Long-term bone marrow culture in persons with Fanconi anemia and bone marrow failure

Fanconi anemia is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by a high risk of developing bone marrow (BM) failure and acute myelogenous leukemia. We studied growth of hematopoietic progenitor cells in long- term BM culture (LTBMC) in 8 persons with Fanconi anemia and BM failure. Although LTBMC were initiated with very few BM cells, an adherent layer formed in cultures from 7 persons. In these cultures, the number of nonadherent cells increased for 10 to 15 days. Cell growth continued until cultures were terminated at day 35 to 40. During the first 2 weeks of culture, most nonadherent cells were differentiated myeloid cells. By days 35 to 40, the adherent layer contained cells able to initiate secondary LTBMCs. These data indicate that hematopoietic precursors cells able to proliferate and differentiate in vitro are present in the BM of persons with Fanconi anemia and BM failure. They suggest that mechanisms other than absent precursor cells are responsible for BM failure in Fanconi anemia.     

A technique for the threading of lymph nodes to facilitate excisional biopsy by the single surgeon

Some clinical settings require open lymph node biopsy, even when the expertise for performing fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is available. In many cases, the lymph node biopsy is performed by a junior surgical trainee or intern without any assistant, making the procedure even more difficult and an unpleasant experience for the patient. The author's technique of threading a lymph node facilitates its dissection in less time, thus minimizing discomfort to the patient and a delay in diagnosis. This surgical technique is simple and can be easily adopted by an inexperienced surgeon for self-help, especially when there is no assistant.     

A study on dyslipidaemia in subclinical hypothyroidism

Subclinical hypothyroidism is characterised by elevated serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) concentrations in association with normal free thyroid hormones. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence and pattern of serum lipid alterations in patients with stable subclinical hypothyroidism in comparison to age- as well as sex-matched euthyroid group and also subgroup analysis between them in regard to age of presentation, sex, antithyroperoxidase (anti TPO) positivity, and TSH value. In this study, 100 patients of SCH were recruited, age ranged 17-68 years, majority (78%) being females, presenting mainly with non-specific symptoms and compared with 52 euthyroid control regarding lipid parameters. Of the subclinical hypothyroidism patients, only 10% had goitre and anti TPO was positive in 52% cases. Serum lipoprotein (a) above the age of 20 years, and total cholesterol, triglyceride and low density liporpotein cholesterol in the age group of 40-50 years were significantly elevated. In addition, total cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in anti TPO positive cases and serum triglyceride and low density lipoprotein cholesterol in anti TPO negative patients showed statistically significant higher levels. In males only lipoprotein (a), but in females total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and liproprotein (a)--all were significantly elevated.     

Outcome of Complex Adult Congenital Heart Surgery in the Developing World

Background. There is scanty information on the outcome of adult congenital heart disease surgery from the developing world. Methods. This was a retrospective chart review of the surgical outcome of 153 adults with congenital heart disease over a 5‐year period. Surgical atrial septal defect closure was considered “simple” while all other surgeries were considered “complex.” Results. There were 102 patients in the “simple” group and 51 in the “complex” group. Only three (2%) patients had prior operations. The “complex” group had longer bypass time and cross clamp time. Intensive care unit stay, ventilation time, and inotrope administration were longer. Major complications were more common and there were two deaths in the “complex” group. Age more than 30 years, cyanosis, and New York Heart Association class more than II were predictors of longer stay in the intensive care unit. Surgical repair of Tetralogy of Fallot in adults tended to have a longer ventilation time and intensive care unit stay with a mortality of 4%. At follow up, all patients were in New York Heart Association class I or II. Improvement of the functional class with negligible adverse events was noted in both groups. Conclusions. A retrospective evaluation of 153 adults with congenital heart disease who underwent open heart surgery at a single center in India showed strikingly fewer reoperations compared with large European studies. There was a similar prevalence of complex lesions. Surgical mortality was low, and long‐term functional outcome was gratifying.     

How do parents of 4‐ to 5‐year‐old children perceive the weight of their children?

Introduction: A heavier weight in adults is becoming the norm rather than an abnormal weight. Whether the same trend is happening in children is unknown. Objective: To assess the perception of the weight of 4‐ to 5‐year‐old children and the recognition of overweight by both parents. Design: Population‐based survey. Participants: A questionnaire was sent to parents of 1155 4‐ to 5‐year‐old children. Results: In total, 439 questionnaires (35%) were returned. Of all, 90% of the children had a normal weight, 9.3% were overweight and 4.1% were obese. For all weight classes, the parents depicted the child as lighter on both the verbal and visual scale. Of all, 75% of mothers of overweight children stated that the child had a normal weight. In obese children, 50% of the mothers believed that the child had a normal weight. Conclusion: Children with a weight in the normal range were considered by their parents as a little too light or too light. Overweight was considered as normal weight, and obesity as normal or a little too heavy. The perception of a normal weight in children at 4–5 years is distorted.     

Fatigue Intervention by Nurses Evaluation – The FINE Trial. A randomised controlled trial of nurse led self-help treatment for patients in primary care with chronic fatigue syndrome: study protocol. [ISRCTN74156610]

Background

A major change has occurred in the last few years in the therapeutic approach to patients presenting with all forms of acute coronary syndromes. Whether or not these patients present initially to tertiary cardiac care centers, they are now routinely referred for early coronary angiography and increasingly undergo percutaneous revascularization. This practice is driven primarily by the angiographic image and technical feasibility. Concomitantly, there has been a decline in expectant or ischemia-guided medical management based on specific clinical presentation, response to initial treatment, and results of noninvasive stratification. This 'tertiarization' of acute coronary care has been fuelled by the increasing sophistication of the cardiac armamentarium, the peer-reviewed publication of clinical studies purporting to show the superiority of invasive cardiac interventions, and predominantly supporting (non-peer-reviewed) editorials, newsletters, and opinion pieces.

Discussion

This review presents another perspective, based on a critical reexamination of the evidence. The topics addressed are: reperfusion treatment of ST-elevation myocardial infarction; the indications for invasive intervention following thrombolysis; the role of invasive management in non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction and unstable angina; and cost-effectiveness and real world considerations. A few cases encountered in recent practice in community and tertiary hospitals are presented for illustrative purposes The numerous and far-reaching scientific, economic, and philosophical implications that are a consequence of this marked change in clinical practice as well as healthcare, decisional and conflict of interest issues are explored.

Summary

The weight of evidence does not support the contemporary unfocused broad use of invasive interventional procedures across the spectrum of acute coronary clinical presentations. Excessive and unselective recourse to these procedures has deleterious implications for the organization of cardiac health care and undesirable economic, scientific and intellectual consequences. It is suggested that there is need for a new equilibrium based on more refined clinical risk stratification in the treatment of patients who present with acute coronary syndromes.