Clinical Features and Management of Snakebite Envenoming in French Guiana

The management of snakebite (SB) envenoming in French Guiana (FG) is based on symptomatic measures and antivenom (AV) administration (Antivipmyn Tri®; Instituto Bioclon—Mexico). Our study aimed to assess clinical manifestations, the efficacy, and safety of Antivipmyn Tri® in the management of SB. Our study is a prospective observational work. It was conducted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Cayenne General Hospital between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2019. We included all patients hospitalized for SB envenoming. Our study contained three groups (without AV, three vials, and six vials Antivipmyn Tri®). During the study period, 133 patients were included. The main clinical symptoms were edema (98.5%), pain (97.7%), systemic hemorrhage (18%), blister (14.3%), and local hemorrhage (14.3%). AV was prescribed for 83 patients (62.3%), and 17 of them (20%) developed early adverse reactions. Biological parameters at admission showed defibrinogenation in 124 cases (93.2%), International Normalized Ratio (INR) > 2 in 104 cases (78.2%), and partial thromboplastin time (PTT) > 1.5 in 74 cases (55.6%). The time from SB to AV was 9:00 (5:22–20:40). The median time from SB to achieve a normal dosage of fibrinogen was 47:00 vs. 25:30, that of Factor II was 24:55 vs. 15:10, that of Factor V was 31:42 vs. 19:42, and that of Factor VIII was 21:30 vs. 10:20 in patients without and with AV, respectively, (p < 0.001 for all factors). Patients receiving Antivipmyn Tri® showed a reduction in the time to return to normal clotting tests, as compared to those who did not. We suggest assessing other antivenoms available in the region to compare their efficacy and safety with Antivipmyn Tri® in FG.

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Meta-Analysis of Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Ligustrazine in the Treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2020/2416132 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-11

Author(s):

Xiaozheng Wu ◽

Wen Li ◽

Zhenliang Luo ◽

Yunzhi Chen

Keyword(s):

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis ◽

Pulmonary Fibrosis ◽

Clinical Efficacy ◽

Adverse Reactions ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Gas Analysis ◽

Control Group ◽

Efficacy And Safety ◽

Arterial Blood Gas ◽

Arterial Blood

Objective. To systematically review the efficacy and safety of Ligustrazine in the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Methods. The electronic literature databases (PubMed, EMbase, CNKI, WanFang database, and VIP) were retrieved through a computer to find out the randomized controlled trials (RCT) of Ligustrazine in the treatment of IPF according to the inclusion/exclusion criteria screening test. Cochrane’s bias risk table was also used to evaluate the quality of the study and to extract effective data. RevMan 5.3 was used for statistical analysis. Results. A total of 7 RCTs (a total of 366 patients, including 196 in experimental and 170 in control group). Compared with the control group, Ligustrazine could improve the clinical symptoms ([OR] = 2.20, 95% CI [1.40, 3.46], P = 0.0006 ), lung function (VC % [MD] = 3.92, 95% CI [0.68, 7.17], P = 0.02 ), (TLC% [MD] = 4.94, 95% CI [0.37, 9.52], P = 0.03 ), the pulmonary diffusion function (DLCO % [MD] = 9.12, 95% CI [5.70, 12.55], P < 0.00001 ), and arterial blood gas analysis (PaO2 [MD] = 7.11, 95% CI [1.96, 12.25], P = 0.007 ) (PaCO2 [MD] = −2.42, 95% CI [−4.36, −0.49], P = 0.01 ) of IPF patients, respectively. However, FEV1/FVC % ([MD] = 9.37, 95% CI [−1.23, 19.97], P = 0.08 ) and adverse reactions ([MD] = 0.35, 95% CI [0.02, 5.36], P = 0.45 ) were not significantly improved. Conclusion. Ligustrazine has certain clinical efficacy in the treatment of IPF, but the safety of applying it and the adverse reactions need to be further analyzed and determined. It can be considered as a new alternative and complementary medicine to be promoted and recommended for use in medical units in various countries in the world and it solved the difficult problem of conventional drug treatment of IPF; therefore, more research strength can be put in the treatment of the pathological mechanism of IPF for further exploration. The study was registered under registration number CRD42020193626.

