The multiform and variable patterns of onset of orofacial granulomatosis

BACKGROUND: The recurrent chronic orofacial swelling caused by orofacial granulomatosis (OFG) can cause significant cosmetic and functional problems but can be prevented if the disease is diagnosed early and promptly treated. Although the enlargement of the lips is described to be the most common presenting complaint, the clinical onset of OFG may be characterized by minor associated mucosal and neurological manifestations, making early diagnosis very difficult or, sometimes, merely presumable. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical manifestations of 19 patients with OFG, who were examined at our institution between 1998 and 2002, in order to determine their initial manifestations and presenting symptoms. RESULTS: A total of 10 patients showed classical recurrent enlargement of the lips (six lower; four upper) as presenting symptom. In the other nine patients, OFG onset was characterized by transient unilateral facial nerve palsy (two cases), intraoral manifestations (two cases), recurrent swelling of the periorbital area (two cases), of the chin (one case), of the zygomatic area (one case), and of the cheeks (one case). CONCLUSION: Our data underlined that OFG onset could be frequently characterized by widely variable, multiform, and temporary clinical findings. Involvement of atypical sites of the orofacial region and presence of single minor manifestations may occur as presenting symptoms, often preceding the development of traditional clinical findings.     

Pneumonia complicating abdominal sepsis: an experimental model of hematogenous contamination of the lung.

Pulmonary infection complicating intra-abdominal sepsis is a major clinical problem. An experimental model for intra-abdominal sepsis was created with implantation of gelatin capsules, containing 3 x 10(8) cfu E. coli strain no. 2554, in the peritoneal cavity of 20 rats (10 animals received and 10 did not receive antibiotic therapy with ceftriaxone) in order to verify the role of the primary site of infection in the pathogenesis of pneumonia. Ten rats were sacrificed to determine the relative pulmonary weight and 10 were submitted to simple laparotomy and insertion of a germ-free capsule (sham-operated group). In this group of animals there was only one death (10%). All the rats that received antibiotic therapy survived until sacrifice while all the rats that did not receive ceftriaxone died, 7 within the 2nd and 3 on the 6th postoperative day. Pneumonia and peritonitis developed only in the animals that did not receive ceftriaxone. Bacteriological findings of material obtained from peritoneal and pleural cavities revealed the same strain of E. coli used for the experiment, suggesting that bacteria involved in the pleuro-pulmonary infections may originate in the primary site of infection and that antibiotic therapy started at the moment of contamination, can prevent this major complication.     

A mild form of captopril-induced pemphigus

We describe a mild form of drug-induced pemphigus in a woman with essential arterial hypertension treated with captopril. Complete recovery was observed three weeks after the therapy had been discontinued.     

A case of unilateral opercular syndrome associated with a subcortical lesion

Summary A patient who developed a unilateral opercular syndrome following a cerebrovascular accident is described. Computed tomography showed that the lesion did not affect the opercular cortex, but involved deep white matter and the head of the caudate nucleus of the left hemisphere. Persistent hypophonia and transient aphasia were associated. Comparison with previous cases is discussed.     

A nationally representative survey of hospital malnutrition: the Italian PIMAI (Project: Iatrogenic MAlnutrition in Italy) study

Aim and methods  Nutrition, unhealthy lifestyles and cancer appear to be strictly related, but few authors have analysed the interest in dietary information of cancer patients and their families. This survey was conducted in the Veneto area (Italy) to investigate the concern of cancer patients and their family members about diet as a health tool before and after diagnosis of cancer. Results  Seven hundred and four questionnaires were collected: 380 from cancer patients and 324 from family members of cancer subjects. Breast cancer (BC) was the most frequent disease for patients (61.8%) as well as families (26.5%). Generally, the importance of having precise diet information after diagnosis is recognised by 40.3% of patients, with significant differences between the various types of cancer: gastric and colon/rectum cancer (GCC) patients were more concerned than BC women about precise information concerning a diet to follow immediately after diagnosis (p = 0.000, ODs = 3.10, CI 1.68–5.71) or during treatments (p = 0.001, ODs = 2.67, CI 1.46–4.89). The nutritional information is supplied to patients in 34% of cases and to relatives in 30.3%, often from non-medical sources. In total healthcare workers (family doctor, oncologist, surgeon, dietician) represented the exclusive source of dietary information for 24.9% of patients and 22.9% of family members. Diet after diagnosis changes in 69.1% of GCC patients and in 39.2% of BC women. Relatives, particularly women, report difficulties preparing patients’ meals in 30.7% of cases, changes in the eating habits of the entire family in 29.9% and discontent connected with patients diet in 13.9%. The concern about proper nutrition after diagnosis increases more in GCC subjects (p < 0.025) when compared to BC subjects and in patients with more recent diagnosis (p < 0.041) when compared with patients with diagnosis >5 years ago, while in family members the interest in diet after diagnosis increases more in women than in men (p < 0.030) without other differences regarding the degree of relationship, type of cancer or diagnosis time. Relatives (92.7%) have more interest in nutritional education than patients (74.9%). Cancer patients <65 years were more interested in educational initiatives concerning nutrition (p = 0.000, ODs = 4.46, CI 2.6–7.4) than older patients (>65 years) and female subjects were more concerned than male patients (p = 0.008, ODs = 2.11, CI 1.2–3.6). Conclusions  The interest in the dietary knowledge and in educational initiatives concerning nutrition is high in cancer patients and their relatives, although it decreases with the age. The poor attention paid to nutrition of cancer patients by various healthcare workers deserves consideration, since the psychophysical wellbeing and perhaps also survival of cancer patients can be improved by correct dietary management, as well as, naturally, by the principal treatments themselves.     

Autologous Unpurged Bone Marrow Transplantation for Acute Non Lymphoblastic Leukemia in First Remission

Forty consecutive adult patients under the age of 50 with acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL) in first complete remission, underwent autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) between March 1984 and April 1990. The conditioning regimen employed included cyclophosphamide and total body irradiation, followed by the administration of unpurged ABMT. The median time from diagnosis to transplant was 7 months (3-15 months), and the median time from complete remission to ABMT was 4 months (range 3-9 months). Twenty-two (51%) patients remain in complete remission 6-81 months (median 24 months) after ABMT.

The causes of death were, recurrent leukemia (11 patients), parenchymal toxicities such as acute respiratory distress syndrome and veno-occlusive disease (3 patients), hemorrhage (2 patients) and infection (2 patients). Eleven patients relapsed after 3-12 months (median 5 months). This study has produced survival data comparable to those of other institutions employing TBI for either allo or autotransplants.