Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: a population-based cancer registry descriptive study of 66 consecutive cases diagnosed between 1982 and 2002

BACKGROUND: Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare malignant tumour of the skin, with an estimated incidence of 0.8 to five cases per 1 million people per year. OBJECTIVE: To study epidemiological, immunohistochemical and clinical features, delay in diagnosis, type of treatment and outcome of DFSP from 1982 to 2002. METHODS: Using data from the population-based cancer registry, 66 patients with pathologically proved DFSP were included (fibrosarcomatous DFSP were excluded). Each patient lived in one of the four departments of Franche-Comté (overall population of 1 million people) at the time of diagnosis. The main data sources came from public and private pathology laboratories and medical records. The rules of the International Agency for Research on Cancer were applied. RESULTS: The estimated incidence of DFSP in Franche-Comté was about three new cases per 1 million people per year. Male patients were affected 1.2 times as often as female patients were. The trunk (45%) followed by the proximal extremities (38%) were the most frequent locations. DFSP occurred mainly in young adults between 20 and 39 years of age. Mean age at diagnosis was 43 years, and the mean delay in diagnosis was 10.08 years. Our 66 patients initially underwent a radical local excision. Among them, 27% experienced one or more local recurrences during 9.6 years of follow-up. There was one regional lymph node recurrence without visceral metastases. These recurrences were significantly related to the initial peripheral resection margins. We observed a local recurrence rate of 47% for margins less than 3 cm, vs. only 7% for margins ranging from 3 to 5 cm [P=0.004; OR=0.229 (95%, CI=0.103-0.510)]. The mean time to a first local recurrence was 2.65 years. Nevertheless, there was no death due to the DFSP course at the end of the follow-up, and the final outcome was favourable. CONCLUSION: Our study emphasizes the importance of wide local excision with margins of at least 3 cm in order to prevent local recurrence. However, the recent development of inhibitors of signal transduction by the PDGFB pathway should soon modify the surgical strategy, which is often too mutilating.     

The impact of poverty on educational outcomes for children

Over the past decade, the unfortunate reality is that the income gap has widened between Canadian families. Educational outcomes are one of the key areas influenced by family incomes. Children from low-income families often start school already behind their peers who come from more affluent families, as shown in measures of school readiness. The incidence, depth, duration and timing of poverty all influence a child’s educational attainment, along with community characteristics and social networks. However, both Canadian and international interventions have shown that the effects of poverty can be reduced using sustainable interventions. Paediatricians and family doctors have many opportunities to influence readiness for school and educational success in primary care settings.     

Naphthalimido derivatives as antifolate thymidylate synthase inhibitors

A new series of N-(substituted)benzyl-1,8-naphthalimides 4, structurally related to the previously reported thymidylate synthase (TS) inhibitor naphthaleins 3, were synthesized and compounds tested for their inhibition of several species of TS. Moreover, their in vitro cytotoxicity together with antimycotic and antibacterial properties were assayed. While no activity was detected in the antibacterial tests, the m-nitro (4ae) and the p-nitro (4af) derivatives were found able to partially inhibit TS at low micromolar concentrations. Introduction of nitro or (substituted)-amino groups in position 4 of the naphthalic ring always led to less active compounds.     

Changes in Escherichia coli resistance to co-trimoxazole in tuberculosis patients and in relation to co-trimoxazole prophylaxis in Thyolo,Malawi

In Thyolo district, Malawi, an operational research study is being conducted on the efficacy and feasibility of co-trimoxazole prophylaxis in preventing deaths in HIV-positive patients with tuberculosis (TB). A series of cross-sectional studies were carried out to determine i) whether faecal Escherichia coli (E.coli) resistance to co-trimoxazole in TB patients changed with time and ii) whether the resistance pattern was different in HIV positive TB patients who were taking co-trimoxazole prophylaxis. Co-trimoxazole resistance among E.coli isolates in TB patients at the time of registration was 60% in 1999 and 77% in 2001 (p<0.01). Resistance was 89% among HIV-infected TB patients (receiving co-trimoxazole), while in HIV negative patients (receiving anti-TB therapy alone) it was 62% (p<0.001). The study shows a significant increase of E.coli resistance to co-trimoxazole in TB patients which is particularly prominent in HIV infected patients on co-trimoxazole prophylaxis. Since a high degree of plasmid-mediated transfer of resistance exists between E.coli and the Salmonella species, these findings could herald limitations on the short and long term benefits to be anticipated from the use of co-trimoxazole prophylaxis in preventing non-typhoidal salmonella bacteraemia and enteritis in HIV infected TB patients in Malawi.     