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Comparison of the Efficacy and Safety between Doxycycline and Moxifloxacin in the Treatment of Tsutsugamushi Disease

Proceedings of Anticancer Research ◽

10.26689/par.v5i5.2561 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (5) ◽

pp. 73-77

Author(s):

Qiang Qiu

Keyword(s):

Liver Function ◽

Adverse Reactions ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Effective Rate ◽

Clinical Treatment ◽

Efficacy And Safety ◽

Tsutsugamushi Disease ◽

Group A ◽

Group B ◽

Better Than

Objective: To explore the efficacy and safety of doxycycline and moxifloxacin in the treatment of tsutsugamushi disease. Methods: There was a total of 80 cases of tsutsugamushi disease that were treated in Jiangsu Sihong Fenjinting Hospital from January 2017 to August 2020. The patients were divided into group A and group B, with 40 cases in each group. The patients in group A were treated with moxifloxacin whereas those in group B were treated with doxycycline. The efficacy and safety of the clinical treatment between the two groups were compared. Results: The effective rate was 72.5% in group A and 95.0% in group B. Compared with group A, group B was better (p < 0.05). The time taken for the resolution of clinical symptoms, the detection indexes of liver function, and the incidence of adverse reactions were also compared between the two groups, in which group B was significantly better than group A (p < 0.05). Conclusion: In the clinical treatment of tsutsugamushi disease, doxycycline has better therapeutic effect and higher safety compared to moxifloxacin. It can significantly improve the patient’s liver function, reduce the probability of adverse reactions, and accelerate the patient’s physical recovery.

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Rare Coagulation Disorders

Thrombosis and Haemostasis ◽

10.1055/s-0037-1614361 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 82 (10) ◽

pp. 1207-1214 ◽

Cited By ~ 129

Author(s):

Flora Peyvandi ◽

P. M. Mannucci

Keyword(s):

Hemophilia A ◽

Clinical Manifestations ◽

Von Willebrand Disease ◽

Factor Vii ◽

Factor V ◽

Muslim Country ◽

Factor X ◽

Coagulation Disorders ◽

Factor Ii ◽

Von Willebrand

SummaryThe type of hemorrhagic manifestations that occur in patients with recessively transmitted coagulation disorders and their optimal treatment are not well established as for hemophilia A and B and von Willebrand disease, due to the rarity of these disorders. In a Muslim country like Iran where consanguineous marriages are frequent these disorders are less rare. We chose to evaluate the pattern of bleeding symptoms in 237 Iranian patients with the inherited deficiencies of fibrinogen, factor II, combined factor V and factor VIII, factor V, factor VII and factor X. Considering “severe” life-endangering hemorrhages such as those in the CNS, gastrointestinal tract and from the umbilical cord and those potentially handicapping such as hematomas and hemarthroses; and “mild” epistaxis, menorrhagia, hematuria, oral and postsurgical bleeding, it would appear the most severe diseases are factor X and factor II deficiencies. For the remaining defects only a minority of patients, even those with unmeasurable plasma levels, had life-endangering hemorrhages or muscoloskeletal disabilities as a consequence of hemarthroses and hematomas. The relatively mild severity of clinical manifestations in recessive coagulation disorders commands safety as the primary criterion in the choice of replacement material for treatment. Hence, virally inactivated plasma and factor concentrates should be the products of choice.

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Coagulation Findings in Rats with Experimental Hypersplenism and Their Changes after Splenectomy and after Administration of Adrenaline

Thrombosis and Haemostasis ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1654190 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 23 (03) ◽

pp. 593-600

Author(s):

P Pudlák ◽

I Farská ◽

V Brabec ◽

V Pospíšilová

Keyword(s):

Factor Viii ◽

Normal Control ◽

Normal Values ◽

Coagulation Factors ◽

Factor Vii ◽

Factor V ◽

Thrombin Time ◽

Factor Ii ◽

Recalcification Time

Summary1. The following coagulation changes were found in rats with experimental hypersplenism: a mild prolongation of the recalcification time, shortened times in Quick’s test, a lowered activity in plasma thrombin time and shortened times in the partial thromboplastin test. Concentrations of factor II, V, VII (+X), VIII and X did not differ from those of normal control rats.2. The administration of adrenaline to hypersplenic rats induced the correction of the partial thromboplastin test, Quick’s test and plasma thrombin time to normal values. Concentrations of coagulation factors were not significantly changed. An increase was found in factor V.3. Splenectomy performed in hypersplenic rats was followed by a shortened recalcification time, a prolongation of the partial thromboplastin test and of the test with partial thromboplastin and kaolin. A prolongation was also observed in Quick’s test. Complete correction of plasma thrombin time was not observed. The concentration of factor VII increased.4. The administration of adrenaline to splenectomized rats with experimental hypersplenism did not induce any significant changes with the exception of a corrected plasma thrombin time and a decreased concentration of factor VIII.5. A different reaction of factor VIII to adrenaline in normal and hypersplenic rats is pointed out.

