Lucio phenomenon mimicking antiphospholipid syndrome: The occurrence of antiphospholipid antibodies in a leprosy patient

Lucio phenomenon is an atypical reaction of leprosy, characterized by vasculitic lesions that can mimic antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) clinically. Distinguishing the two can be difficult as antiphospholipid autoantibodies may be present in patients with leprosy. We report on a 32‐year‐old female patient presenting with a sudden onset of fever, hemorrhagic bullae, and skin necrosis on her lower legs. She was treated for APS due to the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies but had an inadequate response. A skin biopsy revealed thrombotic vasculopathy and necrotizing vasculitis associated with aggregation of foam cells in the perivascular area and subcutis, with acid‐fast bacilli in the histiocytes and blood vessel walls. Direct immunofluorescence showed IgM, C3, and fibrinogen deposition in the superficial and deep dermal blood vessels. The pathology confirmed the diagnosis of Lucio phenomenon, and appropriate therapy was given. It is essential to evaluate the patient comprehensively, including clinical, serological, and pathological aspects, to obtain the correct diagnosis.     

Elimination of antibiotic-resistant plasmids by quinolone antibiotics

Of 7 plasmids we tested, the plasmid pORF2 was eliminated in vitro with the most efficiency by treatment with subinhibitory concentrations of novobiocin, coumermycin and 10 quinolones. It showed a cure rate of 43% by enoxacin; 12% by novobiocin, pefloxacin, ciprofloxacin and CI-934; 7% by coumermycin and ofloxacin; 9% by amifloxacin; and 4% by AM-833. On the other hand, pSC194, pBR322 and pMH612 were poorly cured in vitro by quinolones, except pSC194 which was cured 33% by enoxacin. R1, pP1603, and pUB110 were unaffected by the treatment. Mice were challenged intraperitoneally with a 2XLD50 of Escherichia coli carrying the ORF2 plasmid and were treated per os with 1 X or 1/2 X ED50 of either enoxacin or CI-934. The frequency of loss of ampicillin resistance determined 3 h after treatment shows curing effects of 92% for CI-934, 89% for enoxacin and 20% for untreated control.     

The Resource-Based Relative Value Scale. Toward the development of an alternative physician payment system

This article describes the design and methods of a study currently under way to develop a Resource-Based Relative Value Scale (RBRVS); an alternative basis for establishing the payment rate for the services and procedures (S/Ps) of physicians in medical and surgical specialties. Physician resource inputs to be measured include (1) S/P time, (2) pre-S/P and post-S/P times, (3) intensity, (4) practice costs, including malpractice premiums, and (5) the cost of specialty training. These five factors will be combined to produce an RBRVS denominated in nonmonetary units. In the initial phase of the study, data on time and intensity will be obtained through a national survey of physicians who perform these S/Ps. In the second, consensus phase of the project, the investigators will convene a panel of representatives of the medical profession, third-party payers, consumers, and other interested parties to examine areas of agreement and disagreement as to how an RBRVS should be used for policy purposes. The final results of this study are expected by the summer of 1988.     

Giant arachnoid granulation mimicking dural sinus thrombosis in a boy with headache: MRI

We report MRI and angiographic findings of an unusual giant arachnoid granulation in the left sigmoid sinus in a boy with headache. Its signal intensity was lower than that of cerebral cortex on T1-weighted images and higher on T2 weighting, mimicking dural sinus thrombosis. Received: 17 February 1997 Accepted: 17 February 1997     

Isolation and characterization of marine luminous bacteria from shallow coastal waters of Taiwan.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Marine luminous bacteria were isolated and identified from samples in shallow coastal waters of Taiwan during the relatively warm seasons. METHODS: Identification of the luminous isolates was performed based on differences of phenotypic and genotypic characteristics together with data from phylogenetic analysis. RESULTS: Twenty seven strains of marine luminous bacteria were isolated. They were divided into five types based on differences of phenotypic characteristics. However, they could be clustered into only two genotypes according to the analysis of restriction patterns of polymerase chain reaction-amplified 16S rRNA genes digested with various restriction enzymes. The characterization data together with the 16S rRNA gene-based phylogenetic analysis revealed that the isolates included in phenotype I (seven isolates) could be Photobacterium leiognathi, and those included in phenotypes II-V (twenty isolates) might be classified as Vibrio harveyi. However, phylogeny based on gyrB sequences indicated that phenotypes II-V could be classified into two species, V. harveyi and Vibrio campbellii. CONCLUSION: Culturable luminous bacteria in the shallow coastal waters of Taiwan during the sampling period are dominated by V. harveyi/campbellii and P. leiognathi, and the former species appeared to be more prevalent and numerous than the latter species in general.     

Molecular genetics and transgenic model of Gertsmann-Str?ussler-Scheinker disease.

