scholarly journals Retrospective case note review of acute and inpatient stroke outcomes

BMJ ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 320 (7248) ◽  
pp. 1511-1512 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Aly
2016 ◽  
Vol 101 (10) ◽  
pp. 957-961 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nahla Alshaikh ◽  
Andreas Brunklaus ◽  
Tracey Davis ◽  
Stephanie A Robb ◽  
Ros Quinlivan ◽  
...  

AimAssessment of the efficacy of vitamin D replenishment and maintenance doses required to attain optimal levels in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).Method25(OH)-vitamin D levels and concurrent vitamin D dosage were collected from retrospective case-note review of boys with DMD at the Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre. Vitamin D levels were stratified as deficient at <25 nmol/L, insufficient at 25–49 nmol/L, adequate at 50–75 nmol/L and optimal at >75 nmol/L.Result617 vitamin D samples were available from 197 boys (range 2–18 years)—69% from individuals on corticosteroids. Vitamin D-naïve boys (154 samples) showed deficiency in 28%, insufficiency in 42%, adequate levels in 24% and optimal levels in 6%. The vitamin D-supplemented group (463 samples) was tested while on different maintenance/replenishment doses. Three-month replenishment of daily 3000 IU (23 samples) or 6000 IU (37 samples) achieved optimal levels in 52% and 84%, respectively. 182 samples taken on 400 IU revealed deficiency in 19 (10%), insufficiency in 84 (47%), adequate levels in 67 (37%) and optimal levels in 11 (6%). 97 samples taken on 800 IU showed deficiency in 2 (2%), insufficiency in 17 (17%), adequate levels in 56 (58%) and optimal levels in 22 (23%). 81 samples were on 1000 IU and 14 samples on 1500 IU, with optimal levels in 35 (43%) and 9 (64%), respectively. No toxic level was seen (highest level 230 nmol/L).ConclusionsThe prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in DMD is high. A 2-month replenishment regimen of 6000 IU and maintenance regimen of 1000–1500 IU/day was associated with optimal vitamin D levels. These data have important implications for optimising vitamin D dosing in DMD.


BJPsych Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan Williams ◽  
Lorna Farquharson ◽  
Ellen Rhodes ◽  
Mary Dang ◽  
Natasha Lindsay ◽  
...  

Background Questions have been raised regarding differences in the standards of care that patients receive when they are admitted to or discharged from in-patient units at weekends. Aims To compare the quality of care received by patients with anxiety and depressive disorders who were admitted to or discharged from psychiatric hospital at weekends with those admitted or discharged during the ‘working week’. Method Retrospective case-note review of 3795 admissions to in-patient psychiatric wards in England. Quality of care received by people with depressive or anxiety disorders was compared using multivariable regression analyses. Results In total, 795 (20.9%) patients were admitted at weekends and 157 (4.8%) were discharged at weekends. There were minimal differences in quality of care between those admitted at weekends and those admitted during the week. Patients discharged at weekends were less likely to be given sufficient notification (48 h) in advance of being discharged (OR = 0.55, 95% CI 0.39–0.78), to have a crisis plan in place (OR = 0.65, 95% CI 0.46–0.92) or to be given medication to take home (OR = 0.45, 95% CI 0.30–0.66). They were also less likely to have been assessed using a validated outcome measure (OR = 0.70, 95% CI 0.50–0.97). Conclusions There is no evidence of a ‘weekend effect’ for patients admitted to psychiatric hospital at weekends, but the quality of care offered to those who were discharged at weekends was relatively poor, highlighting the need for improvement in this area.


2020 ◽  
Vol 73 (9) ◽  
pp. 587-592 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark James Ponsford ◽  
Rachael Steven ◽  
Kathyrn Bramhall ◽  
Mathew Burgess ◽  
Sonali Wijetilleka ◽  
...  

AimsAn association between antibody deficiency and clozapine use in individuals with schizophrenia has recently been reported. We hypothesised that if clozapine-associated hypogammaglobulinaemia was clinically relevant this would manifest in referral patterns.MethodsRetrospective case note review of patients referred and assessed by Immunology Centre for Wales (ICW) between January 2005 and July 2018 with extraction of clinical and immunological features for individuals with diagnosis of schizophrenia-like illness.Results1791 adult patients were assessed at ICW during this period; 23 patients had a psychiatric diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Principal indications for referral were findings of low calculated globulin and immunoglobulins. Clozapine was the single most commonly prescribed antipsychotic (17/23), disproportionately increased relative to reported use in the general schizophrenia population (OR 6.48, 95% CI: 1.79 to 23.5). Clozapine therapy was noted in 6/7 (86%) of patients subsequently requiring immunoglobulin replacement therapy (IgRT). Marked reduction of class-switched memory B cells (CSMB) and plasmablasts were observed in clozapine-treated individuals relative to healthy age-matched controls. Clozapine duration is associated with CSMB decline. One patient discontinued clozapine, with gradual recovery of IgG levels without use of IgRT.ConclusionsOur findings are consistent with enrichment of clozapine-treatment within schizophrenic individuals referred for ICW assessment over the last 13 years. These individuals displayed clinical patterns closely resembling the primary immunodeficiency common variable immunodeficiency, however appears reversible on drug cessation. This has diagnostic, monitoring and treatment implications for psychiatry and immunology teams and directs prospective studies to address causality and the wider implications for this patient group.


2009 ◽  
Vol 91 (2) ◽  
pp. 152-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Robinson ◽  
Erica Makin ◽  
Robert Wheeler

INTRODUCTION The aim of this study was to assess whether surgeons are conforming to guidance laid down by professional organisations and the courts in obtaining dual parental consent for non-therapeutic circumcision. PATIENTS AND METHODS A retrospective case-note review over a 12-month period (April 2005 to April 2006) of circumcisions in boys under the age of 16 years in a tertiary paediatric surgical unit was undertaken. RESULTS A total of 62 boys aged 1–14 years (median age, 4 years) underwent non-therapeutic circumcision. Written consent from both parents was obtained in only 4 cases (6.4%). In no case was written consent obtained from the patient or their views documented. In 58 cases, the written consent was provided by only one parent; the mother in 34 (55%), the father in 24 (45%). Of these 58 cases, in 25 (43%) both parents attended with the child on the day of surgery. CONCLUSIONS The data reveal a consistent non-conformity with recommended practice and the common law. It seems unlikely that the doctors involved are deliberate and inveterate law-breakers. The reason for this non-compliance may be ignorance of the rules, or due to the impracticality of their implementation. There is evidence that doctors are ignorant of the legal rules pertaining to their patients, and the results may reflect this ignorance. However, there are also practical difficulties in obtaining dual consent that may be partially responsible for the variance. Inevitably, investment will be required to overcome these difficulties. Cost may tempt service providers to abandon the provision, leaving parents to their own devices.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document