Preoperative and early postoperative three-dimensional changes of the rib cage after posterior instrumentation in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

Rib cage deformity is an important component of scoliosis, but few authors have reported the three-dimensional (3-D) effect of surgical procedures with posterior instrumentation systems on the shape of the rib cage. The objective of this prospective clinical study was to measure the short-term 3-D changes in the shape of the rib cage at the apex of the curve after corrective surgery of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis by a posterior approach using a multi rod, hook and screw system. The 3-D shape of the spine and rib cage was modelled pre- and postoperatively using a 3-D reconstruction technique based on multi-planar radiography in a group of 29 adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis. Geometrical indices describing the scoliotic deformity of the rib cage were computed from these models and were compared pre- and postoperatively using Student's t-tests. The frontal spinal curve correction averaged 53% in the frontal plane, while no significant change was noted in the sagittal plane. Significant changes were noted in the shape of the rib cage: rib hump at the apex and at the adjacent lower level were improved (36% and 38%), and small but significant differences were detected in rib frontal orientation in the concavity of the curves at the apex and adjacent lower rib levels. Multi rod, hook and screw instrumentation systems, such as Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation, are effective in producing significant improvements in the 3-D shape of the rib cage, but these changes are less important than those observed at the spine level.     

Bazin's hydroa vacciniforme. General review of 2 cases

Hydroa vacciniform is a rare recurrent photosensitive skin condition in which deep-seated vesicles appear on sun-exposed areas and heal leaving a depressed scar. Two cases are reported, with particular emphasis on phototesting investigations. Results of blood and urine porphyrin studies were normal and no systemic abnormalities were noted. Phototesting may be viewed as an important diagnostic aid, since the induction of lesions, clinically identical to hydroa vacciniform can occur following sequential exposure to UV-A, as was the case in one of our patients.     

Herpes gestationis. Apropos of 2 cases

Herpes gestationis is an autoimmune disorder specific of pregnancy. The authors report two cases of this condition with distinctive clinical and immunological features. Both the pathogenesis and the nosologic connections between Herpes gestationis and Bullous pemphigoid are reviewed and discussed.     

Spectrum of cross-photosensitization in 18 consecutive patients with contact photoallergy to ketoprofen: associated photoallergies to non-benzophenone-containing molecules

Contact photoallergy to ketoprofen gels has been widely reported, and cross-sensitivity reactions with other compounds, such as tiaprofenic acid, fenofibrate and benzophenones, are well known. However, positive photopatch tests to other different non-benzophenone-related compounds have recently been observed. We report the results of photopatch testing in patients with contact photoallergy to ketoprofen and discuss the spectrum of cross-sensitization to ketoprofen. 18 consecutive patients with a history of photocontact dermatitis from ketoprofen were investigated. Patch and photopatch tests were performed. As expected, we observed positive photopatch tests to Ketum* gel and ketoprofen 2.5% in petrolatum in all patients (100%). However, it was remarkable to note positive photopatch tests to other unexpected and non-relevant allergens, including fentichlor (67%), tetrachlorosalicylanilide (28%), triclosan (17%), tribromsalan (11%) and bithionol (11%), with no clinical relevance. Interestingly, these agents belong to the family of halogenated salicylanilides and related compounds, which have been forbidden in Europe since the 1970s. Our results raise the question of hyper-photosusceptibility to non-relevant allergens induced by photosensitivity to ketoprofen. The mechanism may involve the high photoreactivity induced by the association of a benzene ring with an oxygen group.     

Non-invasive molecular detection of bladder cancer recurrence

Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) is the most common bladder tumor and approximately 90% of bladder TCC are superficial at initial diagnosis. High recurrence rate and possible progression to muscle invasive disease that is eventually indicated for radical cystectomy are established features of these tumors. Therefore, reliable predictors of tumor recurrence are of critical importance for management of superficial bladder TCC. Successful molecular diagnosis of bladder cancer by detecting genetic lesions: loss of heterozygosity (LOH) or microsatellite instability (MSI) in cells exfoliated in urine has been reported by several groups including ours. The aim of our study was to evaluate the predictive potential of microsatellite analysis of cells exfoliated in urine in the detection of superficial bladder TCC recurrence. We studied 47 Caucasian patients with confirmed superficial bladder TCC (37 pTa, 10 pT1) at initial diagnosis. Blood samples were obtained once from every patient whereas urine samples were collected before each cystoscopy (initial and follow-up). Matched DNAs from blood and urine were subjected to microsatellite analysis in a blinded fashion. The follow-up period ranged 12-48 months after tumor resection. Microsatellite analysis correctly identified 94% (44/47) of primary tumors and 92% (12/13) of tumor recurrences. Interestingly enough, 75% (9/12) of tumor recurrences were molecularly detected 1-9 months before cystoscopic evidence of recurrent disease. This study demonstrated clearly that not only urine microsatellite analysis reliably detected superficial bladder tumors, but also was a reliable test for detecting and predicting tumor recurrence in Caucasian patients. These results warrant multicenter randomized trials.