Comparison of the effects of anesthesia with isoflurane and total intravenous anesthesia on the intensity of body temperature reduction during anesthesia and incidence of postoperative chills

This study compared the effects of anesthesia with isoflurane and TIVA (total intravenous anesthesia) on the intensity of body temperature reduction during anesthesia and incidence of chills after lumbar disc surgery. The study was done as a single blinded randomized clinical trial. From 60 patients who underwent lumbar disc surgery, 30 subjects were placed in isoflurane group and 30 in the TIVA group. Maintenance of anesthesia was done with isoflurane (MAC=0.8-1) and N(2)O 50% in isoflurane group and in TIVA group with propofol at the dose of 100-150 mg /kg body weight /minute and remifentanil at the dose of 2.0 mg /kg body weight/minute. Chills rate was recorded in recovery room. Changes in body temperature, body surface temperature, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and heart rate showed no significant difference between the two groups before and after induction and at different times during the operation (P<0.05). Chill rate was not significantly different between the two groups (P<0.05). It seems that TIVA (remifentanil at the dose of 2.0 µg/kg body weight/minute in combination with propofol at the dose of 100-150 µg/kg body weight/minute) and 0.81 MAC isoflurane-N(2)O 50% can be used as a safe method of anesthesia in patients with good tolerance lumbar back disc surgery without hypothermia, chills and considerable hemodynamic changes.

Assessment of pain after elective abortion relating to the use of misoprostol for dilatation of the cervix

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to compare the use of misoprostol to that of laminaria tents for dilatation of the cervix before a surgical elective abortion (EAB) during the first trimester, with regard to the pain caused (1) during insertion, for both methods, (2) immediately before the EAB, and (3) one hour after the procedure.

METHODS

One hundred two women were recruited at Clinique de planification des naissances du Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec, CHUL pavilion, between March 1, 2006 and March 1, 2007, for a tracking study. Fifty-three women were given 400 microg of misoprostol intravaginally, three to four hours before the EAB, and a laminaria tent was inserted in 49 women, 16 to 24 hours before the EAB. A visual analog scale was used to determine the pain score.

RESULTS

One hour after EAB, severe pain was reported in 6% of the participants who were given misoprostol. The pain score post-EAB was 3.8 times higher in women who were given misoprostol than in those who had a laminaria tent inserted (P = 0.004). The pain score during insertion of the dilatation method was 33 times higher with the laminaria tent than with misoprostol (P < 0. 001), and 30% of women who had a laminaria tent inserted felt severe pain.

CONCLUSION

While misoprostol may increase pain after EAB in a small percentage of women, it remains an efficient, easy to use, low-cost method for dilating the cervix before an EAB. It is one of the options that may be offered to women when a pre-EAB dilatation of the cervix is required, after discussing its benefits and disadvantages with them.

Subcutaneous anti-D treatment of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in children

We investigated the effect of subcutaneous anti-D IgG as platelet enhancing therapy in children with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Twenty-three children were treated with subcutaneous anti-D 50 microg/kg. The median platelet count increased from 7 x 10(9) to 31 x 10(9)/L on day 3 (P < 0.01). The median decline in hemoglobin was 1.3 g/dl. Two children experienced minor fever and chills within 24 hr of treatment. Pain at the injection site was common but self-limiting with no effect on activity level. These results suggest subcutaneous anti-D IgG 50 microg/kg as an effective and well-tolerated treatment option in childhood ITP.

Atypical histopathology in bowel-associated dermatosis-arthritis syndrome: A case report

Bowel-associated dermatosis-arthritis syndrome (BADAS) is characterized by a prodrome of fever, chills, and flu-like symptoms with subsequent skin eruptions, myalgias, and polyarthralgias. The syndrome was initially described following jejunoileal bypass surgery for weight loss. Histopathology of the skin lesions present in BADAS is described in the literature as identical to that of Sweet syndrome. We present a patient whose clinical history and physical exam were consistent with the diagnosis of BADAS. Dermatopathology in this case demonstrated a large subcorneal pustule without a significant dermal neutrophilic infiltrate. The histologic differential included subcorneal pustular dermatosis, bullous impetigo, or IgA pemphigus. The histology in BADAS may not necessarily be identical to Sweet syndrome, and the clinical picture alone plays an important role in diagnosis. The correct diagnosis of BADAS prevents a myriad of laboratory tests and allows for more effective symptom management in this chronic condition.

