Patients with infection and prior appendectomy may be prone to worse outcomes.

Background: infection (CDI) occurs due to a dysbiosis in the colon. The appendix is considered a 'safe house' for gut microbiota and may help repopulate gut flora of patients with CDI.

Aim: To study the impact of prior appendectomy on the severity and outcomes of CDI.

Serendipitous Unearthing of Silent Multiple Giant Rasmussen's Aneurysms by Fluorine-18 Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computerized Tomography.

The authors report multiple giant bilateral pseudoaneurysms of pulmonary artery, also known as Rasmussen's aneurysms, which remained silent and unrevealed despite the large size and multiplicity unearthed by fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computerized tomography.

Angle-closure glaucoma secondary to inflammatory capsular block syndrome following routine cataract surgery.

A 78-year-old man had uneventful cataract surgery with implantation of a 1-piece plate-haptic intraocular lens in the capsular bag. Seven weeks later, he presented as an emergency with intense fibrinous uveitis and increased intraocular pressure (IOP). Examination revealed an inflammatory capsular block syndrome (CBS) causing fibrinous anterior uveitis and secondary angle-closure glaucoma.

Fungal rhinosinusitis: a clinicopathological study from South India.

Fungal rhinosinusitis (FRS) is uncommon and accounts for 6-12% of culture or histologically proven chronic sinusitis. FRS may be acute or chronic. The aim of this paper was to study the histological features that contribute to the diagnosis and sub typing of FRS, using a retrospective review of all paranasal sinus mucosal biopsies from January 2005 to December 2008.

Histological and morphometric analysis of the effects of argon laser epilation.

Aim: To analyse the location and extent of tissue damage induced after argon laser epilation.

Methods: Laser burns were applied to the lid margins of four patients before excision for entropion ("live tissue") and the lid margin of one patient was lasered after an excision for ectropion ("dead tissue"). The laser burns were directed towards the lash follicle and between 10 and 50 burns were applied with an argon blue-green laser set at power 0.

Management of traumatic aniridia and aphakia with an iris reconstruction implant.

We describe the clinical features and management of a 36-year-old man with aniridia and aphakia following blunt ocular trauma. Examination showed partial aniridia and aphakia. We discuss the various options available in the management of this patient and describe the surgical technique involved in the implantation of an iris reconstruction implant.

Recurrent ischemia resulting from left internal mammary artery-to-pulmonary artery fistula.

This report describes a case series of recurrent ischemia after coronary artery bypass grafting resulting from left internal mammary artery-to-pulmonary artery fistula. An angiographic demonstration of this fistula is presented.

Frequency of low-risk hospital admissions for heart failure.

Heart failure is one of the most common reasons for admission to acute care hospitals. A proportion of these admissions are probably low risk and could be managed in subacute care facilities, resulting in substantial cost savings. To investigate the proportion of low-risk hospital admissions for heart failure, all admissions for heart failure to Vanderbilt University Medical Center between July 1993 and June 1995 were identified (n = 743).

Effect of a heart failure program on hospitalization frequency and exercise tolerance.

Background: Most patients with heart failure are currently managed by physicians with little specific expertise in heart failure. This management system has been associated with evidence of suboptimal care, such as high rates of hospital readmission and underuse of ACE inhibitors. The current study was undertaken to determine whether hospitalization rates and functional outcomes are improved when patients are managed by physicians with special expertise in heart failure working in a dedicated heart failure program.

Pathophysiology and management of phantom limb pain.

Phantom pain phenomenon is a poorly understood but relatively common sequela of limb amputation that may result in significant psychological and physical morbidity. In this review, proposed pathoneurophysiological mechanisms for the development of phantom pain are reviewed as well as psychological mechanisms that may be involved. The authors recommend an integrated approach to management of chronic phantom pain that takes into consideration the multiple factors that may contribute to its etiology.

A reappraisal of the peptide-based enteral formulas: clinical applications.

The development of peptide-based enteral formulas is a significant milestone in the advancement of nutritional care of the nutritionally compromised patient. Although previously limited to specific gastrointestinal mucosal diseases, the use of peptide-based formulas has been extremely useful in the critically ill patient with impaired gastrointestinal absorption associated with hypoalbuminemia resulting from hypermetabolic states. Based on previous animal studies, several investigators have noted improved nitrogen absorption, greater nitrogen utilization, higher branched chain amino acid levels, and increased insulin secretion with the use of peptide-based formulas compared with intact protein or free amino acid diets.