Elbow hemiarthroplasty for acute reconstruction of intraarticular distal humerus fractures: a preliminary report involving 4 patients

We treated 4 female patients (mean age 80) with complex intraarticular acute fracture of the distal humerus with a Kudo humeral component, i.e. a hemiarthroplasty. All fractures were considered impossible to treat with open reduction and internal fixation. At mean 10 (3-14) months, 3 patients had an excellent result and 1 a good result according to the Mayo elbow performance score. We conclude that a hemiarthroplasty may be a valuable alternative in eldery patients with complex fractures of the distal humerus.     

Methamphetamine Use Following Bariatric Surgery in an Adolescent

Bariatric surgery is increasingly popular as a therapeutic strategy for morbidly obese adolescents. Adolescence represents a sensitive period of psychosocial development, and children with considerable weight loss may experience greater peer acceptance, accompanied by both positive and negative influences. Substance abuse exists as one of these negative influences. We present the case of an adolescent bariatric surgical patient who abused methamphetamines in the postoperative period, with consequent nutritional instability. A concerted effort must be made in the preoperative assessment of adolescent bariatric patients to delineate a history of illicit drug use, including abuse of diet pills and stimulants. Excessive postoperative weight loss or micronutrient supplementation non-compliance should raise a suspicion of stimulant use and appropriate screening tests should be performed. The consequent appetite suppression may manifest with signs of malnutrition such as bradycardia, hypotension, and weakness. Inpatient nutritional rehabilitation and psychiatric assessment should be considered.     

Ganciclovir therapy of severe cytomegalovirus infections in solid-organ transplant recipients

The clinical and virologic efficacy of ganciclovir (9-[1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxymethyl]guanine) in the treatment of severe CMV infections in solid organ transplant recipients was investigated. Twelve patients (9 liver and 3 kidney transplant recipients) with CMV retinitis, esophagitis, hepatitis, or pneumonia received ganciclovir at a dose of 0.75-7.5 mg/kg/day for 10-30 days (mean duration 17 days). Clinical stabilization or improvement occurred in 8 patients (67%). Serial liver biopsies in 6 liver allograft recipients with CMV hepatitis demonstrated substantial histologic improvement on treatment. Of 6 patients with CMV pneumonia, 4 (67%) recovered and survived. Cultures of blood and other sites became negative in 9 patients (75%). Three patients (25%) had recurrent viral shedding after treatment, but none of these relapsed with invasive infections. Mild neutropenia was the only side effect encountered but was frequent (67%). The overall survival rate was 50%. Ganciclovir is effective in reducing CMV shedding in solid organ transplant recipients and is well tolerated. Our experience suggests a clinical benefit as well in patients with severe, invasive CMV disease. Relapse, in contrast to patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, is infrequent.     

Ranitidine prevents postoperative transfusion-induced depression of delayed hypersensitivity

The influence of perioperative blood transfusion on postoperative depression of cell-mediated immunity (CMI) and the effect of ranitidine on transfusion-induced changes in postoperative CMI were investigated. CMI was assessed preoperatively and postoperatively by skin testing with seven common delayed-type antigens in 83 consecutive patients undergoing major elective abdominal surgery. Sixty-six of these patients were randomly divided into ranitidine or no-ranitidine-treatment groups, and the remaining 17 patients were operated on without ranitidine. Thus, 50 patients were operated on without ranitidine therapy, and whole blood transfusion was given to 24 of these patients. Postoperative skin test response was more reduced in transfused vs nontransfused patients (-57% vs -38%, p less than 0.0001). Fourteen of the 24 patients receiving blood transfusion could be exactly matched to 14 patients not receiving transfusion (age, sex, B-hemoglobin, S-albumin, type and duration of surgery, etc.), which confirmed that a more pronounced reduction in postoperative skin test response was found in transfused patients (-55% vs -31%, p less than 0.0001). Seventeen of the 33 patients treated with perioperative ranitidine, 50 mg intravenously every 6 hours for 72 hours, received perioperative blood transfusion. Eleven of these patients could be matched to 11 transfused patients not receiving perioperative ranitidine. Ranitidine prevented postoperative reduction in skin test response (+6% vs -55%, p less than 0.0001). It is concluded that perioperative transfusion with whole blood amplifies the postoperative impairment in delayed hypersensitivity and that transfusion-induced postoperative impairment in delayed hypersensitivity may be prevented by perioperative ranitidine treatment.     

