Survival with pain: An eight‐year follow‐up of war‐wounded refugees

The aim of this study was to investigate the nature of chronic pain in male war‐wounded refugees and to examine the relationship between chronic pain and psychiatric symptoms. A culturally heterogeneous group of 44 war‐wounded refugees were investigated during hospitalization, shortly after arrival, and followed up after two years. This study is an additional follow‐up after eight years. The data collection methods used were structured interviews and physical examination. The measures of outcome were: Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) grading of pain; clinical categorization of pain into nociceptive or neurogenic; Hopkins Symptom Check List (HSCL‐25); Post Traumatic Symptom Scale (PTSS‐10). Chronic pain was found in 32 (73%) out of 44 subjects. The pain was purely nociceptive and neurogenic in 53% and 25%, respectively. The frequency of psychiatric symptoms was significantly related to the mean intensity of pain. War‐wounded refugees display psychiatric symptoms and chronic pain in a complex pattern. Further research is needed as a basis for pain rehabilitation programmes suitable for this group.     

The role of human glandular kallikrein 2 for prediction of pathologically organ confined prostate cancer

BACKGROUND: In recent studies serum levels of human glandular kallikrein 2 (hK2) demonstrated significant differences in pathologically organ-confined versus non-organ-confined prostate cancer (PCa). In this study we investigated whether hK2 adds independent information when considered together with traditionally used parameters to predict organ confined (pT2a/b) PCa. METHODS: Serum levels of hK2, total and free prostate-specific antigens (PSA) were obtained one day before radical prostatectomy in 245 consecutive men. These were included with clinical stage and biopsy Gleason grade into univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression models. RESULTS: pT2a/b PCa was found in n = 148 patients. In univariate analysis all preoperative parameters demonstrated significant association with the presence of pT2a/b PCa. Using multivariate logistic regression model hK2 (P = 0.022), clinical stage (P < 0.0001), and Gleason grade (P < 0.0001) were independent predictors of pT2a/b PCa whereas PSA (P = 0.3) was not. In bootstrap corrected logistic regression based nomograms the addition of hK2 density marginally enhanced predictive accuracy when PSA, PSA density, clinical stage, and Gleason grade were considered (AUC = 0.879 without hK2 density and 0.883 with hK2 density). CONCLUSIONS: hK2 and hK2 density could independently predict pT2a/b PCa. However, improvement in predictive accuracy was marginal when nomograms based on traditional variables were complemented with this serum marker.     

Automatic prediction of infarct growth in acute ischemic stroke from MR apparent diffusion coefficient maps

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: We introduce a new approach to the prediction of final infarct growth in human acute ischemic stroke based on image analysis of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps obtained from magnetic resonance imaging. Evidence from multiple previous studies indicate that ADC maps are likely to reveal brain regions belonging to the ischemic penumbra, that is, areas that may be at risk of infarction in the few hours following stroke onset. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a context where "time is brain," and contrarily to the alternative-and still-debated-perfusion-diffusion weighted image (PWI/DWI) mismatch approach, the DWI magnetic resonance sequences are standardized, fast to acquire, and do not necessitate injection of a contrast agent. The image analysis approach presented here consists of the segmentation of the ischemic penumbra using a fast three-dimensional region-growing technique that mimics the growth of the infarct lesion during acute stroke. RESULTS: The method was evaluated with both numerical simulations and on two groups of 20 ischemic stroke patients (40 patients total). The first group of patient data was used to adjust the parameters of the model ruling the region-growing procedure. The second group of patient data was dedicated to evaluation purposes only, with no subsequent adjustment of the free parameters of the image-analysis procedure. Results indicate that the predicted final infarct volumes are significantly correlated with the true final lesion volumes as revealed by follow-up measurements from DWI sequences. CONCLUSION: The DWI-ADC mismatch method is an encouraging fast alternative to the PWI-DWI mismatch approach to evaluate the likeliness of infarct growth during the acute stage of ischemic stroke.     

