Inhaled budesonide aerosols in treatment of childhood asthma

Twenty-six children with chronic bronchial asthma, 19 boys and 7 girls, aged between 6 and 16 years with duration of asthma ranging from 1-12 years, were studied by a control, oral prednisolone 5 mg twice a day and inhaled budesonide 200 micrograms twice daily, each for 3 weeks. The clinical efficacy assessed daily by day and night symptom scores of cough, wheeze, sleep disturbance, limitation of activity, symptomatic inhaled terbutaline usage, daily morning and afternoon Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR), and weekly PEFR and Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1) in percent of predict, showed statistically significant improvement during the inhaled budesonide aerosol and oral prednisolone treatment periods in comparison with the control. No side effect was observed during any study periods.     

Risk analysis in resection of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus

A study of risk factors that affect morbidity and mortality in 523 patients with squamous cell cancer of the esophagus who had one-stage resection was undertaken. The 30-day and hospital mortality rates were 5.0% and 15.5%, respectively. Pulmonary complications, malignant cachexia, and surgical complications accounted for 42%, 25%, and 21% of hospital deaths, respectively. Major pulmonary complications occurred in 23% of patients. Multivariate analysis identified six factors that predicted major pulmonary complications: age, mid-arm circumference, percent of predicted FEV₁, abnormal chest radiograph, amount of blood loss, and palliative resection. Three risk groups of pulmonary complications were identified: low, median, and high risk group with complications in 3%, 17%, and 43% of patients, respectively. Significantly, patients with curative resection had a lower hospital mortality rate (9%) than those with palliative resection (20%), p=0.001. Patients with stage I, IIa, or IIb disease had a lower hospital mortality rate (9%) than those with stage III or IV disease (18%), p=0.026. Multivariate analysis identified six factors that predicted hospital death: age, mid-arm circumference, history of smoking, incentive spirometry, number of stairs climbed, and amount of blood loss. Three risk groups of hospital death were identified: low, median, and high risk groups with death in 7%, 30%, and 38%, respectively. Anastomotic leakage rate was 4%. Technical faults were identified in 53% of patients with leakage. Together with other surgical complications, a presumed or apparent technical error was noted in 63% of patients. The identification of high-risk patients and prevention of technical faults can help improve surgical outcome.

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Resumen Se emprendió un estudio sobre los factores de riesgo que afectaron la mortalidad en 523 pacientes con carcinoma escamocelular del esófago sometidos a resección en una etapa en nuestra institución.Las tasas de mortalidad a 30 días y de mortalidad hospitalaria fueron 5% y 15%. Las complicaciones pulmonares, caquexia maligna y quirúrgica representaron 42%, 25% y 21% de las muertes hospitalarias, respectivamente. Complicaciones pulmonares mayores fueron registradas en 23% de los pacientes.El análisis multivariado identificó seis factores que predicen complicaciones pulmonares mayores: edad, circunferencia del brazo, porcentaje del FEV1 predecible, radiografía de tórax anormal, pérdida de sangre durante la operación y resección de tipo paliativo. Se identificaron tres grupos de riesgo de desarrollar complicaciones pulmonares: bajo, medio y alto, con tasas de 3%, 17% y 43% de los pacientes, respectivamente. Los pacientes que recibieron resección curative exhibieron una significativamente menor tasa de mortalidad hospitalaria (9%) en comparación con los que recibieron resección paliativa (20%), p=0.001. Los pacientes con enfermedad en estados I, IIa, IIb exhibieron menor mortalidad hospitalaria (9%) en comparación con los estados III o IV (18%), p=0.026. El análisis multivariado identificó seis factores que predicen mortalidad hospitalaria: edad, circunferencia del brazo, historia de tabaquismo, espirometría de incentivo, número de escalones que puede ascender y pérdida de sangre durante la operación. Se identificaron tres grupos de riesgo de mortalidad hospitalaria: bajo, medio y alto, con tasas de 7%, 30% y 38% respectivamente.La tasa de fuga anastomótica fue 4% y se identificaron defectos técnicos en 53% de los pacientes. Junto con otras complicaciones quirúrgicas, se observó un error técnico presumible o aparente en 63% de los pacientes.La identificación de los pacientes de alto riesgo y la prevención de los errores técnicos pueden ayudar a mejorar el pronóstico.

