Incidence of urinary tract infections in patients with short-term indwelling urethral catheters: a comparison between a 3-day urinary drainage bag change and no change regimens

BACKGROUND: The current practice of caring for hospitalized patients with indwelling urethral catheters in Siriraj Hospital is to change the drainage bag every 3 days. In an extensive medical literature search, no evidence was noted to support this practice. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the incidence of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (UTI) in hospitalized patients with indwelling catheters who receive a drainage bag change every 3 days with the incidence of UTI in patients who receive no bag change. DESIGN: This study was a randomized controlled trial.Participants and study procedures: Of the patients at Siriraj Hospital, 153 with an indwelling urinary catheter for at least 3 days were randomized to a 3-day drainage bag change or a no change regimen. A urine sample was obtained from each patient for culture every 7 days, on the day the catheter was removed, or the day the patient was suspected of having a UTI. RESULTS: Of the 153 study patients, 79 were randomized to the 3-day bag change regimen, and 74 patients were in the no-change group. Both groups were comparable for all baseline characteristics. The incidence of symptomatic UTI was 13.9% in the 3-day drainage bag change group and 10.8% in the no change group (P =.7). The incidence of asymptomatic UTI was 36.7% in the 3-day bag change group and 36.5% in the no change group (P =.9). CONCLUSION: There is no evidence for the necessity of a bag change every 3 days at Siriraj Hospital; the urine bag can be left longer than 3 days. However, the appropriate frequency of urinary drainage bag change needs additional study because the sample size in this study does not rule out a false-negative result.     

Predicting fetal anemia by using reference centile charts for liver length, spleen perimeter and umbilical vein maximum flow velocity in Thai fetuses throughout gestation

AIM: To create reference centile charts for liver length, spleen perimeter and umbilical vein maximum flow velocity (UVVmax) in Thai fetuses in order to predict fetal anemia in Thai fetuses. METHODS: The study was a prospective, cross-sectional study, carried out at the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University. A total of 780 pregnant women between 13 and 40 weeks' gestation, who attended the antenatal clinic at Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, were recruited. Each fetus was measured only once for the purpose of this study. The mean and standard deviation (SD) were estimated at each week of gestation using linear regression modeling. A total of 752 fetuses were measured for fetal liver length, spleen perimeter and UVVmax. Linear regression models were fitted to estimate the mean 95% confidence interval for liver length, spleen perimeter and UVVmax at each gestational age. The centile charts of those parameters were also presented. CONCLUSION: Reference centile charts for fetal liver length, spleen perimeter and UVVmax of Thai fetuses were created.     

The kinase Grk2 regulates Nedd4/Nedd4-2-dependent control of epithelial Na+ channels

Epithelial Na(+) channels mediate the transport of Na across epithelia in the kidney, gut, and lungs and are required for blood pressure regulation. They are inhibited by ubiquitin protein ligases, such as Nedd4 and Nedd4-2, with loss of this inhibition leading to hypertension. Here, we report that these channels are maintained in the active state by the G protein-coupled receptor kinase, Grk2, which has been previously implicated in the development of essential hypertension. We also show that Grk2 phosphorylates the C terminus of the channel beta subunit and renders the channels insensitive to inhibition by Nedd4-2. This mechanism has not been previously reported to regulate epithelial Na(+) channels and provides a potential explanation for the observed association of Grk2 overactivity with hypertension. Here, we report a G protein-coupled receptor kinase regulating a membrane protein other than a receptor and provide a paradigm for understanding how the interaction between membrane proteins and ubiquitin protein ligases is controlled.     

