Polymerase Chain Reaction and Goldmann-Witmer Coefficient Testing in the Diagnosis of Infectious Uveitis in HIV-Positive and HIV-Negative Patients in South Africa

Purpose: To use polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Goldmann-Witmer coefficient (GWC) calculation to diagnose infectious uveitis.

Methods: Prospective cross-sectional study.

Results: Twenty-seven of 106 patients had positive PCR and/or GWC results on aqueous humor (AH) sampling and 15 of 27 (55.6%) were HIV-positive. Patients with non-anterior uveitis (NAU) were more likely to be HIV+ (p = 0.005). More than 1 possible pathogen was identified in 9 of 27 patients of whom 7 were HIV+. The final clinical diagnosis was discordant with AH findings in 9 of 27 cases. A positive EBV PCR result was associated with a discordant diagnosis (p = 0.001). All cases of herpetic anterior uveitis (42.9% HIV+) tested PCR-/GWC+ while all cases of herpetic NAU tested PCR+/GWC- (83.3% HIV+). All rubella virus cases were PCR+/GWC+.

Conclusion: PCR is useful to diagnose herpetic NAU in HIV+ patients while GWC is useful to diagnose herpetic anterior uveitis.     

Patients undergoing recurrent CT exams: assessment of patients with non-malignant diseases,reasons for imaging and imaging appropriateness

To determine percent of patients without malignancy and ≤ 40 years of age with high cumulative radiation doses through recurrent CT exams and assess imaging appropriateness. From the cohort of patients who received cumulative effective dose (CED) of ≥ 100 mSv over a 5-year period, a sub-set was identified with non-malignant disease. The top 50 clinical indications leading to multiple CTs were determined. Clinical decision support (CDS) system scores were analyzed using a widely adopted standard of 1–3 (red) as “not usually appropriate,” 4–6 (yellow) “may or may not be appropriate,” and 7–9 (green) “usually appropriate.” Clinicians reviewed patient records to assess compliance with appropriate use criteria (AUC). 9.6% of patients in our series were with non-malignant conditions and 1.4% with age ≤ 40 years. CDS scores (rounded) were 2% red, 38% yellow, 27% green, and 33% unscored CTs. Clinical society guidelines for CT exams, wherever available, were followed in 87.5 to 100% of cases. AUCs were not available for several clinical indications as also referral guidelines for serial CT imaging. More than half of CT exams were unrelated to follow-up of a primary chronic disease. We are faced with a situation wherein patients in age ≤ 40 years require or are thought to require many CT exams over the course of a few years but the radiation risk creates concern. There is a fair number of conditions for which AUC are not available. Suggested solutions include development of CT scanners with lesser radiation dose and further development of appropriateness criteria.     

神经源性声带运动障碍与喉神经电生理

声带运动障碍的病因和临床表现复杂多变，涉及多学科，从病因上分为神经源性和非神经源性。对于神经源性声带运动障碍的诊治，首先通过喉镜等检查明确有无声带运动障碍及严重程度，值得注意的是声带纵向张力变化障碍也属于运动障碍的范畴；然后采用喉肌电图（LEMG）检查进行定性分析，在确诊神经源性损伤后，进一步对神经损伤部位进行定位诊断并查找导致神经损伤的病因；同时根据喉部神经电生理评估结果，判断预后。最后综合上述的评估结果制定相应的治疗策略。     

温室作业对蔬菜种植人员职业性肌肉骨骼疾患的影响

目的 探讨温室作业对蔬菜种植人员职业性肌肉骨骼疾患（WMSDs）的影响。方法 采用流行病学横断面调查方法，选取西北某地区602人作为研究对象，其中温室作业人员（温室组）307人、非温室作业人员（非温室组）295人。通过问卷调查和体格检查，收集研究对象个人基本信息和各部位WMSDs检出信息。采用卡方检验进行组间WMSDs检出率的比较、Logistic回归模型进行多因素分析。结果 温室组WMSDs检出率为84.04%，高于非温室组（60.68%）（χ2=41.265，P＜0.001）。温室组颈部、肩部、下背部、手部和腿部5个部位WMSDs检出率分别为36.2%、29.0%、62.2%、20.2%和51.1%，均显著高于非温室组（24.7%、18.6%、41.4%、12.2%和26.4%）（P＜0.05）。温室组2个部位、3个部位和≥4个部位WMSDs检出率分别为25.1%、16.9%和19.2%，亦显著高于非温室组（18.3%、9.2%和10.2%），但两组间单一部位WMSDs检出率差异无统计学意义。校正性别、年龄等因素后，从事温室作业能增加作业人员WMSDs的风险（OR=3.558，95%CI 2.338～5.414），女性患病风险（OR=4.682，95%CI 2.600～8.433）高于男性（OR=2.667，95%CI 1.421～5.007）。结论 温室作业可增加蔬菜种植人员WMSDs的患病风险，多部位WMSDs尤其值得关注。     

The proteome microenvironment determines the protective effect of preconditioning in cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury

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Is routine extubation overnight safe in cardiac surgery patients?

Objectives

Expedient extubation after cardiac surgery has been associated with improved outcomes, leading to postoperative extubation frequently during overnight hours. However, recent evidence in a mixed medical-surgical intensive care unit population demonstrated worse outcomes with overnight extubation. This study investigated the impact of overnight extubation in a statewide, multicenter Society of Thoracic Surgeons database.