Long-term Outcomes of Patients Undergoing War-related Amputations of the Foot and Ankle

Long-term clinical and functional outcomes for patients undergoing foot and ankle amputations are not well documented. We attempted to document long-term outcomes for patients who required lower extremity amputations as a result of wounds suffered during wartime. For this study, 27 Iranian soldiers who had wounds requiring amputation of the foot and ankle were selected for follow-up. The participants' wartime medical records were reviewed, a clinical examination was performed, and each participant completed a questionnaire. Postamputation follow-up averaged 17.5 years. The most prevalent (66.6%) cause of injury was a land mine. The prevalences of different clinical symptoms reported by the amputees at the time of the last follow-up were as follows: 11 (40.7%) with phantom sensation, 6 (22.2%) with phantom pain, 12 (44.4%) with stump pain, 12 (44.4%) with back pain, 9 (33.3%) with contralateral knee pain, and 4 (14.8%) with ipsilateral knee pain; 20 (74%) reported treatment for psychological conditions. In regard to social conditions, 13 (48.1) were currently employed, or had been employed, for a number of years after the amputation; 26 (96%) had children, and all of the patients were married. The results of this observational study indicate that individuals have significant long-term pain and discomfort after war-related lower extremity amputation. Although all 27 (100%) of the amputees were able to maintain satisfactory family functioning, only 13 (48.1%) of the study participants were able to remain productively employed after undergoing amputation, and 20 (74%) reported long-term psychological problems in addition to their physical pain.     

The effect of total arterial grafting on medium-term outcomes following coronary artery bypass grafting

Background  

While it is believed that total arterial grafting (TAG) for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) confers improved long-term outcomes when compared to conventional grafting with left internal mammary artery and saphenous vein grafts (LIMA+SVG), to date, this has not become the standard of care. In this study, we assessed the impact of TAG on medium-term outcomes after CABG.     

The program for phenotyping of genetically modified animals at AstraZeneca

Genetically modified mice offer a wide range of possibilities in preclinical drug discovery, e.g. for use in target identification, target validation and disease model generation. However, genomic modification and alteration in gene expression may cause unpredicted phenotypic alterations in the organism other than the intended ones. The aim of this study was to determine the importance of establishing the phenotype of transgenic and knockout mice models for use in pharmaceutical research.

A total number of 51 mouse models (transgenic and knockout) produced at AstraZeneca during a 4 year period were subjected to a thorough phenotyping package covering clinical as well as morphological aspects. Phenotype abnormalities were recorded in 36 (70.6%) of the mouse models. The majority of findings were considered to be minor in magnitude. Histopathological changes related to the genotype of the animals were observed in 33% of the mouse models, underlining the importance of pathology in the phenotyping program.     

Prednisone-Free Maintenance Immunosuppression—A 5-Year Experience

Concern persists that prednisone-free maintenance immunosuppression in kidney transplant recipients will be associated with an increase in late allograft dysfunction and graft loss. We herein report 5-year follow-up of a trial of prednisone-free maintenance immunosuppression. From October 1, 1999, through January 31, 2005, at our center, 589 kidney transplant recipients were treated with a protocol incorporating discontinuation of their prednisone on postoperative day 6. At 5 years, actuarial patient survival was 91%; graft survival, 84%; death-censored graft survival, 92%; acute rejection-free graft survival, 84% and chronic rejection-free graft survival, 87%. The mean serum creatinine level (+/-SD) at 1 year was 1.6 +/- 0.6; at 5 years, 1.7 +/- 0.8. In all, 86% of kidney recipients with functioning grafts remain prednisone-free as of April 30, 2005. As compared with historical controls, recipients on prednisone-free maintenance immunosuppression had a significantly lower rate of a number of complications, including cataracts (p < 0.001), posttransplant diabetes mellitus (p < 0.001), avascular necrosis (p = 0.001), and fractures (p = 0.004). We conclude that prednisone-related side effects can be minimized in a protocol incorporating prednisone-free maintenance immunosuppression. Five-year graft outcome remains good.     

Impact of major co-morbidities on mortality and complications after gastric bypass

BACKGROUND: We hypothesized that major co-morbidities affect survival and complications after gastric bypass. METHODS: A total of 1465 patients undergoing laparoscopic and open gastric bypass between 1995 and 2002 were studied. Patients with a body mass index >or= 35 kg/m(2) and major co-morbidities (group 1, n = 1045) were compared with patients with a body mass index >or= 40 kg/m(2) with minor/no co-morbidities (group 2, n = 420). RESULTS: Group 1 patients were older (43 versus 36 years, P < 0.001) and had a greater BMI (53 versus 50 kg/m(2), P < 0.001). Early postoperative complications were greater in group 1 than in group 2 and included leaks (4.1% versus 1.2%, P < 0.0032) and wound infections (3.9% versus 1.4%, P < 0.0133). Procedure-related mortality in the series was 1.7%. Mortality was 10-fold greater in group 1 (2.3% versus 0.2%, P < 0.0032). The incidence of small bowel obstruction, incisional hernia, and pulmonary embolism was similar in the two groups. Excess weight loss was significantly greater in group 2 (68% versus 62%, P < 0.001) at 1 year. Resolution of group 1 co-morbidities was great, including hypertension in 62%, diabetes in 75%, venous stasis disease in 96%, and pseudotumor cerebri in 98%. CONCLUSION: Outcomes analysis of obesity surgery requires risk stratification. The very low mortality rates in published studies are likely explained by surgical treatment of low-risk patients with minor co-morbidities, such as those seen in group 2. However, despite the increased perioperative risk, the group 1 patients (with major co-morbidities) demonstrated dramatic resolution of their co-morbid conditions, justifying the decision to go forward with surgery. The data support a radical change in treatment philosophy in which morbidly obese individuals should be offered bariatric surgery before major co-morbid conditions develop as a strategy to decrease the operative risk.     

