HIV-related neuropathy: current perspectives

Sonja G Schütz, Jessica Robinson-Papp Department of Neurology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA Abstract: Distal symmetric polyneuropathy (DSP) related to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is one of the most common neurologic complications of HIV, possibly affecting as many as 50% of all individuals infected with HIV. Two potentially neurotoxic mechanisms have been proposed to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of HIV DSP: neurotoxicity resulting from the virus and its products; as well as adverse neurotoxic effects of medications used in the treatment of HIV. Clinically, HIV DSP is characterized by a combination of signs and symptoms that include decreased deep tendon reflexes at the ankles and decreased sensation in the distal extremities as well as paresthesias, dysesthesias, and pain in a symmetric stocking–glove distribution. These symptoms are generally static or slowly progressive over time, and depending on the severity, may interfere significantly with the patient's daily activities. In addition to the clinical picture, nerve conduction studies and skin biopsies are often pursued to support the diagnosis of HIV DSP. Anticonvulsants, antidepressants, topical agents, and nonspecific analgesics may help relieve neuropathic pain. Specifically, gabapentin, lamotrigine, pregabalin, amitriptyline, duloxetine, and high-dose topical capsaicin patches have been used in research and clinical practice. Further research is needed to elucidate the pathogenesis of HIV DSP, thus facilitating the development of novel treatment strategies. This review discusses the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical findings, diagnosis, and management of DSP in the setting of HIV. Keywords: neuropathy, human immunodeficiency virus, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, AIDS, distal symmetric polyneuropathy, DSP, pai

Reputable Peer-Reviewed Article Publishing: An Assessment of the IUPUI 2017 Annual Review Data

This report quantifies the number of articles by Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) authors that were published in 2017 in “trusted” journals or conference proceedings. As the global proportion of for-fee article publishing increases, so do the number of email solicitations to authors for submissions to previously unknown journals. In an effort to exploit a new business model, a portion of these solicitations seek to acquire a fee for publication while promising (but failing) to provide peer review. Publishing an article in a disreputable journal (intentionally or not) wastes the resources of the university, funders, and tax payers that have supported the work. It also risks damaging the reputation of authors and the integrity of peer reviewed literature. By quantifying the number of articles published in “trusted” journals, IUPUI can assess the degree to which authors need support for the task of selecting suitable outlets for publication

Negligence, genuine error, and litigation

David H SohnDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Toledo Medical Center, Toledo, OH, USAAbstract: Not all medical injuries are the result of negligence. In fact, most medical injuries are the result either of the inherent risk in the practice of medicine, or due to system errors, which cannot be prevented simply through fear of disciplinary action. This paper will discuss the differences between adverse events, negligence, and system errors; the current medical malpractice tort system in the United States; and review current and future solutions, including medical malpractice reform, alternative dispute resolution, health courts, and no-fault compensation systems. The current political environment favors investigation of non-cap tort reform remedies; investment into more rational oversight systems, such as health courts or no-fault systems may reap both quantitative and qualitative benefits for a less costly and safer health system.Keywords: medical malpractice, tort reform, no fault compensation, alternative dispute resolution, system error

Sponsored by ASAE

This is not a peer-reviewed article

Center Presents on Long-Term Care at Conference on the Impact of Aging on Georgia

A Community-Campus Partnerships for Health peer-reviewed article on the power of strategic alignment in health policy

COPD: The end of the beginning

Richard Russell, Dave Singh, Irfan Rahman and Alan J Crocketthttp://www.dovepress.com/editorial-copd-the-end-of-the-beginning--free-paper-peer-reviewed-article-COPD-recommendation

Tivozanib in the treatment of renal cell carcinoma

Mehmet Hepgur, Sarmad Sadeghi, Tanya B Dorff, David I Quinn Division of Medical Oncology, University of Southern California Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA Abstract: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is an aggressive malignancy compared to other urological malignancies and has been associated with poor responses to conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy. Interferon-a and interleukin-2 were previously utilized in a limited number of patients with good performance status due to toxicity and safety issues. Over the last decade, through advances in the understanding of the biology and pathology of RCC, the important role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in RCC has been identified. Data from randomized trials have led to the approval of first-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) sorafenib, sunitinib, and pazopanib; however, these agents inhibit a wide variety of kinase targets and are associated with a range of adverse effects. More recently, a new generation TKI, axitinib, has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. Tivozanib is a novel TKI, which is a potent inhibitor of VEGF-1, VEGF-2, VEGF-3, c-kit, and PDGR kinases, with a more restricted target spectrum. Phase II and III studies have demonstrated significant activity and a favorable safety profile as an initial targeted treatment for advanced RCC. This review examines the emerging data with tivozanib for the treatment of advanced RCC. Preclinical investigations as well as Phase I, II, and III data are examined; data on the comparative benefits of tivozanib are reviewed. Finally, we discuss the future potential of tivozanib in combination, biomarkers associated with tivozanib response, and acquisition of resistance and nonkidney cancer indications. Keywords: targeted therapy, renal cell cancer, tyrosine kinase inhibitor, tivozani

