The Medical journal of Malaysia
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Ludwig's angina is a potentially lethal oro-facial cellulitis due to oro-dental infection. The aetiology and management of a case of Ludwig's angina are briefly discussed.
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A scoring system based on therapeutic intervention on critically ill patients called the therapeutic intervention scoring system (TISS) was used to assess the quantity of care provided in a medical intensive care unit. Besides observing the unit census, the severity of illness and the work load were studied. The survival rate was 77 percent. ⋯ The work load showed that a nurse can effectively manage two patients who together may accumulate 24 TISS points per day. TISS points per patient rather than bed occupancy is a better indicator of the nurse's work load. Admission criteria and procedures before death certification are outlined.
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Autoantibodies to the three extractable nuclear antigens (ENA), Anti-SSA (Ro), Anti-Sm, Anti-RNP and antinuclear antibodies were determined in 150 patients with SLE. Seventy patients (46.7%) had Anti-SSA (Ro), 40 (26.7%) Anti-Sm and 25 (16.7%) Anti-RNP antibodies. ⋯ Subclinical keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) was present in 60% patients. No correlation could be demonstrated between the presence of ENA autoantibodies and the clinical features of patients.