Cerebral amyloid angiopathy and spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage. Report of a sporadic case in a young Chinese.

A 49-year-old Chinese male with spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage due to cerebral amyloid angiopathy is presented. This is the first case reported in the Chinese population, and the youngest patient described without a family history or associated mental disorder.     

Colposcopic assessment in microinvasive carcinoma of the cervix

Forty of the 87 patients with microinvasive carcinoma (MIC) of the uterine cervix who underwent surgery were diagnosed colposcopically and the results were compared with the cytological and histological diagnoses. The cytology showed preinvasive carcinoma in 20 (50.0%) patients and invasive carcinoma in 19 (47.5%) patients. A correct colposcopic diagnosis was made in nine (22.5%) patients as having microinvasive carcinoma, 21 (52.5%) patients preinvasive carcinoma and eight (20%) patients invasive carcinoma, to sum up accuracy rate as 32.1%. The abnormalities most commonly observed in colposcopy were mosaic, punctuation and white epithelium. In microinvasive carcinoma, the triad co-existed in 43% of the patients. Atypical vessels, characteristic of invasion, were found in only one third of the patients. Microinvasion, therefore, may not be evident on colposcopy alone. It is therefore necessary to apply cone biopsy, prior to definite therapy, to make an accurate assessment of the maximum depth and extent of the invasion prior to definitive therapy.     

Percutaneous recanalization of chronic subclavian artery occlusion using optical coherence reflectometry-guided radiofrequency ablation guidewire.

Subclavian artery lesion that is associated with low complication rate could be treated by percutaneous intervention effectively. However, the success of endovascular therapy for occlusive lesion may be limited by failure to cross with a guidewire. We describe the use of a system using optical coherence reflectometry for navigation and radiofrequency ablation to enable wire passage through subclavian artery occlusion that could not be crossed by conventional guidewires.     

Spurious hyperchloremia and decreased anion gap in a patient with dextromethorphan bromide.

Although cold syrup containing dextromethorpan bromide is widely administered, the bromism due to cold syrup has not been reported. We report a patient who had negative anion gap with hyperchloremia and conscious loss because of daily intake of cold complex syrup (containing dextromethorphan bromide 0.4 mg/ml, acetaminophen 8.33 mg/ml) for headache for 4-5 years. The bromide content in cold complex syrup resulted in serum levels of bromide that interfered with the automated analyzers for chloride content. When conscious change is due to bromism, hemodialysis instead of forced hydration and diuresis should be performed immediately. Therefore, patients with a markedly negative anion gap with hyperchloremia should be considered as having halide intoxication.     

Acinetobacter skin abscess in a neonate.

Although Acinetobacter is usually a species of low virulence, it is becoming increasingly more important as a cause of hospital outbreaks, particularly on intensive care units. Antibiotic resistance can develop rapidly. This organism has not been reported to cause skin abscesses previously. We describe a case of a neonate who developed an Acinetobacter abscess on our neonatal intensive care unit.     

Endocrinology: Intravenous albumin does not prevent the development of severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in an in-vitro fertilization programme

A cohort study was undertaken to compare the effect at the timeof oocyte retrieval of the i.v. administration of either 1000ml of lactated Ringer' solution or 1000 ml of a 5% solutionof human albumin on in-vitro fertilization patients at riskfor severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). A totalof 207 patients with an oestradiol concentration > 10 000pmol/l and/or > 15 follicles (>10 mm diameter) on theday of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) injection were reviewed.Of these, 158 women received 500 ml of lactated Ringer’ssolution both before and after egg retrieval, and 49 women receivedtwo infusions of 500 ml of 5% human albumin in normal salineat the time of egg retrieval. Severe OHSS developed in two patientswho received human albumin and in 10 women who did not receivethe albumin. This difference was not statistically significant.There were no differences between the two groups in terms ofage, number of follicles punctured at transvaginal oocyte retrievalor oestradiol concentration at the time of HCG injection. Theadministration of a 5% human albumin solution does not preventthe development of severe OHSS in at risk patients. It doesappear to blunt the severity of the condition.