2,420 research outputs found
Perioperative infection prophylaxis and risk factor impact in colon surgery
Background: A prospective observational study was undertaken in 2,481 patients undergoing elective colon resection in 114 German centers to identify optimal drug and dosing modalities and risk factors for postoperative infection. Methods: Patients were pair matched using six risk factors and divided into 672 pairs (ceftriaxone vs, other cephalosporins, group A) and 400 pairs (ceftriaxone vs. penicillins, group B). End points were local and systemic postoperative infection and cost effectiveness. Results: Local infection rates were 6.0 versus 6.5% (group A) and 4.0 versus 10.5% (group B); systemic infection rates in groups A and B were 4.9 versus 6.3% and 3.3 versus 10.5%, respectively. Ceftriaxone was more effective than penicillins overall (6.8 vs. 17.8%, p < 0.001). Length of postoperative hospital stay was 16.2 versus 16.9 days (group A) and 15.8 versus 17.6 days (group B). Of the six risk factors, age and concomitant disease were significant for systemic infection, and blood loss, rectum resection and immunosuppressive therapy were significant for local infection. Penicillin was a risk factor compared to ceftriaxone (p < 0.0001). Ceftriaxone saved Q160.7 versus other cephalosporins and O416.2 versus penicillins. Conclusion: Clinical and microbiological efficacy are responsible for the cost effectiveness of ceftriaxone for perioperative prophylaxis in colorectal surgery. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel
Familial Mediterranean fever, from pathogenesis to treatment: a contemporary review
Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) (OMIM #249100) is the most common hereditary autoinflammatory disease in the
world. FMF is caused by gain of function mutations of MEFV gene which encodes an immune regulatory protein, pyrin. Over the last
few years, we have witnessed several new developments in the pathogenesis, genetic testing, diagnosis, comorbidities, disease related
damage and treatment approaches to FMF. Elucidation of some of the pathogenic mechanisms has led to the discovery of pathways
involved in inflammatory, metabolic, cardiovascular and degenerative diseases. The use of next generation sequencing in FMF has
revealed many new gene variants whose clinical significance may be clarified by developing functional assays and biomarkers. Clinically,
although FMF is considered an episodic disease characterized by brief attacks, recent systematic studies have defined several associated
chronic inflammatory conditions. Colchicine is the mainstay of FMF treatment, and interleukin (IL)-1 antagonists are the treatment
of choice in refractory or intolerant cases. Experience of IL-1 antagonists, anakinra and canakinumab, is now available in thousands of
colchicine resistant or intolerant FMF patients. In this contemporary review, we surveyed current FMF knowledge in the light of these
recent advances
Misdiagnosis of hereditary amyloidosis as AL (Primary) amyloidosis
Background: Hereditary, autosomal dominant amyloidosis, caused by mutations in the genes encoding transthyretin, fibrinogen A -chain, lysozyme, or apolipoprotein A-I, is thought to be extremely rare and is not routinely included in the differential diagnosis of systemic amyloidosis unless there is a family history.
Methods: We studied 350 patients with systemic amyloidosis, in whom a diagnosis of the light-chain (AL) type of the disorder had been suggested by clinical and laboratory findings and by the absence of a family history, to assess whether they had amyloidogenic mutations.
Results: Amyloidogenic mutations were present in 34 of the 350 patients (9.7 percent), most often in the genes encoding fibrinogen A -chain (18 patients) and transthyretin (13 patients). In all 34 of these patients, the diagnosis of hereditary amyloidosis was confirmed by additional investigations. A low-grade monoclonal gammopathy was detected in 8 of the 34 patients (24 percent).
Conclusions: A genetic cause should be sought in all patients with amyloidosis that is not the reactive systemic amyloid A type and in whom confirmation of the AL type cannot be obtained
Improved oxygenation by nitric oxide is enhanced by prior lung reaeration with surfactant, rather than positive end-expiratory pressure, in lung-lavaged rabbits
Investigations on nucleophilic layers made with a novel plasma jet technique
In this work a novel plasma jet technique is used for the deposition of nucleophilic films based on (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane at atmospheric pressure. Film deposition was varied with regard to duty cycles and working distance. Spectral ellipsometry and chemical derivatization with 4-(trifluoromethyl)benzaldehyde using ATR- FTIR spectroscopy measurements were used to characterize the films. It was found that the layer thickness and the film composition are mainly influenced by the duty cycle
Content of flavan-3-ol monomers and gallic acid in grape seeds by variety and year
The content of flavan-3-ol monomers and gallic acid in grape seeds in the samples from the gene collection of Viticulture Research Station Karlštejn (Czech Republic) was investigated. Presence of catechin, epicatechin, epigallocatechin, epicatechin gallate and gallic acid was confirmed in these samples, other flavan-3-ol monomers like gallocatechin or epigallocatechin gallate were below limit of detection. As major flavan-3-ol monomers catechin and epicatechin with 85 % were detected. Average content of catechin in grape seed was 4454 ± 148 µg·g-1, 3085 ± 98 µg·g-1 epicatechin, 600 ± 41 µg·g-1 epigallocatechin, 457 ± 19 µg·g-1 gallic acid, and 352 ± 16 µg·g-1 epicatechin gallate. Variety had main impact on phenolic content followed by vintage. Average sum of flavan-3-ol monomers in grape seeds in white varietes was 7601 ± 273 µg·g-1 and 10869 ± 430 µg·g-1 in red varieties, with 10050 ± 425 µg·g-1 in 2012 and 7846 ± 219 µg·g-1 in 2013 were found on average in all varieties, respectively. The highest phenolic content was characteristic for 'Pinot Noir', 'Muskat Donskoi', 'Aromriesling' and 'Hibernal' and may contribute to their health properties
High-frequency oscillatory ventilation is not superior to conventional mechanical ventilation in surfactant-treated rabbits with lung injury
High-frequency oscillatory ventilation is not superior to conventional mechanical ventilation in surfactant-treated rabbits with lung injury
The aim of this study was to compare high-frequency oscillatory
ventilation (HFOV) with conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV) with and
without surfactant in the treatment of surfactant-deficient rabbits. A
previously described saline lung lavage model of lung injury in adult
rabbits was used. The efficacy of each therapy was assessed by evaluating
gas exchange, lung deflation stability and lung histopathology. Arterial
oxygenation did not improve in the CMV group without surfactant but
increased rapidly to prelavage values in the other three study groups.
During deflation stability, arterial oxygenation decreased to postlavage
values in the group that received HFOV alone, but not in both
surfactant-treated groups (HFOV and CMV). The HFOV group without
surfactant showed more cellular infiltration and epithelial damage
compared with both surfactant-treated groups. There was no difference in
gas exchange, lung deflation stability and lung injury between HFOV and
CMV after surfactant therapy. It is concluded that the use of surfactant
therapy in combination with high-frequency oscillatory ventilation is not
superior to conventional mechanical ventilation in improving gas exchange,
lung deflation stability and in the prevention of lung injury, if lungs
are kept expanded. This indicates that achieving and maintaining alveolar
expansion (i.e. open lung) is of more importance than the type of
ventilator
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