ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Determination of outcomes after adrenalectomy for primary aldosteronism (PA) is limited by the lack of standardized definitions of cure. The Primary Aldosteronism Surgical Outcomes (PASO) group recently established new consensus definitions for biochemical and clinical cure of PA. We hypothesize that utilization of PASO definitions will better stratify patient outcomes after surgery compared to original and current criteria utilized to document cure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients undergoing adrenalectomy for PA from 1996 to 2016 were studied. Clinical data were reviewed. Three different sets of criteria (original, current, and PASO) were evaluated for differences in documentation of cure. Demographic data were reported as median (range). Comparisons were made using the Mann-Whitney U test; p < 0.05 is significant. RESULTS: A total of 314 patients with PA were identified. Ninety patients (60 males) elected to proceed with surgery. In Group 1 (35 patients), 30 patients had clinical follow-up and 29 (97%) were cured using original criteria. In Group 2 (55 patients), cure was recorded in 98% when original criteria for cure were applied, 89% cured applying current criteria, and 6% had complete biochemical and clinical cure by PASO criteria. Aldosterone rose 3.6 ng/dL (0.1-34.8) in five patients during extended follow-up, with two patients changing from complete to partial or missing biochemical success. CONCLUSION: Significant heterogeneity exists in outcomes criteria utilized to document cure or clinical improvement after adrenalectomy for primary aldosteronism. Aldosterone levels change over time after adrenalectomy. PASO definitions of cure appear to allow for improved stratification of short- and long-term outcomes.
Subject(s)
Adrenalectomy , Hyperaldosteronism/surgery , Adult , Aged , Aldosterone/blood , Biomarkers/blood , Female , Humans , Hyperaldosteronism/blood , Hypertension/surgery , Male , Middle Aged , Renin/blood , Retrospective Studies , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Acyl-homoserine-lactone autoinducer (AHL) produced by nonenterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli species in cattle appears to be required for enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) colonization of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). The current research aimed to examine the effect of season, diet, EHEC shedding, and location within the GIT on AHL prevalence in the ruminant. Luminal content samples were collected from the rumen and rectum of feedlot cattle at slaughter in the spring, summer, fall, and winter for culture of E. coli O157:H7 and AHL determination. During the spring collection, samples were additionally collected from the cecum and small intestine, but these samples all were AHL negative and therefore not examined again. To assess the influence of diet on AHL prevalence, 14 lambs were fed either 100% forage or 80% concentrate diets and experimentally inoculated with EHEC. At 8 days after infection, all the lambs were killed, and necropsies were taken, with luminal contents collected from the GIT. The collections from the feedlot cattle had AHL in 100% of the rumen content samples from the spring, summer, and fall, but not in any of the winter samples. No other GIT samples from feedlot cattle were AHL positive, and all the samples from the sheep study were AHL negative. The cattle seemed to show a weak correlation between ruminal AHL and EHEC prevalence. This research found AHL only in the rumen and not in the lower GIT of feedlot cattle. However, it is unclear whether this is because the pH of the lower gut destroys the AHL or because a lack of certain bacteria in the lower gut producing AHL.
Subject(s)
Acyl-Butyrolactones/metabolism , Animal Feed/microbiology , Escherichia coli O157/metabolism , Food Microbiology , Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology , Seasons , Animal Feed/analysis , Animals , Cattle , Escherichia coli Infections/epidemiology , Escherichia coli Infections/microbiology , Escherichia coli O157/isolation & purification , Feces/microbiology , Humans , Rectum/microbiology , Rumen/microbiology , SheepABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Patients with non-tuberculous mycobacteria are usually started on conventional antituberculous triple therapy once acid fast bacilli are detected, before the exact type of mycobacteria has been identified. The ability to identify the characteristics of patients with tuberculous and non-tuberculous mycobacteria may be helpful in identifying before treatment those patients more likely to have non-tuberculous infection. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted of all patients in one unit in whom non-tuberculous mycobacteria were identified in sputum or bronchoalveolar washings in the period 1987-93. The pattern of drug resistance was determined from laboratory records, and all case notes and chest radiographs were reviewed to identify the underlying disease and treatment outcome. All cases were compared with a matched control group of patients with culture positive Mycobacterium tuberculosis diagnosed during the same period. RESULTS: In the period studied there were 70 non-tuberculous and 221 tuberculous isolates. The non-tuberculous bacteria were typed as follows: M xenopi 23 (33%), M kansasii 19 (27%), M fortuitum 14 (20%), others 14 (20%). Of those with non-tuberculous mycobacteria, 83% were white subjects compared with 47% for tuberculosis. Patients with non-tuberculous mycobacteria were older than those with tuberculosis. Pre-existing lung disease or AIDS was present in 81% of patients with non-tuberculous mycobacteria and in 17% of patients with tuberculosis. Sensitivity to rifampicin and ethambutol was seen in 95% of M xenopi and 96% of M kansasii isolates. Relapse occurred in 60% of cases infected with M xenopi, 20% infected with M kansasii, and in 7% of cases with tuberculosis. CONCLUSIONS: In the population studied non-tuberculous mycobacteria occurred most frequently in elderly white subjects with pre-existing lung disease. If mycobacteria are detected in this group, consideration should be given to the possibility of non-tuberculous infection before embarking on treatment. A combination containing rifampicin and ethambutol is effective. The relapse rate for infection with M xenopi is high and prospective studies of the effect of the above combination of antituberculosis drugs are needed.
