Improving resource utilization: Axillary lymph node core biopsy triaging for lymphoma

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the utilization of hematopathology resources within our enterprise on axillary lymph node core biopsy (AxLNCB) specimens, particularly those obtained in the context of breast cancer screening.

METHODS

The utilization of hematopathology resources was determined for all AxLNCB specimens over a 30-month period from across our enterprise, and chart review was performed for select patient demographics and radiographic features. The AxLNCB cases with benign histology were reviewed for subtyping of histologic patterns.

RESULTS

Of the total 594 AxLNCB specimens, 61.6% were benign and 38.6% malignant. Of malignant cases, only 9.3% contained any hematologic malignancy, yet 94% of all cases received tissue triage for lymphoma, and 81% were reviewed at least in part by a hematopathologist. Six clinical parameters were found to independently predict risk of hematologic malignancy: male sex (P = .041), bilateral lymphadenopathy (P = .004), diffuse cortical thickening (P = .005), lack of breast cancer (P = .001), older age (P < .001), and history of hematologic malignancy (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Our enterprise overused hematopathology resources in the evaluation of AxLNCB performed in the study period. Our process could improve from the application of a simple tool generated from this cohort to predict percent risk of the specimen containing hematologic malignancy using patient characteristics easily found via routine chart review.

TMS use in Depressive disorder in Youth

Introduction

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Disclosure

Tolerability of Ziprasidone Use in Children and Adolescents: A Prisma Model: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Introduction

Studies have demonstrated that Ziprasidone use may be beneficial in children. Determining its potential risks and benefits when used in children is therefore important.

Objectives

To examine the tolerability of Ziprasidone, an atypical antipsychotic, in children and adolescents.

Methods

We conducted a literature search of open label or randomized control trials that report on Ziprasidone use in children on three databases: Embase, PsychInfo and PubMed using the PRISMA guidelines of Systematic review and Meta-analysis. Out of 1690 articles, 11 studies met inclusion criteria. Outcome measures included adverse effects such as weight gain, increase in BMI, QTc prolongation, changes in metabolic parameters, sedation, and dizziness. We conducted a random effects meta-analysis and meta-regression of potential moderators. Publication bias was assessed with funnel plots.

Results

Data from Eleven studies was meta-analyzed (Total n= 474, mean age=12.87 years, male= 68..37%) that reported the use of Ziprasidone in children and adolescents with Psychosis, Bipolar, Autism spectrum disorders and Tourettes syndrome. Mean Ziprasidone dose = 84.40 mg and mean study duration = 2.85 months). We found that Ziprasidone was not found to cause any significant weight gain (1.72, p>0.05) or change in BMI (0.58 , p>0.05). QTc prolongation was found to be significant (11.9 , p<0.05). Most common side effects were sedation (42.44%), Nausea(19.32%), Headache (22.92%), fatigue (16.67%) and Dizziness (16.96 %).

Conclusions

Results demonstrate that Ziprasidone does not cause significant weight gain, however QTc prolongation and sedation were found to be significant side effects of Ziprasidone use. Therefore, baseline EKG and thorough history must be obtained before prescribing Ziprasidone in children and adolescents.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.

Efficacy and Tolerability of Ziprasidone Use in Children and Adolescents, a Systemic Review and Meta Analysis

Introduction

Ziprasidone is an atypical antipsychotic that has demonstrated efficacy for the treatment of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. There is some preliminary evidence for Ziprasidone use in children and adolescents with several open label studies and some randomized control trials, therefore it is advantageous to understand where Ziprasidone lies in the treatment algorithm of children and adolescents.

Objectives

The aim of our study is to examine the efficacy and tolerability of Ziprasidone in children and adolescents.

Methods

We conducted a literature search consisting of open label or randomized control trials (RCT) that report on Ziprasidone use in children on the PubMed database. We found 13 studies (11 open label and 2 RCT) that met our inclusion criteria. Our outcome measures included efficacy measures such as BPRS, YMRS, CGI-S and adverse effects such as weight gain, increase in BMI, QTc prolongation, sedation, dizziness and EPS.

Results

Data from thirteen studies was meta-analyzed (Total n= 560, mean age=13.16 years, male= 70.35% that reported the use of Ziprasidone in children and adolescents. We found that Ziprasidone was efficacious in children and adolescents in measures of BPRS (-13.493, p<0.05), YMRS (-14.225, p<0.05), CGI-S (-1.430, p<0.05). In measures of adverse effects, Ziprasidone was not found to cause any significant weight gain (0.164, p>0.05) or change in BMI (-0.159, p>0.05). QTc prolongation was found to be significant (13.122, p<0.05).

