The Respiratory Effects of Chronic Exposure to Gas Faring Among Residents of Some Communities in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: This study presents the pattern of respiratory effects seen among residents chronically exposed to gas flaring in some communities in the Niger Delta Region, Nigeria. The other health challenges associated with this chronic exposure to gas were also evaluated in the study. METHODS: A total of three hundred and eighty-six 386 adult residents in Ibeno, Niger Delta Region who have been residents for at least two years. Four hundred and fourteen (414) age, sex, and height-matched control unexposed residents in Etinan were recruited for a cross-sectional survey study comparing their respiratory symptoms and other related health challenges. Past and current smokers were excluded from the study in both groups. The study was conducted using a questionnaire as the investigative tool. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Most of the respondents in both exposed and control communities were aged 18-30 years, with a height range of 161-170 cm. Both exposed and control subjects experienced similar symptoms suggestive of respiratory disorders, however, the prevalence was significantly higher among exposed subjects than controls: Cough 57(14.8%) vs. 39(10.1%); breathlessness 58(15%) vs. 28(7.3); wheezing 22(5.7) vs. 12(3.1). The respondents from the exposed community were mostly traders and fishermen while the controls were predominantly farmers. CONCLUSION: There is substantial evidence from the data presented that prolonged exposure to air pollution from gas flaring has significant respiratory and other health implications on residents in these communities reflected as increased frequency of symptoms of cough, chest pain, difficulty in breathing, wheezing, chest tightness, Skin and eye irritation. There is therefore an urgent need for intensified efforts and commitment by the government to speed up the implementation of policies regarding the reduction of flaring of natural gas associated with oil production and the adoption of measures to mitigate the effect of the exposure on human health.

CONTEXTE: Cette étude présente les effets respiratoires observés chez les résidents chroniquement exposés au torchage de gaz dans certaines communautés de la région du delta du Niger, au Nigeria. Les autres problèmes de santé associés à cette exposition chronique au gaz ont également été évalués dans cette étude. MÉTHODES: Un total de 386 résidents adultes d'Ibeno, dans la région du delta du Niger, ayant résidé pendant au moins deux ans, ont été inclus dans l'étude. Quatre cent quatorze (414) résidents non exposés, appariés en fonction de l'âge, du sexe et de la taille, à Etinan ont été recrutés pour une étude transversale comparant leurs symptômes respiratoires et d'autres problèmes de santé associés. Les fumeurs passés et actuels ont été exclus de l'étude dans les deux groupes. L'étude a été menée à l'aide d'un questionnaire comme outil d'investigation. Des statistiques descriptives et inférentielles ont été utilisées pour analyser les données. RÉSULTATS: La plupart des répondants dans les communautés exposées et témoins avaient entre 18 et 30 ans, avec une taille allant de 161 à 170 cm. Les sujets exposés et témoins ont présenté des symptômes similaires suggérant des troubles respiratoires, cependant, la prévalence était significativement plus élevée chez les sujets exposés que chez les témoins : Toux - 57 (14,8 %) contre 39 (10,1 %) ; essoufflement 58 (15 %) contre 28 (7,3 %) ; sifflement 22 (5,7 %) contre 12 (3,1 %). Les répondants de la communauté exposée étaient principalement des commerçants et des pêcheurs, tandis que les témoins étaient principalement des agriculteurs. CONCLUSION: Les données présentées fournissent des preuves substantielles que l'exposition prolongée à la pollution de l'air due au torchage de gaz a des implications respiratoires et autres sur la santé des résidents de ces communautés, se traduisant par une fréquence accrue des symptômes de toux, douleur thoracique, difficulté à respirer, sifflement, oppression thoracique, irritation de la peau et des yeux. Il est donc urgent d'intensifier les efforts et l'engagement du gouvernement pour accélérer la mise en œuvre des politiques visant à réduire le torchage du gaz naturel associé à la production de pétrole et à adopter des mesures pour atténuer les effets de l'exposition sur la santé humaine. MOTS CLÉS: Effet respiratoire, Exposition chronique, Torchage de gaz, Delta du Niger.

Psychological distress and health-related quality of life among stable patients with bronchiectasis.

