The American journal of the medical sciences
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Hyperglycemia is common in nondiabetic patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Elevated blood glucose level may reflect a response to stress, an underlying abnormal glucometabolic state or both. Regardless of mechanism, hyperglycemia complicating AMI is associated with an inflammatory and prothrombotic state, depressed myocardial contractility and increased short- and long-term mortality. Studies are needed to define optimal monitoring and management of hyperglycemia in nondiabetic patients with AMI.
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Comparative Study
Moderate to high use of opioid analgesics are associated with an increased risk of Clostridium difficile infection.
Risk factors for Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) include use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, advanced age and lack of an appropriate immune response. Whether antiperistaltics such as opioid analgesics also increase the risk of CDI is uncertain. The purpose of this preliminary study was to determine whether opioid analgesics increase the risk of developing CDI in hospitalized patients receiving broad-spectrum antibiotics. ⋯ Moderate to high use of opioid analgesics were associated with an increased risk of CDI.
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Acute tumor lysis syndrome (ATLS) is a recognized complication of the treatment of malignant lymphomas and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. However, there have been few reports of the occurrence of ATLS in patients treated with rituximab. ⋯ Both patients developed ATLS after treatment with rituximab and, despite aggressive supportive therapy, died of multiple organ failure. These cases illustrate that ATLS can occur after treatment with rituximab and that a high index of suspicion is necessary for the prompt diagnosis of ATLS.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Preoperative probiotics decrease postoperative infectious complications of colorectal cancer.
The objective is to elucidate the effects of oral bifid triple viable probiotics among patients with colorectal cancer. ⋯ The preoperative oral bifid triple viable probiotics minimize the postoperative occurrence of infectious complications, with possible mechanisms attributed to the maintenance of the intestinal flora and restriction of bacterial translocation from the intestine. It was representative of the enhancement of systemic/localized immunity and concurrent attenuation of systemic stress response.
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The objective is to evaluate the diagnosis of foreign body (FB) ingestion and report on the endoscopic management in Taiwan. ⋯ In FB ingestion, history usually points toward the diagnosis. Patients with an uncertain history are usually diagnosed late, and plain radiography cannot reliably predict the presence of FB. Endoscopic management is safe and effective for FBs.