Chilliness: a vasomotor symptom in Japan

OBJECTIVE

To examine the differences between biomedical and Japanese women's concepts of vasomotor symptoms and the relationships between the symptom of chilliness (hieshō) and menopause status, other vasomotor symptoms, and environmental factors such as soy isoflavone intake and exposure in Japan.

DESIGN

Participants were healthy Japanese women, aged 45 to 55, living in Kyoto and Fukushima prefectures, divided into menopausal groups based on menstrual patterns. Women recalled 82 general health symptoms during the previous 2 weeks and collected finger-prick dried blood spots and matched 24-hour dietary records, which were analyzed, respectively, for isoflavone concentration by high-performance liquid chromatography coulometric electrode array detection and for soy isoflavone intake using a Japanese phytochemical database.

RESULTS

An examination of kōnenki (Japanese for climacteric) symptoms suggests that chilliness (hieshō), which was reported by 29.3% of participants compared with a range of 3.0% to 22.1% for hot flushes, constitutes an important vasomotor symptom. Chilliness prevalence differed significantly between premenopausal and other menopausal status groups, with positive correlations with other estrogen-influenced sexual-vasomotor symptoms and negative correlations with isoflavone concentrations. Negative correlations with soy isoflavone intake were also found for sweating, although not for nobose and hoteri (two Japanese terms for hot flush).

CONCLUSIONS

Chilliness seems to be a more important vasomotor symptom than hot flushes and sweats in Japanese women and may reflect differing thermoregulatory physiology, possibly influenced by dietary soy.

New-onset rheumatoid arthritis after anthrax vaccination

BACKGROUND

Anthrax vaccine was licensed in 1970 and is used to protect individuals exposed to biological warfare and those who may come in contact with Bacillus anthracis in infected animals or in laboratory settings. The current adsorbed anthrax vaccine is regarded as effective and safe. Adverse effects reported include fever, chills, myalgia, arthralgia, and nausea. Four cases of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) temporally related to anthrax vaccine have been reported. As the number of administered doses increases, a better understanding of its adverse events profile will be forthcoming.

OBJECTIVE

To describe another patient with RA temporally related to anthrax vaccination.

METHODS

A 42-year-old man developed bilateral knee stiffness and pain in all the proximal interphalangeal joints 5 days after receiving the first dose of anthrax vaccine. He reported chills, fever, and joint and neck pain, with a tender nodule at the injection site after dose 2. Hours after receiving dose 3 he experienced fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, and neck, hand, and shoulder pain. The vaccination series was terminated after the third dose.

RESULTS

Physical examination revealed moderate swelling and tenderness of his bilateral proximal interphalangeal joints. His complete blood cell count was normal; rheumatoid factor level, 198 IU/mL; erythrocyte sedimentation rate, 53 mm/h; antinuclear antibodies, negative; C-reactive protein level, 2.7 mg/L; and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody level, 168 EU. Radiographs revealed mild degenerative changes in his hands and knees bilaterally.

CONCLUSIONS

This case represents a fifth patient with RA temporally related to anthrax vaccine.

