Decompensated cirrhosis-related admissions in a large urban hospital in Uganda: prevalence,clinical and laboratory features and implications for planning patient management

Background

Cirrhosis-related complications are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in areas where its risk factors are endemic.

Objective

We determined the prevalence of decompensated cirrhosis among patients on the gastroenterology service of Mulago Hospital and described the clinical and laboratory features of these patients.

Methods

All patients admitted to the unit were assessed and their diagnosis documented. Patients with cirrhosis had clinical features of decompensation recorded. History of alcohol consumption was taken and testing for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis C antibody (anti-HCV) performed.

Results

Between September 2010 and January 2011, we enrolled 482 patients. The majority (53.7%) were male, overall median age 38 years. Decompensated cirrhosis was diagnosed in 85 (17.6%) patients. Of the 85 patients, 47 (55.3%) gave a history of alcohol intake, HBsAg was positive in 23 (27.1%) and anti-HCV in 3 (3.5%). Decompensation was defined by ascites among 81 (95.3%) patients, variceal bleeding in 31 (36.5%), encephalopathy in 20 (23.5%).

Conclusion

Cirrhosis is common in Mulago hospital presenting mainly with ascites and variceal bleeding. Aside from controlling causes of liver diseases, especially alcohol and hepatitis B virus infection, in the interim it is necessary to manage complications in patients who already have cirrhosis.     

The GAP-related domain of tuberin, the product of the TSC2 gene, is a target for missense mutations in tuberous sclerosis

Tuberous sclerosis is an autosomal dominant trait in which the dysregulation of cellular proliferation and differentiation results in the development of hamartomatous growths in many organs. The TSC2 gene is one of two genes determining tuberous sclerosis. Inactivating germline mutations of TSC2 in patients with tuberous sclerosis and somatic loss of heterozygosity at the TSC2 locus in the associated hamartomas indicate that TSC2 functions as a tumour suppressor gene and that loss of function is critical to expression of the tuberous sclerosis phenotype. The TSC2 product, tuberin, has a region of homology with the GTPase activating protein rap1GAP and stimulates the GTPase activity of rap1a and rab5a in vitro. Here we show that the region of homology between tuberin and human rap1GAP and the murine GAP mSpa1 is more extensive than previously reported and spans approximately 160 amino acid residues encoded within exons 34-38 of the TSC2 gene. Single strand conformation polymorphism analysis of these exons in 173 unrelated patients with tuberous sclerosis and direct sequencing of variant conformers together with study of additional family members enabled characterisation of disease associated mutations in 14 cases. Missense mutations, which occurred in exons 36, 37 and 38 were identified in eight cases, four of whom shared the same recurrent change P1675L. Each of the five different missense mutations identified was shown to occur de novo in at least one sporadic case of tuberous sclerosis. The high proportion of missense mutations detected in the region of the TSC2 gene encoding the GAP-related domain supports its key role in the regulation of cellular growth.      

Acaricidal activity of the essential oils from Eucalyptus citriodora and Cymbopogon nardus on larvae of Amblyomma cajennense (Acari: Ixodidae) and Anocentor nitens (Acari: Ixodidae)

The present study evaluated the acaricidal activity of essential oils from Eucalyptus citriodora and Cymbopogon nardus on non-engorged larvae of Amblyomma cajennense and Anocentor nitens. In order to carry out the study, six groups were formed, each concentration being a treatment (6.25%, 12.5%, 25%, and 50%, respectively) and also with the creation of a control group (distilled water) and a positive control (Deltametrine). For each treatment, approximately 100 larvae of these ticks were placed onto filter papers (2 × 2 cm) impregnated with the concentrations used to test. Next, the envelopes were closed bearing inside the filter paper with measurements of 6 × 6 cm. For each group, six repetitions were performed, and after 24 h live and dead larvae were counted. This procedure was carried out for two essential oils on the two species of ticks. For A. cajennense, the acaricide efficacy of E. citriodora oil was of 10.8%, 35.3%, 34.5%, and 53.1%, whereas the efficacy of C. nardus was of 0.0%, 0.0%, 0.0%, and 61.1% at concentrations of 6.25%, 12.5%, 25.0%, and 50.0%, respectively. In relation to A. nitens, the acaricide efficacy of E. citriodora oil was of 20.1%, 84.5%, 89.2%, and 100.0%, whereas the efficacy of C. nardus was of 0.0%, 90.8%, 100.0%, and 100.0% at concentrations of 6.25%, 12.5%, 25.0%, and 50.0%, respectively. The results indicate that the essential oils tested showed a promising acaricidal activity mainly on A. nitens larvae.     

