Lenalidomide in the management of eosinophilic dermatosis of hematological malignancy

Eosinophilic dermatosis of hematological malignancy is a paraneoplastic skin eruption associated with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and other B‐cell malignancies. It clinically resembles an insect bite reaction and it can precede the symptoms of the hematological malignancy or be related to a more aggressive course. Different treatments have been proposed, but partial response and recurrence are frequent. Herein, we describe a case of eosinophilic dermatosis associated with mantle cell lymphoma with remission after lenalidomide therapy.     

Quantitative study of the morphological changes in the thyroid gland following IR laser radiation

The morphological changes produced in the thyroid glands of albino rats following radiation with a 904 nm infrared laser were studied. Two different levels of radiation were applied: 46.8 J/cm² and 140.4 J/cm². Evaluation of the changes in the densities of the epithelial, colloidal and follicular volumes and of the activation index revealed that the laser beam produced changes in the thyroid parenchyma. It was observed that there was a direct relationship between the severity of the lesion and the radiation energy applied.     

Antiparasitic properties of homoallylamines and related compounds

A study of some antiparasitic properties of several homoallylamines and related tetrahydroquinolines and quinolines, previously described, was carried out using in vitro activity assays against the epimastigote form of Trypanosoma cruzi and against Trichomonas vaginalis. Unspecific cytotoxicity against murine macrophages was also studied. Although the antichagasic and trichomonacidal activities are not comparable to those of the standard drugs, nifurtimox and metronidazole, some of the compounds exhibit an interesting specific antiparasitic activity.     

Bradykinin-induced vasoconstriction of rat mesenteric arteries precontracted with noradrenaline.

1. Administration of bradykinin caused dose-dependent vasoconstriction in rat isolated perfused mesenteric arteries precontracted with noradrenaline. 2. The vasoconstrictor response was not mediated by BK1-bradykinin receptors. 3. Inhibition of cyclo-oxygenase with indomethacin, aspirin or meclofenamate abolished the vasoconstrictor effect of bradykinin, showing that a member of the arachidonic acid cascade may be involved. 4. Inhibitors of thromboxane synthesis (imidazole and UK 38485) did not affect or only reduced the bradykinin-induced vasoconstriction. 5. The endoperoxide H2/thromboxane A2 receptor antagonist SQ 29548 significantly reduced the vasoconstrictor effect of bradykinin, but did not affect the vasoconstrictor response to noradrenaline, adrenaline, vasopressin, 5-hydroxytryptamine or prostaglandins. 6. The eicosanoid(s) that mediate bradykinin-induced vasoconstriction appear to be synthesized outside the arterial endothelium. 7. The data suggest that the vasoconstrictor effect of bradykinin in the rat isolated mesenteric artery is mediated by vasoconstrictor arachidonic acid metabolites including the cyclic endoperoxides and/or the thromboxanes.     

Treatment of refractoriness to platelet transfusion by protein A column therapy

Ten thrombocytopenic patients (platelets < 10–24 × 10(9)/L) who were refractory to platelet transfusion were investigated for their responsiveness to staphylococcal protein A column therapy. Nine patients had previously been treated with steroids, intravenous immune globulin, and/or other forms of immunosuppressive therapy without improvement in their transfusion response. All patients were receiving multiple platelet transfusions without achieving 1-hour corrected count increments (CCIs) > or = 7500. Eight patients had antibodies that reacted with platelets and were directed against HLA class I antigens, ABO antigens, and/or platelet-specific alloantigens. Plasma (500-2000 mL) from each patient was passed over a protein A silica gel column and then returned to the patient. Patients received from 1 to 14 treatments. A positive response to protein A therapy was defined as at least a doubling of the pretreatment platelet count and/or two successive 10- to 120-minute posttransfusion CCIs > or = 7500. Following plasma treatments, 6 of 10 patients responded with daily platelet counts that averaged 48 +/− 11 × 10(9) per L as compared with counts of 16 +/− 7 × 10(9) per L (p < 0.0005) before treatment. Posttransfusion CCI values determined in four of these patients averaged 2480 +/− 810 and 10,010 +/− 3540 (p < 0.005) before and after treatment, respectively. In contrast, among the four unresponsive patients, platelet counts averaged 10 +/− 9 and 13 +/− 10 × 10(9) per L (p = NS), respectively, while posttransfusion CCIs were 700 +/− 1410 and 1520 +/− 2460 (p = NS), respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Oral Health Status of Children and Adolescents by Rural Residence, United States

CONTEXT: The limited information available on the oral health status of rural children in the United States makes it difficult to devise policy strategies to address perceived problems. PURPOSE: To document the oral health status and dental care utilization of US children by place of residence, METHODS: Data from National Health Interview Surveys for 1995, 1997, and 1998, and from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988-1994) were analyzed. FINDINGS: Children residing in rural areas were more likely to be uninsured for dental care than were children from urban areas (41.1% versus 34.7%). A greater percentage of rural than urban children reported unmet dental needs (7.5% versus 5.6%); there was no difference in self-reported poor dental status. Urban children were more likely than rural children to have visited the dentist in the past year (73.6% versus 69.9%) and were also more likely to be regular users of dental care (61.7% versus 51.4%). Differences in percentage of rural and urban children with caries lesions and caries experience were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Children residing in rural areas have less access to and utilization of dental care compared to children residing in urban areas. Moreover, poor rural children display less utilization of dental services than poor urban children. Differences in the sum of decayed and filled primary teeth and the sum of decayed, missing, and filled permanent teeth were not significant.     

Perforated colorectal neoplasms: correlation of clinical, contrast enema, and CT examinations

Results of clinical, contrast enema (CE), and computed tomographic (CT) examinations in 39 patients with perforated colorectal neoplasms were retrospectively reviewed. Twenty patients were toxemic at initial presentation, but in only four patients was the diagnosis of perforated colorectal neoplasm initially suspected clinically. CE study was performed in 22 patients and enabled the diagnosis of perforated neoplasm in 11 cases, neoplasm alone in eight, and neither neoplasm nor perforation in three. CT was performed in 38 patients and enabled the diagnosis of perforated neoplasm in 36; pericolic phlegmon but no mass lesion was evident in two. In 16 patients, CT also demonstrated metastatic disease. Because of its reliability in establishing the diagnosis and staging the extent of the inflammatory and neoplastic disease, CT is indicated in cases of suspected or proved perforated colorectal neoplasm and in cases in which CE study findings are indeterminate or suggestive of perforated neoplasm.