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Background: Morphology may provide the basis for the understanding of wrist mechanics. Methods: We used classification systems based on cadaver dissection of lunate and capitate types to evaluate a normal database of 70 wrist radiographs in 35 subjects looking for associations between bone shapes. Kappa statistics and a log-linear mixed -effects model with a random intercept were used. Results: There were 39 type-1, 31 type- 2 lunates, 50 spherical, 10 flat and 10 V-shaped capitates. There was a significant difference in lunate and capitate shape between the hands of the same individual p Conclusion: Further study to better understand the development of radiographic parameters of the midcarpal joint may aid in our understanding of the morphology and mechanics of the wrist.

Strong magnetic fields affect radiation dose deposition in MRI-guided radiation therapy systems, particularly at interfaces between tissues of differing densities such as those in the thorax. In this study, we evaluated the impact of a 1.5 T magnetic field on radiation-induced lung damage in C57L/J mice. We irradiated 140 mice to the whole thorax with parallel-opposed Co-60 beams to doses of 0, 9.0, 10.0, 10.5, 11.0, 12.0, or 13.0 Gy (20 mice per dose group). Ten mice per dose group were irradiated while a 1.5 T magnetic field was applied transverse to the radiation beam and ten mice were irradiated with the magnetic field set to 0 T. We compared survival and noninvasive assays of radiation-induced lung damage, namely respiratory rate and metrics derived from thoracic cone-beam CTs, between the two sets of mice. We report two main results. First, the presence of a transverse 1.5 T field during irradiation had no impact on survival of C57L/J mice. Second, there was a small but statistically significant effect on noninvasive assays of radiation-induced lung damage. These results provide critical safety data for the clinical introduction of MRI-guided radiation therapy systems.

Objective We evaluated a combined technique designed for procedures requiring intraoperative language mapping. We planned to induce general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation and hyperventilation and then to awaken and extubate the patient for speech testing. After the latter, endotracheal reintubation and general anesthesia were planned. Methods With the patient under intravenously induced sedation, we topically anesthetized the airway with lidocaine that was delivered through a spraying catheter. Fiberoptic endotracheal intubation was then performed on the awake patient, using a modified endotracheal tube. General anesthesia with intravenous propofol or sodium thiopental was induced, the patient's head was attached to a Mayfield holder, and the pin and operative sites were infiltrated with 0.5% bupivacaine with epinephrine. In anticipation of speech mapping, general anesthesia was discontinued and lidocaine was injected into the catheter that was spirally attached to the endotracheal tube. After speech mapping, the awake patients were endotracheally intubated, guided with the fiberoptic laryngoscope or tube changer, and general anesthesia was induced and maintained until termination of the surgery. Results We did not observe any complications, such as coughing or head movements, during the preparation for general anesthesia, awakening and endotracheal extubation for speech mapping, and post-testing reintubation or induction of general anesthesia. Conclusion The combined technique that we describe abolished the potential discomfort of surgical stimulation on a sedated patient, reduced the duration of wakefulness, and provided a secure airway and the means to hyperventilate our patients before dural opening.

Aims: To evaluate vancomycin penetration into human corneal stromal tissue in patients treated with topical vancomycin eyedrops before penetrating keratoplasty (PKP). Methods: Twenty four patients who underwent PKP, seven patients with keratoconus (group 1) and 17 patients with corneal scar or corneal decompensation (group 2). All patients received topical application of vancomycin eyedrops (concentration: 33 mg/ml) 10, 3, 2, 1 hour, and 15 minutes before the operation. Corneal cumulative vancomycin levels were assessed by bioassay. Results: Mean vancomycin corneal stromal tissue concentration was 46.7 (SE 4.11) µg/g tissue. This value was four to 20-fold in excess of the MIC90 of vancomycin in Staphylococcus aureus (2–10 µg/ml). Conclusions: Vancomycin reached high corneal tissue concentrations that significantly exceeded the MIC90 (2–10 µg/ml) for most key Gram positive corneal pathogens. The ratio of vancomycin stromal concentration to protein concentration was statistically higher in group 2 (non-keratoconus).

We describe a case of propylene glycol toxicity due to intravenous administration of etomidate for cerebral protection. A continuous etomidate infusion was titrated to burst suppression of the electroencephalogram during surgical resection of a large intracranial arteriovenous malformation. The etomidate formulation used (Amidate, Abbot) contains etomidate 2 mg/ml in a 35% propylene glycol vehicle. A total of 5 g/kg of the solvent was given during 12 h. Adverse effects of propylene glycol were observed including hyperosmolality with an increased osmolal gap, hemolysis, hemoglobinuria, and metabolic acidosis. Normalization of these metabolic and ionic alterations occurred after 12 h of discontinuation of the infusion. The potential toxicity of the solvent should be considered during long-term administration of etomidate.

