Verapamil as an adjunct to local anaesthetic for brachial plexus blocks

Background: Calcium channel blockers potentiate the effects of local anaesthetics. We examined the effect of adding verapamil to local anaesthetic solution on anaesthetic duration in patients undergoing surgery under brachial plexus block.     

Neurohydatidosis

Early and non‐invasive evaluation of hydatid infestation of brain and spine is of paramount importance, especially in endemic areas. We present a spectrum of imaging findings in neurohydatidosis with a brief review of literature.     

Localized muscular mucormycosis in a child with acute leukemia

Mucormycosis is a rare fungal infection of childhood, occurring mainly in patients with chronic illnesses such as diabetes and malignancies. The fungus seldom grows in culture and confirmation of the diagnosis depends on histologic examination of infected tissues. To date, the reported natural history of the disease has been rapid progression and a fatal outcome. Therefore, the importance of early diagnosis by tissue biopsy and early treatment with surgical debridement and systemic antifungal therapy cannot be overemphasized. The pulmonary system is the most common site for mucormycosis in patients with leukemia. We report what we believe to be the first successfully treated case of isolated muscular mucormycosis occurring in a child with biphenotypic acute leukemia. The diagnosis was made promptly by tissue examination at the time of surgical debridement. The patient was also given systemic amphotericin-B therapy.      

A sequence-specific polymerase chain reaction assay for mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms in human platelets and white cells

BACKGROUND: Because mitochondria are abundant in white cells and are also present in platelets, polymorphic sequences in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) represent a unique target for polymerase chain reaction (PCR)- based detection of donor material. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A PCR assay was developed that uses sequence-specific primers (SSP) focused on two continent-specific mtDNA polymorphisms. Results were validated by the use of informative restriction endonucleases. Three commercially available methods to extract mtDNA from white cell-reduced human platelets was compared. In preparation for in vivo studies, in vitro mixing studies designed to mimic transfusion were conducted to investigate the performance of the SSP-PCR assay. RESULTS: The gene sequences of two representative examples of amplicons obtained with the new SSP-PCR matched the sequence expected from the published genetic code. Fifteen individuals were classified as either positive (n = 6) or negative (n = 9) for the Asian polymorphism by the use of published primers known to flank the polymorphic site followed by digestion with appropriate restriction enzymes. Results with SSP-PCR were nearly perfectly concordant with those of restriction enzyme analysis. Although the use of three DNA extraction methods allowed the preparation of mtDNA that was suitable for PCR, large and consistent differences (ranging from 10- to 1000-fold) in endpoint sensitivity were found. In vitro mixing studies reproducibly documented that the SSP-PCR assay could detect as little as 1 percent of donor platelets mixed with recipient blood. CONCLUSION: PCR-SSP can be reliably used to identify human mtDNA polymorphisms. By optimization of the method of mtDNA extraction, the sensitivity of PCR-SSP assay was greatly increased. This assay should prove useful in investigations of allogeneic platelet transfusions without cell labeling. It may also be applied to studies of the donor cell microchimerism that follows transfusion or transplantation.     

Roxatidine versus ranitidine in the treatment of duodenal ulcers: A randomized double-blind controlled multicentre study in Singapore

Roxatidine acetate, a new H₂ receptor antagonist, was compared with ranitidine in the treatment of duodenal ulcers in a double-blind multicentre study. Eighty-four patients with endoscopically proven duodenal ulcer were randomized to receive 150 mg roxatidine acetate or 300 mg ranitidine at bedtime. Repeat endoscopy was performed after 4 weeks (25–33 days) and if the ulcer had not healed, another endoscopy was performed after a further 4 weeks of treatment. Using per protocol analysis 73.6% of ulcers treated with roxatidine healed at 4 weeks compared to 72.2% of ulcers treated with ranitidine (P=NS). The healing rates at 8 weeks were 92% with roxatidine and 83.3% with ranitidine (P=NS). Using equivalence tests, the healing rate of roxatidine was found to be equivalent to that of ranitidine within a 20% region. Roxatidine users took significantly less antacids than ranitidine users (P < 0.05). There were no significant adverse effects due to roxatidine or ranitidine. Roxatidine is a safe effective drug in the treatment of duodenal ulcers with a healing rate comparable to that of ranitidine.     

Thoracic wall involvement by Hodgkin disease and non-Hodgkin lymphoma: CT evaluation

Thoracic computed tomographic (CT) scans of 250 patients with newly diagnosed or recurrent lymphoma revealed thoracic wall involvement in 24 patients (11 with Hodgkin disease, 13 with non-Hodgkin lymphoma). Thoracic wall involvement occurred without contiguous mediastinal or parenchymal involvement in 17 patients. Of these, 13 patients had masses beneath the pectoralis muscles or within the breast, and four had masses arising from the ribs. Five additional patients had mediastinal masses with thymic involvement and parasternal extension through the thoracic wall. Pulmonary parenchymal lymphoma with thoracic wall invasion was noted in the remaining two patients. In five of nine patients receiving radiation therapy, treatment plans were modified by CT demonstration of thoracic wall lymphoma.