Conclusions

Ziprasidone is an efficacious in children and adolescent population. It does not cause significant weight gain, however QTc prolongation and sedation were found to be the most significant side effects .

Disclosure

No significant relationships.

Abstract P3-19-04: Minimal increases in tumor infiltrating lymphocytes despite excellent tumor responses after pre-operative accelerated partial breast irradiation in early stage ER+ breast cancer patients

Purpose/Objectives: Local immune activity as measured by tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) has been correlated with improved outcomes in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) and HER2+ disease. Furthermore, increased TILs after pre-operative systemic therapy for TNBC are also correlated with improved outcomes. However, the role of TILs in predicting outcomes in ER/PR+ breast cancer is less well-established. Radiation therapy (RT) can enhance immune cell infiltration in various tumors. However, breast cancer RT is typically given post-operatively, limiting the ability to determine whether RT enhances the %TILs in breast tumors. Here we report %TILs and tumor responses after pre-operative accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) as part of a clinical trial to determine whether RT enhances %TILs and whether this correlates with RT response. Materials/Methods: A breast pathologist assessed blindly the % stromal TILs and % tumor cellularity in biopsy and post-RT surgical specimens for patients treated on an in-house pre-operative APBI trial in patients with ER/PR+ breast cancer (NCT02728076). Patients received APBI to 30 Gy in 5 fractions on non-consecutive days, followed by surgery after no less than 5 weeks. Correlation between %TILs and pathologic response was assessed. Results: Thirty-five patients were enrolled and completed treatment. Median age was 65 (50-80). All patients were clinically node-negative and ER/PR+; one was HER2+. Median MRI tumor size was 0.9 cm (0.4-2.1 cm); 54% were grade 2 and 46% grade 1. 23/35 patients had 21- or 70-gene recurrence scores (RS), with 1 high RS; 2 patients received adjuvant chemotherapy and 33/35 received endocrine therapy after surgery. Most patients demonstrated robust tumor responses to RT, with 16/35 (46%) having &lt5% cellularity after RT. With a median cellularity at diagnosis of 40%, 27/35 (77%) had a &gt;20% decrease in cellularity, with only 3 patients having no decrease (range 0-59%). All tumors had low levels of TILs (median 5%, range 1-20%). There was minimal change in %TILs from biopsy to surgery, with 10/35 (28%) patients having increase of TILs &gt4%, 2/35 with an increase of 10%, 2/35 having a decrease of 10% and the remainder with no %TIL increase. There were no correlations between %TILs (at diagnosis or post-RT) and tumor response to RT or RS. Conclusions: Pre-operative APBI in ER/PR+ breast cancers did not significantly increase the %TILs after 5 weeks, despite leading to significant tumor responses as measured by % cellularity. Low %TILs were seen, with no more than a 10% TIL increase after RT. These findings suggest this RT dose and fractionation schedule causes only mild immune changes, as measured by TILs, in this mostly favorable cohort of ER/PR+ cancers. Alternatively, the timing of surgery may have missed maximum TIL levels. Further characterization of TILs along with further studies in similar cohorts and in other breast cancer subtypes are warranted and will be performed to examine the role of pre-operative RT on breast cancer immune responses.

Citation Format: Adam Currey, Julie M Jorns, Nina Desai, Tracy R Kelly, Joseph Bovi, Amanda L Kong, Anubha Wadhwa, Eric Paulson, Carmen Bergom. Minimal increases in tumor infiltrating lymphocytes despite excellent tumor responses after pre-operative accelerated partial breast irradiation in early stage ER+ breast cancer patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2021 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2021 Dec 7-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-19-04.

Architectural Distortion on Screening Digital Breast Tomosynthesis: Pathologic Outcomes and Indicators of Malignancy

OBJECTIVE

Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) has significantly improved cancer detection capabilities through its identification of subtle findings often imperceptible on 2D digital mammography, particularly architectural distortion (AD). The purpose of this study was to analyze of suspicious AD detected on screening DBT to evaluate the incidence of malignancy and to determine other patient or imaging characteristics in these cases as possible predictors of malignancy.

