Oral contrast omission in the computed tomographic evaluation of blunt abdominal trauma: a literature review

The purpose of this review is to examine existing research on oral contrast administrating as it pertains to the computed tomographic (CT) evaluation of blunt abdominal trauma, as well as to determine the necessity of oral contrast as part of a CT scanning universal protocol. Many hospitals routinely administer both oral and intravenous contrast prior to abdominal CT scan. There have been found to be numerous disadvantages and risks associated with oral contrast administration prior to CT scan. There has been a shift in many hospitals over the years from traditional CT scanners to multidetector row helical scanners, which allow for thinner collimation and higher spatial resolution. With the advances in technology, from single detector row to multidetector row helical CT scanners, the question whether oral contrast is necessary, useful, or dangerous presents itself. There is a significant lack of research on this topic over the past 10 years. All of the studies referenced support no longer administering oral contrast for the initial evaluation of the patient with blunt abdominal trauma. However, the findings of the studies cited in this article are based on small sample sizes and low incidences of solid organ, bowel, or mesenteric injuries. The current level of available research has significant limitations to support a recommendation to eliminate the administration of oral contrast before obtaining the initial CT scanning for blunt abdominal trauma. Further research is necessary before any conclusion or practice change can be made.     

Forgiveness, depressive symptoms, and communication at the end of life: a study with family members of hospice patients

Abstract Introduction: Forgiveness has begun to receive empirical attention in end-of-life contexts, but primarily among patients. This study examined forgiveness issues and communication priorities among family members of hospice patients. Methods: Surveys were distributed to family members of home-care patients in a large not-for-profit hospice in the Great Lakes region of the United States. Family members wrote what they would like to say to patients before they died. They also rated the importance of several expressions (love, gratitude, giving and seeking forgiveness, saying farewell) and the extent to which they had already expressed these messages. Participants rated their depressive symptoms and the quantity of unresolved offenses committed by themselves and the patient. Results: Of 147 surveys returned by participants, 142 were usable. In comparison with forgiveness-related communications, expressions of love, gratitude, and farewell were more consistently rated important; yet many participants rated forgiveness (giving and seeking) as extremely important. If forgiveness was rated important but had not been fully expressed, participants reported more depressive symptoms (p<0.05). Also, unresolved offenses (by participants or patients) correlated positively with depressive symptoms (p<0.05). Conclusion: Although not as commonly endorsed as expressions of love and gratitude, forgiveness-related communications are seen as extremely important by many family members of hospice patients. If family members see forgiveness (granting or seeking) as important but have not completed the process, these unresolved issues are associated with depressive symptoms. This study suggests that unresolved offenses and forgiveness issues warrant assessment and clinical attention within families receiving hospice care.     

Atypical genital nevi. A clinicopathologic analysis of 56 cases

Atypical genital nevi are rare melanocytic lesions that most commonly arise on the vulva of young women. They are currently regarded as nevi of special sites, in that despite histologically worrisome features, their clinical behavior is reportedly benign. However, only few studies with limited follow-up data are available. To better characterize the clinical presentation and behavior of these lesions and to further delineate their histologic features, we retrieved 56 atypical genital nevi arising in the lower female genital tract from our departmental and consultation files. The 56 lesions arose in 55 female patients with a median age of 26 years (range, 6 to 54 y). The dominant histologic feature was a lentiginous and nested junctional component composed of prominent round or fusiform nests, which often showed retraction artifact and/or cellular dyscohesion. Cytologic atypia was mild in 11 cases (20%), moderate in 34 (60%), and severe in 11 (20%). Ten cases (18%) showed focal pagetoid spread, with extension to the granular layer and stratum corneum in 1 case. The atypical junctional melanocytic proliferation was associated with a large common dermal nevus component that dominated the lesion in 26 cases (46%). Adnexal spread (46%) and nuclear atypia of melanocytes situated in the superficial dermis (39%) were relatively common, but dermal mitoses (7%) were uncommon and maturation was present in all cases. A broad zone of dense eosinophilic fibrosis within the superficial dermis was a frequent finding (41%). Clinical follow-up was available in 45 cases (80%) with a median follow-up period of 3.5 years (range, 1 to 16 y). Only 1 lesion recurred, 1.5 years after the initial excision. The original nevus in this patient had only mild cytologic atypia and was present at the margins of excision. The recurrent/persistent nevus was reexcised, and there was no further clinical recurrence in 11.5 additional years of follow-up. Our data support the hypothesis that atypical genital nevi have a benign clinical course despite their occasionally striking cytologic and architectural atypia. Awareness and recognition of this group of melanocytic lesions is important to avoid over diagnosis as melanoma with subsequent wide excision and possibly sentinel lymph node biopsy.     