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Calibration of a Lyophilized Pooled Plasma as Candidate Reference Plasma for Standardization of the Prothrombin Time Ratio

Hämostaseologie ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1655219 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 13 (02) ◽

pp. 96-105 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

H. Beeser ◽

U. Becker ◽

H. J. Kolde ◽

E. Spanuth ◽

P. Witt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Prothrombin Time ◽

International Study ◽

International Normalized Ratio ◽

Measurement Methods ◽

Factor V ◽

Diagnostic Instruments ◽

Plasma Pool ◽

Normal Plasma ◽

German Association ◽

Prothrombin Time Ratio

SummaryThe prothrombin time (PT), obtained from a fresh normal plasma pool (FPP), is the basis both for the establishment of the 100% activity (normal plasma) and for the ratio calculation used in the International Normalized Ratio (INR) according to the recommendations of the ICSH/ICTH (6). Today the PT of lyophilized normal plasma pools are successfully used as reference for the assessment of samples in proficiency studies. However, a lack of comparability is to be recognized. Therefore the Committee of Hematology of the German Association of Diagnostics’ and Diagnostic Instruments’ Manufacturers (VDGH) decided to produce a candidate reference plasma (VDGH Reference Plasma) which was calibrated against fresh normal plasma pools in an international study.The basic calibration was performed by using the same certified BCR thromboplastin (BCT/099) by all participants. The endpoint was determined manually and by using the coagulometer Schnitger-Gross. In additional testings each participant used his own routine thromboplastins and methods. Calculating the ratio [PT VDGH Reference Plasma (sec)/PT fresh normal plasma pool (sec)] the VDGH Reference Plasma showed a deviation from the average fresh normal plasma pool of 1.05 both with the BCT/099 and with all thromboplastins. There were obtained some statistical differences between “plain” and “combined’’ (added factor V and fibrinogen) thromboplastins. No statistical difference was found between the different endpoint measurement methods (manual, mechanical, optical).In spite of these statistical deviations the VDGH Reference Plasma can be used for the standardization of the PT-normal (100%) value with different ratios for plain (1.06) and combined (1.02) thromboplastins. The manufacturers will use this VDGH Reference Plasma for the calibration of their commercially available calibration plasmas, which allows the user of such a material to calculate a calibrated 100% PT value.

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Spectrophotometric Assays of Prothrombin in Plasma of Patients Using Oral Anticoagulants

Thrombosis and Haemostasis ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1657025 ◽

1979 ◽

Vol 42 (04) ◽

pp. 1296-1305 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

R M Bertina ◽

W van der Marel-van Nieuwkoop ◽

E A Loeliger

Keyword(s):

Prothrombin Time ◽

Vitamin K ◽

Oral Anticoagulation ◽

Vitamin K Antagonists ◽

Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Factor Xa ◽

Factor V ◽

Anticoagulant Treatment ◽

Factor Ii ◽

K Deficiency

SummaryTwo spectrophotometric assays for prothrombin have been developed and compared with a one stage coagulant and an immunological assay. One of these assays (called the XAPC assay) uses a combination of factor Xa, phospholipid, Ca2+ and factor V as activator of prothrombin, and measures only normal prothrombin. The second (the ECAR assay) uses Echis carinatus venom as activator. This assay measures both normal prothrombin and PIVKA II (protein induced by vitamin K antagonists/absence). Combination of the results obtained by the XAPC and ECAR assays provides rapid and reliable information on the degree of “subcarboxylation” of prothrombin (oral anticoagulation, vitamin K deficiency).For patients on long term anticoagulant treatment the prothrombin time (Thrombotest) shows better correlation with the ratio prothrombin/prothrombin plus PIVKA II (XAPC/ ECAR) than with the factor II concentration. For patients starting the anticoagulant treatment there is no correlation between the Thrombotest time and the XAPC/ECAR ratio.It seems doubtful that (a) spectrophotometric factor II assay(s) will be as useful as the prothrombin time in the control of oral anticoagulation.

