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Burns : Journal of the International... Mar 2020Direct current (DC) powered equipment and devices, including photovoltaic systems, high-voltage direct current power lines and novel concepts in electromobility have...
BACKGROUND
Direct current (DC) powered equipment and devices, including photovoltaic systems, high-voltage direct current power lines and novel concepts in electromobility have become increasingly popular in recent years. However, under adverse circumstances by malfunction or mishandling of these applications electrical injuries may occur when electric current passes through the human body. This review aimed at systematically summarizing the medical consequences of DC electrical injuries described in case reports and case series.
METHODS
The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guided the methodological conduct and reporting.
RESULTS
Sixteen case reports and 3 case series were eligible for this review and included 70 patients. The reviewed articles were very heterogeneous regarding sources of DC electrical injuries and the reported medical consequences, including burns and skin lesions (n=67), neurological consequences (n=11), unconsciousness (n=10), cardiac consequences (n=8) and bone fractures (n=6). Seventeen individuals did not survive the electrical injuries.
CONCLUSION
From the few available data and partly incomplete documentations of cases we could gather hints of DC medical consequences, however, it was not possible to identify well-defined medical consequences for various circumstances of DC electrical injuries in occupational and non-occupational settings. To achieve this goal, additional studies are required, each providing a comprehensive description of the medical consequences and the circumstances of the electrical injuries.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Brain Concussion; Burns, Electric; Child; Electric Injuries; Female; Fractures, Bone; Headache; Heart Arrest; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Lethargy; Male; Middle Aged; Nervous System Diseases; Occupational Injuries; Paraparesis; Paraplegia; Pregnancy; Psychotic Disorders; Sex Distribution; Unconsciousness; Young Adult
PubMed: 31208768
DOI: 10.1016/j.burns.2018.11.020 -
World Neurosurgery Aug 2019Spinal subdural hematoma (S-SDH) rarely occurs after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Little information is known regarding the management and prognosis of...
OBJECTIVE
Spinal subdural hematoma (S-SDH) rarely occurs after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Little information is known regarding the management and prognosis of patients with both S-SDH and SAH. Here, we present an illustrative case and provide a systematic review of S-SDH in the setting of SAH.
METHODS
A systematic literature review using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines revealed 11 previous cases of concurrent intracranial SAH and spinal SDH, which are presented with our new reported case.
RESULTS
Intracranial sources of spontaneous SAH included 8 aneurysms, 1 pseudoaneurysm, and 3 angiogram-negative cases. Hunt Hess grades ranged from 1 to 4, mean time between SAH and S-SDH was 5.8 days, and S-SDH presented most frequently in the lumbar spine. Eight patients showed significant to complete clinical recovery, 2 had continued plegia of the lower extremities, and 2 expired. Modified Rankin scores (mRS) ranged from 0 to 6, with mRS >2 for 4 of 12 patients. Patients with a poor clinical outcome (mRS >2) had an initially negative cerebral angiogram, earlier presentation with less time between SAH and S-SDH (0.8 vs. 7.6 days), use of antithrombotic medication, no diversion of cerebrospinal fluid, and cervical or thoracic S-SDH.
CONCLUSION
S-SDH is uncommon in the setting of aneurysmal SAH; better outcomes are associated with lumbar location, delayed presentation, cerebrospinal fluid diversion, and lack of antithrombotic use. Conservative treatment may be sufficient in patients with delayed S-SDH and lack of significant neurologic deficits. More reported cases will allow greater understanding of this clinical entity.
Topics: Aged; Cerebral Angiography; Computed Tomography Angiography; Decompression, Surgical; Embolization, Therapeutic; Female; Hematoma, Subdural, Spinal; Humans; Hydrocephalus; Lumbar Vertebrae; Paraparesis; Prognosis; Recovery of Function; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage; Ventriculostomy
PubMed: 31103768
DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2019.05.069 -
Journal of Cellular Physiology Aug 2019Human T-lymphotropic virus Type 1 (HTLV-1) is a retrovirus that is endemic in some regions of the world. It is known to cause several diseases like adult T-cell leukemia...
BACKGROUND
Human T-lymphotropic virus Type 1 (HTLV-1) is a retrovirus that is endemic in some regions of the world. It is known to cause several diseases like adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) and HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). Serology and molecular methods have been used to detect this virus. Of these, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is used as a primary screening method and this is usually followed by western blotting (WB) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods as confirmatory tests. We conducted a systematic review of the different techniques used in the diagnosis of HTLV-1 infection.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Our search was limited to original papers in the English language from 2010 to 2018 using several databases including Pubmed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Iranmedex, and Scientific Information Database. A manual search of references provided in the included papers was also performed.
RESULTS
Of 101 electronically searched citations, 43 met the inclusion criteria. ELISA is commonly used for qualitative and screening detection, and WB and PCR techniques are used to confirm infection.
CONCLUSION
Among all the reported methods for detection of HTLV-1, only serological and molecular tests are used as the most common technical assays for HTLV-1. The ELISA assay, without a confirmatory test, has several limitations and affect the accuracy of the results. Owing to the prevalence of HTLV-1 and limitations of the current detection methods, further evaluation of the accuracy of these methods is needed. There are new opportunities for applying novel technological advances in microfluidics, biosensors, and lab-on-a-chip systems to perform HTLV-1 diagnostics.
Topics: Biosensing Techniques; Blotting, Western; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Human T-lymphotropic virus 1; Humans; Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic; Polymerase Chain Reaction
PubMed: 30633358
DOI: 10.1002/jcp.28087