[Meigs' syndrome: is it possible to make a preoperative diagnosis?]

Two cases of Meigs' syndrome are reported, one following an ovarian fibrothecoma and the other an ovarian fibroma. The benign condition was suggested prior to surgery in one of the two patients because of a solid tumor of the ovary without peritoneal implant on CT-scan, and no malignant cells in ascitic fluid and on a fine needle biopsy. To differentiate this benign pathology from a malignant process enables to avoid useless surgical procedures. Preoperative evaluation, including serum CA 125 level, ultrasound examination and CT-scan, allows rarely to suggest the Meigs' syndrome. Nevertheless, this syndrome may be suspected when faced with an important pleural effusion, a very elevated CA-125 serum level, a negative cytologic examination of the ascitic effusion and no peritoneal implant on CT-scan.

Mycobacterium paratuberculosis and Mycobacterium avium subsp. silvaticum DNA cannot be detected by PCR in Crohn's disease tissue

BACKGROUND

The etiology of Crohn's disease remains unknown. A putative mycobacterial cause of the disease is still controversial.

AIMS

To assess the mycobacterial hypothesis in Crohn's disease using a polymerase chain reaction technique.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Nested polymerase chain reaction with primers on the 16S-rRNA coding region (16S-rDNA) and with primers specific both to the insertion sequences (IS) 900, and IS 901/902 were used to amplify Mycobacterium paratuberculosis or Mycobacterium avium subsp. silvaticum DNA in frozen endoscopic intestinal biopsies or surgical resection specimens from patients with Crohn's disease (n = 47: 25 endoscopic biopsies and 22 surgical resection samples, +/- lymph nodes), ulcerative colitis (n = 27), and non inflammatory bowel diseases (n = 20: colonic tumors and diverticulitis). Positive as well as negative controls were used throughout the study.

RESULTS

All strains of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis and Mycobacterium avium subsp. silvaticum tested were positive for both primer systems. Of the 94 biopsies tested, 5 (2 Crohn's disease, 1 ulcerative colitis and 2 controls) were positive with the 16S-rDNA primers but did not correspond to Mycobacterium paratuberculosis or Mycobacterium avium subsp. silvaticum. None of the specimens was positive with the IS primers.

CONCLUSION

These results do not support the hypothesis that Mycobacterium paratuberculosis, or Mycobacterium avium subsp. silvaticum play a role in Crohn's disease.

Reduction of diagnostic window by new fourth-generation human immunodeficiency virus screening assays

In order to reduce the diagnostic window between the time of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and laboratory diagnosis, new screening enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) which permit the simultaneous detection of HIV antigen and antibody have been developed. Two fourth-generation assays, HIV DUO (Biomérieux) and HIV Combi (Boehringer Mannheim), for the combined detection of HIV antigen and antibody, were compared with a third-generation assay (HIV-1/HIV-2 3rd Generation Plus enzyme immunoassay [EIA]; Abbott) and a p24 antigen test (HIV-1 Ag monoclonal; Abbott). A total of 17 seroconversion panels, 15 cell culture supernatants infected with different HIV type 1 (HIV-1) subtypes, and 255 potentially cross-reactive serum samples were tested. Ten seroconversions were detected an average of 8.1 days earlier with HIV DUO and 7.5 days earlier with HIV Combi than with the third-generation ELISA. Overall, in the 17 seroconversion panels tested, HIV DUO detected HIV-1 infection an average of 4.8 days and HIV Combi detected infection an average of 4.4 days earlier than HIV-1/HIV-2 3rd Generation Plus EIA. HIV antigen was detected with HIV DUO and HIV Combi in all of the 15 cell culture supernatants infected with different HIV-1 subtypes, including subtype O. With fourth-generation assays, considerably fewer false-positive results (n = 4 to 6) were obtained, in comparison with the third-generation EIA (n = 18). Fourth-generation assays permit an earlier diagnosis of HIV infection than third-generation antibody screening assays through the detection of p24 antigen, which may be present in serum samples from individuals with recent HIV infection prior to seroconversion.

Gynecomastia of the male nipple

Diseases of the male nipple can be responsible for severe problems for the patient. The location of gynecomastia can be restricted to the nipple. Carcinoma should also be considered. The therapy of choice is operative treatment. A subtle microsurgical procedure is helpful to achieve a good functional and cosmetic result.

[Analysis of cost measures in treatment of severely burned patients]

An analysis of costs and profit and an evaluation of the different cost parameters was performed in our burn centre, which treated 50-80 patients per year between 1991 and 1995. The cost-profit relationship (costs 3.7-4.6 million DM/year, profit 3.8-5.0 million DM/year) is balanced. The main cost parameters are staff costs (1.3-1.9 million DM/year), costs for medical treatment (1.5-1.8 million DM/year), and costs for internal services (0.6-0.9 million DM/year).

Intrabronchial surfactant application in cases of inhalation injury: first results from patients with severe burns and ARDS

Damage to the respiratory tract caused by inhalation of toxic products of combustion with subsequent development of an acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is one of the main causes of death in burn patients. Treatment with an exogenous surfactant is a therapeutic option for which there has previously been no empirical data. We report on four severely burned patients with deep partial thickness and full thickness burns of between 40 and 70 per cent body surface area (BSA), and with inhalation injury complicated by ARDS. These patients were treated once or more than once with bovine surfactant replacement (Alveofact). In addition to biophysical and biochemical analysis, the influence of this substance on oxygenation and lung function were evaluated. After the limits of mechanical ventilation had been reached, bronchoscopic intrabronchial administration of surfactant was followed by temporarily improved gas exchange with an increase in arterial O2 partial pressure (PaO2), accompanied by a reduction in inspiratory O2 concentration (FiO2), and also improved lung compliance. All the patients survived in spite of an initially unfavourable prognosis. Replacement of exogenous surfactant in the treatment of inhalation traumatized severe burn patients with ARDS appears to show considerable promise as an approach to improving the survival chances of these high-risk patients.

[Myocutaneous flap as reliable defect coverage in high grade pelvic decubitus ulcers. Classification, therapeutic concept and presentation of personal patient sample of 16 years]

Infected pelvic pressure sores of Campbell stages IV-VII require soft tissue reconstruction, which means stable, multi-layered filling cover of the defect and reliable prophylaxis of relapse. Myocutaneous flaps meet these conditions well. Depending on the extent and the area of the sore, with predilection for the sacrum, the ischial tuberosity and the femoral trochanter, the gluteus maximus, biceps femoris and tensor fasciae latae muscles are most often used for myocutaneous flaps. Primary sutures, split skin grafts or local fasciocutaneous flaps are often sufficient treatment for smaller, superficial defects. Between 1981 and 1996, 133 patients (average age 50 years) with 212 pelvic pressure sores of all stages were treated in our clinic. After radical decubitus excision with pseudotumor technique and resection of the osseous prominences, one-stage reconstruction of solitary as well as multiple defects was performed with myocutaneous flaps in 135 cases. The postoperative general complication rate for all treatments was about 10-30%. With regard to the muscle flaps, one third healed without any problems, partial flap necrosis occurred in 6% and there was total loss of flap in 2% of all myocutaneous flaps. According to present knowledge, myocutaneous flaps seem to be the most reliable method for definitive covering of deep pelvic pressure sores, independent of the cause of the ulcer.