The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors for unhealed, recurrent, and large ulcers and to characterize patients with active or recently healed venous ulcers.\n\nMethods\n\nWe identified 97 patients and assessed 103 ulcerated limbs in 90 patients. All patients underwent clinical examination, arterial and venous system evaluation, ankle-brachial GNS-1480 index determination, and ultrasound of the affected limb. Clinical characteristics included age,

gender, race, ulcer duration, time since first episode, history of recurrence, localization of ulcer, ulcer area, eczema, ochre dermatitis, lipodermatosclerosis, pain, body mass index, and medical history data. Risk factors were identified by univariate analysis and estimated odds ratios.\n\nResults\n\nWe assessed 90 patients (103 limbs) with active or healed venous leg ulcers, of whom 84.4% were Caucasian and 68.9% were female. Mean age was 56.0 +/- 13.3 years. Ulcers had remained unhealed check details for < 1 year in 40.7%. Lipodermatosclerosis, lower limb hyperpigmentation, edema, and eczema were seen in 96.7%, 95.6%, 94.4%, and 51.1% of patients, respectively. Pain was a frequent symptom in 74.4%. Body mass index was assessed in 85 patients: 30.6% were slightly, 36.5% moderately, and 7% severely

obese. Patient age > 60 years (odds ratio [OR] 4.0), extensive lipodermatosclerosis (OR 8.7), and previous history of ulceration (OR 19.9) were risk factors for unhealed ulcers. Time since first ulcer episode >= 2 years (OR 29.2) and incompetence of venous systems (OR 1.6) were risk factors for recurrence.\n\nConclusions\n\nLongstanding and large ulcers and recurrences are the

main problems encountered by venous ulcer patients. Severe lipodermatosclerosis, previous ulcer history, and time since first ulcer episode >= 2 years are significant risk factors.”
“Objective: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is used to support children with respiratory failure. When extracorporeal membrane oxygenation duration is prolonged, decisions regarding ongoing support are difficult as a result of limited prognostic data.\n\nDesign: Retrospective case series.\n\nSetting: Multi-institutional data reported Nepicastat to the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization Registry.\n\nPatients: Patients aged 1 month to 18 yrs supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for respiratory failure from 1993 to 2007 who received support for >= 21 days.\n\nInterventions: None.\n\nMeasurements and Main Results: Of the 3213 children supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation during the study period, 389 (12%) were supported >= 21 days. Median patient age was 9.1 months (interquartile range, 2.5-41.7 months). Median weight was 6.7 kg (interquartile range, 3.5-15.8 kg). Survival for this group was 38%, significantly lower than survival reported for children supported <= 14 days (61%, p < .001).