Feasibility of pacemaker therapy after dynamic cardiomyoplasty

A 54-year-old man presented with total atrioventricular (AV) block 3 months after dynamic cardiomyoplasty was performed because of heart failure due to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Though the cardiomyostimulator acted as a back-up pacemaker, a DDDR pacemaker was implanted to optimize hemodynamics. During testing no cross-sensing or cross-stimulation between the pacemaker and the cardiomyostimulator was demonstrable. The synchronization delay, however, had to be adjusted.     

Severe cholestasis related to intraconazole for the treatment of onychomycosis

We describe a case of prolonged cholestasis temporally associated with the use of itraconazole for onychomycosis. Peak bilirubin level of 32.0 mg/dl was documented approximately 2 months after discontinuation of the patient's itraconazole therapy, with symptoms of cholestasis persisting more than 1 month after the peak in bilirubin. Physicians should be aware of the potential for severe cholestasis associated with itraconazole usage.     

Interobserver reliability of diagnostic criteria for cervicogenic headache

To assess the interobserver reliability in distinguishing cervicogenic headache (CEH) from migraine without aura and tension-type headache we conducted a study keeping as closely as possible to daily clinical practice. In contrast to other reliability studies, which use data from clinical patient records or semi-structured interviews recorded on videotape ('in vitro' design), we examined 'live' patients ('in vivo' design). Twenty-four headache patients participated in our 'in vivo' design experiment. During a session, each physician performed a physical examination and queried six patients in succession using a semi-structured interview. Diagnosis was carried out in accordance with the International Headache Society (IHS) criteria and the criteria from Sjaastad and co-workers. Kappa statistics were used: 0.83 between the expert headache neurologists; 0.74/0.73 between the expert anesthesiologist in (head) pain treatment and both expert neurologists respectively; kappa ranged from 0.43 to 0.62 between the other physicians. The results of our 'in vivo' design study show that the reliability in diagnosing CEH, when strictly applying the criteria from Sjaastad and co-workers, is similar to the reliability in diagnosing migraine and tension-type headache according the IHS criteria.     

Bilateral renal masses after local Bacillus Calmette-Guerin therapy for postcystectomy ureteral cancer

Bacillus Calmette-Guerin was administered through the ileal conduit of a 63-year-old man with upper tract recurrence of transitional cell carcinoma. Subsequent computed tomography showed bilateral renal masses, which were granulomatous at pathologic examination. The bacilli likely reached the kidneys via proven ileoureteral reflux. Patients with reflux may benefit from antituberculous prophylaxis. Received: 24 June 1997/Accepted: 26 August 1997     

Postacute care following stroke or hip fracture: single services and combinations used by Medicare beneficiaries (1987-1992)

OBJECTIVE. To describe the use of postacute services alone or in combination following a hospitalization for a hip fracture or stroke by Medicare beneficiaries who were relatively well and living in the community prior to the index event. METHODS. Health-service use histories were constructed using Medicare claims. Patients in the study represented all subjects from a 1% sample of Medicare beneficiaries who were age 70 years or older at the time of the index hospitalization. RESULTS. From 1987 to 1992, the proportion of patients receiving any postacute care and those receiving combinations of care increased. For example, there was a doubling of the proportion of patients with either condition using sequences of rehabilitation with home health or SNF and home health. Within 1 year of the hospitalization, 42.6% of patients with stroke and 35.0% post-hip fracture had been rehospitalized. DISCUSSION. Resource use and assessment of patient outcomes should be examined across the continuum of postacute care and in the months beyond to examine the relative effectiveness of different combinations of care.     

A mathematical model of aerosol holding chambers.

A mathematical model of aerosol delivery from holding chambers (spacers) was developed incorporating tidal volume (VT), chamber volume (Vch), apparatus dead space (VD), effect of valve insufficiency and other leaks, loss of aerosol by immediate impact on the chamber wall, and fallout of aerosol in the chamber with time. Four different spacers were connected via filters to a mechanical lung model, and aerosol delivery during "breathing" was determined from drug recovery from the filters. The formula correctly predicted the delivery of budesonide aerosol from the AeroChamber (Trudell Medical, London, Ontario, Canada), NebuChamber (Astra, S?dirt?lje, Sweden) and Nebuhaler (Astra) adapted for babies. The dose of fluticasone proportionate delivered by the Babyhaler (Glaxco Wellcome, Oxbridge, Middlesex, UK) was 80% of that predicted, probably because of incomplete priming of this spacer. Of the above-mentioned factors, initial loss of aerosol by impact on the chamber wall is most important for the efficiency of a spacer. With a VT of 195 mL, the AeroChamber and Babyhaler were emptied in two breaths, the NebuChamber in four breaths, and the Nebuhaler in six breaths. Insufficiencies of the expiratory valves were demonstrated by comparison of pressure flow curves during "inspiratory" flow with and without occluded expiratory openings. Insufficient inspiratory valves were demonstrated by comparison of "expiratory" pressure flow curves with and without occluded inspiratory openings. With children breathing through the spacers, mask pressure variations were generally on the same order as that seen with the mechanical respiratory, supporting the clinical relevance of the in vitro findings.     

Adjuvant small field pelvic radiation for patients with high risk, stage IB lymph node negative cervix carcinoma after radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection. A pilot study

BACKGROUND: After radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection, an identifiable subgroup of patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Stage IB lymph node negative cervix carcinoma remains at high risk of pelvic recurrence. This study attempted to determine whether postoperative small field of pelvic radiation can improve the disease free survival (DFS) of this high risk group of patients without producing significant morbidity. METHODS: Between 1991 and 1995, after radical surgery, 25 patients with Stage IB lymph node negative cervix carcinoma were considered to be at high risk of pelvic recurrence on the basis of tumor dimension, depth of stromal invasion, and the presence of lymph-vascular space invasion. All had a score >/= 120 as determined by the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) study. These patients received 50.4 gray of adjuvant radiation to a small central pelvic field and were followed prospectively. A Kaplan-Meier 5-year DFS curve was generated. A log rank analysis produced an estimated log rank P value (est P value) by comparing the 5-year DFS of the patients in the current study with the 5-year DFS of the corresponding high risk group of the GOG study (observation only). The morbidity of small field pelvic radiation was recorded. RESULTS: Among the 25 patients who received small field pelvic radiation, the mean GOG score was 166 (range, 120-263) and the mean follow-up was 32 months (range, 12-64 months). There was 1 recurrence (4%) recorded at 16 months. The log rank analysis demonstrated a significant improvement in the 5-year DFS for the group who received adjuvant small field pelvic radiation (est P value = 0.005) when compared with the DFS of the high risk GOG patients who were observed postoperatively. Four cases of minor morbidity were recorded: lymphedema (three cases) and mild rectal incontinence (one case). No major morbidity was reported. CONCLUSIONS: With low morbidity, adjuvant small field pelvic radiation appears to improve significantly the 5-year DFS of patients with high risk, lymph node negative Stage IB cervical carcinoma. However, this pilot study requires verification.     

Endogenous opioids and reward

The discovery of endogenous opioids has markedly influenced the research on the biology of addiction and reward brain processes. Evidence has been presented that these brain substances modulate brain stimulation reward, self-administration of different drugs of abuse, sexual behaviour and social behaviour. There appears to be two different domains in which endogenous opioids, present in separate and distinct brain regions, are involved. One is related to the modulation of incentive motivational processes and the other to the performance of certain behaviours. It is concluded that endogenous opioids may play a role in the vulnerability to certain diseases, such as addiction and autism, but also when the disease is present, such as alcoholism.