Isolated non-hereditary angioneurotic oedema of uvula (Quincke's disease) in an adolescent

A 19-year-old primipara woman was admitted in labour with positive vaginal swab for group B Streptococcus and given benzylpenicillin and ranitidine. She used Entonox for pain relief. She received bupivacaine in the epidural catheter and shortly after developed sensation of foreign body in her throat with muffled voice and isolated angioneurotic oedema of the uvula. She responded well to H1 and H2 histamine blockers and steroids and epinephrine were kept as standby. She recovered well soon after delivery. Penicillin, Entonox or bupivacaine seemed possible cause of the Quincke's disease. Hereditary form was ruled out by normal creatine kinase and reaction to bupivacaine by C1 esterase inhibitor assay. It can be associated with spectrum of anaphylactic reactions and the resuscitation team should be alerted. Airway maintenance should be the primary management strategy. Most cases respond to observation, oxygen therapy and antihistamines with or without steroids. Epinephrine may be required occasionally.

Study of anxiety and depression in cervical cancer survivors

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Background: Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer related deaths among women in Korea. However, few studies have been conducted to elucidate the psychological distress of this population. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of anxiety and depression among cervical cancer survivors, and to identify factors associated with such caseness. Methods: A total of 832 cervical cancer survivors recruited from six large hospitals in Korea completed a mailed survey, which included the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30, and QLQ-CX24. Anxiety and depression were defined by a score of ≥ 8 on the HADS subscales. With a framework that included socio-demographic, clinical, and symptom characteristics, multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with anxiety and depression. Results: Among cervical cancer survivors, 34.3% reported HADS-defined anxiety and 39.7% reported HADS-defined depression. Anxiety was associated with having a lower income (OR=1.95, p=.021), smoking (OR=2.42, p=.002), poor body image (OR=3.26, p<.001), peripheral neuropathy (OR=2.21, p=.002), menopausal symptoms (OR=2.02, p=.004), and sexual inactivity (OR=2.35, p=.001). Depression was associated with younger age (OR=1.75, p=.006), having a lower income (OR=2.14 p<.001), drinking (OR=1.56, p=.050), poor body image (OR=4.59, p<.001), peripheral neuropathy (OR=2.34, p<.001), and sexual inactivity (OR=2.68, p=.002). Both anxiety and depression were influenced by socio-demographic factors, health behaviors, and cervical cancer-specific symptom characteristics rather than cancer- or treatment-related factors. Conclusions: Anxiety and depression were highly prevalent among cervical cancer survivors in Korea. This examination of risk factors for anxiety and depression will be helpful for the development of clinical management strategies in cervical cancer survivors.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.