Browsing Cork University Hospital by Title
Now showing items 1-20 of 959
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A 76 year old female diagnosed with cystic fibrosisThe diagnosis of Cystic Fibrosis (CF) requires a high clinical suspicion in patients presenting at all ages. Early recognition permits referral to a specialist centre and may reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with CF. We report the case of the oldest patient in Ireland diagnosed with CF at 76 years of age and highlight the clinical features of her presentation.
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Abnormalities of contrast sensitivity and electroretinogram following sevoflurane anaesthesia.BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: We tested the hypothesis that disturbances of the visual pathway following sevoflurane general anaesthesia (a) exist and persist even after clinical discharge criteria have been met and (b) are associated with decreased contrast sensitivity. METHODS: We performed pattern and full-field flash electroretinograms (ERG) in 10 unpremedicated ASA I patients who underwent nitrous oxide/sevoflurane anaesthesia. ERG and contrast sensitivity were recorded preoperatively, immediately after discharge from the recovery room and 2 h after discontinuation of sevoflurane. The time at which the Post Anaesthesia Discharge Score first exceeded 9 was also noted. Data were analysed using paired, one-tailed t-tests and Pearson's correlation coefficient. RESULTS: On the full-field photopic ERG, b-wave latency was greater at each postoperative time point (31.6+/-1.1 and 30.8+/-1.1 ms) compared to preoperatively (30.1+/-1.1 ms, P < 0.001 and P = 0.03, respectively). Oscillatory potential latencies were greater on discharge from the recovery room compared with preanaesthetic values (23.1+/-3.1 vs. 22.4+/-3.3 ms, P = 0.01) and returned to baseline by 2 h after emergence from anaesthesia. Also at 2 h after emergence from anaesthesia: (a) P50 latency on the pattern ERG was greater than at baseline (81.5+/-17.9 vs. 51.15+/-22.6ms, P = 0.004); (b) N95 amplitude was less compared to preanaesthetic values (2.6+/-0.5 vs. 3.3+/-0.4 microV, P = 0.003) and (c) contrast sensitivity was less compared to baseline values (349+/-153 vs. 404+/-140, P = 0.048). A positive correlation was demonstrated between contrast sensitivity and both N95 amplitude and b-wave latency (r = 0.99 and r = -0.55 at significance levels of P < 0.005 and P < 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative ERG abnormalities and associated decreases in contrast sensitivity are consistently present in patients who have undergone nitrous oxide/sevoflurane anaesthesia. These abnormalities persist beyond the time at which standard clinical discharge criteria have been met.
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ACE up the sleeve - are vascular patients medically optimized?To examine the current medical management of arteriopathic patients attending a vascular surgical service at a university teaching hospital over a 6-month period. The prescribing of antiplatelets, statins, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, or angiotensin receptor blockers and beta-blockers was specifically examined. Vascular patients are often under the care of multiple specialties, and therefore the influence of different medical specialties on the patients' medical management was also examined.
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Acquired generalised neuromyotonia, cutaneous lupus erythematosus and alopecia areata in a patient with myasthenia gravis.We describe a patient with the diagnoses of acquired neuromyotonia, cutaneous lupus erythematosus and alopecia areata, occurring many years after a thymectomy for myasthenia gravis associated with a thymoma. We review the current literature on autoimmune conditions associated with myasthenia gravis and thymectomy. To our knowledge, this combination of multiple autoimmune conditions has not been reported previously.
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Actinomyces pyogenes septic arthritis in a diabetic farmer.We report a case of septic arthritis and osteomyelitis of the left ankle due to Actinomyces pyogenes in a diabetic farmer. Few confirmed human cases of A. pyogenes infection have been reported, partly because of inadequate identification of this bacterium. Bacteriological characteristics of the organism, which resembles Arcanobacterium haemolyticum, are described with a review of previous case reports.
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Activated endothelial interleukin-1beta, -6, and -8 concentrations and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression are attenuated by lidocaine.Endothelial cells play a key role in ischemia reperfusion injury. We investigated the effects of lidocaine on activated human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, and IL-8 concentrations and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression. HUVECs were pretreated with different concentrations of lidocaine (0 to 0.5 mg/mL) for 60 min, thereafter tumor necrosis factor-alpha was added at a concentration of 2.5 ng/mL and the cells incubated for 4 h. Supernatants were harvested, and cytokine concentrations were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Endothelial ICAM-1 expression was analyzed by using flow cytometry. Differences were assessed using analysis of variance and post hoc unpaired Student's t-test where appropriate. Lidocaine (0.5 mg/mL) decreased IL-1beta (1.89 +/- 0.11 versus 4.16 +/- 1.27 pg/mL; P = 0.009), IL-6 (65.5 +/- 5.14 versus 162 +/- 11.5 pg/mL; P < 0.001), and IL-8 (3869 +/- 785 versus 14,961 +/- 406 pg/mL; P < 0.001) concentrations compared with the control. IL-1beta, IL-6, and IL-8 concentrations in HUVECs treated with clinically relevant plasma concentrations of lidocaine (0.005 mg/mL) were similar to control. ICAM-1 expression on lidocaine-treated (0.05 mg/mL) HUVECs was less than on controls (198 +/- 52.7 versus 298 +/- 50.3; Mean Channel Fluorescence; P < 0.001). Activated endothelial IL-1beta, IL-6, and IL-8 concentrations and ICAM-1 expression are attenuated only by lidocaine at concentrations larger than clinically relevant concentrations.
