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Biomedical subjects

N Bhatti

Publications and source records attributed to N Bhatti.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Ultrasound-guided core biopsy for the diagnosis of lumps in the neck: results in 82 patients.

Ultrasound-guided core biopsy of nodes (n = 78) and other lumps (n = 4) in the neck allowed a firm histological diagnosis in 76 of 82 patients (93%). Of the remaining six patients, histological examination was equivocal in four and valueless in two. Of 18 patients with a diagnosis of lymphoma only 3 required excision of the node to provide additional information for the planning of treatment.

Adult↗

Oncologic rationale for bilateral tonsillectomy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma of unknown primary source.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate an oncologic basis for the recommendation to perform bilateral tonsillectomy as a routine measure in the search for a primary mucosal lesion in patients presenting with cervical nodal metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). STUDY DESIGN: A case series of individuals selected from a 3-year period is reported. SETTING: Academic medical center. RESULTS: Each individual presented with metastatic squamous cell carcinoma in a cervical lymph node from an unknown primary source. In each case, the primary source was identified in a tonsillectomy specimen, either located contralateral to the node, or in both tonsils. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of contralateral spread of metastatic cancer from occult tonsil lesions appears to approach 10%. For this reason, bilateral tonsillectomy is recommended as a routine step in the search for the occult primary in patients presenting with cervical metastasis of SCC and palatine tonsils intact.

Aged↗

Metastasizing mixed tumor of the parotid: initial presentation as a solitary kidney tumor and ultimate carcinomatous transformation at the primary site.

Benign mixed tumors of the salivary glands are generally regarded as indolent and harmless neoplasms. A subset of benign mixed tumors, however, can undergo carcinomatous transformation (that is, carcinoma ex-mixed tumor). Even more rarely, a mixed tumor that is seemingly benign at the microscopic level will metastasize like a true carcinoma (that is, metastasizing mixed tumor [MZMT]). Despite the benign appearance of the metastatic implants, there is usually little doubt regarding their true nature and origin. Patients invariably have had a mixed tumor removed from the parotid or some other salivary gland, and metastatic spread is usually preceded by multiple episodes of local tumor recurrence. We report a case of MZMT that presented as a solitary kidney mass. In the absence of a previous or concurrent salivary gland tumor, its metastatic nature was not appreciated and it was regarded as an unusual but benign kidney adenoma. One year after removal of the kidney mass, the patient presented with signs and symptoms of an aggressive parotid tumor. Pathologic examination of the tumor in the parotid demonstrated a high-grade carcinoma arising from a mixed tumor. This case underscores the importance of considering MZMT when a seemingly benign mixed tumor is encountered at a nonsalivary site, even in patients without a supportive history. Failure to do so may cause an unnecessary delay in primary tumor diagnosis and management, allow the primary tumor to progress toward a more malignant phenotype, and deny the patient a high expectation for a complete cure.

