Results of non-operative treatment following hip fracture compared to surgical intervention

We followed all consecutive hip fracture patients admitted between 2004 and 2006, identified cases in which the intention was to treat non-operative and compared their functional outcome and mortality with a similar cohort treated surgically over the same period. We recorded length of hospital stay, place of discharge, pre and post-fracture mobility and residence, 30 days and 1 year mortality, re-admission due to same fracture and delayed surgery. The group treated surgically was recruited and matched for age, gender, pre and post-fracture mobility, mental confusion and independence. 25 patients were treated non-operative. 22 patients treated surgically over the same time period matched the patient characteristics of the non-operative arm. The mean hospital stay was 13 days in both groups. There were 4 extra-capsular fractures (3 displaced) and 21 intra-capsular fractures (5 displaced) in the non-operative arm and 11 extra-capsular fractures and 9 intra-capsular fractures in the surgically treated arm. 4 patients from the non-operative treatment group underwent late surgery because of persisting hip pain 20 days-2 months after the index event (2 cannulated screws, 1 hemiarthroplasty, 1 total hip arthroplasty). 11 patients in the surgical treatment arm underwent dynamic screw fixation, 1 had cannulated screw, 1 had total hip replacement and 7 had hemiarthroplasty. 14 of the non-operative treated patients were mobile independently or with aid before fracture but only 9 patients retained their pre-fracture mobility following treatment, compared to 16 patients pre-fracture and 11 patients post-fracture after surgery. 16 patients treated non-operative were living independently prior to injury but only 7 went back to their own residence. Of the operatively treated patients 14 patients were living independently and 10 patients went back to their previous residence. 1 month and 1 year mortality in the non-operative treated group was 4/21 and 7/21 respectively compared to 1/20 and 5/20 in the operative fixation group. There was no statistically significant difference in mobility, residence or mortality between the two groups (Fisher exact test, p>0.05). Non-operative management after hip fracture is suitable for medically unfit patients and does not result in statistically significant difference in functional outcome or mortality compared to patients treated surgically.

Clostridium difficile in urology

INTRODUCTION

The objective was to determine the incidence of Clostridium difficile infection in a UK urology ward from 2000 to 2005, and correlate and compare the data with other specialty wards and national figures.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Urology patients with a positive stool culture for C. difficile between 2000 and 2005 were identified from a hospital database. The medical records of these patients were reviewed and data such as antibiotic use, urological diagnosis and elective/emergency status of the patient were recorded and analysed. The number of C. difficile cases on an elderly care ward, an acute medical ward and an acute surgical ward were also recorded for this period. Data on the number of admissions and occupied bed-days on all 4 wards were compared.

RESULTS

There were 33 cases of C. difficile on the urology ward between 2000 and 2005. The incidence of this infection varied between 10.2 and 48.4 cases per 10,000 patient episodes (mean 21.0). There was a significant difference between the number of C. difficile cases per 1000 patient days between the urology ward and the acute medical ward (P = 0.002) and the elderly care ward (P = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

There is no evidence to suggest that there has been an increase in the incidence of C. difficile in a UK urology ward. The rates on the urology ward were lower than the national average, and significantly lower than those rates on an acute medical ward and an elderly care ward. There is a 0.21% chance of a patient testing positive for C. difficile during their stay on a urology ward.

A systematic review of published evidence on intervention impact on condom use in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia

OBJECTIVE

There has been much debate about the value of condoms in HIV/STI programming. This should be informed by evidence about intervention impact on condom use, but there is limited compiled literature. This review aims to quantify intervention impact on condom use in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, in different types of partnership.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted of papers published between 1998 and 2006 presenting evaluations of interventions involving condom promotion in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Data on reported postintervention levels of condom use, and various measures of changes in condom use, by partnership type, were compiled.

RESULTS

A total of 1374 abstracts were identified. Sixty-two met the inclusion criteria (42 reporting significant increases in condom use): 44 from sub-Saharan Africa and 18 from Asia. Many (19) reported on condom use in commercial sex (15 significant), six on use with casual partners (three significant), 11 on use in marital/steady partnerships (nine significant), 14 on use by youths (eight significant) and 20 combined partnership types (11 significant). There is substantial evidence of interventions targeted at sex workers and clients achieving large increases in condom use. Far less evidence exists of intervention impact on condom use in casual relationships. In primary partnerships, postintervention condom use was low unless one partner was knowingly HIV-infected or at high-risk, or avoiding pregnancy. Evaluations of interventions targeting youths recorded limited increases in condom use.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings illustrate the range of evidence about postintervention condom use in different partnerships, and how patterns of use are influenced by partnership type and perceptions of risk. Where possible, intervention studies should also assess biological endpoints, since prevention of infection is the measure of most interest in the evaluation of condom promotion interventions.

Is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) necessary to exclude occult hip fracture?

