Essential oil composition and antimicrobial activity of three Zingiberaceae from S.Tomé e Príncipe

The essential oil composition of three Zingiberaceae widely used as medicinal aromatic plants from S. Tomé and Príncipe: Aframomum danielli (Hook. f.) K. Schum., Curcuma longa L. and Zingiber officinale Rosc. was studied. Two samples of the essential oils from fruit of A. danielli and from rhizomes of the other two species, were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC, GC-MS, and (13)C-NMR. The essential oil from fruits of A. danielli has been studied for the first time and was characterised by its high content of monoterpenes, with 1,8-cineole (25.5 - 34.4 %) the major constituent, followed by beta-pinene (14.1 - 15.2 %) and alpha-terpineol (9.9 - 12.1 %). Essential oils from the rhizomes of C. longa contained a lower content of ar-turmerone (4.0 - 12.8 %) than those reported in the literature for C. longa from other origins (24.7 - 31.4 %), whereas the results for Z. officinale essential oils were in accordance with the literature data. The essential oils of A. danielli and Z. officinale showed antimicrobial activity against all Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria tested, as well as against yeasts and filamentous fungi, using the agar diffusion method.     

Small erosion of adjustable gastric band: endoscopic removal through incision in gastric wall

The erosion of a laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (LAGB) can cause pain that is not controlled by analgesics. In such cases, early endoscopic removal may be indicated, but only when gastric penetration is greater than 50%. We report the case of a patient with severe shoulder pain due to a small area of LAGB erosion, which was treated with early endoscopic removal through an incision in the gastric wall. The pain worsened after eating and gastroscopy revealed slight gastric erosion of the band under the cardia. The gastric wall covering the LAGB was incised using an endoscopic needle knife. In a second upper endoscopy performed 7 days later at the endoscopy suite, endoscopic scissors were used to cut the thread and part of the band lock. The open band was then removed orally. This novel endoscopic incision in the gastric wall hastened band erosion and avoided abdominal reoperation.     

Implant‐Supported Obturator Overdenture for Extensive Maxillary Resection Patient: A Clinical Report

This clinical report presents an implant‐retained obturator overdenture solution for a Prosthodontic Diagnostic Index Class IV maxillectomy patient with a large oronasal communication and severe facial asymmetry, loss of upper lip and midfacial support, severe impairment of mastication, deglutition, phonetics, and speech intelligibility. Due to insufficient bone support to provide satisfactory zygomaticus implant anchorage, conventional implants were placed in the body of the left zygomatic arch and in the right maxillary tuberosity. Using a modified impression technique, a cobalt‐chromium alloy framework with three overdenture attachments was constructed to retain a complete maxillary obturator. Patient‐reported functional and quality of life measure outcomes were dramatically improved after treatment and at the two‐year follow‐up.     

Gastrointestinal motility of patients with Roux-en-Y reconstruction

The electromyographic activity of the gastrointestinal tract was studied in 28 patients undergoing gastric, biliary, and pancreatic operations with reconstruction of the gastrointestinal tract with a Roux-en-Y limb. The Roux-en-Y limb was constructed 1 to 5 years before the study in 8 patients (chronic Roux-en-Y) and at the operation in which the electrodes were implanted in 20 patients (recent Roux-en-Y). All four phases of the migrating motor complex (MMC) were identified in the gastrointestinal tract, including in the Roux-en-Y limb. The duration of the MMC was 82.4 ± 22.3 min in the patients with chronic Roux-en-Y and 89.0 ± 25.1 min in the patients with recent Roux-en-Y. Food ingestion converted the MMC to the fed pattern in the entire gastrointestinal tract, including the Roux-en-Y limb in 16 (76.2%) of 21 recordings of the patients with chronic Roux-en-Y and in 27 (84.4%) of 32 recordings of the patients with recent Roux-en-Y. The duration of the fed pattern was 170 ± 34 min in the patients with chronic Roux-en-Y and 154 ± 26 min in the patients with recent Roux-en-Y. The findings of this study indicate that the electromyographic activity of the Roux-en-Y limb is normal during both fasting and fed states, even many years after the construction of the Roux-en-Y.

