Mucosal leishmaniasis mimicking squamous cell carcinoma in a liver transplant recipient

Organ transplant recipients living in endemic regions are at increased risk of Leishmania infections. Visceral leishmaniasis is the most common kind of presentation in the Mediterranean basin. Rarely, Leishmania infantum may cause localized mucosal disease. We present the first case, to our knowledge, of a liver transplant recipient with localized mucosal leishmaniasis. Twenty‐two years after transplantation, a painless, very slow growing ulcer appeared on the inner side of the patient's upper lip. A biopsy performed in the community hospital showed non‐specific chronic inflammation without neoplastic signs. Because of a high suspicion of malignancy, the patient was transferred to the referral hospital to consider complete excision. The excisional biopsy revealed a granulomatous inflammatory reaction together with intracellular Leishmania amastigotes within macrophages. Leishmaniasis was confirmed by the nested polymerase chain reaction assay. The clinical and laboratory findings did not suggest visceral involvement. The patient received meglumine antimoniate for 21 days without relevant adverse effects.     

Neue Optimierungswege der allgemeinärztlichen Betreuung bei Typ-2-Diabetes

Background

The care of diabetes patients is mostly undertaken by general practitioners. In order to achieve sufficient control of blood sugar levels and blood pressure in patients and thus to avoid complications and secondary diseases, a patient-centered disease management and support of patient self-management are essential. These functions can be partially delegated.

Aim

The DIANA study is an epidemiological physician-based prospective cohort study on new approaches for optimization of general practitioner care. The objectives were to investigate the current status of diabetes care as well as the consequences of a patient-centered treatment approach on the course of diabetes. Furthermore, the effectiveness of a supportive telephone counseling service over 12 months by trained medical practice personnel was investigated.

Material and methods

The DIANA study consists of a basic survey and an interventional study. A total of 38 general medical practices with 1,146 patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes were included. For the basic survey standardized questionnaires were completed by the patients and their physicians. Furthermore, blood samples were taken from patients for determination of HbA1c levels in a certified laboratory. Patients with HbA1c levels >?7.5?% in the basic survey were eligible for inclusion in the interventional study. In this subpopulation of 204 patients the effectiveness of an intervention with telephone support by trained personnel from the medical practices in the study was investigated. The patients who agreed to participate were randomized to either the intervention group or the control group. The control group received usual care.

Results

Mean HbA1c was 6.9?% in this sample and thus within the target corridor of the new German clinical practice guidelines on type 2 diabetes of 6.5–7.5?%. Nevertheless, about one fifth of the patients’ values were above the corridor and thus in a dissatisfactory zone. In addition, participating patients had considerable comorbidities, such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, cardiac insufficiency, and depression. Another problem was medication adherence among patients. Self-reported medication adherence was associated with poor glycemic control, especially in men. Young, employed and unmarried patients and those with depression symptoms were particularly at risk. The intervention had only limited effects. The primary outcome HbA1c decreased likewise in both groups. A decrease of systolic blood pressure was observed in the intervention group, but which was not sustained after the end of the intervention. It was only after the end of the intervention that health-related quality of life improved in the intervention group.

Conclusion

There is a large problem group of diabetes patients with an unsatisfactory metabolic situation. General practitioners should concentrate on these patients and be aware that younger, employed and single as well as depressive patients are particularly affected. A long-term accompaniment by trained personnel could be useful.     

Effects of inhaled platelet activating factor on bronchial responsiveness in patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic pulmonary embolism.

