Clostridium perfringens meningitis, Plesiomonas shigelloides sepsis: A lethal combination

Background:

Anaerobic bacterial meningitis is rare. It is extremely unusual without a portal of entry as most cases reported have been associated with trauma or neurosurgery.

Case Report:

We describe this rare case of clostridium meningitis and plesiomonas sepsis in an immunocompetent adult. A 71 year old man with diabetes presented with acute onset severe headaches, obtundation and signs of severe hemolysis following a 2 week game hunting trip in the Swiss Alps. His clinical status progressed rapidly; he died 3 hours after initial presentation. Post mortem lumbar puncture was performed with CSF analysis suggestive of bacterial meningitis. Clostridium perfringens was eventually recovered from the CSF as well as in the blood. Plesiomonas shigelloides was recovered from the blood as well.

Conclusions:

This is the first case of blood stream infection with these two organisms in a single patient without an obvious portal of entry.

The treatment of tongue haemangioma by plasma knife surgery

A seven-year-old girl presented with a 4 cm x 2 cm lesion of the tongue which was located at the posterior one-third in the midline. The lesion was excised by plasma knife surgery. No complication, such as bleeding, shortness of breath or infection, occurred after the treatment. Plasma knife surgery is an acceptable choice for selected benign lingual vascular malformations.

Effects of percutaneous laser ablation treatment in benign solitary thyroid nodules on nodule volume, thyroglobulin and anti-thyroglobulin levels, and cytopathology of nodule in 1 yr follow-up

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of ultrasound (US)-guided percutaneous laser ablation (PLA) in the treatment of benign solid hypoactive thyroid nodules on nodule volume, thyroid functions, nodule cytology and patients' complaints.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

Criteria for enrollment in the study were as follows: patients with euthyroid, benign, hypofunctional nodule who had compressive symptoms or cosmetic complaints, but considered inoperable, or who rejected surgical treatment. PLA procedure at 3-5 watts (W) was applied to 15 thyroid nodules of 12 patients (4 male and 8 female; age range 20-78 yr, mean age 47.42+/-17.05 yr), and patients were followed up for 12 months. Thyroid functions and nodule volumes (ultrasonographically) were evaluated. US-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) was performed before and after the procedure, and biopsy specimens were cytologically evaluated.

RESULTS

The mean nodule volume before the procedure was 11.97 ml (min-max 0.95-26.30 ml). However, 12 months after the procedure the mean nodule volume was 2.21+/-2.32 ml (min-max 0.10-7.65 ml). The mean reduction in nodule volumes was 82%. Thyroglobulin levels reached peak values at 1 month after the procedure, and anti-thyroglobulin levels at 3 months after the procedure. FNAB performed at 12th month showed neutrophil polymorphs, macrophages, abundant cell debris, colloid, multinucleated giant cells, and small fragments of fibrous stroma which indicated that PLA procedure led to degenerative changes in nodules.

CONCLUSION

US-guided PLA is a new, successful treatment method which is reliable in the long term in benign solid thyroid nodules for selected patients who are inoperable or do not prefer surgery.

Hematological malignancy and pregnancy: a single-institution experience of 21 cases

The incidence of hematological malignancies during pregnancy is low, and treatment in this setting is problematic. This study observed 21 pregnancies in 18 patients with hematological malignancies. Patients' ages were between 19 and 43 (median 25) years. Two pregnancies ended with spontaneous abortion, one pregnancy ended with in utero death, three therapeutic abortions were carried out, and 15 infants were born alive but three of them died later. The median birth weight was 2.47 kg. Twelve babies survived to a median age of 36 (range 4-117) months. Eight babies were exposed to chemotherapy during the in utero period. One baby was exposed to chemotherapy during all the trimesters and was born prematurely and later died because of intracranial bleeding. Four babies were exposed to chemotherapy during the first trimester, one of them had low birth weight and floating thumb malformation, two of them had only low birth weight, and one was born healthy, but died at 3 months of age as a result of severe gastroenteritis. Two babies were exposed to chemotherapy during the second and third trimesters; one of them had low birth weight, and the other pregnancy ended in in utero death. One infant was exposed to chemotherapy during the third trimester and was born at term, but died because of pulmonary hemorrhage. We concluded that chemotherapy during all trimesters of pregnancy carries a significant risk for an unfavorable outcome.

