ANTIGENEMIA HBs AND OTHER SEROLOGICAL MARKERS OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS INFECTION IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE AND CHRONIC ALCOHOLISM

Serological markers of hepatitis B virus infection were studiedin a group of recently presenting alcoholic out-patients andcompared with a group of long-stay in-patients suffering fromchronic alcoholism. All markers of infection were increasedin the chronic group and Were thought to be related to admissionto the Alcohol Unit. Although both groups had normal liver functiontests, the patients with the longer alcohol history had evidenceof two coexisting causes of liver disease and may, therefore,have a much poorer prognosis.     

VALUE AND LIMITATIONS OF SINUS NODE FUNCTION TE.ST BY ATRIAL PACING IN SICK SINUS SYNDROME DIAGNOSIS

In order to evaluate the significance of the sinus node function test by transvenous atrial pacing in the diagno,sis of sick sinus syndrome (SSS), sinus node recovery time (SRT), co]rrected sinus node recovery time (CSRT) and total atrio- sinus and sino-atrial conduction time (SACT) are observed in 69 patients including non-SSS group 39 cases and SSS group 30 cases. According to our data, we suggest criteria for sinus node dysfunction as follows. SRT>1,400 ms and/or A-V junctional esca.pe before sinus recovery and;or secondary pause, CSRT>560 ms. total SACT>300 ms. With l item abnormal, the false positive rat.e in the non-SSS group is 7.7c7。 and the false negative rate in the S.SS group 3.30i" with 2 items abnormal, the false positive rate in the non-SSS group Oi and the false negative rate in the SSS grOiup 6.7'70. Atropine test results are compared with that of atrial pacing, 95.8To and 84.2% are compatible with each other in these 2 groups. In order to cut the use of invasive technic to the minimum, we propose performing the atropine test first. Only in those with unexplainable test results should the trial pacing test. be resorted to..     

Preliminary report on AT1727 as a potential radiosensitizer

AT1727 is a derivative of ICRF 154. The purpose of this study was to evaluate its "radiosensitizer" properties. From October 1979 until the end of December 1980, 89 patients with radiation resistant cancers such as soft tissue sarcoma, squamous lung cancer (with large lesion, 6-8 cm diameter) and other cancers had been included in trial. Radiation therapy was carried out using CO60 or 8 Mev Linac. Fifty-five patients had a remarkable objective remission rate of 61.8% (55/89). Eighteen of 30 patients with soft tissue sarcomas obtained obvious remission (60%), and 26 of 38 patients with lung cancer had remission (68.4%). Patients with esophageal cancer (5/6) and nasopharyngeal cancer (5/5) also had good remission rates. The side-effects of this treatment were very mild: anorexia and vomiting were noted in 50% and no significant changes were noted in liver and kidney function tests and blood platelet count. Leucopenia was slight in all but one patient. No difference in the lung fibrosis rate was noted between the two randomized groups. From the results of this study we concluded that AT1727 had some effect as a "radiosensitizer" but much more work is needed to confirm this.     

Rice millers'' syndrome: a preliminary report.

A study was carried out to determine the health effects of rice husk dust in Malaysian rice millers. The study population consisted of 122 male Malay workers from three rice mills, with 42 controls of similar age, sex, ethnic group, and agricultural work background. Interviews using standardised questionnaires, physical examination, total and differential white cell counts, chest radiographs, and lung function tests were performed on each of the millers and the controls. Environmental dust monitoring was also carried out in the three rice mills. Clinical, haematological, and radiological findings suggest that a distinct clinical syndrome seems to be associated with exposure to rice husk dust. The manifestations of this "rice millers' syndrome" include acute and chronic irritant effects affecting the eyes, skin, and upper respiratory tract; allergic responses such as nasal catarrh, tightness of chest, asthma, and eosinophilia; and radiological opacities in the chest, probably representing early silicosis or extrinsic allergic alveolitis.     

Short-term impact of COVID-19 on quality of life,perceived stress,and serious psychological distress in an adult population in the midwest United States

Quality of Life Research - This study aimed to investigate changes over time in quality of life, perceived stress, and serious psychological distress for individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in an...     

Robotic-Assisted Total Knee Arthroplasty: An Assessment of Content,Quality, and Readability of Available Internet Resources

BackgroundThe use of robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has significantly increased over the past decade. Internet content is largely unregulated and may contain inaccurate and/or misleading information about robotic TKA. Our goal was to assess the content, quality, and readability of online material regarding robotic-assisted TKA.MethodsWe conducted an internet search for the top 50 web sites from each of the 3 most popular search engines (Google, Yahoo, and Bing) using the search term robotic total knee replacement. Each web site was assessed for content, quality, and readability. Web site quality was assessed utilizing the QUality Evaluation Scoring Tool (QUEST). Readability was assessed utilizing the Simple Measure of Gobbledygook, Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, and Flesch Reading Ease Formula scores.ResultsGeneral risks of TKA were discussed in 47.2%, while benefits were discussed in 98.6% of all web sites. Inaccurate claims occurred at a significantly higher rate in physician/community hospital sources compared to university/academic web sites (59% vs 28%, P = .045). Web sites from university/academic web sites had the highest QUEST scores, while physician/community hospital sources scored the lowest (16.1 vs 10.6, P = .01). Most web sites were written at a college reading level or higher.ConclusionPatients should be counseled on the largely unregulated nature of online information regarding robotic-assisted TKA. Physicians and hospitals should consider revising the readability of their online information to a more appropriate level in order to provide accurate, evidence-based information to allow the patient to make an informed consent decision.     

The association of Hospital Medicare beneficiary payer-mix,national quality rankings and outcomes following hepatopancreatic surgery

IntroductionWe sought to determine the impact of payer-mix on post-operative outcomes among Medicare beneficiaries following hepatopancreatic surgery.MethodsMedicare beneficiaries who underwent hepatopancreatic surgery were identified. Hospital quality markers were obtained from the Hospital General Information dataset. Hospitals were dichotomized (low/average vs. high) based on Medicare patient days versus all patient days irrespective of payer type.ResultsHigh Medicare patient-mix hospitals were more likely to be ranked higher than the national average relative to safety of care (29.4% vs. 38.1%) and timeliness of care (15.4% vs. 26.3%) versus low burden Medicare hospitals (both p < 0.001). However, Medicare beneficiaries who had hepatopancreatic surgery at a high Medicare patient-mix hospital were at higher risk of a complication (OR = 1.13, 95%CI 1.04–1.22), and death within 30-days (OR = 1.37, 95%CI 1.23–1.53) following surgery.ConclusionWhile hospitals caring for higher numbers of Medicare beneficiaries generally performed better on CMS quality indicators, these rankings did not equate to improved post-operative outcomes.