Urinary B-cell-activating factor of the tumour necrosis factor family (BAFF) in systemic lupus erythematosus

INTRODUCTION

We examined the clinical relevance of urinary concentrations of B-cell-activating factor of the tumour necrosis factor family (BAFF) and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

METHODS

We quantified urinary BAFF (uBAFF) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 85 SLE, 28 primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS), 40 immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) patients and 36 healthy controls (HCs). Urinary APRIL (uAPRIL) and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (uMCP-1) were also quantified. Overall and renal SLE disease activity were assessed using the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000.

RESULTS

uBAFF was detected in 12% (10/85) of SLE patients, but was undetectable in HCs, IgAN and pSS patients. uBAFF was detectable in 28% (5/18) of SLE patients with active nephritis vs 5/67 (7%) of those without ( p = 0.03), and uBAFF was significantly higher in active renal patients ( p = 0.02) and more likely to be detected in patients with persistently active renal disease. In comparison, uAPRIL and uMCP-1 were detected in 32% (25/77) and 46% (22/48) of SLE patients, respectively. While no difference in proportion of samples with detectable uAPRIL was observed between SLE, HCs and IgAN patients, both uAPRIL and uMCP-1 were significantly detectable in higher proportions of patients with active renal disease.

CONCLUSIONS

uBAFF was detectable in a small but a significant proportion of SLE patients but not in other groups tested, and was higher in SLE patients with active renal disease.

Are mesh anchoring sutures necessary in ventral hernioplasty? Multicenter study

BACKGROUND

Avoiding mesh fixation to the surrounding tissue in ventral hernioplasty would simplify the operation, decrease the time of the procedure, and decrease the risk of suture-related complications.

METHODS

Four hospitals included 111 patients according to the common protocol for prospective clinical evaluation of sutureless ventral hernioplasty. Surgical technique involves placement of the polypropylene mesh with flat-shape memory in either the retromuscular or preperitoneal space without suture anchoring.

RESULTS

Local complication rate was low (12.6%, 14 patients), postoperative pain measured according to the visual analogue scale was minimal (mean 4, range 1-8). Three recurrences (3%) were recorded. Mild scar discomfort, which did not require treatment nor limit physical activity, was recorded in 28 (25%), 18 (17%), and 11 (14%) patients at 6-month, 1- and 2-year follow-up, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Results of the study suggest that the sutureless sublay technique is safe and effective in the treatment of ventral abdominal hernia, especially in small and medium defects.

Gone but not forgotten: the search for the lost surgical specimens: application of quality improvement techniques in reducing medical error

A lost surgical specimen prompted an investigation of both the human processes and the systemic factors involved in surgical specimen handling regarding how health care organizations approach medical error prevention and patient safety promotion. Quality improvement techniques and the conceptual error model of James Reasons were employed to understand the interaction between the local process of specimen handling and the systemic influences to medical error management. Error management recognizes the inevitability of both individual and systemic error. Through the use of quality improvement techniques and models of error analysis, health care organizations can investigate the error potential of health care delivery and address the human and organizational interaction necessary to improve patient safety and manage medical error.

Comparison of attitudes toward transsexuality and homosexuality

Attitudes toward transsexuality and homosexuality were compared in a sample of 318 university students. More people felt that homosexuality was "wrong" than felt that transsexuality was "wrong". This difference in favor of transsexuality was more pronounced in female than in male respondents. In addition, more people rejected the notion that biological factors were responsible for homosexuality than was the case for transsexuality. General attitudes about the morality of transsexuality and homosexuality, however, were not mirrored in response to questions pertaining to job discrimination. To the contrary, male respondents, especially, were more inclined toward equal opportunity for homosexuals than for transsexuals. One hypothesis supported by this study was that homosexual denial and "homophobia" in some transsexuals may, in part, be a reflection of society's greater moral condemnation of homosexuality relative to transsexuality.

Psychological aspects of artificial feeding in cancer patients

Anorexia and weight loss are major physical and psychological problems for patients with cancer, and nutritional support has become an increasingly important part of cancer treatment. Reports discussing the psychological aspects of parenteral feeding have emphasized the importance of the nature of the underlying illness, but special problems surrounding the use of artificial feeding in patients with cancer have not been described. Patterns of emotional response to artificial feeding in such patients are most directly influenced by two interacting sets of variables: the diagnosis and prognosis of cancer, and personality characteristics of patients and family members involved. Typically, management problems result when demoralized patients respond to artificial feeding by becoming more passive, when independent patients struggle over artificial feeding in order to maintain a sense of control, or when anxious patients or families express fears about dying in the form of extreme preoccupation with eating and maintaining weight. An understanding of these patterns has specific implications for improving the patient's cooperation and quality of life.

Postpartum acute subdural hematoma; a probable complication of saddle block analgesia

The author present a patient who developed an acute intracranial subdural hematoma approximately 35 hours after an uncomplicated delivery under saddle block analgesia. The proposed mechanism is that of cerebrospinal fluid efflux through the lumbar puncture site during uterine contractions and straining; shift of the intracranial structures, especially veins; venous hypertension; venous rupture; and subdural hematoma formation.

Visible physical impairment and psychological adjustment among pediatric cancer survivors

Because psychological and psychiatric assessments of childhood cancer survivors have revealed a high rate of psychiatric sequelae, the authors investigated the relationship between the degree of physical unpairment resulting from cancer treatment and the psychosocial adjustment problems of survivors. Ratings of physical impairment were based on the visibility of physical residua as well as the functional limitations they imposed. The results indicated that the psychosocial adjustment of survivors is not significantly related to the severity of physical impairment.