Different clinical characteristics among Aeromonas hydrophila, Aeromonas veronii biovar sobria and Aeromonas caviae monomicrobial bacteremia.

This study aimed to compare the clinical presentations of Aeromonas hydrophila, A. veronii biovar sobria and A. caviae monomicrobial bacteremia by a retrospective method at three hospitals in Taiwan during an 8-yr period.

The correlation of pupil size measured by Colvard pupillometer and Orbscan II.

Purpose: To assess the correlation of pupil sizes measured under different illuminations by Colvard pupillometer and the Orbscan II system and to determine the factors that may influence pupil sizes.

Methods: The study comprised 162 eyes of 162 patients with a mean age of 34.6 +/- 10.

Significant exercise-induced hypoxaemia with equivocal desaturation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: The wide 95% confidence interval for S(a)O2 measured by pulse oximetry (S(P)O2) and the inherent characteristics of the oxyhaemoglobin dissociation curve can lead to modest but significant decreases in P(a)O2 (deltaP(a)O2 > or = 5 mmHg) that may be under-appreciated.

Aim: To avoid missing potentially significant deltaP(a)O2 by using S(P)O2, this study establishes a threshold of deltaS(P)O2 to detect deltaP(a)O2 by examining the correlation between deltaS(P)O2 and deltaP(a)O2.

Methods: We enrolled 29 elderly patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as assessed by lung function testing.

Ventilation and exercise performance after phrenic nerve and multiple intercostal nerve transfers for avulsed brachial plexus injury.

Background: Diaphragmatic excursion, lung function, exercise performance, and clinical symptoms have not been previously described in patients after phrenic nerve transfer (PNT) and/or multiple intercostal nerve transfer (MIT) for the repair of avulsed brachial plexus injury (ABPI) to prevent functional musculoskeletal impairment in the shoulder.

Setting: A university-based hospital.

Methods: Dyspnea scores, chest ultrasonography to assess diaphragmatic excursion, and pulmonary function testing were performed to assess ventilation in patients sustaining trauma to their brachial plexus.