The Impact of Roux Limb Length on Weight Loss After Gastric Bypass

Background Extending the length of the Roux limb (RL) in gastric bypass (GBP) may improve weight loss in super obese patients (body mass index [BMI] > 50 kg/m²), but no consensus exists about the optimal length of the RL. We sought to determine the impact of RL length on weight loss in super obese patients 1 year after GBP. Materials and Methods One-year weight loss outcomes were analyzed in all super obese patients who underwent consecutive and primary laparoscopic or open GBP between January 2003 and June 2006. Patients were divided into two groups according to RL length (100 vs. 150 cm). The RL length was at the discretion of the attending surgeon. Baseline and follow-up data were collected prospectively. Multiple linear regression was used to adjust for potential confounders in the weight loss outcomes. Results Twelve-month follow-up data were available in 137 (85%) of 161 patients with a BMI ≥ 50 who underwent GBP during the study period. An RL of 100 or 150 cm was used in 102 (74.5%) and 35 patients (25.5%), respectively. In multivariate analysis, patients with the 150-cm RL lost more weight (68.5 vs. 55.3 kg, p < 0.01), had a greater change in BMI (25 vs. 21 kg/m², p = 0.01), and had greater excess weight loss (64 vs. 53%, p < 0.01). Conclusion A 150-cm RL provides better weight loss outcomes in super obese patients at 1-year follow-up.     

Vertebral endplate signal changes (Modic change): a systematic literature review of prevalence and association with non-specific low back pain

The prevalence of “vertebral endplate signal changes” (VESC) and its association with low back pain (LBP) varies greatly between studies. This wide range in reported prevalence rates and associations with LBP could be explained by differences in the definitions of VESC, LBP, or study sample. The objectives of this systematic critical review were to investigate the current literature in relation to the prevalence of VESC (including Modic changes) and the association with non-specific low back pain (LBP). The MEDLINE, EMBASE, and SveMED databases were searched for the period 1984 to November 2007. Included were the articles that reported the prevalence of VESC in non-LBP, general, working, and clinical populations. Included were also articles that investigated the association between VESC and LBP. Articles on specific LBP conditions were excluded. A checklist including items related to the research questions and overall quality of the articles was used for data collection and quality assessment. The reported prevalence rates were studied in relation to mean age, gender, study sample, year of publication, country of study, and quality score. To estimate the association between VESC and LBP, 2 × 2 tables were created to calculate the exact odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals. Eighty-two study samples from 77 original articles were identified and included in the analysis. The median of the reported prevalence rates for any type of VESC was 43% in patients with non-specific LBP and/or sciatica and 6% in non-clinical populations. The prevalence was positively associated with age and was negatively associated with the overall quality of the studies. A positive association between VESC and non-specific LBP was found in seven of ten studies from the general, working, and clinical populations with ORs from 2.0 to 19.9. This systematic review shows that VESC is a common MRI-finding in patients with non-specific LBP and is associated with pain. However, it should be noted that VESC may be present in individuals without LBP.     

Gastrointestinal manifestations of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2

OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical features, natural history, and role of surgery for gastrointestinal manifestations of the multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2) syndromes. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: The MEN 2 syndromes are characterized by medullary thyroid carcinoma and other endocrinopathies. In addition, some patients with MEN 2A develop Hirschsprung's disease (HD), and all patients with MEN 2B have intestinal neuromas and megacolon that can cause significant gastrointestinal problems. METHODS: From 83 families with MEN 2A, eight patients with HD were identified (MEN 2A-HD). These and all patients with MEN 2B followed at the authors' institution (n = 53) were sent questionnaires to describe the onset and type of gastrointestinal symptoms and treatment they had before the diagnosis of MEN 2. Records of all patients responding were reviewed, including radiographic imaging, histology, surgical records, and genetic testing. RESULTS: Thirty-six of the 61 patients (59%) responded (MEN 2A = 8, MEN 2B = 28) to the questionnaires. All patients with MEN 2A-HD were operated on for HD 2 to 63 years before being diagnosed with MEN 2. All patients responding were underweight as infants and had symptoms of abdominal pain, distention, and constipation. Eighty-eight percent had hematochezia, 63% had emesis, and 33% had intermittent diarrhea before surgery. All patients with MEN 2A-HD had rectal biopsies with a diverting colostomy as the initial surgical procedure. This was followed by a colostomy takedown and pull-through procedure at a later interval. Ninety-three percent of patients with MEN 2B had gastrointestinal symptoms 1 to 24 years before the diagnosis of MEN 2. Symptoms included flatulence (86%), abdominal distention or being underweight as a child (64%), abdominal pain (54%), constipation or diarrhea (43%), difficulty swallowing (39%), and vomiting (14%). Seventy-one percent of patients with MEN-2B with gastrointestinal symptoms had radiographic imaging, 32% were admitted to the hospital, and 29% underwent surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with MEN 2A-HD had a typical HD presentation and always required surgery. Patients with MEN 2B have significant gastrointestinal symptoms, but less than a third had surgical intervention. Understanding the clinical course and differences in these patients will improve clinical management.     

Blunt traumatic hematuria in children. Is a simplified algorithm justified?

PURPOSE: We determined whether radiographic evaluation is indicated in all children with traumatic hematuria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 110 children from 1992 to 1999 diagnosed with blunt trauma and hematuria. It is routine practice at our emergency department to perform radiographic evaluation in all children with hematuria regardless of the degree. Each chart was evaluated for the mechanism of injury, degree of hematuria, hypotension, imaging studies, renal injury, renal anomalies, associated injuries and outcome. RESULTS: A total of 110 patients 1 to 18 years old (mean age 9) were identified. The most common mechanism of injury was motor vehicle accident in 37 children (34%), followed by a fall in 32 (29%). Grades I to V renal injury was present in 5, 6, 6, 6 and 1 cases, respectively (22%), while 1 (0.9%) involved ureteropelvic junction avulsion. No child had renal pedicle injury. In 9 patients renal anomalies were detected incidentally. Of the 110 patients 101 underwent radiographic evaluation, including computerized tomography in 97 (88%). The 24 patients (22%) with significant renal injury and all with incidentally diagnosed renal anomalies had 50 or greater red blood cells per high power field on urinalysis, while 1 with ureteropelvic junction avulsion presented without hematuria. Hypotension was present in only 3 patients (2.7%), who also had associated injuries, including 2 who presented with renal injury. All 3 with associated injuries. Associated injuries were identified in 11 of 25 patients (44%). The 9 patients (8%) who did not undergo radiographic imaging had negative results on repeat urinalysis with an excellent outcome. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend that radiological evaluation consisting of abdominal and pelvic computerized tomography should be performed only in patients with 50 or greater red blood cells on urinalysis, hypotension at presentation to the emergency room or based on the severity of mechanism of injury, for example high speed motor vehicle accident deceleration injuries. The patient who presented with ureteropelvic junction avulsion without hematuria would have undergone imaging considering the mechanism of injury and number of associated injuries.     

Long-term tolerability of tolterodine extended release in children 5-11 years of age: results from a 12-month, open-label study

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term tolerability of tolterodine extended release (ER) in children (aged 5-11 yr) with urgency urinary incontinence (UUI). METHODS: This was a multicenter, open-label extension of a 12-wk, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of tolterodine ER. Patients had UUI suggestive of detrusor overactivity (>/=1 diurnal incontinence episode per 24h for >/=5 of 7 d) and >/=6 voids per 24h at baseline and had completed the 12-wk double-blind study. Patients received tolterodine ER (2mg once daily) for 12 mo. The primary end points were the incidence and severity of adverse events (AEs) and the incidence and reasons for withdrawals. Visits were scheduled at 3, 6, 9, and 12 mo, and investigators were instructed to report all AEs. At 6 and 12 mo, vital signs were recorded and a physical examination was performed. RESULTS: A total of 318 patients were enrolled (double-blind tolterodine ER, n=221; placebo, n=97). The majority of patients were white (90%), mean+/-SD age was 7.6+/-1.5 yr, and 54% were boys. Forty-nine percent of patients reported >/=1 AE during the study, similar to that observed in the preceding 12-wk study (42%). The most frequent AEs were urinary tract infection (7%), nasopharyngitis (5%), headache (5%), and abdominal pain (4%); 111 (35%) patients withdrew. The most common reasons for withdrawal were lack of efficacy (12%), symptom improvement (8%), and withdrawn consent (6%). Ten patients (3%) withdrew because of AEs. CONCLUSION: Long-term treatment with tolterodine ER was well tolerated in children with UUI.     

