A preliminary study on the effects of fecal microbiota transplantation on the intestinal microecology of patients with severe pneumonia during the convalescence period / 中华危重病急救医学

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the effects of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) on intestinal microbiome and organism in patients with severe pneumonia during the convalescence period.@*METHODS@#A prospective non-randomized controlled study was conducted. From December 2021 to May 2022, patients with severe pneumonia during the convalescence period who received FMT (FMT group) and patients with severe pneumonia during the convalescence period who did not receive FMT (non-FMT group) admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University were enrolled. The differences of clinical indicators, gastrointestinal function and fecal traits between the two groups were compared 1 day before and 10 days after enrollment. The 16S rDNA gene sequencing technology was used to analyze the changes of intestinal flora diversity and different species in patients with FMT before and after enrollment, and metabolic pathways were analyzed and predicted by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes database (KEGG). Pearson correlation method was used to analyze the correlation between intestinal flora and clinical indicators in FMT group.@*RESULTS@#The level of triacylglycerol (TG) in FMT group was significantly decreased at 10 days after enrollment compared with before enrollment [mmol/L: 0.94 (0.71, 1.40) vs. 1.47 (0.78, 1.86), P < 0.05]. The level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in non-FMT group was significantly decreased at 10 days after enrollment compared with before enrollment (mmol/L: 0.68±0.27 vs. 0.80±0.31, P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in other clinical indexes, gastrointestinal function or fecal character scores between the two groups. Diversity analysis showed that the α diversity indexes of intestinal flora in FMT group at 10 days after enrollment were significantly higher than those in non-FMT group, and β diversity was also significantly different from that in non-FMT group. Differential species analysis showed that the relative abundance of Proteobacteria at the level of intestinal flora in FMT group at 10 days after enrollment was significantly lower than that in non-FMT group [8.554% (5.977%, 12.159%) vs. 19.285% (8.054%, 33.207%), P < 0.05], while the relative abundance of Fusobacteria was significantly higher than that in non-FMT group [6.801% (1.373%, 20.586%) vs. 0.003% (0%, 9.324%), P < 0.05], and the relative abundance of Butyricimonas, Fusobacterium and Bifidobacterium at the genus level of the intestinal flora was significantly higher than that in non-FMT group [Butyricimonas: 1.634% (0.813%, 2.387%) vs. 0% (0%, 0.061%), Fusobacterium: 6.801% (1.373%, 20.586%) vs. 0.002% (0%, 9.324%), Bifidobacterium: 0.037% (0%, 0.153%) vs. 0% (0%, 0%), all P < 0.05]. KEGG metabolic pathway analysis showed that the intestinal flora of FMT group was changed in bisphenol degradation, mineral absorption, phosphonate and phosphinate metabolism, cardiac muscle contraction, Parkinson disease and other metabolic pathways and diseases. Correlation analysis showed that Actinobacteria and prealbumin (PA) in intestinal flora of FMT group were significantly positively correlated (r = 0.53, P = 0.043), Bacteroidetes was positively correlated with blood urea nitrogen (BUN; r = 0.56, P = 0.029) and complement C3 (r = 0.57, P = 0.027), Firmicutes was positively correlated with BUN (r = 0.56, P = 0.029) and complement C3 (r = 0.57, P = 0.027), Fusobacteria was significantly positively correlated with immunoglobulin M (IgM; r = 0.71, P = 0.003), Proteobacteria was significantly positively correlated with procalcitonin (PCT; r = 0.63, P = 0.012) and complement C4 (r = 0.56, P = 0.030).@*CONCLUSIONS@#FMT can reduce TG level, reconstruct intestinal microecological structure, change body metabolism and function, and alleviate inflammatory response by reducing the relative abundance of harmful bacteria in patients with severe pneumonia during the convalescence period.