BACKGROUND: Bronchiectasis is characterized by chronic symptoms and impaired physical activity. Anxiety and depression usually complicate chronic illness. Thus, underdiagnosis of psychological distress in bronchiectasis may lead to increased morbidity and mortality. AIMS: The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of physical illness on psychological distress and its association with health-related quality of life (HRQOL). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of adults with bronchiectasis. Patients completed a study questionnaire, the hospital anxiety and depression scale and the World Health Organization quality of life brief (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire. Physical examination was conducted on all participants. RESULTS: 103 patients were recruited for this study: 54 males (52.4%) and 49 females (47.6%). The average age of the patients was 49.12 ± 14.37 years. The most common predisposing factor for bronchiectasis amongst the patients was previous pulmonary tuberculosis (51 patients, 49.5%). Chronic productive cough, which was reported by 98 of the subjects (95.15%), was the most common symptom. 89 subjects (86.41%) reported episodes of shortness of breath, 82 (79.61%) reported at least one episode of exacerbation, while 52 subjects (50.49%) were hospitalized for bronchiectasis in the previous 12 months. 23 subjects (22.3%) had anxiety and 32 (31.1%) had depression. Anxiety and depression were significantly associated with indicators of severe disease. The subjects recorded low HRQOL scores across all domains. Psychological distress displayed a significant negative association with all the quality-of-life domains except between anxiety and social interaction. CONCLUSION: Symptoms of depression and anxiety are common among patients with bronchiectasis and these symptoms have a negative impact on HRQOL.

The outcome of conservative treatment of fifth metatarsal diaphyseal fractures.

INTRODUCTION: The fifth metatarsal diaphyseal fracture is a common fracture. However, clear consensus about the treatment is lacking. Unlike the avulsion fracture or Jones' fracture, literature available on the treatment and long-term outcome of the diaphyseal fracture is scarce.The purpose of this study is to demonstrate a substantial number of conservatively treated patients with persistent pain and to evaluate metatarsal shortening and displacement within this group. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 106 patients who had experienced a fifth metatarsal diaphyseal fracture were included and evaluated. The minimum follow-up period was three months. FAAM, AOFAS and NRS scores were used as outcome measurements for function and pain. Length and displacement were analysed on plain X-rays. RESULTS: At least 11% of the patients who received conservative treatment for their fifth metatarsal diaphyseal fracture had persistent pain at least 3 months after initiation of conservative treatment. No relationship has been found between the length of the fifth metatarsal and the FAAM (r( Petrisor et al., 2006) 2 = 0,051), AOFAS (r( Petrisor et al., 2006) 2 = 0,009) and NRS (r( Petrisor et al., 2006) 2 = 0,001). Furthermore, there was no association between patients with a shorter fifth metatarsal and FAAM, AOFAS, NRS, displacement and BMI. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The finding of persistent pain in at least 11% of all patients at long-term follow-up confirms our hypothesis on long-term symptoms. However, the results suggest that these persistent symptoms are not related to metatarsal shortening or displacement.

The impact of laboratory closing times on delay of adequate therapy in blood stream infections.

BACKGROUND: Patients with bloodstream infections need early adequate antimicrobial treatment to reduce mortality. This raises the question of timing and logistics. How important is the time of day when a culture is flagged positive to the processing of blood cultures and optimisation of antimicrobial therapy? METHODS: We performed a retrospective study assessing the time delay of a positive blood culture result during and after office hours and its impact on adequate antimicrobial therapy. Process duration from the moment of culture positivity to Gram stain completion was compared at different timepoints during the day in a medium-sized hospital with an offsite microbiological laboratory. RESULTS: Ninety-four patients with positive, noncontaminated blood cultures were included. Sixty-six patients (70%) received adequate empirical therapy; this increased to 76 cases (82%) and to 88 cases (95%) after analysis of Gram stain results and complete determination, respectively (p < 0.05 for all comparisons). Median duration from culture positivity to Gram stain completion (including offsite culture transport) increased from a median of four to 12 hours if time of cultures turned positive after office hours (p < 0.05), irrespective of the adequacy of empirical coverage. This also resulted in a median 12-hour delay for the complete process from time of culture positivity to administration of the antimicrobial drug (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Processing blood cultures after office hours is often deferred, which can lead to a delay in adequate antimicrobial therapy for patients with bloodstream infections.

Acute hepatitis C in the Netherlands: characteristics of the epidemic in 2014.

Within the Dutch Acute HCV in HIV Study, a surveillance system was initiated to estimate the incidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in 2014. Following the Dutch HIV treatment guidelines, HIV-positive men having sex with men (MSM) in 19 participating centers were screened. Ninety-nine acute HCV infections were reported, which resulted in a mean incidence of 11 per 1000 patient-years of follow-up. Unfortunately, the HCV epidemic among Dutch HIV-positive MSM is not coming to a halt.

Interventions in the management of infection in the foot in diabetes: a systematic review.

