Free-floating giant left atrial ball thrombus with aortic valve disease--a rare entity and a near miss

Large left atrial mural thrombi in the absence of mitral valve stenosis have been reported rarely in the literature. It is even rarer without history of atrial fibrillation (AF). These masses can cause systemic embolization and sudden circulatory collapse when they obstruct the mitral valve. We are presenting a case of giant, free floating ball thrombus, detected after aortic valve replacement for mixed aortic valve disease. It was found immediately before separation from cardiopulmonary bypass by transoesophageal echocardiography and was successfully removed. A ball thrombus without mitral valve disease and AF with aortic valve disease is not yet reported in the literature.     

Suprapubic catheter insertion using an ultrasound-guided technique and literature review

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? The conventional ‘blind’ technique for suprapubic catheter (SPC) insertion relies on adequate filling of the bladder to displace bowel away from the site of needle puncture. However, in a small percentage of patients this fails to happen, which can occasionally lead to life‐threatening bowel injury. Recently published British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) guidelines have recommended that ultrasonography (US) may be helpful to identify bowel loops and recommends its usage whenever possible. This paper describes the technique of US‐guided needle puncture and SPC insertion to reduce the likelihood of bowel injury. The paper addresses training, equipment and logistical issues associated with this advice. We have reviewed the available publications on the outcomes from this technique and also present our experience. Suprapubic catheter (SPC) insertion is a common method of bladder drainage in contemporary urological practice. The procedure involves insertion of a sharp trocar into the bladder percutaneously, usually by palpation, percussion or cystoscopy for guidance. Although generally considered a safe procedure, the risk of bowel injury is estimated at up to 2.4% with a mortality rate of 1.8%. Recently published British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) guidelines have recommended that ultrasonography (US) may be helpful to identify bowel loops and recommends its usage whenever possible. The present paper describes the use of US for SPC insertion and discusses the implications of this advice. This paper is designed to support and supplement practical techniques learnt on a course and in clinical practice.     

Evaluation of Treatment Response in Patients with Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: Role of State-of-the-Art Cross-Sectional Imaging

Recent advances in genetics and oncology have led to development of a wide array of molecular therapeutics in the management of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. These drugs have revolutionized the treatment of advanced disease by significantly improving patient outcomes. State-of-the-art cross-sectional imaging techniques play a seminal role in the evaluation of treatment response by providing reproducible, objective data, thereby permitting accurate quantification of tumor burden. Evolving functional imaging techniques such as perfusion and diffusion studies continue to advance the technology beyond assessing changes in tumor size and morphology.     

How many joints does the 5th toe have? A review of 606 patients of 655 foot radiographs

BackgroundIt is a common understanding that the fifth toe has three bones with two interphalangeal joints. However, our experience shows that a significant number have only two phalanges with one interphalangeal joint.MethodsWe identified 676 patients listed as having had a foot radiograph, during an eight week period, of which 606 radiographs were available for the assessment. The radiographs were then assessed counting the number of phalanges in the fifth toe.ResultsThe patients consisted of 344 females and 262 males. Bilateral radiographs had been performed in 49 patients. 362 radiographs (55.3%) were found to have 3 phalanges in their 5th toe, with 291 (44.4%) having only two phalanges.ConclusionsWe have demonstrated the presence of two phalanges is a common anatomical variant. This finding has clinical implications with regard to the treatment of deformities of the fifth toe and the type of internal fixation device used.     

Rhabdomyolysis due to multiple fire ant bites a case report

Rhabdomyolysis is a clinical and biochemical syndrome that occurs due to skeletal muscle injury. The main cause of rhabdomyolysis is muscle crush injury, toxins, ischemia, metabolic disorders, and drugs. Rare cases of rhabdomyolysis have been reported after insect stings. Damage to skeletal muscle may be due to physical damage to muscle cells directly or due to interferences with their blood supply. Breakdown products of damaged muscle cells are released into the bloodstream; some of these, such as the protein myoglobin, are harmful to the kidneys and may lead to kidney failure. The symptoms of rhabdomyolysis depend on the severity of the condition. Milder forms of rhabdomyolysis may not cause any muscle symptoms, and the diagnosis is based on abnormal blood tests. Here in, we report an unusual case of rhabdomyolysis triggered by fire ant bites to alert the medical community of this rare complication.     

Genetic and antigenic analysis of invasive serogroup C Neisseria meningitidis in Canada: A decrease in the electrophoretic type (ET)-15 clonal type and an increase in the proportion of isolates belonging to the ET-37 (but not ET-15) clonal type during the period from 2002 to 2009

BACKGROUND:

Serogroup C meningococcal disease has been endemic in Canada since the early 1990s, with periods of hyperendemic disease documented in the past two decades. The present study characterized invasive serogroup C meningococci in Canada during the period from 2002 to 2009.

METHODS:

Serogroup C meningococci were serotyped using monoclonal antibodies. Their clonal types were identified by either multilocus enzyme electrophoresis or multilocus sequence typing.

RESULTS:

The number of invasive serogroup C Neisseria meningitidis isolates received at the National Microbiology Laboratory (Winnipeg, Manitoba) for characterization has dropped from a high of 173 isolates in 2001 to just 17 in 2009, possibly related to the introduction of the serogroup C meningococcal conjugate vaccine. Before 2006, 80% to 95% of all invasive serogroup C meningococci belonged to the electrophoreic type (ET)-15 clonal type, and the ET-37 (but not ET-15) type only accounted for up to 5% of all isolates. However, beginning in 2006, the percentage of the ET-15 clonal type decreased while the ET-37 (but not ET-15) type increased from 27% in 2006 to 52% in 2009. The percentage of invasive serogroup C isolates not belonging to either ET-15 or ET-37 also increased. Most ET-15 isolates expressed the antigenic formula of C:2a:P1.7,1 or C:2a:P1.5. In contrast, the ET-37 (but not ET-15) isolates mostly expressed the antigens of C:2a:P1.5,2 or C:2a:P1.2.

CONCLUSION:

A shift in the antigenic and clonal type of invasive serogroup C meningococi was noted. This finding suggests vigilance in the surveillance of meningoccocal disease is warranted.