Distinguishing characteristics between pandemic 2009-2010 influenza A (H1N1) and other viruses in patients hospitalized with respiratory illness.

Background: Differences in clinical presentation and outcomes among patients infected with pandemic 2009 influenza A H1N1 (pH1N1) compared to other respiratory viruses have not been fully elucidated.

Methodology/principal Findings: A retrospective study was performed of all hospitalized patients at the peak of the pH1N1 season in whom a single respiratory virus was detected by a molecular assay targeting 18 viruses/subtypes (RVP, Luminex xTAG). Fifty-two percent (615/1192) of patients from October, 2009 to December, 2009 had a single respiratory virus (291 pH1N1; 207 rhinovirus; 45 RSV A/B; 37 parainfluenza; 27 adenovirus; 6 coronavirus; and 2 metapneumovirus).

Awakenings to the pathogenicity of urease and the requirement for continuous long term therapy.

Urease is an enzyme found in plants and bacteria, but not mammals. It catalyzes the conversion of urea to carbon dioxide and ammonia. Ammonia shortens the life span of cells; and higher concentrations cause tissue necrosis and cytolysis.

The mythology of povidone-iodine and the development of self-sterilizing plastics.

The predominance of elemental iodine as a chemical antiseptic has been established during a century. Free iodine is effective for treatment and prevention of infection. Iodophors, such as povidone-iodine, have replaced elemental iodine in clinical use.

The place of the peritoneovenous shunt in the treatment of ascites.

The peritoneovenous shunt (PVS) is a safe procedure; all of its complications have been found to be preventable. Disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) can be a life threatening complication but has been completely eliminated by draining the ascitic fluid at the time of surgery, as it is caused by the introduction of excessive quantities of peritoneal fluid into the venous system. Peritoneal fluid is rich in tissue plasminogen activator (TPA), which is inhibited by epsilon aminocaproic acid.