The expert panel on diabetic foot infection (DFI) of the International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot conducted a systematic review seeking all published reports relating to any type of treatment for infection of the foot in persons with diabetes published as of 30 June 2014. This review, conducted with both PubMed and EMBASE, was used to update an earlier one undertaken on 30 June 2010 using the same search string. Eligible publications included those that had outcome measures reported for both a treated and a control population that were managed either at the same time, or as part of a before-and-after case design. We did not include studies that contained only information related to definition or diagnosis, but not treatment, of DFI. The current search identified just seven new articles meeting our criteria that were published since the 33 identified with the previous search, making a total of 40 articles from the world literature. The identified articles included 37 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and three cohort studies with concurrent controls, and included studies on the use of surgical procedures, topical antiseptics, negative pressure wound therapy and hyperbaric oxygen. Among the studies were 15 RCTs that compared outcomes of treatment with new antibiotic preparations compared with a conventional therapy in the management of skin and soft tissue infection. In addition, 10 RCTs and 1 cohort study compared different treatments for osteomyelitis in the diabetic foot. Results of comparisons of different antibiotic regimens generally demonstrated that newly introduced antibiotic regimens appeared to be as effective as conventional therapy (and also more cost-effective in one study), but one study failed to demonstrate non-inferiority of a new antibiotic compared with that of a standard agent. Overall, the available literature was both limited in both the number of studies and the quality of their design. Thus, our systematic review revealed little evidence upon which to make recommendations for treatment of DFIs. There is a great need for further well-designed trials that will provide robust data upon which to make decisions about the most appropriate treatment of both skin and soft tissue infection and osteomyelitis in diabetic patients.

Progressive disseminated histoplasmosis mimicking a flare of systemic lupus erythematosus: a European case report.

INTRODUCTION: Diagnosing progressive disseminated histoplasmosis (PDH) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is diagnostically challenging. Since PDH is lethal when untreated, awareness of this infection in patients with SLE is of utmost importance. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first description of a case of PDH in a patient with SLE in Europe. CASE PRESENTATION: A 56-year-old woman of Surinamese descent with a history of SLE, presented with fever and polyarthritis. Although a flare of SLE was suspected initially, cultures of bone marrow and broncho-alveolar lavage fluid grew Histoplasma capsulatum. CONCLUSION: This case report highlights that physicians should be aware of progressive disseminated histoplasmosis in patients with SLE treated with immunosuppressive agents. The signs and symptoms can easily mimic a SLE flare, which would then be treated with more aggressive immunosuppression. Failure to recognize the infection will therefore invariably lead to death of the patient. Progressive disseminated histoplasmosis is usually not recognized by doctors in non-endemic areas such as Europe. However, globalisation and more frequent intercontinental traffic of immunocompromised patients currently increases the incidence of histoplasmosis in these areas. It is therefore of life-saving importance that doctors are aware of the features of the infection in areas where H. capsulatum is not endemic.

The microbiome of diabetic foot osteomyelitis.

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the diversity of bacteria in diabetic foot osteomyelitis using a 16S rRNA sequencing approach and to compare the results with conventional culture techniques. In this prospective observational study, we obtained 34 bone samples from patients admitted to our hospital with a moderate-severe diabetic foot infection. We analysed the distribution of the 16S rRNA gene sequences in the bone samples, using an Illumina MiSeq Personal Sequencer. We compared the genera that were detected with the cultured pathogens in the bone samples with conventional techniques. In the 23 samples that had positive results with both techniques, Staphylococcus, Corynebacterium, Streptococcus and Propionibacterium spp. were detected in 20, 18, 13 and 11 samples, respectively. Significantly more anaerobes were detected with 16S rRNA sequencing compared to conventional techniques (86.9 % vs. 23.1 %, p = 0.001) and more Gram-positive bacilli were present (78.3 % vs. 3.8 %, p < 0.001). Staphylococcus spp. were identified in all of the sequenced bone samples that were negative with conventional techniques. Mixed genera were present in 83.3 % (5 of 6) of the negative samples. Anaerobic and fastidious organisms may play a more significant role in osteomyelitis than previously reported. Further studies with larger populations are needed in order to fully understand the clinical importance of the microbial diversity of diabetic foot osteomyelitis.

