Treatment of lepromatous ulcers using citric acid as a sole antimicrobial agent

A prospective study was carried out to assess the role of citric acid as a sole antimicrobial agent in the management of lepromatous ulcers. Thirty-four known cases of lepromatous ulcers not responding to conventional antibiotic therapies for long duration were investigated for culture and susceptibility studies. Staphylococcus aureus (25·00%) and Klebsiella spp. (23·43%) were found to be the most common isolates. Amikacin (68·75%) and ciprofloxacin (67·18%) were found to be the most effective antimicrobial agents. Topical application of citric acid ointment resulted in complete healing in 25 (73·52%) cases. In eight cases (26·48%), there was elimination of infective agent from ulcer site and formation of healthy granulation, but no complete healing of ulcer was seen. Results indicate that citric acid is the best alternative for the effective management of lepromatous ulcers when other therapies are exhausted.     

Antisynthetase syndrome: two cases presenting orofacial manifestations

Antisynthetase syndrome is a rare autoimmune disease that is characterised by inflammatory myositis, and interstitial lung disease or chronic arthropathy, or both. To the best of our knowledge, orofacial manifestations have not previously been reported. We present 2 patients with orofacial disease: one with aphthous-like oral ulceration and the other with hyposalivation.     

Protective Action of Deglycyrrhizinized Liquorice on the Occurrence of Stomach Ulcers in Pylorus-Ligated Rats

The effect of graded doses of a deglycyrrhizinized liquorice extract (d.Li.) was studied on the frequency of stomach ulcers and the secretion of gastric juice in pylorus-ligated rats. 25-50 mg of d.Li. given intraperitoneally reduced considerably the number of ulcers in comparison with the control group of rats without any significant changes in gastric secretion. Higher doses —100-200 mg — gave complete protection against the development of gastric ulcers and also reduced the output of gastric juice. The results give strong support for the existence of an ulcer-protecting principle in the d.Li.     

Cost-Effectiveness of Three Adjunct Cellular/Tissue-Derived Products Used in the Management of Chronic Venous Leg Ulcers

ObjectivesDetermine the cost-effectiveness of three topically applied cellular/tissue-derived products (CTPs) used as adjunct therapies to standard care in the management of venous leg ulcers (VLUs).MethodsA three-state Markov model derived from the medical literature was developed to estimate the comparative cost-effectiveness of three CTPs in relation to VLU standard care. CTPs evaluated in the study included extracellular matrix (ECM), human skin equivalent (HSE), and living skin equivalent (LSE). The three Markov states included unhealed, healed, and death. A 1-year time horizon was used to determine the number of ulcer-free weeks and the expected costs of therapies. The payer perspective was taken in the analysis and only the direct costs of care were considered. Sensitivity analyses were performed to gauge model parameter uncertainty.ResultsThe expected costs for standard care, ECM, HSE, and LSE VLU therapy were $6,132, $6,732, $10,638, and $11,237, while the expected outcomes were 24, 31, 29, and 27 ulcer-free weeks, respectively. ECM was economically dominant among the three CTPs. In the base case of ECM versus standard care, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for ECM therapy was $86 per ulcer-free week. Sensitivity analysis did not alter ECM dominance. Clinic visits and home health utilization exhibited the greatest influence on cost.ConclusionsECM is the most cost-effective CTP when used in the management of VLUs as an adjunct to standard care. These findings suggest that VLU standard care therapy with ECM can yield potential cost savings and produce better outcomes than do other CTPs.     

Association between presence of pneumonia and pressure ulcer formation following traumatic spinal cord injury

Objective: To determine if the presence of pneumonia and pressure ulcers are associated in individuals with an acute spinal cord injury during acute care and rehabilitation hospitalizations.

Design: Retrospective, secondary analyses of data obtained from the Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems enrolled from 1993 until 2006

Setting: Acute care hospitalization and inpatient rehabilitation facilities

Participants: A cohort of individuals hospitalized in acute care (n?=?3,098) and inpatient rehabilitation (n?=?1,768) was included in the analysis. Frequencies of pressure ulcer formation and episodes of pneumonia were noted in both settings.

Interventions: Not applicable.

Outcome Measures: Pressure ulcer formation and diagnosis of pneumonia

Results: The development of pressure ulcers, including stage I, was 20.3% acute care and 21.1% during in inpatient rehabilitation. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed a significant association of pneumonia with occurrence of pressure ulcers (P?≤?0.001, OR?=?2.3 and 2.2 respectively), the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale grades (P?Conclusion: A higher presence of pressure ulcers was found in individuals with pneumonia, after adjusting for injury severity, age, sex, and utilization of mechanical ventilation. Impaired inflammatory response and decreased mobility in individuals with pneumonia may predispose these individuals to develop pressure ulcers. Surveillance and preventive measures for pressure ulcers should be rigorous in individuals with SCI and pneumonia.     

