Medicine
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Observational Study
Incremental cost of nosocomial bacteremia according to the focus of infection and antibiotic sensitivity of the causative microorganism in a university hospital.
To estimate the incremental cost of nosocomial bacteremia according to the causative focus and classified by the antibiotic sensitivity of the microorganism. Patients admitted to Hospital del Mar in Barcelona from 2005 to 2012 were included. We analyzed the total hospital costs of patients with nosocomial bacteremia caused by microorganisms with a high prevalence and, often, with multidrug-resistance. ⋯ This is one of the first analyses to include all episodes of bacteremia produced during hospital stays in a single study. The study included accurate information about the focus and antibiotic sensitivity of the causative organism and actual hospital costs. It provides information that could be useful to improve, establish, and prioritize prevention strategies for nosocomial infections.
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Observational Study
Radiological analysis for thoracolumbar disc herniation in spinopelvic sagittal alignment: A retrospective study.
A retrospective study aims to explore differences in spinopelvic sagittal alignment between thoracolumbar disc herniation (TLD) and lower lumbar disc herniation (LLD). A total of 185 patients included 26 with TLD and 129 with LLD and 30 asymptomatic volunteers in normal group (NG). Each individual took full spine X-ray to evaluate pelvic incidence (PI), pelvic tilt (PT), sacral slope (SS), lumbar lordosis (LL), thoracic kyphosis (TK), TK+LL+PI, TK/LL, and sacrum-femoral-pubic symphysis (SFP). ⋯ The LLD had a higher rate (59.7%) of type II lordosis (flat back), and the TLD had a higher rate (61.5%) of type III lordosis than other groups. This study implied that patients with TLD have higher LL, lower TK, TK/LL, and TK+LL+PI than LLD patients. We inferred that high LL combined with low TK may be the prospective factors of TLD.
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The goal of this study was to evaluate the potential relationship among polymorphisms of aromatic hydrocarbon receptor, aromatic hydrocarbon receptor repressor, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) susceptibility as well as the association among the polymorphisms of aromatic hydrocarbon receptor, aromatic hydrocarbon receptor repressor, and their expression. We performed a hospital-based, case-control study of 400 patients with RA and 726 healthy controls in Han Chinese populations. Two single-nucleotide polymorphisms were selected for genotyping including aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (rs2066853) and aromatic hydrocarbon receptor repressor (rs2292596). ⋯ We failed to find any association between rs2066853, rs2292596 genotypes and their expression of patients, respectively. No statistical relationship was found between aromatic hydrocarbon receptor, aromatic hydrocarbon receptor repressor at messenger Ribonucleic acid levels and clinical data, either. This study demonstrated that the polymorphisms of rs2292596 was significant with genetic susceptibility to RA patients; furthermore, it suggests the G allele of rs2292596 might be associated with a dangerous effect on RA in Han Chinese populations.
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Achromobacter xylosoxidans infection is mostly reported in immunocompromised patients. Until now, it is still rarely reported in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis. ⋯ Environmental investigation of suspected source contamination is warranted in those with A xylosoxidans infection. Once the diagnosis is made, removal of the Tenckhoff catheter should not be delayed.
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Case Reports
A case report of painless type A aortic dissection with intermittent convulsive syncope as initial presentation.
The initial presenting symptoms and signs of acute aortic dissection are so diverse that it makes early and accurate diagnosis arduous. Painless and convulsive syncope due to cardiac arrhythmia were not typical presentations of acute aortic dissection. ⋯ To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case that cardiac asystole may be related to painless type A aortic dissection and then leading to convulsive syncope as presenting symptoms.