Laparoscopic partial adrenalectomy in patients with hereditary forms of pheochromocytoma

PURPOSE: Patients with von Hippel-Lindau disease are predisposed to multiple bilateral adrenal pheochromocytoma. In these patients partial adrenalectomy may preserve adrenocortical function and avoid the morbidity associated with medical adrenal replacement. We report our experience with such cases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Laparoscopic partial adrenalectomy was performed in patients with von Hippel-Lindau disease and pheochromocytoma when there was evidence of normal adrenocortical tissue on preoperative imaging or intraoperative examination. Suture ligature or a harmonic scalpel was used to excise the tumors, leaving a 2 to 3 mm. margin of normal tissue. RESULTS: Two patients underwent laparoscopic partial adrenalectomy and 1 laparoscopic bilateral partial adrenalectomy with preservation of normal adrenocortical tissue. Seven pheochromocytomas were removed. Laparoscopic ultrasound was essential for localizing 2 pheochromocytomas that were not visualized by the camera. Median operative time was 324 minutes, blood loss 100 cc and parenteral narcotic requirement 22 mg. morphine equivalents. No patient required hydrocortisone replacement. There has been no pheochromocytoma recurrence during short-term followup. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic partial adrenalectomy is technically feasible in patients with a hereditary form of pheochromocytoma, and may preserve adrenocortical function. Laparoscopic ultrasound was necessary to identify 2 of the 7 pheochromocytomas removed.     

Prevalence of microscopic tumors in normal appearing renal parenchyma of patients with hereditary papillary renal cancer

PURPOSE: We describe the earliest renal lesions associated with hereditary papillary renal cancer and estimate the prevalence of microscopic papillary renal tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Grossly normal tissue was obtained from 12 kidneys during renal surgery in 9 patients with hereditary papillary renal cancer. Tissue was examined microscopically and findings were compared to those previously reported to be associated with von Hippel-Lindau disease and sporadic renal cell carcinoma. RESULTS: A total of 92 microscopic papillary renal cell carcinoma lesions were identified on 46 of 88 slides (53%). No other lesions were identified. All tumors were solid and displayed the basophilic papillary histology characteristic of hereditary papillary renal cancer. Extrapolation of the data predicted the prevalence of 1,100 to 3,400 microscopic papillary tumors in a single kidney in a patient with hereditary papillary renal cancer. CONCLUSIONS: The basophilic papillary histology characteristic of clinically apparent renal tumors in patients with hereditary papillary renal cancer also characterizes the multiple microscopic lesions seen in the kidneys. These findings suggest that the earliest renal tumor in patients with an activating hereditary mutation of the met gene is papillary basophilic renal cancer. The large number of microscopic tumors in patients with hereditary papillary renal cancer was comparable to or greater than that seen in those with von Hippel-Lindau disease.     

The epidemiology of preterm labour—why have advances not equated to reduced incidence?

The major burden of preterm birth is in the developing world, where most of the increasing death and morbidity is secondary to infectious diseases such as malaria, HIV, tuberculosis, bacterial vaginosis and intestinal parasites. In some developing countries, the growth of medical care has outstripped the growth of preventive public health, with an associated increase in iatrogenic preterm births. In developed countries, more than one-third of preterm births are medically indicated because of conditions such as fulminating pre-eclampsia or severe intrauterine growth restriction. Neither of these conditions is currently preventable. One in five preterm births is associated with multiple pregnancy, and these have been greatly increased by assisted reproduction techniques. The use of tocolytics has proved disappointing perhaps because inflammation rather than spontaneous uterine activity is increasingly recognised as the final common pathway. Inappropriate antibiotics used late in pregnancy are ineffective and may have adverse effects. Currently, the most promising interventions are public health related and include reducing the transmission of communicable diseases, improvements in the management of diabetes and reduction in harmful behaviours such as smoking and drug abuse.     

Quantitative proteomic studies in resistance mechanisms of Eimeria tenella against polyether ionophores

Polyether ionophores are widely used to treat and control coccidiosis in chickens. Widespread use of anticoccidials resulted in worldwide resistance. Mechanisms of resistance development and expansion are complex and poorly understood. Relative proteomic quantification using LC-MS/MS was used to compare sensitive reference strains (Ref-1, Ref-2) with putatively resistant and moderately sensitive field strains (FS-R, FS-mS) of Eimeria tenella after isotopic labelling with tandem mass tags (TMT). Ninety-seven proteins were identified, and 25 of them were regulated. Actin was significantly upregulated in resistant strains in comparison with their sensitive counterparts. On the other hand, microneme protein (MIC4) was downregulated in resistant strains. Optimization of labelling E. tenella sporozoites by TMT might identify further proteins that play a role in the obvious complex mechanism leading to resistance against Monensin.     

The Trichotillomania Impact Project in Young Children (TIP-YC): Clinical Characteristics,Comorbidity, Functional Impairment and Treatment Utilization

The aim was to investigate clinical characteristics of young children with a hair pulling problem. Parents/caregivers of young children (0–10 years old) with a hair pulling problem (N = 110) completed an online survey. The majority reported that their child experienced mild to moderate impairment/distress due to hair pulling, and overall clinical characteristics were similar to adult samples, although some differences were noted (e.g., less awareness of pulling). We also compared preschool-aged and school-aged children within the sample. Symptom severity, pleasure during pulling and gender ratio remained stable across the age groups. The preschool-aged children demonstrated less impairment/distress, comorbidity, and treatment seeking; pulled from fewer body areas; and were less likely to be aware of the act or experience tension prior to pulling. In conclusion, clinical characteristics of childhood hair pulling are largely similar to adult/adolescent hair pulling problems, but there are some notable differences, particularly among pre-school aged children.     

From recipe to research: introducing undergraduate students to the nature of science using a hybrid practical course centred on drug discovery for neglected diseases

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Trends in the incidence of basal cell carcinoma by histopathological subtype

Background As a result of the high prevalence, basal cell carcinoma (BCC) causes a significant and expensive health care problem. Objective In this study, we evaluate the proportional increase in BCC by histological subtype over the last two decades. Methods We retrospectively reviewed all primary histological confirmed BCCs diagnosed in the Maastricht University Medical Centre in The Netherlands in the years 1991, 1999 and 2007. Results An annual increase of the number of BCCs of 7% for both genders was shown. The age‐standardized incidence rates for BCC increased between 1991 and 2007 from 54.2 to 162.1 per 100 000 men and from 61.7 to 189.8 per 100 000 women. The proportion of superficial BCC increased significantly from 17.6% to 30.7%. Conclusion The incidence of BCC is continuing to increase this century. The observed shift to the superficial histological subtype, which can be treated non‐surgically, might reduce the workload in the busy dermatologists practice.