Synchronous sigmoid and superior rectal resection and left hepatic lobectomy extended to Spiegel lobe for a sigmoid cancer with hepatic metastasis. Case report

The recent developments of surgical technologies allowed the achievement of some standardized interventions with anatomical and functional visa, which based on the improvement of anesthesia and intensive care, and not least by elaboration of efficient chemotherapy protocols, determined new horizons in the treatment of advanced cancers. This work presents a case witch was hospitalized at the Department of Hepatic Surgery, of City Hospital from Timi?oara for a colorectal cancer stage IV (T3N1M1), with hepatic metastasis localized at the left hepatic lobe (II and III segments) and Spiegel lobe. A surgical intervention was performed, when in the same operating time was practiced a sigmoid and superior rectal resection (Hartmann) and also a left hepatic lobotomy extended to the first segment. The post operating evolution of the patient was favorable and also after fourth month from the surgery, when no signs of relapse were established at reevaluation.     

Researches on methyl-xanthine series.XI. Synthesis and physicochemical characterization of some 7-R-1,3-dimethyl-xanthine derivatives

We have synthesized new xanthine compounds, derivatives of theophylline with various radicals in 7 position. The compounds have been characterized by molecular formula, weight, yield and melting point. The synthesized xanthine derivatives have been purified by repeated crystallizations from various organic solvents. Their chemical structure was confirmed by IR spectroscopy.     

Morphologic and clinical correlations in medullar thymoma

The medullar thymoma is a rare and distinctive epithelial thymoma, a thymic tumor characterized histologically by a mixture of spindle epithelial cells and lymphoid cells. We are presenting this tumor to a 68 years old man, admitted at CCI, for a mediastinal tumor, treated by tumorectomy, for revealing the cytological, histological and immunohistochemical characteristic features. The surgical biopsy was prepared by using usual histological techniques and haematoxilin eosin and Van Gieson stainings. We are discussing the relation between the thymoma clinicopathological and prognostic features, resulting a clear correlation between histological type and clinical study. We also pointed the Muller-Hermelink thymoma histological subtypes and their correspondence with OMS histological types, reflecting realistically the thymoma clinical behavior.     

The importance of Dunn's procedure in the treatment of slipped femoral epiphysis

The slipped upper femoral epiphysis (SUFE) is a condition also known as 'coxa vara' of the adolescent, in which lesions of the growth plate are responsible for the development of sudden or gradual displacement of the femoral head. The disease is most frequent in the 10-15 years' age group, usually in boys who also have endocrine disorders. Both acute and chronic presentations are described. The clinical symptoms and especially the X-Ray features are diagnostic. Treatment options include orthopedic (conservative) measures or surgery, depending on several conditions, such as: the clinical picture, the degree of the femoral displacement, and the age of the patient. The chronic, long-lasting cases are generally associated with poor results. The paper presents our experience in using the Dunn's procedure in 7 chronic cases of slipped upper femoral epiphysis in children. It appears that surgery by using Dunn's procedure is an effective treatment in patients with SUFE.     

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis

It is a disease of obscure cause that is characterized by the accumulation of a granular material that contains abundant lipid within the alveoli of lung. Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) has been divided into a congenital and an adult form. The acquired form has been subdivided into a idiopathic form and a secondary form associated with a know disorder or exposure as silica, aluminium, titanium. Dyspnea and cough are the most common presenting symptoms. Chest pain, hemoptysis, fever and weight loss are variably reported. Pathogenesis remains unknown, but evidence points to a dysfunction of alveolar macrophages. Mice genetically deficient in granulocyte macrophagecolony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) show an alveolar proteinosis. A neutralizing antibody against GM-CSF was found in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and serum of patients with idiopathic PAP. Currently, no specific therapy exists for pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, and sequential whole lung lavage is standard treatment.     

Activity of fourth generation cephalosporins against clinical isolates of Enterobacteriaceae

Cefpirome and cefepime are a novel group of cephalosporins which contain a positively charged quaternary ammonium at carbon 3 of the dihidrothiazone ring. The antimicrobial agents cefpirome, cefepime, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, ceftazidime, cefoperazone and imipenem were tested against clinical isolates of Escherichia coli (n = 302) and Klebsiella spp. (n = 62) obtained during september-december 2002 from patients of Gala?i Emergency Hospital. The fourth generation cephalosporins cefpirome and cefepime have similar in vitro activities to the third generation cephalosporins. E. coli showed the comparable resistance rates for all cephalosporins. Against Klebsiella spp. strains cefpirome was less active (35.5% resistance) than cefepime (25.8% resistance). As expected, imipenem had excellent activity (100% susceptibility).     

Cardiovascular risk in patients with mild renal insufficiency

We reviewed the evidence linking mild renal insufficiency (MRI) to an increased cardiovascular risk. A number of cardiovascular risk factors become prevalent with MRI, including night-time hypertension, increase in lipoprotein(a), in homocysteine, in asymmetric dimethyl-arginine (ADMA), markers and mediators of inflammation, and insulin resistance. Also, an epidemiologic association between coronary artery disease and nephrosclerosis, a frequent cause of mild renal insufficiency in the elderly, is documented. In the middle-aged, general population MRI, found in 8% of women and 9% of men, was not associated with cardiovascular disease. However, in a representative sample of middle-aged British men, the risk of stroke was 60% higher for the subgroup of people with MRI; in people at high cardiovascular risk (mostly coronary disease), the HOPE study found a 2-fold (unadjusted), or 1.4-fold (adjusted), higher incidence of cardiovascular outcomes with MRI. The incidence of primary outcome increased with the level of serum creatinine. Several studies determined the cardiovascular risk associated with MRI in hypertension. In HDFP, as in HOPE, cardiovascular mortality increased with higher serum creatinine (five-fold difference in cardiovascular mortality between the lowest and the highest creatinine strata). The risk associated with renal insufficiency was independent from other classic cardiovascular risk factors. In hypertensives with low risk, the HOT, and a small Italian trial found about a doubling in cardiovascular outcomes in MRI. However, in MRFIT, increase in follow-up creatinine predicted future cardiovascular disease, not baseline creatinine. These observational data suggest that MRI, independent of etiology, is a strong predictor of cardiovascular disease, present in 10% of a population at low risk, and up to 30% at high cardiovascular risk. No prospective therapeutic trials, aimed at reducing the cardiovascular burden in people with MRI, are available. Subgroup analyses of the HOPE study indicate that ACE inhibition with ramipril is beneficial without an increased risk for side effects like acute renal failure or hyperkalemia. Thus, the frequent practice of withholding ACE inhibitors from patients with mild renal insufficiency is unwarranted, especially since this identifies a group at high risk that appears to benefit most from treatment. In addition, there is evidence that ACE inhibitors improve renal outcomes in renal insufficiency. Prospective studies should test the predictive power of MRI for cardiovascular disease and therapeutic options.