The Brixia Chest X Ray Severity Score in adult patients with symptomatic Covid-19 Infection : A useful guide to management

@#COVID-19 is a highly contagious viral illness with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations ranging from asymptomatic or mild cold like symptoms to a devastating and often fatal respiratory illness. The elderly and those with underlying morbidity are the groups most often, but certainly not exclusively, associated with death from respiratory pathology. COVID-19 respiratory illness usually manifests clinically as pneumonia with predominant imaging findings of an atypical or organized pneumonia. Chest radiography (CXR) helps to assess the progress of the disease. The BRIXIA score based on radiological appearance may be used to determine the severity and clinical outcome of a patient with COVID-19. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the BRIXIA score and the clinical outcome of positive COVID-19 patients at Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH) in Papua New Guinea (PNG). In this descriptive retrospective study conducted at the Radiology Department of the PMGH the records of 129 Polymerise Chain Reaction (PCR) confirmed patients admitted to PMGH between September and December 2021 were examined. The patients were grouped into mild, moderate or severe categories depending on clinical features at the time of diagnosis. There were 89 (69%) males and 40 (31%) females. The mean (SD) age was 52 (12) years, and the median (IQR) was 53 (44-60). Their admission CXRs were given a Brixia score. Mean (SD) Brixia scores for mild (n=24), moderate (n=67) and severe (n=38) were 4.5 (2.5), 8.9 (2.7) and 12.5 (3.5) respectively. The Brixia score was significantly related to the clinical severity, F 55.49, p <0.001. Twenty seven (77%) of the 35 patients who died had comorbidities of whom 21 (78%) were in the clinically severe group. A Brixia score of 9 or more was closely associated with death, p = 0.001, Odds Ratio with 95% Confidence interval (0R) of 3.9 (1.7-9.6). The Brixia CXR severity score is a useful tool in assessing clinical severity and prognosis in patients with COVID 19.

Correlation Between Laboratory Findings and Clinical Severity among the COVID-19 Patients in the Tertiary Care Centre

Background : Coronavirus is a highly infectious novel virus we are in urge to know more about their clinical characteristics and laboratory findings for the characterization and selection of treatment protocol. Methods : Prospective, single centre study. Two months data was collected, clinical characteristics data from patient case sheet and the laboratoryvalues from the Hospital Information System (HIS) for the month of July and August 2020. Results : Of 462 patients, 55 (11.9%) are falls under asymptomatic category, 194 (42%) are in mild category, 167 (36.1%) are in moderate category and 46 (10%) in severe category. Fever 230 (49.8%) and cough 211 (45.7%) was most common clinical symptom with p value < 0.01. Non-severe vs severe, 340 (73.6%) and 201 (43.5%) showed decreased in eosinophil count and absolute eosinophil count, 125 (27.1%) and 80 (17.3%) patient showed decrease in lymphocyte count and absolute lymphocyte count, 200 (43.3%) showed increase in neutrophil count with a significance of p value >0.05. 186 (40.3%) patients had one or more co-morbidities. Laboratory findings between Asymptomatic VS symptomatic, showed significance changes in neutrophil, lymphocyte, Aspartate aminotransferase, Alkaline phosphatase, globulin values (p value <0.05). Conclusion : Clinical severity categorization at the time of admission was very helpful for the treating doctors in proper understanding of disease progression and appropriate treatment of the patient. Presence of co-morbidity, abnormal laboratory values, old age group patients, higher Computed Tomography score, higher mortality rate are seen more in patients who were in clinical severity grade severe category than in non-severe category patients.

Comorbilidades y gravedad clínica de la COVID-19: revisión sistemática y meta-análisis / Comorbidities and clinical severity of COVID-19: systematic review and meta-analysis