A case of metastatic spinal Ewing's sarcoma misdiagnosed as brucellosis and transverse myelitis

An 11-year-old girl was admitted with back pain for 2 months, inability to walk for 15 days, and enuresis and encopresis for 2 days. She had been hospitalized with the diagnosis of brucellosis in another hospital. At presentation, she had paraplegia, sphincter dysfunction, and bilateral sensory loss below the T6 level, and was initially diagnosed with transverse myelitis caused by brucellosis. On the third day of hospitalization, however, agglutination test for brucella was negative, but it was positive for Salmonella. Therefore, transverse myelitis was considered to be due to salmonellosis. Thoracic spine magnetic resonance imaging showed an extradural, paraspinal mass at the level of T6-T7. The mass was totally extracted, and histopathological examination revealed Ewing's sarcoma. During follow-up, no improvement in paraplegia was noted and an enlarged presacral decubital ulcer developed. Aside from supportive care, local radiotherapy was applied. Unfortunately, the patient died from probable infection 9 months after the diagnosis. We emphasize that metastatic spinal Ewing's sarcoma may mimic brucellosis and transverse myelitis in childhood.

Effect of intra-articular administration of hyaluronan and cortisone on secondary osteoarthritis of the infected rabbit's knee

Hyaluronan is known to play an important role in the healing of degenerative osteoarthritis. But there is no clear consensus how it effects on osteoarthritis compare to cortisone. The purpose of the research was to determine the comparative effects of hyaluronan and cortisone on the healing of degenerative osteoarthritis. A rabbit model used in which a degenerative osteoarthritis were created in the articular cartilage by the inoculation of Staphylococcus Aureus (S. Aureus). The rabbits divided into two groups namely injected with hyaluronan (group A) and cortisone (group B) at days 20, 23 and 26. After hyaluronan and cortisone injections for treatment of osteoarthritis at day of 25 and 35 six rabbits (each of three injected with hyaluronan and cortisone) and at day 50 (six of injected with hyaluronan and five of cortisone) were sacrified. In biopsies obtained from these knees both articular cartilage degeneration and inflammation around the joint were examined by light microscopy. It was seen that the histopathologic findings were consistent with active chronic inflammation at day 10, followed by chronic inflammation. At day 5 of treatment the degeneration decreased (60%) in group A, and clinical findings disappeared after day 9 of treatment. At day 15 of hyaluronan treatment the degeneration degree regressed and at day 30 absolutely healed (all except one). In group B, at day 5 of treatment, the clinical findings disappeared and the healing rate was 72%. At day 15 of cortisone treatment, the degeneration slightly increased and at day 30 the degeneration degree increased more than that day of 15. The results showed that cortisone is effective in the treatment of cartilage degeneration and inflammation early in the course of the septic arthritis whereas the therapeutic effect of hyaluronan is higher late in the course of the disease. Further studies are required in order to understand the effectiveness of the combined or consecutive use of these drugs in degenerative osteoarthritis.

Head and neck granulocytic sarcoma with acute myeloid leukemia: three rare cases

We conducted a retrospective review of pathology files and hospital records and identified three unusual presentations of granulocytic sarcoma associated with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) of the head and neck. At least one mass was observed on the skin of all three patients. A 17-year-old boy had masses in each temporal region that were accompanied by bilateral facial paralysis. He was administered chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but he died of infection secondary to a second relapse 29 months after the initial diagnosis. A 17-year-old girl had a tumor in the right parotid area. She received chemotherapy, but she died of infection and bleeding 2 months after the initial diagnosis. A 33-year-old man had numerous tumors widely disseminated over his skin. He received chemotherapy and was in remission 12 months after the initial diagnosis, but he eventually relapsed and died. Granulocytic sarcoma can be localized in unexpected regions, including the head and neck. This tumor is very often misdiagnosed as a malignant lymphoma, which leads to delayed treatment and a poor outcome. Therefore, clinical and histopathologic findings should be evaluated before any diagnosis of malignant lymphoma is pronounced. Immunohistochemical stains should also be performed on patients with suspected granulocytic sarcoma, and aggressive chemotherapy or immunotherapy should be administered. We believe that high-dose chemotherapy can improve survival rates in granulocytic sarcoma associated with AML.

Atypical fibroxanthoma of the skin and the lower lip in xeroderma pigmentosum

Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is a rare, usually autosomal recessive disorder related to DNA repair defects. Atypical fibroxanthoma (AFX) is a pleomorphic tumour that occurs infrequently on the limbs and trunk in children. We report a child with XP who presented with AFX of the facial skin and the lower lip. The diagnosis of AFX was confirmed using histological and immunohistochemical techniques. We discuss the possibility that ultraviolet-induced damage might be implicated in the pathogenesis of AFX.