Deep "benign" fibrous histiocytoma: clinicopathologic analysis of 69 cases of a rare tumor indicating occasional metastatic potential

Benign fibrous histiocytoma (FH) is one of the most common mesenchymal neoplasms of the skin. Several histologic variants of cutaneous FH have been described, some of which also have distinct clinical features including a propensity for local recurrence. Deep benign FH is an uncommon and poorly recognized clinical subtype that arises in subcutaneous or deep soft tissue. Only a single small series of these neoplasms has been published, and their clinical behavior is not well characterized. In this study, we report the clinicopathologic features of 69 deep FH retrieved from our consultation files. The patients included 41 males and 28 females, ranging in age from 6 to 84 years (median, 37 y). The most common anatomic location was the extremities (58%); the remainder arose on the head and neck (22%), trunk (11%), and in the deep soft tissue of the retroperitoneum, mediastinum, or pelvis (9%). All lesions arising in nonvisceral soft tissue were subcutaneous. The tumors ranged from 0.5 to 25 cm in size (median, 3.0 cm) and were well circumscribed grossly and microscopically. All tumors were composed of bland ovoid to spindle cells arranged in a storiform pattern with admixed lymphocytes. Multinucleate giant cells, osteoclastic giant cells, and/or foam cells were present in 59% of cases, whereas the other 41% were cytologically monomorphic, often resembling cellular FH. Other common findings included a hemangiopericytomalike vascular pattern (42%) and stromal hyalinization (39%). Four cases were classified as atypical deep FH due to the presence of scattered markedly pleomorphic spindle cells within an otherwise histologically typical lesion. The median mitotic rate was 3/10 HPF; 10 cases (14%) had >10 mitoses/10 HPF. Necrosis (2 cases) and lymphovascular invasion (1 case) were rare. Immunohistochemistry revealed expression of CD34 in 20/50 cases (40%), smooth muscle actin in 15/40 (38%), and focal desmin in 1/12 (8%). Of the 37 patients for whom clinical follow-up was available (median, 40 mo), 8 (22%) had a local recurrence; in all 8 cases, the tumor had been marginally or incompletely excised. Metastases occurred in 2 patients (5%), both of whom ultimately died of disease; however, this number is likely exaggerated due to consultation bias. The metastasizing tumors were large (6 and 9 cm) and 1 had tumor necrosis but they were otherwise histologically identical to the nonmetastasizing lesions. In summary, deep FH has many histologic features in common with cutaneous cellular FH; however, it usually has a more diffusely storiform pattern than the latter, is well circumscribed, and may have striking hemangiopericytomalike vessels. Similar to the cellular, aneurysmal, and atypical variants of FH, deep FH recurs in approximately 20% of cases and may rarely metastasize.     

Plasma copeptin may not be a sensitive marker of perinatal stress in healthy full-term growth-restricted fetuses

Objective: Intrauterine-growth-restriction-(IUGR) is associated with chronic fetal stress, as well as a phase of enhanced fetal/early postnatal insulin sensitivity, followed by a later emergence of insulin resistance. We aimed to prospectively investigate concentrations of copeptin, a sensitive marker of stress and insulin resistance, in IUGR versus appropriate-for-gestational-age-(AGA) fetuses.

Methods: Cord blood copeptin concentrations were determined by ELISA in well-defined, non-distressed at birth, asymmetric IUGR (n?=?30) and AGA (n?=?20) full-term pregnancies. Doppler studies were indicative of placental insufficiency.

Results: Cord blood copeptin concentrations were similar in IUGR cases and AGA controls, after controlling for delivery mode. Copeptin concentrations were markedly elevated in vaginally delivered fetuses (p?=?0.001). No association was recorded between fetal copeptin concentrations and maternal age, parity, gestational age, or fetal gender.

Conclusions: Cord blood copeptin concentrations are probably not affected by IUGR at term, in the absence of fetal distress, possibly due to a balance between copeptin up-regulation by chronic fetal stress, on one hand, and copeptin down-regulation in the presence of increased insulin sensitivity, on the other hand; thus, copeptin may not be a sensitive marker of chronic perinatal stress in healthy asymmetric IUGR infants. Cord blood copeptin seems to primarily reflect perinatal stress associated with delivery mode.     

Adropin concentrations in term pregnancies with normal,restricted and increased fetal growth

Objective: To determine levels of adropin (implicated in insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction) in intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR), large (LGA) and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) pregnancies.

Methods: Cord-blood (UC) adropin and insulin concentrations were measured in 30 IUGR, 30 LGA and 20 AGA full-term infants and their mothers (MS).

Results: No significant differences in adropin concentrations were observed between the three groups. In the IUGR group MS adropin was significantly decreased when neonates had higher birth weights [b?= ?0.003, 95% CI??0.006 to 0.0, p?=?0.043]. In all groups, MS adropin levels were positively correlated with UC ones (r?=?0.282, p?=?0.011) and were significantly increased in female neonates [b?=?0.977, 95% CI 0.122–1.832, p?=?0.026]. In the LGA group, MS insulin was negatively correlated with UC adropin (r?= ?0.362 p?=?0.049).

Conclusions: Increased maternal adropin levels in severe IUGR cases might represent a regulatory feedback mechanism against endothelial placental dysfunction. The positive correlation between maternal and umbilical cord adropin levels implies its transplacental transfer. Increased maternal adropin levels in female neonates could be attributed to interaction of adropin with fetal estrogens through vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The negative correlation between maternal insulin and fetal adropin levels in the LGA group is probably attributed to their respective insulin resistance.