Introducción: La emergencia de la COVID-19 se ha convertido en un serio problema de salud a nivel mundial. La identificación de comorbilidades asociadas a la presentación clínica grave de la COVID-19, es de importancia para el adecuado abordaje terapéutico de los pacientes afectados. Objetivo: Evaluar el riesgo de COVID-19 con presentación clínica grave en pacientes con comorbilidades. Material y métodos: Se realizó una revisión sistemática y meta-análisis en bases de datos especializadas en busca de artículos publicados hasta el 20 de marzo de 2020, que aportaran información sobre la asociación entre la gravedad de la presentación clínica de la COVID-19 y comorbilidades. Se empleó la razón de probabilidades con un intervalo de confianza de 95 por ciento, y modelos de efectos fijos o aleatorios. Resultados: En el análisis fueron incluidos 13 estudios para un total de 99 817 pacientes. Se obtuvieron los efectos globales para la hipertensión arterial (RP: 4,05; IC 95 por ciento: 3,45-4,74), enfermedad cardiovascular (RP: 4,39; IC 95 por ciento: 3,29-5,87), Diabetes Mellitus (RP: 3,53; IC 95 por ciento: 2,79-4,47), hábito de fumar (RP: 2,87; IC 95 por ciento: 1,81-4,54), enfermedades respiratoria (RP: 2,73; IC 95 por ciento: 2,55-2,94), renal (RP: 5,60; IC 95 por ciento: 4,13-7,60) y hepática crónicas (RP: 1,98 (IC 95 por ciento: 1,08-3,64) e inmunodeficiencias (RP: 2,90; IC 95 por ciento: 2,06-4,09), en pacientes graves en comparación con pacientes no graves. Conclusiones: La enfermedad renal crónica, la enfermedad cardiovascular, la hipertensión arterial y la Diabetes Mellitus están entre las comorbilidades que mayor riesgo implican para una presentación clínica grave en pacientes con COVID-19, seguidas en importancia por las inmunodeficiencias, hábito de fumar, enfermedad respiratoria crónica y enfermedad hepática crónica(AU)

Introduction: The recent emergence of COVID-19 has become a serious global health problem. The identification of comorbidities associated with the clinical severity in COVID-19 patients is of paramount significance for the appropriate therapeutic approach of affected patients. Objective: To evaluate the risk of severe clinical presentation of COVID-19 in patients with comorbidities. Materials and methods: A systematic literature search and meta-analysis was conducted in specialized databases to obtain information from articles published until March 20, 2020. All relevant papers with information on the association between clinical severity and comorbidities were included. The odds ratio with 95 percent confidence interval and fixed or random effect models were used. Results: Thirteen studies were included for a total of 99 817 patients. Global effects were obtained for hypertension (OR: 4.05; 95 percent CI: 3.45-4.74), cardiovascular disease (OR: 4.39; 95 percent CI: 3.29-5.87), diabetes mellitus (OR: 3.53; 95 percent CI: 2.79-4.47), smoking (OR: 2.87; 95 percent CI: 1.81-4.54), chronic lung disease (OR: 2.73; 95 percent CI: 2.55-2.94), chronic kidney disease (OR: 5.60; 95 percent CI: 4.13-7.60), chronic liver disease (OR: 1.98; 95 percent CI: 1.08-3.64), and immunodeficiency (OR: 2.90; 95 percent CI: 2.06-4.09) in severe patients compared with non-severe patients. Conclusions: Chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and diabetes are among the comorbidities with the highest risk of severe clinical presentation in COVID-19 patients, followed in importance by immunodeficiency, smoking, chronic lung disease and chronic liver disease(AU)

Evaluation of liquid or foam sclerotherapy in small varicose veins (ceap c1) with venous clinical severity score

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of liquid or foam sclerotherapy of varicose veins using venous clinical severity scores and possible complications. METHODS: A total of 318 patients (268 females, 50 males) who were treated with liquid or foam sclerotherapy between January 2012 and December 2012 were included in this study. RESULTS: Skin necrosis was observed in only 6 patients (1. 8%), thrombophlebitis in 10 patients (3. 1%), and hyperpigmentation in 18 patients (5. 6%) in this study group. The mean venous clinical severity score was calculated as: pain score, 1. 23 ± 0.88; varicose vein score,1.85 ± 0. 8; edema score, 0.64 ± 0.77). Pain and edema decreased at the control examination, 1 month after completion of sclerotherapy sessions. Varicose veins completely disappeared after sclerotherapy. While the decrease in edema in the foam sclerotherapy group was significantly less (P<0.001), the decline in pain showed an increasing trend (P=0.069). While skin necrosis did not develop after foam sclerotherapy, rates of pigmentation and local thrombophlebitis were similar (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, we observed that both sclerotherapy methods are effective with a low rate of complications, alleviating the complaints of patients with small varicose veins, and providing considerable improvement in venous clinical severity scores.