Effects of Chinese Medicine on Symptoms, Syndrome Evolution, and Lung Inflammation Absorption in COVID-19 Convalescent Patients during 84-Day Follow-up after Hospital Discharge: A Prospective Cohort and Nested Case-Control Study / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the changes of symptoms, Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome, and lung inflammation absorption during convalescence in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who had not totally recovered after hospital discharge and whether CM could promote the improvement process.@*METHODS@#This study was designed as a prospective cohort and nested case-control study. A total of 96 eligible patients with COVID-19 in convalescence were enrolled from Beijing Youan Hospital and Beijing Huimin Hospital and followed up from the hospital discharged day. Patients were divided into the CM (64 cases) and the control groups (32 cases) based on the treatment with or without CM and followed up at 14, 28, 56, and 84 days after discharge. In the CM group, patients received the 28-day CM treatment according to two types of CM syndrome. Improvements in clinical symptoms, CM syndrome, and absorption of lung inflammation were observed.@*RESULTS@#All the 96 patients completed the 84-day follow-up from January 21 to March 28, 2020. By the 84th day of follow-up, respiratory symptoms were less than 5%. There was no significant difference in the improvement rates of symptoms, including fatigue, sputum, cough, dry throat, thirst, and upset, between the two groups (P>0.05). Totally 82 patients (85.42%) showed complete lung inflammation absorption at the 84-day follow-up. On day 14, the CM group had a significantly higher absorption rate than the control group (P<0.05) and the relative risk of absorption for CM vs. control group was 3.029 (95% confidence interval: 1.026-8.940). The proportions of CM syndrome types changed with time prolonging: the proportion of the pathogen residue syndrome gradually decreased, and the proportion of both qi and yin deficiency syndrome gradually increased.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Patients with COVID-19 in convalescence had symptoms and lung inflammation after hospital discharge and recovered with time prolonging. CM could improve lung inflammation for early recovery. The types of CM syndrome can be transformed with time prolonging. (Registration No. ChiCTR2000029430).

Pronóstico Perinatal en embarazadas de tercer trimestre recuperadas de infección por COVID-19 / Perinatal Prognosis in third trimester pregnant women recovered from COVID-19 infection

INTRODUCCIÓN Y OBJETIVOS: COVID-19 es una patología producida por el virus RNA SARS-CoV-2, declarada pandemia por la OMS en marzo de 2020. La literatura mundial describe mayor incidencia de parto prematuro y cesáreas en pacientes infectadas por COVID-19 principalmente de origen iatrogénico, sin embargo, existen escasos datos del pronóstico del embarazo al decidir diferir el parto hasta después del período infeccioso del virus. Este trabajo reporta un grupo de embarazadas diagnosticadas con COVID-19 en tercer trimestre donde se decidió no interrumpir el embarazo y diferir su parto hasta recuperación de la patología. MÉTODOS: Estudio observacional retrospectivo que analiza resultados materno-perinatales en 9 casos de mujeres infectadas por COVID, diagnosticadas posterior a las 33 semanas y cuyo parto se verificó después de recuperadas del COVID. RESULTADOS: Se observó un 77% de pacientes sintomáticas, 77% requirieron hospitalización, 33% por COVID, todas ingresaron a unidad de paciente crítico, sólo una requirió ventilación mecánica no invasiva. Dos cursaron con cetoacidosis normo-glicémica y dos con neumonía por COVID-19. Un 88% resultó en parto de término, sólo una paciente tuvo parto prematuro de causa obstétrica. La vía de parto fue un 67% vaginal y 33% por cesárea, todas por indicación obstétrica. La latencia al parto promedio fue de 17.3 días. Los puntajes de Apgar fueron todos mayor a 7 al minuto y 5 minutos. CONCLUSIÓN: Los resultados de esta serie sugieren que, en casos seleccionados, los partos posteriores al período infeccioso del COVID se asocian a buenos resultados materno-perinatales, sin embargo, resulta importante aumentar la casuística.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: COVID-19 is a pathology produced by the RNA virus SARS-CoV-2, declared a pandemic by the WHO in March of 2020. The world literature describes more preterm birth and caesarean section in pregnant women infected by COVID-19, principally by medical indication, but it has not been described in depth what happens when we differ delivery after the infectious period. This report reviews a subgroup of patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 in the third trimester and decided to differ birth until they recovered from the disease. METHODS: Retrospective observational study that analyzes maternal and perinatal outcome of 9 women who were diagnosed with COVID-19 after the 33 weeks of pregnancy, decided to differ delivery and had their birth recovered from the disease. RESULTS: We observed 77% of patients symptomatic, 77% required hospitalization, 33% because of COVID, all admited to critical patient care, only one required non invasive mechanical ventilation. 2 patients suffered normoglycemic ketoacidosis, 2 had COVID-19 pneumonia. An 88% resulted in term birth, only 1 was prematurely interrupted by obstetric cause. 66% patients had vaginal delivery and 33.3% caesarean section, all by obstetric cause. The average latency to birth was 17.3 days. Apgar scores were all more than 7 at minute 1 and 5. CONCLUSION: The results of this series suggest that in selected cases where the clinical characteristics allow it, to differ interruption of pregnancy until after the infectious period can associate to good outcomes of maternal and neonatal morbimortality, however, it's fundamental to continue research.

