Nasal septum perforation and bevacizumab

The use of targeted/biologic therapies is now commonplace in the treatment of malignant and non-malignant diseases. The novel mode of action of these drugs has resulted in unpredictable and in some cases unexpected side effects. Given the widespread use of bevacizumab and its distinct mode of action, it is important that oncologists report any unexpected adverse events that may be associated with the drug. Herein, we report three cases of spontaneous nasal septum perforation secondary to bevacizumab. We hypothesize an etiology for this rare event and reasons why it is reasonable to rechallenge the patient.     

Size and Composition of T-Cell Receptor δ (TCRD) Junctional Sequences Are Not Predictive of the Sensitivity of Clonospecific Oligonucleotides Designed for Detection of Minimal Residual Disease in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

We characterized 168 junctional regions of T-cell receptor delta (TCRD) rearrangements from 116 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) (101 with precursor B-cell ALL, 15 with T-cell ALL). Application of 101 allele-specific oligonucleotide (ASO) probes representing 85 Vdelta2Ddelta3, 10 Ddelta2Ddelta3, 3 Vdelta1Jdelta1, 1 Vdelta3Jdelta1, and 2 Ddelta2Jdelta1 junctions for the detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) revealed detection levels of 10(-4) to 10(-6) leukemia cells in the vast majority of cases (93 of 101). Of interest was that neither the N, D, P (nontemplated, diversity, palindromic) content and length of the junctional regions nor the number of nucleotides deleted from the flanking V, D, or J (variable, diversity, joining) elements correlated with the sensitivity of ASO probes. These data indicated that in ALL TCRD rearrangements can serve as suitable tools for the detection of MRD irrespective of the specific composition of the junctional region.     

Recent advances in the treatment of hilar cholangiocarcinoma: portal vein embolization

The clinical application of portal vein embolization (PVE) has contributed to improving the postoperative outcome of hilar cholangiocarcinoma. The enlarged nonembolized lobe after PVE protects the patient from postoperative hepatic failure, due to the increased functional reserve, and shortens the hospital stay. Although numerous reports have shown beneficial effects of PVE on postoperative outcome after extended hepatectomy, no randomized controlled study has been performed so far. It is urgent to establish a “gold standard” of PVE, because the indications, approach to the portal vein, types of embolic materials, and methods used to evaluate the function of the future liver remnant are variable among institutions. The indications and procedures of PVE for hilar cholangiocarcinoma may be different from those for hepatocellular carcinoma or colorectal metastasis, because, in many patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma, biliary cancer is associated with biliary obstruction and cholangitis. This review article summarizes the contribution of PVE to the outcome of postoperative management in patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma needing extended hepatectomy. We also describe our PVE procedure, which has been established from our experience of more than 240 cases of biliary cancer. Furthermore, the drawbacks of PVE, which may reduce the pool of candidates for surgery, are also discussed.     

Treatment of skin necrosis after radiation synovectomy with yttrium-90: a case report

Chronic synovitis, unresponsive to systemic medical therapy including agents, anti-inflammatory drugs and remission-inducing agents, and intra-articular administration of corticosteroids can be treated with surgical, chemical and radiation synovectomy. We reported a case of a 23 years old male. Skin radiation necrosis (4 x 5 cm) developed after an injection of Yttrium-90 (Y-90). Full-thickness skin graft had been applied but we were not able to succeed. Skin radiation necrosis was treated with Limberg's flap. As a result we recommend flap surgery instead of skin graft in skin radiation necrosis.     

Intermittent and constant pain and physical function or performance in men and women with knee osteoarthritis: data from the osteoarthritis initiative

Severe constant and intermittent knee pain are associated with “unacceptable” symptoms in older adults with osteoarthritis (OA) [22]. We hypothesized that constant and intermittent pain would be independently related to physical function, with intermittent knee pain being a better predictor of future declines in physical function in early symptomatic knee OA. This study included men (n?=?189) and women (n?=?133) with radiographic, unilateral knee OA, observed using data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI). Pain types were measured using the Intermittent and Constant Osteoarthritis Pain (ICOAP) scale. Physical function was measured using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC-PF) and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS-FSR) and physical performance tests. High baseline intermittent (B?=?0.277; p?=?0.001) and constant (B?=?0.252; p?=?0.001) knee pain were related to poor WOMAC-PF. Increased constant (B?=?0.484; p?=?0.001) and intermittent (B?=?0.104; p?=?0.040) pain were related to 2-year decreased WOMAC-PF. High baseline intermittent knee pain predicted poor KOOS-FSR at year 2 (B?=??0.357; p?=?0.016). Increased constant pain was related to decreased chair stand test performance over 2 years in women (B?=?0.077; p?=?0.001). High baseline intermittent pain was related to poor performance on repeated chair stands (B?=?0.035; p?=?0.021), while baseline constant pain was related to poor 400-m walk performance in women (B?=?0.636; p?=?0.047). Intermittent and constant knee pain were independent factors in self-perceived physical function and were important predictors of future limitations in physical function. Identifying intermittent and constant pain in early symptomatic OA may allow patients to adopt strategies to prevent worsening pain and future declines in physical function.     