RESUMO OBJETIVO: Nosso objetivo foi avaliar a eficácia de líquido ou espuma na escleroterapia de varizes por meio de escores de gravidade clínica venosa e possíveis complicações. MÉTODOS: Um total de 318 pacientes (268 do sexo feminino, 50 do sexo masculino) tratados com escleroterapia com espuma ou líquido entre janeiro de 2012 e dezembro de 2012 foi incluído neste estudo. RESULTADOS: Necrose da pele foi observada em apenas seis pacientes (1,8%), tromboflebite em dez pacientes (3,1%) e hiperpigmentação em 18 pacientes (5,6%) neste grupo de estudo. A média do escore de gravidade clínica venosa foi calculado como: dor pontuação 1,23±0,88, veia varicosa pontuação 1,85±0,8, edema pontuação 0,64±0,77. Dor e edema reduzido no exame de controle um mês após a conclusão das sessões de escleroterapia. Varizes desapareceram completamente após a escleroterapia. Enquanto a diminuição do edema no grupo de escleroterapia com espuma foi significativamente menor (P<0,001), o decréscimo do nível de dor mostrou uma tendência a ser maior (P=0,069). Ainda que necrose da pele não tenha se desenvolvido após escleroterapia com espuma, as taxas de pigmentação e tromboflebite local foram semelhantes (P>0,05). CONCLUSÃO: Observou-se que ambos os métodos de escleroterapia são eficazes, com baixa taxa de complicações, aliviando as queixas de pacientes com varizes pequenas, e proporcionando uma melhora considerável nos escores de gravidade clínica venosa.

Human Coronavirus in the 2014 Winter Season as a Cause of Lower Respiratory Tract Infection

PURPOSE: During the late autumn to winter season (October to December) in the Republic of Korea, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common pathogen causing lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs). Interestingly, in 2014, human coronavirus (HCoV) caused not only upper respiratory infections but also LRTIs more commonly than in other years. Therefore, we sought to determine the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, outcomes, and severity of illnesses associated with HCoV infections at a single center in Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively identified patients with positive HCoV respiratory specimens between October 2014 and December 2014 who were admitted to Severance Children’s Hospital at Yonsei University Medical Center for LRTI. Charts of the patients with HCoV infection were reviewed and compared with RSV infection. RESULTS: During the study period, HCoV was the third most common respiratory virus and accounted for 13.7% of infections. Coinfection was detected in 43.8% of children with HCoV. Interestingly, one patient had both HCoV-OC43 and HCoV-NL63. Mild pneumonia was most common (60.4%) with HCoV, and when combined with RSV, resulted in bronchiolitis. Two patients required care in the intensive care unit. However, compared with that of RSV infection, the disease course HCoV was short. CONCLUSION: Infections caused by HCoVs are common, and can cause LRTIs. During an epidemic season, clinicians should be given special consideration thereto. When combined with other medical conditions, such as neurologic or cardiologic diseases, intensive care unit (ICU) care may be necessary.

Epidemiology and Factors Related to Clinical Severity of Acute Gastroenteritis in Hospitalized Children after the Introduction of Rotavirus Vaccination

We aimed to investigate epidemiology and host- and pathogen-related factors associated with clinical severity of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in children after rotavirus vaccination introduction. Factors assessed included age, co-infection with more than 2 viruses, and virus-toxigenic Clostridium difficile co-detection. Fecal samples and clinical information, including modified Vesikari scores, were collected from hospitalized children with AGE. The presence of enteric viruses and bacteria, including toxigenic C. difficile, was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Among the 415 children included, virus was detected in stool of 282 (68.0%) children. Co-infection with more than 2 viruses and toxigenic C. difficile were found in 24 (8.5%) and 26 (9.2%) children with viral AGE, respectively. Norovirus (n = 130) infection, including norovirus-associated co-infection, was the most frequent infection, especially in children aged < 24 months (P < 0.001). In the severity-related analysis, age < 24 months was associated with greater diarrheal severity (P < 0.001) and modified Vesikari score (P = 0.001), after adjustment for other severity-related factors including rotavirus status. Although the age at infection with rotavirus was higher than that for other viruses (P = 0.001), rotavirus detection was the most significant risk factor for all severity parameters, including modified Vesikari score (P < 0.001). Viral co-infection and toxigenic C. difficile co-detection were not associated with any severity-related parameter. This information will be helpful in the management of childhood AGE in this era of rotavirus vaccination and availability of molecular diagnostic tests, which often lead to the simultaneous detection of multiple pathogens.