Infusion of convalescent plasma is associated with clinical improvement in critically ill patients with Covid-19: a pilot study

ABSTRACT Background: The ideal treatment of coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 has yet to be defined, but convalescent plasma (CoPla) has been successfully employed. Objective: The objective of the study was to study the safety and outcomes of the administration of CoPla to individuals with severe COVID-19 in an academic medical center. Methods: Ten patients were prospectively treated with plasma from COVID-19 convalescent donors. Results: Over 8 days, the sequential organ failure assessment score dropped significantly in all patients, from 3 to 1.5 (p = 0.014); the Kirby index (PaO2/FiO2) score increased from 124 to 255, (p < 0.0001), body temperature decreased significantly from 38.1 to 36.9°C (p = 0.0058), and ferritin levels also dropped significantly from 1736.6 to 1061.8 ng/ml (p = 0.0001). Chest X-rays improved in 7/10 cases and in 6/10, computerized tomography scans also revealed improvement of the lung injury. Decreases in C-reactive protein and D-dimer levels were also observed. Three of five patients on mechanical ventilation support could be extubated, nine were transferred to conventional hospital floors, and six were sent home; two patients died. The administration of CoPla had no side effects and the 24-day overall survival was 77%. Conclusions: Although other treatments were also administered to the patients and as a result data are difficult to interpret, it seems that the addition of CoPla improved pulmonary function.

COVID-19: plasma de convaleciente en la sala de Clínica Médica del Hospital Gral. de Agudos "Dr. Cosme Argerich" en Buenos Aires / Convalescent plasma in Internal Medicine Ward from Hospital Argerich in Buenos Aires

Se presentan los resultados de seguridad y evolución clínica de 87 pacientes que recibieron plasma de convaleciente en la sala de Clínica Médica del Hospital Argerich en Buenos Aires. Tres pacientes tuvieron sobrecarga de volumen. Hubo 33 pases a Terapia Intensiva (37,9%) y 21 casos requirieron asistencia respiratoria mecánica (24,1%). Fallecieron 18 pacientes (20,7%). Tres de ellos por limitación del esfuerzo terapéutico y 15 en Terapia Intensiva. La mortalidad en Terapia Intensiva fue del 45,4%. Hubo solo 10 casos que recibieron plasma dentro de las 72 horas del comienzo de síntomas: de ellos, 1 caso de asistencia respiratoria y 1 fallecido; entre 72 horas y una semana recibieron plasma 25 casos con 26,9% de asistencia respiratoria y 20% de mortalidad, y de los 50 pacientes que recibieron mas allá de la primera semana, 25,4% requirieron de asistencia respiratoria y 24% fallecieron. Nuestra serie no pudo demostrar efecto beneficioso en la administración temprana de plasma y no fue diseñada para medir eficacia. El procedimiento fue bien tolerado en la gran mayoría de los pacientes

We present here the results of safety and clinical outcome of 87 patients that received convalescent plasma transfusion in the internal medicine ward of Hospital Argerich in Buenos Aires. Three patients developed transfusion-associated circulatory overload. Thirty-three patients were admitted to Intensive Care Unit (37,9%) and 21 cases required mechanical ventilation. Eighteen patients died (20,7%), 3 of them due to limitation of therapeutic effort and 15 in ICU. The mortality in ICU was 45,4%. Ten patients received plasma within 72 hs from the onset of symptoms. Of them, 1 case required mechanical ventilation and died. Twenty-five patients received plasma between 4 and 7 days from onset of symptoms, with a mortality rate of 20% and 26,9% of mechanical ventilation. Fifty patients received plasma past the 7 days from onset of symptoms, with a mortality rate of 24% and 25,4% of mechanical ventilation. Our series could not prove positive effects in the early administration of plasma and it was not designed to measure effectiveness. The procedure was well tolerated by most of the patients

Hormonas sexuales en la enfermedad crítica / Sexual hormones in critical disease

INTRODUCCIÓN. En el paciente crítico ha existido un conglomerado de situaciones dadas por alteración de las hormonas acorde al comportamiento del eje hipotalámi-co-hipofisario- gonadal, entender su rol es fundamental. OBJETIVO. Describir las alteraciones de las hormonas sexuales en el paciente críticamente enfermo desde un enfoque fisiológico y clínico. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS. Estudio observacional, de revisión bibliográfica y análisis sistemático de 84 artículos científicos y selección de muestra de 27 en MedLine, The Cochrane Library Plus, LILACS y Web of Science; en español e inglés y variables: hormonas esteroides gonadales, enfermedad crítica, endocrinología, estrés, gónadas y disfunción, periodo 1998-2017. CONCLUSIÓN. Las alteraciones detectadas fueron un mecanismo para la producción de hormonas esteroideas hacia la síntesis predominante de cortisol y soportar el alto estrés meta-bólico de los pacientes. Las citocinas pro inflamatorias fueron importantes en éstos cambios. La polifarmacia fue un factor adicional poco ponderado de la alteración endocrina sexual.

