Activity

The white blood cell count and C-reactive protein levels were not significantly different among the three weight-for-length categories. The same results were obtained when the fUTI group was compared with an age-matched control group (n=192, 4±2.55 months old; P=0.261).

Obesity is not a significant risk factor for fUTI in febrile hospitalized young children. Our study suggests that conducting urinalysis for febrile young children without obvious sources, irrespective of obesity, should be considered.

Obesity is not a significant risk factor for fUTI in febrile hospitalized young children. Our study suggests that conducting urinalysis for febrile young children without obvious sources, irrespective of obesity, should be considered.

Low voltage areas (LVAs) are most commonly observed on the left atrial (LA) septal/anterior wall.

We explored the mechanisms of LA septal/anterior wall reentrant tachycardias (LASARTs) using ultrahigh resolution mapping.

This study included seven consecutive LASARTs in six patients (75 [62.2-82.8] years, 4 women) who underwent atrial tachycardia (AT) mapping and ablation using Rhythmia systems.

The AT cycle length was 266 (239-321) ms. During ATs, 11.0 (9.0-12.9) cm

of LVAs were identified in all, and 0.8 (0.7-1.7) cm

of dense scar was identified in four patients. Five ATs rotated around dense scar, while two rotated around functional linear block, which was confirmed during atrial pacing after AT termination. The AT circuit length was 8.7 ± 2.1 cm with a conduction velocity of 30.4 ± 3.7 cm/s. A median of 3.0 (2.0-4.0) slow conduction areas per circuit were identified, and 17/23 (73.9%) areas were present in LVAs, while they were at the border of the LVA and normal voltage areas in the remaining 6/23 (26.1%). Global activation histograms facilitated the identification of the critical isthmus in all. Tailor-made ablation at critical isthmuses successfully eliminated all ATs. BBI608 However, one patient with AT related to functional linear block experienced recurrent AT related to dense scar, which progressed after the procedure. During a mean 14 ± 13 month follow-up after the last procedure, no patients experienced recurrent ATs without any complications.

LASARTs consist of not only fixed conduction blocks but also functional conduction blocks. Ultrahigh resolution mapping is highly useful to decide the optimal tailor-made ablation strategy based on the mechanisms.

LASARTs consist of not only fixed conduction blocks but also functional conduction blocks. Ultrahigh resolution mapping is highly useful to decide the optimal tailor-made ablation strategy based on the mechanisms.

People with intellectual disabilities (IDs) may be at increased risk of developing periodontal diseases and dental caries due to poor oral hygiene. Our aim was to investigate motor proficiency factors associated with presence of visible plaque and gingival bleeding in people with IDs. We were particularly interested in the level of dependence, manual coordination and fine manual control of people with ID, as well as the level of exhaustion of the primary caregiver.

In this cross-sectional study, 299 people with ID were evaluated for oral hygiene using the simplified Visible Plaque Index and for gum inflammation using the Gingival Bleeding Index. The Bruininks-Oseretsky Motor Proficiency Test assessed motor proficiency through fine manual control (fine motor integration and fine motor precision) and manual coordination (manual dexterity and upper limb coordination). The level of dependence was assessed by the Katz dependency index, and the caregiver was tested for exhaustion using the fatigue severity scale. Prevalence ratios [and 95% confidence intervals (CI)] were calculated using crude and adjusted Poisson regression with robust variance.

The exhaustion of the caregiver was associated positively to visible plaque [prevalence ratio (PR)=1.36; 95% CI 1.06-1.65]. For gingival bleeding, people with IDs that had better fine motor integration (PR=0.49; 95% CI 0.33-0.75) and precision (PR=0.50; 95% CI 0.26-0.94), as well as manual dexterity (PR=0.62, 95% CI 0.49-0.77), presented better results.

Poor oral hygiene and gum inflammation were associated with motor proficiency of people with IDs and caregivers’ exhaustion. Interventions to improve the oral health of people with IDs should take into account such conditions.

Poor oral hygiene and gum inflammation were associated with motor proficiency of people with IDs and caregivers’ exhaustion. Interventions to improve the oral health of people with IDs should take into account such conditions.

Lumbar puncture is a common clinical procedure that can occasionally be difficult. Various needle guidance methods can facilitate performing this procedure, but at the expense of special expertise, equipment and facility. In the present study, we evaluated the clinical feasibility of a novel bioimpedance needle system regarding its ability to detect cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in paediatric lumbar punctures.

We performed 40 lumbar puncture procedures using the bioimpedance needle system in 37 paediatric patients, aged from 0days to 17months, as a part of their prescribed examinations in two university hospitals. The bioimpedance needle is similar to a conventional 22G cutting-edge spinal needle with a stylet, except the needle and stylet are configured as a bipolar electrode with high spatial resolution. The system measures in real-time when the needle tip reaches the subarachnoid space containing CSF. The procedure was considered successful when the erythrocyte count was determined from the obtained CSF sample.

Subarachnoid space was verifiably reached in 28 out of 40 procedures (70%). Bioimpedance needle system detected CSF in 23 out of these 28 successful procedures (82%) while failed in 3 out of 28 procedures (11%). No adverse events were reported.

Bioimpedance spinal needle system was found clinically feasible in paediatric lumbar punctures, and it may offer an objective and simple means to detect the time point when the needle tip is in contact with the cerebrospinal fluid.

Bioimpedance spinal needle system was found clinically feasible in paediatric lumbar punctures, and it may offer an objective and simple means to detect the time point when the needle tip is in contact with the cerebrospinal fluid.