The effect of lower extremity nerve decompression on health-related quality of life and perception of pain in patients with painful diabetic polyneuropathy: a prospective randomized trial.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to assess whether surgical decompression of nerves in the lower extremity in people with painful diabetic polyneuropathy would have an effect on health-related quality of life and to determine minimal clinically important differences in pain and quality of life scores. METHODS: The design was a randomized controlled trial in which 42 participants with painful diabetic painful neuroapthy underwent unilateral decompression of nerves in their left or right leg, using the other leg as a control, with 12 months follow-up. Surgical decompression was performed at the tibial, superficial, deep and common peroneal nerves. Preoperatively, and at 6 and 12 months post operatively, a visual analogue scale for pain and the 36 item short-form health survey and EuroQual 5 Dimensions questionnaires were completed. RESULTS: At 12 months follow-up, the visual analogue scale was significantly reduced, but decompression surgery did not significantly alter health-related quality of life scores. The minimal clinically important difference for visual analogue scale reduction was determined at 2.9 points decrease, a threshold reached by 42.5% of the study population. CONCLUSIONS: Although decompression surgery does not influence health-related quality of life, it achieves a clinically relevant reduction of pain in ~42.5% of people with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. It can therefore be considered for patients who do not adequately respond to pain medication.

Are clindamycin and ciprofloxacin appropriate for the empirical treatment of diabetic foot infections?

The objective of this study was to determine if specific species of microorganisms are associated with severe infection and amputation in patients with a diabetic foot infection and to evaluate the effectiveness of clindamycin and ciprofloxacin in this population. A retrospective cohort study was performed at the University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands, for the period January 1st 2005 to January 1st 2010. Patients with ICD-9 codes 'diabetic foot' were selected from the hospital database. We evaluated the association of Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative species (GNS) with severity of infection, number of amputations, and healing rates. No significant association was found between the different microorganisms and infection severity. Coinfections of GNS and S. aureus were significantly associated with amputation compared to infections with only S. aureus [p = 0.016, odds ratio (OR) 4.9, confidence interval (CI) 1.4-16.9]. The empiric antibiotic regimen of clindamycin and ciprofloxacin covered only 85 % of S. aureus and 78 % of GNS diabetic foot infections. In mild diabetic foot infection in the studied population, where methicillin-sensitive S. aureus and streptococci are the most likely pathogens, a beta-lactam antibiotic such as flucloxacillin would likely be more effective than clindamycin. In moderate and severe infections, where GNS as a causative organism cannot be safely excluded, broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy may be more adequate.

Antimicrobials and Non-healing Wounds Evidence, controversies and suggestions.

Non-healing wounds are a significant problem for health-care systems worldwide. In the industrialised world, almost 1-1.5% of the population will have a problem wound at any one time. Furthermore, wound management is expensive; in Europe, the average cost per episode is 6650 euros for leg ulcers and 10 000 euros for foot ulcers, and wound management accounts for 2-4% of health-care budgets. These figures are expected to rise along with an increased elderly and diabetic population.1-4.

Mycobacterium genavense in the Netherlands: an opportunistic pathogen in HIV and non-HIV immunocompromised patients. An observational study in 14 cases.

Mycobacterium genavense is an opportunistic non-tuberculous mycobacterium previously mostly associated with HIV-infected patients with CD4 counts below 100/µL. In this retrospective observational study of medical charts we studied all Dutch patients in whom M. genavense was detected between January 2002 and January 2010. Of the 14 patients identified, 13 (93%) showed clinically relevant M. genavense disease. All patients with M. genavense disease were severely immunocompromised, including HIV-infected patients, solid organ transplant recipients, those with chronic steroid use in combination with other immune modulating drugs, recipients of chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and those with immunodeficiency syndromes. Two patients had non-disseminated pulmonary M. genavense disease. Of the 12 patients treated, eight (75%) showed a favourable outcome. Four patients died in this study, three despite treatment for M. genavense disease. We conclude that M. genavense is a clinically relevant pathogen in severely immunocompromised patients that causes predominantly disseminated disease with serious morbidity and mortality. M. genavense is increasingly seen among non-HIV immunocompromised patients.

A systematic review of the effectiveness of interventions in the management of infection in the diabetic foot.

The International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot expert panel on infection conducted a systematic review of the published evidence relating to treatment of foot infection in diabetes. Our search of the literature published prior to August 2010 identified 7517 articles, 29 of which fulfilled predefined criteria for detailed data extraction. Four additional eligible papers were identified from other sources. Of the total of 33 studies, 29 were randomized controlled trials, and four were cohort studies. Among 12 studies comparing different antibiotic regimens in the management of skin and soft-tissue infection, none reported a better response with any particular regimen. Of seven studies that compared antibiotic regimens in patients with infection involving both soft tissue and bone, one reported a better clinical outcome in those treated with cefoxitin compared with ampicillin/sulbactam, but the others reported no differences between treatment regimens. In two health economic analyses, there was a small saving using one regimen versus another. No published data support the superiority of any particular route of delivery of systemic antibiotics or clarify the optimal duration of antibiotic therapy in either soft-tissue infection or osteomyelitis. In one non-randomized cohort study, the outcome of treatment of osteomyelitis was better when the antibiotic choice was based on culture of bone specimens as opposed to wound swabs, but this study was not randomized, and the results may have been affected by confounding factors. Results from two studies suggested that early surgical intervention was associated with a significant reduction in major amputation, but the methodological quality of both was low. In two studies, the use of superoxidized water was associated with a better outcome than soap or povidone iodine, but both had a high risk of bias. Studies using granulocyte-colony stimulating factor reported mixed results. There was no improvement in infection outcomes associated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy. No benefit has been reported with any other intervention, and, overall, there are currently no trial data to justify the adoption of any particular therapeutic approach in diabetic patients with infection of either soft tissue or bone of the foot.

