Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus leukoderma treated with melanocyte‐keratinocyte transplantation procedure

Depigmented lesions may occur as postinflammatory sequelae of subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE), leading to great psychosocial impact. A 53‐year‐old male patient presented with post‐SCLE depigmented facial lesions after five years of disease stability. We proposed surgical treatment with melanocyte‐keratinocyte transplantation procedure (MKTP), and after five months the patient achieved 90% repigmentation, without Koebner phenomenon (KP). In theory, KP is a possible complication of MKTP procedure since the preparation of the receptor area involves the use of dermabrasion. In an attempt to avoid it, we suggest to maintain the treatment of the underlying disease and wait for a minimum period of disease stability before the procedure.     

Phenotypic and genetic features of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli isolates from diarrheal children in the Ribeirão Preto metropolitan area,São Paulo State,Brazil

This study was designed to characterize a collection of 60 enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) isolates from diarrheic feces of patients in the Ribeirão Preto metropolitan area regarding different phenotypic and molecular features. We examined antibiotic resistance profiles, occurrence of virulence factors‐encoding genes, intimin subtypes and the correlation of serotypes among typical (tEPEC) and atypical (aEPEC) EPEC isolates. The results demonstrated that atypical EPEC was more heterogeneous than typical EPEC concerning the characteristics investigated and 45.2% do not belong to classical EPEC serogroups. Intimin subtype β was the most frequent among the EPEC isolates (46.7%), being detected in both tEPEC and aEPEC. The majority of aEPEC isolates presented localized adherence‐like (LAL) pattern to HEp‐2 cells, although aEPEC isolates displaying diffuse adherence (DA) or non‐adherent were also detected. High prevalence of antimicrobial resistance was found for ampicillin, cephalothin, sulfonamide and tetracycline. In general, tEPEC isolates were more resistant to the antimicrobials tested than aEPEC isolates.     

Development of metabolic alkalosis after massive transfusion during orthotopic liver transplantation

Five patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation were investigated for changes in acid-base homeostasis secondary to large volume transfusions. All patients developed a transient acidemia during the operative period, followed by alkalemia which persisted into the early postoperative period. The patients received an estimated mean of 750 mEq of citrate, which appeared to cause metabolic alkalosis. The biochemical basis underlying the regulation of citrate metabolism that may have led to the timing, extent, and duration of the subsequent metabolic alkalosis is presented. Finally, the time course for the development of metabolic alkalosis may be a potentially sensitive indicator of early allograft function.     

The Usefulness of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Diagnosis of Anterolateral Impingement of the Ankle

The purpose of this study is to assess the sensitivity and specificity of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of anterolateral impingement of the ankle and to assess the most helpful sequence in making the diagnosis. Twenty-four patients who had undergone ankle arthroscopy were chosen. Twelve patients had arthroscopically documented anterolateral impingement, and 12 patients with no impingement on arthroscopy served as controls. Two musculoskeletal radiologists and an orthopedic surgeon, blinded to the operative diagnosis, retrospectively reviewed selective MRI images in the sagittal, axial, and coronal planes. The sensitivities and specificities were calculated for all 3 reviewers. The Kendall coefficient of concordance was calculated for overall agreement among reviewers. Sensitivities varied from 0.75 to 0.83, whereas specificities varied from 0.75 to 1.00. Using the Fisher exact test of contingency, the sensitivities and specificities showed that all reviewers' interpretations were statistically significant with P = .039, .001, and .012, respectively. The axial images were felt to be most helpful in making the diagnosis. The physicians felt that the sagittal images were helpful in 67%, 83%, and 100%, respectively. MRI is a useful tool that can aid the clinician in the diagnosis of anterolateral impingement of the ankle. T1 sagittal images demonstrating displacement of the normal fat signal anterior to the fibula by scar can be useful and help to confirm the diagnosis.     