Quality of life in acne vulgaris: Relationship to clinical severity and demographic data.

Background: Acne vulgaris is known to impair many aspects of quality of life. However, the correlation of this impairment with clinical severity remains equivocal despite various school, community and hospital-based studies. Aim: A hospital-based study was undertaken to measure the impairment of quality of life of patients of acne vulgaris and correlate it with the severity of lesions. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study in a cohort of 100 patients of acne vulgaris attending the outpatient department of our referral hospital. A physician measured the severity of lesions using the global acne grading system, and patients assessed quality of life by completing a questionnaire (Cardiff acne disability index). A correlation of these two was done; some additional correlations were brought out through demographic data collected from the patients. Results: There was no correlation between the severity of acne vulgaris and an impaired quality of life. Patients who consumed alcohol and/or smoked cigarettes were found to have an impaired quality of life. While the severity of acne progressively lessened in older patients, the impact on quality of life increased. Limitations: The sample size was small and there was a lack of guaranteed reliability on the self-reported quality of life. Conclusion: The severity of acne vulgaris does not correlate with impairment in quality of life.

Associations among plasma vitamin C, epidermal ceramide and clinical severity of atopic dermatitis

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Atopic dermatitis (AD), a chronic inflammatory skin disease, is accompanied by disruption of the epidermal lipid barrier, of which ceramide (Cer) is the major component. Recently it was reported that vitamin C is essential for de novo synthesis of Cer in the epidermis and that the level of vitamin C in plasma is decreased in AD. The objective of this study was to determine the associations among clinical severity, vitamin C in either plasma or epidermis, and Cer in the epidermis of patients with AD. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 17 patients (11 male and 6 female) aged 20-42 years were enrolled. The clinical severity of AD was assessed according to the SCORAD (SCORing Atopic Dermatitis) system. Levels of vitamin C were determined in plasma and biopsies of lesional epidermis. Levels of epidermal lipids, including Cer, were determined from tape-stripped lesional epidermis. RESULTS: The clinical severity of patients ranged between 0.1 and 45 (mild to severe AD) based on the SCORAD system. As the SCORAD score increased, the level of vitamin C in the plasma, but not in the epidermis, decreased, and levels of total Cer and Cer2, the major Cer species in the epidermis, also decreased. There was also a positive association between level of vitamin C in the plasma and level of total Cer in the epidermis. However, levels of epidermal total lipids including triglyceride, cholesterol, and free fatty acid (FFA) were not associated with either SCORAD score or level of vitamin C in the plasma of all subjects. CONCLUSIONS: As the clinical severity of AD increased, level of vitamin C in the plasma and level of epidermal Cer decreased, and there was a positive association between these two parameters, implying associations among plasma vitamin C, epidermal Cer, and the clinical severity of AD.

Tratamiento del estrabismo paralítico con toxina botulínica A / Treatment of paralytic strabismus with botulinum toxin A

Objetivos: evaluar los resultados obtenidos con el uso de la toxina botulínica A en la corrección del estrabismo paralítico e identificar los factores asociados que influyen sobre la respuesta terapéutica. Métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo en una serie de 93 casos con estrabismo paralítico, que recibieron tratamiento con toxina botulínica A. Resultados: se diagnosticaron 53 casos con estrabismo leve, 38 moderado y solo dos en estado grave. El tiempo de evolución y la gravedad clínica fueron los factores asociados que interfirieron con la respuesta terapéutica. Conclusiones: la toxina botulínica A es efectiva en la mayoría de los casos tratados. Los mejores resultados se obtienen en los casos con menor grado de desviación y con menor tiempo de evolución entre el inicio del estrabismo y la inyección del medicamento(AU)

Objectives: to assess the results of the use of botulinum toxin A in correcting paralytic strabismus and to identify those associated factors that have an impact on the therapeutic response. Methods: a descriptive study of a series of 93 cases with paralytic strabismus which were treated with botulinum toxin A. Results: fifty three cases were diagnosed with mild, 38 with moderate and just two with severe strabismus. The time of progression and the clinical severity were related factors that influence the therapeutic response. Conclusions: botulinum toxin A is effective in most of cases. The best results are achieved in those people with lower deviation degree and less time of progression elapsed from the onset of strabismus to the administration of the injected medication(AU)