METHODS

This was an IRB approved retrospective analysis of subjects with AD detected on DBT screening mammography who were given a biopsy recommendation between January 1, 2016, and June 30, 2018. Univariate analysis of various imaging characteristics and patient high-risk factors was performed for statistical correlation with diagnosis of malignancy.

RESULTS

In the 218 DBT-detected AD findings with a final BI-RADS assessment of 4 or 5 on diagnostic workup, 94 (43.1%) yielded malignancy, 57 (26.2%) were classified as high-risk, and 67 (30.7%) were benign. There was a strong statistically significant association with malignancy in the cases with an US correlate (P < 0.0001). There was a statistically significant inverse correlation between malignancy and one-view findings (P = 0.0002). The presence of AD on 2D (P = 0.005) or synthetic 2D views (P = 0.002) showed statistically significant correlations with malignancy, whereas breast density or high-risk factors (P = 0.316) did not.

CONCLUSION

AD detected on DBT that persists on further workup and has no explainable cause should be considered suspicious for malignancy. Identification of the AD on both standard mammographic views and the presence of an US correlate significantly increase the probability of malignancy.

Ultrasound Quantification of Anterior Soft Tissue Thickness Fails to Predict Difficult Laryngoscopy in Obese Patients

Morbid obesity is associated with difficult laryngoscopy and intubation. In the general population, bedside indices for predicting difficult intubation (i.e. Mallampati classification, thyromental distance, sternomental distance, mouth-opening and Wilson risk score) have poor-to-moderate sensitivity (20-62%) and moderate-to-fair specificity (82-97%). In the obese population, although the risk of difficult intubation after a positive Mallampati test is 34%, it is still not sufficient to be used as a single predictive test. An abundance of pretracheal soft tissue anterior to the vocal cords, as quantified by ultrasound, was a better predictor of difficult laryngoscopy than body mass index (BMI) in Israeli patients. Obesity is a growing problem in the United States: therefore we sought to confirm this finding in the obese population in the United States. We used ultrasound to quantify the neck soft tissue, from the skin to the anterior aspect of the trachea at the vocal cords, in 64 obese patients (BMI >35). We assessed thyromental distance, mouth-opening, jaw movement, limited neck mobility, modified Mallampati score, abnormal upper teeth, neck circumference, confirmed obstructive sleep apnoea, BMI, age, race and gender as predictors. Twenty patients were classified as difficult laryngoscopy; they were older (47±9 vs 42±1 years; P=0.048; mean±SD) and had less soft pretracheal tissue (20.4±3.0 vs 22.3±3.8 mm; P=0.049) than did easy laryngoscopy patients. Multivariate regression indicated that none of the factors was an independent predictor of difficult laryngoscopy. We conclude that the thickness of pretracheal soft tissue at the level of the vocal cords is not a good predictor of difficult laryngoscopy in obese patients in the United States.

Dietary Intervention to Control Vitamin A Deficiency in Seven- to Twelve-Year-Old Children

The efficacy of a dietary intervention programme to control vitamin A deficiency through inexpensive, locally available sources of β-carotene was evaluated in 121 children 7–12 years old. The subjects were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. A three-day food intake was first recorded for each subject using a 24-hour recall method and repeated at the end of the study on a randomly selected subsample. The intervention period lasted one month, during which carrots, papayas, coriander, and mint were offered daily as sources of β-carotene. There was no significant difference in the dietary intakes of the groups before the study. After the intervention period, the serum vitamin A values of the experimental subjects were significantly higher than those of the controls. These results indicate that consumption of small amounts of inexpensive, readily available vegetable sources of β-carotene could help prevent and control vitamin A deficiency. Nutrition education programmes are needed to encourage the use of these foods for home consumption as well as in feeding programmes for schoolchildren.

Primary lymphoma of the breast: A case series

Primary breast lymphoma has been defined as localized involvement of one or both breasts with or without ipsilateral axillary nodal involvement, usually as a rare manifestation of extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. We describe three cases of this uncommon disease seen at our institution. Two of these cases presented as palpable breast lumps and one was screening detected. None of the patients had a prior history of lymphoma; only one reported B symptoms night sweats and weight loss. Diagnosis was established on ultrasound-guided core biopsy and no evidence of metastatic disease was identified. Even though the imaging features are not specific to this diagnosis, the radiologists should be aware of the clinical and imaging presentation of this rare malignancy to recommend appropriate management and establish radiologic–pathologic concordance.

