Active myofascial trigger points in head and neck muscles of patients with chronic tension-type headache in two primary health care units in Tshwane

Background: The management of patients presenting with chronic tension-type headache (CTTH) can be challenging for primary health care practitioners. As with most chronic pain disorders, a multimodal management approach is frequently required. It has been postulated that myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) and its hallmark myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) found in specific muscle tissues may play a role in the chronic pain experienced by patients with CTTH. Little is known about the prevalence of MTrPs in patients with CTTH, in primary health care settings on the African continent. This study therefore aimed to investigate the prevalence of active MTrP’s in specific head and neck muscles/muscle groups in patients with CTTH.Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional and descriptive study was done in two primary health care facilities situated in Tshwane, South Africa. The sample included 97 adult patients with CTTH. Five head and neck muscles/muscle groups were examined bilaterally for active MTrPs. Outcome measures were the prevalence and distribution of active MTrPs in these patients.Results: Active MTrPs were found in 95.9% of the patients, the majority (74.2%) having four or more active MTrPs. The temporalis muscles and suboccipital muscle group exhibited the highest number of active MTrPs (prevalence 87.6% and 80.4% respectively).Conclusion: Our study suggests a strong association between MPS and CTTH in patients, presenting in the primary health care setting. This indicates the importance of a musculoskeletal assessment of neck and pericranial muscles in patients with CTTH. This can assist in determining the most appropriate treatment strategy in these patients.

TUBERCULOSIS CONTROL IN SECURITY CHALLENGED STATES OF NORTH-EAST NIGERIA. ARE THERE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT?

BACKGROUND

Nigeria in the past few years is faced with various security challenges in different parts of the country. The most severe in the last three years has been the crisis in northern Nigeria and specifically the north-eastern States, where three of the States have been under emergency rule for a year. Health care delivery system is usually one of the major casualties in a security challenged environment leading to unavailability or low utilization of services.The aim of this paper is to share the experience of TB services in states under emergency rule.

METHODOLOGY

A retrospective review of program data (reportable indicators for TB case finding,TB/HIV and treatment outcome for periods of eight years (2006-2013) comparing national data with north-east and the three states most affected by security challenges (Borno, Adamawa & Yobe).

RESULTS

A national positive trend on case notification for all forms of TB and smear positive, with a declined in 2011 but generally the case notification has remain low (59/100,000 in 2013 compared to estimated prevalence of 338/100,000). North east data is a negative trend for case notification and this is worse for 2 states (Borno and Yobe) while Adamawa shows and increase CNR from 2012 because of TB Reach active case, finding. Treatment success rate has a positive trend both national, north east states and in the 3 challenged states (TSR above 84%). TB/HIV indicators for north east are 81%, 75%, and 58% for HCT CPT and ART respectively, these figures has serious fluctuations within and among the three security challenged states with Borno most affected.

CONCLUSIONS

Insecurity can pose a challenge for TB control activities especially case finding, therefore the need for innovative approaches for case finding in areas of insecurity. Chronic infectious diseases like TB and HIV should be incorporated into emergency responses offered by organisations and agencies for internally displaced persons.

A novel assay to diagnose hereditary angioedema utilizing inhibition of bradykinin-forming enzymes

BACKGROUND

Hereditary angioedema types I and II are caused by a functional deficiency of C1 inhibitor (C1-INH), leading to overproduction of bradykinin. The current functional diagnostic assays employ inhibition of activated C1s; however, an alternative, more physiologic method is desirable.

METHODS

ELISAs were developed using biotinylated activated factor XII (factor XIIa) or biotinylated kallikrein bound to avidin-coated plates. Incubation with plasma was followed by detection of bound C1-INH.

RESULTS

After standard curves were developed for quantification of C1-INH, serial dilutions of normal plasma were employed to validate the ability to detect known concentration of C1-INH in the plasma as a percent of normal. Hereditary angioedema (HAE) types I and II were then tested. The level of functional C1-INH in all HAE types I and II plasma tested was less than 40% of our normal control. This was evident regardless of whether we measured factor XIIa-C1-INH or kallikrein-C1-INH complexes, and the two assays were in close agreement. By contrast, testing the same samples utilizing the commercial method (complex ELISA, Quidel Corp.) revealed the levels of C1-INH between 0 and 57% of normal (mean, 38%), and 42 samples were considered equivocal (four controls and 38 patients).

CONCLUSIONS

Diagnosis of HAE types I and II can be ascertained by inhibition of enzymes of the bradykinin-forming cascade, namely factor XIIa and kallikrein. Either method yields functional C1-INH levels in patients with HAE (types I and II) that are clearly abnormal with less variance or uncertainty than the commercial method.

Genitourinary small-cell carcinoma: a single-institution experience

BACKGROUND

Small-cell carcinomas (sccs) of the genitourinary (gu) tract are rare systemic diseases, and there is no standard treatment strategy for patients with this malignancy. The objectives of the present study were to report the management and outcome of patients with scc of the gu tract treated at a tertiary-care institution from 1982 to 2009.

METHODS

In a chart review of all patients diagnosed with scc of the gu tract between 1982 and 2009, data on demographics, clinical and pathologic characteristics, treatment, and patient outcomes were collected.