Cystic echinococcosis in Central Saudi Arabia: A 5-year experience.

Background/aims: In this series of patients we aim to describe aspects of presentation, diagnosis and management of patients suffering from Echinococcosis in an endemic region. Methods: This is an observational study done at Riyadh Medical Complex, Saudi Arabia from 1999 to 2004. All adult patients admitted with the primary or incidental diagnosis of echinococcosis were included. These patients were followed up for 6 months. Data relating to patients' demographic characteristics, mode and duration of presentation, investigations, complications and treatment offered was collected. This data was then analyzed using SPSS 11.0. Result: 117 patients with a mean age of 40.9+/-20.7 years were admitted, male to female ratio being 1.7:1. 114 (97.4%) originated from Middle East which is an endemic area. Pain right upper quadrant (RUQ), followed by cough were the commonest symptoms. Nine patients presented with jaundice +/- choleangitis: 3 patients had intrabiliary rupture of the hydatid cyst, while 6 had extrinsic compression. Six patients had infected cyst. Fourteen patients had intrabronchial rupture diagnosed on bronchoscopy. Twenty five (21.4%) patients presented with recurrent disease. The Haemagglutination Inhibition test gave a sensitivity of 78.6. All cysts were visualized using USG, CXR and CT scan. Endocystectomy was the most frequent procedure. Post op 8 patients had biliary leakage and 3 had bronchopleural fistula a majority of whom settled conservatively while two required ERCP and one patient with bronchopleural fistula required surgery. Fifteen patients had infection related complications. During our follow up period no recurrences were recorded. All patients undergoing surgery also received medical treatment. Twenty five patients (21.4%) were unable to undergo operative treatment due to multiple reasons. They were medically treated. Conclusion: Cystic Echinococcosis is a disease of the middle aged. Ultrasonogram combined with a serological assay is the best diagnostic tool available for abdominal echinococcosis allowing diagnosis and staging, while chest X ray is the best screen for the pulmonary disease. The recommended treatment is endocystectomy with antihelmenthic therapy. But the problem of early detection of echinococcosis in endemic areas needs attention by workers as this approach can potentially prevent the devastating complications due to this disease.     

Spilled Gallstones: the Source of an Enigma

Spillage of gallstones may occur in the course of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The incidence of this mishap and its consequences are variable. Ignored by many surgeons, stone spillage may be the source of significant morbidity many years after surgery. In this report, we describe the clinical course of a patient who presented with upper abdominal pain and swelling. The past history was positive for laparoscopic cholecystectomy 15 years earlier. After excision, the swelling was found to be a pseudocyst formed around spilled gallstones during a previous cholecystectomy. Apart from postoperative wound infection, the patient recovered well and remains so. Here, we discuss the problem and provide suggestions for spillage prevention and stone retrieval once spillage occurs.     

Role of Intralesional Bleomycin in the Treatment of Complicated Hemangiomas: Prospective Clinical Study

BACKGROUND: Hemangioma is the most common tumor of infancy. Although it has a basically benign nature and usually spontaneously regresses, a small percentage (5%) have complications that need treatment. Many different therapeutic modalities can be used in this tumor. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of a new method of treatment (intralesional bleomycin injection) in complicated hemangiomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the Department of Radiation Oncology at Nemazee Hospital in Shiraz, Iran, from April 1992 to October 1998, 32 patients with complicated hemangioma were treated with four to six courses of direct injection of bleomycin into the lesion. RESULTS: After a minimum follow-up of 6 years, there was 70 to 100% regression in 18 patients, 50 to 70% in 7 cases, and less than 50% reduction in 7 patients. CONCLUSION: Intralesional injection of bleomycin is an easy, safe, and effective therapeutic modality in complicated cutaneous hemangiomas.     

Cow's Milk Exposure and Asthma in a Newborn Cohort: Repeated Ascertainment Indicates Reverse Causation

The effect of cow's milk consumption on childhood asthma has been debated for several years. This study attempts to provide further insight into this association through the use of a longitudinal study design. Newborns from parents with atopic history were recruited from Germany, Austria, and England (n = 696). For five repeated ascertainments, information was collected on cow's milk exposure, incidence of doctor-diagnosed asthma, and confounders. Generalized estimation equations, incorporating different models (concurrent, delayed, combined, and reverse causation), were used to determine this association. No association between cow's milk consumption and childhood asthma was found for the concurrent effects model (OR = 0.81, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.55, 1.20). In the delayed effects model, the direction of the association varied with time of follow-up. Thus, we stratified by period, which resulted in a significant protective delayed effect at 36 months (OR = 0.18, 95% CI = 0.06, 0.49). However, reverse causation negated this finding since the presence of asthma in prior months led to a reduction in further exposure to cow's milk (OR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.16, 0.99). Hence, cow's milk consumption does not protect against childhood asthma. The apparent protection of cow's milk against asthma may result from parents of asthmatic children avoiding cow's milk, rather than actual prophylaxis.