Inter-rater reliability of the Johns Hopkins Highest Level of Mobility Scale (JH-HLM) in the intensive care unit

BackgroundThe Johns Hopkins Highest Level of Mobility (JH-HLM) scale is used to document the observed mobility of hospitalized patients, including those patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting.ObjectiveTo evaluate the inter-rater reliability of the JH-HLM, completed by physical therapists, across medical, surgical, and neurological adult ICUs at a single large academic hospital.MethodsThe JH-HLM is an ordinal scale for documenting a patient’s highest observed level of activity, ranging from lying in bed (score = 1) to ambulating >250 feet (score = 8). Eighty-one rehabilitation sessions were conducted by eight physical therapists, with 1 of 2 reference physical therapist rater simultaneously observing the session and independently scoring the JH-HLM. The intraclass correlation coefficient was used to determine the inter-rater reliability.ResultsA total of 77 (95%) of 81 assessments had perfect agreement. The overall intraclass correlation coefficient for inter-rater reliability was 0.98 (95% confidence interval: 0.96, 0.99), with similar scores in the medical, surgical, and neurological ICUs. A Bland–Altman plot revealed a mean difference in JH-HLM scoring of 0 (limits of agreement: ?0.54 to 0.61).ConclusionThe JH-HLM has excellent inter-rater reliability as part of routine physical therapy practice, across different types of adult ICUs.     

Inhibition of carotid artery neointimal formation with intravenous microbubbles

Because therapeutic gene products such as synthetic antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) bind to albumin-coated microbubbles, we sought to determine whether IV perfluorocarbon-exposed sonicated dextrose albumin (PESDA) microbubbles could target their delivery to the carotid artery following balloon injury. In 5 pigs, the concentration of ODN taken up within the carotid vascular wall was found to be significantly increased when the IV antisense (ODN) was administered bound to PESDA (ODN-PESDA), and while transcutaneous low-frequency (20 kHz) ultrasound was applied over the carotid artery. Based on these results, a chronic model was then developed, in which 21 pigs received either IV ODN-PESDA, ODN alone, or control, following carotid balloon injury. At 30 days following balloon injury, percent area stenosis was only 8 +/- 2% in the ODN-PESDA groups compared to 19 +/- 8% and 28 +/- 3% in the other groups (p < 0.01). IV PESDA may be a method of noninvasively targeting the delivery of therapeutic genes.     

糖尿病患者人工晶状体植入后后囊混浊及眼底改变

目的 观察糖尿病患者白内障囊外摘除及人工晶状体植入术后后囊混浊及眼底改变。方法 对108例(117眼)糖尿病患者的白内障采用6-7mm角巩膜切口行ECCE及后房型IOL植入术,术后5月观察视力、晶状体后囊及眼底改变。结果108例糖尿病患者平均糖尿病病程7.9年,白内障平均病程2.5年。117眼白内障术后5月内观察:后囊混浊18眼(15.4％)。术后视力≥0.5者76眼(65.0％),36眼为0.05～0.4(30.8％),5眼<0.05(4.3％)。眼底检查发现108眼患糖尿病性视网膜病变,其中Ⅲ期58眼、Ⅳ-Ⅴ期24眼、Ⅵ期2眼,黄斑水肿10眼。结论 术后后囊混浊发生率为15.4％,糖尿病性视网膜病变发生率92.3％,而糖尿病病程5年以上者眼底病变发生率高达94.4％(102眼),其中Ⅲ期及以上者达78.7％(Ⅲ期53.7％、Ⅳ-Ⅴ期22.2％、Ⅵ期1.9％),黄斑水肿9.2％,后囊混浊及眼底改变均影响术后视力,但后者是最主要的原因。     

In-vitro investigation of a new neuromuscular relaxant, AH8165.

AH8165 was compared with other neuromuscular relaxants in an in-vitro rat phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparation. Concentrations of 6-10 mug/ml AH8165 produced progressive decreases in strength of concentration. AH8165 was 0.1 times as potent as d-tubocurarine, and its effects were more rapidly reversed by washing. The times to recovery from 90 per cent blockade were the same for succinylcholine and AH8165, but the time to recovery from 50 per cent blockade was shorter for succinylcholine than for AH8165. Neostigmine reversed blockade induced by d-tubocurarine to 80 per cent of control, while it reversed comparable blockade induced by AH8165 to only 40 per cent of control. Doses of 0.5 to 2 mug AH8165 produced contracture and increased the force of contraction of the superfused chick biventer cervicis muscle preparation. Doses of 8 to 32 mug produced decreased contracture followed by diminution of the strength of contraction. The authors conclude that AH8165 in low concentrations has a depolarizing action, which is obscured by nondepolarizing effects in higher concentrations. (Key words: Neuromuscular relaxants: AH8165.)     

