Intralesional corticosteroid therapy in proliferating head and neck hemangiomas: a review of 155 cases

PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to review the effect of intralesional corticosteroid therapy in the treatment of 155 head and neck hemangiomas. METHODS: In the past 10 years, we have treated 155 proliferating head and neck hemangiomas with intralesional corticosteroid injections. Three to 6 injections of triamcinolone acetonide (10 mg/mL) in monthly intervals were given. Using slides and chart review, the results were assessed 1 month after completion of the treatment. RESULTS: Eighty-five percent of the lesions showed greater than 50% reduction in volume. Varied treatment response was noted in different classes of hemangioma. Eighty percent of the superficial, 75% of the deep, and 60% of the combined hemangiomas show more than 50% reduction in volume. Further growth was not found after treatment. The postinjection complication rate was 6.4% in this series. There were 2 patients with cushingoid appearance, 5 with cutaneous atrophy, and 3 suffered from anaphylactic shock. We found that lesions showing less than 50% reduction in volume were located mostly in the perioral area. CONCLUSIONS: Intralesional corticosteroid injections are safe and effective in arresting hemangioma proliferation. Superficial hemangiomas yield the best results.     

促红细胞生成素在子宫内膜异位症组织的表达

目的探讨促红细胞生成素(Epo)在子宫内膜异位症(EMs)发生中的病理生理作用及其临床意义。方法应用免疫组织化学SABC法、mRNA原位杂交法检测39例子宫内膜异位症的异位内膜及35例正常子宫内膜Epo的组织定位和表达强度,并对比其差异。结果Epo、EpomRNA的表达主要定位于腺体细胞胞质、胞核,间质细胞表达不明显。异位内膜组织Epo、EpomRNA表达分别为9.68±2.90,3.08±0.48,明显高于正常对照的4.54±2.86,0.55±0.46,差异有高度显著性(P<0.01);Epo、EpoRNA在EMs组、正常对照组的增殖期和分泌期表达相比,差异均无显著性(P>0.05);EMs组EpomRNA与AFS分期呈正相关(r=0.979,P=0.013)。结论Epo通过旁分泌或自分泌方式过度转录表达引起的局部新生血管生成增强可能是子宫内膜异位症发生的机制之一。     

激素和静脉丙球对急性ITP血小板参数的影响及临床意义

目的 　探讨静脉丙种球蛋白 (IVIg)和地塞米松 (DEX)对急性原发性血小板减少性紫癜 (ITP)血小板参数的影响及临床意义。方法 　将 6 0例急性ITP患儿随机分为DEX组和DI(DEX +IVIg)组。观察两组的平均止血时间 ;测定治疗前、后血小板计数 (PLT)、血小板压积 (PCT)、平均血小板体积 (MPV)和血小板体积分布宽度 (PDW)值的变化。结果 　DI组平均止血时间 ( 3 2± 1 1d)较DEX组平均止血时间 ( 5 4± 1 3d)明显缩短 (P <0 0 1 ) ,血小板上升速度明显增快。治疗后DEX组和DI组PLT和PCT值均逐渐升高 ,MPV和PDW值逐渐下降。但DI组PLT、PCT、MPV、PDW值变化更为显著 ,分别与DEX组比较 ,差异均有统计学意义 (P <0 0 1 )。结论 　IVIg联合DEX治疗急性ITP的疗效明显优于单用DEX ;血小板的四项参数可作为判定急性ITP病情严重程度和评价疗效的参考指标之一。     

Risk factors for wound infection after cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Surgical site infection (SSI) after cholecystectomy is a common problem. The aim of this study was to identify the possible risk factors for the development of SSI. METHODS: 545 consecutive patients who received open (125) or laparoscopic (420) cholecystectomy due to gallbladder disease during the years 1998 to 2000 were included in the study. Potential risk factors including clinical features, biochemical data, and operative types were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The overall incidence of SSI was 4.4% (24/545). The wound complication rate was significantly lower in the laparoscopic group than in the open group (1.4% vs 14.4%, respectively). Factors associated with SSI found by univariate analysis (p < 0.05) included age, gender, acute cholecystitis, white blood cell count, serum albumin, blood glucose and bilirubin level, type of surgery, operative time and positive bile culture. Stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that abnormal blood glucose [odds ratio (OR), 4.7; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.6 to 13.5], positive bile culture (OR, 3.5; 95% CI, 1.2 to 10.4), and open cholecystectomy (OR, 4.3; 95% CI, 1.3 to 13.6) were the most significant predictors of SSI. CONCLUSION: Poor control of diabetes mellitus before surgery, positive bile culture and open cholecystectomy significantly increased the rate of SSI. These findings indicate that better control of diabetes mellitus, and appropriate selection of surgical procedure and antibiotic regimen in the management of high-risk patients may reduce the incidence of postoperative SSI.     

