Clinical characteristics of ambulatory and hospitalized patients with monkeypox virus infection: an observational cohort study

ObjectivesA global outbreak of monkeypox virus infections in human beings has been described since April 2022. The objectives of this study were to describe the clinical characteristics and complications of patients with a monkeypox infection.MethodsAll consecutive patients with a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)–confirmed monkeypox infection seen in a French referral centre were included.ResultsBetween 21 May and 5 July 2022, 264 patients had a PCR-confirmed monkeypox infection. Among them, 262 (262/264, 99%) were men, 245 (245/259, 95%) were men who have sex with men, and 90 (90/216, 42%) practiced chemsex in the last 3 months. Seventy-three (73/256, 29%) patients were living with human immunodeficiency virus infection, and 120 (120/169, 71%) patients were taking pre-exposure prophylaxis against human immunodeficiency virus infection. Overall, 112 (112/236, 47%) patients had contact with a confirmed monkeypox case; it was of sexual nature for 95% of the contacts (86/91). Monkeypox virus PCR was positive on the skin in 252 patients, on the oropharyngeal sample in 150 patients, and on blood in eight patients. The majority of patients presented with fever (171/253, 68%) and adenopathy (174/251, 69%). Skin lesions mostly affected the genital (135/252, 54%) and perianal (100/251, 40%) areas. Overall, 17 (17/264, 6%) patients were hospitalized; none of them were immunocompromised. Complications requiring hospitalization included cellulitis (n = 4), paronychia (n = 3), severe anal and digestive involvement (n = 4), non-cardia angina with dysphagia (n = 4), blepharitis (n = 1), and keratitis (n = 1). Surgical management was required in four patients.ConclusionThe current outbreak of monkeypox infections has specific characteristics: it occurs in the men who have sex with men community; known contact is mostly sexual; perineal and anal areas are frequently affected; and severe complications include superinfected skin lesions, paronychia, cellulitis, anal and digestive involvement, angina with dysphagia, and ocular involvement.     

Effect of hepatic cirrhosis on the pharmacokinetics of theophylline in rats

The experimental hepatic cirrhosis was induced either by bile duct ligation (BDL) or by pretreatment with dimethylnitrosamine (DMNA). The pharmacokinetics of theophylline were studied after a single intravenous or a single oral administration. Using the ultrafiltration method, protein-drug binding experiments were also carried out. The bilirubin level was several-fold increased by BDL, but not by DMNA treatment. The albumin content was decreased in both cirrhotic groups. The total clearance (Clt, ml/kg/hr) of theophylline in both hepatic cirrhosis groups significantly decreased and the terminal half-life (t_1/2) in the cirrhotic rats was increased about two-fold after intravenous and oral administration. The volume of distribution at steady state (Vdss, ml/kg) was increased slightly in the cirrhotic groups. Protein binding in BDL (8.67±4.85%) decreased about four-folds, but in DMNA (73.00±9.85%) similar result, was observed as compared with the control. Increased free fraction of theophylline did not increase the volume of distribution in BDL. Therefore decreased total body clearance of theophylline was mainly due to decreased intrinsic clearance of theophylline in the liver. The absolute bioavailability of theophylline in these experiments was between 63.8 and 72.8%(66.1% in BDL, 63.8% in Sham operated and Control, 72.8% in DMNA). These results suggest that in the experimental hepatic cirrhosis model, administration route does not affect the disposition of theophylline.     

