemic, breastfeeding women have experienced restricted access to support, placing them at increased risk of mental health concerns and limited breastfeeding assistance. This study investigated the effect of the pandemic on feeding choices and maternal wellbeing amongst breastfeeding mothers living in Australian and New Zealand. We conducted a cross-sectional online survey that examined feeding methods, maternal mental wellbeing, worries, challenges, and positive experiences during the pandemic. Most women were exclusively breastfeeding (82%). Partial breastfeeding was associated with perceived low milk supply and longer pregnancy duration during the pandemic. Reduced mental health and wellbeing was associated with lower levels of family functioning, increased perceived stress, and perinatal anxiety. Longer pregnancy duration during the pandemic was associated with lower mental health wellbeing scores, while higher perceived stress scores were reported for regions with higher COVID-19 infection rates and women with perceived low milk supply. Women reported that the pandemic resulted in less pressure and more time for family bonding, while worries about the pandemic, family health, and parenting challenges were also cited. Mental health concerns of breastfeeding women appear to be exacerbated by COVID-19, highlighting a critical need for access to mental health and broader family support during the pandemic.     

The use of perioperative Sofradex® eardrops in preventing tympanostomy tube blockage: a prospective double‐blinded randomized‐controlled trial

Around 11–12% of tympanostomy tubes are reported to become blocked by middle ear secretions or blood immediately following surgery, and so no longer function. Many otologists routinely instil an antibiotic and steroid‐containing solution at the time of surgery in the belief that this may reduce this complication. The aim of the study was to investigate the efficacy of instilling the antibiotic and steroid‐containing solution Sofradex^® at the time of grommet insertion in preventing grommet blockage. Double‐blind randomized‐controlled trial, comparing rates of grommet blockage in ears treated with Sofradex^® drops against control (no drops) in patients undergoing bilateral grommet insertion. Sixty‐one pairs of results were obtained. There was a significant difference between the rates of grommet blockage in the two groups. Grommets with Sofradex^® drops instilled perioperatively were nine times less likely to be blocked than controls [1.6%versus 13.1%, odds ratio (Sofradex^®/control) = 9.06, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04–78.82, P = 0.05]. There was no association between grommet blockage and perioperative bleeding or the nature and presence of middle ear secretions. Sofradex^® eardrops are effective in reducing the rate of grommet blockage when instilled perioperatively.     

Molecular detection and quantification of pertussis and correlation with clinical outcomes in children

Pertussis is an under-recognized serious infection. Conventional cultures are insensitive and of limited utility after antibiotic exposure. We corroborated the utility of real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as a diagnostic tool in pertussis and investigated its role as a prognostic tool by evaluating its benefit in the quantification of pertussis bacterial load. All pertussis-positive PCR tests (n = 104) submitted over 5 years were collected for retrospective study. PCR cycle threshold was compared to quantitative culture in 43. Compared to PCR, the sensitivity of culture was 41%. Our PCR assay reliably quantified bacterial load and was quantitatively reproducible. Higher bacterial load correlated with longer duration of hospitalization (P = 0.0003), and multivariate logistic regression models demonstrated this association to be independent. The study confirmed PCR as a superior diagnostic tool in pertussis. PCR quantification of bacterial load at initial diagnosis predicts later clinical disease severity, suggesting a potential benefit of PCR as a prognostic tool in pertussis.     

Methamphetamine laboratory-related burns in Western Australia--why the explosion?

Introduction

With increasing numbers of illicit drug users in both urban and rural communities, users and producers are becoming increasingly enterprising in their sourcing of mind altering drugs. An example of this is the ‘amateur’ production of methamphetamine in domestic dwellings. We describe the mechanism of burn seen in methamphetamine production, the pattern of clinical injury, and the difficulties in treating these patients.

Methods

A 12 month retrospective study of five patient groups presenting to our burn service with injuries following methamphetamine laboratory explosion.

Results

Out of five patient groups we have treated 9 individual patients (with one patient presenting on two different occasions) with burns following methamphetamine laboratory explosion. All patients were male and required hospital admission. The cause of the explosive injury was initially reported as barbeque or oven related, assault, or accident in all patients. Two patients (in separate events) required intubation for associated inhalation injury. Burn size varied from 1% to 40% BSA. 7 patients required surgical debridement and skin grafting. Injury type was thermal and chemical. All patients had difficult follow-up due to low levels of clinic attendance.

Conclusion

Methamphetamine laboratory explosion burns are difficult injuries from the start. Invariably the true circumstances surrounding the injury are not clear, and clinicians should be suspicious of a meth lab explosion in suspect individuals with burns plus airway injury. Patient management is complex and often requires substantial analgesic and anxiolytic medication in conjunction with clinical psychology and psychiatry as an inpatient.