The Ventilatory Cost of Exercise Compared in Chronic Heart Failure and Chronic Renal Anaemia

The cardiorespiratory responses to maximal treadmill exercisewere compared in matched groups of patients with chronic renalanaemia or treated chronic heart failure, and in normal controls.Exercise capacity was similarly reduced in both patient groupscompared to normal controls, the raised respiratory exchangeratio at peak exercise implying anaerobic metabolism due tolimited oxygen delivery in heart failure and limited oxygencarrying capacity in anaemia. Minute ventilation (V_F) was relatedlinearly to minute CO₂ production (VCO₂) in all subjects (eachr>0.92) from all three groups. The slope of the V_E/VCO₂ relationshipwas normal in anaemia but steeper in heart failure, reflectingventilation/perfusion mismatching in chronic heart failure.     

Expression of adhesion molecules on CD34+ cells: CD34+ L-selectin+ cells predict a rapid platelet recovery after peripheral blood stem cell transplantation

Adhesion molecules play a role in the migration of hematopoietic progenitor cells and regulation of hematopoiesis. To study whether the mobilization process is associated with changes in expression of adhesion molecules, the expression of CD31, CD44, L-selectin, sialyl Lewisx, beta 1 integrins very late antigen 4 (VLA-4) and VLA-5, and beta 2 integrins lymphocyte function-associated 1 and Mac-1 was measured on either bone marrow (BM) CD34+ cells or on peripheral blood CD34+ cells mobilized with a combination of granulocyte colony- stimulating factor (G-CSF) and chemotherapy. beta 1 integrin VLA-4 was expressed at a significantly lower concentration on peripheral blood progenitor cells than on BM CD34+ cells, procured either during steady- state hematopoiesis or at the time of leukocytapheresis. No differences in the level of expression were found for the other adhesion molecules. To obtain insight in which adhesion molecules may participate in the homing of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs), the number of CD34+ cells expressing these adhesion molecules present in leukocytapheresis material was quantified and correlated with hematopoietic recovery after intensive chemotherapy in 27 patients. The number of CD34+ cells in the subset defined by L-selectin expression correlated significantly better with time to platelet recovery after PBSC transplantation (r = - .86) than did the total number of CD34+ cells (r = -.55). Statistical analysis of the relationship between the number of CD34+L-selectin+ cells and platelet recovery resulted in a threshold value for rapid platelet recovery of 2.1 x 10(6) CD34+ L-selectin+ cells/kg. A rapid platelet recovery (< or = 14 days) was observed in 13 of 15 patients who received > or = 2.1 x 10(6) CD34+ L-selectin+ cells/kg (median, 11 days; range, 7 to 16 days), whereas 10 of 12 patients who received less double positive cells had a relative slow platelet recovery (median, 20 days; range, 13 to 37 days). The L-selectin+ subpopulation of CD34+ cells also correlated better with time to neutrophil recovery (r = - .70) than did the total number of reinfused CD34+ cells (r = -.51). However, this latter difference failed to reach statistical significance. This study suggests that L-selectin is involved in the homing of CD34+ cells after PBSC transplantation.     

Spontaneous enterocutaneous fistula--A rare presentation of enteric fever

BACKGROUND: Enterocutaneous fistulae (ECFs) after typhoid perforation have been previously recorded postoperatively due to repair leak or new perforation. Spontaneous ECF formation due to primary intra-abdominal pathologic processes has been attributed to infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and Crohn's disease. A review of the literature has shown no previous report of spontaneous ECF caused primarily by salmonella typhi infection. OBJECTIVE: To report a case of spontaneous ECF due to salmonella typhi infection. CASE REPORT: An eight-year-old female presented with high fever and weight loss of two weeks' duration and a one-week history of a foul-smelling umbilical discharge. She was ill looking, wasted, with evidence of peritonitis. An emergency exploratory laparotomy revealed multiple perforations at the antimesenteric border of the ileocecal valve. With intestinal resection and anastomosis and the use of broad spectrum antibiotics, her clinical state improved. Tissue biopsy showed hemorrhagic necrosis with infiltration by mononuclear inflammatory cells. CONCLUSION: ECF is a rare complication of enteric fever, Enteric fever should therefore be considered in ill children presenting with ECF in the absence of a history of previous surgery, or blunt or penetrating trauma.     

Recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor administration to healthy volunteers: induction of immunophenotypically and functionally altered neutrophils via an effect on myeloid progenitor cells

We performed a detailed kinetic study on the in vivo effect of a single subcutaneous dose of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF; 300 micrograms) in four healthy individuals on the expression and function of neutrophil Fc gamma receptors (Fc gamma R). G-CSF did not induce Fc gamma RI (CD64) on circulating neutrophils. However, neutrophils newly formed in response to G-CSF were Fc gamma RI positive and were able to perform antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity in an Fc gamma RI- dependent way. Fc gamma RII (CD32) expression was not changed significantly. Fc gamma RIII (CD16, phosphatidylinositol-linked) expression, slightly increased immediately (30 minutes) postinjection, was found to be strongly decreased on the newly formed population. For comparison, we studied the expression of the PI-linked proteins leukocyte alkaline phosphatase (LAP) and CD14. Intracellular levels of LAP mirrored the biphasic expression pattern as membrane-bound Fc gamma RIII. In contrast, CD14 expression on neutrophils was initially constant, followed by high levels on the newly formed neutrophils. Soluble CD14 levels were found to be elevated transiently, whereas peak levels of soluble Fc gamma III were observed as late as 6 days postinjection. In conclusion, we have shown that G-CSF results in an immunophenotypically and functionally altered neutrophil population for an important part as a result of its effect on myeloid precursor cells.     

The Basic Knowledge Assessment Tool: Is It Useful?

Registered Nurses (RN's) caring for the critically ill, require a wide range of specialised skills and knowledge. Assessing knowledge of RN's within Intensive Care Units (ICU's) is imperative if we are to ensure that patients are afforded quality care. The aim of this study was to evaluate existing knowledge of the RN's working in the ICU of a major teaching hospital using the Basic Knowledge Assessment Tool (BKAT).Overall mean test scores of 78% were encouraging. Knowledge gaps were evident in gastrointestinal and endocrine disorders. Significantly higher scores were obtained by RN's trained in the hospital based system (p=0.02) and those possessing ICU qualifications (p=0.01). There were no differences in scores according to age and length of ICU experience. Registered nurses scored badly in a number of questions, which highlighted some problems in the terminology used in the BKAT.