The objective of the study was to evaluate the predictive value of pulse oximetry before treatment of acute asthma in the prehospital setting. Unfavorable outcome was defined as need for mechanical ventilation during the acute attack. The study was carried out prospectively. The patients were divided into two groups: SpO2 or = 80%. The study group consisted of 44 patients with 47 asthmatic attacks. Eleven patients had SpO2 or = 80%, none required mechanical ventilation. Oximetry before treatment with a cut off point of
Following an outbreak of meningococcal disease in three schoolchildren in a small community in northern Norway, DNA fingerprinting, serotyping with monoclonal antibodies, serogrouping, and sulfonamide sensitivity testing were applied for characterization and tracing of the causative agent. The three case isolates were genomically indistinguishable, sulfonamide-resistant, serogroup B, serotype 15 meningococci. Throat specimens were collected from 552 healthy contacts, including all children below age 17 and their parents. Among the 36 carrier isolates (carrier rate, 6.5%) 13 showed DNA fingerprints identical, or almost identical, to the index pattern. All of these 13 isolates were sulfonamide resistant, 12 were of serotype 15, and 8 were of polysaccharide serogroup B (5 were nongroupable). These closely related isolates were almost exclusively recovered from schoolchildren of 2 of 15 small villages, one of which included the homes of two of the patients. The remaining 23 carrier isolates were nonresistant, non-type 15 meningococci of widely differing DNA restriction patterns. Our results confirm that DNA fingerprinting has potential as an efficient tool in practical meningococcal epidemiology.
The incidence of brain metastases secondary to small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is about 35% and the treatment strategy of brain irradiation with respect to dose and fractionation is controversial. In order to evaluate treatment outcome of brain irradiation in SCLC patients with brain relapse, we retrospectively evaluated all patients treated with brain irradiation in the eastern part of Denmark from 1988 to 1992 (PCI patients excluded). During this 5-year period, 101 evaluable patients were included (44 females, 57 males) (median age 61 years; range, 39-75 years). Forty-four patients, of whom 43 were in extracerebral complete remission (CR), received extended course (EC) brain irradiation (> 45 Gy, treatment schedule > 4 weeks). Fifty-seven patients received short course (SC) brain irradiation (
