Molecular evidence for the existence of disseminated zoster as a distinct entity in an immunosuppressed renal transplant patient

Immunosuppressed renal transplant recipients are at substantially increased risk for the developement of varicella zoster virus infections. They are also more prone than immunocompetent patients to develop atypical zoster and to experience a protracted course, and among them there is a higher frequency of generalized infections with possible fatal outcome. While establishing the diagnosis is essential to provide adequate therapy, conventional laboratory methods frequently fail to confirm the suspected infection. We report on a 47-year-old renal transplant recipient who developed multiple necrotic cutaneous ulcers under immunosuppressive treatment. While electron-microscopic analysis (negative staining) revealed no viral structures, varicella zoster virus specific DNA was detected by polymerase chain re-action in material obtained by a swab from these ulcers. Atypical herpetic infection should also be considered as a cause of disseminated ulcerative or necrotic skin lesions in immunosuppressed patients. Assays based on polymerase chain reaction are useful for the rapid confirmation or rejection of the suspected diagnosis of atypical herpetic infection.Abbreviations PCR Polymerase chain reaction - VZV Varicella zoster virus - HSV Herpes simplex virus     

Treatment of leiomyomatosis peritonealis disseminata with goserelin acetate: A case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUNDLeiomyomatosis peritonealis disseminata (LPD) is a rare condition characterized by multiple pelvic and abdominal nodules, which are composed of smooth-muscle cells. To date, no more than 200 cases have been reported. The diagnosis of LPD is difficult and there are no guidelines on the treatment of LPD. Currently, surgical excision is the mainstay. However, hormone blockade therapy can be an alternative choice.CASE SUMMARYA 33-year-old female patient with abdominal discomfort and palpable abdominal masses was admitted to our hospital. She had undergone four surgeries related to uterine leiomyoma in the past 8 years. Computed tomography revealed multiple nodules scattered within the abdominal wall and peritoneal cavity. Her symptoms and the result of the core-needle biopsy were consistent with LPD. The patient refused surgery and was then treated with tamoxifen, ulipristal acetate (a selective progesterone receptor modulator), and goserelin acetate (a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist). Both tamoxifen and ulipristal acetate were not effective in controlling the disease progression. However, the patient achieved an excellent response when goserelin acetate was attempted with relieved syndromes and obvious shrinkage of nodules. The largest nodule showed a 25% decrease in the sum of the longest diameters from pretreatment to posttreatment. Up to now, 2 years have elapsed and the patient remains asymptomatic and there is no development of further nodules.CONCLUSIONGoserelin acetate is effective for the management of LPD. The long-term use of goserelin acetate is thought to be safe and effective. Hormone blockade therapy can replace repeated surgical excision in recurrent patients.     

临床医师对新型冠状病毒肺炎患者凝血相关事件认知的调查

目的评估疫情初期一线医师对新型冠状病毒肺炎（COVID-19）患者凝血相关事件的认知情况。 方法通过网络调查问卷进行数据收集,分别对受访者一般情况、凝血系统的关注与评估,以及深静脉血栓（DVT）和急性肺栓塞（APE）的评估、诊断和治疗情况进行统计分析。 结果在回收的70份调查问卷中,所有受访者均认为关注COVID-19患者的凝血系统改变是非常必要的,且大多数受访者认为危重型和重型患者应常规进行凝血指标的检测,分别为100.00%、92.86%。75.71%的受访者进行了弥散性血管内凝血（DIC）评分,其中大部分受访者倾向应用2017中国DIC评分标准（34.29%）。大多数受访者所收治的COVID-19患者DVT和APE发生率均＜5%,分别为84.29%、82.86%。分别有92.86%和82.86%的受访者进行了DVT的评估、筛查,大多数受访者更易选择机械联合药物的方式预防DVT（60.00%）,应用最多的预防药物是低分子量肝素（54.29%）。 结论临床医师已经注意到监测COVID-19患者的凝血系统变化是非常重要的,并且对于DVT和APE的评估与治疗相对规范。多数受访者所收治的患者DVT和APE的发生率很低,但大家对DIC诊断标准的选择差异很大。D-二聚体对于评估凝血系统改变是一项非常重要的指标,但纤溶过程在感染性疾病凝血功能障碍中的作用应重新审视。     

联合应用冰冻单采血小板与冷沉淀治疗弥散性血管内凝血

目的研究冰冻单采血小板与冷沉淀联合应用(冰冻联合组)治疗弥散性血管内凝血(DIC)的效果。方法将41例DIC患者随机分成两组：24例为冰冻联合组,17例为联合应用新鲜单采血小板和冷沉淀(新鲜联合组)。测定两组患者输前1 h和输后2 h指标：①凝血酶时间(TT)；②活化部分凝血活酶时间(APTT)；③凝血酶原时间(PT)；④纤维蛋白原(Fbg)；⑤血小板(PLT)；⑥统计比较两组输后24 h内续用悬浮红细胞量。结果冰冻联合组与新鲜联合组输后2 h比较：TT、PT、APTT及Fbg差异无统计学意义(P＞0．05),PLT显著减少(P＜0．05),24 h内人均续用红细胞量显著减少(P＜0．05)。结论冰冻单采血小板和冷沉淀联合应用治疗DIC具有更佳的止血疗效。     

Multiple osseous involvements in a case of disseminated cryptococcosis

Osseous involvement occurs in 5–10% of patients with disseminated cryptococcosis. We are reporting an unusual case of disseminated cryptococcosis involving the sternum and lumbar vertebra with the formation of psoas abscess with pulmonary tuberculosis. The patient presented with fever for 3 months. A diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis was made on thoracic contrast-enhanced computerized tomography and she was put on antituberculosis treatment. She was immunocompetent with negative human immunodeficiency virus. She conceived subsequently and had complaints of backache and swelling over the sternum. Magnetic resonance imaging showed destruction of L5 vertebra with psoas abscess. Vertebral cryptococcosis may mimic tuberculosis and malignancy. She had a bad obstetric history and experienced five, first-trimester spontaneous abortions in each successive year since 2001. This pregnancy again resulted in spontaneous abortion. Cryptococcus neoformans was isolated from two different sites: pus-involving the sternum and ultrasound-guided psoas abscess aspirate. Serum latex agglutination test for cryptococcal capsular polysaccharide antigen was positive. The diagnosis of cryptococcosis was delayed because the patient was diagnosed as a case of pulmonary tuberculosis, wherein clinical signs, symptoms and radiological findings in both the conditions are similar. Amphotericin B was started but she developed varicella infection and expired due to cardiac failure.     

乳腺癌播散肿瘤细胞检测的临床应用

乳腺癌作为一种全身性疾病,在其病程早期即可检测出播散肿瘤细胞(DTC)。近年随着检测技术的发展成熟,检测敏感性、特异性均有所提高。该检测对于评价患者个体化疗效、指导临床分期、判断患者预后等方面均有着重要价值。     

Anticoagulant therapy by continuous heparin-abtithrombin III infusion in newborns with disseminated intravascular coagulation

In ten newborns with severe alteration of the coagulation system due to DIC, AT III concentrate was infused continuously after prior activation with heparin. The rise in AT III activity showed a great variability among the infants and for one child during the course of the therapy. The mean rise of AT III activity by 40 U/kg per day heparin was 8.7%. If AT III concentrate (40 U/kg per day) was activated with 200 U/kg per day heparin, excessive anticoagulatory effect was only observed in one child. In four children who had failed to respond to prior heparin therapy, improvement of the coagulation status was achieved within 2 days.Abbreviations DIC disseminated intravascular coagulation - AT III antithrombin III