Clinical presentation and outcome prediction of clinical,serological, and histopathological classification schemes in ANCA-associated vasculitis with renal involvement

Several classification schemes have been developed for anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV), with actual debate focusing on their clinical and prognostic performance. Sixty-two patients with renal biopsy-proven AAV from a single center in Mexico City diagnosed between 2004 and 2013 were analyzed and classified under clinical (granulomatosis with polyangiitis [GPA], microscopic polyangiitis [MPA], renal limited vasculitis [RLV]), serological (proteinase 3 anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies [PR3-ANCA], myeloperoxidase anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies [MPO-ANCA], ANCA negative), and histopathological (focal, crescenteric, mixed-type, sclerosing) categories. Clinical presentation parameters were compared at baseline between classification groups, and the predictive value of different classification categories for disease and renal remission, relapse, renal, and patient survival was analyzed. Serological classification predicted relapse rate (PR3-ANCA hazard ratio for relapse 2.93, 1.20–7.17, p?=?0.019). There were no differences in disease or renal remission, renal, or patient survival between clinical and serological categories. Histopathological classification predicted response to therapy, with a poorer renal remission rate for sclerosing group and those with less than 25 % normal glomeruli; in addition, it adequately delimited 24-month glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) evolution, but it did not predict renal nor patient survival. On multivariate models, renal replacement therapy (RRT) requirement (HR 8.07, CI 1.75–37.4, p?=?0.008) and proteinuria (HR 1.49, CI 1.03–2.14, p?=?0.034) at presentation predicted renal survival, while age (HR 1.10, CI 1.01–1.21, p?=?0.041) and infective events during the induction phase (HR 4.72, 1.01–22.1, p?=?0.049) negatively influenced patient survival. At present, ANCA-based serological classification may predict AAV relapses, but neither clinical nor serological categories predict renal or patient survival. Age, renal function and proteinuria at presentation, histopathology, and infectious complications constitute the main outcome predictors and should be considered for individualized management.     

Protective role of the apolipoprotein E2 allele in age-related disease traits and survival: evidence from the Long Life Family Study

The apolipoprotein E (apoE) is a classic example of a gene exhibiting pleiotropism. We examine potential pleiotropic associations of the apoE2 allele in three biodemographic cohorts of long-living individuals, offspring, and spouses from the Long Life Family Study, and intermediate mechanisms, which can link this allele with age-related phenotypes. We focused on age-related macular degeneration, bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia, stroke, creatinine, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, diseases of heart (HD), cancer, and survival. Our analysis detected favorable associations of the ε2 allele with lower LDL-C levels, lower risks of HD, and better survival. The ε2 allele was associated with LDL-C in each gender and biodemographic cohort, including long-living individuals, offspring, and spouses, resulting in highly significant association in the entire sample (β = ?7.1, p = 6.6 × 10^?44). This allele was significantly associated with HD in long-living individuals and offspring (relative risk [RR] = 0.60, p = 3.1 × 10^?6) but this association was not mediated by LDL-C. The protective effect on survival was specific for long-living women but it was not explained by LDL-C and HD in the adjusted model (RR = 0.70, p = 2.1 × 10^?2). These results show that ε2 allele may favorably influence LDL-C, HD, and survival through three mechanisms. Two of them (HD- and survival-related) are pronounced in the long-living parents and their offspring; the survival-related mechanism is also sensitive to gender. The LDL-C-related mechanism appears to be independent of these factors. Insights into mechanisms linking ε2 allele with age-related phenotypes given biodemographic structure of the population studied may benefit translation of genetic discoveries to health care and personalized medicine.     

