Hemobilia caused by cytomegalovirus cholangiopathy

A 57-yr-old male on long-term steroid therapy presented with hematemesis, fever, and a retroperitoneal fluid collection. Hemobilia was diagnosed, but the cause was not identified by ERCP, computed tomography, or angiography. Peroral cholangioscopy revealed multiple biliary ulcers. Cholangioscopic biopsies diagnosed cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. Intravenous ganciclovir therapy was initiated, and was associated with cessation of bleeding. Biliary CMV disease is rare in HIV-negative persons, but should be considered in a patient with unexplained hemobilia. Cholangioscopy may be useful for diagnosis.     

Serious complications of sulfasalazine

Whereas minor side effects of sulfasalazine are common, serious adverse reactions to this drug generally are considered rare. However, this report discusses three major complications of sulfasalazine that occurred within the past three years, one resulting in the death of a patient. As more patients with inflammatory bowel disease are being managed by physicians of various disciplines, it is important to become familiar with the potentially dangerous side effects of all medications prescribed. For this reason, a brief review of the pharmacology, clinical use, and toxicity of sulfasalazine is presented.     

Meta-analysis of arterial oxygen saturation monitoring by pulse oximetry in adults

OBJECTIVE: The purposes of the study were to: (1) describe the aggregate strength of the relationship of arterial oxygen saturation as measured by pulse oximetry with the standard of arterial blood gas analysis as measured by co-oximetry, (2) examine how various factors affect this relationship, and (3) describe an aggregate estimate of the bias and precision between oxygen saturation as measured by pulse oximetry and the standard in vitro measures.DESIGN: A meta-analysis was conducted.SAMPLE: Seventy-four studies from 1976 to 1994 met the inclusion criteria of: (1) adult study population, (2) quantitative analysis of empirical data, and (3) bivariate correlations or bias and precision estimates between pulse oximeter and co-oximeter values.RESULTS: There were a total of 169 oximeter trials on 41 oximeter models from 25 different manufacturers. Studies were conducted in various settings with a variety of subjects, with most being healthy adult volunteers. The weighted mean r, based on 39 studies (62 oximeter trials) for which the r statistic and number of data points were available, was 0.895 (var[r] = 0.014). Based on 23 studies (82 oximeter trials) for which bias and precision estimates and number of data points were available, the mean absolute bias and precision were 1.999 and 0.233, respectively. Several factors were found to affect the accuracy of pulse oximetry.CONCLUSION: Pulse oximeters were found to be accurate within 2% (± 1 SD) or 5% (± 2 SD) of in vitro oximetry in the range of 70% to 100% SaO₂. In comparing ear and finger probes, readings from finger probes were more accurate. Pulse oximeters may fail to record accurately the true SaO₂ during severe or rapid desaturation, hypotension, hypothermia, dyshemoglobinemia, and low perfusion states.     

Pulmonary vein total occlusion following catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation: clinical implications after long-term follow-up.

OBJECTIVES: We present the clinical course and management outcomes of patients with total pulmonary vein occlusion (PVO). BACKGROUND: Pulmonary vein occlusion is a rare complication that can develop after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA) of atrial fibrillation (AF). The long term follow-up data of patients diagnosed with PVO are minimal. METHODS: Data from 18 patients with complete occlusion of at least one pulmonary vein (PV) were prospectively collected. All patients underwent RFA for AF using different strategies between September 1999 and May 2004. Pulmonary vein occlusion was diagnosed using computed tomography (CT) and later confirmed by angiography when intervention was warranted. Lung perfusion scans were performed on all patients before and after intervention. The percent stenoses of the veins draining each independent lung were added together to yield an average cumulative stenosis of the vascular cross-sectional area draining the affected lung (cumulative stenosis index [CSI]). RESULTS: The patients' symptoms had a positive correlation with the CSI (r = 0.843, p < 0.05) and a negative one with the lung perfusion (r = -0.667, p < 0.05). A CSI > or =75% correlated well with low lung perfusion (<25%; r = -0.854, p < 0.01). Patients with a CSI > or =75% appeared to improve mostly when early (r = -0.497) and repeat dilation/stenting (r = 0.0765) were performed. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with single PVO are mostly asymptomatic and should undergo routine imaging. On the other hand, patients with concomitant ipsilateral PV stenosis/PVO and a CSI > or =75% require early and, when necessary, repeated pulmonary interventions for restoration of pulmonary flow and prevention of associated lung disease.     