Efficacy and safety of antidepressant augmentation of continued antipsychotic treatment in patients with schizophrenia

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of antidepressant augmentation of antipsychotics in schizophrenia.

METHODS

Systematic literature search (PubMed/MEDLINE/PsycINFO/Cochrane Library) from database inception until 10/10/2017 for randomized, double-blind, efficacy-focused trials comparing adjunctive antidepressants vs. placebo in schizophrenia.

RESULTS

In a random-effects meta-analysis (studies = 42, n = 1934, duration = 10.1 ± 8.1 weeks), antidepressant augmentation outperformed placebo regarding total symptom reduction [standardized mean difference (SMD) = -0.37, 95% confidence interval (CI) = -0.57 to -0.17, P < 0.001], driven by negative (SMD = -0.25, 95% CI = -0.44-0.06, P = 0.010), but not positive (P = 0.190) or general (P = 0.089) symptom reduction. Superiority regarding negative symptoms was confirmed in studies augmenting first-generation antipsychotics (FGAs) (SMD = -0.42, 95% CI = -0.77, -0.07, P = 0.019), but not second-generation antipsychotics (P = 0.144). Uniquely, superiority in total symptom reduction by NaSSAs (SMD = -0.71, 95% CI = -1.21, -0.20, P = 0.006) was not driven by negative (P = 0.438), but by positive symptom reduction (SMD = -0.43, 95% CI = -0.77, -0.09, P = 0.012). Antidepressants did not improve depressive symptoms more than placebo (P = 0.185). Except for more dry mouth [risk ratio (RR) = 1.57, 95% CI = 1.04-2.36, P = 0.03], antidepressant augmentation was not associated with more adverse events or all-cause/specific-cause discontinuation.

CONCLUSIONS

For schizophrenia patients on stable antipsychotic treatment, adjunctive antidepressants are effective for total and particularly negative symptom reduction. However, effects are small-to-medium, differ across antidepressants, and negative symptom improvement seems restricted to the augmentation of FGAs.

High risk of post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome in patients with Clostridium difficile infection

BACKGROUND

Infectious enteritis is a commonly identified risk factor for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The incidence of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is on the rise. However, there is limited information on post-infectious IBS (PI-IBS) development following CDI and the host- and infection-related risk factors are not known.

AIM

To determine the incidence and risk factors for PI-IBS following CDI.

METHODS

A total of 684 cases of CDI identified from September 2012 to November 2013 were surveyed. Participants completed the Rome III IBS questionnaire and details on the CDI episode. Predictive modelling was done using logistic regression to evaluate risk factors for PI-IBS development.

RESULTS

A total of 315 CDI cases responded (46% response rate) and 205 were at-risk (no pre-CDI IBS) for PI-IBS development. A total of 52/205 (25%) met the Rome III criteria for IBS ≥6 months following CDI. IBS-mixed was most common followed by IBS-diarrhoea. In comparison to those without subsequent PI-IBS, greater percentage of PI-IBS patients had CDI symptoms >7 days, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain during CDI, anxiety and a higher BMI. Using logistic regression, CDI symptoms >7 days [Odds ratio (OR): 2.96, P = 0.01], current anxiety (OR: 1.33, P < 0.0001) and a higher BMI (OR: 1.08, P = 0.004) were independently associated with PI-IBS development; blood in the stool during CDI was protective (OR: 0.44, P = 0.06).

CONCLUSIONS

In this cohort study, new-onset IBS is common after CDI. Longer CDI duration, current anxiety and higher BMI are associated with the diagnosis of C. difficile PI-IBS. This chronic sequela should be considered during active management and follow-up of patients with CDI.

Missed Breast Cancer: What Can We Learn?

Multiple studies have shown that screening mammography helps to reduce mortality and morbidity from advanced breast cancer. However mammography does have its own limitations, and unfortunately, there are a fair number of false-negative mammograms. We are all aware that the sensitivity of mammography is inversely proportional to the breast density. With many states passing mandatory breast density reporting legislation, there has been an emphasis on using additional and alternative screening methods such as whole breast ultrasound and screening magnetic resonance imaging. Many cancers are simply not detected on mammography, even in retrospect. However, many of the breast cancers are actually visible retrospectively on the prior mammogram. It is these small and often subtle cancers that are perceptible but often missed, that provide a valuable learning opportunity. Studying the imaging findings of cancers that went undetected is a good learning exercise for the radiologist to identify common patterns and mistakes that lead to a missed cancer. This allows the radiologist to improve mammographic sensitivity and overall diagnostic accuracy. This article discusses some of the limitations of mammography, common sources of error which may lead to an undetected cancer, and also discuss a few pearls to prevent these common errors.