Diagnostic test of screening depressive disorders in general hospital with the Patient Health Questionnaire / 中国心理卫生杂志

Objective:Using a diagnostic test research,to explore the reliability and validity of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)on screening of depressive disorders in general hospital,and to determine the cut points for depressions with different severities.Methods:Three hundred and nineteen help-seekers (n =319)con-sulting the outpatient department of psychiatry in a general hospital were collected continuously.Among them,80 were people without any psychiatric diagnosis,239 were patients with mental disorders.All of subjects were asked to fulfill PHQ-9,and were assessed by psychiatrist with Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.) and Hamilton rating scale for depression.M.I.N.I.was gold standard to diagnose depressive disorder,HRSD was used to assess the illness severity.Result:Factor analysis showed good structure validity of PHQ-9.46 patients were diagnosed depressive disorders.The area under the receiver operator characteristic analysis (ROC)of PHQ-9 was 0.94 (95%CI:0.91 -0.97)for depressive disorders.With 15 as the critical value for depression screening,the sen-sitivity was 0.83 and specificity was 0.90,respectively.By the result of HRSD as the standard to rank different lev-els of depression,the cut points of PHQ-9 for mild,moderate,and severe depression was 6,12,and 15.The consis-tency between results of PHQ-9 (with cut points of 6,12,15)and HRSD was moderate (with kappa =0.49).The kappa between results of PHQ-9 (with recommended cut points of 5,10,and 15)and HRSD was 0.46.Cronbach αcoefficient of PHQ-9 was 0.892.Conclusion:It suggests that PHQ-9 has satisfying reliability and validity,and is applicable for screening depression and assessment of its severity of outpatients in general hospital.The recommen-ded cut points of PHQ-9 are applicable to depressive outpatients in general hospital in China.

Severidade clínica e funcionalidade de pacientes hemiplégicos pós-AVC agudo atendidos nos serviços públicos de fisioterapia de Natal (RN) / Clinical severity and functionality of acute stroke patients attended at the physiotherapy public services of Natal, Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil

O acidente vascular cerebral (AVC) representa a terceira causa de morte em vários países do mundo e principal causa de incapacidade física. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar por meio de uma equipe multidisciplinar a severidade clínica e a independência funcional de pacientes hemiplégicos pós-AVC. Trata-se de estudo descritivo composto por quarenta hemiplégicos atendidos nos quatro maiores serviços públicos de fisioterapia da cidade de Natal (RN). Foram utilizados uma ficha de avaliação, a medida de independência funcional e o NIHSS. A amostra é predominantemente feminina(55 por cento), AVC isquêmico(90 por cento), hemisfério cerebral direito(52,5 por cento) e fator de risco hipertensão(90 por cento). A média da severidade clínica é 13,32±4,7 e da independência funcional, 54,6±17,15. Não houve diferença significativa entre as médias funcionais dos pacientes quanto ao lado do AVC (pvalor=0,66). Existiu relação significativa entre severidade clínica e independência funcional (r=-0,45 pvalor=0,003). A severidade clínica e a dependência funcional de pacientes com AVC, ao darem entrada na fisioterapia, são significativas e evidenciam a necessidade de, além do tratamento clássico, serem incentivadas condutas educacionais que visem à conscientização da população.

This article investigates the severity and functional independence of hemiplegics patients' post-acute stroke by means of a multidisciplinary clinical staff. It is a descriptive study composed by 40 hemiplegics attended at the four largest physiotherapy public services in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte State. The methods used were an evaluation form, Functional Independence Measure and NIHSS. The results showed a sample predominantly female (55 percent), stroke ischemic (90 percent), right brain hemisphere (52.5 percent) and Hypertension Risk Factor (90 percent). The mean of clinical severity and functional independence was 13.32±4.7 and 54.6±17.15 respectively. There was no significant difference between the mean of functionality about stroke side (pvalue = 0.66). There is a significant relation between clinical severity and functional independence (r = -0.45 pvalue=0.003). It can be concluded that the level of clinical severity and functional dependence of stroke patients that make use of public physiotherapy services is significant and show the necessity, beyond the classic treatment, to be encouraged preventive educational actions to improve knowledge of this population.

