102 research outputs found

    Citrobacter koseri meningitis with cerebral edema and pneumocephalus in a neonate

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    Sometimes the only indicator of a serious infection in a neonate is a fever. has been reported to cause neonatal brain abscesses in the setting of meningitis. Although rare, pneumocephalus, secondary to , carries a very high mortality. A 17-day-old male presented to the emergency department with a fever, decreased oral intake, and lethargy. The patient developed pneumocephalus and cerebral edema and was diagnosed with meningitis, leading to death. This case demonstrates the presentation of meningitis with pneumocephalus and cerebral edema in a neonate presenting with fever

    Clinical features, predictive factors and outcome of hyperglycaemic emergencies in a developing country

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    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hyperglycaemic emergencies are common acute complications of diabetes mellitus (DM) but unfortunately, there is a dearth of published data on this entity from Nigeria. This study attempts to describe the clinical and laboratory scenario associated with this complication of DM.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This study was carried out in DM patients who presented to an urban hospital in Nigeria with hyperglycaemic emergencies (HEs). The information extracted included biodata, laboratory data and hospitalization outcome. Outcome measures included mortality rates, case fatality rates and predictive factors for HEs mortality. Statistical tests used are <it>χ</it><sup>2</sup>, Student's t test and logistic regression.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 111 subjects with HEs were recruited for the study. Diabetes ketoacidosis (DKA) and hyperosomolar hyperglycaemic state (HHS) accounted for 94 (85%) and 17 (15%) respectively of the HEs. The mean age (SD) of the subjects was 53.9 (14.4) years and their ages ranged from 22 to 86 years. DKA occurred in all subjects with type 1 DM and 73 (81%) of subjects with type 2 DM. The presence of HSS was noted in 17 (19%) of the subjects with type 2 DM.</p> <p>Hypokalaemia (HK) was documented in 41 (37%) of the study subjects. Elevated urea levels and hyponatraemia were noted more in subjects with DKA than in those subjects with HHS (57.5%,19% vs 53%,18%). The mortality rate for HEs in this report is 20% and the case fatality rates for DKA and HHS are 18% and 35% respectively.</p> <p>The predictive factors for HEs mortality include, sepsis, foot ulceration, previously undetected DM, hypokalaemia and being elderly.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>HHS carry a higher case fatality rate than DKA and the predictive factors for hyperglycaemic emergencies' mortality in the Nigerian with DM include foot ulcers, hypokalaemia and being elderly.</p

    From recommendation to action: psychosocial factors influencing physician intention to use Health Technology Assessment (HTA) recommendations

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    BACKGROUND: Evaluating the impact of recommendations based upon health technology assessment (HTA) represents a challenge for both HTA agencies and healthcare policy-makers. Using a psychosocial theoretical framework, this study aimed at exploring the factors affecting physician intention to adopt HTA recommendations. The selected recommendations were prioritisation systems for patients on waiting lists for two surgical procedures: hip and knee replacement and cataract surgery. METHODS: Determinants of physician intention to use HTA recommendations for patient prioritisation were assessed by a questionnaire based upon the Theory of Interpersonal Behaviour. A total of 96 physicians from two medical specialties (ophthalmology and orthopaedic surgery) responded to the questionnaire (response rate 44.2%). A multiple analysis of variance (MANOVA) was performed to assess differences between medical specialties on the set of theoretical variables. Given the main effect difference between specialties, two regression models were tested separately to assess the psychosocial determinants of physician intention to use HTA recommendations for the prioritisation of patients on waiting lists for surgical procedures. RESULTS: Factors influencing physician intention to use HTA recommendations differ between groups of specialists. Intention to use the prioritisation system for patients on waiting lists for cataract surgery among ophthalmologists was related to attitude towards the behaviour, social norms, as well as personal normative beliefs. Intention to use HTA recommendations for patient prioritisation for hip and knee replacement among orthopaedic surgeons was explained by: perception of conditions that facilitated the realisation of the behaviour, personal normative beliefs, and habit of using HTA recommendations in clinical work. CONCLUSION: This study offers a model to assess factors influencing the intention to adopt recommendations from health technology assessment into professional practice. Results identify determinant factors that should be considered in the elaboration of strategies to support the implementation of evidence-based practice, with respect to emerging health technologies and modalities of practice. However, it is important to emphasise that behavioural determinants of evidence-based practice vary according to the specific technology considered. Evidence-based implementation of HTA recommendations, as well as other evidence-based practices, should build on a theoretical understanding of the complex forces that shape the practice of healthcare professionals

