The Netherlands journal of medicine
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The Early Warning Score (EWS) is used for early detection of deteriorating vital parameters and has been correlated with adverse outcomes. Unfortunately, neither its value on general wards nor the optimal cut-off value have been investigated. We aimed to find the optimal cut-off value for EWS on general wards, and investigated the possibility to raise this value from EWS ≥ 3 without compromising sensitivity too much. ⋯ Raising the EWS threshold to 4 on general wards in the hospital would lead to an unacceptable decrease in sensitivity. Therefore, we recommend that the pre-defined cut-off should remain 3, with the possibility to personalise the threshold.
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The global obesity epidemic is also affecting the Netherlands, paralleled by a proportional increase in the number of morbidly obese persons. Bariatric surgery has been included as a treatment for morbid obesity in the Dutch Guideline for Obesity (2008). Nonetheless, bariatric surgery is applied in only a limited number of morbidly obese subjects in the Netherlands. Based on the most recent literature and Dutch statistics, this review provides a summary of current knowledge on the impact of obesity on health and health care and highlights the effective role of bariatric surgery in reducing this threat to public health.
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Megestrol acetate (MA) is a progestational agent for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer and endometrial cancer. MA has also been used to promote weight gain in malnourished elderly patients, in patients with immunodeficiency virus and in cancer-induced cachexia. In addition to thromboembolic disease, MA may induce hyperglycaemia, osteoporosis, suppression of the gonadal axis, and Cushing's syndrome. ⋯ The patients were treated with cortisone acetate supplements, had clear evidence of HPA-axis suppression but recovered fully after MA was discontinued. Patients receiving MA might have an inadequate adrenal response during stressful conditions, possibly because 160-320 mg MA daily may not provide adequate protection to prevent the symptoms of adrenal insufficiency. The adverse MA effect on the HPA axis is probably not well recognised in clinical practice, and clinicians need an increased awareness of the endocrine complications secondary to MA treatment.