INTRODUCTION. In the critical patient there has been a conglomerate of situations given by alteration of the hormones according to the behavior of the hypothalamic-pi-tuitary-gonadal axis, understanding their role is fundamental. OBJECTIVE. Describe the alterations of sex hormones in the critically ill patient from a physiological and clinical approach.MATERIALS AND METHODS.Observational, literature review and systematic analysis of 84 scientific articles and sample selection of 27 in MedLine, The Cochrane Library Plus, LILACS and Web of Science; in Spanish and English and variables: gonadal steroid hormones, critical illness, endocrinology, stress, gonads and dysfunction, period 1998-2017. CONCLUSION. The alterations detected were a mechanism for the production of steroid hormones towards the predominant syn-thesis of cortisol and withstand the high metabolic stress of the patients. Pro inflam-matory cytokines were important in these changes. Polypharmacy was an additional unweighted factor of sexual endocrine disruption.

Vivências e percepções de familiares sobre a hospitalização da criança em unidade pediátrica / Experience and perception of family members on child's hospitalization in pediatric unit Vivencias e impresiones de familiares sobre la hospitalización del niño en unidad pediátrica / Experiencia y percepción de los miembros de la familia sobre la hospitalización del niño en la unidad pediátrica. Experiencias e impresiones de miembros de la familia sobre la hospitalización del niño en una unidad pediátrica.

"\"\\\"[{\\\\\\\"text\\\\\\\": \\\\\\\"Objetivo: identificar as percepções vivenciadas por familiares acompanhantes de crianças durante a\\\\\\\\r\\\\\\\\nhospitalização. Método: pesquisa exploratória, qualitativa, realizada em um setor pediátrico no interior de Mato\\\\\\\\r\\\\\\\\nGrosso, de maio a junho de 2015. Os dados foram obtidos por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas com os\\\\\\\\r\\\\\\\\nfamiliares de crianças hospitalizadas e submetidos à análise temática. Resultados: as mães estavam mais presentes como acompanhantes durante a hospitalização e que, em alguns casos, aquele foi o primeiro contato com o setor de pediatria. A estrutura física foi considerada satisfatória. Alguns dos sentimentos e atitudes expressados foram desespero, medo, impotência/incapacidade, saudade e esperançaConsiderações finais: o estudo apontou a necessidade de acolhimento dos familiares durante a internação da criança por parte de toda a equipe de saúde, incluindo-os no processo de tratamento, atendendo suas necessidades físicas e psicológicas, contribuindo, desse modo, para a melhoria da assistência à criança.\\\\\\\", \\\\\\\"_i\\\\\\\": \\\\\\\"pt\\\\\\\"}, {\\\\\\\"text\\\\\\\": \\\\\\\"Aim: to identify the perceptions experienced by accompanying relatives of children during hospitalization. Method: exploratory, qualitative research carried out in a pediatric sector in the interior of Mato Grosso from May to June 2015. Data were obtained through semi-structured interviews with the relatives of hospitalized children and submitted to thematic analysis. Results: the mothers were more present as companions during the hospitalization and, in some cases, was the first contact with the pediatrics sector. The physical structure was considered satisfactory. Some of the feelings and expressed attitudes were despair, fear, impotence/ helplessness, longing, and hope. Final considerations: the study pointed out the need of reception of family members by the entire health team during the hospitalization of the child, including them in the treatment process, attending to their physical and psychological needs, thus contributing to the improvement of child care.\\\\\\\", \\\\\\\"_i\\\\\\\": \\\\\\\"en\\\\\\\"}, {\\\\\\\"text\\\\\\\": \\\\\\\"Objetivo: identificar las impresiones vividas por familiares acompañantes de niños durante la hospitalización. Método: investigación exploratoria, cualitativa, realizada en un sector pediátrico en el interior de Mato Grosso, de mayo a junio de 2015. Los datos fueron recolectados por medio de entrevistas semiestructuradas con los familiares de niños hospitalizados y sometidos al análisis temático. Resultados: las madres estaban más presentes como acompañantes durante la hospitalización y, en algunos casos, ese fue el primer contacto con el sector de pediatría. La estructura física fue considerada satisfactoria. Algunos de los sentimientos y actitudes expresados fueron desesperación, miedo, impotencia / incapacidad, nostalgia y esperanza. Consideraciones finales: el estudio destacó la necesidad de la acogida de los familiares durante la internación del niño por parte de todo el equipo de salud, incluyéndolos en el proceso de tratamiento, atendiendo sus necesidades físicas y psicológicas, contribuyendo así para la mejora de la asistencia al niño.\\\\\\\", \\\\\\\"_i\\\\\\\": \\\\\\\"es\\\\\\\"}]\\\"\""

Lack of Current Recommendations for Resuming Sexual Activity Following Spinal Surgery