To study the prevalence and profile of metabolic syndrome, levels of hs-CRP, Lp(a) and serum ferritin in young Indian patients (< or = 45 years) with acute myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVE

To study the prevalence and profile of metabolic syndrome, levels of hs-CRP, Lp(a) and serum ferritin in young Indian patients (< or = 45 years) with acute MI.

METHODS

A total of 80 subjects in two groups (40 cases and 40 controls) of age < or = 45 years were studied. Diagnosis of MI was made using the American College of Cardiology and European Society of Cardiology guidelines for acute MI. Patients were assessed for presence of MetS, diagnosed as per modified ATP III criteria. The anthropometric measurements (including height, weight, waist circumference) and sample collection for lipid profile, fasting blood sugar, hs-CRP, Lp(a) and serum ferritin were done after seventy two hours of admission.

RESULTS

The mean age for cases was 39.23 +/- 4.80 years and for controls it was 38.9 +/- 4.23 years. 19 (47.5%) patients out of 40 in group 1 fulfilled > or = 3/5 criteria for MetS while only 8 (20%) subjects in control group had MetS. Among five components of metabolic syndrome, increased waist circumference was most predominant factor followed by decreased HDL, increased TG, increased blood pressure and impaired fasting glucose. The mean value of serum ferritin was 279.33 +/- 46.69 mg in case group as compared to 245.15 +/- 56.94 in control group. hs-CRP (16.048 +/- 10.27 mg/l vs 1.8 +/- 1.6 mg/l) and Lp(a) (38.74 +/- 26.15 mg/dl vs 20.54 +/- 16.27 mg/dl) levels were significantly raised in cases as compared to control subjects.

CONCLUSION

The present study revealed high prevalence of metabolic syndrome (47.5%) in young patients with acute MI. Serum hsCRP, a diagnostic and prognostic novel marker of inflammation was also significantly elevated in cases. Its relationship with metabolic syndrome is also well established. Lp(a) and serum ferritin were also raised in cases.

An unusual phaeoid fungi: Ulocladium, as a cause of chronic allergic fungal sinusitis

Allergic fungal sinusitis (AFS) has been recognized as an important cause of chronic sinusitis commonly caused by Aspergillus spp. and various dematiaceous fungi like Bipolaris, Alternaria, Curvalaria, and etc. Ulocladium botrytis is a non pathogenic environmental dematiaceous fungi, which has been recently described as a human pathogen. Ulocladium has never been associated with allergic fungal sinusitis but it was identified as an etiological agent of AFS in a 35 year old immunocompetent female patient presenting with chronic nasal obstruction of several months duration to our hospital. The patient underwent FESS and the excised polyps revealed Ulocladium as the causative fungal agent.

Motor unit firing variability and synchronization during short-term light-load training in older adults

We compared motor unit synchronization and firing rate variability within and across synergistic hand muscles during a pinching task following short-term light-load training to improve force steadiness in older adults. A total of 183 motor unit pairs before training and 158 motor unit pairs after training were recorded with intramuscular fine-wire electrodes within and across the first dorsal interosseous (FDI) and adductor pollicis (AdP) muscles during a pinch task performed by ten older adults before and after a 4-week short-term light-load training program. Nine younger adults performed the same experimental sessions 4 weeks apart with no training intervention. Two-minute sustained contractions of 2, 4, 8, and 12% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) were performed with the non-dominant hand. The coefficient of variation (CV) of force was greater in older than in younger adults and was lower at the 2 and 4% MVC levels in both the finger (0.12 +/- 0.01 vs. 0.08 +/- 0.01, and 0.08 +/- 0.01 vs. 0.05 +/- 0.01, respectively) and thumb (0.11 +/- 0.01 vs. 0.08 +/- 0.01, and 0.09 +/- 0.01 vs. 0.05 +/- 0.01, respectively) compared to higher force levels following training in the older adults. There were no changes in CIS or k'-1 values following training. Motor unit firing rate variability significantly decreased at low force levels in the FDI muscle and also tended to decrease with training in the AdP muscle (p = 0.06). No changes occurred in the younger control group. These findings are the first to show that motor unit synchronization does not change during light-load training. Thus, it is likely that force steadiness in older adults improves by reducing motor unit firing variability rather than by changing motor unit synchronization.