The characteristics of advanced cancer patients followed at home,but admitted to the hospital for the last days of life

Information regarding advanced cancer patients followed at home who are admitted to the hospital in the last days of life are lacking. The aim of this study was to assess the characteristics of patients who were hospitalized in the last days of life after being assisted by a home palliative care team. The secondary outcome was to identify possible risk factors for hospitalization. The charts were analyzed of a consecutive sample of advanced cancer patients admitted to hospital wards in the last days of life after being followed at home by a palliative care team. Of 550 consecutive patients followed at home, 138 (25.1 %) were admitted to the hospital. Younger patients were more likely to die in the hospital. In a logistic risk analysis adjusted for age, patients with lung and head–neck cancer were more likely to die in the hospital. Patients having a female relative or a female consort as a caregiver were more likely to die at home. CAGE-positive patients (7.25 %), and patients with a shorter period of home assistance were more likely transported to hospital before dying (p = 0.00 and p < 0.024, respectively). The most frequent reason for hospital admission was dyspnea. Admission was more frequent to the oncology ward. Patients who were admitted to the hospital died after a mean of 10.2 days (SD 8.2, range 0–40). This study provides preliminary data on the risk factors of hospitalization at the end of life for advanced cancer patients followed at home.     

Intrahepatic biliary duct branching patterns,cystic duct anomalies,and pancreas divisum in a tertiary referral center: A magnetic resonance cholangiopancreaticographic study

Background

Knowledge about anatomic variations in intrahepatic biliary ducts (IHBD) is relevant for performing biliary drainage and for avoiding bile duct injury during cholecystectomy and liver resections. Low insertion of cystic duct (LICD) is a common anatomic variant. Pancreas divisum is the commonest congenital anomaly of pancreas; it has been causally linked with recurrent acute pancreatitis (RAP).

Methods

Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreaticography (MRCP) images of 500 consecutive patients were reviewed for anatomic variants of IHBD, cystic duct, and pancreatic duct.

Results

Anatomy of IHBD could be evaluated in 458 MRCP’s, of these 301 (65.72 %) had ‘typical’ anatomy. The variant in 157 persons included ‘triple confluence’ in 56 (12.23 %), ‘right posterior segmental duct (RPSD) draining to left hepatic duct (LHD)’ in 64 (14 %), ‘RPSD to common hepatic duct (CHD)’ in 20 (4.4 %), ‘RPSD to cystic duct’ in 2 (0.4 %), ‘accessory duct to CHD’ in 3 (0.7 %), ‘accessory duct to right hepatic duct (RHD)’ in 1 (0.2 %), ‘segment 2 and 3 separately to CHD’ in 1 (0.2 %), and complex variants in 10 (2.2 %). Cystic duct could be evaluated in 338 patients; of these, 15 (4.4 %) had LICD. Patients with RAP had pancreas divisum more often than those without any pancreatic disease, (?/?,10 % and ?/?, 0.8 %; p?=?0.004).

Conclusions

Nearly one third of MRCPs showed atypical IHBD pattern with RPSD draining to LHD being the commonest. LICD was the most common cystic duct variant. Pancreas divisum was more frequent in patients with RAP than in persons without pancreatic disease.

     

Xanthelasmas of the upper gastrointestinal tract

Background Gastric xanthelasma is a benign and uncommon lesion with a variably reported frequency, while esophageal and duodenal xanthelasmas are quite rare.Methods Seventeen patients who had the diagnosis of xanthelasma in the upper gastrointestinal tract were analyzed retrospectively with respect to their demographic, clinical, endoscopic, and histopathologic features. All lesions suspected as xanthelasma were totally removed by either hot biopsy forceps or a snare with the technique of endoscopic mucosal resection.Results The incidence of upper gastrointestinal xanthelasmas in 7320 patients who had upper gastro-intestinal endoscopy was 0.23%. There were 9 (53%) men and 8 (47%) women, with a median age of 50 years (range, 24–80 years). The most common location of xanthelasmas was the stomach (76%), followed by the esophagus (12%) and duodenum (12%). All lesions were observed as yellow-white colored plaques at endoscopy. Multiple xanthelasmas were detected in 4 patients (24%); in the duodenum in 2, esophagus in 1, and stomach in 1. One patient had xanthelasma within a gastric hyperplastic polyp. The size of the lesion was less than 5mm in diameter in 14 (82%) patients and between 5 and 10mm in diameter in 3 (18%). Thirteen (76%) patients had moderate to severe atrophic gastritis, while the remainder had normal gastric mucosa.Conclusions Xanthelasmas of the upper gastrointestinal tract were mostly located in the stomach in the present series, which includes the second and third reported cases of duodenal xanthelasma, the second case of xanthelasma developed within a hyperplastic gastric polyp, and the fourth and the fifth cases of esophageal xanthelasma.