Reflectance pulse oximetry at the forehead of newborns: The influence of varying pressure on the probe

Objective: Transmission pulse oximetry (TPO) is not a practical method of intrapartum fetal monitoring of arterial oxygen saturation. Reflectance pulse oximetry (RPO) requires a sensor applied to the skin of the fetal head and may be a useful technique. During labor, various degrees of pressure will be exerted on the RPO sensor. Previous studies have shown that moderate pressure on the sensor can improve the RPO signal. At increasing pressure, however, blood flow underneath the sensor will be occluded. This study examines the influence of pressure applied to the RPO sensor on the signal from the forehead of healthy newborns as a model for the fetal situation.Methods: After institutional approval, 12 healthy newborns were studied. The RPO probe was placed at the forehead. Pressure on the probe was increased stepwise from 0 to 80 mmHg, and the effect on the ratio between the relative changes of the red and infrared light intensities (R/IR, inversely related to oxygen saturation) and pulse sizes was evaluated. Additionally, the effect of firm pressure (>150 mmHg) on the probe was evaluated.Results: R/IR values remained virtually unchanged when pressure onto the probe was increased from 0 to 80 mmHg, although the standard deviation slightly decreased. The pulse size increased as pressure on the probe increased. During firm pressure on the probe (> 150 mmHg), plethysmographic signals remained detectable, but R/IR values markedly increased.Conclusions: In newborns, mild to moderate pressure on the probe has little influence on the RPO signal at the forehead. Even during firm pressure, RPO can be used to obtain pulsatile signals, that presumably derive from tissue underneath the skull, such as the cerebral circulation.     

Qualitative research in health care: II. A structured review and evaluation of studies

A hand search of the original papers in seven medical journals over 5 years was conducted in order to identify those reporting qualitative research. A total of 210 papers were initially identified, of which 70 used qualitative methods of both data collection and analysis. These papers were evaluated by the researchers using a checklist which specified the criteria of good practice. Overall, 2% of the original papers published in the journals reported qualitative studies. Papers were more frequently positively assessed in terms of having clear aims, reporting research for which a qualitative approach was appropriate and describing their methods of data collection. Papers were less frequently positively assessed in relation to issues of data analysis such as validity, reliability and providing representative supporting evidence. It is concluded that the full potential of qualitative research has yet to be realized in the field of health care.     

Right ventricular pacing and the risk of heart failure in implantable cardioverter-defibrillator patients

BACKGROUND: Right ventricular (RV) pacing in implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) patients may have detrimental effects on morbidity and mortality, in particular by inducing heart failure (HF). OBJECTIVE: We investigated whether RV pacing increases the risk of HF in an asymptomatic ICD population. METHODS: We evaluated all patients without symptomatic HF who received an ICD. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of HF, which was defined as new HF, hospitalization for HF, or death due to HF. The secondary endpoint was appropriate shocks. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 456 patients with mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 40% +/- 13%. Mean follow-up was 31 +/- 22 months. Because of the bimodal distribution of pacing, patients were divided into two groups: paced 50% (median 96%; n = 143). HF occurred more often in the paced >50% group (20% versus 9%; P <.001). Multivariate analysis identified RV pacing >50% (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.85; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.08-3.15; P = .03), baseline LVEF <26% (adjusted HR 3.15; 95% CI 1.77-5.59; P <.001), angina pectoris, history of atrial fibrillation, and baseline diuretic use as independent predictors of HF. RV pacing caused more HF events in patients with LVEF <26% (n = 64; 55% of paced >50% patients versus 20% of paced 50% also independently predicted appropriate shocks (adjusted HR 1.50; 95% CI 1.02-2.20; P = .04). CONCLUSION: RV pacing was associated with an increased risk of HF in asymptomatic ICD patients, particularly in those with preexistent left ventricular dysfunction.     