Adenoma, Pleomorphic↗

Myocardial infarction in critically ill patients presenting with gastrointestinal hemorrhage: retrospective analysis of risks and outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the frequency of and risk factors for myocardial infarction (MI) in patients admitted to an ICU with GI hemorrhage, and the effects of MI on mortality and length of stay. METHODS: A retrospective review of the medical records of patients admitted to our ICU with GI hemorrhage was conducted. Charts were reviewed for various demographic, laboratory, and outcome parameters. Patients were categorized as having MI, not having MI, or inadequate data to allow classification. RESULTS: Two hundred thirty admissions to the ICU for GI hemorrhage were reviewed. One hundred thirteen cases had serial creatine phosphokinase (CK) measurements with isoenzymes allowing diagnosis of MI. In these 113 cases, patients' mean age was 67.4+/-1.3 years and the mean APACHE II (acute physiology and chronic health evaluation) score was 10.9+/-0.6. The in-hospital mortality rate was 13/113 (11.5%). Patients who did not survive had a higher admission APACHE II score (15.8+/-2.0 vs 10.2+/-0.5; p = 0.02), lower initial systolic BP (104.5+/-4.4 vs 121.2+/-3.2 mm Hg; p = 0.005), and a longer length of ICU stay (8.3+/-1.8 vs 4.0+/-0.4 days; p = 0.04) than those who survived. Sixteen of 113 patients met enzymatic and ECG criteria for MI. One patient complained of chest pain and nine of 16 had shortness of breath and/or dizziness. Patients with MI had significantly more cardiac risk factors (2.4+/-0.2 vs 1.6+/-0.1; p = 0.006), lower presenting hematocrit (26.0+/-1.3 vs 30.5+/-0.8; p = 0.007), and lower lowest hematocrit in the first 48 h (22.3+/-0.9 vs 25.1+/-0.6; p = 0.01), and tended to have a longer ICU stays (7.9+/-2.2 vs 4.0+/-0.4 days; p = 0.09) than those without MI. Patients who had MI were not more likely to die during hospitalization (risk ratio = 1.8; 95% confidence interval, 0.6 to 5.8). CONCLUSIONS: Myocardial infarction occurs frequently in patients admitted to intensive care with GI hemorrhage. A clinical history of and multiple risk factors for coronary artery disease may help identify patients who are at increased risk of MI, which tends to be associated with a higher acuity of illness and in-hospital mortality. Prospective studies are required to further substantiate these associations.

APACHE↗

Increasing incidence of tuberculosis in England and Wales: a study of the likely causes.

OBJECTIVE: To examine factors responsible for the recent increase in tuberculosis in England and Wales. DESIGN: Study of the incidence of tuberculosis (a) in the 403 local authority districts in England and Wales, ranked according to Jarman score, and (b) in one deprived inner city district, according to ethnic origin and other factors. SETTING: (a) England and Wales 1980-92, and (b) the London borough of Hackney 1986-93. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Age and sex adjusted rate of tuberculosis. RESULTS: In England and Wales notifications of tuberculosis increased by 12% between 1988 and 1992. The increase was 35% in the poorest 10th of the population and 13% in the next two; and in the remaining 70% there was no increase. In Hackney the increase affected traditionally high risk and low risk ethnic groups to a similar extent. In the "low risk" white and West Indian communities the incidence increased by 58% from 1986-8 (78 cases) to 1991-3 (123), whereas in residents of Indian subcontinent origin the increase was 41% (from 51 cases to 72). Tuberculosis in recently arrived immigrants--refugees (11% of the Hackney population) and Africans (6%)--accounted for less than half of the overall increase, and the proportion of such residents was much higher than in most socioeconomically deprived districts. The local increase was not due to an increase in the proportion of cases notified, to HIV infection, nor to an increase in homeless people. CONCLUSIONS: The national rise in tuberculosis affects only the poorest areas. Within one such area all residents (white and established ethnic minorities) were affected to a similar extent. The evidence indicates a major role for socioeconomic factors in the increase in tuberculosis and only a minor role for recent immigration from endemic areas.

Asia↗

Alternative medicine.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Emergency Service, Hospital↗

Failure to deliver hepatitis B vaccine: confessions from a genitourinary medicine clinic.

OBJECTIVE: To audit hepatitis B immunisation of homosexual or bisexual men in a genitourinary medicine clinic. DESIGN: Retrospective case note review of all homosexual and bisexual men presenting to a genitourinary clinic as new patients during 12 months in 1988 and follow up review of notes to May 1990. SETTING: One department of genitourinary medicine, Middlesex Hospital. PATIENTS: 758 homosexual or bisexual men, of whom 207 started a course of hepatitis B vaccine in 1988. Case notes were unavailable for one patient. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The proportion of patients screened for hepatitis B virus markers, the proportion of susceptible patients immunised, the proportion completing the vaccine course, and the proportion rendered immune. RESULTS: 25 men had been previously tested for hepatitis markers; of the 732 not previously tested, 440 (60.1%) were screened for hepatitis B markers. 207 (69%) of the 300 patients without hepatitis B serological markers started the vaccine course, and 141 (68%) completed it, with 75 (84%) of the 89 tested after immunisation being immune. An estimated 24% of susceptible new patients were rendered immune as a result of the immunisation policy. Patients who presented with a further episode of a sexually transmitted disease were more likely to have been screened (25% v 12%, p less than 0.0001) and immunised (31% v 18% p = 0.02); those known or found to be positive for HIV antibody were more likely to have been screened (23% v 14%, p = 0.047) but less likely to have been immunised (6% v 17%, p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: The major failure was that in not screening; failure to immunise patients found to be susceptible and failure of compliance with the vaccine course contributed. Non-response to the vaccine was of minor importance. Improvements in vaccine delivery are required. IMPLICATIONS: Other providers should be encouraged to review their performance.

