Lucio phenomenon mimicking antiphospholipid syndrome: The occurrence of antiphospholipid antibodies in a leprosy patient

Lucio phenomenon is an atypical reaction of leprosy, characterized by vasculitic lesions that can mimic antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) clinically. Distinguishing the two can be difficult as antiphospholipid autoantibodies may be present in patients with leprosy. We report on a 32‐year‐old female patient presenting with a sudden onset of fever, hemorrhagic bullae, and skin necrosis on her lower legs. She was treated for APS due to the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies but had an inadequate response. A skin biopsy revealed thrombotic vasculopathy and necrotizing vasculitis associated with aggregation of foam cells in the perivascular area and subcutis, with acid‐fast bacilli in the histiocytes and blood vessel walls. Direct immunofluorescence showed IgM, C3, and fibrinogen deposition in the superficial and deep dermal blood vessels. The pathology confirmed the diagnosis of Lucio phenomenon, and appropriate therapy was given. It is essential to evaluate the patient comprehensively, including clinical, serological, and pathological aspects, to obtain the correct diagnosis.     

Elimination of antibiotic-resistant plasmids by quinolone antibiotics

Of 7 plasmids we tested, the plasmid pORF2 was eliminated in vitro with the most efficiency by treatment with subinhibitory concentrations of novobiocin, coumermycin and 10 quinolones. It showed a cure rate of 43% by enoxacin; 12% by novobiocin, pefloxacin, ciprofloxacin and CI-934; 7% by coumermycin and ofloxacin; 9% by amifloxacin; and 4% by AM-833. On the other hand, pSC194, pBR322 and pMH612 were poorly cured in vitro by quinolones, except pSC194 which was cured 33% by enoxacin. R1, pP1603, and pUB110 were unaffected by the treatment. Mice were challenged intraperitoneally with a 2XLD50 of Escherichia coli carrying the ORF2 plasmid and were treated per os with 1 X or 1/2 X ED50 of either enoxacin or CI-934. The frequency of loss of ampicillin resistance determined 3 h after treatment shows curing effects of 92% for CI-934, 89% for enoxacin and 20% for untreated control.     

The Resource-Based Relative Value Scale. Toward the development of an alternative physician payment system

This article describes the design and methods of a study currently under way to develop a Resource-Based Relative Value Scale (RBRVS); an alternative basis for establishing the payment rate for the services and procedures (S/Ps) of physicians in medical and surgical specialties. Physician resource inputs to be measured include (1) S/P time, (2) pre-S/P and post-S/P times, (3) intensity, (4) practice costs, including malpractice premiums, and (5) the cost of specialty training. These five factors will be combined to produce an RBRVS denominated in nonmonetary units. In the initial phase of the study, data on time and intensity will be obtained through a national survey of physicians who perform these S/Ps. In the second, consensus phase of the project, the investigators will convene a panel of representatives of the medical profession, third-party payers, consumers, and other interested parties to examine areas of agreement and disagreement as to how an RBRVS should be used for policy purposes. The final results of this study are expected by the summer of 1988.     

Intracranial circulation: pulse-sequence considerations in three- dimensional (volume) MR angiography

The technique and feasibility of magnetic resonance (MR) angiography of intracranial vessels were studied in 35 healthy volunteers. Variations in image orientation, repetition time (TR), and flip angle were evaluated to determine their effects on flow-related enhancement. Gradient modifications--including echo time (TE), motion compensation, bandwidth, and field of view--were also studied in an effort to reduce motion-induced phase shifts. Results indicated that a FISP (fast imaging with steady precession) sequence with a TR of 50 msec, TE of 15 msec, velocity compensation in the read and section-select directions, acceleration compensation in the read direction, anisotropic volume, and a 1.25-mm partition thickness produced three-dimensional angiographic MR images that were accurate and reproducible in the depiction of the major intracranial vessels. Difficulties with field of view, persistent signal void secondary to higher-order motion, and spatial resolution remain major problems requiring additional study.     

Giant arachnoid granulation mimicking dural sinus thrombosis in a boy with headache: MRI

We report MRI and angiographic findings of an unusual giant arachnoid granulation in the left sigmoid sinus in a boy with headache. Its signal intensity was lower than that of cerebral cortex on T1-weighted images and higher on T2 weighting, mimicking dural sinus thrombosis. Received: 17 February 1997 Accepted: 17 February 1997     

Paediatric dacryocystorhinostomy

Of 258 cases of dacryocystorhinostomy performed on children in the period September 1981 to September 1991, 130 were for simple, unresolved congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Other indications for surgery included punctal agenesis, lacrimal fistula, post-traumatic and post-inflammatory canalicular obstruction. Of 177 children without canalicular pathology, 171 (96%) were relieved of symptoms with one operation, without canalicular intubation. Of 81 cases with canalicular disease, 55 of 70 (79%) who underwent DCR plus canalicular intubation, and 10 of 11 who underwent DCR plus Lester-Jones tube, were substantially improved with one operation. No child required peroperative or postoperative blood transfusion. Dacryocystorhinostomy in childhood, in experienced surgical hands, is a safe procedure, achieving relief of symptoms in most cases, particularly in the absence of canalicular disease.     

Isolation and characterization of marine luminous bacteria from shallow coastal waters of Taiwan.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Marine luminous bacteria were isolated and identified from samples in shallow coastal waters of Taiwan during the relatively warm seasons. METHODS: Identification of the luminous isolates was performed based on differences of phenotypic and genotypic characteristics together with data from phylogenetic analysis. RESULTS: Twenty seven strains of marine luminous bacteria were isolated. They were divided into five types based on differences of phenotypic characteristics. However, they could be clustered into only two genotypes according to the analysis of restriction patterns of polymerase chain reaction-amplified 16S rRNA genes digested with various restriction enzymes. The characterization data together with the 16S rRNA gene-based phylogenetic analysis revealed that the isolates included in phenotype I (seven isolates) could be Photobacterium leiognathi, and those included in phenotypes II-V (twenty isolates) might be classified as Vibrio harveyi. However, phylogeny based on gyrB sequences indicated that phenotypes II-V could be classified into two species, V. harveyi and Vibrio campbellii. CONCLUSION: Culturable luminous bacteria in the shallow coastal waters of Taiwan during the sampling period are dominated by V. harveyi/campbellii and P. leiognathi, and the former species appeared to be more prevalent and numerous than the latter species in general.     

Molecular genetics and transgenic model of Gertsmann-Str?ussler-Scheinker disease.

Gerstmann-Str?ussler-Scheinker disease (GSS) is a rare, dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disease that can sometimes be transmitted to experimental animals through intracerebral inoculation of brain homogenates from patients. Substitution of leucine for proline at codon 102 of the prion protein gene has been found in several families with the disease; this mutation is genetically linked to GSS. Mice containing murine prion protein transgenes with this mutation spontaneously develop neurologic symptoms of ataxia, lethargy, and rigidity accompanied by spongiform degeneration throughout the brain. Thus, many of the clinical and pathological features of the GSS have been reproduced in this transgenic mouse paradigm; to our knowledge, this study illustrates, for the first time, that a neurodegenerative process similar to a human disease can be genetically modeled in animals. Whether or not this transgenic mouse model of GSS may facilitate the understanding of common neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer disease remains to be established.