Schottky-enabled photoemission in a rf accelerator photoinjector: possible generation of ultralow transverse thermal-emittance electron beam.

We present a clear signature of the Schottky effect in a rf photoinjector using photons with energy lower than the Mg cathode work function. This signature is manifested by the shift in the rf phase angle for the onset of the detection of photoelectrons via single-photon absorption and allows for a reasonable estimate of the field enhancement factor. This is a viable method to generate an electron beam with very low thermal emittance and thus, a high brightness beam.

Oral rehydration solution containing a mixture of non-digestible carbohydrates in the treatment of acute diarrhea: a multicenter randomized placebo controlled study on behalf of the ESPGHAN working group on intestinal infections.

OBJECTIVE: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter study to evaluate efficacy and safety of a mixture of non-digestible carbohydrates (NDC) as an adjunct to oral rehydration therapy in treatment of acute infectious diarrhea in children with mild to moderate dehydration. METHODS: 144 boys aged 1 to 36 months with diarrhea defined as three or more watery stools per day for >1 day but <5 days with mild or moderate dehydration (World Health Organization criteria) were randomly assigned to receive hypotonic oral rehydration solution (ORS) (Na 60 mmol/L, glucose 111 mmol/L) with or without a mixture of NDC (soy polysaccharide 25%, alpha-cellulose 9%, gum arabic 19%, fructooligosaccharides 18.5%, inulin 21.5%, resistant starch 7%). RESULTS: Intention-to-treat analysis did not show significant differences in mean 48 hour stool volume (ESPGHAN-ORS with NDC versus ESPGHAN-ORS, 140 +/- 124 g/kg versus 143 +/- 114 g/kg; P = 0.41). Duration of diarrhea after randomization was similar in both groups (82 +/- 39 hours versus 97 +/- 76 hours, P = 0.24). There were no significant differences in the duration of hospital stay (111 +/- 44 hours versus 126 +/- 78 hours; P = 0.3). Unscheduled intravenous rehydration was similar in both groups (21.4% versus 16.2%, P = 0.42). CONCLUSION: In boys with acute non-cholera diarrhea with mild to moderate dehydration a mixture of non-digestible carbohydrates was ineffective as an adjunct to oral rehydration therapy.

Subcarinal foregut cysts. A unique clinical problem.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the risks associated with a subcarinal foregut cyst in a fixed mediastinal space. DESIGN: Between January 1, 1986, and August 1, 1997, 8 patients who had subcarinal cysts and who underwent surgical intervention were identified. These results were analyzed to identify associated symptoms and results of surgical intervention. Mean duration of follow-up was 37.3+/-2.2 months and was 100% complete. PATIENTS: Of the eight patients, three were men. Mean age was 45.6+/-15.6 years (range 24-66). All patients were symptomatic. Six patient suffered respiratory distress. Four patients complained of chest pain. Preoperatively, all patients underwent routine chest radiography. Six patients underwent computed chest tomography (CT); 4 patients had magnetic resonance imagery (MRI) of the chest. Cardiac echocardiography was performed on 4 patients and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) with or without esophageal ultrasound (EUS) was done in 4. Of 7 patients who underwent bronchoscopy, 6 patients demonstrated extrinsic airway compression. The remaining patient showed fistulous communication. INTERVENTION: Cyst dimensions ranged from 7.33+/-1 cm (mean+/-SD). Total resection of the cyst was accomplished in 6 patients. One patient with fistulization underwent right main bronchial sleeve resection. Histopathology revealed inflammation of the cyst in 2 cases and calcification of the cyst wall in 1. Fluid from one cyst grew gram positive cocci. RESULTS: Length of hospital stay ranged from 10.9+/-4.4 days. There were no mortalities. Morbidity included prolonged ventilation (1), pulmonary embolism (1) and left recurrent laryngeal palsy (1). CONCLUSIONS: Our results corroborate the need for surgical excision of subcarinal subtype cysts to prevent the development of mediastinal compression and other cyst-related complications.

Ineffectiveness and potential proarrhythmia of atrial pacing for atrial fibrillation prevention after coronary artery bypass grafting.

