Change in plasma selenium level of patients with chronic kidney disease at different stages and its correlation with clinical indicators / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

Objective: To explore the severity of selenium (Se) deficiency in different stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its relationship between Se content and clinical indicators and other elements. Methods: We detected the clinical indicators and element contents including Se, iron, copper, calcium, potassium and phosphorus of 107 subjects who were 23 healthy controls, 10 of CKD3 stage, 11 of CKD4 stage, 45 of CKD5 stage, 6 on peritoneal dialysis, 12 on hemodialysis. Results: With the progression of CKD, plasma Se level in the patents got lower, especially in ESRD and PD groups. Plasma Se level had significantly positive correlation with albumin, total cholesterol and triglyceride, but negative correlation with parathyroid hormone, blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine. Plasma Se level had significantly positive correlation with calcium level. Conclusion: Se deficiency does exist in CKD patients, and it correlates with CKD severity and other clinical indicators. Further studies are needed to clarify the real extent of Se deficiency and carry out Se supplementation in patients with kidney disease.

Micosis invasivas agudas: presentaciones atípicas / Acute invasive mycosis: atypical presentations / Micose invasiva aguda: apresentações atípicas

INTRODUCCIÓN: Las micosis invasivas agudas son infecciones rápidamente progresivas con una alta tasa de morbimortalidad. Se presentan principalmente en pacientes neutropénicos. La neutropenia puede clasificarse en cuantitativa (en neoplasias hematológicas, SIDA, inmunodepresión secundaria a transplantes) o cualitativa (en diabéticos mal controlados). Existen dos formas de presentación: Rinosinusal y extrasinusal. En esta última se describen tres subtipos: Rinoorbitaria (mayor frecuencia), rinocerebral y de partes blandas cervicofaciales. OBJETIVO: Describir dos casos clínicos de pacientes con presentaciones atípicas en las micosis invasivas agudas.

INTRODUCTION: Acute invasive mycosis can be a rapidly progressing infection that exhibits high rates of morbidity and mortality. Most commonly occurs in individuals with hematologic malignancies, particularly in patients who have received bone marrow transplantation. Other compromised patient populations at risk are those on chronic steroids, poorly controlled diabetics, patients with AIDS, and those undergoing chemoradiation therapy. Presentation forms can be rinosinusal and extrasinusal, this last one divided into: Rhinorbital, rhinocerebral and soft tissue affectation. OBJECTIVE: Describe two clinical cases of atypical presentation of acute invasive mycosis.

INTRODUÇÃO: Infecções fúngicas invasivas agudas são rapidamente progressivas, com alta taxa de morbidade e mortalidade. Eles ocorrem principalmente em pacientes neutropênicos. A neutropenia pode ser classificada como quantitativa (em neoplasias hematológicas, AIDS, imunossupressão secundária a transplantes) ou qualitativa (em diabéticos pouco controlados). Existem duas formas de apresentação: Rinossinusal e extrasinusal. Neste último, são descritos três subtipos: rino-orbitário (maior freqüência), tecido mole cervicofacial e rinocerebral. OBJETIVO: Descrever dois casos clínicos de pacientes com apresentações atípicas em micoses invasivas agudas e realizar uma revisão bibliográfica da referida patologia.

Does Age at Onset of First Major Depressive Episode Indicate the Subtype of Major Depressive Disorder?: The Clinical Research Center for Depression Study

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of age at onset of the first major depressive episode on the clinical features of individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) in a large cohort of Korean depressed patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We recruited 419 MDD patients of age over 18 years from the Clinical Research Center for Depression study in South Korea. At the start of the study, the onset age of the first major depressive episode was self-reported by the subjects. The subjects were divided into four age-at-onset subgroups: childhood and adolescent onset (ages <18), early adult onset (ages 18-44), middle adult onset (ages 45-59), and late onset (ages 60+). Using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and ordinal logistic regression analysis with adjusting the effect of age, the relationships between clinical features and age at onset of MDD were evaluated. RESULTS: There was an apparent, but inconsistent correlation between clinical features and age at onset. Earlier onset MDD was significantly associated with higher proportion of female gender [adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=0.570, p=0.022], more previous suicide attempts (AOR=0.635, p=0.038), greater number of previous depressive episodes (F=3.475, p=0.016) and higher scores on the brief psychiatric rating scale (F=3.254, p=0.022), its negative symptom subscale (F=6.082, p<0.0001), and the alcohol use disorder identification test (F=7.061, p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Early age at onset may increase the likelihood of distinguishable MDD subtype, and age at onset of the first major depressive episode is a promising clinical indicator for the clinical presentation, course, and outcome of MDD.

