Direct versus indirect transfer for traumatic brain injury to James Cook University Hospital: a retrospective study

IntroductionPatients with traumatic brain injury are referred to the neurosurgical unit at James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, either from local accident and emergency departments (direct transfer from the scene) or from other hospitals (indirect transfer). This study looked at the outcome in both groups.Material and methodsThis was a retrospective observational study using trauma audit research network data for patients treated for traumatic brain injury at the neurosurgery department at the neurosurgical unit at James Cook University Hospital.ResultsA total of 356 patients with traumatic brain injury were admitted under the care of neurosurgeons; 143 (40%) of these patients had a neurosurgical procedure. Of the patients undergoing a neurological procedure, 111 patients were transferred directly while 32 were indirect transfers; 213 patients were managed conservatively. Of those managed conservatively, 165 were transferred directly while 48 were indirect transfers.We compared the length of hospital stay and Glasgow Outcome Scale score for the patients based on whether they were conservatively managed or required surgery in the direct and indirect transfer groups. The difference in the length of stay in the surgical and conservative groups following direct and indirect transfer was insignificant (p = 0.07). The time to the operation in direct and indirect transfer was also not statistically significant (p = 0.06).ConclusionPatients are as safe, if not safer, by reaching the nearest trauma unit with facilities for resuscitation and imaging.     

Die Kombinationstherapie Insulin/Sulfonylharnstoff in der Langzeittherapie des Typ-II-Diabetes nach „Sekundärversagen“

Summary In type 2 diabetes with secondary failure of sulfonylurea therapy good metabolic control can seldom be achieved by insulin therapy even with high insulin doses. Hyperinsulinemia however is a possible risk factor of cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes. Maintaining the effects of sulfonylurea action insulin should be added in as small amounts as possible to avoid hyperinsulinemia and to ameliorate hyperglycemia.16 type 2 diabetics with secondary failure were treated either with insulin alone (group A;n=8) or with 3.5 mg b.i.d glibenclamide plus small amounts of intermediate insulin (group B;n=8) in a randomised order. After the inpatient period outpatient control was performed monthly up to six months, later on four times a year up to two years.Both groups were comparable with regard to age, duration of diabetes, body weight and metabolic control. The daily insulin dose was 14±2 IU after one month and 19±2 IU after two years in group B. In contrast 30±3 IU and 43±5 IU respectively were needed in group A (p<0.001). All patients B were treated with one daily injection, all patients A needed two injections. Resulting in nearly identical metabolic control in group A basal insulin levels exceeded those in group B after two years significantly (28.6±3.7 vs. 18.6±1.6 mcU/ml;p<0.01). Endogenous C-peptide response was suppressed in group A compared to group B after inpatient period and after one month (0.12±0.01 vs. 0.49±0.15 and 0.09±0.04 vs. 0.13±0.08 pmol/ml;p<0.05). The combined therapy of insulin and sulfonylureas demonstrates the benefit of a prolonged sulfonylurea administration in the treatment of type 2 diabetes with secondary failure.As compared to common insulin therapy a small amount of exogenous insulin by one daily injection additionally to glibenclamide shows similar improvement in metabolic control. Hyperinsulinemia as a risk factor of macroangiopathy is markedly reduced in patients treated with combined therapy compared to those with insulin alone.

Herrn Professor Dr. N. Zöllner zum 65. Geburtstag gewidmet     

IMPACTED RIGHT UPPER CENTRAL INCISOR AND TRANSPOSITION OF TWO OTHER ANTERIOR TEETH ON THE SAME SIDE (A Case Report)

A young boy presented with an uncommon finding of impaction of upper right central incisor and transposition of canine and lateral incisor on the same side. Esthetic management of his cosmetic problem which included fixed appliance therapy followed by light cure restorations is discussed.KEY WORDS: Impaction, Transposition     

Castleman's disease in POEMS syndrome with elevated interleukin-6.

POEMS syndrome is a rare multisystem affliction known for its signs, from which it also takes its acronym name "peripheral neuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal (M) protein, and skin lesions." Our study chronicles the course of this syndrome in a young woman with Castleman's disease (angiofollicular lymph node hyperplasia). Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were abnormally elevated at various times during a 9-month period. The authors conclude that the plasma cell dyscrasia associated with the POEMS syndrome of this patient was Castleman's disease. Elevation of serum IL-6 levels might contribute to the pathogenesis of the POEMS syndrome.     

High-dose chemotherapy followed by reinfusion of selected CD34+ peripheral blood cells in patients with poor-prognosis breast cancer: a randomized multicentre study.

Seventy-one patients with poor-prognosis breast cancer were enrolled after informed consent in a multicentre randomized study to evaluate the use of selected peripheral blood CD34+ cells to support haematopoietic recovery following high-dose chemotherapy. Patients who responded to conventional chemotherapy were mobilized with chemotherapy (mainly high-dose cyclophosphamide) and/or recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF). Patients who reached the threshold of 20 CD34+ cells per microl of peripheral blood underwent apheresis and were randomized at that time to receive either unmanipulated mobilized blood cells or selected CD34+ cells. For patients in the study arm, CD34+ cells were selected from aphereses using the Isolex300 device. Fifteen patients failed to mobilize peripheral blood progenitors and nine other patients were excluded for various reasons. Forty-seven eligible patients were randomized into two comparable groups. CD34+ cells were selected from aphereses in the study group. Haematopoietic recovery occurred at similar times in both groups. No side-effect related to the infusion of selected cells was observed. The frequency of epithelial tumour cells in aphereses was low (8 out of 42 evaluated patients), as determined by immunocytochemistry. We conclude that selected CD34+ cells safely support haematopoietic recovery following high-dose chemotherapy in patients with poor-prognosis breast cancer.     

Pre and postnatal diagnosis of fetus‐in‐fetu

Differentiation of abdominal masses detected on prenatal ultrasound is difficult and requires careful characterization of the mass and precise localization. Differentiation is required in order to distinguish benign from potentially malignant conditions. We describe a case of fetus‐in‐fetu with pre and postnatal imaging.