Osteoid osteoma multifocally located and recurrent in the carpus

The authors report a case of osteoid osteoma located simultaneously at the right carpitate and at the proximal part of the right third metacarpian. A 31-year-old man presented in 1997 an osteoid osteoma involving the right capitate. One year after the surgical excision of the tumor, a second osteoid osteoma reappears to the same place requiring a 2nd intervention. A 3rd osteoid osteoma was discovered 16 months later at the proximal part of the right third metacarpian. After every excision, the pathological aspect was compatible with a nidus of osteoid osteoma. Osteoid osteoma of capitate are very rare. Multifocal forms are exceptional. If relapses of the tumor are sometimes explained by the incomplete excision of the nidus, the pathogenesis of the true recurrence remains unclear.     

Lead-related gout. A case report

Gout secondary to lead-induced nephropathy is a long-term complication of occupational lead exposure. We report a case of this now-rare condition. The patient was a 63-year-old man who had been a miner from 1950 to 1970. Thirty years after cessation of his exposure to lead, he experienced onset of inflammatory symmetric polyarthritis with joint deformities. Hyperuricemia, moderately severe renal failure, and tubular acidosis were found, indicating gouty polyarthritis. Blood lead levels were high, establishing that the cause was lead poisoning. EDTA chelation therapy was effective. Lead poisoning is frequently under-recognized because the clinical manifestations are often minimal and the diagnosis difficult to establish. We suggest that lead bound to bone may result in continued exposure to lead after cessation of industrial or environmental exposure. Chelating agents are valuable for the diagnosis and can ensure a full recovery.     

Mesenteric appendicitis strangulating small bowel: an exceptional internal herniation

Primitive internal hernias are a rare cause of intestinal obstruction. They are often paraduodenal even transmesocolic, but only rarely transomental. We present a rare case of an internal abdominal hernia in a young man. The small bowel was strangulated by an intra mesenteric appendicitis. This hernia was revealed by abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Plain X-ray of the abdomen showed dilated jejunal and ileal loops with multiple air-fluid levels. The diagnosis of appendicitis was suggested by ultrasound but the internal hernia was found only upon surgical exploration. An appendicectomy and adhesiolysis were performed. The patient recovered fully after 3 days, and had an uneventful postoperative course. The authors discuss the possible cause of this rare intestinal obstruction.     

Health related quality of life survey about children and adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

This study aimed to investigate the proxy-reported Health related quality of life (HRQOL) and its determinants in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). It was hypothesized that HRQOL would decrease with worsening disease and disability. Data were available in cross-sectional study on children and adolescents with JIA according to the ILAR criteria. Patient demographics, type of JIA, clinical determinants and laboratory parameters relating to JIA were obtained for each patient. Functional disability was assessed using the parent’s or children’s version of the child health assessment questionnaire (CHAQ). The HRQOL was evaluated using the juvenile arthritis quality of life questionnaire (JAQQ). These questionnaires were previously translated and validated in Moroccan children. A total of 80 participants were enrolled with mean age of 11 [6–17 years], and female predominance (59%). Many patients (42.5%) had oligoarticular subtype; 31.3% polyarticular subtypes and 26.2% systemic form. The mean global score of JAQQ was 2.6 ± 1.3 (1–6). Patients with persistant oligoarticular had better gross motor function (P < 0.0001), better fine motor function (P < 0.0001), less psychosocial impact (P = 0.001), and less symptoms (P = 0.001) in comparison with polyarticular and systemic subtypes. The HRQOL assessed by the JAQQ was worse in adolescent patients in comparison with children except for symptoms (P = 0.15). The gender (P = 0.95), age at onset of JIA (P = 0.81), and evolution duration (P = 0.34) were not correlated with global score of JAQQ. The diagnosis delay was significantly associated with decrease of HRQOL (P = 0.001). The decrease of HRQOL was correlated with disease activity [pain (VAS), painful and swollen joints, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (for P < 0.0001)], with disability index (CHAQ) (P = 0.001) and presence of hip involvement (P = 0.01). This study suggests that JIA can have a significant adverse effect on the HRQOL of moroccan patients, particularly adolescents with polyarticular and systemic subtypes. Disease duration, disability score (CHAQ) and pain were the strongest determinants of poorer HRQOL.     

