Disseminated Cryptococcus neoformans in a cirrhotic patient

Disseminated cryptococcal infection often occurs in the setting of an immuncompromised patient. We report a case of disseminated Cryptococcus neoformans in a cirrhotic patient, referred for Orthotopic Liver Transplantation evaluation due to acute hepatic decompensation.     

A prospective randomized study to optimize the dosage of trimix ingredients and compare its efficacy and safety with prostaglandin E1

Intracavernous injection of Trimix (Tx) is indicated for patients unsuitable for prostaglandin E1 (PgE1) injection due to lack of response, pain or cost. We believe that the ideal ratio of ingredient doses in Tx is yet to be found. We postulated that increasing the doses of individual drug components in an orderly manner would convey important data on penile hemodynamic response. Such information is needed to choose an effective and less costly alternative to PgE1 with least side effects. We set out to evaluate the impact of varying the ingredient dosage on response and short-term safety of Tx compared with PgE1. We prospectively randomized 180 consecutive patients with erectile dysfunction into nine equal groups and each group received a different dose of Tx, namely phentolamine (1 mg) plus one dose of PgE1 (2.5, 5 or 10 microg) and one dose of papaverine (5, 10 or 20 mg). Each patient was injected with 20 microg PgE1 and one dose of Tx in two clinic visits 1 week apart. Following injection, duplex ultrasound of cavernous arteries and axial rigidometry were carried out. Patients ranked the quality of erection, estimated overall satisfaction and reported time to detumescence and side effects. Patients' mean age was 50.5+/-11.7 y with underlying organic condition in 91.1%. There were no significant differences between PgE1 and Tx with regard to peak cavernous artery flow, time to erection, patients' satisfaction, average axial rigidity and pain. PgE1 produced higher end diastolic velocity, shorter duration of erection and less priapism. Patients did not show a preference for either drug or any particular dosage. We conclude that even at the smallest dose of ingredients of Tx, there are no significant differences in hemodynamic effects, rigidity, pain and self-satisfaction between the two drugs. However, Tx produces a longer duration of erection and more priapism than PgE1.     

Evaluation of attitudes towards treatment in adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

A substantial proportion of adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) do not appropriately adhere to prescribed treatments, especially to pharmacological treatments. It is important to disentangle the specific attitudes that contribute to treatment adherence. A 33-item questionnaire was applied to 120 adolescents diagnosed with ADHD and their respective parents. Reliability of the scale was explored using factor analysis, Cronbach's alpha, and test-retest. Validity was explored by face validity and the known-groups method. For the young people's version, three main dimensions (preoccupations, insight and self-concept) emerged. The parents' version showed six main dimensions (child's personal attitudes, worries, social stigma, insight, future side effects and knowledge). The potential of this questionnaire to explore the attitudes of patients and their families towards treatments and for clinicians to predict treatment adherence is discussed.     

Evaluation of Screening in Children Referred for an ADHD Assessment

Although guidance from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence recommends the improved identification of children with ADHD, clinical resources are limited. Amongst children (n = 119) referred over the question of ADHD, we evaluated the utility of screening (using parent and teacher questionnaires) prior to offering an ADHD assessment. The introduction of screening contributed to an increase in the proportion of assessed children receiving a clinical diagnosis of ADHD. Although screening of referred children prior to assessment can optimise the use of specialist clinical resources in the identification of children with ADHD, false positives remain common.     

Efficacy of prophylactic use of hydrocortisone and low dose ketamine for prevention of shivering during spinal anesthesia

BackgroundSpinal anesthesia is commonly associated with shivering. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of i.v. hydrocortisone with i.v. low dose ketamine or placebo for prevention of shivering during spinal anesthesia.MethodIn this prospective, randomized, double-blind study, 90 female patients ASA I–II age 30–60 years old, undergoing posterior vaginal repair surgeries under spinal anesthesia with 3 ml heavy bupivacaine 0.5% (15 mg), patients were randomly allocated into one of three groups, (Group S, n = 30) (control) received saline, (Group K, n = 30) received ketamine 0.25 mg kg^?1 or (Group H, n = 30) received hydrocortisone 2 mg kg^?1, the drugs were given i.v. just after spinal anesthesia with recording of vital signs, and core temperature every 15 min intraoperative and every 10 min in recovery room. The incidence and intensity of shivering, number of patients received meperidine, sensory level, motor block grade, and side effects (hypotension, hypertension, tachycardia, nausea and vomiting, sedation and hallucinations) were also recorded.ResultsIncidence of shivering were significantly reduced in k and H groups being 20% and 23.3% respectively compared to S group (p < 0.05). Patients received meperidine to control shivering were significantly low in Groups K and H compared to group S (p < 0.05), with no difference between Groups K and H.ConclusionsThe prophylactic administration of low dose ketamine (0.25 mg kg^?1) and hydrocortisone (2 mg kg^?1) were comparable in reducing the incidence of shivering and both had significant antishivering effect compared to placebo, in female patients under spinal anesthesia for posterior vaginal repair surgeries.     

Detection and quantitation of ischemic left ventricular dysfunction using a new video intensity technique for regional wall motion evaluation

Eighty patients with ischemic heart disease and 17 normal subjects were evaluated for left ventricular regional wall motion by means of a new method. The wall motion analysis is based on video intensity. This technique uses a temporally sliding analysis to evaluate the cardiac cycle in 100 msec intervals. Presence of coronary artery disease was defined as more than 50% measured diameter stenosis. Wall motion abnormalities in regions perfused by stenotic vessels were most common in early diastole (76%). Sensitivity of this method at rest in patients with coronary artery disease was 79.7% (p less than 0.0001) and overall accuracy was 84.2% (p less than 0.0001). Abnormalities in both systole and diastole were more common in regions perfused by severe lesions (greater than 75%) than in those perfused by moderately stenotic (less than 75%) vessels (p less than 0.05). A comparison of the new method with phase and amplitude analysis was performed in 15 patients and with two-frame analysis in 40 patients. This new method yielded a higher sensitivity than either of the other two methods.     

Prognostic factors in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated in Hospital Kuala Lumpur

Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is the third most common cancer among men in Peninsular Malaysia.However, no information is available about the prognostic factors. The objective of this study was to identifyfactors with an influence on outcome in patients treated in Hospital Kuala Lumpur. Methods: A total of 159patients with non-metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated during 2002-2003 in Hospital Kuala Lumpurwere included in this study. All received radiotherapy. Fifty three patients were treated with radiotherapy alone,while 106 patients received combination chemotherapy. Overall survival and local recurrence-free survival wereanalyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and univariate analysis was performed using the log-rank test. Results:This study found out that 5-year overall survival and 5-year local recurrence-free survival rates were 58.6% and54.2% respectively. The stage specific 5-year overall survival rates were: Stage I, 100%; Stage II; 93.3%, StageIII, 62.7%; Stage IVA, 42.2%; and Stage IVB, 40.6%. On univariate analysis, gender (p<0.05), T-classification(p< 0.001), N-classification (p<0.05), stage (p<0.05) and cranial nerve involvement (p< 0.001) were found to besignificant prognostic factors for 5-year overall survival, while gender (p<0.05) and N-classification (p<0.05)were significant prognostic factors for 5-year local recurrence-free survival. Conclusion: The overall survivalrate of patients for this study was low. The patient factor that significantly affected 5-year overall survival wasgender, while disease factors were stage, T-classification, N-classification and cranial nerve involvement.