Electronic data collection by trainee anaesthetists using palm top computers

The Royal College of Anaesthetist requires that trainees wishing to specialise in Anaesthesia register with the College and keep a logbook documenting their experience and training in clinical anaesthesia. There are a number of advantages if such logbooks are kept in an electronic format. For the first time in the United Kingdom, we have evaluated the usefulness in a district general hospital of introducing a computerized system of record keeping based on a portable palm top computer. This has enabled the careful analysis of the individual work load of each trainee in the department by means of a specific program designed to generate a comprehensive report after the information from each individual has been downloaded on to a standard desk top computer. We have found a number of interesting and unexpected results and have highlighted ways in which the system may be improved.     

Methadone versus morphine as a first-line strong opioid for cancer pain: a randomized, double-blind study.

PURPOSE: To compare the effectiveness and side effects of methadone and morphine as first-line treatment with opioids for cancer pain. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients in international palliative care clinics with pain requiring initiation of strong opioids were randomly assigned to receive methadone (7.5 mg orally every 12 hours and 5 mg every 4 hours as needed) or morphine (15 mg sustained release every 12 hours and 5 mg every 4 hours as needed). The study duration was 4 weeks. RESULTS: A total of 103 patients were randomly assigned to treatment (49 in the methadone group and 54 in the morphine group). The groups had similar baseline scores for pain, sedation, nausea, confusion, and constipation. Patients receiving methadone had more opioid-related drop-outs (11 of 49; 22%) than those receiving morphine (three of 54; 6%; P =.019). The opioid escalation index at days 14 and 28 was similar between the two groups. More than three fourths of patients in each group reported a 20% or more reduction in pain intensity by day 8. The proportion of patients with a 20% or more improvement in pain at 4 weeks in the methadone group was 0.49 (95% CI, 0.34 to 0.64) and was similar in the morphine group (0.56; 95% CI, 0.41 to 0.70). The rates of patient-reported global benefit were nearly identical to the pain response rates and did not differ between the treatment groups. CONCLUSION: Methadone did not produce superior analgesic efficiency or overall tolerability at 4 weeks compared with morphine as a first-line strong opioid for the treatment of cancer pain.     

Enhanced allograft survival induced by posttransplant donor spleen cell infusion occurs via a mechanism that is distinct from the mechanism of enhancement by donor bone marrow

BACKGROUND: Our previous studies have shown that the ability of donor bone marrow to augment skin graft survival in antithymocyte serum (ATS)-treated recipients is dependent on the presence of functional CD95-ligand (Fas-ligand) molecules on donor cells. Because donor spleen cells can augment graft survival to a similar degree in the same model, we investigated whether the donor spleen cell effect was also dependent on the presence of CD95-ligand on donor cells and CD95 on recipient cells. METHODS: Mutant mice bearing defects in the expression of CD95 (lpr mutation) and CD95-ligand (gld mutation) were used as recipients and cell donors, respectively. Recipients were injected with rabbit ATS on days -1 and +2, and then were injected with 5x10(7) spleen cells on day +7. Skin graft survival was compared and correlated with the use of mutant mice as recipients and cell donors. RESULTS: The combination of ATS and infusions of wild-type [median survival (MST)=44 days, P=0.0004] and gld (mutant CD95-ligand, MST=37 days, P=0.02) donor spleen cells enhanced C3H graft survival, compared with (C57BL/6 x A)F1 recipients treated with ATS alone (MST=27 days). Furthermore, C57BL/6 lpr (CD95-deficient) strain recipients treated with ATS and donor spleen cells demonstrated enhanced B10.D2(R107) strain skin graft survival (MST=44 days, P=0.003), compared with C57BL/6 lpr recipients treated with ATS alone (MST=31 days). Wild-type C57BL/6 recipients treated in the same manner also exhibited an extension of graft survival (MST=64 days) versus controls treated with ATS alone (MST=31 days). CONCLUSION: The data demonstrate that the ability of donor spleen cells to augment allograft survival is not dependent on the CD95/CD95-ligand pathway; therefore the deletion of allospecific cells by donor spleen cells may be induced via a pathway other than deletion by donor bone marrow cells.     

Nuclear factor-kappaB mediates angiogenesis and metastasis of human bladder cancer through the regulation of interleukin-8.

PURPOSE: Interleukin (IL)-8 is an important mediator of angiogenesis, tumorigenicity, and metastasis in transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder. Nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB)/relA regulates IL-8 expression in several neoplasms. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the organ microenvironment (hypoxia, acidosis) regulates the expression of IL-8 in TCC via NF-kappaB, and whether inhibition of NF-kappaB function by mutant IkappaB-alpha prevents induction of IL-8 expression. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: IL-8 mRNA expression and protein production by human TCC cell lines (UM-UC-14, HTB-9, RT-4, KU-7 and 253J B-V) were measured by Northern blot analysis and ELISA under acidic (pH 7.35-6.0) and hypoxic (1.0% O(2)) conditions. The involvement of NF-kappaB and activator protein 1 in the regulation of IL-8 production was evaluated by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Furthermore, the tumorigenicity and metastatic potential of UM-UC-14 cells were determined after transfection with mutant IkappaB-alpha. RESULTS: We found that acidic and hypoxic conditions increased IL-8 mRNA expression and protein production by several, but not all, TCC cell lines evaluated. NF-kappaB, but not activator protein 1, was inducibly activated in UM-UC-14 under both acidic and hypoxic conditions, but not in UM-UC-14 mutant IkappaB-alpha transfectants. Tumor growth and lymph node metastasis were inhibited in UM-UC-14 mutant IkappaB-alpha transfectants compared with UM-UC-14 controls. This effect was associated with the inhibition of IL-8 production, cellular proliferation, and angiogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that TCCs of the bladder have heterogenic responses to physicochemical changes in the microenvironment and identify NF-kappaB as a potential molecular target for therapy.     