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Resumen Se estudió la motilidad electromiográphica del tracto gastrointestinal de 28 pacientes sometidos a operaciones gástricas, biliares y pancreáticas con reconstrucción de tipo Roux-en-Y. El asa de Roux-en-Y fue construida 1–5 años antes del estudio en un grupo de ocho pacientes (Roux-en-Y crónica) y en otro grupo de 20 lose electrodos fueron implantados durante la operación (Roux-en-Y reciente). Se identificaron las cuatro fases del complejo motormigratorio en el tracto gastrointestinal, incluso en el asa de Roux-en-Y. La duración del CMM fue 82.4 ± 22.3 min en los pacientes con Roux-en-Y crónica y 89.0 ± 25.1 min en los pacientes con Roux-en-Y reciente. Con la ingesta de alimento se substituyó el CMM por el patrón postalimentación en la totalidad del tracto gastrointestinal incluso en el asa de Roux-en-Y, en 16 de los 21 registros (76.2%) de los pacientes con Roux-en-Y crónica y en 27 de los 32 registros (84.4%) de los pacientes con Roux-en-Y reciente. La duración del patrón postalimentacón fue 170 ± 34 min en los pacientes con Roux-en-Y crónica y 154 ± 26 min en los pacientes con Roux-en-Y reciente. Los hallazgos en este estudio indican que la actividad electromiográphica del asa de Roux-en-Y es normal durante las fases de ayuno o de alimentación, aún transcurridos muchos años de la confección del Roux-en-Y.

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Résumé L'activité électromyographique de l'intestin grêle a été étudiée chez 28 patients ayant eu des interventions portant sur le l'estomac, les voies biliaires ou le pancréas et comportant une reconstruction avec une anse en Y. Chez huit de ces patients, l'intervention initiale pendant laquelle cette anse en Y avait été mopntée, datait de 1 à 5 ans (anse en Y dite chronique). Chez les 20 autres patients, les électrodes pour mesurer l'activité électrique ont été placées pendant l'intervention initiale (anse en Y dite récente). Les quatre phases du complexe moteur migrateur (CMM) ont été identifiées sur l'intestin et sur l'anse en Y. La durée du CMM a été de 82.4 ± 22.3 min chez les patients ayant une anse en Y chronique, et de 89.0 ± 25.1 min chez les patients ayant une anse en Y récente. Pendant l'alimentation, la courbe d'activité dite d'alimentation a remplacé les CMM dans le tube intestinal en entier, y compris l'anse en Y chez 16 des 21 enregistrements (76.2%) des patients ayant une anse en Y chronique et chez 27 des 32 (84.4%) enregistrements des patients ayant une anse en Y récente. La durée des courbes dites d'alimentation a été de 170 ± 34 min chez les patients avec une anse en Y chronique et de 154 ± 26 min chez les patients avec une anse en Y récente. Les résultats de cette étude indiquent que l'activité électromyographique des anses en Y est normale pendant le jeûne et pendant l'alimentation, et ce même plusieurs années après la confection d'une anse en Y.

     

Impact of hospital infections on patients outcomes undergoing cardiac surgery at Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Marília

Objective

this study aimed to determine the incidence of nosocomial infections, the risk factors and the impact of these infections on mortality among patients undergoing to cardiac surgery.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study of 2060 consecutive patients from 2006 to 2012 at the Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Marília.

