Simple questionnaire and urine reagent strips compared to microscopy for the diagnosis of Schistosoma haematobium in a community in northern Ghana

Objectives To evaluate the utility of a simple questionnaire and urine reagent strip testing for the rapid diagnosis of Schistosoma haematobium in rural northern Ghana. Methods Cross‐sectional parasitological and questionnaire survey in a community in northern Ghana. Participants provided two urine specimens that were examined under a microscope using a centrifugation method. The first urine sample was additionally subjected to reagent strip testing. A short questionnaire was administered to all participants. Results Microscopy of urine samples obtained from 208 individuals aged 1–77 years revealed an S. haematobium prevalence of 6.8%. The presence of any blood or protein on a urine reagent strip was 100% and 42% sensitive, and 93% and 80% specific for S. haematobium diagnosis. Questionnaires were completed by 198 individuals. Self‐reported haematuria showed a sensitivity of 53% and a specificity of 85%. A dichotomous two‐question panel was helpful in S. haematobium diagnosis, with working and playing near the river significantly associated with S. haematobium infection (P < 0.001). Conclusion The use of urine reagent strips, coupled with questions pertaining to water contact patterns, might be considered for point‐of‐contact diagnosis of S. haematobium where microscopy is unavailable.     

Spontaneously complete regression of pseudolymphoma of the remnant pancreas after pancreaticoduodenectomy

BackgroundPancreatic pseudolymphoma is extremely rare.MethodWe present multiple pseudolymphomas in the head and body of the pancreas. The hypoechoic lesions observed by endoscopic ultrasound were enhanced in late-phase angio-computed tomography and homogeneously hypointensive in T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography showed strong accumulation in the lesions. The lesions were suspected to be non-functioning islet cell carcinoma. The intraoperative pathological diagnosis for the specimen obtained by a pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy was non-neoplastic lymphoid cells. The remnant lesion in the pancreatic body was preserved.ResultsMacroscopically, the mass was well-circumscribed gray-white colored lesion. The pathological diagnosis was pancreatic pseudolymphoma. The lesion in the remnant pancreas spontaneously disappeared within one year after the operation.ConclusionThe differential diagnosis of pancreatic pseudolymphoma from malignant tumor is very difficult, however, the image findings demonstrated here may be informative. The spontaneous disappearance of pancreatic pseudolymphoma was firstly observed in the present case.     

Effects of aliskiren-based therapy on ambulatory blood pressure profile, central hemodynamics, and arterial stiffness in nondiabetic mild to moderate hypertensive patients

J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2012;00:000–000. ©2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Aliskiren is a direct renin inhibitor that exerts its effect at the rate‐limiting step of the renin‐angiotensin system. This study was performed to examine the beneficial effects of aliskiren‐based antihypertensive therapy on the ambulatory blood pressure (BP) profile, central hemodybamics, and arterial stiffness in untreated Japanese patients with mild to moderate hypertension. Twenty‐one Japanese nondiabetic patients with untreated mild to moderate essential hypertension were initially given aliskiren once daily at 150 mg, and the dose was titrated up to 300 mg as needed. After 12 weeks of aliskiren‐based therapy, the clinic, ambulatory, and central BP values as well as brachial‐ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) were all significantly decreased compared with baseline (clinic systolic BP, 151±11 mm Hg vs 132±11 mm Hg; clinic diastolic BP, 91±13 mm Hg vs 82±9 mm Hg; 24‐hour systolic BP, 144±12 mm Hg vs 133±11 mm Hg; 24‐hour diastolic BP, 88±8 mm Hg vs 81±9 mm Hg; central BP, 162±16 mm Hg vs 148±14 mm Hg; baPWV, 1625±245 cm/s vs 1495±199 cm/s; P<.05). These results show that aliskiren, as a first‐line regimen, improves the ambulatory BP profile and may have protective vascular effects in Japanese nondiabetic patients with untreated mild to moderate essential hypertension.     

