Diagnosis of scaphoid fractures:A prospective multicenter study of 1,052 patients with 160 fractures

In a prospective multicenter study of 1,052 patients with clinical signs of a scaphoid fracture, mammo-graphic films and fine intensifying screens were used at the radiographic examination. 5 standardized projections including 3 special projections focused on the scaphoid were taken. 150 fractures were diagnosed at the first examination but in 10 cases the fracture was first diagnosed at a second radiographic examination after 10-14 days.

The second examination still seems mandatory despite the use of high quality radiographs with optimal spatial resolution and contrast, and the value of supplementary special projections.     

Cotard's Syndrome Triggered by Fear in a Patient with Intellectual Disability: Causal or Casual Link?

Cotard's syndrome is a neuropsychiatric disease characterized by a variety of nihilistic delusions, commonly associated with several psychotic and major affective disorders, and neurological diseases, including stroke, dementia, and mental retardation. A 39-year-old male with mental retardation developed Cotard's syndrome, following an important episode of fear. During admission to our neurological unit, the patient underwent an accurate assessment, including neuroradiological, clinical, and neuropsychological examinations. At the psychiatric evaluation, he presented nihilistic delusions, in which he negated the existence of his body parts and the existence of his family members. The neuropsychological assessment ruled out other possible causes of misidentification, including the post-traumatic stress disorder. Thus, since also organic causes of Cotard's syndrome were excluded, the correlation between fear and the syndrome has been postulated and the patient opportunely treated, using a multidisciplinary approach. Our case suggests that in predisposed individuals negative emotions, including fear, may lead to delusional syndromes.     

First description of blaNDM-1, blaOXA-48, blaOXA-181 producing Enterobacteriaceae strains in Romania

We report the first isolation and characterization of several Enterobacteriaceae strains harboring bla_NDM-1, bla_OXA-48 and/or bla_OXA-181 genes in a Romanian emergency teaching hospital. Between January 2010 and September 2012 nine carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae strains were identified. The bla_NDM-1 gene was present in two Enterobacter cloacae strains, an Escherichia coli and two Klebsiella pneumoniae strains. One of these K. pneumoniae strains also harbored the bla_OXA-181 gene. Three other K. pneumoniae strains and one Serratia marcescens carried bla_OXA-48.     

Elevated Complement Factor H Levels in Asthmatic Sputa

Background

The alternative pathway of the complement system is known to play a role in the generation of asthmatic airway inflammation, but its regulatory complement protein, factor H has not been investigated in this disease.

Purpose

Our aim was to determine the local bronchial complement factor H (CFH) levels in asthma, and to investigate its relationship with complement activation, systemic CFH concentrations and clinical characteristics of patients.

Methods

Induced sputum and plasma were collected from 21 healthy and 26 asthmatic subjects, and complement factor H and SC5b-9 concentrations were assessed by ELISA. Total protein concentrations were determined by biuret-reaction based microassay system from induced sputa.

Results

CFH was detectable in 81 % of healthy and 100 % of asthmatic subjects, while SC5b-9 exceeded the detection limit in 62 % of healthy subjects and 85 % of asthmatic patients. Sputum CFH concentrations and CFH/protein ratios were increased in samples from asthmatic patients, and correlated with loss of lung function, asthma control, severity and medication intensity, but not with plasma CFH concentrations. Sputum CFH/protein ratios were in positive correlation also with sputum eosinophilic cell counts in asthma. SC5b-9 concentrations were not higher in the asthmatic sputa, although they correlated with sputum CFH concentrations.

Conclusions

CFH level is elevated on asthmatic airway surface, and may be associated with uncontrolled inflammation in asthma.     

Anxiety,depression, and quality of life in Parkinson’s disease: the implications of multidisciplinary treatment

Anxiety and depression in Parkinson’s disease (PD) reduce well-being of the patients. Emotional alterations influence motor skills and cognitive performance; moreover, they contribute significantly and independently to worsen rehabilitative treatment response. We investigated anxiety, depression, and quality of life in PD patients subjected to multidisciplinary rehabilitative training. The self-controlled study included 100 PD patients (49 males and 51 females with the mean age of 64.66 years) admitted to 60 days hospitalization rehabilitative program, between January 2017 and December 2018. Motor, cognitive, linguistic abilities, and functional independence were evaluated at admission (T0 baseline visit) and 60 days after (T1) the multidisciplinary rehabilitation including motor exercises, speech therapies, and cognitive intervention. The multidisciplinary rehabilitation improved functional status in PD patients and exerted its positive effects on mood, motor abilities, autonomy in the activities of daily life, perception of quality of life, cognitive performance and speech skills. Non-motor symptoms may worsen severe disability and reduce quality of life. They are often poorly recognized and inadequately treated. Nonetheless, multidisciplinary rehabilitative training represents an optimal strategy to improve disease management. The study was approved by Istituito di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Centro Neurolesi “Bonino-Pulejo” Ethical Committee (approval No. 6/2016) in June 2016.     