A new phenanthrenequinone from Dendrobium draconis

A number of Dendrobium species (Orchidaceae) have been used as health foods. In Thailand, the tea prepared from the stems of Dendrobium draconis Rchb.f. (Orchidaceae) has been used as a blood tonic. Our phytochemical investigation of this plant led to the isolation of a new compound namely 5-methoxy-7-hydroxy-9,10-dihydro-1,4-phenanthrenequinone (1), along with four known stilbenoids including hircinol (2), gigantol (3), batatasin III (4), and 7-methoxy-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene-2,4,5-triol (5). The structures of these compounds were determined through extensive spectroscopic studies, including ¹H and ¹³C NMR, DEPT, COSY, NOESY, HMQC, HMBC, ESI-MS, and HR-ESI-MS experiments. In the DPPH-free radical assay, these stilbene derivatives showed appreciable antioxidant activity.     

A new phenanthrenequinone from Dendrobium draconis

A number of Dendrobium species (Orchidaceae) have been used as health foods. In Thailand, the tea prepared from the stems of Dendrobium draconis Rchb.f. (Orchidaceae) has been used as a blood tonic. Our phytochemical investigation of this plant led to the isolation of a new compound namely 5-methoxy-7-hydroxy-9,10-dihydro-1,4-phenanthrenequinone, along with four known stilbenoids including hircinol, gigantol, batatasin III, and 7-methoxy-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene-2,4,5-triol. The structures of these compounds were determined through extensive spectroscopic studies, including (1)H and (13)C NMR, DEPT, COSY, NOESY, HMQC, HMBC, ESI-MS, and HR-ESI-MS experiments. In the DPPH-free radical assay, these stilbene derivatives showed appreciable antioxidant activity.     

Accuracy of a New Digital Templating Method for Total Hip Arthroplasty Using Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) and iPhone Technology: Comparison With Acetate Templating on Digital Radiography

BackgroundPreoperative templating for total hip arthroplasty (THA) on digital radiography can be achieved using templating software or hybrid methods (acetate templates overlaid on digital images). No studies have examined templating with a mobile phone. We evaluated the accuracy and reproducibility of a new digital templating method using the picture archiving and communication system (PACS) and iPhone, compared with the hybrid method for cementless THA.MethodsA total of 113 hip radiographs were retrospectively templated by three observers. For the digital method, a circle was drawn on the acetabulum using PACS to represent the cup. The photograph of the computer screen was taken with an iPhone and imported into the Keynote presentation software. The femoral stem was then templated with transparent digital templates, which had been digitized from acetate templates. For the hybrid method, an acetate template was placed over the onscreen digital radiographs. Templated results were compared with the actual components used.ResultsThe digital method was more accurate than the hybrid method to predict ±1 size of femoral stem [93.8% (106 hips) vs 84.1% (95 hips), P = .032] and offset [90.3% (102 hips) vs 75.2% (85 hips), P = .004)]. The accuracies of digital and hybrid techniques were comparable with predict ±1 size for acetabular cup [92.9% (105 hips) vs 89.4% (101 hips), P = .483] and neck length [98.2% (111 hips) vs 96.5% (109 hips), P = .683]. Both techniques had substantial to almost perfect agreement for intraobserver and interobserver reliability.ConclusionDigital templating using PACS and iPhone is accurate and reproducible for predicting implant size of cementless THA.     

Outcomes and Quality of Life after Platelet-rich Plasma Therapy in Patients with Recalcitrant Hindfoot and Ankle Diseases: A Preliminary Report of 12 Patients