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Résumé Dans cette étude, on a étudié les facteurs de risque influençant la morbidité et la mortalité chez 523 patients ayant un cancer épidermoïde de l'oesophage et ayant eu une résection en un seul temps. La mortalité à 30 jours et la mortalité hospitalière ont été respectivement de 5% et de 15.5%. Les complications pulmonaires, la cachexie maligne et les complications chirurgicales ont été responsable respectivement de 42%, 25% et 21% des décès hospitaliers. Une analyse multifactorielle a permis d'identifier six facteurs prédictifs des complications pulmonaires: l'âge, la circonférence brachiale, la prévision du volume expiratoire forcé en une seconde, les anomalies de la radiographie thoracique, la quantité de sang perdu, et le caractère palliatif de la résection. Trois groupes, dont le risque de complications pulmonaires a été classé faible, moyen et élevé, ont été identifiés. Le taux de complications dans ces groupes ont été respectivement de 3%, 17% et 43%. Les patients ayant eu une résection à visée curative avaient une mortalité hospitalière significativement plus basse (9%) comparée à celle des patients ayant eu une résection à visée palliative (20%) (p=0.001). Les patients ayant des maladies de stades I, IIa, IIb avaient une mortalité plus basse (9%) que ceux qui avaient des stades III ou IV (18%), (p=0.026). L'analyse multifactorielle a permis d'identifier six facteurs prédictifs de la mortalité hospitalière: l'âge, la circonférence brachial, des antécédents de consommation excessive du tabac, la spirométrie, le nombre d'escaliers que le patient peut monter, et la quantité de sang perdu. Trois groupes de patients, dont le risque de mortalité hospitalière a été classé faible, moyen, et élevé, ont eu des décès dans respectivement 7%, 30% et 38% des cas. Le taux de fistule a été de 4%. Une faute technique a été identifiée chez 53% des patients ayant eu une fistule. Une faute technique apparente ou présumée a été identifie chez 63% des patients ayant eu soit une fistule soit une complication chirurgicale. L'identification des patients à haut risque et la prévention des fautes techniques peuvent contribuer à améliorer le pronostic après chirurgie.

     

EVALUATION OF INDOCYANINE GREEN RETENTION AND AMINOPYRINE BREATH TESTS IN PATIENTS WITH MALIGNANT BILIARY OBSTRUCTION

Impaired hepatic function is a major contributory factor to the high incidence of postoperative morbidity and mortality in patients with malignant biliary obstruction. Dynamic hepatic function tests such as indocyanine green (ICG) retention and aminopyrine breath tests were evaluated in such patients to define whether they were clinically useful for prediction of postoperative morbidity and mortality. Forty-four patients with malignant biliary obstruction undergoing surgery for relief of obstructive jaundice were recruited into the study. Indocyanine green retention and aminopyrine breath tests were carried out in all patients pre-operatively and repeated in 36 patients postoperatively. The ICG retention was abnormal in all patients before surgery and there was significant improvement 2 weeks after surgery (32.8 ± 2.5%vs 18.3 ± 2.8%, P= 0.001). The change in ICG retention levels correlated with the serum bilirubin levels but the pre-operative ICG retention value could not predict postoperative morbidity and mortality. The aminopyrine breath test was abnormal in all but one patient. It correlated with pre-operative prothrombin time of the patients before surgery but it did not improve significantly after surgery and was not predictive of postoperative outcome. It is concluded that both ICG retention and aminopyrine breath tests have limited clinical value in the pre-operative evaluation of patients with malignant biliary obstruction.     

Alpha thalassaemia hydrops fetalis in the UK: the importance of screening pregnant women of Chinese, other South East Asian and Mediterranean extraction for alpha thalassaemia trait.

OBJECTIVE: Alpha zero (alpha 0 or alpha-1) thalassaemia is an important genetic risk for women originating from Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines or South China. Cypriots are also at risk. Carriers of alpha zero thalassaemia trait can be detected by routine haemoglobinopathy screening. When a couple are both carriers, in each pregnancy there is a 25% risk that the fetus will have alpha thalassaemia hydrops fetalis; this is fatal for the fetus and carries serious obstetric and psychological risks for the mother. Most informed couples at risk request prenatal diagnosis and selective abortion. This study investigates the effectiveness of screening, counselling and prenatal diagnosis for alpha thalassaemia hydrops fetalis in the UK. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of the notes. SUBJECTS: 18 couples attending University College Hospital London for prenatal diagnosis of alpha thalassaemia hydrops fetalis since 1982. RESULTS: The study shows underdiagnosis of both alpha zero thalassaemia trait and alpha thalassaemia hydrops fetalis leading to avoidable stillbirths and complications in pregnancy. CONCLUSION: We recommend early screening for alpha zero thalassaemia trait for all women of Southeast Asian or eastern Mediterranean origin and the offer of prenatal diagnosis when indicated. The diagnosis of alpha thalassaemia hydrops fetalis should be considered in women of the relevant ethnic origin who have a stillbirth, neonatal death, abnormal ultrasound findings at fetal anomaly scanning (especially a large placenta), or who develop pre-eclampsia.     