Successful pregnancy in untreated limited Wegener's granulomatosis

A thirty four year old female presented with upper and lower respiratory symptoms in the third trimester of pregnancy. After the delivery of a healthy baby, the symptoms progressed to involve multiple organ systems and eventually a diagnosis of limited Wegener's Granulomatosis (Carrington-Liebow syndrome) was made. The extremely rare combination of WG and pregnancy, especially the onset of disease in late pregnancy is discussed. The successful outcome of pregnancy even without treatment of WG is the highlight of the case.

Candidemia--an under-recognized nosocomial infection in Indian hospitals

OBJECTIVE

To study the occurrence of candidemia as a nosocomial infection in a large Indian teaching hospital and to evaluate the predisposing factors for development of such infections.

METHODS

One hundred and one hospitalized patients that developed signs and symptoms of nosocomial bloodstream infections were screened for candidemia and were analyzed for the various predisposing factors like the age of the patient, the duration of hospitalization before the development of fever, neutropenia, use of chemotherapeutic agents, central venous catheters, broad spectrum antibiotics, infection with HIV, diabetes mellitus, use of corticosteroids, administration of total parenteral nutrition, haemodialysis, use of mechanical ventilation, hematological or other malignancies, underlying disease, and any surgical procedure performed on the patient. Candidemic patients were followed up for outcome and the effect of nosocomial candidemia on mortality was assessed and analyzed statistically.

RESULTS

Out of the 101 patients, seven patients had candidemia, an incidence in study population of 6.9%. Three (42.8%) were infected with albicans and the rest with non-albicans candidemia. All the patients with candidemia were admitted in the Intensive Care Units. Amongst the risk factors, the length of hospitalization (p = 0.018), broad-spectrum antibiotics (p = 0.045), central venous catheters (p = 0.005), mechanical ventilation (p = 0.0139) and total parenteral nutrition (p = 0.001) were found to be significantly related to acquisition of nosocomial candidemia. Mortality in the candidemic patients was influenced only by the age of the patients (p = 0.001). Although the mortality amongst the candidemic patients was twice as much as that of the patients not having this infection, still the difference did not reach significance (p = 0.117).

CONCLUSION

Candidemia is an important problem in Indian hospitals. Diagnostic delays could be shortened by more active screening for candidemia especially in the intensive care settings. The rising incidence of non-albicans candidemia in the United States probably is true here as well. There should be a concerted effort to control known risk factors especially in intensive care units.

Block-dependent sedation during epidural anaesthesia is associated with delayed brainstem conduction

BACKGROUND

Neuraxial anaesthesia produces a sedative and anaesthetic-sparing effect. Recent evidence suggests that spinal cord anaesthesia modifies reticulo-thalamo-cortical arousal by decreasing afferent sensory transmission. We hypothesized that epidural anaesthesia produces sensory deafferentation-dependent sedation that is associated with impairment of brainstem transmission. We used brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) to evaluate reticular function in 11 volunteers.

METHODS

Epidural anaesthesia was induced with 2-chloroprocaine 2%. Haemodynamic and respiratory responses, sensory block level, sedation depth and BAEP were assessed throughout induction and resolution of epidural anaesthesia. Sedation was evaluated using verbal rating score (VRS), observer's assessment alertness/sedation (OAA/S) score, and bispectral index score (BIS). Prediction probability (PK) was used to associate sensory block with sedation, as well as BIS with other sedation measures. Spearman's rank order correlation was used to associate block level and sedation with the absolute and interpeak BAEP latencies.

RESULTS

Sensory block level significantly predicted VRS (PK=0.747), OAA/S score (PK=0.748) and BIS. BIS predicted VRS and OAA/S score (PK=0.728). The latency of wave III of BAEP significantly correlated with sedation level (rho=0.335, P<0.01) and sensory block (rho=0.394, P<0.01). The other BAEP parameters did not change during epidural anaesthesia. Haemodynamic and respiratory responses remained stable throughout the study.

CONCLUSIONS

Sedation during epidural anaesthesia depends on sensory block level and is associated with detectable block-dependent alterations in the brainstem auditory evoked responses. Sensory deafferentation may reduce CNS alertness through mechanisms related to brainstem neural activity.

