Benign infantile seizures with mild gastroenteritis: Study of 22 patients

PurposeTo analyze the electroclinical features, aetiology and outcome in patients with normal neurological examination and psychomotor development who presented seizures during a mild gastroenteritis (MG).Patients and methodsEvaluation of the clinical charts of 22 patients who were assessed in the Neurology Department, Hospital Nacional de Pediatría Prof. Dr. JP Garrahan between 1999 and 2007.ResultsTwelve patients were boys and 10 were girls, the age of onset ranged from 5 to 26 months, and the median age was 10 months. Rotavirus antigen test in stool was positive in 9 of 18 studied patients. The seizures were brief, focal with secondary generalization in 15 patients (68.5%), apparently generalized in 5 (22.5%) and focal in two (9%). Seven of the patients (35%) had more than one seizure in 24 h. The interictal EEG was normal in all patients. Neuroradiological studies were performed in 19 patients with a normal result. No patient was put on long-term treatment with antiepileptic drugs. Four patients had subsequent mild gastroenteritis and two of them presented convulsions during the disease. After between 12 and 67 months of follow-up, all patients had normal psychomotor development and neurological examination.ConclusionsIn this study we confirmed the association of benign infantile seizures (BIS) and MG with or without rotavirus. The identification of this entity allows avoiding unnecessary complementary studies and treatment with antiepileptic drugs.     

A cross-sectional survey of patients' beliefs about stress and their help-seeking behaviour

BACKGROUND: Stress has become an increasingly common presentation in general practice. This may relate to an increase in stress in people's lives or a change in the meaning of stress and its conceptualisation as a legitimate problem for the GP. AIM: To explore patients' beliefs about stress, their association with help-seeking behaviour, and to examine differences by ethnic group. DESIGN OF STUDY: Cross-sectional survey of general practice patients attending to see their GP. SETTING: An inner-city London practice. METHOD: Consecutive general practice patients completed a questionnaire, which involved rating a series of symptoms for the extent to which they were associated with stress and describing their help-seeking behaviour. In total, 548 patients completed the questionnaire. Most patients described themselves as black Caribbean (n = 163), black African (n = 48), or white British (n = 187). RESULTS: The symptoms most frequently associated with stress were sleeping problems, feeling depressed, feeling panicky, having high blood pressure and feeling anxious; feeling ashamed, experiencing indigestion, having diarrhoea, feeling hot or cold, and suffering from constipation were least commonly associated to stress. This model of stress did not vary by ethnic group. Ethnic group differences were found for the association between the model of stress and help-seeking behaviour. Although white British patients consistently reported that the more a symptom was seen as indicative of stress, the more likely they would be to visit the doctor for that symptom, this association was not found for either black Caribbean or black African patients. CONCLUSIONS: The belief that stress-related symptoms are a legitimate problem for the GP is not universal and varies according to ethnic group. Stress is used by different patients in different ways and offers a variable pathway to the doctor.     

Quantity of Eimeria spp. oocyst elimination in sheep

In the present paper, the results obtained are shown after a study by means of multivariant statistical analysis, of the quantity of Eimeria spp. oocyst elimination in sheep, bearing in mind the variations observed in the different areas, in the different age-groups, from month to month, and from year to year. Climatic factors, development of immunity, lambing seasons, and poor hygienic conditions seem to be the factors responsible for the statistically significant differences found when analysing the aforementioned main effects.     

Preconception Care for Improving Perinatal Outcomes: The Time to Act

Maternal and Child Health Journal -     

Evaluation of tissue response to MTA and Portland cement with iodoform.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the biocompatibility of Portland cement with the addition of iodoform, compared to MTA (ProRoot). STUDY DESIGN: Eighteen Wistar albino rats were divided into 3 groups of 6 animals each. Polyethylene tubes were filled either with freshly mixed MTA or Portland cement mixed with iodoform (20% wt/wt) and implanted subcutaneously. An empty tube served as control. After 7, 30, or 60 days, the implants together with the surrounding tissues were removed in blocks. Sections were evaluated for the presence and thickness of a fibrous capsule, presence of granulation tissue, and the severity of inflammatory response. Data were submitted to nonparametric statistical analysis with individual comparisons between groups at a significance level of P < 0.05. RESULTS: There were no differences between inflammatory responses at 7 and 30 days. After 60 days from surgical removal, there was significantly more tissue reaction to the MTA and Portland cement compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: There were no significant differences regarding inflammatory responses between MTA and Portland cement with iodoform after 7, 30, or 60 days. After 60 days, the fibrous capsule around the Portland cement appeared more organized than tissue surrounding MTA implants. After 60 days, there was still a significantly increased tissue reaction to the 2 cements compared to the empty polyethylene tubes.     

Lower urinary tract symptoms and sexual dysfunction in women

This article assesses the effects of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), not including urinary incontinence, on the overall sexual health of women, using literature that includes peer-reviewed articles. This article analyzes a number of studies that provide data on the prevalence and the predictors of sexual function impairment in women with LUTS, such as urinary urgency and frequency, overactive bladder syndrome, and interstitial cystitis. Because case studies provide substantial heterogeneity of outcome measures, this article does not apply meta-analytic techniques to the data. Most of the studies showed that LUTS can have a negative impact on the sexual health of women, sexual pain disorder being the more frequent complaint among patients with bladder dysfunctions.     

Septic arthritis of the temporomandibular joint successfully treated with arthroscopic lysis and lavage: case report and review of the literature.

Septic arthritis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is infrequently reported. We present a case of septic arthritis of the TMJ following the extraction of the left upper second molar that occurred 1 week before beginning of symptoms. No evident predisposing factors were detected. Arthroscopic diagnosis of septic arthritis, lysis and lavage, and capsular stretch were performed. Cultures taken from the TMJ space grew Streptococcus sp. After 1 month of antimicrobial therapy the patient was asymptomatic and mandibular function was normal. Literature related to septic arthritis of TMJ and its treatment was reviewed. Different surgical procedures are available to treat this condition. Arthroscopy should be preferred as initial treatment on account of the possibility of drainage and accurate lavage under direct visualization of joint space, at the same time allowing confirmation of diagnostic hypotheses. Improving joint mobility with lysis of adhesions and capsular stretch in an early stage of disease may be helpful in stopping the fibrosis process.     

Caries experience and fluorosis prevalence in Chilean children from different socio-economic status

Abstract Caries experience and enamel fluorosis prevalence in 8-year-old children belonging to different socio-economic classes were determined in two Chilean twin cities that are served by optimally fluoridated community water from the same waterworks facility. Low socio-economic status (LSES) children had a higher mean dm ft and DMFT indices (P<0.001) than high socioeconomic status (HSES) children. Prevalence of enamel fluorosis in the permanent teeth of LSES children was 0.79, significantly higher (X²= 9.0; P<0.003) than the value 0.59 found in HSES children. The proportion of Dean's scores 2. 3, 4 and 5 in first molars, mandibular and maxillary incisors in LSES children was higher than in HSES children (P<0.001). Differences in prevalence and seventy of enamel fluorosis between both groups are tentatively attributed lo a different pattern of tap water and tea consumption at pre-school ages. Suggestions are advanced to minimize the undesirable prevalence and severity of enamel fluorosis.