Let us talk about eggs! Professional resistance to elective egg vitrification and gendered medical paternalism

In this paper, by applying a feminist bioethical perspective, we identify a new form of medical paternalism that still shapes contemporary legal policies on human egg cryopreservation performed without medical reasons. The fear of negligent, careless women who opt to delay their pregnancy for mere convenience is a widely known gender biased stereotype. Nevertheless, the opinions and judgments of medical professionals on this issue have not yet been sufficiently explored by in-depth research. In this essay, therefore, first we look at the broader bioethical, legal, and social aspects of human egg cryopreservation. In the second part of the paper we discuss a unique qualitative study conducted with professionals working at Hungarian IVF clinics. We argue, based on a bioethical analysis of the collected data, that when new reproduction technologies provide opportunities for women to widen their range of reproductive choices, the traditional forms of medical paternalism can be reinforced by gendered paternalism, as well. We identify several elements of gendered paternalism that characterized the attitudes of the IVF staff and discuss the professionals’ resistance to elective egg freezing and vitrification of eggs for the future. We conclude by suggesting directions for future policy. Although we focus on the Hungarian case in this paper, we are aware that similar attitudes can be observed in some other countries where this technology has become available and requested by women, but where they also face difficulties in their access to it.     

Mechanical Circulatory Support in Advanced Heart Failure: Single-Center Experience

Background

Currently, ventricular assist device (VAD) or total artificial heart (TAH) mechanical support provides an effective treatment of unstable patients with advanced heart failure. We report our single-center experience with mechanical circulatory support therapy.

Methods

From March 2002 to December 2012, 107 adult patients (mean age, 56.8 ± 9.9 y; range, 31–76 y) were primarly supported on temporary or long-term VAD or TAH support as treatment for refractory heart failure at our institution. Temporary extracorporeal radial VAD support (group A) was established in 49 patients (45.7%), and long-term paracorporeal and intracorporeal VAD or TAH (group B) in 58 patients (54.2%). Left ventricular (LVAD) support was established in 55 patients (51.4%; n = 33, Heartmate II; n = 6, Heartmate I XVE; n = 4, Heartware HVAD; and n = 12, Centrimag) and biventricular (BVAD/TAH) support (group B) in 28 patients (26.1%; n = 10, Thoratec paracorporeal; n = 2, Heartware HVAD, n = 1, Thoratec implantable; n = 1, Syncardia TAH; and n = 14, Centrimag). The temporary Centrimag was the only device adopted as isolated right ventricular (RVAD) support, and it was inserted in 24 patients (22.4%).

Results

In group A, overall mean support time was 10.2 ± 6.6 days (range, 3–43 d). In group B, LVAD mean support time was 357 ± 352.3 days (range, 1–902 d) and BVAD/TAH support time was 98 ± 82.6 days (range, 8–832 d). In group A, the overall success rate was 55.1% (27 patients). In group B, LVAD overall success rate was 74.4% (32 patients) and BVAD/TAH success rate was 50% (7 patients). Overall heart transplantation rate for both groups was 27.1% (n = 2, group A; n = 27, group B). Overall 1-year and 5-year survivals after heart transplantation were 72.4% (n = 21) and 58.6% (n = 17), respectively.

Conclusions

Mechanical circulatory support is an effective strategy even in cases of end-stage heart failure according to our experience. Further improvement of VAD and TAH technologies may support their adoption as an encouraging alternative to heart transplantation in the near future.     

In vivo growth of mouse leukemia L1210 cells with metabolic alterations in the subunits of ribonucleotide reductase

Mouse leukemia L1210 cells selected for resistance to drugs targeted specifically at each of the protein subunits of ribonucleotide reductase were studied for their ability to grow in vivo. The life-span of the mice injected with hydroxyurea-resistant L1210 cells, which have elevated levels of the mRNA and protein for the non-heme iron (NHI, R2) subunit of ribonucleotide reductase, was approximately twice that of the mice injected with equal numbers of the parental wild-type L1210 leukemia cells. The life-span of mice injected with the L1210 cells that had alterations in the effector-binding subunit (EB, R1) was considerably shorter than the mice injected with the parental wild-type L1210 cells. These results provide direct evidence that tumor cells with alterations in the properties of ribonucleotide reductase grow differently in vivo, with defined effects on the host mouse that cause either an increased survival time or a decreased survival time compared to the effects of wild-type L1210 leukemia cells on tumor-bearing mice.     

Using the telephone to call for help and caregiver awareness in Alzheimer disease

We assessed the ability of 73 patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) from our outpatient clinic to demonstrate how they would use the telephone to call for help in case of an emergency. We also assessed their caregivers' awareness of their abilities. Overall, 44% of the patients did not demonstrate how to call for help correctly if they had no written telephone number to call, and 18% did not when they had a written number. There was an association between the abilities of the patients and their Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores, with the patients with the lowest scores having the most difficulty (P < 0.0001). Surprisingly, 21% of those with MMSE scores 26-30 did not use the telephone correctly when they had no written number. Of the caregivers, 31% were incorrect in predicting their patients' abilities for the first task, and 11% were incorrect in predicting the second task. We conclude that AD patients lose their ability to use the telephone to call for help as their illness progresses. Furthermore, many caregivers are unaware of their patients' impairment. These findings highlight safety concerns in AD and suggest that caregivers could benefit from education about potential patient losses.