Relative incidence of phlebitis associated with peripheral intravenous catheters in the lower versus upper extremities.

Peripheral venous access in elderly, hospitalized patients is often challenging. The usual alternative is insertion of a central venous catheter, with associated risk for complications. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the relative incidence of phlebitis secondary to lower as compared to upper extremity intravenous catheters (IVCs) and associated risk factors.

Health ramifications of the Gush Katif evacuation.

Background: Following the 2005 evacuation of Gush Katif, a community of Jewish settlements located in the greater Gaza Strip, many evacuees reported a deterioration in their health status.

Objectives: To determine if and to what degree the evacuation of Gush Katif caused a worsening in the health status of the evacuees.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study we assessed the medical records of 2962 evacuees for changes in prevalence of diabetes, hypertension and ischemic heart disease in the period beginning 1 year before and ending 5 years after the evacuation.

Bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis complicating local cardiac hypothermia during open heart surgery.

Filling the pericardial sac with ice and saline during open heart surgery protects the myocardium during periods of ischemic arrest. Bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis complicated intense local hypothermia in five patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery. All complained of severe orthopnea, exertional dyspnea, insomnia, and excessive daytime somnolence.

Electron microscope methods for the identification of adenoviruses isolated in micro tissue cultures.

A tissue culture micromethod is described for adenovirus isolation and preparation for presumptive identification by electron microscopy. These procedures are easier, more economical, and faster than conventional methods. The micro techniques make it more feasible to utilize direct visualization of virus in infected cells as an adjunctive diagnostic and research tool.

Clinical and physiological evaluation of mucolytic agents nebulized with soproterenol: 10 per cent N-acetylcysteine verus 10 per cent 2-mercaptoethane sulphonate.

In a controlled five-week cross-over study in 12 patients with chronic bronchitis, the effects of nebulized 10% N-acetylcysteine plus isoproterenol were compared with a new drug, sodium 2-mercaptoethane sulphonate, in 10% concentration also nebulized with isoproterenol. Both combinations were compared with a control aerosol of saline and a second control aerosol of saline plus isoproterenol. Both 10% 2-mercaptoethane sulphonate and 10% N-acetylcysteine were highly effective in thinning mucoid, mucopurulent or purulent sputum.