Acute encephalopathy associated with influenza and other viral infections

Acute encephalopathy is the most serious complication of pediatric viral infections, such as influenza and exanthem subitum. It occurs worldwide, but is most prevalent in East Asia, and every year several hundreds of Japanese children are affected by influenza-associated encephalopathy. Mortality has recently declined, but is still high. Many survivors are left with motor and intellectual disabilities, and some with epilepsy. This article reviews various syndromes of acute encephalopathy by classifying them into three major categories. The first group caused by metabolic derangement consists of various inherited metabolic disorders and the classical Reye syndrome. Salicylate is a risk factor of the latter condition. The second group, characterized by a systemic cytokine storm and vasogenic brain edema, includes Reye-like syndrome, hemorrhagic shock and encephalopathy syndrome, and acute necrotizing encephalopathy. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as diclofenac sodium and mephenamic acid, may aggravate these syndromes. Severe cases are complicated by multiple organ failure and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Mortality is high, although methylprednisolone pulse therapy may be beneficial in some cases. The third group, characterized by localized edema of the cerebral cortex, has recently been termed acute encephalopathy with febrile convulsive status epilepticus, and includes hemiconvulsion-hemiplegia syndrome and acute infantile encephalopathy predominantly affecting the frontal lobes. Theophylline is a risk factor of these syndromes. The pathogenesis is yet to be clarified, but an increasing body of evidence points to excitotoxicity and delayed neuronal death.     

Lumbar Spinal ‘Juxtaarticular’ Cyst in a Gordon Setter

An 11‐year‐old Gordon setter bitch was presented with a history of progressive weakness in the right hind limb associated with pain in the lumbar spine. Neurological deficits consisted of ataxia, monoparesis, muscle atrophy and spontaneous over‐knuckling of the affected limb. A large ‘juxtaarticular’ cyst located in a right dorsolateral position of the intervertebral foramen at L3–L4 was diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging. The cyst was removed through a modified laminectomy. The dog recovered quickly and returned to the owners 4 days after surgery with slight neurological symptoms. During the follow‐up examination 2 and 6 months later, the Setter showed normal gait and neurological examination.     

完全性胸腹腔内脏反位合并十二指肠壶腹周围癌一例报告与文献复习

目的总结完全性胸腹腔内脏反位合并十二指肠壶腹周围癌的临床诊治方法。方法报道2006年3月收治的1例极为罕见的完全性胸腹腔内脏反位合并十二指肠壶腹周围癌行胰十二指肠切除术的病例,并复习国内外相关文献。结果本例患者病理诊断为十二指肠乳头及壶腹部腺癌Ⅰ-Ⅱ级。术后1周胆红素降至正常;但2周后出现胃-空肠吻合输出袢粘连性不完全性梗阻,经内镜下置管、鼻饲、营养支持、针灸等处理,40d后痊愈出院。经检索,全球自1936-2006年间报道的全胸腹腔内脏反位合并恶性肿瘤的患者仅15例;其中只有5例全胸腹腔内脏反位合并胰头与壶腹周围癌的报道。结论完全性胸腹腔内脏反位合并肿瘤时,若无明显禁忌证,应同样予以积极的外科治疗,术中操作应注意完全相反的解剖学结构。     

PR01“A PICTURE SPEAKS A THOUSAND WORDS”– THE USE OF DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY AND THE INTERNET IN MONITORING FREE TISSUE TRANSFER

Purpose Post operative monitoring is crucial for the success of microsurgical free tissue transfer. Sophisticated and expensive methods are available for monitoring. We propose a novel technique using digital photography and the internet as a reliable and cost effective method to monitor free tissue transfers. Methods 163 micro‐vascular procedures were monitored using this technique over 8 months. Serial photographs taken to show flap color. Capillary refill time, pin prick‐ bleed time and color and hand held Doppler signal was recorded in the movie mode of a standard 5 mega pixel camera with duration of 15 seconds. Data was sent to the surgeon at regular intervals and or as deemed necessary. Results Analysis of the 67 cases is presented. 5 re‐explorations were done. The early diagnosis of venous congestion was possible using this technique. Timely intervention contributed to the success of the re‐explorations and these flaps could be salvaged. The file size of images was in the range of 1 MB–6 MB. The file size of an entire set of images ranged about 7 MB–9 MB. These were sent across the ADSL internet lines. Conclusion The use of the digital images and the internet allow reconstructive surgeons to have a reliable picture of the state of their free tissue transfers. This permits decrease in observer error and saves valuable time which otherwise needs to be spent to verify situations of doubt and offers an ideal solution to the logistic problem of having to visit the patient in case of doubt.     