Outcome of Patients with a Positive Sentinel Lymph Node who do not Undergo Completion Lymphadenectomy

Background  

Completion lymph node dissection (CLND), although considered a standard approach for patients with melanoma and a positive sentinel lymph node (SLN), is not performed in as many as 50% of indicated cases. This study evaluates the outcome of patients who had a positive SLN but did not undergo CLND at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.     

Declines in violence and police arrest among female sex workers in Karnataka state,south India,following a comprehensive HIV prevention programme

Introduction

Female sex workers (FSWs) frequently experience violence, harassment and arrest by the police or their clients, but there is little evidence as to the impact that such factors may have on HIV risk or whether community interventions could mitigate this impact.

Methods

As part of the evaluation of the Avahan programme in Karnataka, serial integrated behavioural and biological assessment (IBBA) surveys (four districts) (2005 to 2011) and anonymous polling booth surveys (PBS) (16 districts) (2007 to 2011) were conducted with random samples of FSWs. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess 1) changes in reported violence and arrests over time and 2) associations between violence by non-partners and police arrest and HIV/STI risk and prevalence. Mediation analysis was used to identify mediating factors.

Results

5,792 FSWs participated in the IBBAs and 15,813 participated in the PBS. Over time, there were significant reductions in the percentages of FSWs reporting being raped in the past year (PBS) (30.0% in 2007, 10.0% in 2011, p<0.001), being arrested in the past year [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 0.57 (0.35, 0.93), p=0.025] and being beaten in the past six months by a non-partner (clients, police, pimps, strangers, rowdies) [AOR 0.69 (0.49, 0.95), p=0.024)] (IBBA). The proportion drinking alcohol (during the past week) also fell significantly (32.5% in 2005, 24.9% in 2008, 16.8% in 2011; p<0.001). Violence by non-partners (being raped in the past year and/or beaten in the past six months) and being arrested in the past year were both strongly associated with HIV infection [AOR 1.59 (1.18, 2.15), p=0.002; AOR 1.91 (1.17, 3.12), p=0.01, respectively]. They were also associated with drinking alcohol (during the past week) [AOR 1.98 (1.54, 2.53), p<0.001; AOR 2.79 (1.93, 4.04), p<0.001, respectively], reduced condom self-efficacy with clients [AOR 0.36 (0.27, 0.47), p<0.001; AOR 0.62 (0.39, 0.98), p=0.039, respectively], symptomatic STI (during the past year) [AOR 2.62 (2.07, 3.30), p<0.001; AOR 2.17 (1.51, 3.13), p<0.001, respectively], gonorrhoea infection [AOR 2.79 (1.51, 5.15), p=0.001; AOR 2.69 (0.96, 7.56), p=0.060, respectively] and syphilis infection [AOR 1.86 (1.04, 3.31), p=0.036; AOR 3.35 (1.78, 6.28), p<0.001, respectively], but not with exposure to peer education, community mobilization or HIV testing uptake. Mediation analysis suggests that alcohol use and STIs may partially mediate the association between violence or arrests and HIV prevalence.

Discussion

Violence by non-partners and arrest are both strongly associated with HIV infection among FSWs. Large-scale, comprehensive HIV prevention programming can reduce violence, arrests and HIV/STI infection among FSWs.