Comparing human and mouse salivary glands: A practice guide for salivary researchers

Mice are a widely utilized in vivo model for translational salivary gland research but must be used with caution. Specifically, mouse salivary glands are similar in many ways to human salivary glands (i.e., in terms of their anatomy, histology, and physiology) and are both readily available and relatively easy and affordable to maintain. However, there are some significant differences between the two organisms, and by extension, the salivary glands derived from them must be taken into account for translational studies. The current review details pertinent similarities and differences between human and mouse salivary glands and offers practical guidelines for using both for research purposes.     

Acoustic measures of vocal stability during different speech tasks in young women using oral contraceptives: a retrospective study

Objectives To compare objective voice measures of vocal stability during different speech tasks in women taking oral contraceptives to those in women not taking oral contraceptives. Methods Voice recordings obtained from 28 women, aged 20-30 years old, were used for the study. Eighteen of the women were taking some form of oral contraception at the time of the recording (OC women); ten women were not taking any oral contraceptive medication (NOC women). Measures related to pitch, vocal stability, and loudness were obtained from sustained vowel and paragraph reading tasks. Results The OC women demonstrated significantly higher pitch levels but lower values related to measures of vocal stability. Conclusions The use of oral contraceptives appears to exert a positive influence upon vocal fold function. Women taking oral contraceptives demonstrate higher pitch levels and greater stability during phonation than do women not taking oral contraceptives. This improvement in vocal function is contributed to the more stable hormonal environment that occurs with the use of oral contraceptives.     

Osteomyelitis: detection with US

To evaluate the role of ultrasound (US) in the detection of osteomyelitis, the authors prospectively studied 48 patients clinically suspected of having osteomyelitis. A sonographic diagnosis was made if fluid was seen directly in contact with bone, without intervening soft tissues. Twelve of the 48 patients were subsequently found to have osteomyelitis. In 10 of them, US demonstrated abnormal fluid adjacent to the bone. This fluid was thought to represent an inflammatory exudate dissecting in a subperiosteal and/or extraperiosteal location. Eight of the 48 patients had soft-tissue fluid collections. The rest of the patients either had no abnormalities or had cellulitis. The authors conclude that US can be useful in the detection of osteomyelitis.     

应用5-ALA后银屑病皮损内PpⅨ荧光不均一性的免疫组化研究

研究发现银屑病皮损能够高度聚集原卟啉Ⅸ（PpⅨ，一种由5-ALA产生的内源性光源物质），但进行荧光诊断时却发现皮损内PpⅨ的分布存在差异，造成这种差异的原因目前尚不清楚。     

Diagnosis and treatment of excessive lateral pressure syndrome of the patellofemoral joint caused by military training

Objective: To investigate the diagnosis and surgical treatment of excessive lateral pressure syndrome of the patellofemoral joint caused by military training. Methods: Fifteen patients (patient group) and 18 healthy volunteers (control group) were involved in this retrospective study. Radiographs of the knee joints of all patients and volunteers were taken. The bone architecture was assessed, the trochlear angle, coincidence angle and patellofemoral joint index measured in both groups, and the resulting data compared. All 15 patients (17 knees) were treated by lateral collateral retinaculum release. Pre‐ and post‐operative pain was evaluated with a visual analog scale (VAS). Results: The differences between the two groups in coincidence angle (patient group: 7.67°± 5.81°; control group: ?2.2°±?2.71°) and patellofemoral joint index (patient group: 2.49 ± 1.40; control group: 1.25 ± 0.15) were statistically significant. Subchondral bone sclerosis and osteophytosis in the patellofemoral joint were more pronounced in the patient group than in the control group. The VAS was higher preoperatively (7.06 ± 0.85) than postoperatively (6 months postoperatively: 3.87 ± 0.24; 1 year postoperatively: 3.01 ± 0.17), and the differences between preoperative and postoperative were statistically significant. Conclusions: Apart from the case history, typical symptoms and physical signs, X‐ray examination is the most basic way to diagnose excessive lateral pressure syndrome of the patellofemoral joint, and the patellofemoral joint index is the most reliable for diagnosis. Lateral collateral retinaculum release with a small‐incision is an effective treatment for this disease.