The importance of oral foci of infection in renal transplantation

During the treatment of patients with renal failure or renal transplants the most important consideration is to eliminate sources of infection before and after the treatment. Acute or chronic oral infections or bacteraemias resulting from dental procedures may cause serious complications in these patients who already have lowered host resistance caused by immunosuppressant therapy. In order to determine the latest concepts from some international transplantation centres relating to the importance of and the effect of infective sources in the oral cavity, a survey form was prepared which included several questions related to oral foci of infection and renal transplantations.
Results obtained from 22 centres from 12 countries indicated that the majority of the centres included a dental examination in their routine protocol and required completion of any necessary dental treatment before transplantation. However, full agreement among all these centres on the necessity for dental examination as part of the protocol has not yet been reached.     

Colonic hamartomatous polyposis associated with hypertrophic osteoarthropathy

A 7-year-old girl with an unremarkable family history was admitted with complaints of diarrhea containing mucus and blood, abdominal pain, weight loss and fever for 10 months. Although her symptoms, physical examination and laboratory results were highly suggestive of inflammatory bowel disease, radiologic studies and colonoscopy demonstrated multiple colonic polyps. A bilateral and symmetric lamellar periosteal reaction and osteopenia were present on her extremity radiographs. The chest radiograph and thoracic CT scan were normal. The histologic nature of the polyps was determined as hamartoma. One month after subtotal colectomy, the patient's symptoms resolved and she gained 7kg in weight. The association of generalized juvenile polyposis and hypertrophic osteoarthropathy has previously been described in five cases; arteriovenous malformations were present in four of them. In our case the polyps were hamartomatous and localized in the colon, without associated arteriovenous malformation.     

Primary posterior chest wall echinococcosis

Hydatid cyst is not mentioned among the chest wall tumours in areas not known to harbour echinococcosis. One of the uncommon sites for echinococcosis even in endemic countries is the chest wall. The striking resemblance between neoplasm and hydatid cysts forms a diagnostic dilemma and makes the correct diagnosis essential before surgery.     

Global left-ventricular function by tissue Doppler imaging in pediatric dialysis patients

Cardiovascular abnormalities are observed in most children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The aim of this study was evaluation of left-ventricular (LV) myocardial performance using tissue-Doppler imaging (TDI) in patients with ESRD. Twenty-five patients with ESRD and 25 healthy gender- and age-matched control subjects were assessed with conventional M-mode echocardiography, pulsed-wave Doppler (PWD), and TDI. Myocardial Performance Index (MPI) and LV mass index (LVMI) were calculated. MPI and conventional echo-Doppler indices were compared in the ESRD and control groups. Significant differences were present in the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) between children with ESRD and healthy children (p = 0.007 and p < 0.001, respectively). The mean LVMI was significantly greater in the patient group (p < 0.001). The tissue-Doppler MPI of patients was significantly higher than that in healthy children (p < 0.001). LVMI was significantly correlated with systolic and diastolic BP. MPI obtained by TDI was significantly correlated with LVMI. Our study confirms that LV dysfunction is present in patients with ESRD and hypertension is an important risk factor.     

Three-dimensional facial hard tissue symmetry in a healthy Caucasian population group: a systematic review

Clinical Oral Investigations - The aim of this study was to quantify the symmetry of the facial hard tissue structures using three-dimensional radiographic imaging modalities in a normal Caucasian...