Gerstmann-Str?ussler-Scheinker disease (GSS) is a rare, dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disease that can sometimes be transmitted to experimental animals through intracerebral inoculation of brain homogenates from patients. Substitution of leucine for proline at codon 102 of the prion protein gene has been found in several families with the disease; this mutation is genetically linked to GSS. Mice containing murine prion protein transgenes with this mutation spontaneously develop neurologic symptoms of ataxia, lethargy, and rigidity accompanied by spongiform degeneration throughout the brain. Thus, many of the clinical and pathological features of the GSS have been reproduced in this transgenic mouse paradigm; to our knowledge, this study illustrates, for the first time, that a neurodegenerative process similar to a human disease can be genetically modeled in animals. Whether or not this transgenic mouse model of GSS may facilitate the understanding of common neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer disease remains to be established.     

Propionic acidemia: report of a case that is successfully managed by peritoneal dialysis and sodium benzoate therapy

Propionic acidemia is a rare hereditary disease which is an autosomal recessive disorder. Defect of propionyl CoA carboxylase results in abnormal accumulation of propionate and its metabolites which interfere the pathway of glycine cleavage and the urea cycle. This organic acidemia is characterized by a wide spectrum of clinical and biochemical findings, including recurrent vomiting, difficult feeding, lethargy, hypotonia, metabolic ketoacidosis, hyperglycinemia and hyperammonemia during the acute episodes. We present a male newborn infant who sustained this disorder and was managed successfully with blood exchange transfusion, peritoneal dialysis, supplemented with sodium benzoate and sodium bicarbonate therapy. Urine gas chromatography disclosed significant elevation of propionate and its metabolites which subsided 2 days after peritoneal dialysis. Special designed formula was then given with restriction of protein intake and supplement with sodium benzoate and sodium carbonate. Prenatal genetic counseling is necessary in further pregnancy. Diagnosis can be obtained when propionyl CoA carboxylase activity is low in cultured amniotic fluid cells or chorion villi sample or when there is abnormally high methylcitrate level in amniotic fluid.     

Results of the tension-free vaginal tape procedure for stress incontinence: Patient''s perspective

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the results of the tension-free vaginal tape procedure (TVT) from a patient's perspective. METHODS: Between May 1999 and January 2002, 90 patients underwent a TVT for genuine stress incontinence (GSI) and mixed incontinence. Prior to the procedure, GSI was confirmed by clinical examination and urodynamic studies. Results were then audited from patient notes and the same patients were sent questionnaires to examine results from a patient perspective. RESULTS: Overall response rate to the questionnaire was 70 (77%). The mean age of the patients was 50.4 years (range 31-83 years). Sixty-one patients had spinal anesthesia, seven had general anesthesia and two had local anesthesia. Mean hospital stay was 3.36 days (range 2-14 days) and mean period from the operation to the time of the survey and audit was 16.34 months (range 3-28; SD 6.92). Thirty-nine (56%) of the 70 patients who answered said that the operation had cured their incontinence, 16 (23%) had an improvement in their symptoms, 7 (10%) had worsening of their symptoms and 8 (11%) felt that the operation did not make any difference. The overall success rate according to the patients' perspective was 79%, whereas our audit showed an overall success rate of 86% (77% and 82%, respectively, when we compared only the 66 patients who had both notes and replies available for analysis). CONCLUSION: Although a patient's perception regarding the success of TVT tends to differ from that of a clinician, it was not found to be statistically significant (P = 0.22, McNemar test). The TVT is a very successful operation, but realistic cure rates should be offered to patients.     

Resource-based relative values for invasive procedures performed by eight surgical specialties

We surveyed approximately 850 physicians in eight surgical specialties to investigate physicians' work in performing invasive services. Building on our analysis of physician work, we developed a relative value scale of physicians' services based on resource costs. First, we found that physician charges are not set in proportion to the resources required to perform a given procedure: there is a threefold variation, across hospital-based invasive procedures, in the ratio of charges to resource-based relative values. Second, for most procedures, the preoperative and postoperative periods represent 60% to 75% of a physician's total service time, but only 35% to 50% of the total service work. Lastly, intraoperative work per unit of time varies greatly. Work per minute for invasive procedures is two to three times that of medical office visits and is strikingly greater for some specialties. The Resource-Based Relative Value Scale, at a minimum, represents a useful tool for payers to identify procedures with potentially aberrant charges and also offers unique insights into the nature of physicians' work.     

Hodgkin disease: CT of the thymus

The computed tomography (CT) scans in two groups of patients with Hodgkin disease were reviewed to determine the frequency of thymic enlargement. In 50 CT scans from 50 patients with evidence of thoracic disease on CT scans who were examined for primary staging, the thymus was enlarged in 15 of 50 (30%). Fifty CT scans were obtained from 44 patients at the time of 50 separate episodes of known or suspected relapse. Relapse occurred in the mediastinum in 12 episodes, lung parenchyma in five, and both sites in one. Thymic enlargement thought to be due to involvement by disease was present in seven of 18 (38%). Mediastinal disease was associated with thymic enlargement in all but one patient in whom a thymic cyst developed after radiation therapy. Differentiation of thymic enlargement from enlarged superior mediastinal lymph nodes was easily made in all but two patients. Thymic enlargement in the absence of lymph node enlargement may indicate a different disease, since isolated Hodgkin disease of the thymus is uncommon. Primary thymic tumor should be considered initially, whereas after treatment, rebound hyperplasia of the thymus may be the cause of enlargement.