股骨头囊性变的鉴别诊断

目的:分析股骨头囊性变(cystic change of femoral head,CCFH)的临床及影像学特点,提出其鉴别诊断方法。方法:回顾性分析自1996年6月~2010年6月所诊治的CCFH病例49例(均经病理或随随访确诊),男28例,女21例;年龄13~62岁,平均年龄38.2岁;ARCOⅡ期股骨头坏死(osteonecrosis of femoral head,ONFH)24例,原发性髋骨性关节炎囊变9例,成人发育不良性髋臼发育不良囊变6例,类风湿性关节炎囊变4例,强脊性髋关节病2例,股骨头软骨母细胞瘤2例,骨内腱鞘囊囊肿1例,滑膜疝洼1例。分析其临床表现和CT及MR表现。结果:49例中2例类风湿性髋关节炎囊性变误诊为ONFH,3例原发性髋骨性关节炎误诊为ONFH,3例成人发育性髋关节发育不良误诊为ONFH,2例强脊性髋关节病误诊为ONFH,24例ONFH(ARCOⅡ期)均确诊并做出相应治治疗,1例股骨头软骨母细胞瘤以良性病变刮除不彻底术后复发行2次手术。结论:CCFH发生在诸多髋关节疾病中,易与ONFH混淆,各有其特点,应根据其临床表现和CT及MR综合考虑才能做出正确诊断,以免误诊误治。     

The influence of diltiazem hydrochloride on trough serum digoxin concentrations

A significant drug interaction between verapamil and digoxin, resulting in elevated serum digoxin concentrations, has been well documented in the medical literature. However, a similar interaction between digoxin and the calcium channel blockers nifedipine and diltiazem has not been conclusively established. This study investigated the influence of diltiazem hydrochloride on trough serum concentrations of concurrently administered digoxin in eight healthy volunteers. During the control phase of the study, volunteers were administered digoxin 0.25 mg/d for 13 days, and subsequently judged to be at steady state by serial determinations of digoxin serum concentrations. Twenty-four hour urine collections were done for creatinine clearance and urinary digoxin clearance determinations. Phase II of the study involved the addition of diltiazem hydrochloride 30 mg qid to the on-going, daily regimen of digoxin. After 14 days of concomitant therapy, steady-state trough digoxin concentrations were again determined, as well as creatinine clearances and urinary digoxin clearances. This investigation demonstrates that concomitant administration of diltiazem hydrochloride with digoxin results in significantly elevated steady-state trough digoxin concentrations (0.32 +/- 0.07 ng/ml increasing to 0.48 +/- 0.06 ng/ml, p less than 0.01). Urinary digoxin clearance decreased from 223.5 +/- 35.7 ml/min to 153.4 +/- 17.5 ml/min (p less than 0.05). Creatinine clearances were unaltered. A review of the current literature on this topic is included.     

Nonobstructive membranes of the left atrial appendage cavity: report of three cases.

A membranous structure causing functional stenosis at the mouth of the left atrial appendage (LAA) has been reported. In this study we describe the presence of nonobstructive membranes traversing the cavity of the LAA found incidentally on transesophageal echocardiography (TEE).     

Chronic baroreceptor activation enhances survival in dogs with pacing-induced heart failure

Much of the current pharmacological therapy for chronic heart failure targets neurohormonal activation. In spite of recent advances in drug therapy, the mortality rate for chronic heart failure remains high. Activation of the carotid baroreceptor (BR) reduces sympathetic outflow and augments vagal tone. We investigated the effect of chronic activation of the carotid BR on hemodynamic and neurohormonal parameters and on mortality in dogs with chronic heart failure. Fifteen dogs were instrumented to record hemodynamics. Electrodes were applied around the carotid sinuses to allow for activation of the BR. After 2 weeks of pacing (250 bpm), electrical carotid BR activation was initiated in 7 dogs and continued for the remainder of the study. The start of BR activation was used as a time reference point for the remaining 8 control dogs that did not receive BR activation. Survival was significantly greater for dogs undergoing carotid BR activation compared with control dogs (68.1+/-7.4 versus 37.3+/-3.2 days, respectively; P<0.01), although arterial pressure, resting heart rate, and left ventricular pressure were not different over time in BR-activated versus control dogs. Plasma norepinephrine was lower in dogs receiving BR activation therapy 31 days after the start of BR activation (401.9+/-151.5 versus 1121.9+/-389.1 pg/mL in dogs not receiving activation therapy; P<0.05). Plasma angiotensin II increased less in dogs receiving activation therapy (plasma angiotensin II increased by 157.4+/-58.6 pg/mL in control dogs versus 10.1+/-14.0 pg/mL in dogs receiving activation therapy; P<0.02). We conclude that chronic activation of the carotid BR improves survival and suppresses neurohormonal activation in chronic heart failure.