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid gland: a case report and role of radiotherapy.

Primary squamous cell carcinoma is an extremely rare tumour of the thyroid gland. A case of an elderly lady who was diagnosed to have primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid gland is presented and the role of radiotherapy is discussed.     

Enamel loss associated with orthodontic adhesive removal on teeth with white spot lesions: an in vitro study.

Teeth with white spot lesions (WSL) might be more prone to enamel loss during bracket debonding. This in vitro study compared enamel loss from teeth with (n = 14) and without (n = 14) WSL after polishing with low-speed finishing burs or disks (Sof-Lex, 3M ESPE, St Paul, Minn). Debonded surfaces were analyzed with a contact stylus profilometer, and digitized data were compared with baseline readings by using AnSur NT software (Regents, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn). Specimen surfaces were also examined with a scanning electron microscope. Two-way analysis of variance was performed to analyze the data. In teeth without WSL, the volume losses were 0.16 mm(3) for the bur group and 0.10 mm(3) for the disk group; the mean maximum depths were 47.7 microm for the bur group and 54.3 microm for the disk group. In teeth with WSL, the volume losses were 0.06 and 0.17 mm(3), and the mean maximum depths were 35.1 and 48.7 microm for the bur and disk groups, respectively. There were no significant differences in enamel loss between the 2 groups of teeth without WSL (P =.12). However, in teeth with WSL, the burs removed less enamel than the disks (P = 0.006). Scanning electron microscope examination showed that any damage on the enamel surface was usually located in the cervical third of the teeth. On most specimens, even though tooth surfaces appeared resin-free to the naked eye, there were remnants of it. The differences between groups were so small that they might be clinically insignificant.     

Discrimination of exudative pleural effusions based on multiple biological parameters.

Pleural effusion is a common complication of various diseases. Conventional methods are not always capable of establishing the cause of pleural effusion, so alternative tests are needed. The aim of this study was to explore means of discriminating between different pleural effusion groups, malignant, parapneumonic and tuberculous, based on the combined function of seven biological markers. Adenosine deaminase (ADA), interferon-gamma, C-reactive protein (CRP), carcinoembryonic antigen, interleukin-6, tumour necrosis factor-alpha and vascular endothelial growth factor concentration levels were measured in pleural fluid from 45 patients with malignant, 15 with parapneumonic and 12 with tuberculous pleural effusion. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, multinomial logit modelling and canonical variate analysis were applied to discriminate the pleural effusion groups. The three groups could be discriminated successfully using the measured markers. The most important parameters for discrimination were ADA and CRP concentration levels. An individual with an ADA concentration level of >45 U.L(-1) and a CRP concentration of <4 mg.dL(-1) was more likely to belong to the tuberculous pleural effusion group, whereas one with an ADA concentration level of <40 U.L(-1) and a CRP concentration of >6 mg.dL(-1) was more likely to belong to the parapneumonic pleural effusion group, and one with a CRP concentration of <4 mg.dL(-1) to the malignant pleural effusion group. The combination of adenosine deaminase and C-reactive protein levels might be sufficient for discriminating between the three different groups of exudative pleural effusion: malignant, tuberculous and parapneumonic.     

急性重症胆管炎的介入治疗

目的讨论经皮经肝穿刺放置引流管(简称PTCD)减压引流治疗急性重症胆管炎(简称AOSC)的可行性及疗效.方法 1996年3月～2001年4月行PTCD治疗AOSC病人15例,男10例,女5例,胆石症术后8例,胆管癌2例,胰腺癌3例,胆道畸形2例,其中4例放置了胆道内支架.结果 15例病人技术成功率100%,无1例出现穿刺置管所致的严重并发症.病情缓解后针对病因有8例行手术治疗痊愈,4例不能手术的肿瘤患者植入了胆道内支架,1例于置管后3d死于多脏器功能衰竭,2例置管引流病情稳定后因各种原因放弃继续治疗,保留引流管自动出院.结论 PTCD可有效降低胆管压力,缓解病情,降低AOSC的死亡率,为进一步的病因治疗创造条件.