Fungal biofilm formation on cochlear implant hardware after antibiotic-induced fungal overgrowth within the middle ear

Cochlear implantation in patients with chronic suppurative otitis media is managed with perioperative antibiotics; however, fungal overgrowth can occur. We present a child who received oral cefdinir and topical ofloxacin (Floxin). After 6 weeks, a fungal (Candida) biofilm was demonstrated on the implant surface. In this clinical setting, an antimicrobial strategy using an oral antifungal to prevent fungal overgrowth is a possibility.     

The early detection of postpartum depression: midwives and nurses trial a checklist

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of a standard pen-and-paper test versus the use of a checklist for the early identification of women at risk of postpartum depression and to investigate the experiences of nurses in using the checklist. DESIGN: A prospective cohort design using repeated measures. SETTING: The booking-in prenatal clinic at a regional hospital in Victoria, Australia, and the community-based postpartum maternal and child health service. PARTICIPANTS: 107 pregnant women over 20 years of age. MAIN MEASURES: Postpartum Depression Prediction Inventory (PDPI), Postpartum Depression Screening Scale (PDSS), Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), demographic questionnaire, and data on the outcome from the midwives and nurses. RESULTS: The PDPI identified 45% of the women at risk of depression during pregnancy and 30% postpartum. The PDSS and EPDS both identified the same 8 women (10%), who scored highly for depression at the 8-week postpartum health visit. Nurses provided 80% of the women with anticipatory guidance on postpartum depression in the prenatal period and 46% of women at the 8-week postpartum health visit. Nurse counseling or anticipatory guidance was provided for 60% of the women in the prenatal period. CONCLUSION: The PDPI was found to be a valuable checklist by many nurses involved in this research, particularly as a way of initiating open discussion with women about postpartum depression. It correlated strongly with both the PDSS and the EPDS, suggesting that it is useful as an inventory to identify women at risk of postpartum depression.     

Synthesis of vitamin D in skin after burns

Severe burn injury is associated with vitamin D deficiency, low bone turnover, and abnormalities in calcium homoeostasis. Patients do not routinely receive vitamin D supplementation and sun exposure is currently not controlled. By analysis of skin biopsy samples for vitamin D3 precursors after exposure to ultraviolet B light we found that the conversion of 7-dehydrocholesterol to previtamin D3 was reduced in children a mean of 14 months after the burn. Low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations were also found. We conclude that vitamin D supplementation is necessary after burn injury.     

Ward nurses' evaluation of critical care outreach

Following the recommendation to introduce critical care outreach, two different models on two hospital sites were introduced within a large teaching Trust. To establish ward nurses' views and opinions of important components of the two outreach models, a questionnaire survey was undertaken involving 134 ward nurses on the awareness of outreach, accessibility of outreach and usage of outreach. The results identified a high level of user satisfaction amongst ward nurses. Awareness of critical care outreach and how to access the service within a hospital site was good, with little differences between the two different models. Outreach was found to provide ward nurses with better skills, more knowledge, advice and support. Providing a 24-h service and continual critical care education and training opportunities are the suggested ways to improve outreach in the future.     

Achieving compliance with the European Working Time Directive in a large teaching hospital: a strategic approach

This paper describes the strategy which achieved European Working Time Directive (EWTD) compliance at the Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust in medicine and surgery. Compliance with EWTD regulations was assessed by diary card exercise, clinical care assessed through critical incident reports, electronic handover documents and nursing reports, training opportunities assessed by unit training directors, cost controls assessed by finance department analysis, and workload assessed by staff attendance on wards, in casualty and in theatres. There was a change in focus of care to a consultant-led, specialist registrar- (SpR-)driven service extending into evenings and on weekends, coupled with a move to a multi-skilled team for night cover, and to a move from traditional on-call shifts to a full shift system across both medicine and surgery. Compliance with the EWTD was achieved whilst maintaining good standards of clinical care, ensuring training opportunities for doctors in training, controlling payroll costs, removing the need for locums, and reducing workload for both junior doctors and consultants.     

Gastric cancer in young patients--is there any hope for them?

Gastric cancer usually affects people older than sixty years. This type of cancer is very rare in adults under thirty years of age. In addition, the prognosis in this part of population is grave due to the high incidence of undifferentiated tumours and advanced stage at time of diagnosis. Radical surgery affords the only chance for long term survival, but even this option is often limited upon finding locally advanced disease or peritoneal seeding. The following are case studies of three young adults from a group of 45 patients, who were treated between January 1st, 2000 and December 31st, 2003.     

