Ex vivo synergy of arachidonate-enriched serum with ceftazidime and amikacin on multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Three multidrug-resistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were incubated ex vivo with sera sampled after a 10 min intravenous infusion of 25 mg/kg of arachidonic acid (AA) in 10 rabbits in the presence of ceftazidime and amikacin. Lipid peroxidation was assessed during bacterial growth. A statistically significant decrease in bacterial cells was found by the interaction of antimicrobials and serum sampled in the middle of infusion and 15 and 30 min after infusion of AA and was accompanied by elevated levels of malonodialdehyde. This effect of AA is probably attributed to lipid peroxidation and raises the possibility of its application in experimental infections.     

Low dose melphalan is a treatment option in elderly patients with high risk myelodysplastic syndrome or secondary acute myeloblastic leukaemia

We present the case of a 71 year-old man with secondary acute myeloblastic leukemia, who was successfully treated with low dose melphalan plus Epo plus G-CSF. We treated the patient with 2 mg of melphalan once a day orally, G-CSF 5 mg/kg 3 times a week and Epo 10.000 ui subcutaneously 3 times a week until the maximum response was obtained. Complete remission was achieved after 16 weeks of continuous treatment. Treatment-related toxicity was not significant. We recommend the use of low dose melphalan in elderly patients with high risk MDS as a treatment option.     

Multiple failed urethroplasties: definitive repair with the Duckett island-flap technique

Background/Purpose:

The correction of postoperative complications after hypospadias repair presents frequently serious problems, and the results are not always satisfactory. The aim of this study is to present our experience with the tubularized island flap technique (Duckett procedure) in patients who had been submitted to repeated unsuccessful attempts for the repair of hypospadias and its complications.

Methods:

During an 8-year period (1994 through 2001), 21 patients, aged 4 to 18 years, presented with severe recurrent hypospadias (3 to 13 times). In all patients, the urethral orifice was quite proximal because of disruption of the neourethra and was associated with severe penile ventriflexion. In addition, there were diverticula with hair ingrowth in 5 boys and lack of the prepuce in 4. All patients underwent the Duckett island-flap technique. The inner layer of the prepuce was used in 17. The dorsal penile skin was used for the island flap formation in the remaining 4 patients in whom the prepuce had been resected during the previous operations.

Results:

After repair, the meatus was located at the top of the glans in all patients. There were 5 complications (24%): distal fistula near the glans (n = 1), meatal stenosis (n = 1), diverticula at the proximal anastomosis (n = 2), and anastomotic stenosis (n = 1). All of them were treated successfully by meatotomy, fistula closure, diverticula tapering, and dilatations, respectively.

Conclusions:

The island-flap technique gives satisfactory results in patients with multiple failed urethroplasties; it is applicable even in boys with resected prepuce and has an acceptable complication rate.     

Telomerase activity and genetic alterations in primary breast carcinomas

It has been proposed that the structural and numerical chromosome abnormalities recorded in breast cancer could be the result of telomere dysfunction and that telomerase is activated de novo to provide a survival mechanism curtailing further chromosomal aberrations. However, recent in vivo and in vitro data show that the ectopic expression of telomerase promotes tumorigenesis via a telomere length-independent mechanism. In this study, the relation between telomerase expression and the extent of chromosomal aberrations was investigated in 62 primary breast carcinomas. Telomerase activity was measured using a polymerase chain reaction-based telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay and 92% of the tumors were found to express telomerase with a relative activity ranging from 0 to 3839.6. Genetic alterations were determined by G-banding and comparative genomic hybridization analysis and 97% of the tumors exhibited chromosomal aberrations ranging from 0 to 44 (average: 10.98). In the overall series, the relationship between telomerase activity levels and genetic changes could be best described by a quadratic model, whereas in tumors with below-average genetic alteration numbers, a significant positive association was recorded between the two variables (coefficient=0.374, P=.017). The relationship between telomerase activity levels and the extent of genetic alteration may reflect the complex effect of telomerase activation upon tumor progression in breast carcinomas.     

Laparoscopic surgery for fistulas that complicate diverticular disease

Background Diverticular disease is complicated by colovesical and colovaginal fistulas in 4–20% of patients. Laparoscopic surgery is usually reserved for selected cases of uncomplicated disease. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and effectiveness of laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of those patients.Methods Eighteen patients, 15 with colovesical fistulas and three with colovaginal fistulas, were operated on laparoscopically. Prospectively collected data, associated with technical feasibility, short-term outcome and effectiveness, were analysed.Results Twelve sigmoidectomies, four extended left colectomies and two segmentectomies were performed. Fistulas were treated with simple dissection or mechanical division, and the bladder wall was repaired in two patients. Mean operating time was 237 min (range 165–330).There was one conversion (5.5%) and no post-operative death. Morbidity was 27.7% and included one major complication. Return of gastrointestinal function occurred 2.9 days post-operatively, and the mean hospital stay was 10 days after surgery. During the 5.1-year follow-up period there was one fistula recurrence (5.5%) and no recurrent diverticulitis.Conclusions Laparoscopic one-stage surgery was technically feasible and safe, with low morbidity. Effectiveness appears favourable when compared with open surgery, but prospective randomized studies are necessary to support such a conclusion.     

Influence of vagus nerve stimulation on vestibulo-ocular reflex

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), as used for the treatment of intractable epilepsy, may interfere with signals from viscera and modify the integration of autonomic afferent fibers in the brainstem. In order to detect an influence of VNS on vestibular function, the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) of 5 patients was examined before and during VNS. Nonsignificant alterations of the maximum slow-phase velocity of the VOR were found. A significant clinical alteration of the VOR during VNS was not observed.