Eumycotic mycetoma caused by Madurella mycetomatis successfully treated with antifungals, surgery, and topical negative pressure therapy

We report a 21-year-old farmer with a 4-year history of a nodular plaque with fistulas and induration of adjacent skin. The lesion had been treated surgically at another hospital, but recurred 2 years later.
Black, charcoal-like grains were observed draining through the fistulas. A biopsy specimen showed brown grains with filaments in an abscess surrounded by macrophages, giant cells, and lymphocytes. Culture demonstrated small white colonies of Madurella mycetomatis . The patient was treated with itraconazole for 6 months, followed by surgery. TNP was initiated in the immediate post-operative period, and copious granulation tissue was observed within 1 week. Autologous skin grafting was performed, and itraconazole was continued for an additional 3 months. Although necrosis of the graft ensued, the functional result was acceptable. The patient appeared free of disease at 18 months of follow-up.
Eumycotic mycetoma is an infectious and inflammatory process that occurs after traumatic inoculation of fungi through the skin. Surgery is the treatment of choice, but successful reconstruction may be challenging and recurrence is common. Topical negative pressure (TNP) promotes the formation of granulation tissue, which facilitates closure of deep wounds and chronic ulcers. This case illustrates that eumycotic mycetoma is difficult to treat. Whether TNP contributed to the successful outcome cannot be proven but, given the generally poor response of eumycetoma to therapy, we suggest that the role of TNP in the management of this disease merits attention.     

Thoracic metastasectomy in thyroid malignancies

Background. Relatively little evidence exists to guide the decision pathway regarding thoracic metastasectomy for thyroid malignancy.

Methods. Single-institution 10-year review.

Results. Sixteen patients had surgical treatment for intrathoracic metastatic thyroid malignancy: 12 men and 4 women, mean age 43.7 years (range 19 to 77). Histopathologic type was papillary in 6 cases, follicular in 4, Hürthle cell in 3, and medullary in 3. Indication was either “bulky” disease (8 patients) or poor response to radiotherapy (8 patients). We performed 11 sternotomies and five thoracotomies. Operative mortality was 6.25%. Operative morbidity was 6.25%. Mean survival was 39.5 months (0 to 144). Nine patients died during follow-up (mean survival of 41.2 months). Six patients survived, 4 free of disease (mean survival 70 months) and 2 with further relapse (mean survival 17 months). Five-year survival was 32.5%.

Conclusions. The cohort studied is one of the largest in the literature on the topic. Surgical treatment achieved a reasonable survival in a small subgroup of patients where radiotherapy had failed or was deemed inappropriate because of the size or location of the tumor. Further follow-up and more observations will be required for evaluating these preliminary findings.     

Prognostic Value of Direct, Continuous Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring in Essential Hypertension

This study assessed the prognostic value of ambulatory vs. clinic blood pressure measurement in 688 hypertensives who had undergone pretreatment 24-hour intra-arterial ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. A total of 157 first events were recorded over a follow-up period of 9.2±4.4 years. Ambulatory systolic or diastolic blood pressure parameters (whether 24-hour mean, daytime mean, or nighttime mean) or ambulatory pulse pressure provided independent prognostic information in conjunction with clinical variables. The most predictive models contained the ambulatory systolic blood pressure parameters. Age, male gender, South Asian origin, diabetes mellitus, and previous cardiovascular disease were additional independent predictors of events. In a subgroup of 295 uncomplicated patients, 24-hour ambulatory pulse pressure was an independent predictor of left ventricular mass index and maximal carotid intima-media thickness. Baseline clinic blood pressure parameters did not provide independent information for the prediction of events or target organ damage. Therefore, in this study, ambulatory blood pressure proved to be superior to clinic measurement for cardiovascular risk stratification. However, the routine use of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring is not currently recommended, mainly because of a lack of outcome trials based on the treatment of ambulatory blood pressure levels.     

An alternative angiographic view to unmask the hidden patent ductus arteriosus during device closure

Transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) with various devices has been evaluated worldwide and in selected cases can be performed successfully, thus avoiding the morbidity associated with surgical closure. Traditionally, left lateral projection is adopted for angiographic visualization of the PDA. However, rarely due to anatomical variations of the ductus, it may be difficult to properly visualize and deploy device in above‐said traditional view. In such cases, right anterior oblique projection may be used for proper visualization. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Population Mobility and Epidemiology of Chronic Bronchitis in Connecticut

The distribution of chronic bronchitis was studied in southern Connecticut by administering a standardized questionnaire on respiratory symptoms to 424 persons (249 men and 175 women). Eighteen men (8.8%) and 22 women (10.3%) were found to have this disease, and smokers were affected far more frequently than former smokers or nonsmokers. Among the chronic bronchitics a statistically significant association was observed between severity of symptoms and migration from urban areas, those with severe symptoms being the most likely to have left these areas in recent years. The need is therefore emphasized of taking length of residence into account in surveys which are concerned with the relationship between chronic bronchitis and urban air pollution.