Patients are faced with many questions surrounding the after effects of the various surgical procedures and their ability to return to preoperative activities. While patients often question whether surgery would provide alleviation of pain, weakness, and instability, they often have additional questions about sexual activity during their convalescence that are not always addressed. Although the literature shows postsurgical improvement in sexual activity in association with improved low back pain, reports vaguely address the variability in sexual activity recommendations based on anatomic location and type of spinal surgery. We conducted a PubMed search of the English language from 1990 to 2018 with the following keywords: sexual activity, postoperative, spinal fusion, spinal decompression, functional outcomes, laminectomy, rehabilitation, biomechanics, lumbar disc surgery, metabolic energy expenditure, coital position, and Oswestry Disability Index. Additional studies are needed that survey both patients and spine surgeons to examine current recommendations and to help formulate future guidelines.

Chinese parents' attitudes toward and their satisfaction with circumcision for 6－14 years old children / 中华男科学杂志

Objective@#To investigate the attitudes of the parents toward circumcision for 6－14 years old children and their satisfaction with the results.@*METHODS@#We performed circumcision in the Department of Urology of Zhongda Hospital for 220 children aged 6－14 years from 220 families between January 2010 and August 2016, including 70 cases of traditional and 150 cases of Shang Ring circumcision. We conducted telephone follow-ups among the parents of the patients concerning the decision-maker, reasons and regret for circumcision, acceptance of a second operation, source of information, satisfaction with surgical results, and reasons for dissatisfaction.@*RESULTS@#Most decisions for circumcision were made by the father, chiefly for health and hygiene. Their main sources of information on circumcision were Internet and friends. The parents of 29 patients were dissatisfied for long recovery or peri- and post-operative pain, including 19 cases (27.1%， 19/70) of traditional and 10 cases (6.7%， 10/150) of Shang Ring circumcision, with statistically significant differences between the two groups (P <0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Most parents were satisfied with circumcision, and the main reasons for dissatisfaction were long recovery and pain. The rate of satisfaction with Shang Ring circumcision was higher than that with traditional circumcision. Shang Ring circumcision is recommended for children aged 6－14 years old.

Era of enhanced recovery after surgery and robotic gastric cancer surgery / 中华胃肠外科杂志

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) has been rapidly developing by combining several techniques with evidence-based adjustments, including preoperative education, preoperative carbohydrate loading, epidural or regional anesthesia, early initiation of enteral nutrition, ambulation and multi-modal pain management. The core part of ERAS is to reduce and reverse surgical stress and therefore greatly improve clinical outcome. Under the guidance of ERAS, perioperative management of robotic gastric cancer operation should follow the basic principles of ERAS and clinical pathway to maximize the advantages of the robotic surgery. ERAS protocol is safe and feasible for patients undergoing robotic radical gastrectomy and it can reduce surgical stress, shorten hospital stay, improve quality of life and does not increase complications, whose mechanism may be associated with the reduction of inflammation and insulin resistance, the decrease of resting energy exposure, and the protection of mitochondria function. It is worth emphasizing that it is very important to fully understand the changes of pathophysiology during perioperative period, to strictly implement the ERAS pathway based on optimized evidence-based medicine, to cooperate closely with the multidisciplinary team, to observe and manage the postoperative complications dynamically by systemic classification. The improvement of ERAS program on the outcome of patients should be summarized regularly and the new interventional strategies should be evaluated further according to the international standard.

Application of clockwise modularized lymphadenectomy in laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the feasibility and efficacy of clockwise modularized lymphadenectomy in laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical data of 19 cases who underwent the laparoscopic clockwise modularized lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer (clockwise group) from July 2016 to September 2016 were analyzed retrospectively. The clockwise modularized lymphadenectomy included the fixed operative order, detailed procedure and requirement of lymphadenectomy, which mainly reflected in assisting the exposure of operative field and dissection of lymph nodes through suspending the liver and banding the greater omentum, as well as proposing the requirements and attentions for the dissections of each station of lymph nodes to facilitate the quality control of lymphadenectomy. The operative time, intraoperative complications, intraoperative estimate blood loss, number of total harvested lymph nodes, morbidity and postoperative recovery, were compared with the data of another 19 cases who received traditional lymphadenectomy from January 2016 to June 2016 (control group).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The baseline data were comparable between two groups. All the patients were performed successfully by laparoscopy without conversion and intraoperative complications. The operative time, intraoperative estimated blood loss and number of total harvested lymph node were (278.4±29.9) min, (91.1±41.6) ml and 38.2±15.1 in clockwise group, and were (296.7±30.3) min, (102.2±32.2) ml and 37.0±12.3 in control group without significant differences (all P>0.05). However, the mean number of retrieved No.11p lymph nodes was 2.2±1.8 in clockwise group, which was significantly higher than that in control group (0.8±1.0) (P=0.013). Four patients in each group suffered from pulmonary infections, who were cured by conservative therapies. There was no anastomotic leakage, intraperitoneal hemorrhage, intraperitoneal infection or intestinal obstruction in each group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The clockwise modularized lymphadenectomy can contribute to the facilitation of the retraction and exposure, decrease of the surgical duration and intraoperative blood loss, and radicalization of lymph node dissection, especially for the lymph nodes dissection around the celiac trunk.</p>