Efficacy of the laparoscopic approach for anterior lumbar spinal fusion

BACKGROUND: This study compares the immediate postoperative outcomes in patients who undergo laparoscopic and open anterior lumbar spinal fusion and describes the learning curve associated with the performance of this procedure. METHODS: The charts of patients who underwent anterior lumbar spinal fusion between January 1995 and July 1999 were reviewed. Data pertaining to the operation and postoperative course were analyzed and compared. RESULTS: Eighty-nine patients underwent anterior lumbar spinal fusion. Fourteen patients were excluded; a full analysis was performed on the records of the remaining 75 patients. Fifty-five patients underwent an attempted laparoscopic procedure, and 20 patients underwent an open procedure. The conversion rate was 38% (21/55 patients) in the group who underwent the laparoscopic procedure. In the 34 patients whose laparoscopic procedure was completed, there was significantly less blood loss and shorter postoperative ileus, but the operative time was longer, when compared with patients who underwent the open procedure. The laparoscopic procedures performed in 1999 resulted in fewer conversions, less blood loss, and a shorter operating room time, when compared with the laparoscopic procedures in 1998. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic anterior lumbar spinal fusion improves immediate postoperative results when compared with open anterior lumbar spinal fusion.     

Neural tube defects among Mexican Americans living on the US-Mexico border: effects of folic acid and dietary folate

Populations of Mexican descent have high occurrences of neural tube defects (NTDs). A recent study suggested that folic acid supplements may not protect these populations from NTDs. In a case-control study, the authors investigated the role of folic acid and dietary folate intake in NTD risk among Mexican Americans living along the Texas-Mexico border. From January 1995 to February 1999, 148 Mexican-American women with NTD-affected pregnancies and 158 women with normal live births were interviewed in person about use of vitamin supplements and dietary intakes during a 6-month periconceptional period (from 3 months before conception to 3 months after conception). Daily preconceptional consumption of vitamin supplements containing folic acid was 2.5% in control women and 2.0% in case women (odds ratio = 0.77; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.19, 3.22). With adjustment for maternal age, education, obesity, and previous stillbirth or miscarriage, the risk estimate was essentially null (odds ratio = 1.12; 95% CI: 0.22, 5.78). Combined folic acid intake from diet and supplements showed only a modest risk reduction for intakes of > or = 1.0 mg per day (adjusted odds ratio = 0.73; 95% CI: 0.31, 1.72). The fact that the primary folic acid exposure was in the form of dietary polyglutamates rather than the more easily absorbed supplemental monoglutamates may explain an apparent decreased effect in this population.     

Methadone maintenance in general practice: impact on staff attitudes

Background  

The evaluation of a structured protocol for the discharge of stabilised patients on methadone maintenance to general practice provided an opportunity to evaluate the impact on the attitudes of general practitioners (GPs) and practice staff.     

Improving quality of care using a diabetes registry and disease management services in an integrated delivery network.

Disease management for chronic conditions is a call for collaboration among all parties of the health care system. The Caritas Christi Health Care System established a unified American Diabetes Association (ADA) recognized outpatient diabetes self-management education program (DSME) in each of its six hospital communities and has established an Internet data portal with managed care organizations to improve preventive care for thousands of patients with diabetes. This article describes the stepwise process of building the successful Caritas Diabetes Care Program and the central role of the Caritas Diabetes Registry over a 5-year period.     

Phorbol esters rapidly attenuate glutamine uptake and growth in human colon carcinoma cells

BACKGROUND: The amino acid glutamine, while essential for gut epithelial growth, has also been shown to stimulate colon carcinoma proliferation and diminish differentiation. Human colon carcinomas are known to extract and metabolize glutamine at rates severalfold greater than those of normal tissues, but the regulation of this response is unclear. Previously we reported that phorbol esters regulate hepatoma System ASC/B(0)-mediated glutamine uptake and cell growth. As human colon carcinoma cells use this same transporter for glutamine uptake, the present studies were undertaken to determine whether similar regulation functions in colon carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human colon carcinoma cell lines (WiDr and HT29) were treated with the protein kinase C (PKC) activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and initial-rate transport of glutamine and other nutrients was measured at specific times thereafter. Growth rates were monitored during culture +/- PMA or an excess of System ASC/B(0) substrates relative to glutamine. RESULTS: PMA treatment induced a rapid inhibition of glutamine uptake rates in WiDr and HT29 cells by 30 and 57%, respectively, after 1 h. Cycloheximide failed to block this response, indicating that the mechanism by which PMA exerts its effects is posttranslational. The inhibition of glutamine uptake by PMA was abrogated by the PKC inhibitor staurosporine, suggesting that this rapid System ASC/B(0) regulation may be mediated by a PKC-dependent pathway. PMA also significantly decreased transport via System y(+) (arginine) and System A (small zwitterionic amino acids). Chronic phorbol ester treatment inhibited WiDr cell growth, as did attenuation of System B(0)-mediated glutamine uptake with other transporter substrates. CONCLUSIONS: System ASC/B(0) uptake governs glutamine-dependent growth in colon carcinoma cell lines, and is regulated by a phorbol ester-sensitive pathway that may involve PKC. The results further establish the link between glutamine uptake and colon carcinoma cell growth, a relationship worthy of further investigation with the goal of discovering novel cancer therapeutic targets.