Bacterial colonization of chronic leg ulcers: current results compared with data 5 years ago in a specialized dermatology department

Background In nearly every chronic wound different bacteria species can be detected. Nevertheless, the presence of such microorganisms is not necessarily obligatory associated with a delayed wound healing. But from this initially unproblematic colonization an infection up to a sepsis can arise in some patients. The aim of our clinical investigation was to analyse the spectrum of microbial colonization of patients with a chronic leg ulcer in our specialized dermatological outpatient wound clinic, and to compare them with the results of comparable data already collected 5 years ago. Objectives In our retrospective investigation the results of bacteriological swabs were documented in 100 patients with a total of 107 chronic leg ulcers. All patients visited the specialized wound outpatient clinic, Department of Dermatology, University of Essen in Germany. Methods A total of 60 patients were female, 40 were male. The mean age was 65 years. Altogether a total of 191 bacterial isolates and 25 different bacterial species could be identified. Results The most often detected species were Staphylococcus aureus (n = 60), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 36) as well as Proteus mirabilis (n = 17). In 10 patients (10%) we identified a colonization with methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Merely in 6 patients the taken swabs were sterile. Five years ago a comparable investigation was already carried out in our wound outpatient clinic. At that time we could detect in particular more frequent MRSA (21.5% vs. 10%) and rarely P. aeruginosa (24.1% vs. 33.6%). Conclusion The results of our investigation demonstrate the current spectrum of the bacterial colonization in patients with chronic leg ulcers in a university dermatological wound centre in comparison to the last 5 years. In our institution we were able to demonstrate a shift of the detected bacterial species from gram‐positive in direction to gram‐negative germs. Beside the already known problems with MRSA, in future therapeutic strategies in patients with chronic leg ulcers the increasing amount of gram‐negative bacteria and especially of P. aeruginosa should considered.     

气垫床对ICU中度压疮危险患者翻身间隔时间的影响研究

目的探讨气垫床对ICU中度压疮危险患者翻身模式的影响。方法将入住我院ICU符合条件的患者按照住院顺序随机分为A、B、C、D四组,四组患者均使用气垫床,分别每2h、3h、4h和5h翻身1次。使用简易体压测定仪测量四组患者左右肩胛部及骶尾部3个主要受压部位的皮肤表面压力值,观察受压部位在不同翻身时间间隔点的压力值及压疮发生情况。结果四组患者3个主要受压部位在不同翻身时间间隔点的体压值比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05),四组患者在ICU住院期间压疮发生率均为0。结论气垫床ICU中度压疮危险的患者,不会增加压疮的发生,既减轻了频繁翻身给患者带来的不适感,又降低了护理人员的劳动强度,为ICU中度压疮危险患者使用气垫床时的翻身模式提供了参考。     

G‐cell hyperplasia of the stomach induces ECL‐cell proliferation in the pyloric glands in a paracrinal manner

An inhibitory mechanism toward gastrin hypersecretion is significantly different between G‐cell hyperplasia and gastrinoma despite the common clinical manifestations; hypergastrinemia and its related persistent gastric ulcers. We recenlty studied the G‐cell, d ‐cell and ECL‐cell density in a case of G‐cell hyperplasia. The 70‐year‐old patient has been treated for persistent gastric ulcers with a markedly increased plasma gastrin (5600 pg/mL). The stomach was surgically resected because of the obstruction associated with ulcer scars. The number of G‐cells in the pyloric glands was quantified on the surgical specimens and G‐cell hyperplasia was histolopathologically identified. Immunostainig of histidine decarboxylate revealed the presence of ECL‐cell hyperplasia in the pyloric glands and its density was significantly and positively correlated with G‐cell density. Somatostatin immunoreactive cells (d ‐cells) increased in their number in the oxyntic glands. These results all indicated that hypersecretion of gastrin in G‐cell hyperplasia could induce ECL‐cell proliferation in a paracrinal manner. In addition, relatively non‐prominent endocrinological features in the G‐cell hyperplasia compared to gastrinoma could be also related to the paracrinal somatostatin inhibitory effects upon ECL‐cells in the pyloric glands.     

手足口病伴神经系统症状85例分析

目的：探讨手足口病伴早期神经系统症状患者的临床特征及结局。方法对85例手足口病住院病例的临床表现、实验室检查、治疗转归及病原学等资料进行分析,其中热性惊厥（FC）62例,占72.94%,HFMD重症早期（易惊、肢体抖动、嗜睡）23例,占27.06%。结果（1）FC组主要表现为在发热第一天出现1-3次抽搐,持续1-10分钟不等,发作停止后神志恢复正常,无阳性病理神经征,部分有既往史和家族惊厥史;重症早期组主要表现为病后3-4天出现易惊、肢体抖动、嗜睡,于治疗后1-3天正常,无阳性病理神经征。（2）两组发热及皮疹持续时间的差异均无明显统计学意义,P均＞0.05。（3）多数患者存在血白细胞、C反应蛋白、糖升高及低钠血症,部分有心肌酶谱升高、心电图异常,以FC组为主。（4）病原检测：EV71-RNA（+）45例（52.94%）,CoxA 16-RNA（+）19例（22.35%）,肠道病毒通用核酸（+）12例（14.12%）,余9例（10.59%）检测均阴性,无交叉阳性结果。（5）平均住院5.86±1.89天,随访均未见后遗症。结论早期识别HFMD伴神经系统症状患者的病情及病因,有助于指导治疗及判断预后。