Incremental Value of Three-Dimensional Echocardiography Over Transesophageal Multiplane Two-Dimensional Echocardiography in Qualitative and Quantitative Assessment of Cardiac Masses and Defects

In the present study, we compared three-dimensionally (3-D) reconstructed images with multiplane two-dimensional (2-D) transesophageal echocardiographic (TEE) images in 17 patients with various cardiac masses and defects. To overcome the problem of making measurements from 3-D reconstructed images, we carefully "dissected" the 3-D dataset using paraplane and anyplane 2-D sections, which were then used to obtain the maximum sizes of the cardiac masses and defects. Of the 15 vegetations and 9 abscesses detected by 3-D TEE in 7 patients, only 8 (53%) vegetations and 4 (44%) abscesses were detected by multiplane 2-D TEE (P < 0.02). Also, the exact anatomical location, shape, geometry, and extent of various cardiac masses and defects were more clearly delineated by 3-D than 2-D TEE. The maximum dimensions of cardiac masses and defects were larger by 3-D than by 2-D TEE in 17 (89%) of the 19 lesions available for comparison (P < 0.002). In addition, 3-D TEE correlated more closely than 2-D TEE when compared to surgical measurements in three patients in whom they were available. Thus, it would appear that in several instances, the exact size of the cardiac lesion could only be assessed by analysis of the 3-D volumetric dataset. Out preliminary study has demonstrated the superiority of transesophageal 3-D reconstruction over multiplane 2-D TEE in both qualitative and quantitative assessment of various cardiac mass lesions and pathological defects.     

肛旁脓肿行Ⅰ期根治性手术疗效的探讨

目的：探讨肛旁脓肿行Ⅰ期根治性手术的疗效。方法：对78例肛旁脓肿患者交叉设计分成两组。分别行Ⅰ期根治性手术（RS）和单纯脓肿切开引流（ID），比较术后疗效。结果：RS组病人术后形成肛瘘的发生率远低于ID组。而并发症却无升高趋势，且明显缩短了伤口愈合时间。结论：Ⅰ期根治性手术治疗肛旁脓肿疗效满意，临床使用价值高，值得推广。     

Multiple brain abscesses and intracerebral hemorrhage caused by Bacillus Cereus in a case of acute lymphatic leukemia

We report a first case of a 19 year old female suffering from an acute lymphatic leukemia, which developed shortly after the initiation of a chemotherapy an intracerebral hemorrhage and fatal multiple brain abscesses caused by Bacillus cereus. There is much evidence that Bacillus cereus in immunocompromised patients leads to a localized, necrotizing tissue infection due to the production of potent toxins and usually results in rapid and fulminant tissue destruction. Bacillus species has an special affinity for the CNS mediated by phospholipase C, which tends to associate with the lipid membranes of the brain.     

Histopathology of mixed anaerobic intraabdominal infection in mice

Summary This study characterized acute peritonitis and chronic abscess formation resulting from experimental mixed anaerobic infection withBacteroides melaninogenicus andFusobacterium necrophorum. At intervals after infection liver and spleen samples were obtained, fixed, and processed for histological examination. An acute to chronic infection progressed in mice infected with this mixture of anaerobic bacteria, whereas, no infection resulted when either organism was injected alone. Acute inflammatory cell infiltrates were noted in tissue samples at 12 h postinfection. Small, discrete areas of liver cell necrosis with neutrophilic infiltrates were observed as early as 24 h. By 48 h after infection the liver parenchyma was infiltrated with both acute and chronic inflammatory cells, with moderate to severe hepatocyte degeneration recognized at 72 h. Large intrahepatic abscesses were present in the subphrenic (upper lobe) area 2 to 6 weeks after experimental infection.     

Treatment of deep brain abscesses by stereotactic implantation of an intracavitary device for evacuation and local application of antibiotics

Summary Complete recovery from deep brain abscesses was achieved in four patients treated by a specialized stereotactic method. In one patient the lesion was in the right thalamus, in two patients within the brain stem and in one case in the right rolandic cortex. The technique consists in the stereotactic implantation of a chronic intracavitary catheter connected to a subcutaneous reservoir to allow postoperative multiple evacuations and local antibiotic irrigations. Serial CT scan examinations guided the timing of intracavitary treatment and the removal of the catheter. No recurrence developed. The diagnostic and therapeutic advantages of this stereotactic technique are emphasized.     

