Objective: Pica is the compulsive consumption of non-nutritive substances, and this disorder may occur more frequently in dialysis patients. The purpose of our study was to determine the prevalence of pica and the associated demographic and metabolic characteristics.
Design: Retrospective, cross-sectional analysis.
Setting: Hospital-based, outpatient, pediatric hemodialysis unit.
Subjects: Eighty-seven pediatric patients on chronic dialysis therapy were interviewed. Sixty-seven patients were receiving hemodialysis, whereas the remaining 20 were maintained on peritoneal dialysis. The predominantly nonwhite (93%) patient population had a mean age of 17.2 ± 7.2 years. Dialysis efficiency, estimated by urea clearance per patient volume (Kt/V), averaged 1.5 ± 0.5.
Intervention: Standard patient interview and documentation of laboratory and dialytic parameters.
Main Outcome Measure: Prevalence of pica and associated comorbid conditions.
Results: The survey indicated that 46% of patients experienced pica, further divided into simple "ice" pica (34.5%) versus "hard" pica (12.6%). Hard pica included the consumption of chalk, starch, sugar, soap, sand, clay, Ajax cleanser, sponge, wood, and potting soil. Patients on hemodialysis were 8.3 times more likely to have hard pica compared with those on peritoneal dialysis. Greater than 5 years on dialysis was associated with a 3.2 odds ratio of having pica (P = .02). Anemia was the most significant morbid association, occurring at an odds ratio of 4.4 (P = .001) for all pica and 10.6 (P = .004) for hard pica.
Conclusion: Pica, therefore, is prevalent and potentially harmful, requiring further attention in the nutritional management of pediatric dialysis patients.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1053/j.jrn.2011.10.038 | DOI Listing |
BMC Neurol
December 2024
Department of Neurological Surgery, The First College of Clinical Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang Central People's Hospital, 183 Yiling Avenue, Yichang City, Wujiagang District, China.
Objective: The study aims to identify characteristics that impact the postoperative prognosis and recurrence of intracranial dissecting aneurysms (IDA) patients treated using multi-stent overlapping techniques.
Methods: Clinical data from 69 IDA patients treated with multistate-assisted spring coil embolization at the hospital between January 2017 and October 2023 were retrospectively reviewed, including clinical and imaging data gathered at admission and discharge. The prognosis was determined based on mRS grade at discharge, and the patients were divided into excellent prognosis (mRS 0-2 points) and poor prognosis (mRS 3-6 points).
Front Immunol
December 2024
Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
Introduction: Fungi, including , may be a trigger or exacerbate psoriasis, especially in difficult to treat (DTT) areas, through the activation of IL-17/23 axis.
Methods: In this study, seventy patients with DDT psoriasis were enrolled to evaluate species and/or other opportunistic fungi colonization rate at baseline (T0) and the impact of apremilast on fungal load, clinical outcome, serum cytokine levels and biochemical serum profile of patients after 16, 24 and 52 weeks of treatment.
Results: In our population, 33 (47%) patients were colonized by spp.
J Neurosurg Case Lessons
December 2024
Department of Neurosurgery, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
Background: Rotational vertebral artery occlusion, or bow hunter's syndrome (BHS), is a rare but clinically important cause of vertebrobasilar insufficiency. Extrinsic compression of the artery is usually caused by osteophytes, fibrous bands, or lateral disc herniation and typically occurs in the setting of anatomical variations, leading to dynamic compromise of the posterior circulation. Neoplastic causes of BHS are rare.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCureus
November 2024
Neuroradiology Department, Unidade Local de Saúde de São João, Porto, PRT.
Bone or cartilage anomalies affecting the arteries supplying the brain can be a structural cause of ischemic stroke. Due to their rarity, there is currently no standardized approach for evaluating and treating these so-called bony strokes. We present a case of a 79-year-old woman with a history of cranial settling due to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and moderate disability, who presented with insidious dizziness and gait disturbances over three weeks.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Surg Case Rep
December 2024
Department of Pathology, Health Plus Diagnostics, Gorakhpur, India.
Introduction And Importance: Rapunzel syndrome is a rare condition that results from trichotillomania (compulsive hair pulling) and trichophagia (hair eating), causing a trichobezoar (hairball) to form This syndrome typically affects young females with psychiatric conditions and presents with symptoms like chronic abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and malnutrition. The condition is often diagnosed late, leading to serious gastrointestinal complications.
Case Presentation: A 19-year-old female from a rural community presented with chronic abdominal pain, vomiting, and nutritional deficiencies, including scaly skin and koilonychia.
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