Peritonitis in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis in children living in Saudi Arabia

The clinical aspects of peritonitis and catheter infections were reviewed in 64 children on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis living in Saudi Arabia over a period of 6 years. Peritonitis occurred in 41 children (64%). The mean time from starting dialysis to the first episode of peritonitis was 7.2 months. The incidence of peritonitis was 1 episode in 9 treatment months. Gram-negative organisms were responsible for the majority of episodes (42%), followed by Gram-positive organisms (20%), and Candida albicans (6%); 32% were culture negative. Recurrent peritonitis was present in 20 cases. Catheter was replaced in 24 patients: 44% due to recurrent peritonitis. Peritoneal membrane loss occurred in 7 patients, 3 had Candida peritonitis and 3 had recurrent peritonitis due to Pseudomonas. The mortality rate was 4.6% but none of the deaths were related to peritonitis or dialysis. Received August 23, 1995; received in revised form October 2, 1996; accepted October 18, 1996     

Psychiatric disorders in two general hospitals: a survey of prevalence and treatment by nonpsychiatrist physicians.

This study reports an opinion survey of 211 nonpsychiatrist physicians in two general hospitals who estimated that 16.1% of their patients have psychiatric disorders and that they spent 13.8% of their time in treating the psychiatric components of their patients' illnesses. Physicians indicated that anxiety and psychosomatic and depressive illness were the most frequent psychiatric disorders and that one-third of them would personally treat such disorders without referral to psychiatric consultation. The findings also suggest that adequate undergraduate psychiatric education was associated with increased recognition of psychiatric disorders and more preference for their personal treatment. In addition, it provides a possible explanation for the discrepancy between the high prevalence of psychiatric disorders in general hospital patients and the low referral rate to psychiatric consultation.     

Lymphatic drainage from the skin of the back to retroperitoneal and paravertebral lymph nodes in melanoma patients

Background: Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy (LS) with^99mTc antimony sulphide colloid is now part of the routine management of patients with intermediate thickness melanoma at the Sydney Melanoma Unit. Over a 13-year period, 1375 patients have been examined using LS, and we have observed many unusual lymphatic drainage pathways, including direct drainage through the body wall to retroperitoneal and paravertebral lymph nodes from the skin of the back. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of such drainage in the 542 patients who had primary melanoma sites on the posterior trunk. Methods: The lymphoscintigrams performed on these patients were examined for the presence of direct lymphatic drainage through the posterior body wall to sentinel nodes in the retroperitoneal and paravertebral regions. Results: Lymphatic drainage directly through the body wall to such lymph nodes occurred in 14 of these 542 patients. Conclusions: Preoperative knowledge of the presence of this lymph drainage pattern may influence surgical management, and follow-up investigations in these patients can be tailored to ensure that the relevant areas are examined with anatomic imaging or F18-FDG PET scans.     

Increased stem cell somatic mutation in the non-neoplastic colorectal mucosa of patients with familial adenomatous polyposis

Colorectal tumorigenesis in familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) results from somatic mutation of either the normal APC allele or another growth control gene in epithelial cells bearing a germline APC defect. The rate at which tumors develop is therefore dependent on the somatic mutation frequency; it is not known whether this is normal or elevated in FAP. We aimed to quantify stem cell somatic mutation in FAP, comparing it with hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) and Crohn's disease (CD). Stem cell somatic mutation frequency was studied in 47 FAP patients, 5 HNPCC patients, and 13 CD patients, all younger than 49 years, by quantifying crypt-restricted loss of O-acetyltransferase activity in sections of morphologically normal colonic mucosa from individuals heterozygous for this monogenically inherited polymorphism. Median stem cell somatic mutation frequency was significantly higher in FAP than HNPCC (4.2 × 10⁻⁴v 1.4 × 10⁻⁴, Mann-Whitney U, P < .02). The level in CD (4.0 × 10⁻⁴) was similar to FAR Mutated crypts occurred in groups more frequently in FAP (22%) than HNPCC (12%) or CD (10%), suggesting an increase in stem cell division associated with crypt fission in FAP. We conclude that stem cell somatic mutation frequency is raised in non-neoplastic colorectal mucosa in FAR This is probably related to increased stem cell proliferation and contributes to the high rate of tumor formation in this condition.     

The usefulness of the blink reflex in the early diagnosis of cranial nerve neuropathy associated with diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND: Electrophysiological testing can be of value in early diagnosis of diabetic neuropathy. Limited data is available in the use of the blink reflex (BR) in diabetes mellitus (MD). AIM: is to evaluate the efficacy of BR in early diagnosis of cranial nerve neuropathy in DM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 67 diabetes and 32 healthy controls-age and sex matched- were chosen. The diabetes were of type I and type II and of more than or less than 10 years duration. The BR was elicited by stimulation the supraorbital nerve using the Dantec Neuromatic 2000M machine. The latency of the components response recorded as R1, R2y (ipsilateral) and R2c (contralateral). A direct response was achieved by the stimulation of the facial nerve; a square wave of 200 msec. was used. RESULTS: No differences were noted when the two sides were compared in diabetic patients, while the difference was highly significant in the increased latency of R1, R2y and R2c each type of diabetes as compared to the control. Comparison of the types and duration of diabetes between each other showed no significant difference. Direct measurement of the latency response of the facial nerve gave a response in diabetics of both types and duration. CONCLUSION: the BR can be useful in the early diagnosis of diabetic neuropathy.     