The possibility of occult hip fracture in older patients after a fall is a common problem in emergency and orthopaedic departments. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning is the best investigation, but is expensive and may be difficult to obtain. The value of various clinical signs to determine which patients are at risk of occult hip fracture has not been reported. We reviewed all patients who had MRI scan for suspected hip fractures but had normal initial X-rays over a 6-year period. We identified 76 patients. Twelve patients were excluded. Two patients had MRI scan for suspected stress fracture and two patients had metastatic fractures. Eight patients had inadequate or untraceable clinical notes. Each patient's personal details, mobility, independence and detail clinical details were recorded. Following case review of 64 patients we excluded 5 patients with associated osteoarthritis of the hip joint, 1 patient with fibromyalgia and 1 patient with pre-existing multiple myeloma. Thirty-five patients had occult proximal femoral fractures. Of them four patients had isolated pubic ramus fractures and five patients had isolated greater trochanter fractures. Twenty-two patients had no fracture. The value of the individual tests was evaluated using Fisher exact and chi square analysis; with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons (10 tests) p<0.005 was deemed significant. Pain on axial loading of the limb and pre-fracture restricted patient mobility were both associated with the presence of a fracture (p<0.005). Both factors had identical positive predictive value=0.76, a negative predictive value=0.69 and post-test probability of disease given a negative test=0.30. Predictive values remained the same when both factors were considered together. Patients who were independently mobile before the fall and who do not have pain on axial compression of the limb are less likely to have a fracture, but these signs alone or in combination do not exclude a fracture. The clinical signs investigated cannot distinguish between patients with and without a hip fracture, and MRI scanning is necessary to establish whether some patients have an occult fracture.

Poverty is not the main obstacle for quality cancer care in diagnosed cases: Experience of 520 cases from Bangladesh

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Background: Cancer management is expensive everywhere. In the developing countries poverty is always blamed for as to be the main obstacle for quality cancer care. According to WHO report (globocan) 1.295 to 1.36 million people in Bangladesh suffer from cancer. Our health care service is not extensive to diagnose all these cases. A number of diagnosed cases do not get standard specific treatment of cancer. The objective of the study is to find out the main possible reason behind it. Methods: We made a prospective analysis of pre-diagnosis and post-diagnosis expenses using hospital documents & taken interview with specific questionnaire form of 520 cases regardless of age, indication and management who are treated from January 2002 to December 2005 in NICRH, City General Hospital & Bangladesh Medical College Hospital. We calculated the total expenses incurred to each case before specific diagnosis (EBD). These include all investigations, and non-specific treatment costs from the onset of symptoms up to the specific diagnosis. We have estimated the total expenses after diagnosis (EAD). This includes planned specific cancer management according to diagnosis. We made a ratio in percent between them (EBD/EAD×100). Results: 219 cases (42%) spent = 100% of EAD before diagnosis. 94 cases (18%) spent = 200% of EAD before diagnosis. The more this ratio, less the quality of management they could afford. Among them 349 cases (67%) failed to complete planned management, 57 cases (11%) failed to receive any planned management. Only 114 cases (22%) completed their planned management. Queries revealed that 78% patients who failed to complete planned management is due to their financial exhaustion for high pre-diagnostic expenses. Conclusions: We conclude that poverty is not the main obstacle for quality cancer care in diagnosed cases of Bangladesh. High unnecessary pre-diagnostic expenses, which result in financial exhaustion, is one of the major obstacles for quality cancer care. Further study is required to determine how to reduce the redundant pre-diagnostic expenses & find out other removable factors for quality cancer care in developing countries like Bangladesh.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Implication of human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2) over expression in treatment of breast cancer in developing countries—report on 250 cases from Bangladesh

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Background: Carcinoma breast is the second most common malignancy in Bangladeshi women. Though HER-2 over expression has profound effect on prognosis of breast cancer, no published data is available about this among Bangladeshi patients. Our aim in this study was to see HER-2 status in Bangladeshi patients, and their relation with other prognostic parameters. Implication of this molecular marker in management of breast cancer in poor country like ours remains controversial, keeping in mind the exorbitantly high cost of Trastuzumab. Methods: This prospective study was conducted in the department of Oncology at Bangladesh Medical College Hospital, National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital and Ahsania Mission Cancer Hospital Bangladesh, from January 2003 to December 2006. Total 250 women with breast carcinoma were enrolled; biopsy specimens were tested by immunohistochemistry to detect HER-2 status. For recommending treatment with Trastuzumab, patients with 3+ immunohistochemistry results were considered HER-2 positive. Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization (FISH) testing facility was not available. These findings were correlated with age, ER/PR and nodal status. The practical application of marker in terms of use of Trastuzumab was analyzed. Results: Age of patients ranged from 19.75 years to 72 years, mean age was 49.75 years. HER-2 was over expressed in 38.4 % (96) cases and their mean age was 42.92 years compared to 47.61 years in HER-2 negative cases. HER-2 positive cases tended to have higher rates of lymph node metastases (44 out of 96) compared to HER-2 negative (46 out of 154) cases (45.8 % vs 29.87 %). ER/PR was positive in 64 % cases. HER-2 over expression was inversely related to ER / PR expression. Of the HER-2 positive cases, 11.45 % (11 out of 96) afforded treatment with Trastuzumab. Conclusions: HER-2 is over expressed in almost 38 % of breast carcinoma patients in Bangladesh. This expression is associated with relatively young age, lymph node metastasis and lack of ER / PR expression. Only 11.45 % of patients with HER-2 over expression afforded Trastuzumab though 38 % of cases over expressed HER-2.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with docetaxel and cisplatin followed by concomitant chemoradiotherapy (CT-RT) in the management of locally advanced laryngeal carcinoma