BACKGROUND: Atrial pacing is often used empirically to suppress atrial ectopy and prevent atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting. METHODS: To determine whether atrial overdrive pacing reduces atrial fibrillation and atrial ectopy after coronary artery bypass grafting, 100 patients were randomized to no atrial pacing (Control) versus AAI pacing at 10 beats/min or more above the resting heart rate (Paced), started by postoperative day 1 and continued through day 4. Major end points were new atrial fibrillation and frequency of atrial ectopy during the first 4 days after coronary artery bypass grafting. RESULTS: Atrial fibrillation occurred by day 4 in 13 of 51 (25.5%) Paced and in 14 of 49 (28.6%) Control patients, p = 0.90. Control patients who developed atrial fibrillation had significantly more atrial ectopy than those who did not. Atrial ectopy was paradoxically more frequent in the Paced group (2,106+/-428 versus 866+/-385 per 24 hours, p = 0.0001). Loss of capture, sensing, and consistent atrial pacing occurred frequently during atrial pacing. CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to prevailing opinion and practice, postoperative atrial overdrive pacing significantly increases atrial ectopy and does not reduce the likelihood of atrial fibrillation.

Lactobacillus GG administered in oral rehydration solution to children with acute diarrhea: a multicenter European trial.

BACKGROUND: The probiotic Lactobacillus GG is effective in promoting a more rapid recovery of acute, watery diarrhea in children with rotavirus enteritis. Very limited information is available, however, on the potential role of such agents in non-rotaviral diarrheal episodes. Furthermore, no evidence is available concerning the efficacy of Lactobacillus GG administered in the oral rehydration solution during oral rehydration therapy. A multicenter trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Lactobacillus GG administered in the oral rehydration solution to patients with acute-onset diarrhea of all causes. METHODS: Children 1 month to 3 years of age with acute-onset diarrhea were enrolled in a double-blind, placebo-controlled investigation. Patients were randomly allocated to group A, receiving oral rehydration solution plus placebo, or group B, receiving the same preparation but with a live preparation of Lactobacillus GG (at least 10(10) CFU/250 ml). After rehydration in the first 4 to 6 hours, patients were offered their usual feedings plus free access to the same solution until diarrhea stopped. RESULTS: One hundred forty children were enrolled in group A, and 147 in group B. There were no differences at admission between the groups in age, sex, previous types of feeding, previous duration of diarrhea, use of antibiotics, weight, height, weight-height percentile, prevalence of fever, overall status, degree of dehydration, and percentage of in- versus outpatients. Duration of diarrhea after enrollment was 71.9 +/- 35.8 hours in group A versus 58.3 +/- 27.6 hours in group B (mean +/- SD; P = 0.03). In rotavirus-positive children, diarrhea lasted 76.6 +/- 41.6 hours in group A versus 56.2 +/- 16.9 hours in groups B (P < 0.008). Diarrhea lasted longer than 7 days in 10.7% of group A versus 2.7% of group B patients (P < 0.01). Hospital stays were significantly shorter in group B than in group A. CONCLUSIONS: Administering oral rehydration solution containing Lactobacillus GG to children with acute diarrhea is safe and results in shorter duration of diarrhea, less chance of a protracted course, and faster discharge from the hospital.

Comparison of soy-based formulas with lactose and with sucrose in the treatment of acute diarrhea in infants.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of feeding infants a soy-based formula with lactose compared with a soy-based formula with sucrose during an acute diarrheal episode. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: Two hundred boys, aged 3 to 18 months, who were admitted to the hospital with acute diarrhea and signs of dehydration were randomly assigned to receive a soy-based formula with lactose or sucrose after initial rehydration. Intake and output (stool, urine, and vomit) were measured and recorded every 3 hours until diarrhea resolved. RESULTS: The stool output during the first 24 hours of maintenance therapy, the total stool output during maintenance therapy, and the stool output during the entire illness (measured in grams per kilograms) were significantly lower among patients who received the soy-based formula with sucrose (P<.05, P<.001, and P<.001, respectively) than among patients who received the soy-based formula with lactose. The duration of diarrhea was significantly shorter among patients who received the soy-based formula with sucrose (P<.001). The relative risk of being withdrawn from the study increased to 1.95 (95% confidence interval, 0.65-9.2) and the relative risk of recurrence of dehydration after feeding was initiated increased significantly to 3.49 (95% confidence interval, 1.1-9.6; P<.01) in the group receiving the soy-based formula with lactose. CONCLUSION: During diarrheal episodes, feeding infants a soy-based formula with sucrose has a better outcome (lower stool output, shorter duration of diarrhea, and lower failure rates) than feeding infants a soy-based formula with lactose.

Surgical correction for sinus of Valsalva aneurysm.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the efficacy of surgical correction of sinuses of Valsalva aneurysms, 24 patients operated on from 1974-1994 were reviewed. Mean age was 42.2+/-16.7 years; 17 were males. METHODS: Right coronary sinus was affected in 13 patients and noncoronary sinus in 8. Intracardiac fistula was detected in 16 patients: into the right atrium in 8; right ventricle in 5; left ventricle in 2; and left atrium in 1. Repair was performed via an aortic approach in 11 patients and a combined aortic and intracardiac approach in 13 patients. Suture closure of the fistula was via the aortic side in 10 cases and the intracardiac side in 6. Ten patients had patch closure via the aortic side. RESULTS: Follow-up was 92% complete at a mean of 8.4 years with 3 late cardiac and 1 noncardiac deaths. Eighty-eight percent of patients are in New York Heart Association functional class I or II; none underwent reoperation. CONCLUSIONS: Sinuses of Valsalva aneurysm repair have low operative mortality and morbidity risks with excellent early and late results. Surgical approach is dependent upon the presenting pathology.

