Congenital Epulis in a Newborn: A Case Report,Immunoprofiling and Review of Literature

Background

Congenital epulis is a rare lesion of the newborn, presenting as mass in the oral cavity which can interfere with respiration and feeding. It should be distinguished from other lesions which can occur in newborns, both clinically and histopathologically.

Case Details

Here, we report a case of congenital epulis in a newborn female on the right alveolar ridge, along with an extensive review of literature and discuss the immunoprofiling.

Conclusion

Early diagnosis of CE in a newborn is of paramount importance in the successful management of these rare cases.     

Treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with marrow transplantation in identical twins

Eight patients with disseminated non-Hodgkin's lymphoma who failed conventional combination chemotherapy were treated with high-dose chemotherapy, a supralethal dose of total-body irradiation, and a bone marrow transplant from a normal identical twin. Seven patients experienced complete remission. Four of the seven patients (two with diffuse poorly differentiated lymphocytic lymphoma, one with composite lymphoma, and one with diffuse moderately well differentiated lymphocytic lymphoma) remain in complete unmaintained remission 12-126 mo from transplantation. One patient relapsed after 10 mo but was retreated and is alive in unmaintained complete remission 73 mo from transplantation. One patient died of Pseudomonas pneumonia while in complete remission and one patient relapsed and died of progressive lymphoma. These results demonstrate that intensive chemoradiotherapy and twin marrow transplantation can induce frequent and enduring remissions in patients with disseminated non-Hodgkin's lymphoma who have failed conventional therapy.     

Values and limitations of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron-emission tomography with preoperative evaluation of patients with pancreatic masses

The aim of this study was to determine the value and limitations of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-position-emission tomography (PET) for differentiating benign and malignant pancreatic disease and for staging malignant disease. One hundred fifty-nine patients with 89 malignant and 70 benign pancreatic lesions all received PET, computed tomography (CT), and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) before pancreatic surgery. The original reports were compared for all patients (group I; N = 159), for a subgroup that neither had fasting plasma glucose levels > or =130 mg/dL or known elevated levels of C-reactive protein ([CRP], group II; n = 123), and for the remaining patients (group III; n = 36). For group I, accuracy values (areas under receiver operating characteristic [ROC] curves) for differentiation of benign/malignant masses were 0.86 (PET), 0.93 (ERCP), 0.82 (CT), and 0.95 for ERCP + PET (N = 159). For group II, ROC areas increased to 0.92 (PET), 0.94 (p < 0.05; n = 123) (ERCP), 0.82 (CT), 0.97 (p < 0.05; n = 123) (ERCP + PET). The results for group III were 0.71 (PET), 0.81 (CT), and 0.93 (ERCP); (n = 36). With 54 patients of group II that either had contradictory or indeterminate/technically unsuccessful CT/ERCP, PET was correct in 43 patients (84%). Sensitivity/specificity for lymph node staging was 49%/63%, respectively. For patients with hepatic metastasis, PET was 70% sensitive and 95% specific, missing some metastasis that were <1 cm. PET detected peritoneal metastasis in 25% of patients, missing poorly localized microscopic spread. For selected patients who have indeterminate pancreatic masses but no hyperglycemia or serologic evidence of active inflammation, FDG-PET is an independent functional assay that significantly adds to the diagnostic accuracy of ERCP and CT in the differentiation of benign and malignant pancreatic disease. PET can reliably detect hepatic, peritoneal, and other distant metastases that are > or =1 cm.     

Leech related <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aeromonas veronii</Emphasis> complex infection after reconstruction with a microvascular forearm flap

Medical leeches (Hirudo medicinalis) in plastic and reconstructive surgery are often used for the treatment of vascular failure after microvascular surgery. Leeches are a reservoir for bacteria of the Aeromonas group that help digesting the blood meal. In some cases these bacteria are able to cause severe wound infections that can lead to loss of tissue transplants. We report about a patient with a common microvascular forearm flap after resection of an oral squamous cell carcinoma which got infected by Aeromonas spp. after treatment with medical leeches. Most of these species are resistant for common antibiotic treatment after surgery. This report shows the importance of an early concomitant antibiotic prophylaxis in the treatment of venous congestion with medical leeches.     

Duodenum-preserving total pancreatic head resection for cystic neoplastic lesions in the head of the pancreas

Background/Purpose

Cystic neoplastic lesions of the pancreas are now found with increasing frequency. Duodenumpreserving pancreatic head resection with segmental resection of the duodenum has been introduced for the surgical treatment of inflammatory and neoplastic lesions. We report the following data from 15 patients treated surgically for cystic neoplastic lesions of the pancreas head.