Interaction between pyrin and the apoptotic speck protein (ASC) modulates ASC-induced apoptosis

Patients with familial Mediterranean fever suffer sporadic inflammatory attacks characterized by fever and intense pain (in joints, abdomen, or chest). Pyrin, the product of the MEFV locus, is a cytosolic protein whose function is unknown. Using pyrin as a "bait" to probe a yeast two-hybrid library made from neutrophil cDNA, we isolated apoptotic speck protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (CARD) (ASC), a proapoptotic protein that induces the formation of large cytosolic "specks" in transfected cells. We found that when HeLa cells are transfected with ASC, specks are formed. After co-transfection of cells with ASC plus wild type pyrin, an increase in speck-positive cells is found, and speck-positive cells show increased survival. Immunofluorescence studies show that pyrin co-localizes with ASC in specks. Speck localization requires exon 1 of pyrin, but exon 1 alone of pyrin does not result in an increase in the number of specks. Exon 1 of pyrin and exon 1 of ASC show 42% sequence similarity and resemble death domain-related structures in modeling studies. These findings link pyrin to apoptosis pathways and suggest that the modulation of cell survival may be a component of the pathophysiology of familial Mediterranean fever.

Episodic evolution of pyrin in primates: human mutations recapitulate ancestral amino acid states

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF; MIM 249100) is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by recurrent attacks of fever with synovial, pleural or peritoneal inflammation. The disease is caused by mutations in the gene encoding the pyrin protein. Human population studies have revealed extremely high allele frequencies for several different pyrin mutations, leading to the conclusion that the mutant alleles confer a selective advantage. Here we examine the ret finger protein (rfp) domain (which contains most of the disease-causing mutations) of pyrin during primate evolution. Amino acids that cause human disease are often present as wild type in other species. This is true at positions 653 (a novel mutation), 680, 681, 726, 744 and 761. For several of these human mutations, the mutant represents the reappearance of an ancestral amino acid state. Examination of lineage-specific dN/dS ratios revealed a pattern consistent with the signature of episodic positive selection. Our data, together with previous human population studies, indicate that selective pressures may have caused functional evolution of pyrin in humans and other primates.

Large-dose oral dextromethorphan as an adjunct to patient-controlled analgesia with morphine after knee surgery

Dextromethorphan is a weak N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist that inhibits spinal cord sensitization in animal models of pain and also inhibits the development of cutaneous secondary hyperalgesia after tissue trauma. Perhaps coadministration of an NMDA antagonist with an opioid would lead to better pain relief, particularly with movement and an opioid-sparing effect. This has been shown for ketamine, but previous studies with dextromethorphan that have used small doses have shown only a modest reduction in morphine requirements with no or minimal changes in the postoperative pain experience. We sought to determine whether a large dose of this drug, just below the maximum tolerated dose, could potentiate morphine analgesia while simultaneously causing a significant improvement in the management of the postoperative pain experience. Sixty-six patients undergoing knee surgery were enrolled in the study. The study design was a prospective, randomized double-blinded comparison with placebo of 200 mg of dextromethorphan given eight hourly. Postoperative pain experiences were assessed by postoperative morphine usage. Visual analog and verbal rating scales were used to assess pain with movement as well as side effects. Dextromethorphan treatment led to a significant but modest reduction in morphine requirements (29.3% P < 0.05) but no reduction in postoperative pain levels. We conclude that increasing orally administered dextromethorphan to near maximum tolerated doses does not provide greater morphine sparing than 20-40 mg given 6-8 hourly as in previous studies. Furthermore we conclude that dextromethorphan does not improve pain scores in a manner expected of a drug with NMDA antagonist properties.

Nutritional status of the elderly

Elderly become vulnerable to malnutrition owing to inappropriate dietary intake, poor economic status and social deprivation. Elderly are known to be easily subjected to inanition and avitaminosis resulting in multiple nutritional deficiencies. Urban slum dwellers, rural poor and those living alone appear to be at a higher risk of poor dietary intake. Though food consumption patterns of rural and urban elderly show a distinct difference, these are greatly influenced by regional dietary patterns. The diets of institutionalised and free living elderly reveal adequate nutrient intakes except iron and vitamin A. The nutrients least adequately supplied in the diets of Indian elderly are calcium, Iron, vitamin A, riboflavin and niacin along with energy deficits. Changes in body composition which mark the onset of the ageing process, include decline in lean body mass and increase in adipose tissue. A high prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia has also been reported among Indian elderly.

