HELICS: a European project to standardise the surveillance of hospital acquired infection, 1994-1995

During the 1990s several European countries began to set up national or regional networks for the surveillance of hospital acquired infections. Most of these networks were based on the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Nosocomia     

Oxygen uptake versus exercise intensity: a new concept in assessing cardiovascular exercise function in patients with congenital heart disease

OBJECTIVE—To assess the relation between exercise intensity and oxygen uptake during graded exercise in paediatric patients who underwent surgical repair of congenital heart disease, and to compare it with conventional measures of aerobic exercise function.
DESIGN—Cross sectional study. Exercise testing was performed on a treadmill and gas exchange was measured on a breath by breath basis.
PATIENTS—29 patients who underwent an atrial switch operation for transposition of the great arteries (TGA) (mean (SD) age at testing 10.3 (2.5) years) and 30 patients who underwent total repair of tetralogy of Fallot (TF) (age 12.1 (3.3) years) performed graded exercise testing. Exercise responses were compared with data obtained in 24 normal controls (age 11.4 (2.6) years).
RESULTS—The slope of oxygen uptake versus exercise intensity averaged 1.50 (0.64) ml O₂/min²/kg in the patients with TGA and 1.68 (0.75) ml O₂/min²/kg after TF repair, both lower (p < 0.005) than in normal controls (2.42 (0.68) ml O₂/min²/kg). The lower slope of oxygen uptake was correlated with a subnormal value for ventilatory anaerobic threshold, which averaged 78.0 (13.3)% of normal in TGA and 85.1 (10.6)% in TF. This was associated with a steeper slope (p = 0.001) of carbon dioxide output versus oxygen uptake above the ventilatory anaerobic threshold in TGA (1.26 (0.20)) and TF (1.20 (0.18)) compared with the normal controls (1.05 (0.13)), and also a steeper slope of ventilation versus carbon dioxide in TGA (47.0 (15.4)) and TF (41.5 (13.7)) than in the controls (30.3 (8.5)).
CONCLUSIONS—Calculation of the steepness of the slope of oxygen uptake versus exercise intensity is a valid measurement of oxygen flow to the exercising tissues, which may be limited in congenital heart disease.


Keywords: congenital heart disease; exercise testing; oxygen uptake; oxygen uptake kinetics     

The senile lung. Comparison with normal and emphysematous lungs. 1. Structural aspects.

As part of a study of the structural-functional correlations of excised human lungs obtained at autopsy, the parenchyma and peripheral airways were examined by means of morphometric techniques. Among the 30 lungs characterized by the absence of fibrosis, ten differed from the normal and emphysematous lungs by a homogeneous dilatation of the airspaces, in excess of the dimensions predicted on the basis of age. Study of the standard deviations of the mean linear intercepts showed that the airspace dilatation was more regular than in emphysematous lungs; in addition, there was no clear-cut destruction, as estimated from the number of alveolar attachments. These lungs were characterized in addition by an increased thickening of alveolar septa, without inflammation or fibrosis, normal size of the diameter, and reduced density of the membranous bronchioles. Since these lungs were from people older than 60 years, it is assumed that they represent cases of exaggerated airspace enlargement of the aging lung, differing from emphysema by the absence of destruction of alveolar walls. The term "senile lung" is proposed or this condition.     

Influence of heart rate on systolic time intervals: Effects of atrial pacing versus dynamic exercise

The effects of atrial pacing and dynamic exercise in the supine position on systolic time intervals (STI) were compared in 10 normals. In another group of 13 normals, the effect of exercise alone on STI was tested. A linear shortening of electromechanical systole (QS₂) and left ventricular ejection time (LVET) with increasing heart rate was demonstrated with right atrial pacing and dynamic exercise in the frequency range between 60 and 140 beats/min. However, the shortening of LVET was significantly less (p<0.01) with exercise compared to pacing. This is explained by an increase in left ventricular stroke volume with exercise. The pre-ejection period (PEP) was significantly (p<0.001) shortened with exercise, but there was no change with atrial pacing. Thus, changes in heart rate (HR) alone, without changes in the dynamic state of the heart, did not influence PEP. It is suggested that PEP at rest should not be corrected for heart rate. The supine exercise regression equations for correction of heart rate for LVET and PEP differ from both the resting and the upright exercise regression equations. With exercise a frequency correction of STI using regression equations should be abandoned. Instead, uncorrected STI at standard heart rates (e.g., 100, 110, and 130 beats/min) should be taken for comparison. Heart rate standardization should be employed using the formula     

