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.

Coagulopathy post peritoneovenous shunt.

In 1942, 53% of medically treated patients with cirrhosis were dead 6 months after the onset of ascites. Only 30% survived 1 year. This dismal outlook has improved only slightly with advances in medicine.

Enhancement of tissue Po2 of strangulated bowel by topical application of sodium nitroprusside.

The Po2 was measured in the tissue of the ileal wall of dogs before, during, and up to one hour after reversible occlusion of segmental arteries. The occlusion was then released and the reoxygenation of the bowel wall was observed. Sodium nitroprusside (50 mg in 100 ml of solution) applied topically to the ischemic segment enhanced reoxygenation as compared to control animals.

Urease as a contributing factor in ulcerative lesions of the colon.

Urease immunization protects animals against the development of uremic colitis. This indicates that ammonia formed by bacterial urease is the causative factor in the breakdown of the colonic mucosa.