深圳市一孩先天性残疾家庭的二孩同类病研究

本文对深圳市1990～1997年因独生子女先天残疾通过病残儿鉴定再生育二孩的家庭进行调查,并以同期通过鉴定的后天性残疾家庭为内对照,以农村地区一孩先天残疾未经病残儿鉴定生育二孩的家庭为外对照,了解其二孩先天残疾再发情况,尤其是同类病的再发情况,拟对独生子女病残儿医学鉴定和二胎生育指标的审批工作效果进行评价,为优生工作提供依据。研究结果表明,鉴定组一孩先天残疾家庭二孩先天残疾的患病率为5.81％,与广州市1986～1991年情况类似(5.9％),高于外省(辽宁1990～1992年为1.35％)。鉴定组二胎同类病发生率为2.8％,非鉴定组为4.55％,两组比较虽无统计学差异,但病种上却有不同,鉴定组为再发风险低的血友病、先天性共转性内斜视、脑萎缩,而非鉴定组为再发风险高的先天聋哑、进行性肌萎缩。提示病残儿鉴定工作颇有成效,避免了相当一部分遗传病家庭再次生育残疾儿,但某些环节有待进一步完善;对农村一胎先天残疾家庭生育二胎也必须纳入管理范围。     

硒在营养支持中的作用及其研究进展

本文就硒的生理作用,缺乏硒的临床表现,硒代谢异常与各种疾病的关系,硒在营养支持中的作用补充本时的注意事项进行了综述,旨在进一步阐明硒在营养支持中的作用。     

Infective endocarditis in paediatrics

Infective endocarditis is a result of infection of the endocardium, particularly of the heart valves (native or prosthetic valves). The most common causative organisms in the paediatric population are: Streptococci, Staphylococci and Enterococci. The classical signs of infective endocarditis like Roth spots, Janeway lesions, splinter haemorrhages and Osler's nodes are relatively rare in children. A high index of suspicion in a febrile child with a new murmur, detailed history, meticulous examination, repeated blood cultures, and echocardiography are essential in establishing the diagnosis. Management of infective endocarditis involves a prolonged course of antibiotics, at least for 4–6 weeks depending upon the causative organism and underlying heart condition. Complications of infective endocarditis include congestive heart failure resulting from valvular damage/regurgitation, infective emboli leading to abscesses in other organs and abnormal host immunological responses. Prophylactic antibiotics for dental and other medical procedures like genitourinary tract procedures are no longer recommended in the UK. The emphasis should be on educating children and their parents in early recognition of infective endocarditis. Children at high risk of developing endocarditis should be assessed urgently after clinical suspicion.     

Dysphagia in Parkinson's disease: Pharyngeal manometry and fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation

ObjectiveDysphagia is a common symptom in Parkinson's disease (PD) and it represents a negative prognostic factor because of its complications. This study is to evaluate pharyngeal dysphagia for boluses of various consistencies with Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) and Pharyngeal High-Resolution Manometry (PHRM) in a group of PD patients, making a comparison between the information provided by the two exams.MethodsGroup of 20 patients affected by PD was selected and initially subjected to a qualitative evaluation of the swallowing performing FEES. Subsequently, they were evaluated by PHRM to identify quantitative measures associated with pressures expressed by pharyngeal organs during swallowing. Values obtained in the study group were compared with those recorded in a group of 20 healthy subjects.ResultsStudy showed that Pmax (the maximum pressure elicited by the single pharyngeal muscle structures involved in swallowing) was significantly lower than the control group (p<0.05) for all the boluses and consistency tested, in particular for the Tongue base and the Cricopharyngeal muscle. Pmean pre-swallowing pressure (represents the mean value of a contraction in which basal and maximal pressure where normally calculated) was significantly higher compared to normal subjects for the Tongue base and the Cricopharyngeal muscle (p<0.05). Mean intra-swallowing pressure was higher for the Velopharynx and the Cricopharyngeal muscle, but lower for the tongue base. Pmax and Pmean at PHRM were altered independently to the degree of dysphagia detected at FEES, and they did not correlate either with the location of the residue or with the type of bolus. Images displayed at the FEES, found the corresponding biomechanical explanations in the PHRM, which also allowed us to quantify the extent of the dysfunction, through the calculation of the pressures generated in the various structures studied.ConclusionPHRM is particularly useful in the early detection of dysphagia, when FEES may still show no evidence of abnormal swallowing.     