Correlation between Results of the Multiple Allergosorbent Test-Chemiluminescent Assay (MAST-CLA) and Clinical Severity of Chronic Urticaria / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Numerous in vivo and in vitro diagnostic techniques are used in diagnosis of allergy. The multiple allergosorbent test-chemiluminescent assay (MAST-CLA) can check serum allergen-specific IgE, and allows up to 35 allergens to be tested simultaneously. The study about the relationship between the result of MAST-CLA and the clinical severity of chronic urticaria is not plentiful in the worldwide literature. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether there was a robus correlation between abnormal immunologic findings on the MAST-CLA and clinical severity of disease in chronic urticaria patients. METHODS: The MAST-CLA (MAST Immunosystem, Inc., California, USA) was performed on serum samples from in-patients and out-patients with chronic urticaria between August 2005 and July 2006. Urticaria severity scores of patients and the result of MAST-CLA were analyzed. RESULTS: Almost all patients (98.7%) had a positive total IgE level (more than class level 2) and 56.1% had at least more than one allergen-specific IgE. The main positive allergens were D. farinae (40.1%), D. pteronyssynus (36.7%), Housedust (33.8%), Shrimp (30.7%), Egg white (22.4%), and Cow's milk (20.6%). A positive correlation was found between total IgE levels and the number of positive allergen-specific IgEs in the MAST-CLA. The correlation coefficient was 0.205 (p<0.05). The correlation of the total IgE levels and the number of allergen-specific IgEs with the clinical severity of urticaria (Urticaria severity scores) was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Total IgE levels and the number of allergen-specific IgEs could be a good predictor for each other, but both of them chould not be used to predict the clinical severity of chronic urticaria.

Correlation between serum tumor necrosis factor alpha levels and clinical severity of tuberculosis

This study verified the correlation between the serum levels of TNF alpha and different clinical forms of tuberculosis. We described a group of 24 patients presenting several clinical forms of tuberculosis and a control group of 13 healthy individuals. The levels of TNF alpha were measured by bioassay method. The levels of TNF-alpha had significant differences between the tuberculosis and control groups. The patients with abnormal chest X-Ray findings had higher TNF alpha levels (15328.48 ± 4602.19 pg/mL) when compared to patients with normal X-Rays (3353.18 ± 1495.29 pg/mL) (p<0.05). Patients that lost weight had higher TNF alpha levels (15468.54 ± 4580.54 pg/mL) than those that didn't loose weight (2904.98 ± 1367.89) (p<0.05). The levels of TNF alpha were higher in patients with a positive PPD skin test than in those with a negative PPD test (p<0.05). There was a positive correlation between patients' clinical severity and the serum levels of TNF alpha. In patients with successive measurements of TNF alpha, we observed that there was a drop in cytokine levels, and also a clinical improvement concomitantly. We concluded that there was a correlation between serum TNF alpha levels and chest X-Ray alterations, loss of weight, positive PPD skin test and clinical severity in patients with tuberculosis. There was evidence of a worse clinical outcome in patients with tuberculosis that presented higher TNF alpha serum levels.

Fatores moduladores da gravidade da evolução clínica da anemia falciforme / Modifiers factors of clinical severity in sickle cell anemia

A anemia falciforme é considerada uma doença heterogênea com diferentes graus de gravidade clínica apesar de ser causada pela mutação de um único nucleotídeo (Glu6Val) no gene da globina b. A total compreensão desta doença permitirá a descoberta de terapias contra alvos fisiopatológicos específicos. Este artigo revisa alguns dos fatores associados à modulação do fenótipo da anemia falciforme, incluindo fatores eritrocitários e fatores extrínsecos aos eritrócitos.

Sickle cell anemia is a heterogeneous disorder with different degrees of clinical severity despite of being caused by a single base pair mutation (Glu6Val) of the ß-globin gene. Understanding this disease will allow us to discover therapies of specific pathophysiological targets. This article reviews some of the factors that can modulate the phenotype of sickle cell anemia, including red blood cell factors and factors extrinsic to the red blood cells.

