Orbital and muscular relapse of Burkitt's lymphoma

We report the case of a child presenting with abdominal Burkitt's lymphoma in whom a relapse presented as orbital and muscle involvement. This clinical feature is extremely rare. Two muscle and one orbital biopsies were necessary to obtain proper diagnosis. A new extension check-up showed bone marrow invasion and normal cerebrospinal fluid. This relapse was successfully treated by conventional chemotherapy and consolidated with high-dose chemotherapy, total body irradiation and autologous bone marrow transplantation. Eighteen months after transplantation, the child may be considered as definitively cured.     

Exploratory hierarchy and surgical indications for carotid surgery in patients with coronary disease

The major cause of death from carotid artery surgery (1.2% in 1984 in this series) is still coronary disease and myocardial infarct. A series of 50 patients were randomly selected for detailed study of post-operative cardiologic complications and the following sequelae were noted: mortality = 1 myocardial infarct; morbidity = 1 myocardial infarct, 3 documented anginal pains, 8 repolarization disorders, 4 benign ventricular arrhythmias. Analysis of these complications and a literature review demonstrated: the high frequency of combined carotid artery and coronary artery stenosis even in asymptomatic patients (25 to 40% of cases); the elevated percentage of complications in patients with symptomatic coronary disease (mortality risk multiplied by ten), hypertension or arterial disease; the low effect of age taken alone as risk factor. Pre-operative explorations to detect angina, particularly when latent and asymptomatic, should include a questionnaire, strict patient clinical examination and detailed reading of electrocardiogram tracings. An effort test should be performed as a function of results and patients' medical history and when positive should lead to coronarography in patients under 70 in good general condition, and when doubt persists after the effort tests. The indication for surgical treatment is dependent on results of these explorations: Carotid artery surgery (stenosis with high cerebral risk) should be performed under pre- and post-operative myocardial protection in patients with coronary artery disease who are too old or inoperable for cardiac reasons. Simultaneous myocardial and cerebral revascularization in the presence of severe lesions and at equivalent risk of progression. First intention carotid artery surgery for bilateral stable lesions with subsequent simultaneous myocardial and cerebral revascularization. First intention carotid artery surgery in case of cerebral ischemia with coronary artery shunt surgery at a later stage. Improved exploration of patients and close cooperation between cardiologists, anaesthetists and surgeons should allow patients at high risk to be operated upon under improved conditions of safety.     

Alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene do not protect marmosets against the dopaminergic neurotoxicity of N-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine

Idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) may possibly be caused by one or more unidentified neurotoxins present in the environment, or formed endogenously, which progressively damage dopaminergic nigrostriatal neurons. N-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) is an experimental neurotoxin which produces biochemical and neuropathological changes in humans, lower primates and mice that closely resemble those found in PD. Because the mechanisms of neuronal damage in both idiopathic PD and in the MPTP model of PD may involve free radical formation in the substantia nigra, antioxidants might protect dopaminergic neurons. Previously, we found that both alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene partially protected mice against MPTP. However, in the experiments described in this paper, neither alpha-tocopherol nor beta-carotene, each administered in massive doses, had any demonstrable protective effect for dopaminergic nigrostriatal neurons in marmosets injected with low doses of MPTP. Without more knowledge about the identity of the neurotoxin(s) causing idiopathic PD, and their mechanism of action, it is not possible at this time to predict whether these 2 antioxidants might be clinically useful in preventing or ameliorating PD.     

Diverse implications of a national health crisis: A qualitative exploration of community nurses' SARS experiences.

The purpose of this study was to enhance our understanding of the influence of the SARS crisis on the work and personal lives of community nurses.A total of 941 community nurses employed in a range of health-care settings in the province of Ontario, Canada, provided qualitative information about their perceptions of the impact of SARS in their workplace and in their personal lives. Themes and subthemes from the data were organized into 2 categories: The Experience (operational, organizational, and personal narratives), and Learning from the Experience (opportunities for personal learning, professional and policy development, and insight into policy and administrative implications). The findings are discussed within a framework of the learning opportunity presented by the crisis at the local, national, and international levels. The roles of effective communication, emergency response coordination, and education are considered with respect to policy development and administrative responses to infectious disease protocol. The findings are particularly relevant at this time of heightened fear of global epidemics.     

Clinical judgment remains of great value in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.