Clinical spectrum of intra-abdominal abscesses in children admitted to the pediatric emergency department

BackgroundTo analyze clinical spectrum of intra-abdominal abscesses in children and find helpful clinical parameters could aid physicians in earlier detection and differential diagnosis.MethodsFrom 2004 to 2011, we retrospectively analyzed 66 pediatric patients, aged 18 years or younger with intra-abdominal abscesses. The data were obtained and studied: demographics, clinical presentations, etiologies, laboratory tests, microbiology, imaging studies, treatment modalities, complications and long-term outcomes.ResultsThere were 66 patients (mean age, 9.27 ± 4.16 years) diagnosed as intra-abdominal abscesses. The two most common presented symptoms were fever and abdominal pain (90.9%; 78.8%, respectively). Most patients presented with leukocytosis (81.8%) and elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (95.5%). In patients with abscesses in solid organs, urine white blood cell counts, nitrate and leukocyte esterase were all significant parameters (all P < 0.05), and urine pH and specific gravity were both lower than those in non-solid organs (P = 0.026; P = 0.043, respectively). Escherichia coli (E. coli) was the most common organism cultured from renal abscess. Streptococcus viridans was the most common organism cultured from liver abscess. Moreover, the two most predominant bacteria in periappendical and intraperitoneal abscesses were E. coli and Bacteroides fragilis.ConclusionsWe suggest that primary physicians should keep this disease in mind when children present with predisposing risk factors, fever, abdominal pain, leukocytosis and elevated CRP level. Besides, we recommend the urinary analysis or ultrasonography (US) is valuable in patients with fever and abdominal pain.     

乌蔹莓膏在急性骶尾部藏毛窦脓肿术后的应用研究

目的:观察乌蔹莓膏应用于急性骶尾部藏毛窦脓肿术后创面的临床疗效。方法:采用前瞻性随机对照研究方法,纳入84例采用切口开放手术(袋形缝合术)治疗的急性骶尾部藏毛窦脓肿的患者,随机分为试验组(采用乌蔹莓膏换药治疗,n=41)和对照组(采用医用凡士林敷料换药治疗,n=43),比较两组的创面疼痛和渗液情况、创面肉芽生长情况、愈合情况、住院时间及愈合皮肤瘢痕增生情况。结果:试验组的创面疼痛及渗液情况明显轻于对照组(P＜0.05)。试验组的创面肉芽生长更好,创面愈合速度更快,住院时间及愈合时间更短(均P＜0.001)。术后6个月,试验组患者温哥华瘢痕量表(VSS)评分中的色泽、厚度、血管分布、柔软度及总分均明显低于对照组(均P＜0.05)。结论:乌蔹莓膏应用于急性骶尾部藏毛窦脓肿术后创面的疗效较好,可有效减轻术后创面疼痛、渗液,促进肉芽生长,加快创面愈合速度,缩短创面愈合时间及住院时间,抑制瘢痕增生,值得临床推广。     

CT引导下经皮穿刺微创介入治疗脊柱结核脓肿

目的评价CT引导下经皮穿刺置管冲洗引流治疗脊柱结核脓肿的作用及疗效。资料与方法搜集近2年临床诊断为胸、腰椎结核并椎旁脓肿形成且经平片或CT检查证实的患者资料11例。在CT定位下,取椎旁脓肿最大层面穿刺,经穿刺定位针并扩张达5．0mm工作套管,置入双腔同轴引流管,保留引流管并用药物冲洗引流,同时配合临床口服抗结核药物治疗。结果经3～24个月随访,10例取得良好的疗效（其中7例治愈,3例有效）,1例疗效不理想,所有病例均无并发症发生。结论CT引导下经皮穿刺置管冲洗引流化疗治疗脊柱结核是一种操作简便、安全有效、创伤很小的介入治疗方法。