Coagulation screening before epidural analgesia in pre-eclampsia

A questionnaire survey of current practice at a small cross-section of obstetric units, covering 22% of all United Kingdom deliveries, revealed a marked lack of standard practice regarding requests for coagulation screens on pre-eclamptic patients who require epidural procedures. A retrospective audit was therefore carried out on 434 coagulation screens requested for pre-eclamptic patients in whom epidural analgesia might have been considered. Borderline abnormalities of coagulation were found in only 10 patients (2%). Platelet counts of less than 150 x 10(9)/litre were present in 28% of cases. 'Significant' thrombocytopenia (less than 100 x 10(9)/litre) and all coagulation abnormalities were only encountered in severe pre-eclampsia (diastolic blood pressure of greater than 110 mmHg and proteinuria of + + or greater). Furthermore, coagulation abnormality was always associated with a reduced platelet count (mean, 97 x 10(9)/litre). This study would therefore support anaesthetic practice which restricted any requests for coagulation testing to severe pre-eclamptic patients only. For these patients first line testing could be limited to a platelet count.     

Conjugated linoleic acid evokes de-lipidation through the regulation of genes controlling lipid metabolism in adipose and liver tissue

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a unique lipid that elicits dramatic reductions in adiposity in several animal models when included at < or = 1% of the diet. Despite a flurry of investigations, the precise mechanisms by which conjugated linoleic acid elicits its dramatic effects in adipose tissue and liver are still largely unknown. In vivo and in vitro analyses of physiological modifications imparted by conjugated linoleic acid on protein and gene expression suggest that conjugated linoleic acid exerts its de-lipidating effects by modulating energy expenditure, apoptosis, fatty acid oxidation, lipolysis, stromal vascular cell differentiation and lipogenesis. The purpose of this review shall be to examine the recent advances and insights into conjugated linoleic acid's effects on obesity and lipid metabolism, specifically focused on changes in gene expression and physiology of liver and adipose tissue.     

Urinary tract injuries during obstetric intervention

A retrospective case record review of obstetric urinary tract injury in the Grampian region from 1976 to 1993 identified 16 cases of bladder injury (0.1 per 1000 deliveries, 1.4 per 1000 caesarean sections and four cases of ureteric injury (0.03 per 1000 deliveries, 0.27 per 1000 caesarean sections). Diagnosis of bladder injury was immediate, but of ureteric injury often delayed. Although the injury rates are lower than previously reported and previously reported risk factors not confirmed, this audit has resulted in guidelines for junior staff, compliance with which will be monitored, and every case of urinary tract injury will be reviewed.     

The hydration question. Hydration or dehydration of terminally ill patients.

Hydration of terminally ill patients is a controversial issue. This study assesses the reasons why doctors and nurses in hospital and hospice settings do or do not undertake this procedure.     

Exposure of humans to a volatile organic mixture. I. Behavioral assessment.

Exposure to a low-level mixture of volatile organic compounds, typical of those found in new buildings, has been reported to impair neurobehavioral function in persons who have experienced sick building syndrome (SBS). Sixty-six healthy young males who had no history of chemical sensitivity were exposed for 2.75 h to a complex mixture of volatile organic compounds at 0 and 25 mg/m3. Even though subjects reported more fatigue and more mental confusion following exposure to volatile organic compounds than to clean air, performance on 13 neurobehavioral tests was not affected. Practice or learning effects were observed if administration of many behavioral tests were repeated. Further studies are needed to clarify the relationship of exposure to volatile organic chemicals, neurobehavioral performance, and subject characteristics, e.g., age, gender, and chemical sensitivity.     

Age, socioeconomic status, and health

Analysts dispute what roles biomedical, psychosocial, and other factors play in determining the duration of morbidity and disability over the life course. Cross-sectional data from two national surveys of adults aged 25 years and over not only show, however, that age and socioeconomic status (SES) are significant predictors of self-reported physical health; they also demonstrate that the relation of age to health varies with SES features. Longitudinal research is needed to test the finding that enduring functional limitations in terms of time are actually compressed in higher SES groups. To improve well-being in our society, moreover, requires specifying why SES differences occur, and perhaps ultimately reducing socioeconomic inequality itself.     

Phase III double-blind comparison of intravenous ondansetron and metoclopramide as antiemetic therapy for patients receiving multiple-day cisplatin-based chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND. Ondansetron hydrochloride is a selective serotonin subtype 3 (5HT3) receptor antagonist that has been shown to be an effective antiemetic in patients receiving cisplatin chemotherapy. METHODS. This double-blind study compared the safety and efficacy of intravenous ondansetron with metoclopramide in patients receiving a 4- or 5-day regimen of cisplatin (20-40 mg/m2/day) combination chemotherapy. Forty-five patients were enrolled, and efficacy of the drug therapy could be studied for all 45. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive three daily intravenous doses of either 0.15 mg/kg ondansetron or 1 mg/kg metoclopramide. All patients were monitored daily for the number of emetic episodes (vomiting or retching), severity of nausea, adverse events, and laboratory safety parameters. RESULTS. Seven (30%) patients who received ondansetron had no emetic episodes throughout the entire study period compared with two (9%) who received metoclopramide (P = 0.077). The greatest difference in antiemetic efficacy was seen on day 1, when 18 (78%) patients who received ondansetron had no emetic episodes compared with 3 (14%) patients who received metoclopramide (P < 0.001). Significantly fewer antiemetic treatment failures (more than five emetic episodes or withdrawal from the study) occurred with patients given ondansetron (9%) than with those given metoclopramide (50%) during the entire study period (P = 0.002). The most commonly reported adverse event associated with ondansetron therapy was headache (controlled with acetaminophen), whereas diarrhea and restlessness were the most commonly reported adverse events associated with metoclopramide therapy. Extrapyramidal symptoms were judged to have occurred in 13 patients who received metoclopramide and 1 patient who received ondansetron. However, the patient who received ondansetron subsequently was judged to have had an anxiety attack. In patients with low or normal baseline transaminase values, a greater percentage who received ondansetron had transient increases as great as twice the upper limit of normal in aspartate transaminase (5% versus 0%) and alanine transaminase (17% versus 6%) than those who received metoclopramide. CONCLUSIONS. Ondansetron is superior to metoclopramide as antiemetic therapy for multiple-day cisplatin-based chemotherapy.