Revisional Bariatric Surgery for Unsuccessful Weight Loss and Complications

Background

There are growing numbers of patients who require revisional bariatric surgery due to the undesirable results of their primary procedures. The aim of this study was to review our experience with bariatric patients undergoing revisional surgery.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis to review the indications for revisional bariatric procedures and assess their postoperative outcomes.

Results

From 04/04 to 01/11, 2,918 patients underwent bariatric surgery at our institution. A total of 154 patients (5.3 %) of these cases were coded as revisional procedures. The mean age at revision was 49.1?±?11.3 and the mean BMI was 44.0?±?13.7 kg/m². Revisional surgery was performed laparoscopically in 121 patients (78.6 %). Laparoscopic revisions had less blood loss, shorter length of hospital stay, and fewer complications compared to open revisions. Two groups (A and B) were defined by the indication for revision: patients with unsuccessful weight loss (group A, n?=?106) and patients with complications of their primary procedures (group B, n?=?48). In group A, 74.5 % of the patients were revised to a bypass procedure and 25.5 % to a restrictive procedure. Mean excess weight loss was 53.7?±?29.3 % after revision of primary restrictive procedures and 37.6?±?35.1 % after revision of bypass procedures at >1-year follow-up (p?<?0.05). In group B, the complications prompting revision were effectively treated by revisional surgery.

Conclusions

Revisional bariatric surgery effectively treated the undesirable results from primary bariatric surgery. Laparoscopic revisional surgery can be performed after both failed open and laparoscopic bariatric procedures without a prohibitive complication rate. Carefully selected patients undergoing revision for weight regain have satisfactory additional weight loss.     

Squeaking Hip Arthroplasties : A Tribological Phenomenon

The clinical incidence of squeaking has been reported with increasing frequency, with ceramic-on-ceramic bearings seemingly most affected. This study investigated potential causes of squeaking in hard-on-hard hip bearings through 2 sets of experimental conditions. Bearing clearance appeared to affect the incidence of squeaking in metal-on-metal surface arthroplasties. The addition of third-body particles to the interface for total hip arthroplasties also affected the incidence of squeaking. In both studies, the incidence of squeaking correlated well with elevated friction. The findings of this study suggest that a likely cause of squeaking in the hip arthroplasty is adverse tribological conditions caused by suboptimal lubrication. There are numerous factors that may cause the suboptimal lubrication, and therefore, it is unlikely that an individual cause for squeaking will be identified.     

Cost of care according to disease-modifying therapy in Mexicans with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

Limited data exist on the costs of care of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) in low- to middle-income nations. The purpose of this study was to describe the economic burden associated with care of Mexican patients with relapsing-remitting MS in a representative sample of the largest institution of the Mexican public healthcare system. We analysed individual data of 492 patients (67 % women) with relapsing-remitting MS registered from January 2009 to February 2011 at the Mexican Social Security Institute. Direct costs were measured about the use of diagnostic tests, disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), symptoms control, medical consultations, relapses, intensive care and rehabilitation. Four groups were defined according to DMT alternatives: (1) interferon beta (IFNβ)-1a, 6 million units (MU); (2) IFNβ-1a, 12MU; (3) IFNβ-1b, 8MU; and (4) glatiramer acetate. All patients received DMTs for at least 1 year. The most frequently used DMT was glatiramer acetate (45.5 %), followed by IFNβ-1a 12MU (22.6 %), IFNβ-1b 8MU (20.7 %), and IFNβ-1a 6MU (11.2 %). The mean cost of a specialised medical consultation was €74.90 (US $107.00). A single relapse had a mean total cost of €2,505.97 (US $3,579.96). No differences were found in annualised relapse rates and costs of relapses according to DMT. However, a significant difference was observed in total annual costs according to treatment groups (glatiramer acetate being the most expensive), mainly due to differences in unitary costs of alternatives. From the public institutional perspective, when equipotent DMTs are used in patients with comparable characteristics, the costs of DMTs largely determine the total expenses associated with care of patients with relapsing-remitting MS in a middle-income country.