Subject(s)
Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous/drug therapy , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/drug therapy , Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/complications , Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Antibiotics, Antitubercular/therapeutic use , Antitubercular Agents/pharmacology , Antitubercular Agents/therapeutic use , Child , Drug Resistance , Drug Therapy, Combination , Ethambutol/therapeutic use , Female , Humans , Lung Diseases/complications , Male , Middle Aged , Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous/microbiology , Nontuberculous Mycobacteria/drug effects , Retrospective Studies , Rifampin/therapeutic use , Treatment Outcome , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/microbiologyABSTRACT
Thirty-four asbestos workers, with either asbestosis, diffuse pleural thickening, calcified pleural plaques, or with comparable asbestos exposure but no evidence of asbestos-related disease and seven normal controls underwent a progressive exercise test. The subjects were categorized on the basis of lung function tests and PA chest X-rays. During the exercise test oxygen saturation was measured continuously by an ear lobe oximeter. The asbestosis and diffuse pleural thickening groups showed significant oxygen desaturation on exertion, confirming that both these conditions give rise to appreciable respiratory disability.
Subject(s)
Asbestosis/physiopathology , Lung/physiopathology , Oximetry , Oxygen/blood , Asbestosis/blood , Asbestosis/complications , Exercise Test , Humans , Lung/diagnostic imaging , Male , Middle Aged , Radiography , Respiratory Function TestsABSTRACT
Nocturnal asthma is a common and potentially dangerous condition. The mechanisms in its production are multifactorial. One factor appears to be increased vagal tone at night so that an anticholinergic drug might prove effective. The evidence for a bronchodilator action of anticholinergic drugs is reviewed. A clinical trial of one such anticholinergic in nocturnal asthma is described. In 12 patients with morning dipping a dose of 160 micrograms of ipratropium bromide inhaled at night significantly reduced the extent of morning dipping. The implications are discussed.
Subject(s)
Asthma/drug therapy , Parasympatholytics/therapeutic use , Bronchi/drug effects , Clinical Trials as Topic , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Humans , Ipratropium/therapeutic use , Time FactorsABSTRACT
An antigen capture immunoassay was developed for the detection of mycobacterial antigens in sera from patients with tuberculosis. The assay was evaluated together with an antibody measuring enzyme immunoassay in a clinical trial for serodiagnosis of tuberculosis. Sensitivity of the antibody assay for active pulmonary tuberculosis, including relapsed infections, was 75%, and specificity with other lung diseases was 97%. Sensitivity for extrapulmonary tuberculosis was 84.5% and specificity 84%. Sensitivity of the antigen assay for active tuberculosis was 45% with no false positive reactions. Combination of the results from the two assays increased total sensitivity to 96.5% with a positive predictive value of 0.81 and a negative value of 0.98. The two assay test was relatively simple to perform and offered improved serological diagnosis of tuberculosis over a single antibody test.
