Ante mortem diagnosis of human rabies using saliva samples: comparison of real time and conventional RT-PCR techniques.

BACKGROUND: Rabies is an enzootic and fatal disease and is still a major problem in developing countries. Ante mortem diagnosis in human cases is necessary for medical management of the patient and to ensure appropriate post-exposure treatment of contacts. Both conventional RT-PCR and Real time PCR (TaqMan) have been described for the detection of rabies virus RNA from saliva and tissue respectively, however to date, there have been no studies comparing conventional and real time PCR assays for detection of rabies virus nucleic acid using saliva samples for ante mortem diagnosis. OBJECTIVES: In this study, we evaluated the utility of conventional RT-PCR and SYBR Green I Real time PCR in the ante mortem diagnosis of rabies using saliva samples. STUDY DESIGN: Saliva samples collected from twenty-four patients presenting with typical clinical manifestations of rabies were tested in the two assays. RESULTS: Amongst the 24 samples tested, 21 samples (87.5%) were positive by either of the two molecular methods. Of these 21, rabies virus RNA was detected in 6/21 in the conventional RT-PCR assay while SYBR Green I Real time PCR could detect RNA in 18/21 samples. CONCLUSION: Real time PCR assay was more sensitive than conventional RT-PCR assay (sensitivity 75% versus 37%, p=0.0189). This study highlights the utility of molecular diagnostic tests in establishing ante mortem diagnosis of rabies using saliva samples within a few hours.     

Diabetes Mellitus and Heart Failure: A Consensus Statement

International Journal of Diabetes in Developing Countries -     

A modified olanzapine-based anti-emetic regimen for the control of nausea and vomiting in patients receiving weekly cisplatin

International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy - Background There is limited data on specific antiemetic protocols for control of chemotherapy-induced nausea/vomiting (CINV) caused by weekly cisplatin...     

Gunshot-induced fractures of the extremities: a review of antibiotic and debridement practices

The use of antibiotic prophylaxis and debridement is controversial when treating low- and high-velocity gunshot-induced fractures, and established treatment guidelines are currently unavailable. The purpose of this review was to evaluate the literature for the prophylactic antibiotic and debridement policies for (1) low-velocity gunshot fractures of the extremities, joints, and pelvis and (2) high-velocity gunshot fractures of the extremities. Low-velocity gunshot fractures of the extremities were subcategorized into operative and non-operative cases, whereas low-velocity gunshot fractures of the joints and pelvis were evaluated based on the presence or absence of concomitant bowel injury. In the absence of surgical necessity for fracture care such as concomitant absence of gross wound contamination, vascular injury, large soft-tissue defect, or associated compartment syndrome, the literature suggests that superficial debridement for low-velocity ballistic fractures with administration of antibiotics is a satisfactory alternative to extensive operative irrigation and debridement. In operative cases or those involving bowel injuries secondary to pelvic fractures, the literature provides support for and against extensive debridement but does suggest the use of intravenous antibiotics. For high-velocity ballistic injuries, the literature points towards the practice of extensive immediate debridement with prophylactic intravenous antibiotics. Our systematic review demonstrates weak evidence for superficial debridement of low-velocity ballistic fractures, extensive debridement for high-velocity ballistic injuries, and antibiotic use for both types of injury. Intra-articular fractures seem to warrant debridement, while pelvic fractures with bowel injury have conflicting evidence for debridement but stronger evidence for antibiotic use. Given a relatively low number of studies on this subject, we recommend that further high-quality research on the debridement and antibiotic use for gunshot-induced fractures of the extremities should be conducted before definitive recommendations and guidelines are developed.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s12178-015-9284-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Relationship between the Charlson Comorbidity Index and cost of treating hip fractures: implications for bundled payment

BackgroundThe aim of this study is to investigate how the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) scores contribute to increased length of stay (LOS) and healthcare costs in hip fracture patients.ResultsMultivariate linear regression analysis modeled the length of stay as a function of CCI score. Each unit increase in the CCI score corresponded to an increase in length of hospital stay and hospital costs incurred [effect size = 0.21; (0.0434–0.381); p = 0.014]. Patients with a CCI score of 2 (compared to a baseline CCI score of 0), on average, stayed 1.92 extra days in the hospital, and incurred $8,697.60 extra costs.ConclusionsThe CCI score is associated with length of stay and hospital costs incurred following treatment for hip fracture. The CCI score may be a useful tool for risk assessment in bundled payment plans.

