ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: To assess the incidence of seizures in acute ischemic stroke patients treated with chemical (tPA) thrombolysis. METHODS: Retrospective study including all thrombolysis patients treated in Calgary between January 1, 2001, and October 31, 2006. Descriptive statistics and age/sex-adjusted P values were calculated. RESULTS: Of 400 eligible patients (median age 74.0 years, range: 24-77), 16 (4%) developed post-stroke seizures: 10 (62.5%) within one week (early) and 6 (37.5%) after 1 week but within the hospital stay (late). Single-vessel anterior circulation involvement (93.8% vs. 87%, P = 0.34) and hemorrhage (37.5% vs. 20%, P = 0.15) were more common in those with compared to without seizures but did not reach statistical significance. Atrial fibrillation was more common in those with (56.3%) than without (36.1%) seizures (P = 0.04). Death during admission was more likely (P = 0.03) in those who sustained seizures (37.5%) compared to those without seizures (17.6%). CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort of tPA-treated patients, post-stroke seizures were associated with atrial fibrillation and early mortality.
Subject(s)
Brain Ischemia/complications , Seizures/complications , Stroke/mortality , Adult , Aged , Alberta/epidemiology , Atrial Fibrillation/complications , Atrial Fibrillation/mortality , Brain Ischemia/drug therapy , Cohort Studies , Female , Fibrinolytic Agents/therapeutic use , Humans , Incidence , Male , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Seizures/mortality , Stroke/complications , Stroke/drug therapy , Tissue Plasminogen Activator/therapeutic use , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
The design and use of polymerase chain reaction primers and probes as reagents for the detection of Cryptosporidium parvum are described. Sensitive and specific amplification of a 329 base pair product was demonstrated by ethidium bromide staining and hybridisation of radiolabelled probes. These reagents have the potential for application to diagnostic samples, environmental monitoring and epidemiological surveys.
Subject(s)
Cryptosporidium parvum/isolation & purification , DNA, Protozoan/analysis , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Animals , Base Sequence , Blotting, Southern , Cryptosporidium parvum/genetics , DNA Primers/chemistry , DNA, Protozoan/chemistry , Electrophoresis, Agar Gel , Molecular Sequence Data , Oligonucleotide Probes/chemistry , Sensitivity and Specificity , Species SpecificityABSTRACT
Blood and faecal samples were analysed in a study to evaluate the use of ivermectin in red deer hinds (Cervus elaphus elaphus). It was demonstrated that ivermectin, when used at 400 micrograms/kg bodyweight, proved to be more efficient than 200 micrograms/kg bodyweight although positive worm egg counts together with the isolation of lungworm (Dictyocaulus species) larvae were recorded from hinds having received the anthelmintic at the higher dose.
Subject(s)
Deer , Ivermectin/blood , Nematode Infections/veterinary , Animals , Deer/blood , Deer/parasitology , Dictyocaulus/isolation & purification , Feces/parasitology , Female , Ivermectin/administration & dosage , Nematoda/isolation & purification , Nematode Infections/parasitology , Parasite Egg Count/veterinaryABSTRACT
Elevated levels of radon may be found in well waters and individuals who ingest such waters may receive significant radiation doses. This paper discusses the experience of the Radiation Protection Service in using the E-PERM system for measuring dissolved radon in water samples.
Subject(s)
Radon/analysis , Water Pollutants, Radioactive/analysis , Water Supply/analysis , Radiation Monitoring/instrumentation , Radiation Monitoring/methodsABSTRACT
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis were tested on a number of psychological variables, including locus of control, cognitive style, general psychopathology and problem solving. Demographic data were also noted, including social supports and life events. Those people whose serum was positive for rheumatoid factor showed a negative style of thinking, particularly in relation to their illness, and they were more likely to believe in powerful external forces. There were no differences between these patients and those who did not have rheumatoid factor on the general measure of psychopathology, except that the positive group experience more phobias. This latter result is in contradiction to previous findings, and a number of possible reasons are discussed.
