Hypomelanosis of Ito (HI) is a neurocutaneous syndrome with multisystemic involvement. Its most frequent neurological abnormalities are mental retardation and seizures. EEG, CT and MRI findings are not characteristic enough to be diagnostic. In this report, we describe a patient with typical cutaneous lesions of HI and an intracranial arteriovenous malformation (AVM), which has not been previously reported.

Arteriovenous Malformations↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Infectious complications in renal transplant recipients.

Renal transplantation has become a well-established therapeutic option for end-stage renal disease, but infectious diseases remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Although a wide variety of pathogens may cause infection, viral ones must be regarded as the single most important class of infections. Progress has been made both in the prevention and the early recognition treatment of infections that are closely linked to rejection. Immunosuppressive therapy is central to the pathogenesis of both. Because of the particular characteristics of transplant recipients, it is desirable to establish a close collaboration between nephrologists, surgeons, and infectious disease specialists for the management of these patients. In this article, we describe the different kinds of infectious disease that may affect patients with kidney transplant and the fundamental principles of clinical management, particularly our experience in Polyoma virus (BK) infection.

Humans↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Computed tomography of hepatic fascioliasis.

In seven patients with active fascioliasis of the liver, CT revealed nodular intrahepatic lesions of diminished attenuation, as well as peripheral branching formations. Computed tomography was negative in a single patient with quiescent disease. Computed tomography can be a useful tool for the diagnosis of this disease during the invasive period and also to evaluate response of patients to medical treatment.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Present neuropsychological status of subjects implanted with auditory prostheses.

To assess the subject's cognitive and conceptual function, an extensive battery of neuropsychological tests were administered to each subject. Of the 13 subjects, 11 showed normal to superior cognitive and conceptual abilities; however, two of the subjects presented evidence of impaired cognitive and conceptual functioning. Subjects with right-ear implants showed asymmetry in the measures of peripheral flicker-fusion thresholds.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

HRAS1 minisatellite alleles in colorectal carcinoma: relationship to microsatelite instability.

OBJECTIVES: To further evaluate sporadic colon carcinoma risk associated with rare HRAS1 VNTR alleles, the relationship with microsatellite instability and with HRAS1 VNTR instability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The HRAS1 VNTR was genotyped in 121 tumors and normal samples from sporadic colon carcinoma patients (47 right and 74 left colon) and in 109 samples from healthy individuals. The HRAS1 alleles were identified using PCR and automatic fluorescent electrophoresis detection combined with MVR-PCR (Minisatellite Variant Repeat-Polymerase Chain Reaction). Microsatellite Instability (MI) was analysed with 10 microsatellite markers. RESULTS: A relative risk of 3.04 (95% CI: 1.16-4.92) associated with rare alleles was obtained. No HRAS1 minisatellite instability was present in the tumors. Samples with MI were equally distributed between the common and rare HRAS1 allele groups, while the distribution of HRAS1 alleles in samples with MI was similar in right and left colorectal carcinoma. CONCLUSION: Rare HRAS1 VNTR alleles are associated with colorectal carcinoma risk independent of the tumor location. MI is not likely to be involved in the same underlying defect that generates rare HRAS1 alleles in colorectal carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Clinical experience in treatment of Amanita phalloides poisoning].

BACKGROUND: The management of patients suffering from Amanita Phalloides poisoning (APP) may be very challenging. Furthermore, the treatment often includes depurative techniques and Orthotopic Liver Transplantation (OLTx) must be started timely to be effective. We report our experience in severe APP treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated five patients suffering from APP and hospitalized within our Intensive Care Unit, assessing different kinds of treatment: two different dialytic techniques, namely Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT), and Charcoal Plasmaperfusion (CRRT+CPP), and OLTx. RESULTS: Two patients treated with CRRT+CPP, one patient treated with CRRT only and the patient treated by OLTx recovered. One patient, undergoing CRRT only, died after 14 days of treatment. During the CRRT+CPP treatment no relevant complication occurred. The transplanted patient received dialytic treatment for 7 days after transplantation in order to support renal function impairment and to enhance liver function recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical management of patients suffering from APP requires multi-disciplinary intervention; therefore it is recommended to treat these patients in an Intensive Care Unit with specialized nephrological and toxicological consultancy, in collaboration with an organ transplantation team. In the near future we wish to associate dialytic treatment with a bioartificial liver device, which could bridge the time gap to liver transplantation.

Acute Disease↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Selective adsorption of homocysteine using HFR-on line technique].

Homocysteine (Hcy) is grossly elevated in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Treatment with folic acid and/or vitamin B12 fails to normalize Hcy levels in the majority of patients. Treatment with various dialyzers with different flux characteristics has produced contrasting results. Hemodiafiltration reinfusion (HFR) on-line (double chamber hemodiafiltration (HDF) with regenerated ultrafiltrate reinfusion) is a novel method combining the processes of diffusion, convection and absorbance. The ultrafiltrate is regenerated through a charcoal-resin device. Our aim was to observe the effect of the HFR on-line technique on removing Hcy. We investigated the effect of this treatment on Hcy levels in 10 patients with a mean Hcy level of 57.6 micromol/L (range 24.1-119.7). We measured Hcy, folate and vitamin B12 pre- and post-dialysis and in the ultrafiltrate pre- and post-cartridge at 10, 120 and 240 min. Mean Hcy levels were 57.6 and 35.3 micromol/L (range 9.9-80.3) (p=0.005) pre- and post-dialysis, respectively, while folate and vitamin B12 were unchanged. Pre- and post-cartridge Hcy levels were 11.6 vs 2.5 (p=0.005), 9.3 vs 3.9 (p=0.005), 7.7 vs 4.6 micromol/L (p=0.012) at three time points considered, while folate and vitamin B12 were essentially undetectable. These preliminary data, which need confirmation in a long-term study, seem to indicate that HFR on-line reduces Hcy levels, not only through a possible reduction in uremic toxins, but also through the actual removal of Hcy by absorbance on the charcoal-resin cartridge.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[The laryngeal mask].

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Anesthesiology↗

PubMedDate not supplied

DNA fingerprinting by ERIC-PCR for comparing Listeria spp. strains isolated from different sources in San Luis, Argentina.

In this study, a total of 24 Listeria spp. strains were analyzed. Twenty-two isolates were obtained in San Luis (Argentina) from human, animal, and food samples. Two types of strains, Listeria monocytogenes CLIP 22762 and Listeria innocua CLIP 74915, were included as reference strains. All isolates were biochemically identified and characterized by serotyping, phage typing, and amplification of the flaA gene by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC) sequence-based PCR was used to generate DNA fingerprints. On the basis of ERIC-PCR fingerprints, Listeria spp. strains were divided into three major clusters matching origin of isolation. ERIC-PCR fingerprints of human and animal isolates were different from those of food isolates. In addition, groups I and II included ten L. monocytogenes strains, and only one Listeria seeligeri strain. Group III included nine L. innocua strains and four L. monocytogenes strains. Computer evaluation of ERIC-PCR fingerprints allowed discrimination between the tested serotypes 1/2b, 4b, 6a, and 6b within each major cluster. The index of discrimination calculated was 0.94. This study suggests that the ERIC-PCR technique provides an alternative method for the identification of Listeria species and the discrimination of strains within one species.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Female anticonception by voluntary surgery in the Ministery of Health, 1981-1984].

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Adult↗