Breast carcinoma originating in cystosarcoma phyllodes

Only three cases of carcinoma infiltrating the stroma of cystosarcoma phyllodes have been reported. An additional case is presented. Unlike the treatment of cystosarcoma phyllodes which is limited to complete removal of the tumor, carcinosarcomas should be treated in the same manner as carcinoma by mastectomy and axillary dissection.     

Nutzen der stationären Therapie in der Versorgung von Patienten mit Rheumatoider Arthritis

Our aim was to analyze the existing body of evidence about inpatient care of patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The report was induced by the executive board of the German Society of Rheumatology which assigned the "Oliver-Sangha committee" to dissect and point out the tasks of inpatient care during the next few years. A systemic search of the literature was performed covering the years 1966 to 2001. A total of 16 studies were selected and thoroughly appraised in a systematic way. Four randomized controlled trials addressing the question could be identified. All of them included only patients in a clinical condition allowing outpatient care as well. Two studies indicate some advantage of inpatient care in comparison to outpatient treatment. Two studies, both equivalence studies from design, reveal that RA patients do not generally experience additional benefit from hospitalization. Consideration of two additional cohort studies demonstrates the increased need of inpatient care in RA patients. None of the studies was derived from the German health care system. Emergency cases were not the subject of any of these trials. General statements about the value of inpatient care of RA patients can not be drawn from the analyzed studies. The committee makes suggestions for future investigations that may help to answer this important question considering the special circumstances of the German health care system.     

Congruence Between Latent Class and K-Modes Analyses in the Identification of Oncology Patients With Distinct Symptom Experiences

Context

Risk profiling of oncology patients based on their symptom experience assists clinicians to provide more personalized symptom management interventions. Recent findings suggest that oncology patients with distinct symptom profiles can be identified using a variety of analytic methods.

Fatigue is cross-sectionally not associated with objective assessments of inflammation,but changes in fatigue are associated with changes of disease activity assessments during biologic treatment of patients with established rheumatoid arthritis

Clinical Rheumatology - The associations between fatigue and disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have not been defined. The present objectives were to explore in RA patients...     

Drug-related lupus in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis under sulfasalazine treatment

Summary The induction of lupus-like syndromes with the appearance of single-stranded DNA antibodies is a well-known complication of drug therapy. In this report we present a patient with an erosive seropositive rheumatoid arthritis developing the clinical and serological features of systemic lupus erythematosus including the occurrence of double-stranded DNA antibodies under sulfasalazine treatment.     

Sex steroid metabolism in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells changes with aging

CONTEXT: Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) mainly exerts indirect action via downstream conversion toward sex steroids within peripheral target cells including immune cells. In vitro DHEA has been shown to enhance IL-2 release from T lymphocytes, whereas it inhibits IL-6 secretion. Conversely, aging is associated with a decline in both DHEA and IL-2, whereas IL-6 increases. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to investigate age-related differences in expression and functional activity of steroidogenic enzymes involved in downstream conversion of DHEA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). DESIGN: This study was cross-sectional. PARTICIPANTS/SETTING: Healthy young men (n = 8; age range, 23-29 yr) and healthy middle-aged men (n = 8; age range, 52-66 yr) were studied in an academic setting. MEASURES: mRNA expression of steroidogenic enzymes in PBMCs was measured by qualitative and quantitative RT-PCR analysis and enzyme activity assays after incubation of PBMCs with radiolabeled DHEA, 4-androstene-3,17-dione (androstenedione), and testosterone. RESULTS: RT-PCR analysis showed expression of all enzymes required for DHEA conversion toward active androgens and to the immune-stimulatory metabolite androstenediol. Steroid conversion patterns indicated a particularly increased activity of 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 5 (17beta-HSD5) in the older men, demonstrated by significantly higher conversion rates of DHEA to androstenediol and of androstenedione to testosterone (all P < 0.05). By contrast, conversion of DHEA to androstenedione via 3beta-HSD occurred at a similar rate. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed increased expression of 17beta-HSD 5 mRNA in PBMCs from the older men. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide evidence for significant changes in sex steroid metabolism by human PBMCs with aging, which may represent an endocrine link to immune senescence.