Clinical Features, Natural History, and Complications of Chronic Pancreatitis / 대한췌담도학회지

Chronic pancreatitis is a debilitating disease characterized by abdominal pain, exocrine insufficiency, and diabetes mellitus and has had great social, economic, and psychological impacts. Traditional definition of chronic pancreatitis has been based on irreversible histological findings such as self-sustaining chronic inflammation, fibrosis, and eventual destruction of ductal, exocrine, and endocrine tissues. In contrast, the traditional characteristics of acute pancreatitis have been thought as a complete recovery of pancreatic function and morphology during the convalescence period. Acute and chronic pancreatitis have been considered separated disease entities. However, the current idea regarding the natural course of pancreatitis is that acute pancreatitis can progress to the intermediate step of recurrent acute pancreatitis, and finally to chronic pancreatitis. This evolution can be characterized by a sequence of necrotic and fibrotic events, or described by sentinel acute pancreatitis event (SAPE) hypothesis. Therefore, chronic pancreatitis is better defined as a progressive inflammatory and fibrotic disease of the pancreas with clinical features of abdominal pain, malnutrition, diabetes mellitus and imaging features of pancreatic parenchymal/ductal calcifications. The complications of chronic pancreatitis include pseudocyst, pseudoaneurysm, fistula, biliary stricture, and duodenal stricture. This review describes the progression from acute to chronic pancreatitis, the mechanisms and nature of abdominal pain, steatorrhea, pancreatogenic diabetes mellitus, pseudocyst, pseudoaneurysm, and biliary stricture associated with chronic pancreatitis.

Factors Influencing Nurse Turnover Intention of Senior Convalescence Hospitals in the Metropolitan Area / 한국직업건강간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was a descriptive research to investigate the factors influencing nurses' turnover intention of Senior Convalescence hospitals in the metropolitan area. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey design was used. A questionnaire was distributed to the nurses in Senior Convalescence hospitals. The data of 210 nurses were analyzed using the descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression. RESULTS: Turnover intention was significantly correlated with professionalism, job involvement, organizational commitment, job stress, practice environment. Organizational commitment, job stress, age, and practice environment were identified as factors influencing turnover intention. These factors explained 53.3% of variance of turnover intention. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that strategies to decrease turnover intention should be discussed and continued to develop ways to establish organizational commitment, to lower job stress levels and to improve practice environment of nursing work. And further study is needed to identify the key mechanism in nurses' turnover intention of Senior Convalescence hospitals.

Influência do cuidador informal na reabilitação do idoso em pós-operatório de fratura de fêmur proximal / Influencia del cuidador informal en la rehabilitación de las personas mayores en postoperatorio de la fractura del fémur proximal / The influence of informal caregivers on the rehabilitation of the elderly in the postoperative period of proximal femoral fracture

RESUMO Objetivo Verificar a influência do cuidador informal na independência funcional de idosos no pós-operatório de fratura de fêmur proximal por quedas. Método Revisão integrativa, cujo corpus de análise reuniu 23 artigos, entre 2002 e 2012, das bases de dados Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde, Scientific Electronic Library Online, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, US National Library of Medicine e Scopus. Resultados Predominaram estudos com autoria de chineses e enfermeiros. A análise dos estudos evidenciou que as quedas seguidas por fraturas promovem a dependência de idosos e, consequentemente, a sobrecarga aos cuidadores, demonstrando o binômio idoso dependente-cuidador necessitar de apoio no processo de reabilitação. Conclusões Os cuidadores informais ainda precisam ser inseridos no planejamento e capacitados para o cuidado pelos profissionais da saúde, uma vez que influenciam positivamente a independência funcional no pós-operatório.

RESUMEN Objetivo Verificar la influencia del cuidador informal en la independencia funcional de ancianos en postoperatorio de fractura proximal de fémur por caídas. Método Revisión integradora, cuyo análisis se reunieron 23 artículos, entre 2002 y 2012, en las bases de datos Literatura Latinoamericana y del Caribe en Ciencias de la Salud, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, US National Library of Medicine e Scopus. Resultados Predominaron estudios con autores chinos y enfermeros. El análisis de los estudios evidenció que las caídas que producen fracturas promueven la dependencia de ancianos y, consecuentemente, sobrecarga en los cuidadores, demostrando la dupla anciano dependiente-cuidador necesidad de apoyo en el proceso de rehabilitación. Conclusiones Los cuidadores informales necesitan inserción en la planificación, además de capacitación para cuidados por parte de profesionales de salud, toda vez que influyen positivamente en la independencia funcional durante el postoperatorio.

