Hormone replacement therapy and bleeding disorders.

Bleeding disorders encountered during administration of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) are reviewed. The incidence of bleeding disorders is dependent on the phase of HRT and the age of the patient. In the diagnosis of these bleedings transvaginal sonography and minihysteroscopy are very important methods. Endometrial thickness can be monitored exactly by transvaginal sonography. Outpatient minihysteroscopy without anesthesia results in higher compliance to HRT after the procedure. In hormonal treatment of bleeding disorders during HRT, the sonographically supported progestogen test is very useful and can reduce endometrium thickness. Operative treatments include myoma and polyp resection as well as endometrial ablation. By these methods a high rate of bleeding-free HRT can be reached. The problem of endometrial cancer during HRT is discussed on the basis of new literature and critical statements. The review shows the importance of individual diagnostic and treatment schedules for bleeding disorders during HRT.     

Comparison of the Emergency Severity Index (ESI) and the Taiwan Triage System in predicting resource utilization.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The importance of accurate triage in Taiwan is becoming more apparent with the increasing number of emergency department (ED) patients, and resources for the National Health Insurance becoming constrained. This study compared the ability of the Taiwan triage system (TTS) and the standardized 5-level Emergency Severity Index (ESI) triage system to predict ED resource utilization. METHODS: Patients arriving at the ED were triaged by both TTS and by using a two-page checklist of ESI criteria during the 3-month study period. The ESI triage level was calculated independently to avoid bias. Disease category (trauma vs. nontrauma), length of stay (LOS) and hospitalization data were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 3172 patients with both ESI and TWN evaluation were included. The distributions of ESI ratings within TTS level 1 were: ESI 1, 21.1%; ESI 2, 68.1%; ESI 3, 7.4%; ESI 4, 3.4%; ESI 5, 0%. For TTS level 3, they were: ESI 1, 0.1%; ESI 2, 26.2%; ESI 3, 39.5%; ESI 4, 27.5%; ESI 5, 6.8%. Hospitalization rates were 74.5%, 40.9% and 22.2% in TTS levels 1, 2 and 3, respectively; and were 96.2%, 47.0%, 30.9%, 6.7%and 6.6% in ESI levels 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, respectively. TTS triaged more trauma patients as life-threatening/emergent condition than nontrauma patients (68.8% vs. 48.4%, p < 0.001). Triage by ESI, however, showed no significant difference in the percentage of trauma and nontrauma patients with highly acute conditions (44.2% vs. 46.6%, p = 0.230). Patients with ESI level 4 or 5 have significantly shorter ED LOS than those with ESI level 3. CONCLUSION: ESI produces more accurate discriminating patient acuity, ED LOS and hospitalization rate than TTS. Adopting a standardized 5-level triage tool might improve resource utilization planning of ED practice.     

Die klassifikatorische und pr?diktive Qualit?t des Merkmals “suicide intent” bei Parasuiziden Eine clusteranalytische Untersuchung Eine clusteranalytische Untersuchung

In einer clusteranalytischen Untersuchung mit 137 Patienten, die einen Parasuizid verübt hatten, wurden 6 Subgruppen unter Berücksichtigung der Klassifikationsvariable “suicide intent” isoliert. Es wurde die Hypothese geprüft, dass sich sowohl die Motivstrukturen als auch die Raten an wiederholten Parasuiziden in Abh?ngigkeit der Clusterl?sung bedeutsam voneinander unterscheiden. Die Ergebnisse unterstützen die Annahme einer zunehmenden Ausdifferenzierung der interpersonell orientierten Motivstrukturen mit sinkendem bzw. einer Einengung der Motivstruktur auf den Todeswunsch mit steigendem “suicide intent”. Es wurden folgende Subgruppen differenziert: eine Suizid-Hochrisikogruppe mit ausschlie?licher Todesintention und -motivation, 2 moderate Suizid-Risikogruppen mit hoher Todesintention und leichten Tendenzen zu interpersoneller Motivation, eine Subgruppe, gekennzeichnet durch eine manipulativ/strategisch orientierte Motivstruktur und auff?llig h?ufigen Parasuizidwiederholungen, eine Subgruppe mit vorrangig appellativ orientierten Motiven, Kontrollverlust und vergleichsweise seltenen Parasuizidwiederholungen und eine Subgruppe mit ambivalenter Motivstruktur (interpersonell und todesorientiert).     

Cytokines and oncogene activity

Cytokines play a part in the control of cellular growth, differentiation and development. Given such pleiotropic activities, it is not unexpected that the expression of the cytokines is tightly regulated. When cytokine-mediated processes are altered by mutation and/or overexpression of some cytokine or cytokine receptor genes, oncogenic transformation can occur. Oncogenes which derive their transforming potential through this mechanism include sis, which represents the activated form of the platelet-derived growth factor B chain, hst1/K-fgflint-2, which share appreciable homology with the gene family of fibroblast growth factors, fms, which is related to the cell surface receptor for macrophage-colony stimulating factor, and erbB-1, which encodes a truncated form of the epidermal growth factor receptor. Cytokine treatment has resulted in modulation of aberrant oncogene activity in some model systems.     

Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors: Animal Experiments Suggest a New Pharmacological Treatment for Alcohol Abuse in Humans

The prevalence of heavy alcohol consumption is a major problem of increasing proportions throughout the world. Although alcohol sensitizing drugs and more recently serotonin uptake inhibitors are drug interventions with some following, their long term beneficial consequences have yet to be demonstrated. In recent years, we have demonstrated that manipulating activity in the renin-angiotensin system will dramatically alter voluntary alcohol consumption in rats. Based on these findings, the present study evaluated the ability of a class of drugs known as the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors to reduce voluntary alcohol drinking in laboratory animals. These drugs prevent the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II. They have been licensed for use in Europe and North America and are indicated in the treatment of hypertension. Our experiments showed that both captopril (Capoten, Squibb) and enalapril (Vasotec, Merck Sharpe & Dohme) can reduce alcohol drinking in both normotensive and hypertensive animals regardless of whether the pattern of intake is in a bout or of a less exaggerated nature. Furthermore, this change in alcohol intake can occur without concomitant changes in blood pressure, plasma renin activity, overall fluid balance, or the distribution and metabolism of alcohol. Taken together these findings suggest that the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors should be evaluated in a clinical setting for they may prove to be a useful new treatment or treatment adjunct for alcohol abuse in humans.     

Tetanus in leprosy patients: report of five cases

It has long been noted that tetanus is rare in leprosy patients. Five cases of tetanus are reported in leprosy patients in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Although natural immunity to tetanus occurs and this appears to be higher in leprosy patients than in the general population, it is not completely protective. Further research on the relationship between tetanus and leprosy is indicated. Although firm epidemiologic data are lacking, it is prudent to give leprosy patients at least one dose of tetanus toxoid.     

Is additional epidural sympathetic block in microvascular surgery contraindicated? A preliminary report

The use of additional epidural sympathetic block during and after microvascular surgery in the lower extremities to prevent vasospasm is generally agreed on. However, a significant fall in the perfusion rate of the transplants was seen after application of bupivacaine (Marcain) via the epidural catheter. This effect has, to our knowledge, not been described before and is probably caused by the sympathectomy effect of this type of analgesia.