Hypoxaemia during induction of anaesthesia—an audit of children who underwent general anaesthesia for routine elective surgery

Arterial oxygen saturation was measured using pulse oximetry during induction of anaesthesia in 108 children aged 10 days--14 years. No restriction was placed on the method of induction. Oxygen saturation decreased to less than 90% in 29 children (26.8%) and less than 80% in seven children (6.4%). There was a significantly increased incidence of desaturation (to less than 90%) in children under one year of age, in those who had no premedication, in those who received only atropine as a premidicant and in children who were anxious or crying before intravenous induction. Oxygen saturation did not decrease below 90% in any child who received inhalational induction.     

Recruiting Terminally Ill Patients into Non-Therapeutic Oncology Studies: views of Health Professionals

Background

Seeking consent for genetic and genomic research can be challenging, particularly in populations with low literacy levels, and in emergency situations. All of these factors were relevant to the MalariaGEN study of genetic factors influencing immune responses to malaria in northern rural Ghana. This study sought to identify issues arising in practice during the enrolment of paediatric cases with severe malaria and matched healthy controls into the MalariaGEN study.

Methods

The study used a rapid assessment incorporating multiple qualitative methods including in depth interviews, focus group discussions and observations of consent processes. Differences between verbal information provided during community engagement processes, and consent processes during the enrolment of cases and controls were identified, as well as the factors influencing the tailoring of such information.

Results

MalariaGEN participants and field staff seeking consent were generally satisfied with their understanding of the project and were familiar with aspects of the study relating to malaria. Some genetic aspects of the study were also well understood. Participants and staff seeking consent were less aware of the methodologies employed during genomic research and their implications, such as the breadth of data generated and the potential for future secondary research. Moreover, trust in and previous experience with the Navrongo Health Research Centre which was conducting the research influenced beliefs about the benefits of participating in the MalariaGEN study and subsequent decision-making about research participation.

Conclusions

It is important to recognise that some aspects of complex genomic research may be of less interest to and less well understood by research participants and that such gaps in understanding may not be entirely addressed by best practice in the design and conduct of consent processes. In such circumstances consideration needs to be given to additional protections for participants that may need to be implemented in such research, and how best to provide such protections. Capacity building for research ethics committees with limited familiarity with genetic and genomic research, and appropriate engagement with communities to elicit opinions of the ethical issues arising and acceptability of downstream uses of genome wide association data are likely to be important.     

Retrospective access to data: the ENGAGE consent experience

The rapid emergence of large-scale genetic databases raises issues at the nexus of medical law and ethics, as well as the need, at both national and international levels, for an appropriate and effective framework for their governance. This is even more so for retrospective access to data for secondary uses, wherein the original consent did not foresee such use. The first part of this paper provides a brief historical overview of the ethical and legal frameworks governing consent issues in biobanking generally, before turning to the secondary use of retrospective data in epidemiological biobanks. Such use raises particularly complex issues when (1) the original consent provided is restricted; (2) the minor research subject reaches legal age; (3) the research subject dies; or (4) samples and data were obtained during medical care. Our analysis demonstrates the inconclusive, and even contradictory, nature of guidelines and confirms the current lack of compatible regulations. The second part of this paper uses the European Network for Genetic and Genomic Epidemiology (ENGAGE Consortium) as a case study to illustrate the challenges of research using previously collected data sets in Europe. Our study of 52 ENGAGE consent forms and information documents shows that a broad range of mechanisms were developed to enable secondary use of the data that are part of the ENGAGE Consortium.     

A Brief, Intensive, Clinically Focused Geriatrics Course During the Third Year of Medical School

During the next several decades, the aging of the "baby boom" generation in the United States will result in a dramatic increase in the number of patients aged 65 and older seeking medical care, but current projections suggest that the shortage of geriatrics-trained specialists will only worsen during this time period. As a result, the care of elderly patients will largely fall to other types of physicians. Consequently, it is imperative that medical school training include exposure to the basic skills needed to care safely for older adults. This goal is challenging, because the number of geriatric medicine faculty in most academic medical centers is small, and multiple other medical specialties are also vying for time in a busy medical school curriculum. Whether a 3-day course conducted during the third year of medical school could teach basic principles of geriatric medicine in a time- and manpower-effective manner was explored. It was found that even this brief exposure to geriatrics could have meaningful effects on student knowledge of and comfort with geriatrics.     

Hair Toe Tourniquet Syndrome in a Four-year-old Boy

Background

Hair toe tourniquet syndrome is a condition in which a hair or thread encircles a digit and results in acute digital ischemia. It usually occurs in children under the age of 1 year. Prompt recognition and surgical removal of the constricting material can save the digit from irreversible tissue necrosis and the loss of digit.

Case Report

We report the first known case of hair toe tourniquet syndrome in a 4-year-old child, who had successful diagnosis and treatment of this condition.

Conclusion

We suggest that hair toe tourniquet syndrome should be considered as a cause of acute digital swelling and discoloration in children of all ages.     

高度近视相关胶原基因的研究进展

高度近视(high myopia)又称病理性近视,其屈光度≤-6.00 D,伴有眼轴的延长和眼基质的改变,是一种致盲的重要器质性眼病.家族性高度近视具有明显的遗传性,符合孟德尔遗传规律,但其致病基因尚未确定.巩膜胶原表达和积聚异常导致眼球过度扩张被认为是高度近视形成的重要机制,因此胶原基因与高度近视的关系已经引起关注.已有研究表明COLA1基因与高度近视相关,同时多种伴有高度近视症状的综合征的致病基因均为胶原基因,以上证据表明胶原基因可能是高度近视的致病基因并应成为高度近视相关基因的重要研究方向.该文就高度近视相关胶原基因的研究进展进行综述.     

Correlation between cytology and histopathology of the salivary glam

Background

Salivary gland swellings can result from tumours, an inflammatory process, or cysts. It can sometimes be difficult to establish whether pathology arises from the salivary gland itself or adjacent structures. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a simple, rapid and safe method to diagnose salivary gland swelling. FNAC has high sensitivity, specificity and accuracy. The aims of this study are to correlate FNAC diagnoses with histopathology and to establish the sensitivity and specificity of FNAC in diagnosis of salivary gland swellings in our institution.

Method

The study was conducted in the department of pathology, Sri Venkateshwara Medical college Hospital and research Centre, Pondicherry, India. Data was collected retrospectively for the time period 2007-2008 and prospectively for that obtained between January 2009 and June 2010. Results of cytologicial assessment were compared with histopathological data where possible to establish sensitivity and specificity of FNAC.

Results

During the study period, 1309 FNAC were undertaken of which 96 FNAC were of salivary gland swellings. Correlation of cytology from FNAC with histopathology tissue was possible in 56 cases. Of the 96 cases for which FNAC data was available, 38.56% were from male and 61.45% were from female patients. The age of the patients ranged from 8 to 69 years. 48.95% cases were benign swellings, 13.54% were malignant, 6.25% were cysts and 31.25% had an inflammatory aetiology. Comparison of FNAC findings with histopathology specimens was available for 56 (58.33%) cases, following which the sensitivity and specificity of cytology were found to be 76.9% and 97.1% respectively.

Conclusion

FNAC is highly sensitive and specific technique for diagnosis of most of the salivary gland swelling. FNAC can be used preoperatively to avoid unnecessary surgery and discomfort associated with open biopsy.