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Activated protein C attenuates acute ischaemia reperfusion injury in skeletal muscle.Activated protein C (APC) is an endogenous anti-coagulant with anti-inflammatory properties. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of activated protein C in the setting of skeletal muscle ischaemia reperfusion injury (IRI). IRI was induced in rats by applying rubber bands above the levels of the greater trochanters bilaterally for a period of 2h followed by 12h reperfusion. Treatment groups received either equal volumes of normal saline or activated protein C prior to tourniquet release. Following 12h reperfusion, muscle function was assessed electrophysiologically by electrical field stimulation. The animals were then sacrificed and skeletal muscle harvested for evaluation. Activated protein C significantly attenuated skeletal muscle reperfusion injury as shown by reduced myeloperoxidase content, wet to dry ratio and electrical properties of skeletal muscle. Further in vitro work was carried out on neutrophils isolated from healthy volunteers to determine the direct effect of APC on neutrophil function. The effects of APC on TNF-alpha stimulated neutrophils were examined by measuring CD18 expression as well as reactive oxygen species generation. The in vitro work demonstrated a reduction in CD18 expression and reactive oxygen species generation. We conclude that activated protein C may have a protective role in the setting of skeletal muscle ischaemia reperfusion injury and that this is in part mediated by a direct inhibitory effect on neutrophil activation.
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Activation of hemostasis and decline in cognitive function in older people.To determine whether activation of hemostatic function (thrombosis and fibrinolysis) is associated with cognitive decline in older people.
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Acute cardiac failure in neuroleptic malignant syndrome.We present a case of rapid onset acute cardiac failure developing as part of neuroleptic malignant syndrome in a 35-year-old woman following treatment with thioridazine and lithium. Post mortem histology of cardiac and skeletal muscle showed similar changes of focal cellular necrosis and vacuolation suggesting a common disease process.
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Acute nursing care of the older adult with fragility hip fracture: An international perspective (Part 2)The second part of this paper provides those who care for orthopaedic patients with evidence-supported international perspectives about acute nursing care of the older adult with fragility hip fracture. Developed by an international group of nurse experts and guided by a range of information from research and clinical practice, it focuses on nurse sensitive quality indicators during the acute hospitalisation for fragility hip fracture. Optimal care for the patient who has experienced such a fracture is the focus. This includes (in the first, earlier, part): Pain Delirium and in this part Pressure Ulcers Fluid Balance/Nutrition Constipation/Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infection Vigilant nursing assessment and prompt intervention may prevent the development of the complications we discuss. If they do occur and are identified early on, they may resolve with appropriate and timely nursing management. This “tool kit” has been developed under the auspices of the International Collaboration of Orthopaedic Nursing (ICON) a coalition of national associations of orthopaedic nursing (www.orthopaedicnursing.org).
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Acute superior vena caval syndrome with airway obstruction following elective mediastinoscopy.A 47-year-old female patient had a subclinical superior vena caval syndrome which developed into the 'full blown' acute condition when she was placed into the left lateral position after mediastinoscopy. She developed airway obstruction requiring urgent re-intubation and subsequent admission to the intensive care unit. This subclinical condition might have been suspected pre-operatively if closer attention had been paid to the history, physical examination and review of the computerised axial tomography scan: she had a history of intermittent dysponea, wheeze and cough which was worse on waking and improved as the day progressed, she had a positive Pemberton's sign and the computerised axial tomography scan showed that the lesion was encroaching on the superior vena cava.
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Addison disease in patients treated with glucocorticoid therapy.Acute adrenal crisis in patients with unrecognized chronic adrenocortical failure is difficult to diagnose and potentially fatal. We describe 2 patients with acute adrenal crisis whose diagnoses were hindered because of concomitant glucocorticoid treatment. Acute adrenal insufficiency is primarily a state of mineralocorticoid deficiency. Prednisolone and prednisone, the most frequently prescribed anti-inflammatory corticosteroid agents, have minimal mineralocorticoid activity. Several conditions that may be treated with pharmacological glucocorticoids are associated with an increased risk of Addison disease. An acute adrenal crisis, against which concurrent glucocorticoid therapy does not confer adequate protection, may develop in such patients.
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Addition of inhaled long-acting beta2-agonists to inhaled steroids as first line therapy for persistent asthma in steroid-naive adults and children.Consensus statements recommend the addition of long-acting inhaled ss2-agonists (LABA) only in asthmatic patients who are inadequately controlled on inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). It is not uncommon for some patients to be commenced on ICS and LABA together as initial therapy.