Canadian Medical Association journal
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In an attempt to determine the relation between duration of coma and neurologic recovery following cardiac resuscitation 163 survivors of cardiac arrest from Winnipeg, Manitoba and Aarhus, Denmark were studied. The age of the patients did not influence the outcome. ⋯ The three who wakened after 72 hours had severe brain damage and required permanent care in an institution. It was concluded that recovery of communicative brain function is unlikely if coma persists longer than 72 hours after cardiac arrest and that full recovery cannot be expected after 24 hours of coma.
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This paper describes the medical services provided at an outdoor rock music festival near Toronto and reviews similar services at other outdoor concerts as reported in the literature. Between 0.5% and 1.5% of concertgoers were reported to have used medical services, proportions that may be useful in planning for future festivals. ⋯ Guidelines for planning are suggested that include recommendations about facilities, supplies and equipment, transportation and communications, staffing and procedures. The need for liaison with the concert promoters, the police, ambulance officials and local hospital personnel is noted, and the use of the nonmedical ancillary staff is encouraged.
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The prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in 14 347 Indochinese refugees was 11.6%; the rate was significantly higher (P less than 0.01) in males (14.0%) than in females (8.8%). Most of the HBsAg-positive refugees were in the age group 20 to 29 years. Antibody to HBsAg was detected in 50.9% of the males and 46.6% of the females, a significant difference (P less than 0.01). ⋯ The cumulative prevalence of one or more hepatitis B markers was significantly higher (P less than 0.001) in the males (67.3%) than in the females (57.5%). The hepatitis B e antigen and its antibody were detected in 54.8% and 39.2% respectively of 1050 HBsAg-positive blood samples. The adw, adr and ayw determinants of HBsAg were found in 23%, 35% and 42% respectively of 74 samples.