Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return Evaluation of 51 Cases

Scopu

Factors Affecting Survival In Neonatal Surgery Unit In A Tertiary Care University Hospital During 26 Years

This clinical study was designed to evaluate mortality rate and the factors that may affect survival in neonatal surgery unit. Randomly chosen 300 (beta: 0.20) patients among 1,439 patients treated in neonatal surgery unit during years 1983 to 2009, were evaluated retrospectively. The patients were separated into three groups according to date of treatment; Group A: 1983 - 1995, Group B: 1996 - 2005 and Group C: 2005 - 2009. M/F ratios did not differ between non-survived and survived patient populations. Mortality rates were 37%, 22% and 13% in Group A, B, and C respectively (p < 0.001). Parenteral nutrition, maternal age, time until admission and gestational age did not affect mortality rate, however median age of newborn was lower in non-survived cases (1 day vs. 3 days, p < 0.001). Associating abnormality, low birth weight (< 1,500 g), associating sepsis, need of globulin and requirement of respiratory support were determinants of lower survival (p < 0.001). The mortality rate for patients that underwent thoracotomy (42%) and laparotomy (41%) were higher than patients that underwent other operations (8%) and observation (10%) (p < 0.001). Diaphragmatic hernia had higher mortality rates than the other pathologies (p < 0.001). Survival rate is increasing to date in newborn pediatric surgery unit; it is independent from parenteral nutrition, maternal age, time to admission and gestational age however it is affected adversely by the age of patient, associating abnormality, low birth weight, presence of sepsis and requirement of respiratory support. Increase in survival could be related to various additional factors such as development of delicate respiratory support machines, broad spectrum antibiotics, hospital infection control teams, central venous catheters, use of TPN by central route, volume adjustable infusion pumps, monitoring devices, neonatal surgical techniques, prenatal diagnosis of pediatric surgical conditions and developments of environmental control methods in neonatal surgical units.WoSScopu

Treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection with IFN-alpha: Long term results and predictive factors

Chronic hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection carries a 30% risk of cirrhosis which mandates an effective treatment. Currently, Interferon-alpha(Ifn-alpha) is the only established treatment method. Over four year period we treated and followed 40 patients with recombinant Ifn-alpha 2b, 3 MU tiw. Response was defined as complete normalization of ALT. Sustained meant no flare in the 18 months period following treatment. The treatment was stopped in the patients who did not respond at tile end of three months. Responders completed a 12 month-course of treatment. All the responders were followed-up 18 months untreated. 23/40(58%) responded, but 15/23(65%) relapsed. The sustained remission rate was 8/40(20%). However 2/8(20%) were HCV-RNA +ve despite sustained normalization of ALT. Overall, virologic sustained remission was achieved in 6/40(15%.) Pre-treatment fibrosis score significantly(p<0.05) correlated(inversely) with sustained remission rate. Iii conclusion: The overall sustained biochemical, and biochemical/virologic response rates, running at 20%, and %15, respectively, with IFN, raises tile necessity for more powerful adjuncts, such as ribavirin

Clinical history for inflammatory back pain in diagnosing ankylosing spondylitis: The sensitivity, specificity and consistency of clinical features

Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR 2007) -- JUN 13-16, 2007 -- Barcelona, SPAINWOS: 000253101101519European League Against Rheumatis