Impact of enteral protein supplementation in premature infants

David M Barrus1, Joann Romano-Keeler2, Christopher Carr3, Kira Segebarth4, Betty Claxton2, William F Walsh2, Paul J Flakoll51Department of Neonatology, Saint Francis Hospital–Bartlett, Memphis, TN, 2Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 3Department of Surgery, Naval Hospital Bremerton, Bremerton, WA, 4Pediatric and Diabetes Specialists, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC, 5Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USAObjective: The quantity of enteral protein supplementation required by premature infants to optimize growth has not been determined. This study compares the growth of premature infants fed the current standard intake of protein (3.5 g/kg/day) with the growth of those fed a higher amount (4.0 g/kg/day).Study design: Fifty-two infants <1500 g and <33 weeks gestational age participated in a blinded, single-center, prospective randomized control trial to compare growth between two groups of different protein-intake levels. Primary outcomes were average daily weight gain (g/kg/day), head-circumference (cm/kg/week) and linear growth velocity (cm/kg/week). Secondary outcomes were serum indices of protein tolerance and plasma amino acid concentrations.Results: Infants receiving higher amounts of protein had higher rates of growth for body weight (18.2 ± 0.7 versus 16.2 ± 1.0 g/kg/day; P < 0.05) and head circumference (0.87 ± 0.08 versus 0.62 ± 0.07 cm/kg/week; P < 0.05), with no differences in blood protein or plasma amino acid concentrations. Length of hospital stay was 14 days shorter for the higher-protein group (51.4 ± 4.0 versus 65.9 ± 6.3 days).Conclusion: Increasing premature infant enteral protein supplementation from a calculated intake of 3.5–4.0 g/kg/day improved growth in a safe manner.Keywords: human milk, human milk fortifier, growth, low birth weigh

PLASTIC DEFORMATION ON THE MACHINED SURFACE OF STEEL Cr20Ni10MoTi AT DRILLING

Information about material machinability is very important for the machining technology. Precise and reliable information on the machinability of a material before it enters the machining process is a necessity, and this brings the verification of technological methods in practice. This article presents the conclusions of machinability tests on austenitic stainless steel according to EN-EU (ISO): steel Cr20Ni10MoTi. This article presents the conclusions of VEGA grant agency at the Ministry of Education SR for supporting research work and co-financing the projects: Grant work #01/3173/2006 with the title „Experimental investigation of cutting zones in drilled and milled stainless steel

Accuracy of diagnoses predicted from a simple patient questionnaire stratified by the duration of general ambulatory training: an observational study

Takanori Uehara,1,2 Masatomi Ikusaka,1 Yoshiyuki Ohira,1 Mitsuyasu Ohta,1,2 Kazutaka Noda,1 Tomoko Tsukamoto,1 Toshihiko Takada,1 Masahito Miyahara11Department of General Medicine, Chiba University Hospital, 2Division of Rotated Collaboration Systems for Local Healthcare, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, JapanPurpose: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of diseases predicted from patient responses to a simple questionnaire completed prior to examination by doctors with different levels of ambulatory training in general medicine.Participants and methods: Before patient examination, five trained physicians, four short-term-trained residents, and four untrained residents examined patient responses to a simple questionnaire and then indicated, in rank order according to their subjective confidence level, the diseases they predicted. Final diagnosis was subsequently determined from hospital records by mentor physicians 3 months after the first patient visit. Predicted diseases and final diagnoses were codified using the International Classification of Diseases version 10. A &ldquo;correct&rdquo; diagnosis was one where the predicted disease matched the final diagnosis code.Results: A total of 148 patient questionnaires were evaluated. The Herfindahl index was 0.024, indicating a high degree of diversity in final diagnoses. The proportion of correct diagnoses was high in the trained group (96 of 148, 65%; residual analysis, 4.4) and low in the untrained group (56 of 148, 38%; residual analysis, -3.6) (&chi;2=22.27, P<0.001). In cases of correct diagnosis, the cumulative number of correct diagnoses showed almost no improvement, even when doctors in the three groups predicted &ge;4 diseases.Conclusion: Doctors who completed ambulatory training in general medicine while treating a diverse range of diseases accurately predicted diagnosis in 65% of cases from limited written information provided by a simple patient questionnaire, which proved useful for diagnosis. The study also suggests that up to three differential diagnoses are appropriate for diagnostic prediction, while &ge;4 differential diagnoses barely improved the diagnostic accuracy, regardless of doctors&rsquo; competence in general medicine. If doctors can become able to predict the final diagnosis from limited information, the correct diagnostic outcome may improve and save further consultation hours.Keywords: clinical reasoning, diagnostic accuracy, diagnostic reasoning, general medicine, Herfindahl index, predict diseas