The present study aimed to determine the outcomes and quality of life after platelet-rich plasma therapy in patients with chronic recalcitrant diseases of the hindfoot and ankle and to identify the crucial clinical variables. The records of 12 adult patients with diseases of the hindfoot and ankle were included in the present study. These patients had been treated with platelet-rich plasma from September 2010 to April 2011 after 3 to 6 months or more of conservative treatment had been unsuccessful. They had attended the follow-up visits, were consecutively enrolled, and retrospectively studied. A total of 3 mL of autologous platelet-rich plasma was injected under fluoroscopic or ultrasound guidance into the affected areas. All patients had been evaluated using visual analog scale foot and ankle scoring before treatment and at set intervals after treatment. According to their scores at the final follow-up visit (mean 16 months), the patients were allocated to the satisfactory (score ≥ 80; n = 8) and unsatisfactory (score < 80; n = 4) groups. The health-related quality of life was assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study short-form, 36-item survey at the final follow-up visit, because the study was retrospective, and the information was not available before treatment. The mean visual analog score at the final follow-up visit (79.71 ± 17.81) was significantly greater than the mean pretreatment score (57.89 ± 20.77; p = .002). Four patients (33%) had unsatisfactory results. The mean short-form, 36-item score for the satisfactory group (85.23 ± 11.30) was significantly greater than that (57.33 ± 12.91) of the unsatisfactory group (p = .003). No definitive factors influencing the outcome of this treatment were found. The substantial number of patients with an unsatisfactory outcome indicates that platelet-rich plasma injection might be an option but might not be a mainstay of nonoperative treatment of problematic conditions of the hindfoot and ankle. The actual benefit of this treatment, including the factors influencing its outcome, are still inconclusive.     

A systematic review of intermediate-term outcomes and failure rates for total ankle replacements: An Asian perspective

BackgroundThere are few records for total ankle replacement (TAR) in Asia. We aimed to report the cumulative intermediate-term outcomes in terms of clinical scores, survivorship and failure rates for patients managed with TAR in Asia.MethodsWe conducted a systematic search for relevant articles published in English and other languages between January 1990 and February 2012. The study published before 1990 and used outdated prosthesis designs implanted before the early 1980s was excluded. Eligible studies were evaluated using the Coleman Methodology Score and data collection was independently performed by three reviewers.ResultsSeven studies qualified for analysis, describing 321 implants (112 HINTEGRA^®, 104 TNK, 35 STAR, 13 ND-Bioceram, 57 un-reported implants). Overall studies showed the improvement of clinical scores following TAR. Pooled data for the survivorship analysis ranged from 100% at 3.2 years to 77% at 14.1 years. Pooled mean failure rate was 4.9 ± 3.2% over a mean follow-up of 5.2 ± 1.7 years.ConclusionsTAR prostheses currently used in Asia achieved satisfactory intermediate-term outcomes in terms of clinical scores, survivorship and failure rates.     

Albocollagenase, a novel recombinant P-III snake venom metalloproteinase from green pit viper (Cryptelytrops albolabris), digests collagen and inhibits platelet aggregation

Molecular cloning and functional characterization of P-III snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs) will give us deeper insights in the pathogenesis of viper bites. This may lead to novel therapy for venom-induced local tissue damages, the complication refractory to current antivenom. The aim of this study was to elucidate the in vitro activities of a new SVMP from the green pit viper (GPV) using recombinant DNA technology. We report, here, a new cDNA clone from GPV (Cryptelytrops albolabris) venom glands encoding 614 amino acid residues P-III SVMP, termed albocollagenase. The conceptually translated protein comprised a signal peptide and prodomain, followed by a metalloproteinase domain containing a zinc-binding motifs, HEXGHXXGXXH-CIM and 9 cysteine residues. The disintegrin-like and cysteine-rich domains possessed 24 cysteines and a DCD (Asp-Cys-Asp) motif. The albocollagenase deduced amino acid sequence alignments showed approximately 70% identity with other P-III SVMPs. Notably, the prodomain was highly conserved, while the metalloproteinase, disintegrin-like and cysteine-rich domains contained several differences. Albocollagenase without the signal peptide and prodomain was expressed in Pichia pastoris with an N-terminal six-histidine tag. After affinity purification from the supernatant of methanol-induced media, SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis in both reducing and non-reducing conditions showed a protein band of approximately 62 kDa. The recombinant albocollagenase could digest human type IV collagen from human placenta basement membrane within 1 min. After 10-min incubation, it also inhibited collagen-induced platelet aggregation with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of 70 nM. This is the first report of the active recombinant SVMP enzymes expressed in P. pastoris. The results suggest the significant roles of P-III SVMP in local and systemic pathology of envenomated patients. Inhibitors of this SVMP will be investigated in further studies to find a better treatment for viper bites.