Nipah virus: Impact, origins, and causes of emergence

Nipah virus is an emerging zoonotic pathogen that causes severe febrile encephalitis resulting in death in 40% to 75% of human cases. Nipah virus is considered a biosafety level-4 pathogen and is listed as a select agent with high risk for public health and security due to its high mortality rate in people and the lack of effective vaccines or therapies. The natural reservoir for Nipah virus and related members of the genus Henipavirus are fruit bats of the genus Pteropus. Nipah virus emerged in Malaysia in 1998 as a porcine neurologic and respiratory disease that spread to humans who had contact with live, infected pigs. Research reviewed in this paper suggests that anthropogenic factors, including agricultural expansion and intensification, were the underlying causes of its emergence. Nipah virus has caused five subsequent outbreaks between 2001 and 2005 in Bangladesh. Here, it appears to have spilled over directly from bats to humans, and person-to-person transmission is evident suggesting a heightened public health risk.     

Clopidogrel treatment surrounding percutaneous coronary intervention: When should it be started and stopped?

Clopidogrel pretreatment before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been shown to decrease major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) at 1 month. This benefit has been demonstrated in patients spanning the entire spectrum of coronary artery disease. Subsequent dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel after stent placement is necessary for the prevention of stent thrombosis. The duration of clopidogrel therapy after stent placement is dependent upon the type of stent placed, and is recommended for a minimum of 4 weeks after bare-metal stent placement, 3 months after sirolimus-eluting stent placement, and 6 months after paclitaxel-eluting stent placement. A longer course of therapy with clopidogrel (12 months) has been recommended by the most recent American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association/Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions guidelines for PCI based upon incremental reduction in cardiovascular complications (primarily myocardial infarction). This article reviews the data presently available regarding pretreatment with clopidogrel before PCI, and the strength of evidence supporting long-term dual antiplatelet therapy.     

Distribution of Common CARD15 Variants in Patients with Sporadic Crohn’s Disease: Cases from Turkey

Three common genetic variations, namely, R702W, G908R, and 1007fs, on CARD15 have been shown to increase the risk for Crohn’s disease (CD) in Caucasian populations. In this study the frequencies of these CARD15 variants were determined by genotyping in 56 patients with CD and 100 healthy ethnically matched controls from Turkey. Overall frequency of all three variants was 10.7% in CD patients, compared with 1.5% in controls (odds ratio [OR]: 7.9). Among them, the frequency of the G908R variant allele was 8% in CD cases, compared with 0% in controls (OR: 36.8). The allele frequencies of three CD-related CARD15 variants were considerably lower in the control group compared to the reported Caucasian populations. Among the described CARD15 variants, G908R confers an increased susceptibility to CD, whereas the more frequently reported associations in Europeans with R702W and 1007fs are not confirmed in this Turkish population.     

Indomethacin Enhances Bile Salt Detergent Activity: Relevance for NSAIDs-Induced Gastrointestinal Mucosal Injury

Gastroduodenal toxicity of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is partly independent from cyclooxygenase inhibition, possibly related to increased intermixed micellar–vesicular (nonphospholipid–associated) bile salt concentrations thought to be responsible for bile salt cytotoxicity. We evaluated the effects of indomethacin on bile salt cytotoxicity with complementary in vitro and ex vivo systems. In the erythrocyte model, indomethacin alone did not induce hemolysis. In contrast, indomethacin enhanced and phospholipids decreased hemolysis induced by hydrophobic taurodeoxycholate (TDC). Hydrophilic tauroursodeoxycholate (TUDC) enhanced rather than decreased TDC-induced hemolysis in the presence of indomethacin. Indomethacin did not affect intermixed micellar–vesicular bile salt concentrations or compositions. Indomethacin also increased TDC-induced lactate dehydrogenase release in CaCo-2 cells and bile salt-induced rat colonic mucosal injury, and prevented potential protective effects of TUDC in these systems. Our data show that indomethacin enhances bile salt–induced cytotoxicity without affecting intermixed micellar–vesicular bile salt concentrations or compositions. These findings may be relevant for gastroduodenal injury during NSAID therapy.     