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ОЦЕНКА ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТИ И БЕЗОПАСНОСТИ 10% ВНУТРИВЕННОГО ИММУНОГЛОБУЛИНА ПРИВИДЖЕН В РЕАЛЬНОЙ КЛИНИЧЕСКОЙ ПРАКТИКЕ

Rossiiskii Allergologicheskii ZHurnal ◽

10.36691/raj.2020.16.4.006 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

L.G. Khludova ◽

I.A. Manto ◽

E.A. Latysheva ◽

T.V. Latysheva ◽

M.R. Khaitov

Keyword(s):

Replacement Therapy ◽

Primary Immunodeficiency ◽

Adverse Reactions ◽

Efficacy And Safety ◽

High Efficacy ◽

Antibody Synthesis ◽

Human Immunoglobulins ◽

Severe Adverse Reactions ◽

Common Variable ◽

Real Clinical Practice

Актуальность. Заместительная терапия иммуноглобулинами человека является ведущим патогенетическим методом лечения первичных иммунодефицитов с нарушением синтеза антител. В настоящее время в России доступно несколько препаратов иммуноглобулинов человека нормальных для внутривенного введения. Цель. Оценить эффективность и безопасность препарата Привиджен (10 раствор иммуноглобулина для внутривенного введения) в реальной клинической практике в течение 12 клинических месяцев. Материалы и методы. 20 взрослых с диагнозом общая вариабельная иммунная недостаточности и Х-сцепленная агаммаглобулинемия получали внутривенный иммуноглобулин Привиджен к интервалом 243 дня в течение 12 мес. Первичными критериями оценки была частота инфекционных осложнений и нежелательных явлений. Результаты. У большинства пациентов в ходе исследования достигнут удовлетворительный претранс-фузионный уровень IgG. Тяжелых нежелательных явлений, связанных с введением препарата, не зарегистрировано. Заключение. В ходе исследования препарат продемонстрировал высокую эффективность и безопасность у пациентов, нуждающихся в ежемесячной заместительной терапииRelevance. Replacement therapy with human immunoglobulins is the leading pathogenetic method of treatment of primary immunodeficiency with impaired antibody synthesis. Currently, several preparations of human immunoglobulins for intravenous administration are available in Russia. Purposes. Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of Privigen immunoglobulin intravenous 10 liquid in real clinical practice within 12 clinical months. Methods. Twenty adults diagnosed with common variable immunodeficiency or X-linked agammaglobulinemia received intravenous Privigen infusions (0.2-0.4 mg/kg) at 243 intervals over a 12-month period. The primary endpoint was the annual rate of infections and adverse events. Results. Sufficient level of IgG was achieved in most patients during the study. Severe adverse reactions during the treatment were not registered. Conclusions. High efficacy and safety of monthly replacement therapy in patients with primary immunodeficiency with impaired antibody synthesis has been demonstrated.

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Etiology and clinical features of epididymo-orchitis: A single-center study in Tehran, Iran

Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets ◽

10.2174/1871526520666200218115400 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sara Abolghasemi ◽

Mohammad Alizadeh ◽

Ali Hashemi ◽

Shabnam Tehrani

Keyword(s):

Chlamydia Trachomatis ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Urine Culture ◽

Clinical Manifestations ◽

Urinary Frequency ◽

Serological Tests ◽

Duration Of Symptoms ◽

Two Samples ◽

History Of ◽

Tract Infections

Introduction: Epididymo-orchitis is a common urological disease among men. Little is known about the clinical and epidemiological aspects of the disease in Iran. Thus, the present study was aimed to investigate the etiology, clinical sequelae and risk factors of patients with epididymo-orchitis in Tehran, Iran. Materials and Methods: Patients presenting with epididymo-orchitis were prospectively analyzed in order to study the etiology and pattern of the disease. Bacteriological, molecular and serological tests were undertaken to look for Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Brucella spp., Mycoplasma spp, and other bacteria. Results: Fifty patients with epididymo-orchitis were evaluated according to their clinical symptoms, duration of symptoms, physical examination, and laboratory studies. The mean age of the patients was 53 years. Fever, dysuria, pain in the flanks, urinary frequency and discharges occurred in 58.0%, 50.0%, 50.0%, 28.0% and 6.0%, respectively. Bacterial pathogen was identified in 26% (13/50) of patients by urine culture. Escherichia coli was the etiological agent in 11/13 patients (84.6%). Two out of 50 patients (4.0%) were also positive for Chlamydia trachomatis. Two samples were serologically positive for Brucella spp. High Mean age, fever, urinary frequency, history of the underlying disease and history of urinary tract infections were found to have a significant association with the positive bacteriologic urine culture (P<0.05). Conclusions: The most common clinical manifestations were fever, dysuria, and abdominal pain. E. coli and C. trachomatis were the major causative agents. Use of a set of diagnostic approaches including clinical symptoms, urine culture and more precise techniques such as PCR should be taken into consideration for the definitive diagnosis.

