Ultrastructure of leprous phlebitis

An ultrastructural study on vein biopsies from six lepromatous leprosy patients was carried out. The results showed that a) the lumen-lining bacillated cells were endothelial in origin due to the presence of specific Weibel-Palade endothelial cell granules; b) endothelial cells released Mycobacterium leprae into the lumen by exophagocytosis; c) M. leprae were able to grow and multiply in the endothelial and smooth muscle cells; and d) smooth muscle cells did not show any evidence of reaction due to the presence of M. leprae in their cytoplasm.     

Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair: transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) versus totally extraperitoneal (TEP) approach: a prospective randomized controlled trial

Background  

Minimal access approaches to inguinal hernia repair have added to the ongoing debate over the “best groin hernia repair.” The present prospective randomized controlled trial was done to compare the totally extraperitoneal (TEP) and transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) techniques of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair.     

The role of endoscopic ultrasound in assessing tumor response and staging after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for esophageal cancer

Background  

Although the role of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in the initial staging of esophageal cancer is well established, its role in assessing tumor response and staging esophageal cancers after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is controversial, and this study aimed to investigate this role.     

Clinical outcomes in patients with renal artery stenosis treated with stent placement with embolic protection compared with those treated with stent alone

Purpose: To compare the clinical outcomes in patients with chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) and renal artery stenosis (RAS) following renal artery (RA) stent placement with and without embolic protection device (EPD) usage. Materials and Methods: Eighteen patients who had RA stent placement with EPD were matched to control patients (RA stent only). Blood pressure, number of hypertensive medications, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at 3 months before the procedure and after 12 months were determined. An increase of ≥ 20% in eGFR at 12 months from baseline was defined as "improvement," decrease of ≥20% as "deterioration," and an eGFR change between those values as "stabilization" at 12 months. Results: At 12 months, stage 4 patients treated with EPD had significantly higher eGFR than controls (P = .01). There was no statistical difference in blood pressure outcomes between the 2 groups. Conclusions: Patients with stage 4 CRI did significantly better with EPD than those treated without it.     

Clipless and sutureless laparoscopic surgery for adrenal and extra-adrenal tumors

BACKGROUND: Newer, energy-based devices like the ultrasonic coagulator (Harmonic Scalpel, Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., Cincinnati, OH) and the LigaSure vessel-sealing system (Valleylab, Boulder, CO) are increasingly being used in advanced laparoscopic procedures. Use of these devices has resulted in shorter operative time, less blood loss, and lower conversion rates. We present our experience with these devices for laparoscopic removal of adrenal and extra-adrenal tumors. METHODS: Ten patients with adrenal tumors and 4 with extra-adrenal tumors were operated on laparoscopically with the ultrasonic shears and LigaSure vessel-sealing system. The entire surgery was carried out using these energy-based devices without using any clips or sutures. RESULTS: No conversions were necessary. None of the patients experienced any major intraoperative or postoperative bleeding. The mean size of the tumor was 6.2 cm (range, 3 to 8). The mean operative time was 123 minutes (range, 80 to 210), and the mean blood loss was 70 mL (range, 10 to 150). Histopathology revealed pheochromocytomas in 7 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Use of the LigaSure vessel-sealing device along with ultrasonic shears for laparoscopic removal of adrenal and extra-adrenal tumors is safe and effective.     

Secondary Tuberculosis of the Skin

One hundred patients with secondary skin tuberculosis--59 with lupus vulgaris (LV), 27 with scrofuloderma (SD), and 14 with tuberculosis verrucosa cutis (TVC)-were included in this study. The buttocks and lower limbs were seen to be important sites of involvement in LV, besides the occurrence over the face. An active focus of tuberculosis was present in 18, a past history of pulmonary tuberculosis in 8, and intrafamilial tuberculous infections in 21. Histopathology and culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis were done in all the cases. Guinea pig inoculation was done in 11. The poor results of these investigations have been highlighted and discussed with reference to studies done in the past by other workers. The need for improvement in laboratory techniques is suggested.     

Neurological and developmental outcomes of prenatally cocaine-exposed offspring from 12 to 36 months

Second generation studies of prenatal cocaine exposure failed to find gross deficits after controlling for confounders. Concern remained that exposure could cause subtle deficits. This prospective, cohort study evaluated effects of cocaine on development at 12, 18, 24, and 36 months. From 1991-1993, 361 mother-infant pairs were recruited from the Children's Hospital of New York, Presbyterian Medical Center's prenatal clinic or delivery room suite. Mothers were assigned to the cocaine group based on report of prenatal cocaine use or positive urine toxicology. Control mothers were enrolled from the same clinic and matched for age and socioeconomic status (SES). Women with serious medical problems were excluded from either group. Of the retained cohort, at 12 months, 147 infants were exposed and 89 were unexposed case controls. Both groups were raised in impoverished environments with few supports. Developmental evaluations were conducted blinded to group. Cross-sectional analysis revealed cocaine-related deficits in neurological exams and speech across all time periods, in spite of catch up in weight, length, and head circumference. Overall analysis of development was evaluated using Generalized Estimating Equations regression analysis. Bayley Mental [Badj = -6.5 (CI--9.4, -3.5, p < or = 0.001)] and Psychomotor [Badj = -3.9 (CI--7.4, -0.5, p = 0.02)] Developmental Indices showed deficits after controlling for confounders. Males were more vulnerable to cocaine exposure for height, motor development, and emotional regulation. Dose-response relationships existed for abnormal neurological exams (Ptrends < 0.08), Mental Development Index (MDI) (Ptrend < 0.001), and Psychomotor Development Index (PDI) (Ptrend < 0.001) deficits. Although nonexposed children performed poorly, cocaine-exposed children showed worse performance. Both groups showed declines at 18 months in mental and psychomotor development from which only nonexposed children rebounded. Overall, cocaine exposure adds an additional risk to disadvantaged children's development. Cocaine-exposed children are less resilient to effects of these multiple risks.