1/89. Interferon-induced cutaneous necrosis.BACKGROUND: Due to advances in recombinant dna technology, interferons are now readily available and are frequently used in all branches of medicine. These potent biologic response modifiers carry a number of systemic and local side effects. These cytokines are usually administered subcutaneously, and recent studies have described the occurrence of inflammation or necrosis at the site of injection. OBJECTIVE: We report a case of cutaneous necrosis at the sites of interferon injections in a 35-year-old man treated for chronic myeloid leukemia with high, daily doses of interferon alfa. In addition, we review the existing literature on interferon-induced cutaneous necrosis and discuss preventive strategies. CONCLUSION: Cutaneous inflammation or necrosis at interferon injection sites is not uncommon. Although interferon beta-1b is most commonly responsible for this complication, it is now increasingly reported with interferon alfa. It appears to be secondary to the proinflammatory effects of these cytokines or to their unmasking of a subtle hypercoagulable state.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = beta (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/89. enteritis necroticans (pigbel) in a diabetic child.BACKGROUND AND methods: enteritis necroticans (pigbel), an often fatal illness characterized by hemorrhagic, inflammatory, or ischemic necrosis of the jejunum, occurs in developing countries but is rare in developed countries, where its occurrence is confined to adults with chronic illnesses. The causative organism of enteritis necroticans is clostridium perfringens type C, an anaerobic gram-positive bacillus. In December 1998, enteritis necroticans developed in a 12-year-old boy with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus after he consumed pig intestines (chitterlings). He presented with hematemesis, abdominal distention, and severe diabetic ketoacidosis with hypotension. At laparotomy, extensive jejunal necrosis required bowel resection, jejunostomy, and ileostomy. Samples were obtained for histopathological examination. Polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR) assay was performed on paraffin-embedded bowel tissue with primers specific for the cpa and cpb genes, which code for the alpha and beta toxins produced by C. perfringens. RESULTS: Histologic examination of resected bowel tissue showed extensive mucosal necrosis, the formation of pseudomembrane, pneumatosis, and areas of epithelial regeneration that alternated with necrotic segments--findings consistent with a diagnosis of enteritis necroticans. Gram's staining showed large gram-positive bacilli whose features were consistent with those of clostridium species. Through PCR amplification, we detected products of the cpa and cpb genes, which indicated the presence of C. perfringens type C. Assay of ileal tissue obtained during surgery to restore the continuity of the patient's bowel was negative for C. perfringens. CONCLUSIONS: The preparation or consumption of chitterlings by diabetic patients and other chronically ill persons can result in potentially life-threatening infectious complications.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = beta (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/89. Ectopic production and localization of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin in lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the cervix: a case report.A 32-year-old woman underwent a suction curettage for missed abortion. The initial serum human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) level was 40 IU/ml. The histologic examination of the uterine curettage specimen showed scant strips of a poorly differentiated malignant neoplasm and no chorionic villi. The tumor showed strong immunoreactivity for cytokeratin (AE1/AE3) and beta-hCG but no reactivity for human placental lactogen. The combination of histologic appearance, beta-hCG immunoreactivity, and elevation of serum beta-hCG raised a strong suspicion for epithelioid trophoblastic tumor (ETT). Postcurettage serial serum beta-hCG levels remained in the range of 20 to 45 micrograms/ml. Computerized tomographic scan showed a 1.0-cm circumscribed mass in the upper endocervix. A radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy were performed. Gross examination of the hysterectomy specimen likewise showed a well-circumscribed mass in the upper endocervix. Histologic examination revealed an undifferentiated carcinoma accompanied by intense lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate. A final diagnosis of lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC) was rendered. LELC with elevated serum beta-hCG level and immunoreactivity to beta-hCG should be distinguished from ETT in a small endocervical curettage sample.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 11keywords = beta (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/89. Disseminated lupus vulgaris and papulonecrotic tuberculid: case report.The incidence of tuberculosis and extrapulmonary forms of this disease is increasing all over the world. lupus vulgaris is the most prevalent form of cutaneous tuberculosis in europe and the middle east. Papulonecrotic tuberculid, the most common form of hyperergic response to mycobacteria or their fragments, is uncommon in children. We report lupus vulgaris with papulonecrotic tuberculid in a 12-year-old girl who had a 3-year history of slowly growing plaques on her trunk, extremities, and the tip of her nose and papuloulcerative lesions over her entire body. A skin biopsy specimen showed minimally caseating granulomatous inflammation. Staining for acid-fast bacilli was negative in both plaques and papules. polymerase chain reaction identified mycobacterium tuberculosis dna in the patient's sputum, gastric fluid, and plaques and was negative in the papules. She was started on antituberculous therapy with four drugs and her lesions responded rapidly.