Adult↗

Northwick Park Infection Consultation Service. Part I. The aims and operation of the service and the general distribution of infection identified by the service between September 1987 and July 1990 [see comment].

The Northwick Park Infection Consultation Service (ICS) is a collaborative service operated by the departments of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases where personnel and skills are combined. Its aim is to improve the availability and effectiveness of consultation for infection-related problems. This paper sets out the framework for establishing an ICS and also details the general distribution of infection identified by the Northwick Park ICS in a study carried out between September 1987 and July 1990. Part II assesses the contribution that the ICS made to the management of infection. One thousand and thirty-eight (1038) patients were seen on the ICS. Seventy-five per cent (776) were judged to be infected and in 691 this was a probable or certain diagnosis. Skin and subcutaneous tissue, respiratory tract, and genito-urinary tract infections accounted for 64% of the total. Eighty-seven per cent of infections required treatment with intravenous antibiotics, 22% were associated with concomitant bacteraemia, and 2.7% of patients died as a direct result of their infection. Sixty-four per cent of consultations were unsolicited and arose from laboratory results or the clinical information on the form accompanying the specimen: over one quarter were initiated before results were available. These infections were no different in either severity or nature from those identified by solicited requests to either department. Fifty-three per cent of consultations had a moderate to high clinical component. The results emphasise the importance of infection in hospitals and highlight the advantages of a collaborative approach from the departments of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.

Cross Infection↗

Northwick Park Infection Consultation Service. Part II. Contribution of the service to patient management: an analysis of results between September 1987 and July 1990.

The establishment of Infectious Disease teams combining microbiological and clinical expertise has recently been recommended by a joint working part of the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of Pathologists. The Northwick Park Infection Consultation Service (ICS) has been operating on these lines since 1983; details are given in Part I. Part II assesses the contribution that the ICS has made to the management of infection in a study of 1038 patients undertaken between September 1987 and July 1990. The areas of patient diagnosis, treatment, investigation and isolation were examined to assess the appropriateness of the attending doctor's management of infection and the benefits resulting from recommendations made by the ICS. At the time of consultation the correct diagnosis had already been made or considered in 93% of patients, essential investigations needed to confirm or refute the diagnosis performed in 92%, and side-room isolation correctly instituted in 81% of patients requiring it. However, 41% of 776 infected patients were receiving suboptimal treatment: this was significantly more frequent in unsolicited consultations (P less than 0.05). Advice was given following consultation in 893 of 1038 patients (86%) and related to treatment (66%), investigation (41%), diagnosis (30%) and patient isolation (4%). Of 844 patients where receipt of advice could be accurately assessed, it was taken fully in 708 (84%), partly in III (13%), and went unheeded in 25 (3%). Advice on diagnosis or investigation enabled the correct diagnosis to be reached in 30% of consultations and in a further 47 patients (5%), the diagnosis was proposed by the ICS on initial consultation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

A case of resistant tuberculosis.

We report a case of multiple drug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis, in which treatment with two second line chemotherapy regimens was inadequate. Despite in-vitro sensitivity to ciprofloxacin the patient remained sputum positive with Mycobacterium tuberculosis after 11 months.

Antitubercular Agents↗