Expert opinion on the management of infections in the diabetic foot.

This update of the International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot incorporates some information from a related review of diabetic foot osteomyelitis (DFO) and a systematic review of the management of infection of the diabetic foot. The pathophysiology of these infections is now well understood, and there is a validated system for classifying the severity of infections based on their clinical findings. Diagnosing osteomyelitis remains difficult, but several recent publications have clarified the role of clinical, laboratory and imaging tests. Magnetic resonance imaging has emerged as the most accurate means of diagnosing bone infection, but bone biopsy for culture and histopathology remains the criterion standard. Determining the organisms responsible for a diabetic foot infection via culture of appropriately collected tissue specimens enables clinicians to make optimal antibiotic choices based on culture and sensitivity results. In addition to culture-directed antibiotic therapy, most infections require some surgical intervention, ranging from minor debridement to major resection, amputation or revascularization. Clinicians must also provide proper wound care to ensure healing of the wound. Various adjunctive therapies may benefit some patients, but the data supporting them are weak. If properly treated, most diabetic foot infections can be cured. Providers practising in developing countries, and their patients, face especially challenging situations.

Candidemic complications in patients with intravascular catheters colonized with Candida species: an indication for preemptive antifungal therapy?

BACKGROUND: The impact of Candida-colonized catheter tips in patients without candidemia is unclear. METHODS: A retrospective study of patients with tip cultures positive for Candida was conducted over an 8-year period, to determine the outcomes in patients with Candida cultured from an intravascular catheter tip in the absence of preceding Candida-positive blood cultures. The primary outcome measure was definite candidemia. Secondary outcomes included possible candidemia and in-hospital mortality. A possible candidemia was defined as clinical signs and symptoms of invasive candidiasis without explanation other than a candidemia, but with negative blood cultures. RESULTS: Sixty-eight cultures from 64 patients were included in the study. Definite candidemia developed in three cases (4%) and possible candidemia developed in five cases (7%). In-hospital mortality was significantly increased in patients with definite or possible candidemia (63% vs. 22%, p=0.028). Risk factors for the development of definite or possible candidemia were catheter time in situ >8 days (odds ratio (OR) 6.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1-32.9) and abdominal surgery (OR 6.0, 95% CI 1.1-32.4). CONCLUSIONS: Intravascular catheter tip colonization in patients without preceding blood cultures with Candida is associated with candidemia in from 4% of patients (definite candidemia) up to 12% of patients (definite and possible candidemia combined). Considering the adverse prognosis associated with delayed treatment of candidemia, preemptive treatment based on catheter tip cultures might outweigh the disadvantages of costs and side effects of antifungal therapy.

Novel loci for major depression identified by genome-wide association study of Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression and meta-analysis of three studies.

We report a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of major depressive disorder (MDD) in 1221 cases from the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) study and 1636 screened controls. No genome-wide evidence for association was detected. We also carried out a meta-analysis of three European-ancestry MDD GWAS data sets: STAR*D, Genetics of Recurrent Early-onset Depression and the publicly available Genetic Association Information Network-MDD data set. These data sets, totaling 3957 cases and 3428 controls, were genotyped using four different platforms (Affymetrix 6.0, 5.0 and 500 K, and Perlegen). For each of 2.4 million HapMap II single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), using genotyped data where available and imputed data otherwise, single-SNP association tests were carried out in each sample with correction for ancestry-informative principal components. The strongest evidence for association in the meta-analysis was observed for intronic SNPs in ATP6V1B2 (P=6.78 x 10⁻7), SP4 (P=7.68 x 10⁻7) and GRM7 (P=1.11 x 10⁻6). Additional exploratory analyses were carried out for a narrower phenotype (recurrent MDD with onset before age 31, N=2191 cases), and separately for males and females. Several of the best findings were supported primarily by evidence from narrow cases or from either males or females. On the basis of previous biological evidence, we consider GRM7 a strong MDD candidate gene. Larger samples will be required to determine whether any common SNPs are significantly associated with MDD.