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.     

A five-year prospective follow-up of women with non-obstructive pyelonephritic renal scarring

Fifty women with pyelonephritic renal scarring were prospectively followed for five years and the changes in renal function were related to blood pressure control, plasma renin activity, urinary albumin excretion and the incidence of urinary tract infections (UTI). Five patients (10%) developed end stage renal disease. All these patients had bilateral disease, proteinuria and anti-hypertensive treatment at presentation. The mean +/- SD glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of all patients with renal scarring was 74 +/- 27 ml/min x 1.73 m2 at presentation which was significantly lower than the GFR in 55 patients with a recent episode of acute pyelonephritis (p less than 0.001) and 10 healthy controls (p less than 0.001). GFR and age corrected GFR decreased significantly during follow-up (p less than 0.001) and p less than 0.02 respectively). The decrease in GFR was significantly higher in patients with bilateral scarring, in patients on blood pressure treatment and in patients with an episode of symptomatic UTI during follow-up. Eight patients (16%) had antihypertensive treatment at presentation and another 11 patients (26%), of whom 10 had bilateral scarring, developed hypertension (greater than 140/90 mmHg) during follow-up. Seventy-five per cent of all patients had symptomatic UTI and 40% had an episode of acute pyelonephritis during follow-up. In conclusion, patients with pyelonephritic scarring have a high incidence of UTI and are at high risk of developing renal failure and hypertension. It is essential that recurrent episodes of symptomatic UTI are treated promptly and that blood pressure is monitored carefully in these patients.     

Therapeutic Options for Chronic Hepatitis B: Considerations and Controversies

Five agents are currently approved for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B infection. This article will discuss the three agents for which the most extensive data are available; interferon (IFN), lamivudine, and adefovir, while the following article by Dr. Jules Dienstag will discuss the recently marketed agents, entecavir and peginterferon alfa-2a. The advantages of IFN are its finite duration of therapy (4–6 months), lack of emergence of resistance, and durability of response. On the negative side, response to IFN is less durable in patients with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV). Also, use of IFN is limited by adverse effects and the mode of administration (daily to thrice-weekly subcutaneous injection). Lamivudine and adefovir are orally administered and have good tolerability and safety. Even in patients who experience a marked decrease in serum HBV DNA and loss of HBeAg, oral therapy needs to be continued for at least 6 months, to avoid the risk of reappearance of HBeAg and viremia. Rates of HBeAg seroconversion to anti-HBe-positivity increase with duration of lamivudine or adefovir therapy. The likelihood of development of resistance to lamivudine and associated viral breakthrough limits its long-term use. In patients with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B, long-term therapy is usually required, as off-treatment relapse is common. The emergence of resistance to adefovir is delayed and infrequent, hence adefovir may be preferred in patients requiring long-term therapy.     

Präparatorische Iridectomie und antiseptische Behandlung

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Thermal and cold neutron phase-contrast radiography.

In this paper, we will discuss a phase-contrast imaging method that avoids the complications of interferometry to provide phase contrast in weakly absorbing samples. A transversely coherent neutron beam is used with the traditional radiography scheme. Images taken with this scheme show dramatic intensity variations due to sharp changes in the neutron wave refractive index. With some numerical processing these images may be used to reconstruct a quantitative phase radiograph of specimens imaged with this technique.     

Synthesis, phencyclidine-like pharmacology, and antiischemic potential of meta-substituted 1-(1-phenylcyclohexyl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridines

A series of 1-[1-arylcyclohexyl]-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridines were prepared by the reaction between 1-(1-cyanocyclohexyl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (1) and an appropriately substituted Grignard reagent. The resulting compounds were tested for their phencyclidine binding site affinities. Selected compounds were then tested for their ability to produce ketamine appropriate responding in monkeys and/or to show neuroprotective effects in a baby rat hypoxia/ischemia model. While it was found that binding site affinity correlated well with discriminative stimulus effects, it was found to be a poor indicator of neuroprotective efficacy within this series.