Factors affecting the initiation of substance abuse treatment in managed care

Aims. A long-standing concern of clinicians in addiction treatment is that a large number of individuals who are admitted to treatment do not return to actually begin the program. We identified characteristics that predict treatment initiation. Design. In-person structured interviews were conducted with consecutive admissions to a large outpatient program (N = 1204), and the health plan's automated registration data were used to determine treatment attendance. We compared those who returned to begin treatment with those who did not. Setting. The study was conducted at the Chemical Dependency program of a large group model health maintenance organization (HMO). Participants. Study subjects were individuals age 18 or over admitted to the program. Measurement. Study variables included DSM-IV alcohol and drug dependence and abuse, Addiction Severity Index problem severity, motivation and treatment entry measures. Findings. Those who were drug-dependent were less likely to begin treatment than those dependent only on alcohol. Measures of motivation, such as work-place pressures and the patient's perception of the importance of alcohol treatment, predicted starting treatment for individuals who were alcohol-dependent only or alcohol- and drug-dependent. Among patients who were dependent only on alcohol, women were more likely than men to start treatment, and for those who were drug-dependent, being employed and having higher drug severity scores predicted starting treatment. Conclusions. Screening at intake may identify those at risk of not returning after admission to start treatment. Clinicians may consider making additional efforts during the intake process to engage individuals who are unemployed and have drug (as opposed to alcohol) disorders and less motivation.     

Effect of interferon-gamma on hepatic fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B virus infection: a randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Hepatic fibrosis due to chronic HBV infection has enormous socioeconomic impact. Besides strategies targeting virus elimination, prevention or reversal of liver fibrosis is amenable. Given the antifibrotic activity of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), a randomized open-labeled multicenter trial was initiated to test IFN-gamma in HBV infection. METHODS: HBsAg-positive patients with biopsy proven hepatic fibrosis (n = 99, stages 2-4, Scheuer criterion) were treated with diammone-glycyrrhizinate and potassium-magnesium aspartate. Sixty-six randomly assigned patients were treated with 50 mug IFN-gamma intramuscularly on a daily basis for 3 months and on alternate days the subsequent 6 months. Efficacy was evaluated by liver biopsy and serologic markers. RESULTS: Fifty-four patients in the IFN-gamma group and 29 patients in the control group completed the study. The hepatic fibrosis score was significantly reduced in 63% of IFN-gamma treated patients compared with 24.1% in the control group by using a semiquantitative scoring system evaluating both liver architecture and fibrotic deposits. Mean values for the total fibrosis score decreased from 13.8 +/- 5.8 to 10.1 +/- 5.1 in the IFN-gamma group (P = .0001), whereas they were unchanged in control subjects (13.2 +/- 6.8 vs 12.6 +/- 4.8, P = .937). The Scheuer system showed 12 out of 54 patients improved >or=1 stage(s) in the IFN-gamma group compared with 1 of 29 in the control group. Antifibrotic activity might be attributed to decreased transforming growth factor-beta signaling via phosphorylated Smad2 and reduced number of activated, alpha-smooth muscle actin positive hepatic stellate cells. CONCLUSIONS: IFN-gamma treatment for 9 months improves fibrosis scores in patients with chronic HBV infection most likely by antagonizing profibrogenic transforming growth factor-beta effects.     

Pulmonary artery pressure and left ventricular late diastolic pressure in rest and during dynamic load. Comparative studies on pressure transmission in the pulmonary circulation during simultaneous determination]

