ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The United Kingdom government introduced lockdown restrictions for the first time on 23 March 2020 due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. These were partially lifted on 15 June and further eased on 4 July. Changes in social behaviour, including increased alcohol consumption were described at the time. However, there were no data available to consider the impact of these changes on the number of alcohol-related disease admissions, specifically alcohol-related acute pancreatitis (AP). This study evaluated the trend of alcohol-related AP admissions at a single centre during the initial COVID-19 lockdown. AIM: To evaluate the trend in alcohol-related AP admissions at a single centre during the initial COVID-19 lockdown in the United Kingdom. METHODS: All patients admitted with alcohol-related AP from March to September 2016 to 2020 were considered in this study. Patient demographics, their initial presentation with AP, any recurrent admissions, disease severity and length of stay, were evaluated using ANOVA and χ 2 and Kruskal-Wallis tests. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-six patients were included in the study. The highest total number of AP admissions was seen in March-September 2019 and the highest single-month period was in March-May 2020. Admissions for first-time presentations of AP were highest in 2020 compared to other year groups and were significantly higher compared to previous years, for example, 2016 (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the rate of admissions decreased by 38.89% between March-May 2020 and June-September 2020 (P < 0.05), coinciding with the easing of lockdown restrictions. This significant decrease was not observed in the previous year groups during those same time periods. Admissions for recurrent AP were highest in 2019. The median length of hospital stay did not differ between patients from each of the year groups. CONCLUSION: An increased number of admissions for alcohol-related AP were observed during months when lockdown restrictions were enforced; a fall in figures was noted when restrictions were eased.
ABSTRACT
AIM: to investigate the relationship between pain catastrophising and patient-reported clinical outcomes following primary total hip arthroplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: prospective consecutive study of 103 patients who completed preoperative Pain Catastrophisation Score (PCS), preoperative and 12-month postoperative Oxford Hip Score (OHS). Correlation analysis was carried out between the improvement in OHS (mean difference between pre- and postoperative scores) and the mean preoperative PCS score using the Pearson's r rank test. Multiple linear regression was then performed using the postoperative OHS as the outcome variable against a number of predictor variables. RESULTS: there were 37 males and 66 females with average age of 60.5 years (range 22-84). Mean preoperative PCS score was 16.3 (±13.6; range 0-49). Mean preoperative OHS was 16.5 (±3.5) which had improved at 12-months postoperatively to a mean 38.1 (±11.1). The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.0001). Preoperative PCS scores were correlated with the OHS improvement at 12-months which revealed a weak negative correlation Pearson's correlation coefficient r = - 0.248 (P = 0.0114). Preoperative PCS score, predictor variable, had statistically significant relationship with the postoperative OHS (P = 0.0207). The regression coefficient for the PCS was -0.25, therefore for each unit increase in the preoperative PCS score there was a 0.25 unit decrease in the postoperative OHS score. CONCLUSION: pain catastrophising appear to predict poorer postoperative patient-reported outcome measures. Further research is needed to evaluate the value of early identification of high-risk patients and the role of preoperative involvement of pain specialists and its effects on postoperative outcomes.
ABSTRACT
To assess the toxicity of bifenthrin and four mixtures of insecticides to tarnished plant bug, we used an insecticide dip method of green bean to treat adults of a laboratory colony; mortality was assessed after 48 h. LC50s for imidacloprid, bifenthrin, acephate, thiamethoxam, and dicrotophos were 0.12, 0.39, 0.62, 0.67, and 3.96 ppm, respectively. LC75s for imidacloprid, bifenthrin, acephate, thiamethoxam, and dicrotophos were 0.61, 4.22, 5.10, 2.65, and 7.86 ppm, respectively. Based on the LC50s and LC75s, dicrotophos was much less toxic than the other chemicals tested. PoloMix software was used to determine syngerism, antagonism, or addition effects of the mixtures. Three out of four analyses of the joint action of bifenthrin plus imidacloprid or acephate or dicrotophos showed that toxicity was not independent and not correlated. For bifenthrin plus dicrotophos, observed mortality was greater than expected mortality at most concentrations suggesting synergism. Mixtures of bifenthrin plus imidacloprid and bifenthrin plus acephate showed observed mortality significantly less than expected, suggesting antagonism. LC50s for bifenthrin plus dicrotophos, acephate, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam were 0.38, 1.06, 0.17, and 0.26 ppm, respectively. LC75s for bifenthrin plus dicrotophos, acephate, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam were 13.61, 13.18, 0.67, and 0.80 ppm, respectively. Based on the LC50s and LC75s, bifenthrin plus acephate was 3- to 10-fold less toxic than the other chemicals tested. Bifenthrin plus acephate is frequently used in tank mixes to control tarnished plant bug and other cotton pests, and the effectiveness of each individual chemical appears to be reduced in one to one ratio mixtures.
