Peritoneal Sarcoidosis Mimicking Peritoneal Tuberculosis and Advanced Ovarian Carcinoma.

Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease that affects one or multiple organs, most commonly the lungs and lymph nodes. This disease can present in a variety of ways which often makes diagnosis difficult. A 54-year-old postmenopausal African American female with a history of omental carcinomatosis of unknown origin was referred to the gynecology-oncology service at a local community hospital following a laparoscopic incarcerated hernia repair where multiple abdominal lesions suspicious of ovarian carcinomatosis were visualized. She was brought to the operating room for a diagnostic laparoscopy at which point the intra-abdominal survey revealed white tubercle-like lesions that were consistent with peritoneal tuberculosis. The lesions were excised and sent to pathology. The omentum biopsy was originally reported as adipose tissue showing focal fibrosis, focal mild acute inflammation, few cyst formation, and multiple granulomatous chronic inflammation, with multinucleated giant cells. Periodic acid-Schiff stain and acid fast bacilli stain were negative, and a diagnosis of peritoneal tuberculosis was made. The patient was started on an antituberculosis treatment regimen; however, she was not improving. The pathology slides were reexamined and revealed nonnecrotizing granulomatous inflammation consistent with sarcoidosis. The patient was immediately referred to the department of pulmonology and rheumatology, at which point she was started on corticosteroids and had an improvement in her condition.

Genotyping-guided approach versus the conventional approach in selection of oral P2Y12 receptor blockers in Chinese patients suffering from acute coronary syndrome.

Objective The CYP2C19 loss-of-function (LoF) allele is present in half of the East Asian population and is associated with high on-treatment platelet reactivity (HTPR). This study aimed to investigate whether a rapid genotyping-guided approach is feasible and efficacious for selecting P2Y12 receptor blockers in Chinese patients suffering from acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods This was a single-centre, prospective, randomized, open-label study. A total of 132 patients with ACS were randomized to the rapid genotyping-guided treatment group (GG, N = 65) or the standard treatment group (SG, N = 67). Patients in the GG group were genotyped by the Verigene system. Patients with the CYP2C19 LoF allele were switched to ticagrelor and all remaining patients continued on clopidogrel. The endpoints were HTPR at 24 hours after the first loading dose of clopidogrel and 1 month afterwards. Results Forty patients in the GG group switched to ticagrelor, while others continued on clopidogrel. The incidence of HTPR in the GG vs SG groups was 9.2% vs 40.3% at 24 hours and 6.5% vs 32.3% at 1 month, respectively. Rapid point-of-care genotyping showed 100% concordance with conventional genotyping by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Conclusions In Chinese patients suffering from ACS, the rapid genotyping-guided approach for selecting P2Y12 receptor blockers is feasible and reduces the incidence of HTPR. Clinical Trial Registration URL: http://clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT01994941.

Auditing an intensive care unit recycling program.

BACKGROUND: The provision of health care has significant direct environmental effects such as energy and water use and waste production, and indirect effects, including manufacturing and transport of drugs and equipment. Recycling of hospital waste is one strategy to reduce waste disposed of as landfill, preserve resources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and potentially remain fiscally responsible. We began an intensive care unit recycling program, because a significant proportion of ICU waste was known to be recyclable. OBJECTIVES: To determine the weight and proportion of ICU waste recycled, the proportion of incorrect waste disposal (including infectious waste contamination), the opportunity for further recycling and the financial effects of the recycling program. METHODS: We weighed all waste and recyclables from an 11-bed ICU in an Australian metropolitan hospital for 7 non-consecutive days. As part of routine care, ICU waste was separated into general, infectious and recycling streams. Recycling streams were paper and cardboard, three plastics streams (polypropylene, mixed plastics and polyvinylchloride [PVC]) and commingled waste (steel, aluminium and some plastics). ICU waste from the waste and recycling bins was sorted into those five recycling streams, general waste and infectious waste. After sorting, the waste was weighed and examined. Recycling was classified as achieved (actual), potential and total. Potential recycling was defined as being acceptable to hospital protocol and local recycling programs. Direct and indirect financial costs, excluding labour, were examined. RESULTS: During the 7-day period, the total ICU waste was 505 kg: general waste, 222 kg (44%); infectious waste, 138 kg (27%); potentially recyclable waste, 145 kg (28%). Of the potentially recyclable waste, 70 kg (49%) was actually recycled (14% of the total ICU waste). In the infectious waste bins, 82% was truly infectious. There was no infectious contamination of the recycling streams. The PVC waste was 37% contaminated (primarily by other plastics), but there was less than 1% contamination of other recycling streams. The estimated cost of the recycling program was about an additional $1000/year. CONCLUSION: In our 11-bed ICU, we recycled 14% of the total waste produced over 7-days, which was nearly half of the potentially recyclable waste. There was no infectious contamination of recyclables and minimal contamination with other waste streams, except for the PVC plastic. The estimated annual cost of the recycling program was $1000, reflecting the greater cost of disposal of some recyclables (paper and cardboard v most plastic types).