BACKGROUND: Observation and repeated examination may lead to favourable clinical outcomes in the ever-challenging diagnosis of appendicitis. The goal of this study was to evaluate clinical performance in the diagnosis of suspected appendicitis in a centre with limited access to medical imaging technologies and to identify factors associated with complicated cases. METHODS: A retrospective review of the medical records of 211 consecutive surgical cases of suspected appendicitis, spanning an 11-year period, was performed. The delays before treatment and the subsequent patient outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: There were 8.1% of cases with negative findings on appendectomy, 75.8% with uncomplicated appendicitis, 12.3% with complicated appendicitis and 3.8% with other surgical conditions. The delay before the first medical consultation was significantly longer in patients with complicated appendicitis. The various delays after the first medical consultation did not differ significantly between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: In the context of limited available medical imaging modalities, clinical observation was not associated with an increased incidence of complicated appendicitis. The presence of complicated appendicitis was associated with the delay before the patient's first medical consultation. Clinical judgment can be prioritized and can lead to good clinical performance in the management of patients with suspected appendicitis, with no significant increase in rates of complicated appendicitis and negative findings on appendectomy.     

Virion-bound ICAM-1 and activated LFA-1: a combination of factors conferring resistance to neutralization by sera from human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected individuals independently of the disease status and phase

The role of the supplementary interaction between virion-bound host ICAM-1 and LFA-1 on target cells in sensitivity to neutralization of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is poorly studied. Serum samples from four long-term nonprogressors (LTNPs) and sequential sera from one progressor were used to assess neutralization sensitivity of isogenic ICAM-1-negative and ICAM-1-bearing HIV-1(NL4-3), a prototype of T-cell-line-adapted viruses. We found that virus neutralization sensitivity to the studied sera is not modified by the additional interaction between virally embedded ICAM-1 and LFA-1 under an inactive state. However, expression on the target cell surface of an activated LFA-1 form renders ICAM-1-bearing virus particles, but not viruses devoid of ICAM-1, more refractory to neutralization by sera from three out of four LTNPs and all sequential sera from the person who has experienced a progression of the HIV-1-associated disease. Although no conclusive correlation could be drawn between virus susceptibility to neutralization and the disease status or stages of HIV-1 infection, these findings demonstrate that other nonspecific virus-cell interactions mediated by virion-anchored host proteins and their normal cognate ligands on target cells represent factors that can affect the mechanism of HIV-1 neutralization.     

Prevalence, geographical distribution and genealogical investigations of mutation 188 of lipoprotein lipase gene in the French Canadian population of Québec

Familial lipoprotein lipase deficiency (FLD) is of particular interest to the French Canadian population of Québec since the largest concentration of homozygotes and carriers of this genetic disease in the world resides in this area. We have previously described a missense mutation (M-188) in the lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene which was present in FLD patients belonging to different ancestries, including a number of French Canadians (Monsalve MV et al. J Clin Invest 1990: 86: 728-734). In the present report, we show that this mutation, although found in largest absolute numbers among French Canadians as compared to other groups in the world, accounts for only a small proportion (24%) of all the LPL mutant alleles in this population. The M-188 occurs either in the homozygote state or as a compound heterozygote with another LPL mutation. Analysis of geographic distribution indicates that the M-188 is more prevalent in western Québec, with the highest carrier rate in the Mauricie region. Genealogical reconstruction leads to the recognition of four founders for M-188, all emigrants from France to Québec in the 17th century.     

Rapid detection of group B streptococci in pregnant women at delivery

BACKGROUND: Group B streptococcal infections are an important cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. A rapid method for the detection of this organism in pregnant women at the time of delivery is needed to allow early treatment of neonates. METHODS: We studied the efficacy of two polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR) assays for routine screening of pregnant women for group B streptococci at the time of delivery. We obtained anal, vaginal, and combined vaginal and anal specimens from 112 pregnant women; in 57 women, specimens were obtained before and after the rupture of the amniotic membranes. The specimens were tested for group B streptococci by culture in a standard selective broth medium, with a conventional PCR assay, and with a new fluorogenic PCR assay. RESULTS: Among the 112 women, the results of the culture of the combined vaginal and anal specimens were positive for group B streptococci in 33 women (29.5 percent). The two PCR assays detected group B streptococcal colonization in specimens from 32 of these 33 women: the one negative PCR result was in a sample obtained after the rupture of membranes. As compared with the culture results, the sensitivity of both PCR assays was 97.0 percent and the negative predictive value was 98.8 percent. Both the specificity and the positive predictive value of the two PCR assays were 100 percent. The length of time required to obtain results was 30 to 45 minutes for the new PCR assay, 100 minutes for the conventional PCR assay, and at least 36 hours for culture. CONCLUSIONS: Colonization with group B streptococci can be identified rapidly and reliably by a PCR assay in pregnant women in labor both before and after the rupture of membranes.