Flow cytometry analysis of platelet antibodies

We have devised assays to detect both circulating alloantibodies to platelets (indirect assay) and platelet-association IgG and IgM (direct assay) using a flow cytometric technique. A variety of patients with immune thrombocytopenia were studied. Employment of a confocal lens in the flow cytometer increased the discrimination power of the instrument. Patients with autoimmune thrombocytopenia (idiopathic thrombocytic purpura [ITP], systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), lymphoma, leukemia, and drug-induced thrombocytopenia showed a significant increase in platelet-associated antibody. Circulating antibodies to platelets (alloantibodies) were demonstrated in cases of platelet refractoriness and neonatal isoimmune purpura. Day-today precision of the assays ranged from 3% to 6% (coefficient of variation). No interference was shown in the presence of hemoglobin (5 g/L), triglycerides (10 g/L), or polyclonal and monoclonal immunoglobulinemia (50 g/L: IgG, IgA, IgM). The sensitivity of the direct assay was 500 attograms of IgG or IgM platelet.     

Seven-day treatment for Helicobacter pylori infection: ranitidine bismuth citrate plus clarithromycin and tetracycline hydrochloride

Background: Dual therapy with ranitidine bismuth citrate plus clarithromycin twice daily for 14 days is an effective regimen for eradicating Helicobacter pylori infection.
Aim: To determine whether this regimen can be improved by the addition of a second antibiotic, tetracycline hydrochloride, whilst reducing the duration of treatment to 7 days.
Methods: Sixty-one out-patients were enrolled to this open treatment study. All had H. pylori infection, as determined by ¹³C-urea breath test and, for those undergoing endoscopy, by rapid urease test. Patients were treated with ranitidine bismuth citrate 400 mg, clarithromycin 500 mg and tetracycline hydrochloride 500 mg all twice daily for 7 days. Eradication of H.␣pylori was assessed by two separate ¹³C-urea breath tests, the first 28–68 days after the completion of treatment, the second 28–162 days later. H. pylori infection was considered cured if both tests were negative.
Results: All 61 patients were included in the intention-to-treat efficacy analysis. Successful eradication of H.␣pylori was achieved in 55/61 patients (90 %; 95% CI: 82–98%). Fifty-nine out of sixty-one patients reported 100% compliance; one patient missed a single dose of medication and the other withdrew at 48 h due to nausea and vomiting. Minor adverse events were reported by 30/61 patients.
Conclusion: One-week triple therapy with ranitidine bismuth citrate, clarithromycin and tetracycline, all twice daily, is a safe and well-tolerated regimen which eradicates H. pylori in 90% of infected patients.     

Marshall-Smith syndrome: the expanding phenotype.

We report a child of 3 years 9 months with the Marshall-Smith syndrome (MSS), characterised by the typical facial features, developmental delay, and advanced bone age. After the diagnosis was made at 5 months of age, careful observation for respiratory complications and failure to thrive was initiated. By 3 1/2 years of age, although our patient had no life threatening respiratory complications, investigation showed significant upper airway obstruction, which has been successfully treated. Aggressive treatment for failure to thrive has also allowed her to maintain a weight on the 50th centile. The purpose of this report is to suggest that early diagnosis and aggressive management may improve the ultimate prognosis with respect to the respiratory and feeding difficulties seen in this rare syndrome.     

Hepatobiliary cystadenoma: a rare hepatic tumor in a child

This report describes a 3-year-old child with a hepatobiliary cystadenoma. Cystadenomas are benign, multilocular, cystic neoplasms that usually occur in middle-aged women. The patients may be asymptomatic, but often there are vague abdominal complaints related to extrinsic compression of the stomach, duodenum, or biliary tree. Recurrence following incomplete excision and the presence of carcinoma within otherwise benign cysts has been documented. Complete resection is the therapy of choice, and thorough histopathologic evaluation is imperative.     

Stenting of the left carotid artery to relieve anginal symptoms.

Stenting of the carotid artery is usually performed either to prevent an acute neurologic event or to treat episodes of recurrent transient ischemic attacks. Occasionally, it may be performed for other indications. We describe the case of a patient with prior coronary artery bypass grafting using a left internal mammary arterial graft, in addition to left carotid artery to left subclavian artery bypass for symptomatic left subclavian stenosis, who subsequently underwent left common carotid artery stenting to relieve anginal symptoms.     

Spinal cord stimulation and the relief of chronic pain.

Twenty six patients who had received spinal cord stimulation for chronic pain were evaluated by videotaped structured interviews with staff not directly involved in the patients' care. In addition estimates of pain relief were obtained from clinicians involved in the patients' care and from close relatives and friends. Information about lifestyles and drug usage was also collected and correlated with pain relief. At the time of the interviews half of the patients were receiving 50% or better relief of their pain.     

Angiodysplasia — an uncommon cause of colonic bleeding: Colonoscopic evaluation of 1,050 patients with rectal bleeding and anaemia

Angiodysplasia of the colon was diagnosed in 31 out of 1,050 patients (3%) presenting with rectal bleeding or anaemia, among 10,000 colonoscoped at St. Mark's Hospital. The lesions were identified in 16 out of 879 (2%) patients with rectal bleeding, in 15 out of 171 (9%) patients with anaemia, and in a further three patients without features of blood loss. The angiodysplasia lesions were predominantly in the right colon (76%) and occurred with a similar frequency (12%) in the transverse and the left colon. Affected patients (59% male and 41% female) were in the older age group (53–89 years; mean age 69.5 years) but only one patient had known aortic valve disease. Angiodysplasia is an important diagnosis to consider in patients presenting with colonic bleeding or anaemia because it can be treated in the majority of cases by endoscopic electrocoagulation. However in our experience it is less common (3%) than previously suggested by other authors (40–67%). Endoscopic over-diagnosis is possible when intramucosal capillaries with no bleeding tendency on local traumatisation or biopsy are included in the diagnosis but these lesions are not true angiodysplasia.