    A Case Study of Bilingual Latino Middle School Students' Attitudes Towards Language, School and Learning

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    This study explores the attitudes of five, sixth-grade, bilingual Latino students at an urban, public, charter middle school. The participants in this study took part in an after school, bilingual English/Spanish reading program over the course of ten weeks. The research was conducted using a case study methodology. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews with the participants and their parents, observations of the after school program, and informal conversations with participants' mainstream classroom teachers. By exploring these students' attitudes, educators and policy makers can gain better insight into how to address the linguistic and cultural needs of bilingual Latino learners. The findings of this study suggest that, although having generally positive attitudes towards school and learning, the participants occasionally felt disconnected from class content. The findings also suggest that these students' levels of engagement could be increased by providing them with bilingual literature that relates to their specific linguistic and cultural backgrounds

    A Case Study of Bilingual Latino Middle School Students' Attitudes Towards Language, School and Learning

    No full text
    This study explores the attitudes of five, sixth-grade, bilingual Latino students at an urban, public, charter middle school. The participants in this study took part in an after school, bilingual English/Spanish reading program over the course of ten weeks. The research was conducted using a case study methodology. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews with the participants and their parents, observations of the after school program, and informal conversations with participants' mainstream classroom teachers. By exploring these students' attitudes, educators and policy makers can gain better insight into how to address the linguistic and cultural needs of bilingual Latino learners. The findings of this study suggest that, although having generally positive attitudes towards school and learning, the participants occasionally felt disconnected from class content. The findings also suggest that these students' levels of engagement could be increased by providing them with bilingual literature that relates to their specific linguistic and cultural backgrounds

    Morphological Spectra of Adult Human Stellate Ganglia: Implications for Thoracic Sympathetic Denervation

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    Cardiac sympathetic denervation (CSD) to treat ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) requires transection at the middle or lower third of stellate (cervicothoracic) ganglia (SG). However, the morphological appearance of the adult SG and distribution of neuronal somata within it are not well described. To determine the morphology of left and right SG (LSG and RSG) and the distribution of somata within. LSG and RSG (n = 28) from 14 embalmed adult cadavers were dissected intact. Weight, volume, height, morphologic appearance, relationship between C8 and T1 ganglia (which form the SG) were determined, along with histology. Demographics, history of cardiac disease, and cause of death were also reviewed. Mean age of the subjects was 76 ± 13 years, and 5/14 were male. Three distinct morphologies of SG were identified: fusiform-rounded; fusiform-elongated; and bilobed. RSG and LSG did not differ in weight or volume. RSG were longer than LSG (2.05 ± 0.28 cm vs. 1.66 ± 0.47 cm, P = 0.024). Bilobed morphology was most common in RSGs (8/14), while fused, elongated was most common in LSG (8/14). RSGs lacked fused, rounded appearance, while 28.6% of LSG appeared as such. Histologically, one focus of somata was seen in fused rounded ganglia, while fused elongated SG had somata distributed throughout. Bilobed SG demonstrated two foci of somata, with the interconnecting stalk containing sparse somata. SG appears in three major forms and contains varying distributions of somata. Larger studies are warranted to define the relationship between gross anatomy and distribution of neuronal somata to improve the efficacy of CSD in treating VAs. Anat Rec, 301:1244-1250, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc
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