功能性消化不良的突出症状与临床特征及病理生理学机制的关系

背景与目的：功能性消化不良（FD）被认为是一类由不同病理生理原因导致的多种机能紊乱而促发的症状。Rome Ⅱ委员会建议将具有同种病理生理学及临床特征的FD患划分为感觉明显疼痛组和感觉不适组两个亚组。该研究旨在分析显疼痛或感觉不适与病理生理学机制间的关系，评价是否考虑到个体的显性症状将会产生更好的结果。方法：持续性FD患（n=720；489例女性；年龄41．3±0．6岁）填写消化不良调查问卷并确定出最令人烦恼的症状。分析此显症状在人口统计学、临床、病理生理学特点上的相互联系（研究592例患幽门螺杆菌感染、胃排空情况，对332例患行胃敏感性、顺应性试验）。结果：根据Rome Ⅱ标准，22％疼痛明显，78％不适感明显。疼痛明显的患超敏性的发生率较高（44％ vs 25％），且在这些病例中观察到的胃排空迟缓较少出现（16％ vs 26％），但是有较多的重叠。详细分析表明可能有8种消化不良症状其中之一较为突出。     

Hodgkin disease: CT of the thymus

The computed tomography (CT) scans in two groups of patients with Hodgkin disease were reviewed to determine the frequency of thymic enlargement. In 50 CT scans from 50 patients with evidence of thoracic disease on CT scans who were examined for primary staging, the thymus was enlarged in 15 of 50 (30%). Fifty CT scans were obtained from 44 patients at the time of 50 separate episodes of known or suspected relapse. Relapse occurred in the mediastinum in 12 episodes, lung parenchyma in five, and both sites in one. Thymic enlargement thought to be due to involvement by disease was present in seven of 18 (38%). Mediastinal disease was associated with thymic enlargement in all but one patient in whom a thymic cyst developed after radiation therapy. Differentiation of thymic enlargement from enlarged superior mediastinal lymph nodes was easily made in all but two patients. Thymic enlargement in the absence of lymph node enlargement may indicate a different disease, since isolated Hodgkin disease of the thymus is uncommon. Primary thymic tumor should be considered initially, whereas after treatment, rebound hyperplasia of the thymus may be the cause of enlargement.     

Clonidine, administered intracerebroventricularly in mice, produces an anti-analgesic effect which may be mediated spinally by dynorphin A (1-17)

Clonidine, administered intracerebroventricularly, was shown to have two actions in the tail-flick test in mice: an overt anti-analgesic and a latent analgesic effect. The anti-analgesic effect was demonstrated by antagonism of the antinociceptive response to morphine, administered intrathecally. This anti-analgesic effect was attenuated by naloxone and nor-binaltorphimine, given intrathecally. Given intracerebroventricularly by itself, clonidine had no antinociceptive effect; however, the administration of naloxone and nor-binaltorphimine intrathecally uncovered the latent antinociceptive action of clonidine given intracerebroventricularly. This sensitivity to the opioid antagonists, given intrathecally, indicated that an endogenous anti-analgesic opioid might mediate the actions of clonidine at the spinal level. The putative opioid was postulated to be dynorphin A (1-17). Analgesia induced by intrathecally administered morphine was attenuated by the intrathecal administration of dynorphin A (1-17) at doses of less than 10 pg (5 fmol). This action of dynorphin was blocked by naloxone (5 fg, 0.014 fmol) and nor-binaltorphimine (10 ng, 12.3 pmol) at doses which did not block mu and kappa receptors in the spinal cord. The authors propose that clonidine, given intracerebroventricularly, activates an anti-analgesic system which descends spinally and is mediated by dynorphin A (1-17) in the spinal cord. This anti-analgesic effect of dynorphin A (1-17) appears to be a new function for dynorphin A (1-17).     

Can we understand partnerships in general practice? A pilot study

BACKGROUND: Partnerships have been investigated in different professions,but other than identifying problems, little work has been carriedout on general practice. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this present study was to develop methods for studyingpartnerships in general practice. METHOD: A tripartite methodological approach was used, with questionnairesadapted from other instruments in use in other professions,followed by an individual interview with each partner, and non-participantobservation at a partnership meeting. Results for one case-studypartnership are given. RESULTS: There were no major differences between the partners on alldimensions measured; the minor differences indicated by theresults of the questionnaires were corroborated by the partnerinterviews and observations. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the use of such techniques could provide supportto partnerships going through significant periods of change. Keywords. General practice, interview, observation, partnerships, questionnaire.