The impact of acute intoxications in a toxicological unit care in north east Italy.

Retrospective study in a toxicological unit care (TUC) performed to know the epidemiology of acute intoxication (AI) in Verona (Italy) during years 2008-2009. All data regarding patients with a diagnosis of certain/suspected AI were collected and evaluated: some demographic information, the characteristics of the agent involved, the pattern of exposure, the triage at the admission to TUC and the outcome. 244 cases were analyzed: 45.9% males and 54.9% females, mean age respectively 45.1 and 43.9 years. The monthly distribution of admitted patients resulted fairly constant, except from a light rising prevalence in autumn, with a majority of yellow (45.9%) and green (43.4%) triage code. The pattern of exposure resulted: ingestion (82.7% of cases; age peaks: 18-34 and 35-51 years old; mostly due to food (as mushrooms), drinks, detergents, soap, pharmaceutical, drugs of abuse, caustics substances), contact (10.2% of cases; age peak 18-51) and inhalation (6.9% of cases). In 17.2% of cases the poisoning exposure was intentional. In 63.5% the patients were sent to their general practitioners (45.5% of the yellow and 81.1% of the green coded patients) and in 22.1% of cases they were admitted to clinical rooms (44.6% of the yellow coded patients). In most cases the triage code assigned to the studied patients resulted yellow and green. Considering that the seriousness of the symptoms can appear after several hours from the exposure to toxic substances, a quick and specific intervention to obtain the best therapeutical effectiveness is suitable, in order to save lives or to avoid irremediable health damages.

[Handling of laundry and garbage in nursing homes. A survey in 22 homes]. / Umgang mit Wäsche und Abfall in Alten- und Pflegeheimen. Eine Erfassung in 22 Heimen.

Management of infectious diseases in nursing homes is as important as it is in hospitals. Therefore, a standardized questionnaire was used for the detailed assessment of the handling of laundry and garbage with a special focus on methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in 22 nursing homes in Germany. The study focused on the prevention of occupational diseases in the nursing home staff. Despite a few isolated problems, the situation of MRSA-positive patients was not as alarming as expected: guidelines for MRSA as published by KRINKO were often followed by the healthcare workers. However, general problems with managing garbage and laundry were identified. Many nursing homes lacked protective clothing and a sufficient garbage management plan. In addition, the handling of laundry was a problem in that the clothing of the patients and the working clothes of the staff were often washed at home rather than in accredited laundries. Thus, the awareness for hygienic problems needs to be raised, e.g., by expanding hygienic control for the nursing homes.

Comparative study of calcipotriene (MC 903) ointment and fluocinonide ointment in the treatment of psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: The topical vitamin D analogue calcipotriene has been reported to be an effective treatment for patients with psoriasis. Comparative studies with topical steroids are informative in judging this new therapy. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of calcipotriene ointment 0.005% versus fluocinonide ointment 0.05% in the treatment of plaque psoriasis. METHODS: This study was a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, active-controlled trial in adults who had at least mild overall disease severity and plaque elevation of at least moderate severity. Treatments were applied twice daily for 6 weeks, and subjects were evaluated at weeks 0, 2, 4, and 6. Subjects were graded on a 9-point scale (0 to 8) for scaling, erythema, plaque elevation, and for overall disease severity. A physician's global assessment of improvement/worsening was performed at every visit. RESULTS: A total of 114 subjects were enrolled at six study sites. Ninety-nine subjects completed the trial. Mean scores for signs of scaling and plaque elevation in calcipotriene-treated subjects were significantly lower by week 2 than in the fluocinonide-treated subjects. These scores continued to be significantly lower than fluocinonide through week 6 (p < 0.05). Mean scores for erythema in calcipotriene-treated subjects were significantly lower than those in fluocinonide-treated subjects at weeks 4 and 6 (p < 0.05). Both the physician's global assessment and overall disease severity showed statistically significant treatment differences in favor of calcipotriene at week 4 (p < 0.05). This superior efficacy continued through week 6. Treatment-related adverse events were observed in 12 calcipotriene-treated subjects and 5 fluocinonide-treated subjects; all were considered minor. CONCLUSION: Calcipotriene was superior to fluocinonide in the treatment of plaque psoriasis.