Methods

Duodenum-preserving total pancreatic head resection (DPPHRt) with segmental resection of the duodenum (SD) was performed in eight patients, five with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN), two with mucinous cystic neoplasm (MCN), and one with cystic endocrine neoplasm (EN). In four patients, a subtotal pancreatic head resection was performed, but recurrence of the IPMN lesion was observed in two patients. Ten patients suffered cystadenoma, three patients had a borderline lesion, and two patients had an in-situ carcinoma.

Results

Eight patients had a DPPHRt with SD resection, two patients had a resection of the uncinate process including segmental resection of the inferior duodenal segment, and one patient had a duodenum-and spleen-preserving total pancreatectomy. In four patients a DPPHR with subtotal pancreatic head resection was carried out. Postoperative local complications occurred in eight patients: there was a recurrence of the IPMN lesion in the remnant pancreatic head in two patients; and there was intraabdominal bleeding in one patient, pancreatic fistula in one patient, and delay of gastric emptying in four patients. Seven patients showed signs of acute pancreatitis. Hospital mortality was 0%, and postoperative length of hospital stay was 10. 4 days (range, 8–18 days).

Conclusions

Duodenum-preserving total pancreatic head resection for IPMN, MCN, serous cystadenoma (SCA), and cystic EN lesions is a safe and beneficial surgical procedure. Segmental resection of the duodenum was applied for an oncologically complete resection. In regard to long-term outcome, the procedure is, additionally, a pancreatic cancer preventive strategy.

     

Replicability and reliability of pain assessment forms in geriatrics

Aim of the study was to investigate the replicability and reliability of the multi-dimensional health assessment questionnaire (MDHAQ) and visual analog scale (VAS) in young and elderly individuals with chronic pain. Ambulatory patients, 20 of them aged above 65 years and complaining about chronic pain and 20 patients with the age of 40 and younger working in a factory were assessed with VAS and MDHAQ. The assessment was repeated to investigate the replicability and reliability of both tests. According to MDHAQ disability index (DI), the elderly had more complains on the first and second day of the study (p < 0.001). In terms of changes between first and second days, DI scores of the elderly group (r = 0.634; p = 0.003) and the younger group (r = 0.888; p < 0.001) had quite similar responses. Criteria for the assessment of pain, fatigue and general condition according to MDHAQ were similar in both groups in terms of changes between first and second day of the study, there was no significant differences between the groups. But while responses in the younger group according to these 3 parameters were highly reliable, the elderly group's responses were reliable only for their last week pain assessment. Both tests were replicable in the elderly group, VAS and MDHAQ were especially applicable for the last time phase of their pain; while fatigue, general health condition and DI indicated diminished reliability in the elderly group, compared to the young group.     

Effects of recombinant interleukin-2 administration on cytotoxic function following high-dose chemo-radiotherapy for hematological malignancy

Activated killer cells, unrestricted by major histocompatibility (MHC) antigens circulate in the peripheral blood of patients who have undergone autologous and allogeneic bone marrow transplant (BMT) and may contribute to the reduced risk of leukemic relapse observed after these procedures. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) in vitro augments this cytotoxicity and used therapeutically might thereby promote the eradication of minimal residual disease. In order to assess whether these effects on cytotoxicity can be reproduced in vivo, we studied changes in number, phenotype, and MHC unrestricted cytotoxicity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from patients with hematologic malignancy receiving IL-2 infusions. Patients with acute myeloid leukemia and multiple myeloma were treated after cytotoxic chemotherapy or autologous BMT. IL-2 infusions produced an initial lymphopenia, followed by a progressive recovery in mononuclear cell numbers and a rebound lymphocytosis after the termination of treatment. This affected all lymphocyte subsets; in particular CD25 (IL-2 receptor) positive cell numbers rose sevenfold. Cells with the ability to kill a natural killer (NK)-resistant, lymphokine activated killer cell (LAK)-sensitive target appeared in the circulation during 16 of 19 infusions and mean LAK activity rose from 5.9% to 15.5% during infusion (E:T ratio, 50:1; P less than .001). During IL-2 infusion, cells present in the peripheral blood inhibited the growth of myeloid leukemia blasts in agar after overnight co-culture. Depletion experiments showed that LAK activity was mediated by cells of both CD3- CD16+ (NK derived) and CD3+ CD16- (T derived) subsets. LAK precursor activity in peripheral blood also significantly increased during IL-2 infusion. Increases in major histocompatibility complex (MHC) unrestricted cytotoxicity can be produced by IL-2 infusions in vivo and may result in improved relapse-free survival following chemotherapy or BMT.