Upper gastrointestinal endoscopic features and predictable factors for clinical severity in the patients with tsutsugamushi disease / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Scrub typhus is a febrile zoonosis resulting from infection with Orientia tsutsugamushi. Attentions for tsutsugamushi disease are growing about its ecologic, epidemiologic and clinical characteristics according to increasing patients and these studies were helpful to understand the pathophysiology and many clinical features of tsutsugamushi disease. Although scrub typhus has been treated successfully with the introduction of effective antibiotics, life-threatening serious complications including gastrointestinal bleeding were still remained. The authors here intended to describe different endoscopic characteristics of the gastrointestinal manifestation of tsutsugamushi disease, and then to evaluate the clinical significance of upper gastrointestinal endoscopic feature and clinical severity index (CSI) as the predictable factors for clinical severity of tsutsugamushi disease. METHODS: One hundred and forty two patients who were diagnosed as tsutsugamushi disease at Masan-Samsung Hospital from January 2001 to December 2002 were enrolled. Patients were recommended to be taken upper gastrointestinal endoscopy irrespective of abdominal symptoms and 40 patients were classified into 5 degrees by endoscopic findings. All patients were classified by CSI based on clinical symptoms and laboratory findings. Correlations among CSI, hospital stay, and endoscopic grade were analyzed. RESULTS: The older patients (p=0.0018) and the patients with lower serum hemoglobin (p=0.0049), lower serum albumin (p<0.0001), higher serum bilirubin (p=0.0109), higher BUN (p<0.0001) and creatinine (p=0.0223), and longer activated prothrombin time (p=0.0193) had significantly longer hospital stay. The patients with longer hospital stay had significantly severe esophagogastroduodenoscopic (EGD) findings (p=0.0017). Patients with higher CSI score had significantly longer hospital stay (p=0.0069) and more severe EGD finding (p=0.0062). CONCLUSIONS: There were significant correlations between CSI, hospital stay, and EGD grade in this study. CSI and endoscopic feature may be useful as the predictable factors for clinical severity in tsutsugamushi disease.

The Correlation of Electrodiagnostic Severity, Severity of Symptom, Functional Status, and Clinical Severity in Patients with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the correlation of electrodiagnostic severity, severity of symptom, and clinical severity in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). METHOD: The sixty eight patients with documented CTS in outpatient clinic from January, 2000 to June, 2001 were included (9 male, 59 female, averaged age 50.0+/-8.8 years). We evaluated the severity of symptom, functional status of ADL with the Levine' questionnaire, and clinical severity with 3 kinds of examination (thenar atrophy, sensory change, and Phalen's test). The electrodiagnostic severity was classified according to Stevens' classification and compared with the severity of symptom, functional status, and clinical severity. RESULTS: The electrodiagnostic severity was classified into three degrees. Five patients (7.4%) were classified into mild degree, 32 patients (47.1%) moderate degree, 31 patients (45.6%) severe degree. The average of severity of symptom scores were 28.4+/-8.5, 31.8+/-7.4, and 31.8+/-9.1 respectively, and there was no significant difference (p>0.05) between the groups. Functional status scales were 14.2+/-6.7, 15.6+/-5.4 and 18.9+/-7.0 respectively and no significant difference (p=0.07) but there was a tendency that the severer was electrodiagnostic severity, the more decreased functional status scale. The clinical severity showed a significant correlation with the electrodiagnostic severity (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The electrodiagnostic severity has a significant correlation with the clinical severity, but not with the severity of symptom, the functional status in CTS.

The Clinical Characteristics and Bronchoalveolar Lavage Cellularity in Bronchiolitis Obliterans / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the profile of bronchoalveolar lavage cell differentials and to compare the cell differentials between 3 different post-infectious BO (bronchiolitis obliterans)(Adenovirus BO, Mycoplasma BO, Measles BO) who showed a different clinical severity of illness. METHODS: Using a bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) with flexible bronchoscopy procedure, this study investigated the cellular profiles of BAL fluid in children with BO caused by adenovirus (adenovirus BO, n=8), Mycoplasma(Mycoplasma BO, n=6) and measles (measles BO, n=6). These results were compared with clinical severity of illness score. Comparisons between all the groups were first made using the Kruskal-Wallis test. In case of significant difference, individual groups were compared by using the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: The total cell number was higher in the adenovirus BO group than the Mycoplasma BO or the measles BO group, but the difference did not reach statistical significance. Neutrophil percentage was higher in the adenovirus BO group [72.5% (39.3-95.5); P<0.05], with no difference found between the Mycoplasma BO group [36.5%(8.8-60.4)] and the measles BO group [29.5%(20.8-58.1)]. The percentage of macrophages was lower in the adenovirus BO group [18%(4.5-42.0); P<0.05] than in Mycoplasma BO group [57.0%(38.5-76.0)] or measles BO group [54.5%(39.8-74.3)] in conjunction with a marked increase in the percentage of neutrophils. The high severity score children (65.0%, P<0.05) showed higher % nerutrophils than those of the low severity score children (29.0%). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that clinical severity of BO is associated with neutrophil proportion and suggest that neutrophils are playing an important role in the pathogenesis of the post infectious BO.

