METHODS: Using a prospective randomised controlled single-blinded study design, 164 patients scheduled for colonoscopy were allocated to two groups (n = 82 patients in each) to receive either the conventional PEG volume (3 L, control group) or the low volume (2 L, intervention group). The Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS), a validated scale for assessing bowel cleanliness during colonoscopy, was used to score bowel cleanliness in three colon segments. Secondarily, colonoscopy completeness, tolerability to drinking PEG and the duration of colonoscopy were compared between the groups.
RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the two intervention groups in terms of bowel cleanliness (P = 0.119), colonoscopy completion (P = 0.535), tolerability (P = 0.190) or the amount of sedation/analgesia required (midazolam, P = 0.162; pethidine, P = 0.708). Only the duration of colonoscopy differed between the two groups (longer duration in the control group, P = 0.039).
CONCLUSION: Low-volume (2 L) PEG is as effective as the standard 3 L solution in bowel cleaning before colonoscopy; however, the superiority of either solution could not be established.
RESULTS: The PFGE data was input into FPQuest software, and the dendrogram generated was studied for possible genetic relatedness among the isolates. All the isolates were found to belong to the Salmonella Enteritidis serotype with notable resistance to tetracycline, gentamycin, streptomycin, and sulfadimidine. The S. Enteritidis isolates tested predominantly subtyped into the ST11 and ST1925, which was found to be a single cell variant of ST11. The STs were found to occur in chicken meats, foods, and live chicken cloacal swabs, which may indicate the persistence of the bacteria in multiple foci.
CONCLUSION: The data demonstrate the presence of S. Enteritidis among chickens, indicating its preference and reservoir status for enteric Salmonella pathogens.
Methods: Data of patients with renal hyperparathyroidism who underwent total parathyroidectomy between January 2007 to December 2014 were reviewed retrospectively. Patients were divided into 2 cohort groups according to their serum calcium levels within 24 hours of parathyroidectomy: the hypocalcemia group (calcium levels of 2 mmol/L or less), and the normocalcemia group (calcium levels more than 2 mmol/L). With the use of multivariable logistic regression analyses, the predictors of early postoperative hypocalcemia after total parathyroidectomy in patients with renal hyperparathyroidism were investigated.
Results: Among 68 patients, 56 patients (82.4%) were symptomatic preoperatively. Fifty patients (73.5%) presented with bone pain and 14 patients (20.6%) had muscle weakness. Early postoperative hypocalcemia occurred in 25 patients (36.8%). Preoperative alkaline phosphatase level was the predictor of early postoperative hypocalcemia (adjusted odds ratio, 1.004; 95% confidence interval, 1.001-1.006; P = 0.002).
Conclusion: Results from our study show that most of the patients with renal hyperparathyroidism were symptomatic preoperatively and the most common clinical presentations were bone pain and muscle weakness. The significant predictor of early postoperative hypocalcemia after total parathyroidectomy was the preoperative alkaline phosphatase levels.