Impact of bronchiectasis on right and left ventricular functions

Diffuse systemic-pulmonary anastomoses and chronic hypoxemia may result in increase in ventricular work in bronchiectasis. We aimed to assess right ventricular (RV) and left ventricular (LV) functions in patients with bronchiectasis by using tissue Doppler-derived myocardial performance index (MPI), which is a novel and more sensitive parameter than conventional ventricular function parameters. To assess the possibility of RV and LV dysfunctions occurring in bronchiectasis, we studied 25 patients with bronchiectasis, and compared them with 22 age- and gender-matched control subjects. MPI, which is a combined index of both systolic and diastolic ventricular function, was calculated for both ventricles. RV and LV MPIs were also significantly different in patients and the controls. RV MPI was associated with the number of involved lobe, arterial blood oxygen pressure, and acceleration time/ejection time of pulmonary flow. LV MPI was not related to any clinical parameter, but it was correlated only with RV MPI. Ventricular functions are impaired in bronchiectasis. The impairment of RV function is related to involved lung lobe number, arterial oxygen pressure, and acceleration time/ejection time of pulmonary flow. LV dysfunction was correlated only with RV function.     

The impact of a suspicious prostate biopsy on patients’ psychological, socio-behavioral, and medical care outcomes

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the psychological, socio-behavioral, and medical implications of apparently false-positive prostate cancer screening results. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-one men with a benign prostate biopsy performed in response to a suspicious screening test (biopsy group) and 164 men with a normal prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test result (normal PSA group) responded to a questionnaire 6 weeks, 6 and 12 months after their biopsy or PSA test. RESULTS: The mean (+/-SD) age of respondents was 61+/-9 years (range, 41 to 88 years). One year later, 26% (32/121) of men in the biopsy group reported having worried "a lot" or "some of the time" that they may develop prostate cancer, compared with 6% (10/164) in the normal PSA group (P<.001). Forty-six percent of the biopsy group reported thinking their wife or significant other was concerned about prostate cancer, versus 14% in the normal PSA group (P<.001). Medical record review showed that biopsied men were more likely than those in the normal PSA group to have had at least 1 follow-up PSA test over the year (73% vs 42%, P<.001), more likely to have had another biopsy (15% vs 1%, P<.001), and more likely to have visited a urologist (71% vs 13%, P<.001). CONCLUSION: One year later, men who underwent prostate biopsy more often reported worrying about prostate cancer. In addition, there were related psychological, socio-behavioral, and medical care implications. These hidden tolls associated with screening should be considered in the discussion about the benefits and risks of prostate cancer screening.     

Preoperative Gabapentin for Acute Post‐thoracotomy Analgesia: A Randomized,Double‐Blinded,Active Placebo‐Controlled Study

Background: The role of preoperative gabapentin in postoperative pain management is not clear, particularly in patients receiving regional blockade. Patients undergoing thoracotomy benefit from epidural analgesia but still may experience significant postoperative pain. We examined the effect of preoperative gabapentin in thoracotomy patients. Methods: Adults undergoing elective thoracotomy were enrolled in this prospective, randomized, double‐blinded, placebo‐controlled study, and randomly assigned to receive 600 mg gabapentin or active placebo (12.5 mg diphenhydramine) orally within 2 hours preoperatively. Standardized management included thoracic epidural infusion, intravenous patient‐controlled opioid analgesia, acetaminophen and ketorolac. Pain scores, opioid use and side effects were recorded for 48 hours. Pain was also assessed at 3 months. Results: One hundred twenty patients (63 placebo and 57 gabapentin) were studied. Pain scores did not significantly differ at any time point (P = 0.53). Parenteral and oral opioid consumption was not significantly different between groups on postoperative day 1 or 2 (P > 0.05 in both cases). The frequency of side effects such as nausea and vomiting or respiratory depression was not significantly different between groups, but gabapentin was associated with decreased frequency of pruritus requiring nalbuphine (14% gabapentin vs. 43% control group, P < 0.001). The frequency of patients experiencing pain at 3 months post‐thoracotomy was also comparable between groups (70% gabapentin vs. 66% placebo group, P = 0.72). Conclusions: A single preoperative oral dose of gabapentin (600 mg) did not reduce pain scores or opioid consumption following elective thoracotomy, and did not confer any analgesic benefit in the setting of effective multimodal analgesia that included thoracic epidural infusion.