Subject(s)
Tuberculosis/diagnosis , Adult , Aged , Antibodies, Bacterial/analysis , Antigens, Bacterial/analysis , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Female , Humans , Immunoassay , Male , Middle Aged , Mycobacterium/immunology , Tuberculosis/immunology , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/diagnosis , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/immunologyABSTRACT
The integrated surface abdominal electromyogram (EMG) has been used as a simple measurement of cough intensity which correlates well with the volume, air flow and noise produced in different coughs. Using the integrated abdominal EMG as a measure of cough intensity, dose response curves to inhaled citric acid can be drawn which are highly reproducible. We have studied the effects of codeine (60 mg) on these curves, and have demonstrated a reduction in cough intensity. It is suggested that this method of testing the effects of an antitussive on such a dose-response curve may be a useful one.
Subject(s)
Citrates/pharmacology , Codeine/pharmacology , Cough/physiopathology , Electromyography , Action Potentials/drug effects , Adult , Citric Acid , Cough/chemically induced , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
Fourteen patients with nocturnal asthma were recruited to a two period crossover trial which compared a run-in period on nightly salbutamol (200 micrograms) with a period on nightly ipratropium bromide (160 micrograms) and a period on nightly salbutamol plus ipratropium at night. Morning dipping, as assessed by the fall in peak flow overnight, was significantly reduced in the periods when ipratropium bromide was taken. Peak flow in the morning and also at night was improved when taking ipratropium bromide. Ipratropium bromide in adequate dosage appears to be effective in reducing morning dipping in asthma.
Subject(s)
Asthma/drug therapy , Atropine Derivatives/therapeutic use , Ipratropium/therapeutic use , Adult , Aged , Albuterol/therapeutic use , Clinical Trials as Topic , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Peak Expiratory Flow RateABSTRACT
The abilities of triprolidine 2.5 mg and pseudoephedrine 60 mg, alone and in combination, to protect against an increase in nasal airway resistance (NAR) after histamine challenge were determined in eighteen individuals with grass pollen allergy. The study was conducted outside the pollen season using a double-blind, placebo controlled crossover design. The prior administration of pseudoephedrine 60 mg and triprolidine 2.5 mg alone or in combination was superior to placebo in reducing the increase in NAR after challenge with 1.0% histamine. However, such NAR measurements did not differentiate between pseudoephedrine 60 mg and triprolidine 2.5 mg administered alone or in combination. Challenge with 0.1% histamine failed to discriminate between any of the test medications.
Subject(s)
Airway Resistance/drug effects , Ephedrine/therapeutic use , Histamine , Nasal Decongestants/therapeutic use , Pyridines/therapeutic use , Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal/drug therapy , Triprolidine/therapeutic use , Adult , Clinical Trials as Topic , Double-Blind Method , Drug Therapy, Combination , Ephedrine/administration & dosage , Humans , Nasal Decongestants/administration & dosage , Nasal Provocation Tests , Triprolidine/administration & dosageABSTRACT
A two-year-old child who had had palliative surgery as a neonate for an absent right atrioventricular connection and double-inlet ventricle was shown to be developmentally retarded. Trisomy for the short arm of chromosome 8 was demonstrated, resulting from a familial 8:13 translocation, with a high risk of recurrence. Although the specific features of this case are unique, it illustrates the importance of chromosome analysis in any dysmorphic infant whose heart defect places prolonged survival in doubt.
Subject(s)
Chromosomes, Human, 13-15 , Chromosomes, Human, 6-12 and X , Heart Defects, Congenital/genetics , Translocation, Genetic , Cardiac Catheterization , Child, Preschool , Female , Heart Atria/abnormalities , Heart Ventricles/abnormalities , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Noonan Syndrome/pathology , TrisomySubject(s)
Bacterial Infections/drug therapy , Sulfonamides/administration & dosage , Thoracic Diseases/drug therapy , Trimethoprim/administration & dosage , Aged , Bronchitis/drug therapy , Chronic Disease , Clinical Trials as Topic , Drug Synergism , Drug Therapy, Combination , Humans , Male , Pneumonia/drug therapy , Pneumonia, Pneumocystis/drug therapy , Sulfamethoxazole/administration & dosage , Sulfonamides/therapeutic use , Trimethoprim/therapeutic useABSTRACT
Three merchant seamen and two laboratory workers who developed allergic symptoms following exposure to castor beans have been investigated. Bronchial-provocation testing with castor beans in the merchant seamen demonstrated a late reaction in two. Specific IgE against whole castor-bean extract and ricin, ricinus agglutinin and dericinated extracts of castor bean were found in the patients' sera using radioallergosorbent tests (RAST). RAST inhibition, toxocological and haemagglutination tests suggest that the ricin and dericinated extracts contain distinct allergens.