Hospital-acquired infections (HAI) are infections that originate during or shortly after hospitalization. Such infections play a major part in malpractice litigation. The cause for the popularity of such litigation is due to the fact that the public considers HA1 to be an avoidable complication of hospitalization and medical procedures. If HA1 occur in one institution but not in another, the public view the institution at which these avoidable HA1 occur as negligent. Similarly, if the rate of HA1 at a particular institution is higher than the national or international levels, then that institution would be regarded as negligent. This negligence may be particularly evident if the on-going rate of HA1 in an institution is higher than the national average for a prolonged period of time and no demonstrable attempts have been made to reduce this rate. Some authorities view health as a commodity produced by physicians and hospitals and sold to the public. Suffering, impairment or death are therefore perceived as an avoidable malfunction. In a commercial market such a malfunction would fall under product liability, and, in the health system, as medical malpractice.

Contains fulltext : 48229.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Closed access) BACKGROUND: Voriconazole has proven efficacy against invasive aspergillosis and oesophageal candidiasis. This multicentre, randomised, non-inferiority study compared voriconazole with a regimen of amphotericin B followed by fluconazole for the treatment of candidaemia in non-neutropenic patients. METHODS: Non-neutropenic patients with a positive blood culture for a species of candida and clinical evidence of infection were enrolled. Patients were randomly assigned, in a 2:1 ratio, either voriconazole (n=283) or amphotericin B followed by fluconazole (n=139). The primary efficacy analysis was based on clinical and mycological response 12 weeks after the end of treatment, assessed by an independent data-review committee unaware of treatment assignment. FINDINGS: Of 422 patients randomised, 370 were included in the modified intention-to-treat population. Voriconazole was non-inferior to amphotericin B/fluconazole in the primary efficacy analysis, with successful outcomes in 41% of patients in both treatment groups (95% CI for difference -10.6% to 10.6%). At the last evaluable assessment, outcome was successful in 162 (65%) patients assigned voriconazole and 87 (71%) assigned amphotericin B/fluconazole (p=0.25). Voriconazole cleared blood cultures as quickly as amphotericin B/fluconazole (median time to negative blood culture, 2.0 days). Treatment discontinuations due to all-cause adverse events were more frequent in the voriconazole group, although most discontinuations were due to non-drug-related events and there were significantly fewer serious adverse events and cases of renal toxicity than in the amphotericin B/fluconazole group. INTERPRETATION: Voriconazole was as effective as the regimen of amphotericin B followed by fluconazole in the treatment of candidaemia in non-neutropenic patients, and with fewer toxic effects. RELEVANCE TO PRACTICE: There are several options for treatment of candidaemia in non-neutropenic patients, including amphotericin B, fluconazole, voriconazole, and echinocandins. Voriconazole can be given both as initial intravenous treatment and as an oral stepdown agent.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence was studied in an unselected group of 216 female and transsexual prostitutes. Subjects were asked about age, biological sex, marital status, children, length of occupation, sexual practices, and drug abuse history. Blood was drawn on site. All 128 females who did not admit to drug abuse were seronegative; 2 of the 52 females (3.8%) who admitted to intravenous drug abuse were seropositive. In contrast, 11.1% of the 36 male transsexuals (including 3 out of 32 non-drug abusers) were seropositive. The results support the notion that vaginal transmission of HIV is less effective than anal transmission.

Background The rapid adoption of image-guidance in prostate intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) results in longer treatment times, which may result in larger intrafraction motion, thereby negating the advantage of image-guidance. This study aims to qualify and quantify the contribution of image-guidance to the temporal dependence of intrafraction motion during prostate IMRT. Methods One-hundred and forty-three patients who underwent conventional IMRT (n=67) or intensity-modulated arc therapy (IMAT/RapidArc, n=76) for localized prostate cancer were evaluated. Intrafraction motion assessment was based on continuous RL (lateral), SI (longitudinal), and AP (vertical) positional detection of electromagnetic transponders at 10 Hz. Daily motion amplitudes were reported as session mean, median, and root-mean-square (RMS) displacements. Temporal effect was evaluated by categorizing treatment sessions into 4 different classes: IMRTc (transponder only localization), IMRTcc (transponder + CBCT localization), IMATc (transponder only localization), or IMATcc (transponder + CBCT localization). Results Mean/median session times were 4.15/3.99 min (IMATc), 12.74/12.19 min (IMATcc), 5.99/5.77 min (IMRTc), and 12.98/12.39 min (IMRTcc), with significant pair-wise difference (pcc vs. IMATcc (p>0.05). Median intrafraction motion difference between CBCT and non-CBCT categories strongly correlated with time for RMS (t-value=17.29; p Conclusions For treatment durations >4-6 minutes, and without any intrafraction motion mitigation protocol in place, patient repositioning is recommended, with at least the acquisition of the lateral component of an orthogonal image pair in the absence of volumetric imaging.

