A leg ulcer as manifestation of metastatic squamous cell vaginal carcinoma

Cutaneous metastasis of vaginal carcinoma is extremely rare. So far, the total number of reported skin metastasis of vaginal carcinoma is only one. We present another case with an unusual manifestation of vagina carcinoma metastasis: skin metastasis presenting as a leg ulcer on the lower leg.     

A trial of relapse prevention with severely dependent male problem drinkers

Over the last two decades, relapse prevention has emerged as a major focus of the treatment of drug problems. Few studies have demonstrated any impact on generally high relapse rates. In this paper the outcome of a controlled trial of a relapse prevention programme with male problem drinkers (n=60) attending an Alcohol Treatment Unit is reported. Subjects who met the inclusion criteria were allocated to a relapse prevention (n=20) procedure or a discussion (n=20) or no-additional treatment (n=20) control procedure. Subjects were followed-up at 6 and 12 months by the first author. The relapse prevention programme was associated with significantly greater increases in pre- and post-treatment self-efficacy compared to the discussion control group and significantly greater probability of total abstinence than all controls over the first 6-month follow up. In addition, the relapse prevention programme was associated with significantly longer survival time to an initial lapse and relapse than the controls. At 12-month follow-up, treatment effects had been eroded. It was concluded that the relapse prevention programme was an effective treatment in the short term and that longer-term impact may require greater focus on maintenance factors, such as the individual's environment.     

Clinical index to predict bacteraemia caused by staphylococci

Abstract. Objectives. To define risk factors associated with bacteraemia caused by Staphylococcus aureus or coagulase-negative staphylococci; and to use them to define patients in need of empiric anti-staphylococcal antibiotic treatment. Design, Derivation set: observational, prospective study; validation set: retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database. Setting. Derivation set: Beilinson Medical Centre, Petah Tiqva, Israel—a 900-bed university hospital. Validation set: St Thomas's Hospital, London, UK—an 800-bed teaching hospital. Subjects. All episodes of bacteraemia detected at Beilinson Medical Centre between March 1988 and September 1990 (derivation set, n = 1410), and at St Thomas's Hospital during 1987–1990 (validation set, n = 1040). Interventions. None. Main outcome measures. Percentage of staphylococcal bacteraemia in groups of patients defined by the models. Results. The following factors were associated with Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia: focus of infection (whether high or low risk), haemodialysis, intravenous drug abuse and infection acquired in the orthopaedic ward. A logistic model was used to divide the derivation set into three groups with percentages of Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia of 1.8%, 13.2% and 33.7% (P < 0.0001); and the validation group 2.5%, 18.2% and 53.2% (P < 0.0001). Factors associated with coagulase-negative staphylococcal bacteraemia were: central or peripheral intravenous catheter as the focus of infection, a preterm neonate, the presence of a central intravenous catheter, low temperature, and a low white blood cell count. A second model including those factors was used to divide the derivation set into three groups with percentages of coagulase-negative staphylococcal bacteraemia of 1.9%, 22.8%, and 43% (P < 0.0001). In the validation set, the percentages were 2.9%, 22.4% and 31.0% (P < 0.001). Conclusions. The present study defines groups at high risk for staphylococcal bloodstream infection, in which empiric treatment should include an anti-staphylococcal drug.     

Localization of a gene for otosclerosis to chromosome 15q25-q26

Among white adults otosclerosis is the single most common cause of hearing impairment. Although the genetics of this disease are controversial, the majority of studies indicate autosomal dominant inheritance with reduced penetrance. We studied a large multi- generational family in which otosclerosis has been inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern. Five of16 affected persons have surgically confirmed otosclerosis; the remaining nine have a conductive hearing loss but have not undergone corrective surgery. To locate the disease- causing gene we completed genetic linkage analysis using short tandem repeat polymorphisms (STRPs) distributed over the entire genome. Multipoint linkage analysis showed that only one genomic region, on chromosome 15q, generated a lod score >2.0. Additional STRPs were typed in this area, resulting in a lod score of 3.4. STRPs FES (centromeric) and D15S657 (telomeric) flank the 14. 5 cM region that contains an otosclerosis gene.      

