A leg ulcer as manifestation of metastatic squamous cell vaginal carcinoma

Cutaneous metastasis of vaginal carcinoma is extremely rare. So far, the total number of reported skin metastasis of vaginal carcinoma is only one. We present another case with an unusual manifestation of vagina carcinoma metastasis: skin metastasis presenting as a leg ulcer on the lower leg.     

Neointimal hyperplasia in balloon-injured rat carotid arteries: the influence of hyperhomocysteinemia.

PURPOSE: Hyperhomocyst(e)inemia (hH[e]) is a risk factor for atherosclerosis. Neointimal hyperplasia (NH) after vessel injury can contribute to atherosclerosis. In this study, we investigated the effects of hH(e) on NH formation after arterial balloon injury in rats. METHODS: Lewis rats that were given a hH(e)-inducing (high methionine, low folate) or normal diet for 150 days underwent common carotid artery (CCA) balloon injury. Two and 4 weeks after injury, CCAs were formalin perfusion-fixed, sectioned, and stained for elastin. Neointimal index (NI, percent lumen occlusion) and neointima (N) and media (M) area were measured by using computer-interfaced microscopy. RESULTS: Plasma homocyst(e)ine (H[e]) levels were elevated in rats given the study diet compared with rats given the normal diet at days 40 and 90 (69 +/- 8 and 73 +/- 9 micromol/L vs 4 +/- 0.4 and 4 +/- 0.6 micromol/L, P <.001). After balloon injury, the CCA NI and N/M ratio, but not the M area, were increased by hH(e) compared with normal plasma H(e) (2 weeks [n = 6,7]: NI = 7.3 +/- 1.7 vs 2.9 +/- 0.7, P =.002, and N/M = 0.31 +/- 0.08 vs 0.08 +/- 0.02, P <.001; 4 weeks [n = 4,7]: NI = 13.1 +/- 2.2 vs 6.3 +/- 1.3, P =.002, and N/M = 0.36 +/- 0.08 vs 0.17 +/- 0.03, P <.001). CONCLUSION: hH(e) accelerates NH in a rat CCA balloon-injury model. The effect of hH(e) on NH may contribute to increased atherosclerosis in humans with hH(e).     

Localization of a gene for otosclerosis to chromosome 15q25-q26

Among white adults otosclerosis is the single most common cause of hearing impairment. Although the genetics of this disease are controversial, the majority of studies indicate autosomal dominant inheritance with reduced penetrance. We studied a large multi- generational family in which otosclerosis has been inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern. Five of16 affected persons have surgically confirmed otosclerosis; the remaining nine have a conductive hearing loss but have not undergone corrective surgery. To locate the disease- causing gene we completed genetic linkage analysis using short tandem repeat polymorphisms (STRPs) distributed over the entire genome. Multipoint linkage analysis showed that only one genomic region, on chromosome 15q, generated a lod score >2.0. Additional STRPs were typed in this area, resulting in a lod score of 3.4. STRPs FES (centromeric) and D15S657 (telomeric) flank the 14. 5 cM region that contains an otosclerosis gene.      

Peritoneal fluid concentrations of interleukin-8 in women with endometriosis: relationship to stage of disease

There is increasing evidence that immunological mechanisms play a role in the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of endometriosis. It was therefore of interest to study interleukin-8 (IL-8), a chemokine, in the peritoneal fluid and peripheral blood of women undergoing laparoscopic procedures. The presence and concentrations of IL-8 in relation to endometriosis, infertility and abdominal pain were evaluated. Samples of peritoneal fluid (n = 49) and peripheral blood (n = 50) were obtained from 50 consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery for various gynaecological indications (abdominal pain, infertility, sterilization). IL-8 was present in the peritoneal fluid of most women (87%). The concentration of IL-8 in the peritoneal fluid was higher in women with endometriosis compared to women without (P = 0.02). This difference was more pronounced in early (stage 1) endometriosis (P = 0.001). IL-8 concentrations in the peritoneal fluid were also higher in women with early endometriosis compared to women with later stages of the disease (P = 0.003). Peripheral blood concentrations did not correlate with peritoneal fluid concentrations of IL-8 and/or the presence of endometriosis. We conclude that IL-8 is an important factor that may contribute to the pathogenesis of endometriosis possibly by promoting neovascularization. This information can be a guide in the development of new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of endometriosis.