Epstein-Barr Virus in Salivary Samples from Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients with Oral Lesions

In order to investigate the possible role of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its associated oral lesions, a pilot case-control study was performed. A total of 31 patients (18 females and 13 males) were enrolled in the study and divided into two groups: group A included 16 patients with diagnosis of SLE and group B included 15 healthy individuals. Salivary swab samples were collected and subjected to molecular screening by real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) for the detection of EBV DNA. EBV DNA was significantly detected in 8/16 (50%) SLE patients and in 5/7 (71.4%) subjects with SLE-associated oral lesions. Since EBV is one of the most common viruses in the human population, it is difficult to understand if it is the causative agent of SLE or, vice versa, if SLE is able to trigger the reactivation of EBV. This study highlights a significant association between the presence of EBV and both SLE and SLE-related oral lesions and provides rationale for further investigation into the role of EBV in SLE pathogenesis.

Intestinal perforation secondary to blunt abdominal trauma in pre-existing inguinal hernia

Inguinal hernias are very common in men. We report a rare case of intestinal perforation following blunt abdominal trauma in a 80-year-old man with pre-existing inguinal hernia. A careful and serial physical examination, with the information obtained from the computed tomography (CT) scan guides the prompt surgical exploration. This case demonstrates that external forces, that may seem too trivial to cause intraperitoneal injury, can cause significant injury when applied to a patient with a hernia. It is possible to repair the intestinal perforation and inguinal hernia in the same operation.

Retrorectal multilocular cyst in a adult female. Case report and review of literature

Tumors occurring in the retrorectal space are heterogeneous and uncommon. Multiple embryologie remnants derived from a variety of tissues are found in this space and this explains the heterogeneous pathology of cysts and tumors that arise in retrorectal space. Presacral cysts are rare in adults. Most of the lesions are benign. The cysts may be unilocular or multilocular. They are often asymptomatic. These tumors pose a diagnostic and therapeutic interest. Presacral epidermoid cysts are classified as a type of developmental cysts. We report the case of a 57-year-old woman who presented with a painless mass posterior of the anus. Imaging studies showed a multilocular cyst (65 × 100 × 60 mm) in the retrorectal space. The patient underwent surgery via a posterior approach. Histological study revealed a epidermoid cyst. A review of literature of this rare tumor is performed.