Morbidity and Mortality Associated with Typhoid Fever Among Hospitalized Patients in Hyderabad District,Pakistan, 2017-2018: Retrospective Record Review

BackgroundHyderabad, Pakistan, was the first city to witness an outbreak of extensively drug resistant (XDR) typhoid fever. The outbreak strain is resistant to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, fluoroquinolones, and third-generation cephalosporin, thus greatly limiting treatment options. However, despite over 5000 documented cases, information on mortality and morbidity has been limited.ObjectiveTo address the existing knowledge gap, this study aimed to assess the morbidity and mortality associated with XDR and non-XDR Salmonella serovar Typhi infections in Pakistan.MethodsWe reviewed the medical records of culture-confirmed typhoid cases in 5 hospitals in Hyderabad from October 1, 2016, to September 30, 2018. We recorded data on age, gender, onset of fever, physical examination, serological and microbiological test results, treatment before and during hospitalization, duration of hospitalization, complications, and deaths.ResultsA total of 1452 culture-confirmed typhoid cases, including 947 (66%) XDR typhoid cases and 505 (34%) non-XDR typhoid cases, were identified. Overall, ≥1 complications were reported in 360 (38%) patients with XDR typhoid and 89 (18%) patients with non-XDR typhoid (P<.001). Ileal perforation was the most commonly reported complication in both patients with XDR typhoid (n=210, 23%) and patients with non-XDR typhoid (n=71, 14%) (P<.001). Overall, mortality was documented among 17 (1.8%) patients with XDR S Typhi infections and 3 (0.6%) patients with non-XDR S Typhi infections (P=.06).ConclusionsAs this first XDR typhoid outbreak continues to spread, the increased duration of illness before hospitalization and increased rate of complications have important implications for clinical care and medical costs and heighten the importance of prevention and control measures.     

The Liver Retransplantation Risk Score: a prognostic model for survival after adult liver retransplantation

High-risk combinations of recipient and graft characteristics are poorly defined for liver retransplantation (reLT) in the current era. We aimed to develop a risk model for survival after reLT using data from the European Liver Transplantation Registry, followed by internal and external validation. From 2006 to 2016, 85 067 liver transplants were recorded, including 5581 reLTs (6.6%). The final model included seven predictors of graft survival: recipient age, model for end-stage liver disease score, indication for reLT, recipient hospitalization, time between primary liver transplantation and reLT, donor age, and cold ischemia time. By assigning points to each variable in proportion to their hazard ratio, a simplified risk score was created ranging 0–10. Low-risk (0–3), medium-risk (4–5), and high-risk (6–10) groups were identified with significantly different 5-year survival rates ranging 56.9% (95% CI 52.8–60.7%), 46.3% (95% CI 41.1–51.4%), and 32.1% (95% CI 23.5–41.0%), respectively (P < 0.001). External validation showed that the expected survival rates were closely aligned with the observed mortality probabilities. The Retransplantation Risk Score identifies high-risk combinations of recipient- and graft-related factors prognostic for long-term graft survival after reLT. This tool may serve as a guidance for clinical decision-making on liver acceptance for reLT.     

Full-left-full-right split liver transplantation for adult recipients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Full-left-full-right split liver transplantation (FSLT) for adult recipients, may increase the availability of liver grafts, reduce waitlist time, and benefit recipients with below-average body weight. However, FSLT may lead to impaired graft and patient survival. This study aims to assess outcomes after FSLT. Five databases were searched to identify studies concerning FSLT. Incidences of complications, graft- and patient survival were assessed. Discrete data were pooled with random-effect models. Graft and patient survival after FSLT were compared with whole liver transplantation (WLT) according to the inverse variance method. Vascular complications were reported in 25/273 patients after FSLT (Pooled proportion: 6.9%, 95%CI: 3.1–10.7%, I²: 36%). Biliary complications were reported in 84/308 patients after FSLT (Pooled proportion: 25.6%, 95%CI: 19–32%, I²: 44%). Pooled proportions of graft and patient survival after 3 years follow-up were 72.8% (95%CI: 67.2–78.5, n = 231) and 77.3% (95%CI: 66.7–85.8, n = 331), respectively. Compared with WLT, FSLT was associated with increased graft loss (pooled HR: 2.12, 95%CI: 1.24–3.61, P = 0.006, n = 189) and patient mortality (pooled HR: 1.81, 95%CI: 1.17–2.81, P = 0.008, n = 289). FSLT was associated with high incidences of vascular and biliary complications. Nevertheless, long-term patient and graft survival appear acceptable and justify transplant benefit in selected patients.