To determine the possible role of platelet-activating factor (PAF) in pulmonary embolism (PE), the reactivity of the airways to inhaled PAF, using doses ranging from 6.25 to 400 micrograms, was examined in 24 patients with a past episode of PE. Twelve of these patients had experienced acute respiratory insufficiency during the episode (with or without additional symptoms). None of the remaining 12 patients had experienced any respiratory symptoms during the PE episode. Diagnosis was established by means of a ventilation-perfusion lung scan performed when admitted to the hospital because of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in the lower limbs. Nonspecific bronchial reactivity as measured by the response to bronchoprovocation testing with methacholine showed no significant differences between both groups. PAF caused a dose-dependent bronchoconstriction defined by at least a 35 percent decrease in specific airway conductance (SGaw) in all patients. The average dose of PAF needed to decrease SGaw 35 percent was significantly lower in patients who had had a symptomatic PE than in those with asymptomatic PE (p = 0.011). This finding suggests that patients who suffered from symptomatic PE may present a greater airway reactivity to inhaled PAF. This different behavior might explain the existence of some of the respiratory symptoms of PE, which could be attributed to PAF-related effects. However, additional studies are needed to evaluate the role of PAF in PE.     

L-dopa-immunoreactive neurons in the rat hypothalamic tuberal region

The presence of L-DOPA-immunoreactivity is reported for the first time in the rat hypothalamic tuberal region. L-DOPA-immunoreactive neurons were demonstrated to be present in the ventrolateral part of the arcuate nucleus and periarcuate region just dorsal to the ventral surface of the brain (VLAR/PA). Weakly L-DOPA-immunostained neurons were found in the dorsomedial part of the arcuate nucleus and its neighboring periventricular nucleus (DMAR/PV). In contrast, dopamine (DA)-immunoreactive neurons were detected only in the DMAR/PV. These findings suggest that L-DOPA exists not only as a precursor of DA in neurons of the DMAR/PV, but also as an end-product in cells of the VLAR/PA.     

Risk factors for lower airway bacterial colonization in chronic bronchitis.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors for lower airway bacterial colonization (LABC) in stable chronic bronchitis (CB). Forty-one outpatients with CB were enrolled in the study (age 63.8+/-9.1 yrs (mean+/-SD); forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) 62.8+/-11.2; current/former smokers 24/17). All patients had normal chest radiographs and an indication for performing fibreoptic bronchoscopy (pulmonary nodule, remote haemoptysis). The protected specimen brush (PSB) was used for bacterial sampling, and concentrations > or = 1,000 colony-forming units (cfu) x mL(-1) were considered positive for LABC. The repeatability of the procedure in CB was assessed in a random subsample of 18 subjects. A 72.2% quantitative agreement was found in the repeatability assessment of the PSB technique. Positive PSB cultures, obtained in 9 out of 41 (22%) patients, mainly yielded Haemophilus influenzae. The logistic regression model, used to determine which variables were related to colonization, showed that LABC was associated with current smoking (odds ratio (OR) 9.83, confidence interval (CI) 1.16-83.20) and low FVC (OR 0.73, CI 0.65-0.81). Age and FEV1 were not related to LABC. It was concluded that the prevalence of LABC in stable CB is high (22%), and current smoking is an important risk factor.     

Potential of Vitamin D Food Fortification in Prevention of Cancer Deaths—A Modeling Study

Meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have estimated a 13% reduction of cancer mortality by vitamin D supplementation among older adults. We evaluated if and to what extent similar effects might be expected from vitamin D fortification of foods. We reviewed the literature on RCTs assessing the impact of vitamin D supplementation on cancer mortality, on increases of vitamin D levels by either supplementation or food fortification, and on costs of supplementation or fortification. Then, we derived expected effects on total cancer mortality and related costs and savings from potential implementation of vitamin D food fortification in Germany and compared the results to those for supplementation. In RCTs with vitamin D supplementation in average doses of 820–2000 IU per day, serum concentrations of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D increased by 15–30 nmol/L, respectively. Studies on food fortification found increases by 10–42 nmol/L, thus largely in the range of increases previously demonstrated by supplementation. Fortification is estimated to be considerably less expensive than supplementation. It might be similarly effective as supplementation in reducing cancer mortality and might even achieve such reduction at substantially larger net savings. Although vitamin D overdoses are unlikely in food fortification programs, implementation should be accompanied by a study monitoring the frequency of potentially occurring adverse effects by overdoses, such as hypercalcemia. Future studies on effectiveness of vitamin D supplementation and fortification are warranted.