Fronto-orbitonasal intradiploic meningioma in a child

Intradiploic meningioma, which may be classified as a subgroup of intraosseous meningioma, is a rarely encountered disorder. To date, less than 10 cases have been reported. Here, we report a case of fronto-orbitonasal intradiploic meningioma. A 12-year-old female with exophthalmos and diplopia was operated on for a cranial intradiploic mass lesion. Histopathological evaluation of the specimen confirmed the diagnosis of intradiploic psammomatous meningioma. Her exophthalmos did not change, but the diplopia disappeared. This case is unique in that it is an extensive case of intradiploic meningioma of the orbital roof and frontal base in a child. Intradiploic meningiomas generally are of psammomatous type. Especially tumors adjacent to the orbita cause exophthalmos; cases located on the other side of the calvarium may not cause any symptom or sign other than headache or sometimes a mass on the scalp. Treatment, as with meningiomas located in the intracranial cavity, is total resection of the lesion.

The effect on survival of thoracic duct ligation in experimental peritonitis

BACKGROUND/AIMS

It has been shown that systemic bacteremia and endotoxemia in peritonitis is mainly related to lymphatic transport via the thoracic duct. This study was performed to investigate the effect on mortality of thoracic duct ligation in experimental peritonitis.

METHODOLOGY

Thirty dogs were divided into three groups. Groups I, II, and III were control, unligated, and ligated thoracic duct peritonitis groups, respectively. Liver biopsy, blood and peritoneal fluid cultures were taken and survival time was established.

RESULTS

Bacteria were determined in peritoneal fluid in all animals in groups II and III. Growing bacteria numbers in group III were two times higher than in group II. While bacterium was grown on blood cultures in all group II animals, growing was determined on blood cultures in only 2 animals in group III. Diffuse necrosis was determined in the liver of 2 animals who died within 72 hours in group II. Another 8 animals had minimal focal necrosis in their livers. Diffuse and progressive necrosis was determined in the liver of all animals in group III. The difference between liver necrosis in group II and group III was found to be statistically significant (p = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

This experimental study demonstrates that thoracic duct ligation decreases bacteremia rates clearly but that mortality increases significantly.

The influence of sphincterotomy and hepatic plexus vagotomy on ascending infections of the biliary tract: an experimental study in dogs

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Hypertonic dyskinesia of the sphincter of Oddi is an important factor in the pathogenesis of postcholecystectomy syndrome, and this condition is usually treated by endoscopic sphincterotomy. However, it has been demonstrated that the biliary tract may also be contaminated after sphincterotomy. In various experimental studies, it has been established that the choledochal pressure decreases by a mean of 32% to 28% after hepatic plexus vagotomy. This experimental study was performed to investigate whether hepatic plexus vagotomy and/or sphincterotomy result in contamination of the biliary tract.

METHODOLOGY

Thirty street dogs were divided into three equal groups. The three groups underwent simple laparotomy, transduodenal papillotomy, hepatic plexus vagotomy, respectively, and gallbladder bile samples were taken from all of them. Relaparotomy was performed after four weeks, and again, bile samples were taken from the gallbladder. All bile samples were examined microbiologically.

RESULTS

Bacteria were not found in the first bile samples taken from the three groups. Bacteria were not found in the bile samples taken during the second surgery in the simple laparotomy and hepatic plexus vagotomy groups. However, both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria were found in the papillotomy group in seven of the ten dogs.

CONCLUSION

These results demonstrate that hepatic plexus vagotomy decreased choledochal pressure and did not cause contamination of the biliary tract. It may be a treatment of choice to prevent postcholecystectomy syndrome resulting from sphincter of Oddi dysfunction.

Assessment of testicular cytology by fine-needle aspiration and the imprint technique: are they reliable diagnostic modalities?

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether testicular cytology may be considered diagnostic in the evaluation of infertile men.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Specimens of testicular tissue obtained either surgically (imprint smear) or through fine-needle aspiration (FNA) were used as a source of cytological smears; 58 testes from 24 men with azoospermia or severe oligospermia and from five men with advanced prostate cancer were evaluated cytologically and compared with the histological diagnosis.

RESULTS

FNA caused no apparent trauma. The results from FNA smears generally agreed with the histological findings but four patients with no spermatozoa in the FNA smears were diagnosed histologically as hypospermatogenic and two others judged histologically as having Sertoli-cell-only (SCO) syndrome and spermatogenic arrest had detectable spermatozoa in their FNA smears. There was complete agreement between the results of imprint smears and histological findings in those patients with SCO syndrome and spermatogenic arrest. There were no evident differences in sperm counts between hypospermatogenesis and normal spermatogenesis on the imprint slides, but FNA smears detected this difference.

CONCLUSION

FNA of the testis is a relatively non-invasive and reproducible technique for evaluating qualitative and quantitative cytology. However, it is insufficient for diagnosing some testicular pathologies. Imprint smears supplement the histological diagnosis, especially if the histological slides are stained unsatisfactorily.