Prolongation of gastric emptying by oral propantheline.

The present study shows that a single oral recommended dose of propantheline bromide normally doubles the mean gastric half-emptying time in man. In a prospective, double-blind, randomized crossover design 13 normal subjects were given 30 mg propantheline or placebo 90 min before taking a 113m-indium-labeled liquid test meal, the volume of which was adjusted to body weight. The disappearance of radioisotope from the area of the stomach was determined by external gamma counting. After placebo the mean half-emptying time was 68 min and after propantheline it was 135 min (p less than 0.005). Although salivary flow decreased and pulse rate increased there were no visual disturbances. In studies already reported maximally tolerated oral doses of quaternary ammonium anticholinergic drugs have not consistently retarded gastric emptying in man.     

The pre-hospital electrocardiogram and time to reperfusion in patients with acute myocardial infarction, 2000-2002: findings from the National Registry of Myocardial Infarction-4.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the use of pre-hospital electrocardiogram (ECG) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing reperfusion therapy, and evaluate the effect of pre-hospital ECG on door-to-reperfusion times. BACKGROUND: Although national guidelines recommend the use of pre-hospital ECG, there is limited contemporary information about its current use and effectiveness. METHODS: Using data from the National Registry of Myocardial Infarction-4, we studied patients with STEMI or left bundle branch block who received acute reperfusion with either fibrinolytic therapy (n = 35,370) or primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (n = 21,277) within 6 h of admission. We determined the prevalence of pre-hospital ECG use, evaluated the association between pre-hospital ECG and door-to-reperfusion time, and estimated the incremental reduction in time to reperfusion using hierarchical models to adjust for differences in patient and hospital characteristics. RESULTS: A pre-hospital ECG was performed in 4.5% of the fibrinolytic therapy cohort and in 8.0% of the PCI cohort. After adjusting for patient and hospital characteristics, the use of pre-hospital ECG was associated with a significantly shorter geometric mean door-to-drug time: 24.6 min (95% confidence interval [CI]: 23.7 to 25.5) vs. 34.7 min (95% CI: 34.2 to 35.3; p < 0.0001), and a significantly shorter geometric mean door-to-balloon time (94.0 min [95% CI: 91.8 to 96.3] vs. 110.3 min [95% CI: 108.7 to 112.0]; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The national use of pre-hospital ECG to diagnose and facilitate the treatment of STEMI remains low. When used, however, pre-hospital ECG is associated with a significantly shorter time to reperfusion.     

PHI faux pas: social media and the unauthorized disclosure of PHI

The pervasiveness of social media in modern communication has created increased liability for healthcare providers when trying to safeguard patients' protected health information (PHI). This article addresses a few of the most basic but pervasive ways, including "friending," "tagging," and "blogging," that PHI is unthinkingly shared on social media platforms and the precautions that providers can take to avoid such unauthorized disclosures. It is recommended that healthcare providers: 1) require online "friends" to agree to a written disclosure before connecting; 2) avoid tagging or posting photos online that include images of patients; and 3) do not comment or write about a patient on any online platform or blog without written approval from the patient. Ultimately, it is imperative that healthcare providers implement and enforce detailed social-networking policies and integrate those policies with their human resources disciplinary policies in order to guard against HIPAA violations.     

Desmopressin acetate prophylaxis in a patient with hemophilia A: report of case

Derivatives of an antidiuretic hormone raise factor VIII levels in patients with mild or moderate hemophilia A. This case report describes the use of desmo-pressin acetate to raise the factor VIII level in a patient with hemophilia A, before and after extraction of 27 teeth.