Group I: choosing the appropriate method of placement of an enteral feeding tube in the high-risk population.

The traditional nasogastric/nasoenteric feeding tube is the preferred access device for short-term feeding (< 30 days), with delivery into the stomach suggested unless aspiration or motility abnormalities are present. Preference for a long-term access device is operator- and facility-dependent. Endoscopic or fluoroscopic placement is preferred as first choices over laparoscopic placement because of considerations of cost, need for general anesthesia, and need for operating room time.

Marked bone marrow eosinophilia at the time of relapse of acute myeloblastic leukaemia in association with the appearance of translocation t(12;20)(q24;q11).

We report a case of acute myeloblastic leukaemia (AML), FAB type M2, with karyotype t(8;21)(q22;q22), who at the time of relapse showed marked eosinophilia of the bone marrow. Karyotype analysis showed the appearance of an additional clone t(8;21)(q22;q22),t(12;20)(q24;q11). To the best of our knowledge, marked eosinophilia has not been reported in association with this particular chromosomal translocation.

Complications of long arm-catheters: a randomized trial of central vs peripheral tip location.

Background: This two-part study initially evaluated complications associated with catheters inserted via upper extremity veins. The second prospective phase compared thrombotic risk of peripheral catheter tips vs a central vein terminus.

Methods: Patients from public institutions with infectious diseases were observed throughout their inpatient and outpatient use of IV catheters.

Nonrandom mating in the two-spot ladybird (Adalia bipunctata): the influence of weight on mating success.

In some populations of the two-spot ladybird, Adalia bipunctata, there is evidence that melanics of both sexes have a general mating advantage over the typical morph. There is also evidence that some female ladybirds possess a simple mating preference for melanic males. We have determined the influence of body weight on mating success in the two-spot ladybird and assessed whether weight differences might influence the mating success of the melanic morph.

Fucithalmic, chloramphenicol or no treatment after squint surgery in children. A single blind randomised study.

One hundred and four children undergoing strabismus surgery were randomised post-operatively to one of three treatment groups; 1) fucithalmic drops twice daily; 2) chloramphenicol (chlormycetin) ointment twice daily; 3) no treatment. Allocation to the 'no treatment' group had to be stopped after 3 of the first 8 patients in the group developed severe mucopurulent conjunctivitis. A parental questionnaire and clinical assessment, carried out in a single blind fashion revealed that nearly all parents were able to apply the prescribed treatment and that both treatments were effective in preventing bacterial conjunctivitis.

Nutritional and metabolic response to acute spinal-cord injury.

The metabolic response to complete spinal cord injury was prospectively studied in 10 patients with Frankel class A spinal cord injury. Weekly excretory and balance studies profile the changes in nitrogen, calcium, and 3-methylhistidine excretion in relation to body weight and metabolic rate. The initial resting energy expenditures were 10% below what was predicted, and body weight decreased by 10%.

Accelerated improvement of alcoholic liver disease with enteral nutrition.

This prospective study compared the effects of tube-fed nutrition with those of a regular diet in alcoholic liver disease. The high prevalence of malnutrition in patients with alcoholic liver disease requires clarification of the benefits of aggressive nutritional support. Patients were randomly assigned a regular diet without or with tube-fed supplementation, delivering 1.

Traumatic hyphaema: a retrospective study of 314 cases.

A retrospective study was made of 314 consecutive cases of traumatic hyphaema in a mixed urban and rural Scottish population. Secondary haemorrhage occurred in 4.1% of cases and was not associated with a worsening of final visual acuity.

Angle closure glaucoma precipitated by labour.

Acute angle closure glaucoma generally occurs in older hypermetropic individuals, precipitated by pupillary dilation. However it is often forgotten that it can occur in younger people and that it does not occur solely as a result of the use of mydriatics or normal pupillary dilation in response to darkness. It is recognised that it can occur during or shortly after a surgical procedure done under either spinal or general anaesthetic.

Superwarfarin poisoning in children: a prospective study.

This prospective study was undertaken to determine the incidence, severity, time of onset, and duration of coagulopathy in children following accidental ingestion of long-acting anticoagulant rodenticides, often called "superwarfarins." Of 110 children, who ingested superwarfarins and in whom one or more prothrombin time values were obtained, 8 had a prothrombin time ratio (patient to control) of greater than or equal to 1.2, indicative of anticoagulation.

Orienting the elderly to new modes of health care delivery.

There is increasing interest in meeting the health care needs of senior citizens enrolling in an HMO system of prepaid health care. The orientation program "Senior Share in Your Care" (SSIYC) was developed to help seniors make the transition from the private physician's office to the HMO setting. This program allows for an integrated approach to care of the elderly.