A Phase 1 Clinical Study of Intravenous Administration of PV701, an Oncolytic Virus, Using Two-Step Desensitization

PURPOSE

In a previous phase 1 study, adverse events, especially flu-like symptoms, were observed mainly following the first i.v. bolus dose of PV701, an oncolytic Newcastle disease virus. Desensitization to adverse events of subsequent doses occurred, allowing a 10-fold increase in the maximum tolerated dose for these doses. Although one-step desensitization (a single desensitizing dose with higher subsequent doses) addressed the tolerability of high repeat doses, additional testing was required to further improve tolerability of the initial dose. This study tested the hypothesis that two-step desensitization, using two dose increments before high repeat doses, would be well tolerated.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Sixteen adults with incurable solid tumors were enrolled. Cycles consisted of six PV701 doses over 2 weeks followed by a 1-week rest. Doses 1 to 2 were 1 and 12 x 10(9) plaque-forming units (pfu)/m(2), respectively, whereas doses 3 to 6 were escalated by cohort from 24 to 120 x 10(9) pfu/m(2).

RESULTS

No dose-limiting toxicities were observed, permitting dose escalation through cohort 4 (1, 12, 120, 120, 120, 120 x 10(9) pfu/m(2)). Mild flu-like symptoms were common following the first infusion, diminished with repeated dosing, and were less pronounced than those seen previously. Tumor regression was observed in a patient with anal carcinoma who enrolled with stable disease following palliative radiotherapy. Four patients with clearly progressing cancer before enrollment had disease stabilization of >/=6 months.

CONCLUSIONS

This novel two-step desensitization improved patient tolerability compared with the previous regimen. Toxicities were predictable and manageable. PV701, the first oncolytic virus to enter phase 1 i.v. testing, continues to show single-agent activity, warranting planned phase 2 trials.

Percutaneous Radiofrequency Ablation of Hepatic Tumors: Postablation Syndrome

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to define the spectrum and possible predictors of symptoms that occur in patients after percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of hepatic tumors.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

We performed 50 consecutive percutaneous radiofrequency ablation sessions on 39 patients with a total of 89 liver tumors. All patients had pre- and postablation laboratory studies and CT or MRI scans. After treatment, patients were followed for 3 weeks with a standardized questionnaire to assess for postablation symptoms. Comparisons of the presence or absence of symptoms were made for the laboratory test values, liver volumes, and pre- and postablation tumor volumes.

RESULTS

Postablation symptoms occurred in 14 of 39 (36%) patients after 17 of 50 (34%) ablation sessions. Symptoms consisted of fever (16/17), malaise (12/17), chills (6/17), delayed pain (5/17), and nausea (2/17). On average, the symptoms presented 3 days after ablation and lasted 5 days. Statistically significant (p < 0.01) predictors of symptoms were tumor volumes > 50 cm3 (4.5 cm diameter), ablated tissue volumes > 150 cm3 (6.5 cm diameter), a difference between preablation tumor volume and the volume of tissue ablated > 125 cm3, or postablation aspartate aminotransferase levels > 350 IU/L.

CONCLUSION

Approximately one third of patients undergoing percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of hepatic tumors develop delayed, transient flulike symptoms that can be treated conservatively and are significantly related to the volume of tissue ablated. Familiarity with this postablation syndrome should facilitate appropriate management of affected patients.

Identification of typhoid fever and paratyphoid fever cases at presentation in outpatient clinics in Jakarta, Indonesia

In Jakarta, Indonesia, over 80% of patients with typhoid fever or paratyphoid fever are treated in outpatient settings. In a community-based prospective passive surveillance study, we identified 59 typhoid, 23 paratyphoid fever and 259 non-enteric fever outpatients, all blood culture-confirmed. We compared their symptoms with the aim of developing a clinical prediction rule that may help direct empirical antibiotic treatment to cases with suspected (para)typhoid fever, rather than all febrile patients, or refer patients for additional diagnostic tests. Paratyphoid fever (Salmonella paratyphi A) could not be distinguished clinically from typhoid fever. Decisions on empirical antibiotic treatment and advice on hygiene measures in patients with suspected (para)typhoid fever should take into account chills and absence of cough in the first week of fever and delirium in the second week of illness. This prediction rule increases the likelihood of (para)typhoid fever from 1:10 in the first week to, at most, 2:3 in the second week of a febrile illness. However, we were not able to propose a robust clinical prediction rule that could be used as absolute screening method for decisions on additional diagnostic tests, because of the low sensitivity of presenting symptoms in (para)typhoid fever.

