Minocycline Hydrochloride Hyperpigmentation Complicating Treatment of Pyoderma Gangrenosum

Minocycline-associated hyperpigmentation is an uncommon side effect We report the case of a patient with pyoderma gangrenosum successfully treated with oral minocycline but complicated by marked hyperpigmentation in his pyoderma gangrenosum and acne scars. One of the clinical forms of minocycline hyperpigmentation includes dark-blue or black macules in depressed acne scars or other sites of skin inflammation; this pattern seems to be independent of the total cumulative dose and the skin process.     

Effects of midazolam on T-cell immunosuppressive response to surgical stress in mice.

Mice submitted to surgical stress induced by laparotomy and treated with chronic midazolam (1 mg/kg) showed a reduction in stress-induced suppression of thymus and spleen cellularity and in peripheral lymphocyte population. The blastogenic response of spleen lymphoid cells was also assessed and midazolam was found to partially attenuate the suppressive effect of surgery.     

Linitis plástica primaria rectal

Primary linitis plastica of the rectum is an infrequent and unusual rectal carcinoma. We report a new case that presented clinically as a haemorrhoidal syndrome. We comment on the characteristics--clinical picture and histopathology--of this uncommon presentation of rectal tumour, as well as its clinical history and prognosis taking into account that the literature consulted indicated the unusualness of primary linitis plastica of the rectum.     

Subhepatic collections complicating laparoscopic cholecystectomy: Percutaneous management

Ten patients with subhepatic fluid collections complicating laparoscopic Cholecystectomy were successfully treated by interventional radiological procedures. The series included five abscesses, three hematomas, one biloma, and one serous collection. Abdominal pain or fever developed from 3 to 21 days after the laparoscopic intervention. All patients were asymptomatic 72 h after percutaneous drainage and there were no complications related to the procedure. Subhepatic fluid accumulations are common findings after laparoscopic cholecystectomies and have been considered an unreliable indicator of infection or other postoperative complications. However, the significance of these collections should not be underestimated in symptomatic patients. In such cases we propose diagnostic aspiration and drainage, when necessary, to safely and promptly establish the precise diagnosis and treatment. More serious complications can be avoided by early percutaneous intervention.     

Alterations in the pattern of collagen deposition may contribute to the deterioration of systolic function in hypertensive patients with heart failure.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to assess the distribution of collagen deposits and collagen degradation in hypertensive patients with either systolic heart failure (SHF) or diastolic heart failure (DHF). BACKGROUND: Increased collagen synthesis and deposition have been described in the myocardium of heart failure (HF) hypertensive patients. METHODS: We studied 39 HF hypertensive patients subdivided into two groups: 16 with SHF and 23 with DHF. Endomyocardial biopsies were performed to quantify mysial (i.e., perimysial plus endomysial) and perivascular and scar-related collagen volume fraction (CVF). Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 and its tissue inhibitor matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 were analyzed in cardiac samples by Western blot and immunohistochemistry, and in blood samples by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Mysial CVF was lower in SHF hypertensive patients than in normotensive (p < 0.05) and DHF hypertensive patients (p < 0.01). Perivascular and scar-related CVF was higher (p < 0.05) in the two groups of hypertensive patients than in normotensive subjects, and in SHF hypertensive compared with DHF hypertensive patients. The MMP-1:TIMP-1 ratio was increased (p < 0.05) in tissue and serum samples from the SHF hypertensive group compared with the other two groups of subjects. The MMP-1 expression was increased (p < 0.01) in the interstitium and cardiomyocytes of SHF hypertensive patients compared with DHF hypertensive and normotensive subjects. The serum MMP-1:TIMP-1 ratio was inversely correlated with ejection fraction (r = -0.510, p < 0.001) and directly correlated with left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (r = 0.549, p < 0.001) in all subjects. CONCLUSIONS: These findings show that the pattern of collagen deposits and the balance of the MMP-1/TIMP-1 system are different in the myocardium of SHF and DHF hypertensive patients. It is proposed that excessive degradation of mysial collagen may be related to the compromise of systolic function in HF hypertensive patients.     

Carcinoma of the papilla of vater: Are endoscopic appearance and endoscopic biopsy discordant?

Carcinoma of the papilla of Vater is classified as periampullary cancer representing 5% of all gastrointestinal tract malignancies. Early and accurate diagnosis is important for those patients with a tumor of the papilla, as the prognosis is more favorable than in other periampullary neoplasms. Endoscopically obtained biopsies from suspicious papillae can detect an early tumor, although even for skilled pathologists it is often difficult to differentiate carcinomas from noninvasive lesions on the basis of forceps biopsies. The purpose of this study was to assess the preoperative diagnostic accuracy of duodenoscopy appearance and biopsy in all cases with suspicion of tumor. Thirty patients with suspicion of carcinoma of the papilla of Vater and with final diagnosis established by pancreatoduodenectomy were included in this retrospective study. In each case, a comparison was made between endoscopic biopsy and duodenoscopic appearance. Duodenoscopic appearance sensitivity and accuracy for malignancy were 86% and 83%, respectively, whereas endoscopic biopsy sensitivity and accuracy were 65% and 67%, respectively. Although preoperative diagnosis of carcinoma of the papilla of Vater is useful for making therapeutic decisions, the diagnostic value of the endoscopic appearance was superior to endoscopic biopsy in this series. Presented at the 2003 American Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association Congress, Miami, Florida, February 27-March 3, 2003. Supported by FADA-CAPES/PROP 200J (M.L.D.).     

Histamine modulates cellular events involved in tumour invasiveness in pancreatic carcinoma cells

Inflammation Research - .     

Balloon occlusion of the internal carotid artery in 40 cases of giant intracavernous aneurysm: technical aspects,cerebral monitoring,and results

Summary We have studied the results of carotid occlusion in the treatment of giant intracavernous carotid artery (ICA) aneurysms in 40 patients. Clinical, angiographic, Doppler and cerebral blood flow (CBF) criteria for tolerance of occlusion are discussed. The patients had headaches (47.5%), cranial nerve compression (87.5%), decreased visual acuity (20%), ruptured aneurysm (15%) and 5% were asymptomatic. Balloon occlusion tests were performed under light sedation anaesthesia: a successful test required perfect clinical tolerance and adequate angiographic collateral circulation in arterial, parenchymatous, and venous phases. Additional criteria include xenon 133 CBF measurements, and transcranial Doppler sonography of the middle cerebral artery. According to these criteria, 5 patients did not tolerate test occlusion and required an extra-intracranial (EC-IC) bypass. Mean follow-up was 4.7 years. All patients were radiologically cured of their ancurysm, and in 35 the symptoms resolved, although 3 had persistent ocular motor nerve palsies, and in 4 visual defects were unchanged. Complications were 1 permanent and 3 transient neurological deficits. Balloon occlusion of the ICA is an effective, reliable form of treatment for intracavernous giant aneurysm and should replace surgical ligation of the cervical carotid artery. With CBF or Doppler monitoring, the risk of neurological deficit is diminished. EC-IC bypass prior to ICA occlusion is indicated if test occlusion is not tolerated.