Effect of a single dose of the selectin inhibitor TBC1269 on early and late asthmatic responses

BACKGROUND : Selectins participate in the initial phase of leucocyte migration from circulation to inflamed tissues and may play a role in inflammatory cellular influx into airways in asthma. In the sheep asthma model, TBC1269, a pan-selectin antagonist, reduced late allergen response by 74%. OBJECTIVE : To determine whether a single dose of TBC1269 inhibits early (EAR) and late (LAR) asthmatic responses, and whether it inhibits sputum leucocyte influx after inhalation allergen challenge in atopic asthmatic subjects treated with bronchodilators only. METHODS : Twenty-one asthmatic subjects (mean+/-SD, age=32.5+/-6.7 years, 8 males, FEV1 percent predicted=84+/-15%) with known late asthmatic response based on a screening inhalation allergen challenge were randomly assigned to receive intravenous treatment with either placebo (n=11) or TBC1269 (n=10, 30 mg/kg) infused over 15 min immediately prior to a second (post-treatment) allergen challenge at least 4 weeks after the screening challenge. After each challenge, EAR and LAR were monitored for 7 h. In addition, sputum was induced 1 day before and 1 day after each allergen challenge. RESULTS : TBC1269 did not attenuate the EAR compared with placebo (largest fall in FEV1 within 1 h of 34.1+/-13.9% vs. 31.8+/-12.2% for TBC1269 and placebo groups respectively, P=0.61) or the LAR (largest fall in FEV1 between 3 and 7 h of 39.3+/-15.3% vs. 32.6+/-13.8%, P=0.24). TBC1269 had only minor effects on allergen-induced sputum eosinophilia. CONCLUSION : We conclude that TBC1269 administered before allergen challenge as a single intravenous dose does not attenuate early or late asthmatic responses to allergen in asthmatic subjects.     

Multifocal calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor.

The calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor (CEOT), or Pindborg tumor, is a rare and benign odontogenic neoplasm that affects the jaw. The most common manifestation of CEOT is a unifocal or localized lesion of the involved jaw, which may appear clinically as a hard tissue swelling and radiographically as a mixed radiolucent-radiopaque mass. In this article, we present a unique case of CEOT affecting multiple sites in the maxilla and mandible of a 51-year-old white man. Though biopsy samples from all involved sites revealed similar histopathologic features consistent with CEOT, the fact that there was a multifocal presentation is an unusual phenomenon for CEOT and has never been reported. Multifocal odontogenic lesions are not typical but have been observed in conditions associated with known genetic mutations. For example, multiple odontogenic keratocysts are the most common feature of the inherited condition known as nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome. This case, however, is the first one to demonstrate that there may be a multifocal variant of CEOT that has not been previously recognized.     

Suicide and unemployment: what are the missing links?

The suicide rate has been paralleled by an upward trend of unemployment in Hong Kong since 1997. This study aims to explore the unknown suicide-related factors among the unemployed. This information is useful in developing culturally specific suicide prevention initiatives related to unemployment. Seventy-six suicide deceased and 15 life subjects who were unemployed were selected from a previous psychological autopsy study. Logistic regression models were employed to estimate the relative suicide risks among the unemployed people. Among the unemployed, the suicide deceased were more likely to be male, had suffered from psychiatric illness, and had attempted suicide before. They also had acquired less competent social problem solving skills. Comparison with a small control group creates a generalizability problem. Suicide prevention for the unemployed could be done through mental health awareness programs; problem-solving skills training for attempters and males; and vocational training and job opportunities for discharged psychiatric patients and rehabilitees.     

Generation of platelet activating factor (PAF) by a human lung epithelial cell line

A human lung epithelial cell line (ATC-CCL-185) was cultured in nutrient Ham-F12 medium. Cells in monolayers were stimulated with either ionophore A23187 (1 microM) or phorbol myristate acetate (PMA, 0.2 microM) for various periods of time. Samples were analysed by HPLC and the presence of platelet activating factor (PAF) was detected by bioassay of the release of [3H]serotonin from rabbit platelets undergoing aggregation. The ATC-CCL 185 cells were found to synthesize PAF following activation with either PMA or ionophore. Ionophore at 1 microM was found to be more potent than PMA at 0.2 microM in the induction of PAF synthesis (congruent to 80 ng/mg protein). The synthesis of PAF through ionophore stimulation reached a maximum at 5 min, whereas PMA stimulation peaked at 15-20 min. PMA induced approximately one third the level of PAF synthesis by the ionophore. The PAF synthesized by these CCL185 cells was found to be mainly associated with the cell membrane with less than 10% released into the medium. Release of PAF into cell supernatant was dependent on the presence of bovine serum albumin (BSA). In the absence of BSA, a large portion (approximately 90%) of PAF was found to be cell associated, and only 60% when BSA concentration reached greater than or equal to 0.2%. These results demonstrate the ability of this lung epithelial cell line to synthesis PAF thus, suggesting that epithelial cells might participate in the process of inflammatory lung diseases, through the generation of this important mediator.