Five-year mortality in patients with diabetic foot ulcer during 2009-2010 was lower than expected.

AIM: Mortality rates are decreasing in patients with diabetes. However, as this observation also concerns patients with diabetic foot ulcer (DFU), additional data are needed. For this reason, our study evaluated the 5-year mortality rate in patients with DFU during 2009-2010 and identified risk factors associated with mortality. METHODS: Consecutive patients who attended a clinic for new DFU during 2009-2010 were followed until healing and at 1 year. Data on mortality were collected at year 5. Multivariate Cox proportional-hazards model was used to identify mortality risk factors. RESULTS: A total of 347 patients were included: mean age was 65±12 years, diabetes duration was 16 [10; 27] years; 13% were on dialysis; and 7% had an organ transplant. At 5 years, 49 patients (14%) were considered lost to follow-up. Total mortality rate at 5 years was 35%, and 16% in patients with neuropathy. On multivariate analyses, mortality was positively associated with: age [hazard ratio (HR): 1.05 (1.03-1.07), P<0.0001]; duration of diabetes [HR: 1.02 (1.001-1.03], P=0.03]; PEDIS perfusion grade 2 vs. 1 [HR: 2.35 (1.28-4.29), P=0.006)]; PEDIS perfusion grade 3 vs. 1 [HR: 3.14 (1.58-6.24), P=0.001); and ulcer duration at year 1 [HR 2.09 (1.35-3.22), P=0.0009]. CONCLUSION: Mortality rates were not as high as expected despite the large number of comorbidities, suggesting that progress has been made in the health management of these patients. In particular, patients with neuropathic foot ulcer had a survival rate of 84% at 5 years.

Jumping Translocations of 1q in Myelodysplastic Syndrome and Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Report of Three Cases and Review of Literature.

Jumping translocations of 1q refer to the break-off of chromosome 1q as a donor fusing to two or more recipient chromosomes. We detected jumping translocations of 1q in three patients with initial diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and later progression to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Review of literature found jumping translocations of 1q in 30 reported cases of MDS and AML. The cytogenetic findings from these 33 cases showed that seven cases had a stemline clone and 26 cases had de novo jumping translocations of 1q in which 5% of cell lineages had additional structural rearrangements. In 75% of cases, the 1q donor jumped to the short arm of recipient acrocentric chromosomes. Approximately 82% of the fusions occurred in the telomeric regions of short and long arms and 18% occurred in the pericentric or interstitial regions of recipient chromosomes. Hypomethylation of the donor 1q pericentromeric region and shortened telomeres in recipient chromosomes were associated with the formation of jumping translocations. Jumping translocations of 1q as an indication of chromosomal instability pose high risk for progression of MDS to AML and a poor prognosis. Further understanding of underlying genomic defects and their clinical significance will improve overall treatment and patient care.

Sources of the attentional blink during rapid serial visual presentation: perceptual interference and retrieval competition.

Observers watched for 1 or 2 colored words as targets presented in lists of distractor strings (10 items/s). Identification of 1 target (T1) temporarily reduced the accuracy of reporting a 2nd target (T2). This attentional blink (AB) effect was most pronounced when T1 and T2 occurred close together in time. Use of recognition tests (instead of recall) improved performance but did not eliminate the AB effect. The AB effect was found with both word and nonword distractors, a smaller AB effect was found with consonant string distractors, and the AB effect was substantially attenuated with strings of unfamiliar characters (a false font). Analyses of errors indicated that the 2nd target is frequently replaced or corrupted by the following distractor during the blink. The AB effect appears to result from both attentional and mnemonic processes.

A simple manual method of repositioning small bowel during pelvic irradiation.

Small intestine is often unnecessarily irradiated during radiotherapy because it lies near tumor volumes and thus may be dose limiting. Repositioning of normal tissues can sometimes be accomplished by mechanical rather than invasive surgical techniques. At our institution, physical displacement of small bowel tissues was carried out on a population of patients with good result. Patients suffering from prostatic, cervical, and rectal carcinoma were treated using a custom built and padded block composed of rigid Styrofoam. The block, in most cases, successfully displaced significant amounts of healthy tissues from treatment fields. Maximum displacement of bowel was accomplished at the time of simulation using fluoroscopy and manual positioning of the device. The optimum displacement position and location of the Small Bowel Displacement Device (SBDD) were recorded by means of orthogonal radiographs. The device was affixed to a piece of mylar that had been previously scribed with an X and Y coordinate system, which could be used to permanently anchor the SBDD to its position of maximum displacement. Displacements of as much as 4.0 to 5.0 cm were noted on most patients. Patients generally tolerated the device well as long as they were able to lie prone. Patients with recent abdominal surgery were less likely to tolerate the SBDD, and omental slings or meshes generally precluded movement of the small bowel.

The advanced pedi-bag program: a hospital-EMS partnership to implement prehospital training, equipment, and protocols.

OBJECTIVE: The Advanced Pedi-Bag Program is a partnership between a trauma center and a county-wide EMS agency (LCEMS) with three major goals: 1) train all LCEMS paramedics in the American Heart Association's Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), 2) stock each Life Squad with a specific bag containing the equipment necessary to treat both basic and advanced pediatric emergencies, and 3) develop treatment protocols for pediatric patients. DESIGN: Descriptive study. SETTING: LCEMS serves a population of 450,000. Pediatric runs account for 800 to 1,200 LCEMS runs per year. RESULTS: The LCEMS Medical Director established and facilitated mandatory PALS training of 180 paramedics. A committee of emergency/pediatric/trauma professionals developed and distributed 40 bags with a comprehensive inventory of basic and advanced pediatric supplies and equipment to all LCEMS Life Squads upon completion of PALS training. Protocols were developed that integrate the use of the bag's contents. CONCLUSION: This partnership between a trauma center and an EMS agency resulted in improved training of county paramedics, Life Squads that have an Advanced Pedi-Bag with specific equipment and supplies to manage pediatric emergencies, and pediatric protocols that support the use of this equipment. Paramedics benefit from advanced training opportunities and patients benefit from improved prehospital care.