Male breast cancer: a population-based comparison with female breast cancer in Hong Kong, Southern China: 1997-2006.

BACKGROUND: Male breast cancer (MBC) is uncommon. As a result, there is limited availability of studies and reviews and even fewer reports from Asia. This is the largest population-based study to compare Chinese MBC patients with female patients during a 10-year period in Hong Kong, Southern China. METHODS: A retrospective review of medical records of 132 male and 8,118 female breast cancer patients between year 1997 and 2006 in Hong Kong was performed. Each MBC patient was matched with three female breast cancer patients for further analysis. Different characteristics, overall, breast-cancer specific, and disease-free survivals (DFS) were compared. RESULTS: Mean age at diagnosis of male and female patients was 64.5 and 52.7 years respectively. Male patients showed lower histological grade, overall stage, smaller tumor size, and more positive sensitivity in hormone receptors. They were more likely to die of causes other than breast cancer. Matched analysis found that the 5-year overall survival (OS), breast-cancer-specific mortality, and DFS for male and female patients were 78.7, 90.5, 90.5, and 77.9, 86.4, and 81.4 % respectively. Male patients had poorer OS at early overall stage but better breast-cancer-specific mortality rates at any age (p < 0.01). Male patients had a significant risk of dying due to any cause in the presence of distant relapse and had less risk of dying when tumor was ER-positive and HER2-positive. CONCLUSIONS: Chinese male breast cancer patients tend to have poorer OS but better breast-cancer-specific survival compared with their female counterparts.

The effect of parental feeding behaviours and participation of children in organized sports/activities on child body mass index.

PURPOSE: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, we explored the relationship of parental feeding practices and child physical activity levels with measured body mass index (BMI) in a sample of 97 Ontario preschoolers. METHODS: Child weight and height were measured; physical activity and sedentary behaviours were assessed by questionnaire. Preschoolers' parents used the Child Feeding Questionnaire to report their attitudes, concerns, and practices in relation to child feeding. Hierarchical multiple linear regression was used to determine relationships among variables. RESULTS: Up to 25% of the preschoolers were overweight and/or obese. The regression model accounted for 53% of the variance in child BMI. Child BMI was predicted to be higher when parents had concerns about and perceived their children to be overweight, and when they felt responsible for what their children ate. Children's BMIs were predicted to be lower for those whose parents pressured them to eat and also for those who engaged in organized sports or activities. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests an association between BMI and parental perceptions, concerns, and practices related to child feeding and organized sports or activities. Public health initiatives related to healthy eating and/or obesity prevention should include a focus on parents of preschool-aged children with the home environment as a potential setting.

Choice of management of southern Chinese BRCA mutation carriers.

BACKGROUND: Mutations in the BRCA genes confer greater risk of developing breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer. Families carrying the mutation can have intensive surveillance and take preventative measures. This is the first report on the uptake of such interventions in Chinese mutation carriers residing in Asia. METHODS: Breast and ovarian cancer index patients and family members referred for genetic counselling and testing who are found to carry the BRCA mutations were included in this multicenter study. RESULTS: A total of 31 patients with breast and/or ovarian cancer were found to carry BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations. Forty-one tested family members also carried the mutations. Of the females, 85.7% of the index patients opted for breast surveillance and 23.8% for prophylactic mastectomy. Of the family members, 82.4% chose breast surveillance and 17.7% had prophylactic mastectomy. The majority of index patients and family members preferred ovarian surveillance (84 and 82.4%). Amongst the index patients, 32% decided for prophylactic salpingo-oophorectomy; 17.6% of the family members who did not have history of ovarian cancer decided to have prophylactic salpingo-oophorectomy. All male index patients agreed to breast and prostate surveillance, including breast clinical examination and PSA monitoring. For those male family members found to be BRCA mutation carriers, 56.3% agreed to have breast surveillance and 66.7% agreed to have prostate surveillance. No index patient or family member agreed to any form of chemoprevention. CONCLUSIONS: Chinese BRCA mutation carriers have a higher uptake of cancer surveillance than prophylactic surgery and have a lack of interest in the use of chemoprevention drugs.