Left ventricular enddiastolic pressure (LVEDP), mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAPM) and enddiastolic pulmonary artery pressure (PADP) were simultaneously recorded in 19 subjects with normal left ventricular (LV) function, and in 109 patients with LV-dysfunction, 83 of whom were also studied during exercise. Patients with valvular heart disease or atrial fibrillation were excluded from this study. LVEDP and mean pulmonary capillary wedge (PCW) pressure were simultaneously recorded in 81 patients at rest, andin 16 patients also during exercise; the LV diastolic pressure prior to atrial contraction (LVPpreA) could accurately be identified in 45 patients at rest and in 23 patients with exercise. In contrast to the widely accepted opinion of others, the PADP (mean 8.2 +/- 2.2 mm Hg at rest and 12.3 +/- 3.4 mm Hg with exercise) showed a close approximation of LVEDP (10.0 +/- mm Hg at rest and 16.2 +/- 3.5 mm Hg with exercise) only in normal subjects at rest (p less than 0.05 and p less than 0.01 respectively). In patients with LV dysfunction there was no significant difference between PADP (11.7 +/- 4.5 mm Hg and 23.0 +/- 8.9 mm Hg), PCW (11.6 +/- 5.1 mm Hg and 24.1 +/- 11.9 mm Hg) and LVPpreA (12.5 +/- 5.5 and 21.5 +/- 7.7 mm Hg) at rest and during exercise. LVEDP could be estimated with sufficient accuracy only from the PAPM (18.9 +/- 6.5 and 35.7 +/- 10.8 mm Hg). The increase in LVEDP (14.7 +/- 7.7 mm Hg) with exercise was not significantly different from the increase in PAPM (16.8 +/- 7.1 mm Hg). There were highly significant correlations (p less than 0.001) between LVEDP and PADP (r = 0.85) as well as PAPM (r = 0.86) at rest and during exercise with the regressionline being closest to the line of identity for LVEDP and PAPM. The pressure gradient between LVEDP and PADP (LVEDP - PADP = 6.3 mm Hg with exercise) equaled the pressure increase in LV by atrial contraction (LVEDP - LVPpreA = 6.3 and 13.3 mm Hg). The pressure difference between PADP or PAPM and LVEDP remained constant despite marked variation of other hemodynamic parameters, e.g. stroke volume index (SVI), heart rate (HR) and cardiac index(CI). These data suggest that an elevated LVEDP is caused mainly by an augmented atrial contraction in patients with LV dysfunction at rest and with exercise. This mechanism precludes an enddiastolic pressure equilibrium between pulmonary artery and left ventricel. PAPM allows the best estimation of LVEDP independent from other hemodynamic variables.     

Cytogenetics of secondary myelodysplasia (sMDS) and acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (sANLL)

76 cases of secondary myelodysplasia (sMDS) and acute non-lymphocytic leukemia (sANLL) were cytogenetically analyzed. Among the 36 sMDS patients, 13 (36%) had only normal karyotypes whereas 23 (64%) displayed clonal chromosomal abnormalities. The most common aberrations were -7, 5q-, -5, and +8. In 10 patients (43% of the cytogenetically aberrant cases), clones with only one anomaly, mostly 5q- or -7, were found. Of the 40 sANLL patients, normal karyotypes were detected in 10 (25%). Among the 30 (75%) abnormal cases, the most frequent aberrations were -7, -5, +8, 7q-, -17, and +21. 12 patients (40%) had clones with single abnormalities, most often -7. In 4 sANLL patients cytogenetically unrelated clones were detected. A survey of all previously published secondary hematologic neoplasias reveals that the most frequent abnormalities in sMDS are -7 (41%), 5q- (28%), and -5 (11%), followed by der(21q), +8, 7q-, der(12p), t(1;7), -12, -17, der(17p), der(3p), der(6p), and -18. Clones with single aberrations have been found in 45% of the cases and cytogenetically unrelated clones have been described in 6%. The most common abnormalities in sANLL are -7 (38%), 5q- (17%), -5 (15%), +8 (13%), and -17 (11%), followed by der(3q), der(11q), der(12p), -21, 7q-, -18, der(3p), der(17p), +21, der(21q), der(6p), and -16. 38% of the sANLL patients have had clones with only one aberration and 3% have had unrelated clones. The frequencies of these nonrandom abnormalities in sMDS and sANLL are thus remarkably similar - the only exception appears to be 5q-, which is more common in sMDS. Also the mean number of abnormalities per case is similar - 5.3 in sMDS and 5.6 in sANLL. When the incidences of characteristic cytogenetic abnormalities were correlated with the type of previous therapy, -7 was found to be more frequent in sMDS and sANLL patients who had been exposed to chemotherapy whereas 5q- was associated with previous exposure to ionizing radiation in sMDS patients.     

Right Ventricular Flow Dynamics in Dilated Right Ventricles: Energy Loss Estimation Based on Blood Speckle Tracking Echocardiography—A Pilot Study in Children

Using blood speckle tracking (BST) based on high-frame-rate echocardiography (HFRE), we compared right ventricle (RV) flow dynamics in children with atrial septal defects (ASDs) and repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF). Fifty-seven children with rTOF with severe pulmonary insufficiency (PI) (n = 21), large ASDs (n = 11) and healthy controls (CTL, n = 25) were included. Using a flow phantom, we studied the effects of imaging plane and smoothing parameters on 2-D energy loss (EL). RV diastolic EL was similar in ASD and rTOF, but both were greater than in CTL. Locations of high EL were similar in all groups in systole, occurring in the RV outflow tract and around the tricuspid valve leaflets in early diastole. An additional apical early diastolic area of EL was noted in rTOF, corresponding to colliding tricuspid inflow and PI. The flow phantom revealed that EL varied with imaging plane and smoothing settings but that the EL trend was preserved if kept consistent.