142Effects of Low‐Frequency Ultrasound Applied In Vitro to Highly Antibiotic‐Resistant Acinetobacter Isolates Recovered From Soldiers Returning From Iraq

Abstract  Brooke Army Medical Center isolated 25 highly antibiotic‐resistant Acinetobacter ssp . (primarily A. baumannii ) from wounded soldiers returning from Iraq. Concern about effective treatment of these organisms led our institution to begin investigating low‐frequency ultrasound (LFU) as a method of increasing the effectiveness of antibiotics on A.baumannii in wound management. Studies have suggested that LFU applied in conjunction with antibiotics may increase their overall effectiveness. We hypothesize that combining antibiotics with LFU may be an effective method of wound management and that this combination may be synergistic in its overall effect. In this initial work, we wanted to determine if sonocation would have an effect on our organism of interest, A. baumannii . We selected several organisms, both gram positive and gram negative, that have been shown to be killed by sonocation ( E. coli, S. aureus , and S. pyogenes ) and added three highly resistant A. baumannii isolates. Bacterial death was measured by both colony counts after 24 hours of growth and acridine orange staining using a standard protocol.
Colony counts were significantly reduced by sonocation. Furthermore, A.'baumannii colony counts were also greatly reduced by sonocation. Actual cell destruction was also visualized using acridine orange staining. Our data support the assertion that sonocation has an antibacterial effect on some bacteria, including A. baumannii . Our next step is to add antimicrobial agents and determine if their effectiveness can be increased by sonocation.     

Cyclosporine controversies

Cyclosporine is a potent immunosuppressant with low myelotoxicity. It is approved for use to prevent rejection of kidney, liver, and heart transplants, and is being investigated for possible use for suppression of graft-versus-host disease in patients who have received bone marrow transplants. Although cyclosporine is generally thought of as an immunosuppressive agent for use in conjunction with transplantation, there are investigations underway that could result in wider applications.     

Association between inflammation and epithelial damage-restitution processes in allergic airways in vivo

Background Associations between allergen challenge-induced sites of epithelial damage and the distribution of leucocytes and extravasated plasma remain unexplored. Objective To study neutrophils, eosinophils, and fibrinogen at allergen challenge-induced patchy epithelial damage-restitution sites in guinea-pig trachea. Methods After local challenge tracheal tissue (cryo sections and whole-mounts) and lumen (selective tracheal lavage) were examined at 1, 5, and 24 h. Eosinophils, neutrophils and fibrinogen were identified by histochemistry. Results Neutrophils increased markedly in tracheal lavage fluids and in tissue and were strongly associated with the challenge-induced epithelial craters of damage-restitution. At 1 and 24 h eosinophils were increased in the tracheal lumen whereas the surrounding tissue displayed a reversed pattern. Gels rich in fibrinogen, neutrophils, and eosinophils were present in epithelial crater areas, protruding into the lumen. Clusters of free eosinophil granules, Cfegs, released through lysis of eosinophils, and neutrophils with long cytoplasmatic protrusions abounded in these crater areas. Conclusions The present findings provide important new insights into allergic airways where sites of epithelial damage-restitution processes emerge as the major loci for eosinophil, neutrophil, and plasma protein activities, the latter likely causing leukocyte adhesion and activation in vivo. The disttibution of eosinophils in this study suggests roles of these cells both in airway mucosa and in regional lymph nodes. Based on the present study we also propose that lysis of eosinophils and Cfegs generation are a major paradigm for activation of these cells in vivo.     

鞍区肿瘤术后中枢性低钠血症的诊断和治疗

目的:探讨鞍区肿瘤术后中枢性低钠血症的诊断及处理方法。方法:对我科近四年鞍区肿瘤术后并发中枢性低钠血症的58例患者进行回顾性分析,术前、手术当日及术后每日定时检测血钠,观察尿量变化,测定中心静脉压,确定低钠血症的类型并给予相应的处理。结果:56例恢复正常,1例死于严重肺部感染,1例自动出院。结论:鞍区肿瘤易出现抗利尿激素分泌不当综合症和脑性耗盐综合症两种类型。前者需限水治疗,后者应予以充分补钠、补水,根据水、钠检测水平治疗。