Apraclonidine and brimonidine effects on anterior ocular and cardiovascular physiology in normal and sympathectomized monkeys

Apraclonidine and brimonidine administered topically to one eye of ketamine-anesthetized normal cynomolgus monkeys each produced a dose-related bilateral reduction in intraocular pressure which was not dependent on intact sympathetic innervation. Brimonidine was more potent and efficacious (10-12 mmHg maximum intraocular pressure reduction 2 hr after 200 micrograms) but produced a shorter-lasting effect than apraclonidine (4 mmHg maximum intraocular pressure reduction 1-6 hr after 600-1000 micrograms). Apraclonidine had little effect on pupil diameter, but brimonidine produced a dose-related bilateral miosis which was dependent on intact sympathetic innervation. Neither drug significantly affected refractive error. Topical brimonidine, but not apraclonidine, produced a dose-dependent reduction in mean arterial blood pressure, while both drugs lowered heart rate. A dose-dependent bilateral reduction in aqueous humor flow rate calculated over a 6-hr period following drug administration was produced by both topical apraclonidine (maximum 30-35% reduction with 600 micrograms) and brimonidine (maximum 30-45% reduction with 50-250 micrograms), which was not dependent on intact sympathetic innervation. Maintenance of blood pressure by intravenous infusion of angiotensin II had no effect on the aqueous humor flow suppression produced by 100 micrograms of topical brimonidine, but pentobarbital anesthesia abolished it. Intracameral injection of 10 micrograms brimonidine in rhesus monkeys produced an ipsilateral approximately 15% reduction in aqueous humor flow calculated for the 1-3 hr post-injection period. The cardiovascular and contralateral ocular effects observed with both drugs are presumably related to the monkeys' small body weight, and the magnitude of IOP reduction for a given degree of flow suppression would be greater in hypertensive than in normotensive eyes. Caution must therefore be exercised in extrapolating from our data in ocular normotensive monkeys to the glaucomatous human.

Congenital syphilitic hepatitis

Hepatitis is a known manifestation of congenital syphilis, however hepatitis developing during penicillin therapy is unknown. Ten patients of congenital syphilis were studied and serial liver enzymes were done before and after starting penicillin therapy. Eight of the ten patients developed hepatitis after initiating penicillin therapy. Whether hepatitis in these cases was secondary to toxic reaction to the products of treponemal lysis or an autoimmune reaction needs to be investigated.

Clinical, histopathologic & immunologic features of cutaneous lesions in acute meningococcaemia

Fifty children with culture proven acute meningococcaemia were studied during the winter outbreak of the disease in 1986-87. Purpuric lesions were seen in 60 per cent, erythematous papules in 32 per cent, faint pink macules in 28 per cent, conjunctival petechiae in 10 per cent and herpes labialis in 20 per cent. Histopathology of skin lesions showed that the primary damage was to the dermal vessels, the extent of damage depending on the type of skin involvement. Diplococci in Gram's stained sections were seen frequently in purpuric as compared to the other skin lesions. They were located in degenerating neutrophils, endothelial cells, fibrin clots or freely in the vascular lumen. Electron microscopic study showed vascular changes accompanied by a perivascular phagocytic response. Both light and electronmicroscopy indicated the involvement of the coagulative mechanism in the pathogenesis of meningococcaemia. However, clinical parameters of clotting were often within normal limits. In the case of a child (who died eventually), a low platelet count and prolonged coagulation indices were observed. Sera from some of the children were tested for the presence of antibodies against meningococci by indirect immunofluorescence. Antibodies were detected in the sera and they may have a role in regulating the severity and course of the illness. The significance of immunoglobulin deposits in the skin lesions is not clear.

Serum and urinary cation changes on acute induction to high altitude (3200 and 3771 metres)

Twenty subjects each were rapidly inducted by road to 3200 ad 3771 m. Serum and urinary sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium were measured during 10 d at high altitude. At 3200 m, only serum potassium increased significantly on the 10th day. At 3771 m, serum potassium did not increase. Serum sodium generally remained low, serum magnesium increased, while calcium decreased significantly. Urinary volume over 24 h decreased more and for longer duration at 3771 m than at 3200 m. Urinary cations did not change significantly at 3200 m. At 3771 m, sodium and potassium excretion decreased on days 1 and 3 later returned towards preinduction levels. Magnesium and calcium decreased throughout the high-altitude stay. Significant changes were noticed in serum and urinary cations on exposure to high altitude when adequate caloric intakes were not ensured.