Lack of significant proximal esophageal acid reflux in infants presenting with respiratory symptoms

The effects of proximal esophageal acid reflux on upper and lower respiratory tract symptoms in infants with gastroesophageal reflux (GER) remain controversial. We studied 116 infants with either respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms to determine whether acid reflux in the proximal esophagus plays an etiologic role in the elicitation of respiratory symptoms in comparison to causing gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms only. Sixty-two infants (age range, 1-12 months) with respiratory symptoms suggestive of GER and 54 infants with gastrointestinal symptoms only (age range, 1-10 months) were evaluated with dual level esophageal pH monitoring. Mean duration of dual-level pH monitoring in infants with respiratory symptoms was 20.4 h, and in those with GI symptoms was 20.7 h. Seventeen of 54 infants with GI symptoms only and 16 of 63 infants with respiratory symptoms had abnormal distal esophageal acid reflux indices (i.e., pH <4.0 for >5% of the duration of study). In infants with abnormal distal pH monitoring, the median proximal acid reflux index in the GI group was 4.0% in comparison to 0.95% in the respiratory group (P < 0.01 by Wilcoxon rank sum W test). Values for other reflux parameters were also higher in the GI than in the respiratory group. We conclude that reflux-associated respiratory symptoms are more likely due to mechanisms other than the mere presence of refluxed acid in the proximal esophagus.

Aggression in psychiatric hospitalizations: a qualitative study of patient and provider perspectives

BACKGROUND

When the people hospitalized in psychiatric units demonstrate aggression, it harms individuals and creates legal and financial issues for hospitals. Aggression has been linked to inpatient, clinician and environmental characteristics. However, previous work primarily accessed clinicians' perspectives or administrative data and rarely incorporated inpatients' insights. This limits validity of findings and impedes comparisons of inpatient and clinician perspectives.

AIMS

This study explored and compared inpatient and clinician perspectives on the factors affecting verbal and physical aggression by psychiatric inpatients.

METHODS

This study used an interpretive theoretical framework. Fourteen inpatients and 10 clinicians were purposefully sampled and completed semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Six themes were identified at personal and organizational levels. The three person-level themes were major life stressors, experience of illness and interpersonal connections with clinicians. The three organization-level themes were physical confinement, behavioural restrictions and disengagement from treatment decisions.

CONCLUSIONS

Aggression is perceived to have a wide range of origins spanning personal experiences and organizational policies, suggesting that a wide range of prevention strategies are needed.