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 41.442568519745keywords = vulgaris (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/89. Lymphomatous features of aggressive NK cell leukaemia/lymphoma with massive necrosis, haemophagocytosis and EB virus infection.AIMS : Aggressive natural killer (NK) cell leukaemia will be categorized as a distinct entity in the new WHO classification of malignant lymphomas. However, its non-leukaemic features remain unclear. We therefore investigated the morphological and immunophenotypic features of this lymphoma. methods AND RESULTS : Four cases with aggressive NK cell lymphoma were morphologically and immunohistochemically studied. All cases followed an aggressive course with death occurring within about 3 months of initial presentation. In these cases, the neoplastic cells disseminated throughout systemic lymph nodes and invaded various tissues and organs. The lymphoma cells were large cells showing nuclear irregularity and a pattern of sinusoidal invasion in lymph nodes. apoptosis and coagulation necrosis were both frequently observed. Haemophagocytosis was observed in all cases. Neoplastic cells in paraffin-embedded tissue specimens from these patients had CD3(CD3epsilon) CD56(123C3) granzyme TIA-1 EBERT CD43(MT1)- CD45RO(UCHL-1)- CD57(Leu7)- CD20(L26)- phenotypes. In the two cases where tissue was available for immunohistochemical study in frozen sections, neoplastic cells showed CD56(Leu19) perforin Fas ligand(FasL) CD2(Leu5b)- CD3(Leu4)- CD4(Leu3)- CD5(Leu1)- CD7(Leu9)- CD8(Leu2)- betaF1- TCRdelta1- phenotypes. CD16(Leu11b) was positive in one case. CONCLUSIONS: : Natural killer cell lymphomas appear to represent a non-leukaemic counterpart of aggressive natural killer cell leukaemia, a relationship similar to that in adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma. awareness and diagnosis of this aggressive lymphoma is important because of its fulminant course.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = beta (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/89. brain injury after survived gunshot to the head: reactive alterations at sites remote from the missile track.Gunshot wounds to the brain usually lead to acute respiratory arrest or death after a brief survival period, even in cases involving only slight direct tissue damage. It can be assumed therefore that the damage extends beyond the zone of recognizable destruction and hemorrhages. To determine the true extent of the tissue injury resulting from gunshot wounds to the brain, we carried out microscopic investigations for reactive changes (emigration of leukocytes and macrophages, axonal expression of beta-amyloid precursor protein (beta-APP) in 10 cases of gunshot wound to the narrow channel of the brain with survival times >2h. Demonstration of leukocytes expressing naphthol AS-D chloroacetate esterase activity in the brain tissue at the border of the missile track established the vitality of the gunshot effect. The presence of macrophages (CD68-epitope) allowed demarcation of a 1-2mm wide necrotic zone around the permanent cavity. Within this zone and beyond, beta-APP showed an initial increase followed by a decline in the number of injured axons. Three types of beta-APP positive staining could be differentiated. In the immediate vicinity of the missile track beta-APP positive neurons were present at a distance of 2-4mm from the margin of the permanent cavity (type 1) as a result of primary injured neuronal tissue by the gunshot itself. At longer distances from the narrow channel and the permanent cavity single beta-APP positive axons or axon fragments and two additional types were found; type 2 shows a parallel, wave-like arrangement of the damaged fibers, which suggests that the injury was produced by mechanical acceleration of the brain tissue created by the energy the projectile expended within the brain; irregular aggregation of beta-APP positive axons or axon fragments within a local edema represents type 3, which may be attributed to secondary ischemia or edema.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 7keywords = beta (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/89. Endogenous endophthalmitis and necrotising pneumonia caused by klebsiella pneumoniae in a child with beta-thalassaemia major.A case beta-thalassaemia major complicated with klebsiella pneumoniae endogenous endophthalmitis is presented to increase physician awareness of the association of the two clinical conditions. Severe morbidity including subretinal abscess and retinal detachment may develop despite aggressive intravenous and intravitreal ceftriaxone therapy, along with vitrectomy and external drainage.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = beta (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/89. bone marrow necrosis and refractory hellp syndrome in a patient with catastrophic antiphospholipid antibody syndrome.We describe a 22-year-old woman who developed extensive and fatal bone marrow necrosis along with involvement of liver, lung, and central nervous system during pregnancy in the background of very high titers of antiphospholipid and anti-beta2 glycoprotein antibodies. This case illustrates a rarely recognized, potentially fatal complication of aPL in the setting of pregnancy.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = beta (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/89. streptococcus pyogenes pyomyositis.Group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus pyomyositis continues to be an uncommon disease. We present a case of a 7-year-old boy with an M protein type 1, streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A and B, streptococcus pyogenes pyomyositis and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = beta (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/89. Hemophagocytosis associated with MPO-ANCA positive vasculitis in systemic sclerosis.Hemophagocytosis is a histiocytic proliferative condition associated with underlying disorders such as infection, lymphoma and autoimmune disease. We describe here a patient with systemic sclerosis who developed MPO-ANCA positive necrotizing vasculitis and hemophagocytosis concomitantly. vasculitis supervened on a prior systemic sclerosis, and no causative disorder of hemophagocytosis could be found other than active vasculitis, suggesting that an occurrence of hemophagocytosis is associated with underlying vasculitis. Immunosuppressive therapy resulted in excellent improvement of both the hemophagocytosis and vasculitis. On the other hand, this case shows the elevated serum levels of IL-1beta, IL-6 and M-CSF which may be involved in the pathogenesis of hemophagocytosis. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration indicating the possibility of vasculitis-associated hemophagocytosis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = beta (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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