Management of blunt pediatric hepatic and splenic injury: similar process, different outcome

Though nonoperative management of stable children with blunt solid organ injury has been shown to be effective, we hypothesize that hepatic injuries represent a higher mortality risk than splenic injuries and that combination hepatosplenic injury is a marker of even greater mortality potential. A multi-institutional pediatric trauma registry was queried for all children with blunt injuries to the liver (H) or spleen (S), excluding those with severe brain injury. Incidence and mortality of H, S, and all combinations of H/S were compared. The mortality rate for patients with H was significantly higher (2.5%) than in patients with S (0.7%), and the overall mortality of H/S (8.6%) was significantly higher than both. Furthermore, the mortality of H/S injuries was associated with increasing severity of either the hepatic or splenic injury. In childhood injury, H and S occur with almost equal frequency but with different mortality, and H/S is less common but associated with increased mortality.     

Fractional photothermolysis: a new concept for cutaneous remodeling using microscopic patterns of thermal injury

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We introduce and clinically examine a new concept of skin treatment called fractional photothermolysis (FP), achieved by applying an array of microscopic treatment zones (MTZ) of thermal injury to the skin. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two prototype devices emitting at 1.5 microm wavelength provided a pattern of micro-exposures with variable MTZ density. Effects of different MTZ densities were tested on the forearms of 15 subjects. Clinical effects and histology were assessed up to 3 months after exposure. Treatment of photoaged skin on the periorbital area in an additional 30 subjects receiving four treatments over a period of 2-3 weeks was also tested. Tissue shrinkage and clinical effects were assessed up to 3 months after treatment. RESULTS: Pattern densities with spacing of 250 microm or more were well tolerated. Typical MTZ had a diameter of 100 microm and penetrated 300 microm into the skin. Reepithelialization was complete within 1 day. Clinical effects were assessed over a 3-month period. Histology at 3 months revealed enhanced undulating rete ridges and increased mucin deposition within the superficial dermis. Periorbital treatments were well tolerated with minimal erythema and edema. Linear shrinkage of 2.1% was measured 3 months after the last treatment. The wrinkle score improved 18% (P < 0.001) 3 months after the last treatment. CONCLUSIONS: FP is a new concept for skin restoration treatment. Safety and efficacy were demonstrated with a prototype device. Further clinical studies are necessary to refine the optimum parameters and to explore further dermatological applications.     

Nonoccupational physical activity by degree of urbanization and U.S. geographic region

PURPOSE: To estimate levels of nonoccupational leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) by degree of urbanization and geographic region of the United States. METHODS: Participants were respondents to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) in 2001 (N = 137,359). Moderate- and vigorous-intensity LTPA was categorized as meeting recommended levels, insufficient, or inactive. The U.S. Department of Agriculture rural-urban continuum codes were used to describe degrees of urbanization (metro, large urban, small urban, and rural). Geographic regions were defined by the U.S. Bureau of the Census (Northeast, Midwest, South, and West). Prevalence estimates were calculated using sample weights to account for the design of the BRFSS. Multivariate logistic regression analyses examined regional differences in the odds of physical inactivity (physically inactive vs insufficient or meets) by degree of urbanization after adjustment for sex, age, race, BMI, education, and occupational physical activity. RESULTS: Large urban areas (49.0%) and the western United States (49.0%) had the highest prevalence of recommended levels of LTPA. Rural areas (24.1%) and the southern United States (17.4%) had the highest prevalence of inactivity. Adults living in the four urbanization categories of the midwestern (metro (OR = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.31, 1.65), large urban (OR = 1.83, 95% CI = 1.51, 2.23), small urban (OR = 1.99, 95% CI = 1.65, 2.40), and rural (OR = 2.59, 95% CI = 1.35, 4.97)); and southern (metro (OR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.53, 1.88), large urban (OR = 2.04, 95% CI = 1.72, 2.41), small urban (OR = 2.32, 95% CI = 2.02, 2.67), and rural (OR = 5.49, 95% CI = 2.82, 10.68)) U.S. regions were more likely to be inactive than adults living in similar areas of the western United States. Adults in northeast metro and large urban areas (OR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.45, 1.81; and OR = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.08, 1.74, respectively) were more likely to be inactive than those residing in western metro and large urban areas. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of physical inactivity varies by degree of urbanization and geographic region of the United States.