Level of evidence

Level III.     

Alcohol and vagal tone as triggers for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation

Alcohol and vagal activity may be important triggers for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF), but it remains unknown if these associations occur more often than would be expected by chance alone because of the lack of a comparator group in previous studies. We compared self-reported frequency of these triggers in patients with PAF to those with other supraventricular tachycardias (SVTs). Consecutive consenting patients presenting for electrophysiology procedures at a single university medical center underwent a structured interview regarding arrhythmia triggers. Two hundred twenty-three patients with a documented arrhythmia (133 with PAF and 90 with SVT) completed the survey. After multivariable adjustment, patients with PAF had a 4.42 greater odds (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.35 to 14.44) of reporting alcohol consumption (p = 0.014) and a 2.02 greater odds (95% CI 1.02 to 4.00) of reporting vagal activity (p = 0.044) as an arrhythmia trigger compared to patients with SVT. In patients with PAF, drinking primarily beer was associated with alcohol as a trigger (odds ratio [OR] 4.49, 95% CI 1.41 to 14.28, p = 0.011), whereas younger age (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.49 to 0.95, p = 0.022) and a family history of AF (OR 5.73, 95% CI 1.21 to 27.23, p = 0.028) each were independently associated with having vagal activity provoke an episode. Patients with PAF and alcohol triggers were more likely to have vagal triggers (OR 10.32, 95% CI 1.05 to 101.42, p = 0.045). In conclusion, alcohol consumption and vagal activity elicit PAF significantly more often than SVT. Alcohol and vagal triggers often were found in the same patients with PAF, raising the possibility that alcohol may precipitate AF by vagal mechanisms.     

Outcome for arterio-venous fistula at the elbow for haemodialysis

Background: Few studies have examined the outcome of arterio‐venous fistulas (AVF) at the elbow for haemodialysis.
Methods: All AVFs at the elbow created between 1994 and 1998 were identified retrospectively from case notes and the computerised database. Patients were followed until fistula failure, death, or for a minimum of 6 months until June 1999. Life table analysis and Kaplan–Meier actuarial curves with the log rank test were used to assess the influence of age, sex, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, use of erythropoietin, aspirin or warfarin, previous insertion of subclavian vein catheter and the levels of haemoglobin and serum albumin on long‐term AVF survival.
Results: A total of 137 AVFs (primary procedure in 84 and as a secondary procedure in 53 cases) at the elbow were performed in 130 patients; 7 patients had AVFs attempted at both elbows. The mean age was 56.57 yr with a mean follow‐up of 48.54 months. Twenty‐two patients died with a functioning AVF, while 7 patients also with a functioning AVF received a renal transplant. Overall 74% of AVF were patent at the end of 1 yr, while 22.5% failed or did not mature immediately after the procedure. Two patients had their AVFs tied off due to steal syndrome. Of the various factors known to affect long‐term survival of AVF in patients receiving haemodialysis, only plasma albumin> 35 g/L was associated with poorer long‐term patency in our study.
Conclusion: Our report supports the view that AVF at the elbow may obviate the disadvantages of AVF at the wrist in elderly patients, females and in diabetics. In this group of patients it may be preferable to create a primary AVF at the elbow rather than the wrist. Patients who have a failed attempt at creating an AVF at the wrist should undergo AVF at the elbow before the placement of a synthetic graft. This strategy will result in saving time and avoid multiple operations. There may also be a reduction in the use of synthetic grafts resulting in cost savings and avoiding the complications associated with synthetic grafts.     

Sub-clinical infection with Mycobacterium leprae in household contacts of leprosy

870 household contacts of leprosy patients were examined for sub-clinical infection with M. leprae by smear (skin and nasal), lepromin and FLA-ABS tests. 0.6%, 3.3%, 71.5% and 14.4% of the contacts were found to be positive for skin smear, nasal smear, lepromin and FLA-ABS tests respectively. An analysis of the results revealed that 4% of the lepromin positive contacts and 3.6% of the lepromin negative contacts were positive to both FLA-ABS and skin or nasal smear.