Periventricular- intraventricular hemorrhage in the premature infant- A historical perspective

The objective of this chapter is to trace the evolution of intraventricular hemorrhage in the premature infant highlighting the importance of the germinal matrix, a critical role for cerebral blood flow changes in the genesis of hemorrhage, clinical factors that increase the bleeding risk, and potential preventative strategies. In 1976, neuropathological studies demonstrated capillary rupture within the germinal matrix as the precursor of hemorrhage. In 1980, introduction of cranial ultrasound facilitated diagnosis of intraventricular hemorrhage. In 1979, loss of cerebral autoregulation in sick newborn infants was demonstrated. In the 1980’s, studies demonstrated the importance of intravascular factors in provoking hemorrhage. In 1983, the association of cerebral blood flow velocity fluctuations and subsequent hemorrhage was demonstrated. In 1994, antenatal steroids use to accelerate lung development was recommended. This was associated with an unanticipated reduction in hemorrhage. In the mid 1990’s early indomethacin administration was associated with a reduction of severe hemorrhage.     

COVID-19 vaccine and pregnancy: A safety weapon against pandemic

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is raising great concern all over the world. The recent introduction of vaccines has offered reason for optimism, however, new issues have arisen, such as vaccine reluctance. The safety of vaccines for pregnant women is one of the most serious of these concerns. The purpose of this review article is to provide updated international vaccine recommendations, results of ongoing studies and clinical trials, and the role of gynecologists in counseling the women to understand the risks versus benefits as well as form an informed decision towards vaccine acceptance for COVID-19.Although COVID-19 infection increases the risk of severe morbidity and mortality in pregnant women, pregnant women were not included in the initial vaccine trials. As a result, safety information is scarce. Nations have differing recommendations, though many have recently approved the COVID-19 immunization in pregnancy following a risk-benefit analysis. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI) of the United Kingdom recently approved an mRNA vaccination for pregnant women. Vaccination is recommended by the CDC, ACOG, ARFM, and WHO. India recently took a stand, with the ICMR and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare recommending vaccination during pregnancy and lactation.     

不同通气方式对机械通气引起急性肺损伤兔模型的影响

目的：通过表面活性物质缺乏的兔肺模型,评估传统通气模式（ｃｏｎｖｅｎｔｉｏｎａｌ ｍｅｃｈａｎｉｃａｌ ｖｅｎｔｉｌａｔｉｏｎ,ＣＭＶ）与允许性高碳酸血症加最佳ＰＥＥＰ（ｐｅｒｍｉｓｓｉｖｅ ｈｙｐｅｒｃａｐｎｉａａｓｓｏｃｉａｔｅｄ ｗｉｔｈｉｄｅａｌＰＥＥＰｖｅｎｔｉｌａｔｉｏｎ,ＰＨＹ＋ ＰＥＥＰｉ）的通气模式对肺损伤的影响,了解肿瘤坏死因子α（ｔｕｍｏｒ ｎｅｃｒｏｓｉｓｆａｃｔｏｒα,ＴＮＦα） 与机械通气引起肺损伤（ｖｅｎｔｉｌａｔｏｒｉｎｄｕｃｅｄｌｕｎｇｉｎｊｕｒｙ,ＶＩＬＩ） 的关系。方法：１２ 只成年兔,以反复肺灌洗法制备表面活性物质缺乏兔肺模型。以ＣＭＶ（Ｃ组） 或ＰＨＹ＋ ＰＥＥＰｉ （Ｐ 组） 通气４ ｈ 后,测定通气前、后的支气管肺泡灌洗液（ｂｒｏｎｃｈｏａｌｖｅｏｌａｒ ｌａｖａｇｅ ｆｌｕｉｄ,ＢＡＬＦ）中ＴＮＦα含量和白细胞分类计数,测定肺水量,进行动脉血气分析和病理检查。结果：ＣＭＶ 组表现为明显的低氧血症,ＢＡＬＦ中较多的中性粒细胞数,总肺水量及血管外肺水量明显增多,肺内病理改变为较明显透明膜形成及炎性细胞聚集;而ＰＨＹ＋ ＰＥＥＰｉ 组引起较少的上述病理、生理变化。且ＣＭＶ 组ＢＡＬ