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Background: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy has been used effectively in the treatment of locally advanced head and neck cancers. We conducted a study to evaluate the efficacy and adverse events associated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy schedule comprising of docetaxel and cisplatin followed by concomitant CT-RT from July 2004 to June 2006. Methods: 25 patients with locally advanced supraglottic laryngeal cancer were enrolled to receive docetaxel 75 mg/m2 and cisplatin 75 mg/m2 every 3 weekly for 3 cycles followed by one cycle of concomitant external beam radiotherapy (6000 cGy) and docetaxel 75 mg/m2+cisplatin 75 mg/m2 on day 7 of radiotherapy. All patients after completion of neoadjuvant chemotherapy were evaluated by CT scan and direct laryngoscopy and biopsy from any residual disease. All patients were followed up every month up to disease progression. Follow-up was done by physical examination and indirect laryngoscopy and by 3 monthly CT scan. Adverse events were treated mostly on outpatient basis. Results: Out of 25 patients, 9 had residual disease after completion of treatment and 2 had a disease relapse within 5 months of disease completion. The remaining 14 patients were disease free from a duration of 6 to14 months follow-up period. Median progress free survival had not been reached. 9 (36%) patients had severe mucositis and neutropenia while receiving concomitant CT-RT. 6 (24%) patients had grade III mucositis and rest 3 (12%) patients had grade II mucositis and all the 9 (36%) patients had grade III neutropenia. All of them were treated with G-CSF and prophylactic antibiotics. All the rest had grade I and grade II mucositis and neutropenia Conclusions: In our experience, neoadjuvant chemotherapy with docetaxel and cisplatin (3 cycles) followed by 1 cycle of concomitant CT-RT may be a good choice in treating locally advanced supraglottic laryngeal cancer. The toxicity profile was also manageable.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Asynchronous administration of xenon and hypothermia significantly reduces brain infarction in the neonatal rat

BACKGROUND

Neonatal asphyxia causes long-term neurological and behavioural impairment in the developing brain. Concurrent administration of xenon and hypothermia synergistically reduces long-term damage in a rat model of neonatal asphyxia. This study sought to investigate whether asynchronous administration of xenon and hypothermia is capable of combining synergistically to provide neuroprotection.

METHODS

Seven-day-old rats were subjected to right common carotid artery occlusion followed by 90 min hypoxia with 8% oxygen. After a 1 h recovery period, rats received asynchronous administration of mild hypothermia (35 degrees C) and xenon (20%) with a 1 or 5 h gap between interventions, xenon (20%) alone, or mild hypothermia (35 degrees C) alone. Infarct volume in the brain was measured 4 days after injury.

RESULTS

Administration of hypothermia or xenon alone, 1 and 6 h after the hypoxic ischaemic insult, respectively, provided no neuroprotection. Asynchronous administration of xenon and hypothermia at a 1 h interval produced a significant reduction in infarct volume [93 (7) vs 74 (8); P < 0.05]. Reduction in infarct volume was also present when hypothermia and xenon were asynchronously administered with an intervening gap of 5 h [97 (5) vs 83 (3); P < 0.05].

CONCLUSIONS

This finding provides a rationale for investigating the combined use of hypothermia and xenon in a progressive manner for the management of neonatal asphyxia. Thus, hypothermia can be administrated at the site of delivery and xenon can be administered later.

Prenatal exposure to thalidomide, altered vasculogenesis, and CNS malformations

Malformations of cortical development (MCD) result from abnormal neuronal positioning during corticogenesis. MCD are believed to be the morphological and perhaps physiological bases of several neurological diseases, spanning from mental retardation to autism and epilepsy. In view of the fact that during development, an appropriate blood supply is necessary to drive organogenesis in other organs, we hypothesized that vasculogenesis plays an important role in brain development and that E15 exposure in rats to the angiogenesis inhibitor thalidomide would cause postnatal MCD. Our results demonstrate that thalidomide inhibits angiogenesis in vitro at concentrations that result in significant morphological alterations in cortical and hippocampal regions of rats prenatally exposed to this vasculotoxin. Abnormal neuronal development was associated with vascular malformations and a leaky blood-brain barrier. Protein extravasation and uptake of fluorescent albumin by neurons, but not glia, was commonly associated with abnormal cortical development. Neuronal hyperexcitability was also a hallmark of these abnormal cortical regions. Our results suggest that prenatal vasculogenesis is required to support normal neuronal migration and maturation. Altering this process leads to failure of normal cerebrovascular development and may have a profound implication for CNS maturation.