Acute pustulosis of the legs in diverticulitis with sigmoid stenosis: an overlap between bowel-associated dermatosis–arthritis syndrome and pustular pyoderma gangrenosum

BACKGROUND: Bowel-associated dermatosis-arthritis syndrome denotes the occurrence of diarrhoea with arthritis and skin lesions related to bowel disease with or without bowel bypass. In this condition, the histological finding of cutaneous aseptic neutrophilic cell infiltrate is non-specific and common to a wide spectrum of neutrophilic dermatoses, including pyoderma gangrenosum. OBSERVATION: We describe a 78-year-old woman with fever, abdominal discomfort and arthralgias, who developed grouped pustular lesions on her shins with histologically spongiform pustule formation. Aetiological assessment disclosed diverticular disease with sigmoid stenosis. CONCLUSION: Although clinical and histological features in our case fit the diagnosis of bowel-associated dermatosis-arthritis syndrome, they may also correspond to a pustular variant of pyoderma gangrenosum. Our observation raises the question of the nosological classification of bowel-associated dermatosis-arthritis syndrome within the spectrum of neutrophilic diseases.     

Effects of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis serum on cultured chick spinal neurons

We used a quantitative immunoassay to examine the effects of human serum and immunoglobulins on neurofilament protein expression in cultures of chick spinal neurons. Compared with cultures grown in the presence of serum from healthy controls or patients with other neurologic disorders, ALS serum lowered the level of neurofilament proteins. Effects were similar with or without muscle-derived neurotrophic factors; there was no specificity for motor neurons. No neurotoxic activity was found in immunoglobulin fractions, and there was no evidence of circulating antibodies that might neutralize muscle-derived neurotrophic factors or induce cytolysis of spinal neurons.     

Percutaneous transhepatic placement of biliary endoprostheses: results in 100 consecutive patients.

One hundred patients with malignant biliary obstruction underwent palliative therapy by means of percutaneous transhepatic placement of 114 biliary endoprostheses. All patients were then followed up for at least 18 months or until death. Retrospective evaluation of the 95 patients who died showed an average survival time of 5.0 months. The five remaining patients have survived an average of 29.8 months. During the 1st week after stent insertion, a second manipulation was performed to improve stent function in nine patients. Overall, 14 (12.3%) of the stents became obstructed and six (5.2%) migrated; 86 patients required no further therapy for biliary obstruction or stent malfunction. The 30-day mortality rate was 12%; none of the deaths were directly attributable to a complication of the stent placement procedure.     

The roles of gamma-interferon and tumor necrosis factor alpha in an experimental rat model of cancer cachexia

Administration of repetitive sublethal doses of either recombinant human tumor necrosis factor (TNF) or recombinant murine gamma-interferon (IFN) to non-tumor-bearing (NTB) rats caused a significant decline in food intake and body weight. After 3 days rats became resistant to the anorectic and weight loss effects of TNF but maintained persistent diminished food intake and diminished body weight gain while receiving recombinant murine IFN. Passive immunization against recombinant rat gamma-interferon allowed cachectic tumor-bearing (TB) rats to eat more food, have a lesser decline in body weight, live longer, and tolerate larger tumors than similar TB rats given nonspecific control antibody. TB rats treated with an antisera to recombinant murine TNF, which was 100% protective when given to NTB rats 6 h before a lethal endotoxin challenge, did not differ significantly from TB rats treated with control antibody with respect to food intake, body weight, survival, or tumor size. Serum levels of TNF or IFN were not detectable in cachectic tumor-bearing rats. The data indicate that the administration of exogenous IFN can simulate cachexia in NTB rats and that passive immunization against it can partially reverse the cachectic changes associated with cancer and prolong survival. These findings suggest that gamma-interferon may be an important mediator of cachexia in this rat tumor model.     

Time-limited psychiatric hospitalization of children: a model and three-year outcome

Current emphasis on reducing length of hospital stay has stimulated a review of the philosophical, clinical, and administrative approaches to brief psychiatric hospitalization of children. A model of time-limited hospitalization on an eight-bed children's unit was designed to stabilize the patients and triage them back to appropriate levels of community aftercare within 28 days. Clinical and administrative strategies used to facilitate this process included a community-based case manager for each patient, focused clinical intervention, and strong parent involvement. The treatment model was generally successful in meeting the goals of hospitalization. Of 212 admissions over three years, 37 percent of the patients at discharge continued to need complex, multi-modal treatments, and 63 percent were referred for less intensive outpatient care.     

Menorrhagia management options.

A prospective study of the management of menorrhagia in new patients presenting to gynaecological outpatients was undertaken at four centres in Northern Ireland and two in Great Britain. 325 patients were enrolled, the majority of whom (87%) had severe menorrhagia. Patients in all six centres were similar in relation to age, marital status, parity, use of contraception and severity of symptoms. 62% of the patients were managed medically, improved and were discharged. The rates of surgical intervention, in particular in women aged less than 40, appeared higher in the Northern Ireland hospitals than Great Britain. There is a need to review and audit current practices in the management of menorrhagia.