Increased Rate of Aspiration Pneumonia and Poor Discharge Outcome Among Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients Following Intubation for Endovascular Treatment

Background  

An increased risk of aspiration pneumonia among acute ischemic stroke patients following intubation for endovascular treatment may explain the higher rates of poor outcomes among patients requiring general anesthesia compared with those performed under local sedation.     

Evaluation of PROMIS Preference Scoring System (PROPr) in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis or Kidney Transplant

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Decreased sleep quality in Parkinson’s patients is associated with higher anxiety and depression prevalence and severity,and correlates with pain intensity and quality

Objective: Pain, poor sleep quality, restless legs syndrome (RLS), and other symptoms are frequently reported by patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, the impact that pain severity and interference has on non-motor symptoms (NMS) has not been extensively studied. The objective of the present study is to explore the relationship between sleep quality in PD to pain and other NMS that affect quality of life.Methods: The study included 100 PD patients and 100 age and gender-matched controls assessed for pain severity and pain interference using the Brief Pain Inventory and sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Participants were also evaluated for their subjective levels of anxiety and depression using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.Results: PD patients with poor sleep quality had greater pain severity and pain interference than controls and PD patients with good or borderline sleep quality. PD patients with poor sleep quality also had the greatest case-ness and severity for depression and anxiety. However, RLS was not significantly correlated with depression, anxiety or pain.Discussion: Poor sleep quality in PD patients is related to greater pain severity, pain interference, and more radiating and paresthestic pain that is independent of RLS. There is a higher prevalence of depression and anxiety in PD patients compared to controls, especially in PD patients with poor sleep quality. Our findings suggest a relationship between poor sleep quality in PD with pain, anxiety and depression. Prospective studies are warranted to investigate the causal relationship.     

The omentum is a site of stromal cell-derived factor 1α production and reservoir for CXC chemokine receptor 4-positive cell recruitment

Background

The mechanism of the omental response to injury remains poorly defined. This study investigates the omental reaction to a foreign body, examining the role of a chemokine ligand/receptor pair known to play a crucial role in angiogenesis and wound healing.

Methods

A ventral hernia, surgically created in the abdominal wall of 6 swine, was repaired with silicone sheeting to activate the omentum. Omental thickness was determined by ultrasonography. Serial stromal cell-derived factor 1α (SDF-1α) concentrations were measured in blood, wound, and peritoneal fluids by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

During the 14-day study period, serial ultrasonography showed a 20-fold increase in omental thickness, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay revealed a 4-fold increase in SDF-1α concentration in local wound fluid. Omental vessel count and vascular surface area were 8- to 10-fold higher in reactive omentum. Immunohistochemistry showed nearly complete replacement of control omental fat with CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4)-positive cells by day 14.

Conclusions

Activated omentum, important in the SDF-1α/CXCR4 axis, may serve as an intraperitoneal reservoir for recruitment of circulating bone marrow-derived cells vital to healing.     

Genetic analysis of four Pakistani families with achromatopsia and a novel S4 motif mutation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">CNGA3</Emphasis>

Background  

To identify the causative variants of achromatopsia (ACHM) in four Pakistani families presenting autosomal recessive ACHM.     

Knowledge, attitude and preventive practices of women for breast cancer in the educational institutions of Lahore, Pakistan

Breast cancer incidence rates, pattern of presentation and survival rates vary worldwide. High incidence, advanced stage disease presentation and low survival rates have been reported from Pakistan. Lack of awareness and screening facilities along with poor socioeconomic status are the main causes. A survey based upon multiple choice questionnaires was conducted during an awareness campaign in women educational institutions of Lahore, to assess the baseline knowledge, attitude towards breast self examination (BSE), clinical breast examination (CBE) and source of information used by them. 1155 filled questionnaires were analyzed by SPSS version 12. The majority (83.7%) of the respondents were <30 years old, 60% had >10 and 31.5% had <14 years of education. Only 27% had "good" while 14% had "poor" and 59% had "fair" knowledge scores about breast cancer. Television was the most commonly cited source of information but was associated with lower knowledge score. The knowledge scores and practice of BSE had a positive association with education level. The respondents had better knowledge of life time risk and association of early diagnosis with better chances of cure, but worse knowledge of risk factors as compared to women in educational institutions of other countries. Generally the respondents of present study had low level of knowledge of breast cancer. Properly designed awareness campaign on television and in educational institutions can be effective to raise the knowledge level, the best long term strategy for this purpose.