Clinical Significance of Expression of Plasminogen Activatiors in Aural Cholesteatoma / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Bone destruction is characteristic of aural cholesteatoma. Plasminogen activator (PA), one of serine proteases, acts as the specific trigger in a proteolytic cascade, which may play a certain role in cholesteatomatous destruction. We investigated the relationship between the degree of PA expression and clinical severity of cholesteatoma. MAERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty six gerbilline cholesteatomas and 22 human cholesteatoma tissues were used. Immunohistochemical stainings were performed using antibodies against urokinase type-PA (u-PA) and tissue type-PA (t-PA), respectively. The degrees of expressions of both PAs were scored by a pathologist using a four step grading system of one negative to three positives, and were also objectively measured by an image analysis program using the black and white densitometry. Clinical stages in animal cholesteatoma and the presence of preoperative otorrhea, ossicular destruction, bone destroying complications, type and extent of cholesteatoma in a human group were used as clinical parameters in determing the disease severity. RESULTS: PA immunoexpressions were more intense in cholesteatoma than in normal skin, especially in suprabasal layer of the epithelium. The intensities of PA expression also increased as the stage of cholesteatoma became more advanced in an animal model. However, in human cholesteatoma, they didn't show any differences between the groups according to disease severity, although there was a difference of PA expression between the pars tensa and flaccida type cholesteatomas. CONCLUSION: PA may play a role in the pathogenesis, and possibly progression, of aural cholesteatoma.

Clinical Significance of Expression of Epidermal Growth Factor, Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-alpha in Aural Cholesteatoma / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Aural cholesteatoma is characterized by hyperproliferation of keratinizing squamous epithelium in the middle ear cleft. Although the exact mechanism of bone destruction in aural cholesteatoma is still not clear, it was recently reported that a variety of cytokines, including epidermal growth factor (EGF), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) were over-expressed in aural cholesteatoma. The aim of this study is to demonstrate that there is over-expression of EGF, EGFR, and TGF-alpha in cholesteatoma and to evaluate the relationships between their expressions and clinical severity of the disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Expressions of EGF, EGFR, TGF-alpha were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining of cholesteatoma tissue and normal external auditory canal skin. The degree of expression were measured either by subjective observation and semi-quantitative image analysis. Both subjective scores and density scores were compared with clinical variables, such as the presence of preoperative otorrhea, complication, ossicular destruction, and the stage of cholesteatoma. RESULTS: The expression of EGF and TGF-alpha were more increased, particularly in the suprabasal layer of cholesteatoma epithelium than the normal skin. When the ossicular destruction and more extended cholesteatomas were present, the expressions if EGF and TGF-alpha were increased in the cholesteatoma tissues. CONCLUSION: The degree of expression of EGF and TGF-alpha in cholesteatoma may represent the clinical severity of the disease.

Analysis of the Results of the Treatment According to the Change of Neurological Status in Hypertensive Putaminal Hemorrhage

One hundred and twenty four patients with hypertensive putaminal hemorrhage were analyzed by time course. All patients were brought to the emergency room within 3 hours after the ictus. Seventy three patients were conservatively treated and 51 patients operatively. The neurologic condition of each patient was evaluated by means of the Glasgow coma scale(GCS) score every 1 hour. CT scan of the brain of these patients were taken within 6 hours after the ictus. Clinical severity of the putaminal hemorrhage was graded as rapid deterioration, slow deterioration, and non deterioration by the CT and neurological status. A precise time course analysis of putaminal hemorrhage were compared with the conservative group and surgical group in a 7 hospital day period. Outcome was assessed 6 months later based on the degree of functional recovery(DOFR). The overall mortality was 16.1% and surgical mortality was 13.7%. Surgical treatment for the rapidly deteriorating patients appears to be beneficial when compared with the slowly deteriorating patients. Outcome of the non deteriorating patients didn't show any differences in the quality of life regardless of treatment modality.