Effects of Custom Nutrition Education on Dietary Intakes and Clinical Parameters in Patients Diagnosed with Iron Deficiency Anemia

This study examined the effects of custom nutrition education on dietary intakes and clinical parameters in patients diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia. A total of 34 patients visited the anemia clinic of Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital. Among these, only 16 patients were available for follow-ups. A follow-up was conducted by a clinical dietitian 2 months from the first nutrition education session. Patients were all women. For custom nutrition education, we investigated anthropometric data, dietary assessment (24 hr-recall, FFQ), and self-recognized anemic symptoms. Weight did not show a significant difference but hemoglobin, hematocrit (P<0.01), serum iron, and serum ferritin (P<0.05) were significantly increased after the nutrition education. Serum total iron binding capacity was significantly decreased (P<0.01). Self-recognized symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue (P<0.001), shortness of breath, headache (P<0.01), brittle nails, and sore tongue (P<0.05) were significantly improved. Daily intakes of protein (P<0.05), total iron (P<0.01), and animal iron (P<0.001) were significantly increased. A significantly negative correlation was observed between current serum iron and the intake of carbohydrates, fat, or phosphorus (P<0.05). But current serum ferritin showed a significantly positive correlation with the frequency of intake of meat, poultry, and fish. It could be concluded that the custom nutrition education might be effective on quality of diet as well as iron status and it might also improve the clinical parameters in patients diagnosed with the iron deficiency anemia.

The Useful Clinical Indicators of Performing a Spinal Tapping During an Outbreak of Enteroviral Meningitis / 대한소아신경학회지

PURPOSE: Although spinal tapping and cerebrospinal fluid analysis is essential for diagnosis of aseptic meningitis, it is equivocal that all patients with headache and vomiting should receive spinal tapping for diagnosis of meningitis during an outbreak of enteroviral meningitis in summer seasons. The purpose of this study was to find clinical indicators that may be useful for differentiation of bacterial meningitis, and also to compare the clinical course between spinal tapping group and non-spinal tapping group confirmed enteroviral infection. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical record of 65 cases of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) proven enteroviral meningitis, and 30 cases of culture proven bacterial meningitis admitted in Chunchon Sacred Heart Hospital. We compared the difference of clinical factors between bacterial and enteroviral meningitis groups and also clinical course between spinal tapping and non-spinal tapping groups. RESULTS: Children with bacterial meningitis had younger age onset, high incidence of seizure and altered consciousness, increased C-reactive protein(CRP) levels(P0.05). Children with spinal tapping group with enteroviral meningitis had longer hospital stay and duration of fever as compared to children in non-spinal tapping group(P<0.05), but no difference in duration of headache in both groups. CONCLUSION: We recommend children with younger age, altered consciousness, having seizure and increased CRP levels receive spinal tapping for the differentiation of bacterial meningitis during an outbreak of enteroviral meningitis, and introduction of rapid diagnostic technique may reduce unnecessary spinal tapping, hospital stay and antibiotics therapy.

Problems and Policy Recommendation for Clinical Indicator Evaluation

Quality Improvement(QI) is the policy agenda rising rapidly at the health policy field. Recent policy trends like hospital evaluation with public reporting and evaluation of appropriateness in health insurance areas show that QI become the hot agenda of government. Recently, government are planning to introduce clinical indicator in 2nd term of hospital evaluation. Especially, medical societies should give their attention about this policy change because clinical Qualities are closely related to the credibilities of medical professionals for public. Medical professionals should monitor and respond actively to the problems which are confronted and ask for modification as follows: the duplication at several evaluation areas, ineffective evaluation approaches, etc. First of all, collaborating and organizational approaches of medical societies are needed to solve the policy problems.