Peritoneal fluid concentrations of interleukin-8 in women with endometriosis: relationship to stage of disease

There is increasing evidence that immunological mechanisms play a role in the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of endometriosis. It was therefore of interest to study interleukin-8 (IL-8), a chemokine, in the peritoneal fluid and peripheral blood of women undergoing laparoscopic procedures. The presence and concentrations of IL-8 in relation to endometriosis, infertility and abdominal pain were evaluated. Samples of peritoneal fluid (n = 49) and peripheral blood (n = 50) were obtained from 50 consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery for various gynaecological indications (abdominal pain, infertility, sterilization). IL-8 was present in the peritoneal fluid of most women (87%). The concentration of IL-8 in the peritoneal fluid was higher in women with endometriosis compared to women without (P = 0.02). This difference was more pronounced in early (stage 1) endometriosis (P = 0.001). IL-8 concentrations in the peritoneal fluid were also higher in women with early endometriosis compared to women with later stages of the disease (P = 0.003). Peripheral blood concentrations did not correlate with peritoneal fluid concentrations of IL-8 and/or the presence of endometriosis. We conclude that IL-8 is an important factor that may contribute to the pathogenesis of endometriosis possibly by promoting neovascularization. This information can be a guide in the development of new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of endometriosis.      

Isolation of a human cytochrome P-450 reductase cDNA clone and localization of the corresponding gene to chromosome 7q11.2

We have isolated and sequenced cDNA clones that code for rat and human NADPH dependent cytochrome P-450 reductase. The cDNA coding for the human protein was used to analyse, by Southern blot hybridization, DNA isolated from a panel of 8 independent humanrodent somatic cell hybrids. The results indicate that cytochrome P-450 reductase is encoded by a single gene ( POR ) located on human chromosome 7(pter-q22). Analysis of human metaphase chromosomes by hybridization in situ confirmed the results and refined the localization to 7q11.2. Northern blot hybridization revealed that in human liver the expression of the gene varies by less than 3-fold between different individuals.     

Permanent impairment of embryo development by hydrosalpinges

Recent reports suggest a deleterious effect of hydrosalpinges on pregnancy outcome for in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and improvement following surgical treatment. We compared the effect of hydrosalpinx on pregnancy outcome in 286 patients having 348 IVF cycles and followed the development of untransferred embryos for 7 days to determine if hydrosalpinges affect oocyte quality or embryo development. The delivery rate per retrieval was significantly lower for patients with hydrosalpinx, but was restored by surgical treatment to that of patients without hydrosalpinx. However, the implantation rate per embryo transferred and normal blastulation of untransferred embryos, which were significantly decreased in patients with hydrosalpinx, and growth arrest and degeneration of untransferred embryos, which were significantly increased compared to patients without hydrosalpinx, were not restored by surgical treatment of hydrosalpinges. We conclude that surgical treatment of hydrosalpinges decreases early pregnancy loss and improves pregnancy outcome, possibly by diminishing reversible deleterious effects exerted on the endometrium. As we have seen in our laboratory, hydrosalpinges may have a permanent negative influence on ovarian function, follicular development and oocyte quality since implantation of transferred embryos and normal blastulation of untransferred embryos remain low, and in-vitro growth arrest and degeneration remain high despite surgical treatment of hydrosalpinges.      

Comparison of the fertilizing capability of spermatozoa from ejaculates, epididymal aspirates and testicular biopsies using intracytoplasmic sperm injection

A prospective study was carried out to compare the fertilizing capability and pregnancy outcome following intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) using spermatozoa obtained from ejaculates, or surgically from epididymis or seminiferous tubules. A total of 77 ICSI cycles (one per patient) was included. In all, 28 patients had severe oligoasthenoteratozoospermia, 19 patients had obstructive azoospermia and 30 patients had non-obstructive azoospermia. The main outcome measures were fertilization rate per injected metaphase II oocyte and the clinical pregnancy rate per embryo transferred back to the female recipients. In patients with severe oligoasthenoteratozoospermia, the fertilization and pregnancy rates were 79 and 25 %. In patients with obstructive azoospermia, for whom epididymal spermatozoa were used, these were 75 and 28%, and in the non-obstructive group for which testicular spermatozoa were used for injection, they were 69 and 21% respectively. These rates were not significantly different in the three groups (P = 0.85 and P = 0.14 respectively), suggesting that spermatozoa from the ejaculates and epididymal or testicular biopsies are able to fertilize equally by using ICSI. Live birth per embryo transfer was significantly reduced in patients with non-obstructive azoospermia compared to the other two groups. The high abortion rate (50%) in the group in which testicular spermatozoa were used raises doubts about the developmental competence of such embryos.