Results

351 nosocomial infections were diagnosed (17%), 227 non-surgical infections and 124 surgical wound infections. Major infections were mediastinitis (2.0%), urinary tract infection (2.8%), pneumonia (2.3%), and bloodstream infection (1.7%). The in-hospital mortality was 6.4%. Independent variables associated with non-surgical infections were age > 60 years (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.09 to 2.31), ICU stay > 2 days (OR 5, 49, 95% CI 2.98 to 10, 09), mechanical ventilation > 2 days (OR11, 93, 95% CI 6.1 to 23.08), use of urinary catheter > 3 days (OR 4.85 95% CI 2.95 -7.99). Non-surgical nosocomial infections were more frequent in patients with surgical wound infection (32.3% versus 7.2%, OR 6.1, 95% CI 4.03 to 9.24). Independent variables associated with mortality were age greater than 60 years (OR 2.0; 95% CI 1.4 to3.0), use of vasoactive drugs (OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.9 to 6, 0), insulin use (OR 1.8; 95% CI 1.2 to 2.8), surgical reintervention (OR 4.4; 95% CI 2.1 to 9.0) pneumonia (OR 4.3; 95% CI 2.1 to 8.9) and bloodstream infection (OR = 4.7, 95% CI 2.0 to 11.2).

Conclusion

Non-surgical hospital infections are common in patients undergoing cardiac surgery; they increase the chance of surgical wound infection and mortality.     

Spirometry‐adjusted fraction of exhaled nitric oxide increases accuracy for assessment of asthma control in children

Spirometry and exhaled nitric oxide are two important complimentary tools to identify and assess asthma control in children. We aimed to determine the ability of a new suggested spirometry‐adjusted fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (NO) index in doing that. A random sample of 1602 schoolchildren were screened by a health questionnaire, skin prick tests, spirometry with bronchodilation and exhaled NO. A total of 662 children were included with median (IQR) exhaled NO 11(14) ppb. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves using exhaled NO equations from Malmberg, Kovesi and Buchvald, and spirometry‐adjusted fraction of exhaled NO values were applied to identify asthmatic children and uncontrolled asthma. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves failed to identify asthmatic children (all AUC < 0.700). Spirometry‐adjusted fraction of exhaled NO/FEV₁ (AUC = 0.712; P = .010) and NO/FEF_25%‐75% (AUC = 0.735 P = .004) had a fair and increased ability to identify uncontrolled disease compared with exhaled NO (AUC = 0.707; P = .011) or the Malmberg equation (AUC = 0.701; P = .014). Sensitivity and specificity identifying non‐controlled asthma were 59% and 81%, respectively, for the cut‐off value of 9.7 ppb/L for exhaled NO/FEV₁, and 40% and 100% for 15.7 ppb/L/s for exhaled NO/FEF_25%‐75%. Exhaled NO did not allow to identify childhood asthma. Spirometry‐adjusted fraction of exhaled NO performed better‐assessing asthma control in children. Thus, although more validation studies are needed, we suggest its use in epidemiological studies to assess asthma control.     

Impact of orthopedic trauma consolidation on resident education

Background

In July 2005, the Saskatoon Health Region, in conjunction with its orthopedic surgeons, consolidated its management of orthopedic emergencies from 3 sites to 1, resulting in trauma patients being directed to the university hospital site (Royal University Hospital; RUH) where orthopedic residents were the first responders. We sought to measure resident workload in the emergency department, operating room and ward before and after consolidation and to measure the perceptions of residents and faculty on the newly established orthopedic trauma service.

Methods

We compared orthopedic volumes at RUH in the emergency department (ED) and trauma-related operating rooms over 2 periods of 3 months’ duration before and after trauma consolidation. We developed and disseminated questionnaires evaluating issues relating to patient care; resident education, including all CanMEDS domains; resident well-being; and the orthopedic trauma service to all orthopedic residents and faculty members.

Results

The number of patients seen by orthopedic residents in the ED increased by 67%, the number admitted through the ED to the ward increased by 66%, and the total number of inpatients and consultations increased by 43% after the consolidation. The number of patients processed through the orthopedic emergency operating room increased by 90%. In general, response to the change was positive and appreciated by residents and faculty members.

Conclusion

Sudden substantial increases in the volume of patients seen by orthopedic residents may not prompt negative resident responses when the overall gains offset, if not exceed, the perceived losses.