Neutrophilic eccrine hidradenitis: a distinctive rash associated with cytarabine therapy and acute leukemia.

Neutrophilic eccrine hidradenitis (NEH) is a recently described neutrophilic dermatosis associated with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and chemotherapy. This disorder is a distinct clinicopathologic entity separate from leukemid reactions and other neutrophilic dermatoses. We describe two cases in which plaques or nodules developed in the second week after initiation of induction chemotherapy for AML. The lesions regressed in 1 week and recurred in one case when induction chemotherapy was given a second time. Histologically, the findings were similar in each case. Neutrophils palisaded about and infiltrated the eccrine coil in which necrosis of secretory epithelium was present. Focal mucinous degeneration of the eccrine adipose tissue cuff was the only other significant alteration. No vasculitis was observed. Cultures and histologic preparations for pathogenic organisms were negative. Cytarabine was the chemotherapeutic agent used in all three cases. NEH most likely represents either an unusual response caused by cytarabine or a manifestation of AML. Recognition of NEH is important in order to exclude other neutrophilic dermatoses associated with AML, such as sepsis and leukemia cutis, which may appear clinically similar.

Measurement of Ag, Te and Pd in geochemical reference materials by mass spectrometric isotope-dilution analysis.

Procedures are described which permit mass spectrometric isotope-dilution analysis to be used to determine Ag, Te and Pd in rock samples at the ng g level. The concentrations (ng g ) of Ag, Te and Pd were found to be 25.7 +/- 0.7, 1.2 +/- 0.6 and 0.08 +/- 0.05 respectively in BCR-1 and 3.5 +/- 0.2, 4.2 +/- 0.7 and 2.9 +/- 1.7 respectively in PCC-1.

Campylobacter colitis presentin as inflammatory bowel disease with segmental colonic ulcerations.

Campylobacter fetus subspecies have recently been recognized as an important cause of diarrheal illness in humans. We report a case of culture positive C. fetus colitis with colonoscopic findings of segmental mucosal edema, loss of normal vascular pattern with ulceration, and patchy involvement of mucosa. These colonoscopic findings were similar to those seen in granulomatous colitis. However, these findings may be difficult to distinguish from a number of other colonic mucosal diseases such as antibiotic-associated colitis, amebiasis, shigellosis, salmonellosis, invasive E. coli colitis, and ischemic colitis. On histopathologic examination of the mucosa, acute and chronic colitis with crypt abscess formation, mucosal atrophy, and mucous depletion was found which suggested the diagnosis of chronic ulcerative colitis. Cryptitis and crypt abscess are not specific to chronic ulcerative colitis alone and can be seen in many nongranulomatous inflammations of the colonic mucosa. Therapy with erythromycin led to prompt clinical improvement, clearance of the pathogen, and normalization of the colon by repeat examination 11 days after the initiation of the therapy.

Evaluation of early airway disease in smokers: cost effectiveness of pulmonary function testing.

We studied 73 young adults who were presently cigarette smokers to evaluate whether the identification of abnormalities in pulmonary function tests had a detectable influence on modification of smoking habits. Utilizing rate schedules for these tests presently applicable in Rochester, New York, we determined the potential cost to these subjects and community relative to the number of subjects who stopped smoking as a result of test findings. Subjects were evaluated by questionnaire and function testing including spirometry, flow-volume curves, body plethysmography and single breath nitrogen washout test (SBN2). Functional abnormalities were present in 75% of subjects screened. The SBN2 test was most sensitive, identifying 97% of subjects with any abnormality. The presence of common respiratory symptoms was found to be highly predictive of test abnormalities. Subjects were informed of results and counseled. At six-month follow-up, 7% of subjects with abnormal test results had stopped smoking. Utilizing even our most cost-effective test, the SBN2, it would cost +1,392 for each "benefit" defined as one subject not smoking for six months. Application of these screening techniques is unlikely to be effective in altering smoking habits in the absence of continued physician support.