Cutaneous plasmacytosis associated with lung and anal carcinomas

Cutaneous plasmacytosis is a rare disorder characterized by a benign proliferation of mature plasma cells that appears as multiple dark-brown to purplish skin lesions, often associated with polyclonal hypergammaglobulinaemia. We present the case of a 55-year-old Caucasian man who suffered from a cutaneous plasmacytosis associated with two different carcinomas. Cutaneous plasmacytosis seems to be a reactive process because most cases reported are not associated with any apparent underlying disease. Nevertheless, because few reported cases were associated with malignancies, screening of additional neoplasms would be justified.     

Migration of a Kirschner wire from the greater trochanter to the popliteal fossa: a case report

Migration of Kirschner (K) wires from the upper extremity joints has often been reported, but it is less common from the lower extremities. In this report, we describe an 85-year-old man treated, during a hip replacement procedure, with a K-wire because of a trochanteric fracture; after one year, the K-wire was found in the popliteal fossa. This report illustrates the first case of K-wire migration in the popliteal area of the knee and suggests avoiding the use of free K-wires without any tension banding.     

Eledoisin and lacrimal secretion in the rabbit

Eledoisin has been tried as a possible treatment for dry eye based on the hypothesis that it pharmacologically stimulates tear secretion when topically applied to the eye. To determine if topically applied eledoisin pharmacologically stimulates orbital lacrimal secretion, the orbital lacrimal gland excretory duct of normal rabbits was cannulated, and eledoisin was applied topically with and without prior administration of proparacaine. To determine if topically applied eledoisin stimulated accessory lacrimal gland secretion, isotonic buffer with and without eledoisin was tested in a rabbit model with only accessory lacrimal tissue remaining after the administration of proparacaine. Topically applied eledoisin did not pharmacologically stimulate lacrimal secretion but rather increased lacrimal gland secretion only in non-anesthetized eyes through a sensory reflex mechanism that is blocked by proparacaine.     

Non-invasive proportional assist and pressure support ventilation in patients with cystic fibrosis and chronic respiratory failure

BACKGROUND: Patients with advanced cystic fibrosis can benefit from non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) for the treatment of acute decompensation as well as for the management of chronic respiratory failure. This study was undertaken to compare the physiological effects of non-invasive proportional assist ventilation (PAV) and pressure support ventilation (PSV) on ventilatory pattern, transcutaneous blood gas tensions, and diaphragmatic effort in stable patients with cystic fibrosis and chronic CO2 retention. METHODS: In 12 patients two periods of spontaneous breathing were followed randomly by PSV (12 (3) cm H2O) and PAV (flow assist 4.9 (1.3) cm H2O/l.s, volume assist 18.9 (5.1) cm H2O/l) set for the patient's comfort and administered for 40 minutes with 2 cm H2O continuous positive airway pressure. Ventilatory pattern, transcutaneous blood gas tensions, and surface diaphragmatic electromyography were measured in the last 10 minutes of each application. RESULTS: On average, both PSV and PAV improved ventilation (+30%), tidal volume (+30%), and transcutaneous CO2 (-7%) while reducing diaphragmatic activity (-30% with PSV, -20% with PAV). Mean inspiratory airway pressure was lower during PAV than during PSV (9.7 (1.9) and 12.9 (2.7) cm H2O, respectively; p<0.05). The mean coefficient of variation of tidal volume was about 20% (range 11-39%) during spontaneous breathing and did not change with either PAV or PSV. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that short term administration of nasal PAV and PSV to patients with stable cystic fibrosis with chronic respiratory insufficiency is well tolerated, improves ventilation and blood gas tensions, and unloads the diaphragm.     

Endoscopic endonasal removal of an intra-suprasellar Rathke's cleft cyst: case report and surgical considerations.

An endoscopic endonasal approach was performed to remove an intra-suprasellar Rathke's cleft cyst. Rathke's cleft cyst are benign lesions, rarely diagnosed because they are often asymptomatic. To the best of our knowledge, at least 475 cases of Rathke's cleft cysts have been reported. They seem to arise from remnants of Rathke's pouch, an invagination of the stomodeum. A 52-year-old woman, complaining of bilateral frontal headaches, was operated on by using an endoscopic endonasal approach, for an intra-suprasellar tumor. The pre-operative diagnosis was non-functioning pituitary adenoma. Intra-operatively a creamy-coloured viscous tissue was found. After the removal of the cyst contents and of the capsule, the suprasellar structures were seen well. The chiasmatic cistern, the chiasm, the pituitary stalk and the pituitary gland were visualized with 0 and 30 degree endoscopes. The pathological findings showed a well-differentiated cuboidal epithelium. The diagnosis was Rathke's cleft cyst. No post-operative complications were observed. The endoscopic technique was particularly suitable in this case, both for the Rathke's cleft features and for an excellent outcome. The Rathke's cleft cyst was easily removed by suction and the cyst wall was entirely removed with curettes and pituitary punches. The hypophysis was distinguished from the cyst and was preserved. The surgical manoeuvres were all done under direct visual control. The absence of nasal packing and of breathing difficulties made comfortable the post-operative outcome. Thus, the endoscopic endonasal approach can be considered the favourite technique in case of either intra- and/or suprasellar Rathke's cleft cysts.     

Prognosis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: a retrospective multicentric study from the GIMEMA group

Clinical and biological data were evaluated using Desu univariate analyses or Cox multivariate analyses in a series of 1,777 chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients from an Italian Cooperative Group. In univariate analyses, age and sex of patients, presence of bone marrow (BM; greater than or equal to 50%), and peripheral blood (PB; greater than or equal to 60,000/microL) lymphocytosis, anemia (hemoglobin [Hb] less than 11 g/dL), thrombocytopenia (less than 100,000/microL), direct Coombs' test positivity, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, and extent of lymph node involvement were shown to be of significant prognostic value. Multivariate analyses, through a stepwise procedure, showed that the most important prognostic variables are Hb, hepatomegaly, lymph node involvement, PB lymphocytosis, and age and sex of patients. Further covariates would produce an improvement having a nonsignificant P value. Based on the results of multivariate analyses, a four-step staging using the significant variables of the Cox model is proposed.