Monitoring of chemical elements and oxidative damage in patients affected by Alzheimer's disease

The haematic concentration of 26 metals and the oxidative damage in 60 patients (20 males and 40 females) affected by Alzheimer's disease and 44 healthy individuals (33 males and 11 females) were compared. In patients, the following significant (p < or = 0.05) discrepancies were found: i) increment of Ca, Cd, Hg, Mg, Si and Sn, and decrement of Al, Co, Fe and Zn in serum; ii) higher concentrations of Cu, Li, Mn, Sn and Zr and lower of Fe, Hg, Mo in blood; iii) overproduction of oxidant species (SOS) and decrease of the anti-oxidant capacity (SAC) (p < or = 0.001, for both). Variables that, joined, better discriminated between patients and controls resulted to be Si, SOS, SAC, Co, Ca, Al in serum (94% of cases correctly classified) and Cu, Zr, Mo and Fe in blood (90% of cases properly categorized).     

Pathology of the liver with bone marrow transplantation. Effects of busulfan, carmustine, acute graft-versus-host disease, and cytomegalovirus infection.

The morphologic changes in the livers of autopsy specimens from recipients of 62 allogeneic bone marrow transplants were reviewed and characterized in specimens from patients who had had apparent drug toxicity, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), and disseminated cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. Two conditioning protocols were associated with significant hepatic toxicity. Two of 3 recipients on whom autopsies were performed who had been prepared with high doses of carmustine, cyclophosphamide, and total body irradiation had undergone acute hepatic failure and submassive necrosis with periportal sparing. Seven of 9 patients prepared with busulfan (16 or 20 mg/kg) and cyclophosphamide had moderate to marked centrilobular sinusoidal fibrosis and associated hepatocellular atrophy and necrosis. Twenty of the patients had acute cutaneous GVHD with associated hepatic dysfunction, including 8 with disseminated CMV infection. Of the 12 patients without concomitant CMV infection, 5 had an early onset of GVHD and had predominantly periportal and focal midzonal hepatocellular necrosis, and 7 had acute GVHD with later onset with predominantly bile duct injury. Fifteen patients had evidence of disseminated CMV infection. Whereas CMV infection alone was associated with both hepatocellular and bile duct injury, detectable virus infection was not a requirement for hepatocellular or bile duct injury associated with GVHD.     

Abdominal and extra-abdominal desmoid tumors. Report of 21 cases

Desmoid tumors are easily diagnosed when located within the muscles of the abdominal wall. On the contrary, extra-abdominal desmoids, because of their various sites and lack of pathognomonic signs, can be very difficult to diagnose. A review of 21 cases of the Istituto Nazionale Tumori of Milan confirms that these tumors primarily affect young, multiparous women and that even extra-abdominal desmoids are prevalent in women. All patients were treated by radical surgery consisting of wide exicision in 18 cases, hemimandibulectomy in 1 case, and amputation of the lower limb in 2 cases. Radical surgery resulted in no recurrences in all cases but one. Our results are in contrast with the relatively high recurrence rates reported in the literature.     

External severe laryngeal trauma with multiple fractures and airway compromise

External laryngeal traumas are rare but clinically can cause important life-threatening injuries. We report the case of a 33 yeras old male who suffered a severe traffic accident: TCE, facial trauma with multiple fractures and laryngeal trauma with fracture of the thyroid cartilage and the hyoid bone. Because an important edema in the airway, it was not possible an orotracheal intubation and he required urgent coniotomy with later reconstruction surgery and tracheostomy. Actually our patient has been decanulated and the fibroscopic image of the larynx and its functionality is correct.     

Simultaneous bilateral sudden deafness. Report of a clinical case

Bilateral sudden deafness is uncommon and characterized by an acute sensorineural hearing loss in both ears of 30 dB or more in 3 consecutive frequencies. We report the case of a 57 yeras old female with this diagnosis who presented a right anacusia and a severe audiometric loss on left ear without vestibular pathology associated. She was admitted and treated by the protocol of medical therapy that we have performed in our E.N.T. Department (4 days EV and then 10 ones oral medication) with improvement in her audition 25-30 dB average. If sudden bilateral sensorineural deafnes is founded, we must consider an immuno-mediated inner ear disease (IMIED).     

Recurrent and severe epistaxis secondary to nasal trauma. Report of an atypical case in a 22-year-old male

We report the case of a 22-year-old male who presented a diferred, recurrent and severe epistaxis after nasal trauma which required several admissions in our hospital and different treatments. Concretely by chronological order it has been practiced anterior tamponades, endoscopic ligature-cauterization of the sphenopalatine artery, classic posterior packing and finally a new FENS with cauterization of anterior ethmoidal artery. Besides it was necessary a transfusion to go up the anemia suffered by the patient whose global stay was 16 days. Recurrent postraumatic epistaxis are very rare but can be represent a difficult problem to solve.     

Internal jugular vein spontaneous thrombosis. Clinical case and review of the literature

Internal jugular vein thrombosis (IJT) represents a potentially serious pathology that can be spontaneous or secondary to head and neck infections, surgery, venous catheterization and intravenous drug abuse among others. We report the case of a male affected with IJT without clear cause after performing a complete exam which included ultrasonography, Doppler and contrast-enhanced CT scanning to confirm the diagnosis. Actually its treatment is mainly mediacl by antibiotic therapy and anticoagulants. Besides, it must be excluded an associated neoplasm.     

Auricular perichondritis in adults. An evaluation-study of 12 hospitalized patients

Perichondritis of the auricle in adults can be secondary to traumatic agents, external otitis or surgery being Pseudomona aeruginosa the bacteria more often isolated. We have performed a retrospective study of 12 hospitalized patients with that diagnosis and these following variables have been evaluated: Age, sex, personal antecedents, clinical symptoms, affected auricle, complementary explorations, treatment, evolution and stay.