Chronic kidney disease impairs prognosis in electrical storm

Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology - The study sought to assess the prognostic impact of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients with electrical storm (ES). ES represents a...     

Significance of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Infection in the 1st Year of Life

Summary Background: In this study we investigated the frequency, symptoms and predisposing factors of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection during the 1st year of life in infants with obstructive airway disease in comparison with infants without airway disease. Patients: We enrolled 216 infants in their 1st year of life, who were hospitalized because of obstructive airway disease. As an age- and sex-balanced control group, we examined 133 infants hospitalized for other reasons than airway disease. Method: A deep pharyngeal swab was taken from all infants and immediately examined for the presence of RSV antigen by using an enzyme immunoassay (Directigen?). Patient data were surveyed by a questionnaire. Results: The frequency of RSV infections among infants with obstructive airway disease (34.3%; n = 74) differed significantly from the control group (15%; n = 20; p < 0.01). The frequency of RSV-infected infants with obstructive airway disease decreased with age ranging from 39.1% in trimenon I to 29.0% in trimenon IV. This trend was not observed in the control group. With respect to clinical symptoms and risk factors, there were no differences between RSV-infected versus noninfected infants. Conclusion: RSV is an important agent causing lower obstructive airway disease (34.3% of all patients). There are no specific symptoms that can be used for diagnosing RSV infection. In order to prevent other patients on the ward from contracting nosocomial RSV infection and in the light of therapeutic options, one should test newly admitted patients presenting with symptoms of an obstructive airway disease for RSV antigen. On a ward with high-risk patients, we would recommend the use of an RSV test for all new patients. Received: March 21, 1999 · Revision accepted: December 2, 1999     

Parent–child attachment,academic performance and the process of high-school dropout: a narrative review

Poor academic performance is a strong predictor of school dropout. Researchers have tried to disentangle variables influencing academic performance. However, studies on preschool and early care variables are seldom examined when explaining the school dropout process. We reviewed the literature on the relationship between caregiver–child attachment and academic performance, including attachment studies from preschool years, seeking out potential contributions to academic performance and the dropout process. The review was organized according to a model of four main mediating hypotheses: the attachment-teaching hypothesis, the social network hypothesis, the attachment-cooperation hypothesis, and the attachment self-regulation hypothesis. The results of the review are summed up in a model. There is some support for all four hypotheses. The review indicates that attachment and early care contribute substantially to dropout and graduation processes. Mediation effects should be given far more attention in future research.     

Repetitive jumping and sprinting until exhaustion alters hamstring reflex responses and tibial translation in males and females

The incidence of anterior cruciate ligament injuries is considerably higher in females than in males and the underlying mechanisms are still under debate. Research indicates that the neuromuscular system of females and males might respond differently to the same fatigue protocol due to differences in muscle activation during movement tasks. This study analyzed sex differences in hamstring reflex responses and posterior‐anterior tibial translation (TT) before and after fatiguing exercise. We measured the isolated movement of the tibia relative to the femur as a consequence of mechanically induced TT in standing subjects as well as muscle activity of the hamstrings before and after repetitive jumping and sprinting until exhaustion. Muscle fatigue delayed reflex onset latencies in females and males. A reduction in reflex responses associated with an increased TT was observed after fatiguing exercise for both sexes. Data indicate that the used fatigue protocol altered the latency and magnitude of reflex responses as well as TT in females and males. Based on the results of previous research and the outcome of this study, it might be that sex‐specific effects of fatigue on reflex activity and mechanical stability of the knee depend on the kind of fatiguing exercise. © 2015 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 33:1687–1692, 2015.     

Environmental Isolates of Azole-Resistant Aspergillus fumigatus in Germany

Azole antifungal drug resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus is an emerging problem in several parts of the world. Here we investigated the distribution of such strains in soils from Germany. At a general positivity rate of 12%, most prevalently, we found strains with the TR₃₄/L98H and TR₄₆/Y121F/T289A alleles, dispersed along a corridor across northern Germany. Comparison of the distributions of resistance alleles and genotypes between environment and clinical samples suggests the presence of local clinical clusters.     

Determinants of acceptance of end-of-life interventions: a comparison between withdrawing life-prolonging treatment and euthanasia in Austria

Background

End-of-life decisions remain a hotly debated issue in many European countries and the acceptance in the general population can act as an important anchor point in these discussions. Previous studies on determinants of the acceptance of end-of-life interventions in the general population have not systematically assessed whether determinants differ between withdrawal of life-prolonging treatment (WLPT) and euthanasia (EUT).

Methods

A large, representative survey of the Austrian adult population conducted in 2014 (n?=?1,971) included items on WLPT and EUT. We constructed the following categorical outcome: (1) rejection of both WLPT and EUT, (2) approval of WLPT but rejection of EUT, and (3) approval of both WLPT and EUT. The influence of socio-demographics, personal experiences, and religious and socio-cultural orientations on the three levels of approval were assessed via multinomial logistic regression analysis.

Results

Higher education and stronger socio-cultural liberal orientations increased the likelihood of approving both WLPT and EUT; personal experience with end-of-life care increased only the likelihood of approval of WLPT; and religiosity decreased approval of EUT only.

Conclusion

This study found evidence for both shared (education, liberalism) and different (religiosity, care experiences) determinants for the acceptance of WLPT and EUT.