A critical role of surgery in the treatment for paraneoplastic pemphigus caused by localized Castleman’s disease

Paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP) is an autoimmune mucocutaneous disease associated with lymphoproliferative tumors, and sometimes with a very rare tumor, Castleman’s disease (CD). PNP can present as a variety of dermatological diseases, and so far, only limited studies of PNP caused by CD have been reported, resulting in its higher possibility of misdiagnosis. Because of the variability of clinical presentation of PNP caused by CD, selection of the appropriate therapeutic approach remains unclear. To investigate the efficacy of surgery to patients with PNP caused by localized CD, the clinical, laboratory and pathological data of 5 patients with PNP caused by localized CD, 3 females and 2 males, aged 34 years (ranging from 29 to 42), with the tumor size from 6 × 4 × 4 cm³ to 8 × 8 × 7 cm³, located in the mediastinum (n = 3) and retroperitoneum (n = 2), were compared before and after surgery. All patients underwent surgery, and the diagnosis was confirmed by pathological examination. Surgery significantly improved mucosal lesions, cured skin lesions and decreased serum pemphigus autoantibody 6 months after surgery. Most patients were followed up for 6–48 months, and they all had no clinical or radiological recurrence and remain disease free. Therefore, surgery is an effective approach to cure patients with PNP caused by localized CD.     

Emergency nurses' perspective of workplace violence in Jordanian hospitals: A national survey

BackgroundEmergency departments are considered high-risk areas, where violence against nurses is a serious and prevalent problem. Such violence has negative effects on nurses, and therefore on the quality of care provided.Aims of the studyTo explore the risk factors behind violence, and to specify reasons for the level of low reporting of violence among Jordanian nurses in emergency departments.MethodA cross-sectional design through conducting a survey in emergency departments in Jordanian hospitals.ResultsThe total number of emergency department nurses who participated in the study was 227. Of these, 172 (75%) had experienced some form of violence. Verbal violence was the most reported (63.9%), compared to physical violence (48%). The most reported reasons for violence from the nurses' perspective were waiting time, overcrowding, and patient and family expectations not being met, with frequencies of 54.3%, 53.3%, and 46% respectively. The treatment room was the most common place where the violence occurred. Only 16.6% of the nurses who experienced violence actually reported it. Being accustomed to workplace violence is the most stated reason for not reporting violence to the hospital administration or the authorities.ConclusionViolence against emergency department nurses is a significant issue that cannot be ignored. There are multiple reasons. The key point in dealing with the problem is to treat its specific causes.     

Differential Diagnosis of Intestinal Tuberculosis from Crohn's Disease and Primary Intestinal Lymphoma in China

Background/Aims:

There are many similarities and overlaps in clinical, radiological, endoscopic, and histological features among intestinal tuberculosis (ITB), Crohn''s disease (CD), and primary intestinal lymphoma (PIL), and the differential diagnosis of ITB can be very challenging for clinicians.

Patients and Methods:

The clinical, radiologic, endoscopic, and pathological data of 213 patients were analyzed retrospectively. According to the diagnostic criteria and exclusive criteria of ITB, CD, and PIL, 83 patients were recruited and divided into three groups, including 30 cases in the ITB group, 38 cases in the CD group, and 15 cases in the PIL group, and the medical data and statistical analysis were recorded.

Results:

Rural patients with abdominal pain as the first symptom and with transverse ulcer and caseating granulomas were more common in the ITB group than the CD group, whereas urban patients with stool change as the first symptom, moderate or severe anemia, thickening of intestinal wall, rectal involvement, skipping distribution, prominent lymphoid aggregates, and irregular glands were more common in CD group than ITB group (P < 0.05). Young patients (age < 30 years) with fever, weakness, fatigue, abdominal mass, intestinal perforation, and emergent operation were more common in ITB group than PIL group, whereas thickening of intestinal wall, malignant lymphocytes, limited distribution, and involvement of small intestine occurred more in PIL group than ITB group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion:

The differential diagnosis of ITB from CD and PIL can be made by a combination of clinical manifestation, endoscopy, and pathological examinations.     

探讨ProDisc-C 人工颈椎间盘置换术与颈前路椎间盘切除融合治疗颈椎病的临床疗效

目的探讨ProDisc-C人工颈椎间盘置换术与颈前路椎间盘切除融合（ ACDF）治疗单节段椎间盘退变引起的脊髓或神经根颈椎病的临床疗效。方法自2010年10月至2012年年8月武汉大学人民医院收治的46例颈椎病病例,随机进行分组,其中实验组：24例行ProDisc-C 置换术,对照组：22例行ACDF。评价指标主要如下：两组手术时间及术中出血量;两组术前、术后3、12月VAS评分,JOA评分,手术邻近节段活动度,颈椎活动度（ ROM）以及术后并发症。结果46例患者全部获得平均12个月（8～18个月）随访。两组手术时间及术中出血量无统计学差异（P＞0．05）。两组术后VAS评分,JOA评分均较术前明显提高（ P ＜0．05）,两组差异无统计学意义（ P ＞0．05）。试验组整个下颈椎的活动度及邻近节段活动度各个随访时段与术前相比无变化（P＞0．05）;对照组在术后3个月整个下颈椎活动度较术前相比有统计学差异（P＜0．05）,术后12个月时逐渐恢复正常,术后12个月邻近节段活动度较术前有统计学差异（P＜0．05）。其中对照组术后出现3例吞咽困难。结论
　　ProDisc-C人工颈椎间盘置换术与颈前路椎间盘切除融合（ ACDF）治疗单节段椎间盘退变引起的脊髓或神经根颈椎病在中短期随访中临床效果满意,人工颈椎间盘置换术能有效保留颈椎活动度,减少临近节段的退变,并且术后吞咽困难发生率较低。