ABSTRACT Objective To analyze the influence of informal caregivers on the functional independence of older adults in the postoperative period of proximal femoral fracture due to falls. Method It is an integrative review of a corpus for analysis that gathered 23 articles, between 2002 and 2012, from databases "Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde" (Latin-American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature in Health Sciences), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, US National Library of Medicine and Scopus. Results There was a predominance of studies by Chinese authors and nurses. The analysis of the studies evidenced that falls followed by fractures lead to dependence of older adults and, consequently, an overload to caregivers. Moreover, older adults and caregivers showed a need for support in the rehabilitation process. Conclusions Informal caregivers still need to be included in care planning and to be qualified for such care by health professionals, since they positively influence functional independence in the postoperative period.

Stevens–Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis Associated with Acetaminophen Use during Viral Infections

An association between drug treatment for viral infections and severe cutaneous adverse reactions has been noted. We investigated six patients diagnosed with Stevens–Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) after being prescribed acetaminophen for suspected viral illnesses. Multiplex analysis was performed to measure cytokine levels in sera before and after treatment. IL-2Rα levels significantly decreased during the convalescence phase. Although acetaminophen is relatively safe, the drug can trigger SJS/TEN in patients with suspected viral infections. T-cells and monocytes may be key components of the link between viral infection and acetaminophen-induced SJS/TEN.

The effects of individual, occupational, and supportive factors on successful return to work using a structural equation model

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to ascertain the relationship between several factors and successful return to work using a structural equation model. METHODS: We used original data from the Panel Study of Worker's Compensation Insurance, and defined four latent variables as occupational, individual, supportive, and successful return to work. Each latent variable was defined by its observed variables, including age, workplace size, and quality of the medical services. A theoretical model in which all latent variables had a relationship was suggested. After examining the model, we modified some pathways that were not significant or did not fit, and selected a final structural equation model that had the highest goodness of fit. RESULTS: All three latent variables (occupational, individual, and supportive) showed statistically significant relationships with successful return to work. The occupational and supportive factors had relationships with each other, but there was no relationship between individual and the other factors. Nearly all observed variables had significance with their latent variables. The correlation coefficients from the latent variables to successful return to work were statistically significant and the indices for goodness of fit were satisfactory. In particular, four observed variables-handicap level, duration of convalescence, working duration, and support from the company-showed construct validities with high correlation coefficients. CONCLUSIONS: All factors that we examined are related to successful return to work. We should focus on the supportive factor the most because its variables are modifiable to promote a return to work by those injured in their workplace.

Laboratory Markers Indicating Gastrointestinal Involvement of Henoch-Schonlein Purpura in Children / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

PURPOSE: To determine clinically useful biochemical markers reflecting disease activity and/or gastrointestinal (GI) tract involvement in Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP). METHODS: A total of 185 children with HSP and 130 controls were included. Laboratory data indicating inflammation, standard coagulation, and activated coagulation were analyzed for the HSP patients, including measurements of the hemoglobin level, white blood cell (WBC) count, absolute neutrophil count (ANC), platelet count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) level, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and fibrinogen, D-dimer, and fibrin degradation product (FDP) levels. The clinical scores of the skin, joints, abdomen, and kidneys were assessed during the acute and convalescence phases of HSP. RESULTS: The WBC count, ANC, ESR, and CRP, fibrinogen, D-dimer, and FDP levels were significantly higher in the acute phase compared with the convalescent phase of HSP (p<0.05). The total clinical scores were more strongly correlated with the D-dimer (r=0.371, p<0.001) and FDP (r=0.369, p<0.001) levels than with inflammatory markers, such as the WBC count (r=0.241, p=0.001), ANC (r=0.261, p<0.001), and CRP (r=0.260, p<0.001) levels. The patients with GI symptoms had significantly higher ANC (median [interquartile range], 7,138.0 [4,446.4-9,470.0] vs. 5,534.1 [3,263.0-8,153.5], p<0.05) and CRP (0.49 [0.15-1.38] vs. 0.23 [0.01-0.67], p<0.05), D-dimer (2.63 [1.20-4.09] vs. 1.75 [0.62-3.39]), and FDP (7.10 [0.01-13.65] vs. 0.10 [0.01-7.90], p<0.05) levels than those without GI symptoms. CONCLUSION: D-dimer and FDPs are more strongly associated with disease activity and more consistently reflect GI involvement than inflammatory markers during the acute phase of HSP.