RESULTS

The 58 patients identified had scc in the following primary sites: urinary bladder (n = 35), prostate (n = 17), and upper urinary tract (n = 6). In 38 patients (66%), the scc was of pure histology; in the remainder, histology was mixed. Overall, 28 patients had limited-stage disease; 24 had extensive-stage disease; and staging was unknown in 6 patients. Median survival for the entire cohort was 7.5 months, with extensive-stage disease being identified as a poor prognostic factor (survival was 22.0 months for limited-stage patients and 4.1 months for extensive-stage patients, p < 0.001). Based on site, prostate patients fared worst, with a median survival of only 5.1 months. Compared with best supportive care, treatment was associated with better outcomes (median survival: 12.3 months vs. 2.3 months, p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Small-cell cancer of the gu tract is an aggressive cancer, with a poor prognosis overall. Although there is no standard of care, patients should be treated using a multimodality approach analogous to that used in the treatment of small-cell lung cancer.

Loss of caveolin-1 from bronchial epithelial cells and monocytes in human subjects with asthma

BACKGROUND

Caveolin-1 has emerged as a critical regulator of signaling pathways involved in lung fibrosis and inflammation.

METHODS

Therefore, we investigated whether caveolin-1 is deficient in asthmatic patients and in a murine model of asthma.

RESULTS

Immunohistochemical analyses of endobronchial biopsies showed a remarkable loss of caveolin-1 in the lungs of asthmatic patients compared with controls. This loss was most evident in bronchial epithelial cells and associated with an increase in the expression of extracellular matrix proteins: collagen I, tenascin, and periostin. Cultured primary bronchial epithelial cells of asthmatics had lower caveolin-1 expression compared with control cells. In addition, caveolin-1 expression was significantly decreased in peripheral blood monocytes from asthma patients. The loss of caveolin-1 was also observed in a mouse model for asthma (mice sensitized and challenged with aspergillus fumigatus).

CONCLUSIONS

To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration that the regulatory protein caveolin-1 is reduced in patients with asthma.

Gender differences in enrolment in an HIV-treatment programme in rural Lesotho, 2006-2008: a brief report

The southern African nation of Lesotho has an HIV seroprevalence of approximately 25%. To address the need for HIV care in rural Lesotho, a project called the Rural Health Initative (RHI) was launched in seven clinics in 2006. Data on enrolment were collected retrospectively and analysed for trends in gender enrolment over time. Of 6001 enrolled, 3904 were women (65.1%) and 2097 (34.9%) were men. When analysed by month of enrolment, there was a higher percentage of men enrolled in December compared with the other months of the year (χ(2) = 15.98, P < 0.001). This may be due to the migratory work of the men in the mines of South Africa and suggests a need for targeted interventions to increase male enrolments over the entire calendar year.

Quality-of-life outcomes in high-risk prostate cancer patients treated with helical tomotherapy in a hypofractionated radiation schedule with long-term androgen suppression

PURPOSE

We examined the impact of hypofractionated radiation therapy and androgen suppression therapy (AST) on quality of life (QOL) in high-risk prostate cancer patients.

METHODS

Between March 2005 and March 2007, 60 patients with high-risk prostate cancer were enrolled in a prospective phase ii study. All patients received 68 Gy (2.72 Gy per fraction) to the prostate gland and 45 Gy (1.8 Gy per fraction) to the pelvic lymph nodes in 25 fractions over 5 weeks. Of the 60 patients, 58 received ast. The University of California-Los Angeles Prostate Cancer Index questionnaire was used to prospectively measure QOL at baseline (month 0) and at 1, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 months after radiation treatment. The generalized estimating equation approach was used to compare the QOL scores at 1, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 months with those at baseline.

RESULTS

We observed a significant decrease in QOL items related to bowel and sexual function. Several QOL items related to bowel function were significantly adversely affected at both 1 and 6 months, with improvement toward 6 months. Although decreased QOL scores persisted beyond the 6-month mark, they began to re-approach baseline at the 18- to 24-month mark. Most sexual function items were significantly adversely affected at both 1 and 6 months, but the effects were not considered to be a problem by most patients. A complete return to baseline was not observed for either bowel or sexual function. Urinary function items remained largely unaffected, with overall urinary function being the only item adversely affected at 6 months, but not at 1 month. Urinary function returned to baseline and remained unimpaired from 18 months onwards.

CONCLUSIONS

In our study population, who received hypofractionated radiation delivered using dynamic intensity-modulated radiotherapy with inclusion of the pelvic lymph nodes, and 2-3 years of ast prescription, QOL with respect to bowel and sexual function was significantly affected; QOL with respect to urinary function was largely unaffected. Our results are comparable to those in other published studies.

Periorbital mass with cellulitis caused by dirofilaria

Dirofilariasis is a zoonotic disease caused by Dirofilaria, a parasite of domestic and wild animals. The disease is transmitted by inoculation of mosquitoes infected with the microfilariae during their blood meal. Accidental infection of man results in lung nodule, subcutaneous mass anywhere in the body or ocular lesion that may be subconjunctival or periorbital. The incidence of ocular dirofilariasis is on the rise in several parts of India particularly in Kerala. Here we report a case of ocular dirofilariasis with cellulitis presenting as a periorbital mass.