Informed consent: an evaluation of patients' understanding and opinion (with respect to the operation of transurethral resection of prostate).

The ability of patients to understand and recall information given prior to obtaining written consent was assessed in 55 patients who were due to undergo the operation of transurethral resection of prostate. The patients were also asked their opinion on informed consent. Most patients knew the position of the prostate and the purpose of the operation. Some aspects of the postoperative management and complications were less well remembered. In particular, 18% of the patients could not remember the possibility of retrograde ejaculation despite efforts to emphasize this. Of the patients who returned their questionnaires, 41% did not mind what happened to them provided they were made better; 54% trusted their doctor to do the right thing and did not think detailed explanation was important; 62% felt that consent forms are to protect the doctor's right; still most patients felt that consent forms were necessary. Sub-groups comparison showed no relationship between patients' attitude and their ability to recall information.     

Accidents following extradural analgesia in children. The results of a retrospective study

A retrospective multicentre study of the complications observed after regional anaesthesia in children was undertaken in 1991 at the request of the association of Anesthésistes-Réanimateurs Pédiatriques d'Expression Française (ADARPEF). The incidence of accidents seen in the study was comparable to that found in the literature. Five cases which were exceptional due to the severity of the sequelae have been analysed separately. Different pathophysiological mechanisms are proposed.     

First molecular detection of Theileria luwenshuni from goats in Myanmar

Parasitology Research - Tick-borne intracellular protozoan parasites of the Theileria genus infect a wide range of both domestic and wild animals. In the present study, we describe the first PCR...     

Slow-flow phenomenon during carotid artery intervention with embolic protection devices: predictors and clinical outcome.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this research was to define the predictors of the "slow-reflow" phenomenon during carotid artery intervention with filter-type embolic protection devices (EPDs) and to determine its prognostic significance. BACKGROUND: During carotid artery intervention using filter-type EPDs, we have observed cases in which there is angiographic evidence of a significant reduction in antegrade flow in the internal carotid artery proximal to the filter device, termed "slow-flow." The predictors of this phenomenon and its prognostic significance are unknown. METHODS: Using a single-center prospective carotid intervention registry, patients with slow-flow were compared to patients with normal flow during carotid intervention with respect to clinical, procedural, and lesion characteristics, and the 30-day incidence of death and stroke. RESULTS: A total of 414 patients underwent 453 carotid artery interventions using EPDs. Slow-flow occurred in 42 patients (10.1%) undergoing 42 carotid interventions (9.3%), and most commonly occurred after post-stent balloon dilatation (71.4%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified the following predictors of slow-flow: recent history (<6 months) of stroke or transient ischemic attack (odds ratio [OR] 2.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.4 to 5.6, p = 0.004), increased stent diameter (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.94, p = 0.044), and increased patient age (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.09, p = 0.025). Among patients with slow-flow, the 30-day incidence of stroke or death was 9.5% compared to 2.9% in patients with normal flow (chi-square = 4.73, p = 0.03). This difference was driven by the disparity in the 30-day incidence of stroke (9.5% vs. 1.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Slow-flow during carotid intervention with EPDs is a frequent event that is associated with an excess risk of periprocedural stroke. The association of the phenomenon with clinically symptomatic carotid lesions and use of larger stent diameters suggests that embolization of vulnerable plaque elements may play a pathogenic role.     

Association of Age With 10-Year Outcomes After Coronary Surgery in the Arterial Revascularization Trial

BackgroundThe association of age with the outcomes of bilateral internal thoracic arteries (BITAs) versus single internal thoracic arteries (SITAs) for coronary bypass grafting (CABG) remains to be determined.ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between age and BITA versus SITA outcomes in the Arterial Revascularization Trial.MethodsThe primary endpoints were all-cause mortality and a composite of major adverse events, including all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, or stroke. Secondary endpoints were bleeding complications and sternal wound complications up to 6 months after surgery. Multivariable fractional polynomials analysis and log-rank tests were used.ResultsAge did not affect any of the explored outcomes in the overall BITA versus SITA comparison in the intention-to-treat analysis and in the analysis based on the number of arterial grafts received. However, when the intention-to-treat analysis was restricted to the populations of patients between age 50 and 70 years, younger patients in the BITA arm had a significantly lower incidence of major adverse events (p = 0.03).ConclusionsOur results suggest that BITA may improve long-term outcome in younger patients, although more randomized data are needed to confirm this hypothesis.     

Comparison of measurements of time outdoors and light levels as risk factors for myopia in young Singapore children

Aims

To compare methods to measure time outdoor and light levels, two possible predictors of myopia, in Singapore children.

Methods

Outdoor time from a diary and portable light meter over a 1-week period was compared in 117 Singapore children aged 6–12 years with and without myopia. All children wore a (HOBO Pendant temp/light Part # UA-002-64) light meter for 1 week and the parents filled the 7-day outdoor diary to track the outdoor activity.

Results

Mean outdoor time from diary and time with light levels was 5.44 hours per week and 7.91 hours per week, respectively, during school term and school holidays. Time spent with light levels of >1000 Lux from the light meter were 7.08 h per week and 9.81 h per week, respectively, during school term and school holidays. The intraclass correlation coefficients were 0.21 and 0.28 for outdoor time from the diary and light meter (1000 Lux cut-off) during the school term and holidays, respectively. The correlation coefficient was 0.34 (95% CI 0.05, 0.58) for a weekday during school holidays, 0.17 (−0.14, 0.45) for a weekday during school term, 0.07 (−0.16, 0.29) for a weekday during school term, and 0.25 (0.02, 0.46) for a weekend during school term.

Conclusions

The agreement between the light meter and 1-week diary was poor to fair. Both instruments measure different parameters, time outdoors and light intensity, and could therefore capture different aspects of risk in future myopia studies.     

Infection of human T-cell leukemia virus type I and development of human T-cell leukemia lymphoma in patients with hematologic neoplasms: a possible linkage to blood transfusion

Among 354 adult patients with either hematological malignancy or aplastic anemia, eight were positive for anti-HTLV-I antibodies; six of eight had received multiple transfusions. There was an approximately 3.5-fold increase (P less than .001) of HTLV-I seropositivity in the patients with hematologic disease (8 of 354, 2.23%) compared to the healthy adults older than 20 years (34 of 5252, .65%). Two hematological patients, one with Hodgkin's disease and one with acute promyelocytic leukemia, were found to be positive for HTLV-I, and developed and died of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) subsequently. Both were long-term survivors of the primary disease and had received multiple transfusions. The latent period from blood transfusion to onset of ATL was 6 months and 11 years, respectively. Immunocompromised patients, who were seropositive for HTLV-I, may be at increased risk for ATL compared to healthy carriers of HTLV-I, and the latent period may be shorter.     

Antimicrobial Gauze as a Dressing Reduces Pin Site Infection: <Emphasis Type="Italic">A Randomized Controlled Trial</Emphasis>

Background  

Pin site infection is a common problem in external fixation. Plain gauze wetted with normal saline is commonly used for a pin site dressing owing to the simplicity and low cost. Evidence to support adding an antimicrobial agent in the dressing material is lacking.