Association between palmoplantar pustulosis and cigarette smoking in Brazil: a case–control study

Background  Palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP) discloses some differences compared to vulgar psoriasis (PV) in terms of age of onset, female predominance and low occurrence of psoriasis lesions elsewhere. Cigarette smoking has been associated to PPP in international studies; nevertheless, these studies were never performed among Brazilian.
Objectives  To compare prevalence of smoking among PPP, PV and other dermatologic patients (NPD).
Methods  Case–control study involving 25 PPP patients from a reference psoriasis centre. Two control groups were matched according to gender and age: 50 patients with PV and 50 NPD. Confounders were adjusted by conditional multiple logistic regression.
Results  Among cases, 84.0% were female and PPP age of disease onset (41.4 years) was greater than PV (34.5 years). Prevalence of ever smoking was higher among cases (92.0%) than PV (52.0%) and NPD (30.0%). Adjusted odds ratio of PPP ever smoking compared to PV and NPD was 9.5 and 36.2, respectively. All smokers reported the onset of their habit before the development of PPP.
Conclusions  There was significant association between PPP and smoking. However, the impact of giving it up in the clinical course of the disease remains to be established.     

Verletzungsmuster und -ursachen in modernen Kriegen

Epidemiological analyses of injury patterns and mechanisms help to identify the expertise military surgeons need in a combat setting and accordingly help to adjust infrastructure and training requirements. Therefore, a MEDLINE search (1949–2009), World Wide Web search (keywords “combat, casualties, war, military, wounded and neurosurgery”) and an analysis of deaths among allied war casualties in Afghanistan and Iraq were performed. Up to 10th December 2009 there had been 4,688 allied military deaths in Iraq and 1,538 in Afghanistan. Of these 22% died in non-hostile action, 33% in direct combat situations and the majority of 45% in indirect combat actions. The leading causes of injury were explosive devices (70%) and gunshot wounds. Chest or abdominal injuries (40%) and traumatic brain injuries (35%) were the main causes of death for soldiers killed in action. The case fatality rate in Iraq is approximately half that of the Vietnam War, whereas the killed-in-action rate in Afghanistan (18.7%) is similar to the Vietnam War (20%); however, the amputation rate is twice as high in modern conflicts. Approximately 8–15% of the fatal injuries seem to be potentially survivable. Military surgeons must have an excellent expertise in a wide variety of surgical specialties. Life saving emergency care, especially in the fields of thoracic, visceral and vascular surgery as well as practical skills in the fields of neurosurgery and oral and maxillofacial surgery are required. Additionally, it is of vital importance to ensure the availability of sufficient tactical and strategic medical evacuation capabilities for the wounded.     

Persistence of CCR5 usage among primary human immunodeficiency virus isolates of individuals receiving intermittent interleukin‐2

Objective

To investigate the impact of intermittent interleukin‐2 (IL‐2) plus combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) on HIV‐1 entry co‐receptor use.

Methods

Primary HIV‐1 isolates were obtained from 54 HIV‐1‐positive individuals at baseline and after 12 months using co‐cultivation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with activated PBMC of HIV‐negative healthy donors. HIV‐1 co‐receptor use was determined on U87‐CD4 cells.

Results

Fourteen out of the 21 (67%) IL‐2‐treated individuals harbouring a primary CCR5‐dependent (R5) HIV‐1 isolate at baseline confirmed an R5 virus isolation after 12 months in contrast to 3 out of 7 (43%) of those receiving cART only. After 12 months, only 1 R5X4 HIV‐1 isolate was obtained from 21 cART+IL‐2‐treated individuals infected with an R5 virus at entry (5%) vs. 2/7 (29%) patients receiving cART alone, as confirmed by a 5‐year follow‐up on some individuals.

Conclusions

Intermittent IL‐2 administration plus cART may prevent evolution towards CXCR4 usage in individuals infected with R5 HIV‐1.

     

实验动物皮肤病原真菌检测方法的改良

目的对实验动物皮肤病原真菌2种培养方法进行了比较。方法将采集到的3只皮肤真菌感染病兔样品经由沙氏平皿法和沙氏试管斜面培养法分别进行培养。结果在3只真菌感染病兔中应用试管斜面法我们只检测到1例皮肤病原真菌阳性,而采用沙氏平皿法3例阳性全部检出。结论结合临床检测经验,我们认为本研究的沙氏平皿法优于沙氏试管斜面法,在实验动物皮肤病原真菌常规检测中具有推广应用价值。     

Clinical Impact of Tumour Involvement of the Anastomotic Doughnut in Oesophagogastric Cancer Surgery

INTRODUCTION

Published colorectal cancer surgery data suggest no role for the analysis of the anastomotic doughnuts following anterior resection. The usefulness of routine histological analysis of the upper gastrointestinal doughnut is not clear. Our study assessed the impact of cancer involvement of the doughnut on clinical practice. Factors associated with doughnut involvement and the effect on patients'' survival were also analysed.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The clinicopathological details of 462 patients who underwent potentially curative oesophagogastrectomy for cancer with a stapled anastomosis between 1994 and 2006 in two specialist centres were retrospectively analysed. Univariate, multivariate and survival analyses were carried out.

RESULTS

Approximately 5% of doughnuts (22 of 462) were histologically involved with cancer. Microscopic involvement of the proximal resection margin, local lymph node metastasis and lymphatic invasion within the main resected specimen were independently associated with doughnut involvement (all P < 0.05). However, these three factors taken together failed to predict doughnut involvement. Doughnut involvement was an independent adverse prognostic factor for overall survival (P = 0.0013).

CONCLUSIONS

In contrast to findings in colorectal surgery, doughnut involvement with cancer appears to have useful prognostic information following oesophagogastrectomy. Routine histological analysis of upper gastrointestinal doughnuts is justified. Doughnut involvement could potentially strengthen the indications for adjuvant therapy in the future.     

Breast Gangrene in an HIV-Positive Patient

Introduction

Breast gangrene has been reported as a complication following puerperal sepsis, breast surgery, nipple piercings, warfarin toxicity, etc. We report a case of primary breast gangrene in an HIV-positive individual which, to the best of our knowledge, is the first of its kind.

Case report

A 40-year-old previously healthy woman presented with fulminating left breast gangrene. She was detected to be HIV positive. Mastectomy was performed. The detailed management of the condition is discussed.

Conclusion

Severe necrotising infections may be initial manifestations of HIV infection and patients with such infections should be screened for HIV.