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.     

Arachidonic acid metabolites in CSF in hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy of newborn infants

The aim of this study was to evaluate the cerebral synthesis of eicosanoids in the asphyctic newborn and to investigate the relation between the prostanoid profiles in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the appearance and severity of hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE). Levels of 6-keto-PGF _1-α, TXB₂, PGE₂ and PGF_2-α in CSF were measured in 40 full term newborns during the first day of life. Thirty of these newborns had birth asphyxia and were divided into three groups: 10 without HIE, 12 with mild HIE and 8 with moderate-severe HIE. They were compared to a control group of 10 non-hypoxic newborns. Determinations of the metabolites in CSF were performed by RIA and expressed as pg/ml (mean ± SD). The CSF TXB₂ (thromboxane A₂ metabolite) in asphyxiated newborns was always higher than in the control group (28.12 ± 10.6), and related to the severity of HIE ( p = 0:005): without HIE (50.84 ± 16.4; p = 0:02), mild HIE (80.65 ± 12.64; p ± 0:01) and moderate-severe HIE (178.14 ± 20.5; p < 0:01). The CSF 6-keto-PGF _1-α (prostacyclin metabolite) in asphyxiated newborns was always higher than in the control group (80.55 ± 12.56), but indirectly related to the severity of HIE: without HIE (240.95 ± 28.12; p < 0:01), mild HIE (183.65 ± 30.1; p < 0:01) and moderate-severe HIE (140.55 ± 25.12; p < 0:01). In the moderate-severe HIE group, the increase in TXB₂ was higher than the rise in 6-keto-PGF _1-α.     

Human immunodeficiency virus cultured from bone. Implications for transplantation

This study demonstrates by a virologic culture method that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) resides in bone. After freezing, some initially positive specimens no longer yielded virus, but those that continued to yield virus were not further altered by subsequent washing, which removed essentially all marrow, or by freeze-drying. The safeguards against potential transmission of HIV by a bone allograft are principally the screening and testing methods previously described, although there may be a further reduction of the remote residual risk by the freezing step in the usual technical sequence for tissue banking by sterile techniques.     

Peritoneal carcinomatosis: preoperative CT with intraperitoneal contrast material.

Thirty-five abdominal computed tomographic (CT) scans of 27 patients with peritoneal metastases from a mucin-producing tumor of the appendix, colon, small bowel, or ovary were retrospectively reviewed. Fifteen scans were obtained of 15 patients after CT with intraperitoneal infusion of contrast material (IP), and 20 scans were obtained of 16 patients with CT without IP. Subsequent exploratory laparotomy revealed that all 27 patients had multi-focal spread of peritoneal metastases. The sensitivity of CTIP and CT without IP for detection of peritoneal metastases at all sites of involvement was 61% and 59%, respectively. For CTIP, the highest sensitivity was in the right subphrenic space (88%), splenic hilum (86%), and left subphrenic space (83%). For CT without IP, the highest sensitivity was noted in the splenic hilum (100%), left subphrenic space (75%), and left paracolic gutter (75%). CTIP and CT without IP had low sensitivity for detection of disease in the greater omentum (50% each) and small-bowel mesentery (38% and 59%, respectively), two areas that had the highest frequency of metastases.     

Assessing quality of life in primary biliary cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Assessment of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is not routinely reported in the literature on chronic liver disease (CLD). Few studies have examined quality of life (QOL) in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) despite its significant functional impact. One of the reasons for the lack of HRQOL measurement in patients with PBC may be the absence of a well-recognized and widely used measure that clinicians can use in ordinary clinical practice. The aim of this study is to evaluate HRQOL measures used in patients with PBC and examine the suitability of the measures for these patients. METHODS: A literature search identified reports that focused on any aspect of QOL in patients with PBC. Key texts were identified containing generic, domain-specific, and condition-specific measures. The identified measures were systematically evaluated for appropriateness, acceptability, reliability, validity, precision, and responsiveness. RESULTS: Twenty measures were identified from 9 key texts. Six of the measures were previously validated generic measures; 10 were domain-specific measures previously used to measure fatigue, depression, and psychological distress in general and psychiatric populations; and 4 measures had been developed in patients with CLD. Reporting of reliability and validity generally was consistent for all measures used. However, reporting of the remaining criteria was variable, particularly in relation to responsiveness over time and acceptability of the measures to patients with PBC. CONCLUSIONS: A clearer and more rigorous approach is needed in reporting the properties of HRQOL measures used in patients with PBC to help clinicians decide which measures are most suitable for these patients.     

A daily process design study of attentional pain control strategies in the self-management of cancer pain.

This study investigated the use of attentional control strategies in the self-management of pain using daily process design methodology. Twenty six cancer patients with pain completed diaries 3 times daily for 10 days. Diaries incorporated measures of pain intensity, affect, coping, coping efficacy, and the novelty and predictability of pain, and participants completed a cross-sectional measure of catastrophizing. At the across-person level, focusing on pain was associated with increased negative affect, and the use of pain focusing strategies was positively correlated with experiencing pain that was novel in its location or quality. Distractions that were interesting, important and pleasant were positively correlated with positive affect, perceptions of control over pain and ability to decrease pain. Over-prediction of pain was positively correlated with catastrophizing, and negatively correlated with perceptions of control over and ability to decrease pain. The within-person analysis (ARIMA modelling) showed that catastrophizing moderated the effects of pain focusing strategies, novel pain and over-predictions of pain. Meta-analysis of the ARIMA models revealed that the within-person effects of using attentional strategies did not generalize across the sample. These findings indicated that the effects of distraction strategies are influenced by their motivational-affective significance rather than the frequency with which they are used, and provided further evidence that the threat value of pain influences the way in which people cope with their pain. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.     

Hemodynamic alterations secondary to an electrical burn in the rat: a pilot study

Rats subjected to a standard electrical burn of 250 volts for 10 seconds receive a severe injury stimulating a pronounced systemic circulatory response. Initial postinjury hyperemia is replaced by a low perfusion state within 24 hours. Our study demonstrates the difficulty in isolating regional microcirculatory alterations under such circumstances. Modification of the burn model or the method of fluid resuscitation may minimize the influence of this dynamic systemic response.