HLA-B*27 allele associated to Behçet's disease and to anterior uveitis in Moroccan patients

Human leukocyte antigen HLA-B51 is the most strongly associated gene with Beh?et disease (BD) in different ethnic populations. We analyze the influence of HLA-B alleles in BD predisposition in Moroccan population and its association with clinical manifestations. The HLA-B phenotype frequencies were analyzed by serologic HLA class I typing and by polymerase chain reaction sequence-specific oligonucleotide (PCR-SSO) reverse dot blot hybridization in 120 unrelated Moroccan patients: all of whom fulfilled the international study group criteria for Beh?et's disease, and in 112 ethnically matched healthy controls. Besides HLA-B*51 allele (20%), a significant increased frequency of the HLA-B*27 allele was found in Moroccans patients with Beh?et's disease when compared to controls (13.3% of patients versus 2.7% of controls, chi square =?8.75, OR =?5.59, 95% IC [1.58-19.75] and particularly in the patients who presented an anterior uveitis (25% vs. 5.5%, p 相似文献   

Endocarditis due to Kytococcus schroeteri: case report and review of the literature

We report the third case of endocarditis caused by the newly described micrococcal species Kytococcus schroeteri. A 49-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital with suspected prosthetic valve endocarditis. Five blood cultures and prosthetic valve cultures grew the same type of organism, initially identified as Micrococcus sp. Assignment to the genus Kytococcus was suggested by the arginine dihydrolase activity and resistance to oxacillin. After sequencing of the 16S rRNA genes, the isolate was recognized as K. schroeteri. The patient was treated first with vancomycin combined with gentamicin and later with pristinamycin and rifampin. Three cases of K. schroeteri endocarditis described within a short period of time might indicate a specific pathogenicity of this new species. The isolation of kytococci from normally sterile sites should not be overlooked.     

Premature ovarian insufficiency. Analysis of 30 cases

Premature menopause is a relatively rare disease but it has delicate consequences dominated by infertility problems. Most often, etiologic investigation is disappointing. Helped in some cases by the association to some auto-immune diseases or a previous treatment with chemotherapy or an irradiation may be useful to understand the origin of the premature ovarian failure. We analyse in this paper 30 cases of premature menopause to try to precise its etiologic factors, its diagnosis tools, the fertility prognostic and the therapeutic possibilities     

Synthesis of ZnO sol–gel thin-films CMOS-Compatible

Zinc oxide (ZnO) is a II–VI group semiconductor with a wide direct bandgap and is an important material for various fields of industry and high-technological applications. The effects of thickness, annealing process in N₂ and air, optical properties, and morphology of ZnO thin-films are studied. A low-cost sol–gel spin-coating technique is used in this study for the simple synthesis of eco-friendly ZnO multilayer films deposited on (100)-oriented silicon substrates ranging from 150 to 600 nm by adjusting the spin coating rate. The ZnO sol–gel thin-films using precursor solutions of molarity 0.75 M exhibit an average optical transparency above 98%, with an optical band gap energy of 3.42 eV. The c-axis (002) orientation of the ZnO thin-films annealed at 400 °C were mainly influenced by the thickness of the multilayer, which is of interest for piezoelectric applications. These results demonstrate that a low-temperature method can be used to produce an eco-friendly, cost-effective ZnO sol–gel that is compatible with a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) and integrated-circuits (IC).

A low-cost sol–gel spin-coating technique is used in this study for the simple synthesis of eco-friendly ZnO multilayer films deposited on (100)-oriented silicon substrates ranging from 150 to 600 nm by adjusting the spin coating rate.     

Protracted fever of unknown origin as the presenting symptom of Behçet's disease. Report of a case

We report a case of Beh?et's disease that presented as protracted fever of unknown origin. The diagnosis was established when a thromboembolic event and ora3l aphthous ulcers occurred simultaneously. Antibiotics had no effect on the fever, which resolved when glucocorticoid and anticoagulant therapy was given. Among causes of protracted fever of unknown origin, Beh?et's disease is exceedingly rare but should be considered together with the other vasculitides. Above all, the presence of a fever should prompt a search for a thromboembolic complication.