Diisocyanates, highly reactive monomers which cross-link polyurethane, are the most widely recognized causes of occupational asthma. Many exposed workers are end-users, including autobody spray painters who form a large population at risk. Neither the factors which determine incidence rate nor strategies for control have been adequately studied in this setting. We have conducted a cross-sectional survey of 23 (about one in five)' autobody shops in the New Haven area to determine the feasibility of clinical epidemiological studies in this population. Among 102 workers, there was a high rate of airway symptoms consistent with occupational asthma (19.6%). Symptoms were most prevalent among those with the greatest opportunity for exposure (dedicated spray painters) and least among office workers; part-time painters had intermediate rates. Atopy was not associated with risk while smoking seemed to correlate with symptoms. Regular use of air-supplied respirators appeared to be associated with lower risk among workers who painted part- or full-time. We were unable to validate the questionnaire responses with peak expiratory flow record data attempted on a 1/3 sample of the workers. Despite intensive training and effort, subject compliance was limited. Among those who provided adequate data (24 of 38), only two demonstrated unequivocal evidence of labile airways; two others demonstrated lesser changes consistent with an occupational effect on flow rates. There was no clear association between these findings and either questionnaire responses or exposure classification. Overall, the survey suggests that there is a high prevalence of airway symptoms among workers in autobody shops, at least in part due to work-related asthma. However, there is need for both methodological and substantive research in this setting to document rates of occupational asthma and to develop a scientific basis for its effective control.

Mice infected with Brucella melitensis were treated with azithromycin or roxithromycin at a dose of 50 mg/kg/day i.p. alone and in combination with streptomycin 75 mg/kg/day for 14 days. Streptomycin at this dose was previously documented to be ineffective against murine brucellosis. Azithromycin- and azithromycin/streptomycin-treated animals demonstrated a significantly better cure rate than controls. Therapy failure was observed in all mice treated with roxithromycin 50 mg/kg/day i.p. alone or in combination with streptomycin 75 mg/kg/day. Our findings demonstrate that azithromycin cures experimental murine brucellosis and may be an effective alternative in the therapy of human brucellosis.

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The effect of intravenous omeprazole (40 and 80 mg) on the gastric and duodenal potential difference (PD) and pH was investigated in 9 healthy volunteers. Gastric PD and pH increased significantly (p0.05) following omeprazole, and the increases were equal following the two doses. No changes were found in duodenal PD or pH. It has been claimed that gastric PD changes following acid secretion inhibition with cimetidine and glucagon might be due to changes in the parietal cell surface area. Omeprazole causes no changes in the parietal cell structure, and the changes in gastric PD following omeprazole might therefore be ascribed to changes in mucosal electrophysiologic transport or resistance.

Pancreatic secretion of zinc and copper in duodenal juice were measured in 7 healthy persons and in 9 patients with chronic pancreatitis. Stimulation with cholecystokinin and secretin increased secretion of zinc in healthy persons but not in patients. Copper secretion was not influenced. In patients with chronic pancreatitis, the correlations between zinc secretion, and amylase and trypsin secretion were significant while in healthy subjects they were not. Possibly pancreatic zinc secretion in the duodenal juice might be used as a measure of exogenic pancreatic function, and determination of zinc in duodenal juice may replace enzyme determinations in the diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis.

Discusses the effects on society of nuclear power development, radioactive waste disposal, alternative fuel sources, and trends in computer applications.

The author reviews developments in international telecommunications energy RD and agriculture.

In 1974, fuelled by budget constraints, NASA rocketed out of the communications satellite business; now it is evaluating reentry.

Describes the development of instrument rental industry, and discusses why and what it can offer.

During the October 1973 military conflict, 41 burned patients hospitalized at the Sheba Medical Center were closely followed up. All the patients who had burns occupying 20% or more of the body surface developed wound infections. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the major pathogen isolated. Most infections occurred during the second week following the injury. Serial cultures revealed that only the isolation of Proteus species and P. aeruginosa from wounds could predict an infection caused by those microorganisms. During treatment with gentamicin and carbenicillin a marked increase in carbenicillin-resistant P. aeruginosa and gentamicin-resistant Klebsiella strains was noted. Cross-infections with carbenicillin-resistant P. aeruginosa was not a major cause in the development of resistant strains.