Characteristics and trends in incidence of inflammatory bowel disease in Taiwanese children.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Although chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is rare in Asian children, increasing numbers of pediatric patients with chronic IBD worldwide have been noted in recent years. This study was conducted to delineate the trend in incidence and clinical patterns of childhood IBD in Taiwan. METHODS: All children admitted to National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH) between 1979 and 2000 who met the criteria for IBD, Crohn's disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC), probable CD (PCD), or indeterminate colitis were included. The clinical features and outcomes were analyzed retrospectively. Incidence was calculated using cases of chronic diarrhea during the same period of time as the risk population. RESULTS: IBD was diagnosed in 17 children (9 females and 8 males, aged 2 months to 18 years) during the study period. Six (35%) of these children had UC, 9 (53%) had CD, and 2 (12%) had PCD. The cumulative incidence of CD during 1979-1995 was 0.85%, and increased to 2.6% during 1996-2000 (p < 0.001), while the incidence of UC did not change significantly between these periods (from 0.85% to 0.99%, p = 0.16). The median interval from onset to diagnosis was 7.7 months. Eighty percent of patients had moderate to severe disease activity at diagnosis. The follow-up duration ranged from less than 1 year to 20 years, with a mean of 4.3 years. Two patients were lost to follow-up. Eighty six percent of patients responded to treatment, and 80% of patients had inactive to mild disease activity when re-evaluated at the end of 2000. CONCLUSION: There has been a marked recent increase in the incidence of childhood CD in Taiwan but the rate of childhood UC has remained unchanged. Eighty percent of cases of childhood IBD responded well to treatment.     

Disseminated tuberculosis presenting as multiple hepatosplenic microabscesses and pancytopenia in a teenage boy.

Disseminated tuberculosis usually occurs in immunocompromised hosts. Involvement of bone marrow, liver, and spleen is infrequent. A previously healthy 15-year-old boy presented with body weight loss, prolonged fever, neck lymphadenopathy, pancytopenia, and hepatosplenic microabscesses within the recent month and was transferred to our hospital. Bone marrow studies showed hypocellular marrow. Based on his clinical manifestations, hemophagocytic syndrome was initially suspected. Pancytopenia resolved after administration of intravenous immunoglobulin but caseous necrosis and/or positive acid-fast stain were subsequently demonstrated in the lymph node biopsy and sputum. Cultures from these 2 specimens grew Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Fever continued in a low-grade pattern even under antituberculous therapy with rifampin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide and ethambutol. Five months after admission, fever subsided after splenectomy and liver wedge resection. Microscopic examinations of both the liver and spleen showed mycobacteria-related granulomatous inflammation and caseating necrosis. This report suggests that tuberculosis infection should be considered in the differential diagnosis in patients with prolonged fever, pancytopenia and hepatosplenic abscesses.     

Percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy under ultrasound guidance for small hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy (PMCT) can effectively treat hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) smaller than 2 cm. However, for tumors 2 to 3 cm in size, combination of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) or multiple insertions of electrodes may be more effective. This study investigated the treatment efficacy of PMCT for tumors 2 to 3 cm in size. METHODS: Nineteen HCCs smaller than 3 cm in diameter (< 2 cm in 11, and 2-3 cm in 8) in 18 patients (including 14 previously treated patients) were treated by PMCT under ultrasound guidance. One or 2 PMCT electrodes were consecutively inserted either into the left and right portion, or into the distal and proximal portion of the tumor, according to the size, shape, and margin of tumors and puncture direction. Liver function tests and contrast-enhanced computed tomography were used to examine preoperative status and response to PMCT. RESULTS: After an average of 1.6 emissions of PMCT, 18 tumors (95%) were completely ablated. The only case of treatment failure was due to a tumor location which made the approach of the electrode difficult. Bacteremia developed after the procedure in 1 patient (5%) and local inflammatory reaction of the puncture wound in another (5%). During follow-up ranging from 5 to 19 months, no recurrence was noted at the site of the original tumors. Tumor recurrence was detected at another site 2-9 months after PMCT in 9 of the 14 previously treated patients. CONCLUSION: PMCT can effectively and safely treat HCCs smaller than 3 cm in size without combination of TACE or multiple insertions of electrodes.     

Natural Course of Silicosis in Dust-exposed Workers

Silica-containing dust and silicosis have beenattracting more and more attention with numerousresearches worldwide[1 ,2], especially in China .However ,few studies have been conducted con-cerning the criteria of the period and content ofmedical examination of health surveillance for dust-exposed workers[3]. Since 1986 an epidemiologicalstudy onthe relation of silica dust exposure ,silico-sis and lung cancer was jointly made by TongjiMedical College , US National Cancer Institute andthe US …     

Brief Introduction to Digital Acupoint Pressure Therapy

The Concept of Digital Acupoint Pressure Therapy The digital acupoint pressure therapy means that according to different diseases and the illness condition, the physician strikes, presses or taps the acupoints with hands on the patient＇s body surface to promote the circulation of qi and blood, thus making dysfunctions of certain organs or the affected areas return to normal.