Aspergillus peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis: case report and a review of the literature

Aspergillus peritonitis is a rare complication of continuousambulatory peritoneal dialysis. The case is described of a 68-year-oldman in whom Aspergillus fumigatus was isolated from the peritonealdialysate after recurrent peritonitis with Gram-negative rodsin association with diverticulosis. Treatment consisting ofremoval of the catheter and intravenous administration of amphotericinB followed by oral itraconazole was successful. A review of the sparse literature (12 cases) displays uncertaintiesregarding diagnostic awareness, culture diagnosis, and therapeuticmanagement. Next to institution of appropriate antifungal therapy,early removal the peritoneal dialysis catheter is recommended,as delayed removal of the catheter appears to be associatedwith increased mortality and morbidity.     

Clinical Significance and Characterization of Haemophilus influenzae Type b Genogroup Isolates from Urine Samples in an Adult Male Population

The occurrence and significance of Haemophilus spp. isolated from the genitourinary tract are not well known. Herein, we describe the clinical significance and characteristics of Haemophilus influenzae type b genogroup strains isolated from genitourinary tract specimens from an adult male veteran patient population and, in particular, their associations with prostatitis and epididymitis.     

TDP-43 is associated with a reduced likelihood of rendering a clinical diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies in autopsy-confirmed cases of transitional/diffuse Lewy body disease

Journal of Neurology - Trans-active response DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP-43) can be detected in up to 63% of autopsy-confirmed Lewy body disease (LBD) cases. It is unclear whether...     

Novel risk factors for peripheral arterial disease in young women

PURPOSE: To investigate traditional and novel risk factors (homocysteine and C-reactive protein levels, and exposure to infections) for peripheral arterial disease in young women. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In a multicenter, population-based, case-control study, 212 young women (mean [+/- SD] age, 48.2 +/- 7.0 years) with peripheral arterial disease and 475 healthy control women (mean age, 45.5 +/- 8.1 years) completed a standardized questionnaire and provided blood samples. Peripheral arterial disease was angiographically confirmed if a stenotic lesion (more than 50% reduction of the lumen) was present in at least one major peripheral artery. Hyperhomocysteinemia was defined as a nonfasting plasma homocysteine level exceeding the 90th percentile of the control group. History of infectious diseases was determined by questionnaire. RESULTS: Elevated C-reactive protein levels were associated with an increased likelihood of peripheral arterial disease (odds ratio [OR] = 3.9; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.8 to 8.5 for women in the third quartile; OR = 3.1; 95% CI: 1.4 to 6.8 for women in the fourth quartile; both comparisons with women in the first quartile). Hyperhomocysteinemia was not associated with a significantly increased risk of peripheral arterial disease (OR = 1.6; 95% CI: 0.9 to 3.0). A history of chickenpox, shingles, mumps, pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, peptic ulcer, or periodontitis was independently related to peripheral arterial disease, with adjusted odds ratios varying from 1.7 (95% CI: 1.0 to 3.1) for mumps to 3.4 (95% CI: 1.5 to 7.7) for peptic ulcer. The risk of peripheral arterial disease increased with the number of these infections; exposure to five or more infections increased the odds 3.7-fold (95% CI: 1.7 to 8.2). This association was not affected by the level of C-reactive protein. CONCLUSION: Our results do not support a strong relation between homocysteine and peripheral arterial disease in young women. However, an elevated C-reactive protein level and several types of symptomatic infection were associated with peripheral arterial disease.     

Morbidity related to defunctioning ileostomy closure after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis and low colonic anastomosis

Purpose  

Defunctioning ileostomies are widely performed in order to prevent or treat anastomotic leakage after colorectal surgery. The aim of the present study was to determine morbidity related to stoma closure and to identify predictive factors of a complicated postoperative course.