Current recommendations for treatment of tetanus during humanitarian emergencies

Tetanus is an acute, toxin-mediated disease caused by Clostridium tetani. Under favourable anaerobic conditions, such as in dirty, necrotic wounds, this ubiquitous bacillus may produce tetanospasmin, an extremely potent neurotoxin. Tetanus toxin blocks inhibitory neurotransmitters in the central nervous system, resulting in muscular stiffness and spasms that are typical of tetanus.

Prevention of Tetanus in the Wounded

Recommendations for the prevention of tetanus in the wounded have been revised to incorporate the use of human tetanus immunoglobulin, which is now available in the United Kingdom. Surgical toilet is of prime importance for all wounds, and is usually sufficient for tetanus prophylaxis in patients with wounds that are less than six hours old, clean, non-penetrating, and with negligible tissue da…

News in pathophysiology, definition and classification of hepatorenal syndrom…

Renal dysfunction is a common, life-threatening complication occurring in patients with liver disease. Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) has been defined as a purely ‘‘functional” type of renal failure that often occurs in patients with cirrhosis in the setting of marked abnormalities in arterial circulation, as well as overactivity of the endogenous vasoactive systems.4,5 In 2007, the Internati…

Esophageal varices

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Esophageal varices

Esophageal varices are Porto-systemic collaterals — i.e., vascular channels that link the portal venous and the systemic venous circulation. They form as a consequence of portal hypertension (a progressive complication of cirrhosis), preferentially in the sub mucosa of the lower esophagus. Rupture and bleeding from esophageal varices are major complications of portal hypertension and are ass…

Hepatorenal syndrome: Update on diagnosis and treatment

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication in patients with end-stage liver disease and advanced cirrhosis regardless of the underlying cause. Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS), a functional form of kidney failure, is one of the many possible causes of AKI. HRS is potentially reversible but involves highly complex pathogenetic mechanisms and equally complex clinical and therapeutic management.…

Outcomes in hypertensive patients at high cardiovascular risk treated with re…

The Valsartan Antihypertensive Long-term Use Evaluation (VALUE) trial was designed to test the hypothesis that for the same blood-pressure control, valsartan would reduce cardiac morbidity and mortality more than amlodipine in hypertensive patients at high cardiovascular risk

Effect of Amlodipine on the Progression of Atherosclerosis and the Occurrence…

Amlodipine has no demonstrable effect on angiographic progression of coronary atherosclerosis or the risk of major cardiovascular events but is associated with fewer hospitalizations for unstable angina and revascularization.

Effects of Different Blood Pressure–Lowering Regimens on Major Cardiovascul…

Blood pressure (BP) level is a major determinant of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in individuals with diabetes mellitus. Several guidelines recommend lower BP goals and specific drug classes for these patients. The overviews reported herein were performed to formally compare the effects on cardiovascular events and death of different BP-lowering regimens in individuals with and withou…

Asthma guidelines: the Global Initiative for Asthma in relation to national g…

Both GINA and national guidelines have furthered asthma care to narrow the care gap from what is known to how asthma care is delivered, hopefully in a more directed, personalized manner. As well, both GINA and national guidelines have helped to shape the direction of research for the future benefit of children and their families