Surgical Treatment of a Life-Threatening Large Retropharyngeal Hematoma after Minor Trauma : Two Case Reports and a Literature Review

Only a few cases of anterior longitudinal ligament (ALL) injury related with retropharyngeal hematoma without fracture have previously been reported. The treatment of choice for retropharyngeal hematoma is generally considered to be conservative care, but we believe that early surgery of this pathology would be better in certain situations. Here, we describe two cases with life-threatening large retropharyngeal hematomas related with ALL injuries and operated on at an early stage. Two previously healthy patients visited the emergency room with neck pain and dyspnea after falling. Serious neck swelling was observed and lateral neck X-ray showed severe widening of the prevertebral space. Due to dyspnea progression, emergency endotracheal intubation was performed. Although there was no primary cause of the retropharyngeal hematoma on preoperative examination, ALL tearing was intraoperatively confirmed during early surgery. The in-hospital evolutions of the patients were favorable after surgery. We should bear in mind the possibility of ALL injury and perform early surgery where possible given the earlier convalescence and good prognosis.

Alterations in cytokines and haematological parameters during the acute and convalescent phases of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax infections

Haematological and cytokine alterations in malaria are a broad and controversial subject in the literature. However, few studies have simultaneously evaluated various cytokines in a single patient group during the acute and convalescent phases of infection. The aim of this study was to sequentially characterise alterations in haematological patters and circulating plasma cytokine and chemokine levels in patients infected with Plasmodium vivax or Plasmodium falciparum from a Brazilian endemic area during the acute and convalescent phases of infection. During the acute phase, thrombocytopaenia, eosinopaenia, lymphopaenia and an increased number of band cells were observed in the majority of the patients. During the convalescent phase, the haematologic parameters returned to normal. During the acute phase, P. vivax and P. falciparum patients had significantly higher interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-17, interferon-γ, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, macrophage inflammatory protein-1β and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor levels than controls and maintained high levels during the convalescent phase. IL-10 was detected at high concentrations during the acute phase, but returned to normal levels during the convalescent phase. Plasma IL-10 concentration was positively correlated with parasitaemia in P. vivax and P. falciparum-infected patients. The same was true for the TNF-α concentration in P. falciparum-infected patients. Finally, the haematological and cytokine profiles were similar between uncomplicated P. falciparum and P. vivax infections.

Títulos de anticuerpos neutralizantes en sueros de individuos posconvalescientes con dengue / Neutralizing antibody titers in sera from patients post-convalescing from dengue

Introducción: la inmunidad del hospedero desempeña un papel importante en determinar el desarrollo de las infecciones por dengue y del cuadro severo de la enfermedad. Sin embargo, otros factores intervienen en el complejo mecanismo de la patogénesis, como la variación entre las cepas virales. Objetivos: evaluación de la capacidad neutralizante de un grupo de sueros de posconvalescientes frente a 2 cepas de dengue 4 pertenecientes a un mismo genotipo. Métodos: se emplearon sueros de 68 individuos con un cuadro de fiebre del dengue y 35 con un cuadro clínico de fiebre hemorrágica del dengue. Resultados: los títulos de anticuerpos neutralizantes en los sueros estudiados fueron bajos y se observó una capacidad neutralizante diferente entre las 2 cepas de dengue 4 del genotipo II. Se observaron diferencias significativas en los títulos de anticuerpos neutralizantes de los sueros procedentes de individuos con infección secundaria y con la forma severa de la enfermedad. Conclusiones: estos resultados demuestran la complejidad de los anticuerpos neutralizantes, que se producen después de una infección por el virus dengue con diferentes cepas de un mismo serotipo, lo cual conduce a obtener resultados diversos por esta técnica que podría ser la causa de la trasmisión continuada de múltiples cepas de dengue.

Introduction: host immunity plays an important role in determining the development of dengue infections and the severe form of the disease. However, other factors, such as the variation between viral strains, are also involved in this complex pathogenesis mechanism. Objectives: evaluate the neutralizing capacity of a number of sera from post-convalescing patients against two dengue 4 strains from the same genotype. Methods: examination was conducted of sera from 68 individuals with dengue fever and 35 with dengue hemorrhagic fever. Results: neutralizing antibody titers were low in the sera analyzed. Different neutralizing capacity was found between the two dengue 4 strains from genotype II. Significant differences were observed between neutralizing antibody titers in sera from individuals with secondary infection and with the severe form of the disease. Conclusions: results reveal the complex nature of the neutralizing antibodies produced after a dengue infection with different strains of the same serotype, leading to diverse results by this technique, which could be the cause of the continued transmission of multiple dengue strains.