Chills in 'early sepsis': good for you?

We evaluated the predictive value of chills, bacteraemia and endotoxaemia for in-hospital mortality and survival at 5-10 years long-term follow-up in a prospective cohort of 'early sepsis' patients presenting with fever resulting from community-acquired pneumonia or pyelonephritis. Febrile patients with chills had bacteraemia more often (RR 3.1, 95% CI 1.8-5.4) than those without chills. Neither chills nor bacteraemia were significantly related to in-hospital mortality, but patients with endotoxaemia had a higher in-hospital mortality rate than those without endotoxaemia. Patients with chills had a significantly higher survival rate at long-term follow-up than those without chills on admission: the estimated risk of dying was 0.644 (95% CI 0.43-0.95, P = 0.029) for an individual with chills, compared to a person without chills, adjusting for the other factors [age cohort, underlying disease and the pro-inflammatory response in the blood, i.e. tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and blood leucocyte number, as scored on hospital admission] in the Cox proportional hazards model. Chills may characterize a patient subpopulation that upon pulmonary and urinary tract infection is able to raise a more rapid and/or efficient host response.

Tropenr�ckkehrerin mit papulovesikul�rem Exanthem und grippe�hnlichen Beschwerden

African tick bite fever (ATBF) is an infectious disease commonly observed in travelers to sub-Saharan Africa. Because the presentation of the disease is often not specific, ATBF is frequently not diagnosed or confused with Mediterranean spotted fever. We present the case of a 63-year-old woman with typical history and symptoms. The diagnosis of ATBF was serologically confirmed by immunofluoroscence. ATBF is an important differential diagnosis of fever in patients returning from sub-Saharan Africa.

Disseminated histoplasmosis in a nonendemic area

Health care providers in the areas where histoplasmosis is not endemic can benefit greatly from understanding the clinical presentation, diagnosis and management of disseminated histoplasmosis as patients from the endemic areas may travel to and require medical attention in areas of low disease prevalence. Use of effective diagnostic tools such as Histoplasma antigen detection can aid in providing timely and appropriate therapy.

Not just gastroenteritis: Thyroid storm unmasked

Establishing the diagnosis of thyroid storm is difficult in the ED, especially where there is no antecedent history of thyroid disease or clinical clues like goitre, exophthalmos or altered mentation, yet early recognition and treatment are essential in reducing mortality and morbidity from this endocrine emergency. We present a case where suspected infective gastroenteritis in a newly diagnosed diabetic masked the major symptomatology of thyroid storm, and review the diagnosis and management of thyrotoxic crisis.

[Evaluation of adherence to the regulations for declaration of notification of transfusion reactions with fever and chills. A study of the Association Inter-Régionale du Sud-Est d'Hémovigilance (AIRSEH)]

Febrile non-hemolytic transfusion reactions (FNHTR) are the most frequently reported acute adverse effects of blood products, and should be notified within 48 h according to the hemovigilance regulation. In order to study the conformity of these notifications and to search for factors associated with non-conformity, we retrospectively studied all FNHTR notified by voluntary centers of the AIRSEH group from 1st September 1994 to 31st December 1999. Seven hundred and sixty-one FNHTR were registered by 10 centers, most of them were benign (grade 1); 67.8% were non-conform. The non-conformity was associated with the number of biological investigations performed (median number, respectively, 4.24 and 2.94--P = 0.038--in non-conform and conform notifications--P = 0.038) in univariate analysis. Using a logistic regression model, center and severity were the only two factors significantly associated with non-conformity. Different center practices, and in particular the interface between the hospital and the blood bank, may be responsible for the effect center. Moreover, the non-conformity concerns first of all benign FNHTR. A stronger separation between alert and epidemiological surveillance is proposed in order to improve the notifications' conformity.