Association of extent and infection of pancreatic necrosis with organ failure and death in acute necrotizing pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Organ failure is the usual cause of death in acute necrotizing pancreatitis. Our objective was to study whether the extent and infection of pancreatic necrosis correlate with organ failure and mortality. METHODS: All consecutive patients with acute pancreatitis were prospectively studied. They underwent a detailed clinical and investigative evaluation. Pancreatic necrosis, diagnosed on a computed tomography scan, was graded as <30%, 30%-50%, and >50% necrosis and characterized as either sterile or infected. Logistic regression analysis was done to find out the association of the extent and infection of pancreatic necrosis with organ failure and mortality. RESULTS: Of 276 patients (mean age, 41.25 years; 172 men), 104 had pancreatic necrosis: 30 had <30% necrosis, 37 had 30%-50% necrosis, and 37 had >50% necrosis; 74 had sterile necrosis, and 30 had infected necrosis. Of them, 37 (35%) patients developed organ failure. Two significant factors were associated with the development of organ failure, the extent of necrosis (<30% necrosis vs 30%-50% necrosis: P = .03; odds ratio [OR], 5.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15-29.45; <30% necrosis vs >50% necrosis: P = .0004; OR, 18.86; 95% CI, 3.75-94.92) and infected pancreatic necrosis (P = .02; OR, 3.29; 95% CI, 1.17-9.24). The overall mortality was 22%. Infected pancreatic necrosis (P = .006; OR, 4.99; 95% CI, 1.56-16.02) and Acute Physiology, Age, and Chronic Healthy Evaluation II score (P = .004; OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.08-1.52) were 2 independent predictors of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Extent of necrosis and infected pancreatic necrosis were associated with the development of organ failure in patients with acute necrotizing pancreatitis. Infected pancreatic necrosis was the most significant predictor of mortality.     

Age- and sex-related analysis of methylation of 5′-upstream sequences of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fmr-1</Emphasis> gene in mouse brain and modulation by sex steroid hormones

Fmr-1 gene is implicated in synaptic plasticity and thereby learning, memory and cognition, and methylation of Fmr-1 gene is necessary for memory development that is an age-dependent phenomenon. Aging in general has been reported to affect methylation of gene, however, nothing is known on the age dependent variation in methylation of Fmr-1 gene. Using the brain tissues from male and female mice of various age groups and sex steroid hormones (testosterone or 17beta-estradiol) as modulators, restriction enzymes Hpa II and Msp I and Southern blotting technique, we studied methylation of 5'-upstream sequences of Fmr-1 gene. Our data reveal that the methylation of the 5'-upstream sequences that include CpG islands in promoter and 5'-untraslated region (5'-UTR) gradually increases due to advancing age in both the sexes. 17beta-estradiol lowers the methylation significantly in the brain of mouse of both male and female mouse in age-dependent manner where as testosterone does not affect it appreciably. The alteration in the methylation may be attributed to altered DNA methyl transferase (DNMT) activity as the age increases from young to old, and the 17beta-estradiol may down regulate the DNMT activity in both the age and sex groups whereas the testosterone may not have similar effect on DNMT. Down regulation of methylation of Fmr-1 CpG island and/or 5'-UTR by 17beta-estradiol might lead to derepression of Fmr-1 gene especially in old age. This finding on Fmr-1 methylation is novel and it might have implications in understanding fragile X related disorders and age-dependent alteration in LTP and LTD.