Blunt traumatic rupture of a mitral papillary muscle head.

Severe mitral regurgitation developed in a patient after a lateral-impact motor vehicle accident. The papillary muscle head was disrupted without evidence of other myocardial injury. We hypothesize that a dramatic and sudden increase in intrathoracic pressure may have produced the injury. The patient experienced progressive heart failure and underwent successful mitral valve repair 9 days after the accident.

A double-blind clinical trial comparing World Health Organization oral rehydration solution with a reduced osmolarity solution containing equal amounts of sodium and glucose.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the safety and efficacy of an oral rehydration solution (ORS) containing 75 mmol/L of sodium and glucose each with the standard World Health Organization (WHO) ORS among Egyptian children with acute diarrhea. METHODS: One hundred ninety boys, aged 1 to 24 months, who were admitted to the hospital with acute diarrhea and signs of dehydration were randomly assigned to receive either standard ORS (311 mmol/L) or a reduced osmolarity ORS (245 mmol/L). Intake and output were measured every 3 hours. RESULTS: In the group treated with reduced osmolarity ORS, the mean stool output during the rehydration phase was 36% lower (95% confidence interval, 1%, 100%) than in those treated with WHO ORS. The relative risk of vomiting during the rehydration phase was significantly lower in children treated with reduced osmolarity ORS (relative risk, 2.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.2, 4.8). During the maintenance phase, stool output, mean intake of food and ORS, duration of diarrhea, and weight gain were similar in the treatment groups. The relative risk of treatment failure (need for unscheduled administration of intravenous fluids) was significantly increased in children receiving standard WHO ORS (relative risk, 7.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.1, 60.9). The mean serum sodium concentration at 24 hours was significantly lower in children receiving the reduced osmolarity ORS solution (134 +/- 6 mEq/L) than in children receiving the standard WHO ORS (138 +/- 7 mEq/L) (p < 0.001). The relative risk of the development or worsening of hyponatremia was not increased in children given the reduced osmolarity ORS, and urine output was similar in the treatment groups. CONCLUSION: The reduced osmolarity ORS has beneficial effects on the clinical course of acute diarrhea in children by reducing stool output, and the proportion of children with vomiting during the rehydration phase, and by reducing the need for supplemental intravenous therapy. These results provide support for the use of a reduced osmolarity ORS in children with acute noncholera diarrhea.

PIP: Between July 1993 and March 1994, clinical researchers in Egypt enrolled 190 male children aged 1-24 months with acute diarrhea at the Abu El Reeche Hospital in Cairo in a randomized double-blind clinical trial to evaluate the relative efficacy of a reduced osmolarity oral rehydration solution (ORS) containing 75 mmol/l of both sodium and glucose (total osmolarity, 245 vs. 311 mmol/l for the standard ORS recommended by the World Health Organization and UNICEF) for treating acute noncholera diarrhea. They measured intake and output every three hours. Over the entire course of the study, the mean stool output was significantly lower in the reduced osmolarity ORS group than the standard ORS group (4.3 vs. 5 g/kg/hour; p 0.05). During the rehydration phase, the mean stool output was 36% lower in the reduced osmolarity ORS group than in the standard ORS group (p 0.05). The proportion of children vomiting during rehydration was much lower in the reduced osmolarity ORS group than the standard ORS group (17% vs. 33%; relative risk [RR] = 2.4; p 0.01). During the maintenance phase, the two groups shared similar stool output, mean intake of food and ORS, duration of diarrhea, and weight gain. Treatment failure was significantly more common in the standard ORS group than the reduced osmolarity ORS group (8% vs. 1%; RR = 7.9; p 0.01). The mean serum sodium level at 24 hours were much lower in the reduced osmolarity ORS group (134 vs. 138 mEq/l; p 0.001) but remained within the normal range in both groups. Children in both groups developed hyponatremia or their hyponatremia worsened at the same rate. Urine output was about the same in both groups. These findings suggest that the reduced osmolarity ORS has advantages over the standard ORS as a treatment for acute noncholera diarrhea. This safe and effective rehydration treatment reduces stool output and vomiting during rehydration as well as reduces the need for supplemental intravenous therapy.