Ultrasonography in the detection of Achilles tendon xanthomata in heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.

We have examined the usefulness of ultrasound (US) in the detection of Achilles tendon (AT) xanthomata in heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. Our study is based on 30 adult subjects with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) (16 men, 14 women), 27 subjects with other non-familial forms of severe hypercholesterolemia (non-FH) with serum total cholesterol levels > or = 8 mmol/l (13 men and 14 women) and 31 subjects without marked hypercholesterolemia of the same age (control group; serum total cholesterol < 8 mmol/l) (15 men, 16 women). The three groups were comparable with respect to age, sex and body mass index. In the control group the mean sagittal thickness of AT was 4.5 mm (95% CI 3.2, 5.9 mm) and the mean coronal breadth of AT 11.0 (95% CI 9.0, 13.0 mm). Mean thickness of AT was 4.9 (range 4-7) mm in the non-FH group and 11.1 (5-16) mm in the FH group. The mean breadth of AT was in these groups 12.0 (10-17) mm and 19.2 (12-27) mm, respectively. Using the upper 95% confidence interval cut-off point in the control group as a criterion for normal AT thickness and breadth, 6 (22%) of non-FH and 29 (97%) of FH patients had increased AT thickness and 5 (19%) vs. 26 (87%) patients had increased AT breadth, respectively. The sensitivity of AT thickness for identifying FH was 0.97, specificity 0.78 and positive predictive value 0.83. The sensitivity of AT breadth in identifying FH was 0.87, specificity 0.81 and positive predictive value 0.84. None of the control subjects and none of the non-FH patients showed structural abnormalities of AT in the US, whereas 89% of FH-patients showed hypoechogenicity of AT. FH-score obtained by summing up the number of abnormal US findings gave a sensitivity of 0.93, a specificity of 0.96 and a positive predictive value of 0.96 for AT US in discriminating FH from non-FH. In conclusion, US examination of AT is a useful method in the detection of AT xanthomata and thus of help in the diagnosis of heterozygous FH.     

A foodborne outbreak of group A streptococcal disease at a birthday party.

A severe foodborne outbreak of group A streptococcal disease (T28) affected 122/169 people (72%) who attended a church party or ate leftovers from the party. The median incubation time was 42 h. Muscular pain or weakness and fatigue usually preceded pharyngeal symptoms. Complications included otitis media with perforation, peritonsillitis requiring tonsillectomy, arthritis and pericarditis. A 45-year-old man died 36 h after he developed an influenza-like illness, and at necropsy there were histological signs of early streptococcal septicaemia. The strain produced erythrogenic exotoxins B and C. Streptococci were probably transmitted by sliced eggs on sandwiches. Laboratory experiments showed that there was an increment in viable count of streptococci with 6 logs after incubation in egg yolk for 24 h at room temperature. The unusually warm climate and flaws in food handling routines contributed to this large foodborne epidemic.     

Mechanisms of ischemic brain damage

This article provides a brief review of recent developments regarding the pathophysiology of ischemic brain damage, and offers hypotheses explaining the pathogenesis of selective neuronal vulnerability and of tissue infarction, respectively. It is suggested that selective neuronal vulnerability, observed after brief periods of ischemia and after hypoglycemic coma, qualifies as an excitotoxic lesion, which causes postsynaptic damage to neurons innervated by excitatory amino acids by enhancing calcium influx. However, ischemic damage often involves glial and vascular cells as well, and causes infarction. It is hypothesized that this type of brain damage is related to acidosis and that enhanced acidosis is detrimental because it accelerates delocalization of protein-bound iron, with an ensuing free-radical damage to membrane lipids and proteins.     

Distal nephron carcinoma: a rare kidney tumor

Bellini's duct carcinoma is a very rare tumor originating from the collecting tubules of the kidney. It should be part of differential diagnosis in cases with gross hematuria, failed diagnostic proof of a tumor within the collecting system and a centrally located hypovascular mass. Analysis of the cytoskeleton by means of cytokeratin patterns enables classification as a tumor of urothelial origin.     

Alcoholic hepatitis in females

In the period 1970-1984 alcoholic hepatitis was diagnosed by liver biopsy in 52 females. Thirty-six patients with cirrhosis were generally in a worse clinical and biochemical state than those without cirrhosis. Biochemical tests for liver function showed significant improvement from admission to the time of liver biopsy. At follow-up liver function tests were generally better in patients who had stopped drinking alcohol compared to those who continued to do so. The 5-year survival rate was 82% for females without cirrhosis, and 45% for those with cirrhosis (p less than 0.03). Considering the sex-related differences in alcohol abuse in the general population we found no evidence of increased susceptibility to the hepatotoxic effect of alcohol in females.     

Low molecular weight heparin and prevention of postoperative thrombosis in abdominal surgery.

In a prospective, double-blind, randomized multicenter trial the efficacy and safety of low molecular weight heparin and unfractionated heparin were compared for the prevention of postoperative deep vein thrombosis in patients undergoing abdominal surgery. Six hundred and seventy-three patients were randomly allocated to the two prophylaxis groups; 20 of these, however, did not undergo surgery and did not receive any prophylaxis. Of the remaining 653 patients 323 received one subcutaneous injection of 3,000 anti-Xa units of low molecular weight heparin and 330 received subcutaneously 5,000 U heparin three times a day. Treatment was initiated 2 h preoperatively and continued for 7 to 10 days. The occurrence of DVT was determined by the 125I-labelled fibrinogen uptake test and phlebography. Venous thrombosis was diagnosed in 24 of 323 patients (7.4%) treated with low molecular weight heparin and in 26 of 330 patients (7.9%) treated with low-dose heparin. DVT of proximal veins was detected in four patients of the low molecular weight heparin group and in three patients of the low-dose heparin group. During the observation period three pulmonary emboli - one fatal and two non-fatal - occurred in patients receiving prophylaxis with low-dose heparin. No pulmonary embolism was found in patients treated with low molecular weight heparin. Both prophylactic schemes were well tolerated. Intra- and postoperative blood loss, incidence of wound hematoma, frequency and volume of intra- and postoperative blood transfusion were similar in both groups with a slight advantage for the low molecular weight heparin group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Ethanolamine oleate sclerotherapy for hydroceles and spermatoceles: a survey of 158 patients with ultrasound followup.

Sclerotherapy with 5% ethanolamine oleate was used to treat 102 hydroceles in 100 patients and 63 spermatoceles in 58 patients. Scrotal ultrasound examination was performed before the sclerotherapy and at each followup visit. Of the hydroceles 98% were cured completely and 68% were cured after only 1 sclerosant instillation, while 60% of the spermatoceles resolved completely and 33% partially, with 7% failures. No hydroceles recurred during an average followup of 43 months, whereas spermatocele recurred in 4 patients more than 1 year after successful treatment, with a mean followup of 46 months. Approximately half of the patients experienced pain after treatment, 3 had infection and 2 had hematoma. No changes in the structure or size of the testicles were found by ultrasound during followup. Ethanolamine oleate sclerotherapy is a safe, effective and economical form of outpatient therapy that can be recommended as primary treatment for hydroceles in adults and as an alternative to surgery for spermatoceles with 1 to 3 cysts in elderly men in whom fertility is not important.