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Scrub typhus (Orientia tsutsugamushi), A rapidly spreading epidemic in Chennai - A standalone lab experience

International Journal of Bioassays ◽

10.21746/ijbio.2016.09.0021 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 5 (09) ◽

pp. 4896

Author(s):

Sripriya C.S.* ◽

Shanthi B. ◽

Arockia Doss S. ◽

Antonie Raj I. ◽

Mohana Priya

Keyword(s):

Scrub Typhus ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Clinical Manifestations ◽

Febrile Illness ◽

Orientia Tsutsugamushi ◽

The Past ◽

Igm Elisa ◽

The Mean ◽

Specific Symptoms ◽

Symptoms And Signs

Scrub typhus (Orientia tsutsugamushi), is a strict intracellular bacterium which is reported to be a recent threat to parts of southern India. There is re-emergence of scrub typhus during the past few years in Chennai. Scrub typhus is an acute febrile illness which generally causes non-specific symptoms and signs. The clinical manifestations of this disease range from sub-clinical disease to organ failure to fatal disease. This study documents our laboratory experience in diagnosis of scrub typhus in patients with fever and suspected clinical symptoms of scrub typhus infection for a period of two years from April 2014 to April 2016 using immunochromatography and IgM ELISA methods. The study was conducted on 648 patients out of whom 188 patients were found to be positive for scrub typhus. Results also showed that pediatric (0 -12 years) and young adults (20 – 39 years) were more exposed to scrub typhus infection and female patients were more infected compared to male. The study also showed that the rate of infection was higher between September to February which also suggested that the infection rate is proportional to the climatic condition. Statistical analysis showed that the mean age of the patients in this study was 37.6, standard deviation was 18.97, CV % was 50.45.

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Pediatric COVID-19 and the Factors That May Mitigate Its Clinical Course

Journal of Child Science ◽

10.1055/s-0040-1717077 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (01) ◽

pp. e137-e140

Author(s):

Mosaad Abdel-Aziz ◽

Nada M. Abdel-Aziz ◽

Dina M. Abdel-Aziz ◽

Noha Azab

Keyword(s):

Clinical Features ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Clinical Course ◽

Clinical Manifestations ◽

Gastrointestinal Symptoms ◽

Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 ◽

Compulsory Vaccination ◽

Specific Factors ◽

Novel Coronavirus ◽

Radiographic Data

AbstractThe clinical manifestations of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vary from mild flu-like symptoms to severe fatal pneumonia. However, children with COVID-19 may be asymptomatic or may have mild clinical symptoms. The aim of this study was to investigate clinical features of pediatric COVID-19 and to search for the factors that may mitigate the disease course. We reviewed the literature to realize the clinical features, laboratory, and radiographic data that may be diagnostic for COVID-19 among children. Also, we studied the factors that may affect the clinical course of the disease. Fever, dry cough, and fatigue are the main symptoms of pediatric COVID-19, sometimes flu-like symptoms and/or gastrointestinal symptoms may be present. Although some infected children may be asymptomatic, a recent unusual hyperinflammatory reaction with overlapping features of Kawasaki's disease and toxic shock syndrome in pediatric COVID-19 has been occasionally reported. Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronvirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) nucleic acid testing is the corner-stone method for the diagnosis of COVID-19. Lymphocyte count and other inflammatory markers are not essentially diagnostic; however, chest computed tomography is highly specific. Factors that may mitigate the severity of pediatric COVID-19 are home confinement with limited children activity, trained immunity caused by compulsory vaccination, the response of the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptors in children is not the same as in adults, and that children are less likely to have comorbidities. As infected children may be asymptomatic or may have only mild respiratory and/or gastrointestinal symptoms that might be missed, all children for families who have a member diagnosed with COVID-19 should be investigated.

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