Mouse models of deep vein thrombosis.

The pathogenesis of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is still not completely understood. Experimental animals in which human deep vein thrombosis can be modeled are useful tools to investigate the pathogenesis of VTE. Besides the availability of transgenic and genetically modified mice, the use of high frequency ultrasound and intravital microscopy plays an important role in identifying thrombotic processes in mouse models. In this article, an overview about the application of various new technologies and existing mouse models is provided, and the impact of venous side branches on deep vein thrombosis in the mouse model is discussed.

Patient satisfaction in cardiology after cardiac catheterization : Effects of treatment outcome, visit characteristics, and perception of received care.

BACKGROUND: Patient satisfaction is a key indicator for quality of care. However, recent data on determinants of satisfaction in invasive cardiology are lacking. Hence this study was conducted to identify determinants of patient satisfaction after hospitalization for cardiac catheterization. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data were obtained from 811 randomly selected patients discharged from ten hospitals responding to a mailed post-visit questionnaire. The satisfaction dimension was measured with a validated 42-item inventory assessing demographic and visit characteristics as well as medical, organizational, and service aspects of received care. Bivariate and multivariate statistical analyses were performed to identify predictors of satisfaction. RESULTS: Patients were most satisfied with the kindness of medical practitioners and nurses. The lowest ratings were observed for discharge procedures and instructions. Multivariate analysis revealed five predictors of satisfaction: treatment outcome (OR, 2.14), individualized medical care (OR, 1.64), clear reply to patient's inquiries by physicians (OR, 1.63), kindness of nonmedical professionals (OR, 3.01), and room amenities (OR, 2.02). No association between demographic data and overall satisfaction was observed. CONCLUSION: Five key determinants that can be addressed by health-care providers in order to improve patient satisfaction were identified. Our findings highlight the importance of the communicational behavior of health-care professionals and the transparency of discharge management.

Long-term extracorporeal bilirubin elimination: A case report on cascade resin plasmaperfusion.

Acute hepatic failure develops as a disease entity of rather diverse origin. With disease progression, toxic bilirubin levels may cause severe complications which include AV-nodal blockage, cardiac arrhythmia, impaired consciousness, generalized seizures, and status epilepticus. Treatment choices to prevent clinical deterioration comprise of costly and limited available orthotopic liver transplantation, utilization of extracorporeal bioartificial liver support devices and haemoperfusion/plasmaperfusion treatment with activated charcoal/anion exchange filters. Here, we present a patient with acute drug-induced cholestatic hepatitis. Excessively elevated bilirubin levels were accompanied by cardiac and cerebral complications. Extracorporeal resin perfusion treatment (Plasorba, BR-350) was successfully performed over a 50-day period without activation of the coagulation system or side effects. Bilirubin levels were lowered to a minimum of 225 micromol/l, with concurrent clinical improvement. In conclusion, extracorporeal anion exchange plasmaperfusion may be a viable long-term treatment for hyperbilirubinaemic side effects in overt cholestatic hepatitis.

Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome in an immunocompromised adult.

Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome, a generalized exfoliative dermatitis complicating infections by exfoliative toxin-producing strains of Staphylococcus aureus, is rarely observed in adults. In contrast to mortality in infants, mortality in adults is usually high. A case of generalized staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome in an immunocompromised woman is reported. Culture of skin biopsy and pleural fluid yielded identical strains of staphylococcus aureus belonging to phage group II. Exfoliative toxins A and B were detected in both isolates. As far as can be determined, this is the first reported case of generalized staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome in an adult with detection of exfoliate toxins A and B in which the patient was treated successfully.

[Lemierre's post-tonsillitis sepsis with meningitis and intravascular consumption coagulopathy as complication of infectious mononucleosis with pansinusitis]. / Postangina-Sepsis Lemierre mit Meningitis und intravasaler Verbrauchskoagulopathie als Komplikation einer infektiösen Mononukleose mit Pansinusitis.

HISTORY AND CLINICAL FINDINGS: 24 days after the onset of infectious mononucleosis, clinically and serologically confirmed, an otherwise healthy 18-year-old schoolboy developed a fulminant septicaemia with acute meningitis and loss of consciousness, consumptive coagulopathy and acute renal failure. INVESTIGATIONS: Computed tomography demonstrated pansinusitis. Lumbar puncture produced purulent cerebrospinal fluid with 11,500 cells/microliters, predominantly granulocytes, protein 205 mg/dl, glucose 19 mg/dl, indicating bacterial meningitis. The suspected diagnosis of posttonsillitis septicaemia (Lemierre's syndrome) was confirmed by repeated demonstration of fusiform gram-negative bacteria in anaerobic blood cultures, identified as Fusobacterium necrophorum. Anaerobic CSF culture grew Prevotella bivia of the Bacteroidaceae family. TREATMENT AND COURSE: Both the consumptive coagulopathy and the renal failure were successfully treated and the patient's condition stabilized. The sinuses were surgically drained under high doses of piperacillin/sulbactam and chloramphenicol. Despite the sensitivity of the cultured bacteria to the administered antibiotics the septic temperature continued, but disappeared within 4 days of metronidazole having been added. After 5 weeks of antibiotic treatment, three of them in an intensive care unit, the patient was discharged in good general condition. CONCLUSION: This case illustrates that severe septicaemia caused by rare bacteria may follow an attack of infectious mononucleosis which had taken an uncomplicated course.

[Change in diagnostic and therapeutic viewpoints: integrated perspectives]. / Diagnostische und therapeutische Sichtweisen im Wandel: Integrative Perspektiven.

Child and juvenile psychiatry is, as a medical discipline, made up of many fields. Explanatory models and attempts at understanding based on the natural and biological sciences and on the humane sciences call for a high degree of integrative willingness and ability. The same is particularly true within the field for the area of therapy. Following references to the development of the discipline and of the possible misunderstandings involved in an interpretation of the term "integration", the author makes reference to the dialogue-like structure of integration. The variety within and over-all structure of the field cannot be regarded as a unit by changing the level of perception, but they can be linked in an integrated whole.

[The child and the otolaryngologist (author's transl)]. / Das Kind beim Hals-Nasen-Ohrenarzt--Erwartungen und Realität

Figments of imagination and previous experiences enter into each clinic room emotional situation, and the apprehensions of the child, the parent and the doctor must be anticipated and acknowledged. The possibility of conflict should thus diminish. Awareness of the child's reaction and consideration of this should be the basis of doctor-patient rapport rather than physician authority. This article discusses with several illustrations the special situation of the ENT specialist.