Surgical wound infection by Aspergillus fumigatus in liver transplant recipients.

Cutaneous aspergillosis is generally associated with immunosuppression, burns, and major trauma. Most cases are acquired by direct inoculation, although cutaneous involvement does occasionally occur with disseminated disease. Surgical wound infections caused by Aspergillus species are very unusual and to our knowledge have not been described in the setting of organ transplantation. We describe two liver transplant recipients who developed wound aspergillosis during a nosocomial outbreak of Aspergillus infection. Infection developed in the second and fourth postoperative week respectively, and in both cases wound appearance mimicked necrotizing fasciitis. Both patients died despite local debridement and antifungal therapy with amphotericin B. Aspergillus must be added to the list of potential pathogens of surgical wounds, especially in the setting of organ transplantation.     

Diagnosis and treatment of nonodontogenic epithelial cysts. Apropos of 14 cases collected from the Oral Surgery Service of the University Hospital Center of Fann]

Non odontogenic epithelial cyst, again called fissurary cyst, are dysembryophasic cyst of maxillary, they are born throughout the sutures line of faces. Their diagnosis is raising again association of clinic symptom, especially complementary examination and in particular dental vitality test. Their treatment is surgical. Around 14 cysts fissurary have been recorded in a seven-year period.     

Influence of extracellular calcium in the effects of dibekacin and diltiazem on indirectly elicited tetanic responses in the rat phrenic-hemidiaphragm preparation

1. Dibekacin (70 microM-3 mM) produced a decrease of peak tetanic tension in a concentration-dependent manner and this effect was dependent on extracellular calcium (0.3-2.5 mM Ca2+). Only minimal fade was observed and it was not related with extracellular calcium concentrations. 2. Diltiazem (30-300 microM) decreased peak tetanic tension and produced tetanic fade. Both effects were independent of extracellular calcium, although a significant potentiation was observed at 0.3 mM calcium. 3. It is concluded that tetanic parameters are related differently to extracellular calcium.     

Effect of temperature in focal ischemia of rat brain studied by 31P and 1H spectroscopic imaging

³¹P, ¹H and lactate spectroscopic imaging was used to evaluate the effects of hypothermia on focal cerebral ischemia produced by middle cerebral artery occlusion. The effects on high energy phosphate metabolism, pH, lactate and NAA were investigated in 24 spontaneously hypertensive rats subjected to either permanent or transient ischemia. Under either normothermic (37.5°C) or hypothermic (32°C) conditions, with permanent 6-h occlusion, there was little difference between groups in either the NMR measurements or the volume of infarction. In animals that underwent 3 h of ischemia followed by 12 h of reperfusion, the ischemic changes in lactate, pH, NAA, and high-energy phosphate returned toward control values, and there was a protective effect of hypothermia (infarct volume of 211 ± 26 and 40 ± 14 mm³ in normothermic and hypothermic groups, respectively). Thus, hypothermia did not ameliorate the changes in lactate, pH, NAA, or high energy phosphate levels occurring during ischemia, however, during reperfusion there was an improvement in both the recovery of these metabolites and pathological outcome in hypothermic compared with normothermic animals.     

Nd:YAG激光加BCG膀胱灌注治疗浅表性膀胱癌

本文将45例经Nd:YAG激光治疗的膀胱癌患者随机分组,对33例做了卡介苗(BCG)膀胱灌注,12例做了噻替派(thiotepa)膀胱灌注,并分别随访了3～18个月,平均9.8个月,BCC组膀胱癌再发率3％(1/33),噻替派组膀胱癌再发率为25％(3/12)(P<0.01)。     

Advanced systemic sclerosis complicated by pulmonary hypertension and complete atrioventricular block: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disorder of unknown etiology characterized by fibrosis of the skin and visceral organs, in which the heart is frequently (40-70% of patients) and severely involved. Pulmonary hypertension affects 10-15% of patients with SSc and is one of the most important complications adversely influencing their survival. CASE REPORT: The case report presents a 59-year-old male patient with advanced systemic sclerosis whose initial examination revealed pulmonary hypertension, rhythm and atrioventricular conduction disturbances, and elevated level of NT-proBNP. After six months the patient deteriorated; an increase in NT-proBNP level and progression of pulmonary hypertension were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The described case is followed by a discussion of cardiovascular involvement in systemic sclerosis and emphasizes that heart involvement in SSc may have very serious clinical implications.     

Structural and functional organization of the upper esophageal sphincter

Using traditional anatomical and histological methods, the muscle envelope of the pharynx-esophagus junction was investigated in humans and dogs. In the upper (cranial) portion of the esophagus of man and dogs, an inferior anatomical sphincter was detected which histologically can be referred to the group of rhabdo-sphincters. The upper esophageal sphincter is a purely esophageal structure which in man is located at a distance of 25-30 cm from the maxillary incisors. In adult humans, it is 25-30 mm long and is situated obliquely to the long esophageal axis. The posterior semicircle of the sphincter is located higher than the anterior one. In the area of the upper esophageal sphincter the esophageal wall is of different thickness. Due to the muscle envelope and submucous membrane of the base, the right wall is 1.7-2.0 times thicker than the left, anterior or posterior wall. The data obtained from fiber esophagoscopy of patients and electromyography of the pharynx-esophagus junction of dogs have shown that the upper (cranial) esophageal sphincter control food passage from the pharynx to the esophagus and prevents food reflux to the laryngopharynx, protecting airways from aspiration.     

Percutaneous radiofrequency rhizotomy of lumbar spinal facets: The results of 46 cases

The results of percutaneous radiofrequency rhizotomy of lumbar spinal facets in 46 patients followed at least three months (mean 15 months) are reported and compared with those reported previously. Satisfactory pain relief three months after the procedure was achieved in 36.4 percent of patients without operations and in 41.7 percent of patients with operations other than fusion.No patient had previously undergone fusion.Treatment of low-back pain by using radio-frequency thermocoagulation of spinal facets is a simple, safe, and well-tolerated procedure. It can be used to relief of pain in spite of decreasing rates of success within the follow-up period.     

Lumbar spinal stenosis operative treatment--early results]

Early results (12 weeks after surgery) of the lumbar spinal stenosis operative treatment were assessed in the group of 36 patients (aged 40-65 years). In 72% of patients posterior fusion was applied. In the results evaluation lumbar pain, low extremities pain, neurogenic claudicat ion, sensory disturbances and functional status were taken in account. A significant decrease in low extremities and lumbar pain was observed. Some sensory disturbances after operative treatment did not affect general high patients assessment of the performed surgical procedures (positive 80.5% cases).