Lymphocytic thrombophilic arteritis with lower-limb ulcers

Abstract Lymphocytic thrombophilic arteritis is a recently described entity, histopathologically characterized by lymphocytic vasculitis that affects the arterioles of the dermo-hypodermic junction, associated with deposition of fibrin and a luminal fibrin ring. A 49-year-old female patient presented with achromic maculae and a well-defined ulcer on the medial aspect of the left lower limb. The biopsy showed intense inflammatory infiltrate in the papillary dermis with a predominance of lymphocytes, and medium-caliber vessels surrounded by mononuclear infiltrates in the deep reticular dermis. Masson's trichrome staining showed intense destruction of the muscle layer of the vascular wall and a fibrin ring. Good clinical response was attained with azathioprine. The authors believe that the ulceration might be another clinical presentation or represent an atypical progression of this condition.

Cosmetic outcome and surgical site infection rates of antibacterial absorbable (Polyglactin 910) suture compared to Chinese silk suture in breast cancer surgery: a randomized pilot research / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The primary objective of this multicenter post-market study was to compare the cosmetic outcome of triclosan-coated VICRYL Plus sutures with Chinese silk sutures for skin closure of modified radical mastectomy. A secondary objective was to assess the incidence of surgical site infection (SSI).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Patients undergoing modified radical mastectomy were randomly assigned to coated VICRYL Plus antibacterial (Polyglactin 910) suture or Chinese silk suture. Cosmetic outcomes were evaluated postoperatively at days 12 (± 2) and 30 (± 5), and the evidence of SSI was assessed at days 3, 5, 7, 12 (± 2), 30 (± 5), and 90 (± 7). Cosmetic outcomes were independently assessed via visual analogue scale (VAS) score evaluations of blinded incision photographs (primary endpoint) and surgeon-assessed modified Hollander Scale (mHCS) scores (secondary endpoint). SSI assessments used both CDC criteria and ASEPSIS scores.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Six Chinese hospitals randomized 101 women undergoing modified radical mastectomy to closure with coated VICRYL Plus suture (n = 51) or Chinese silk suture (n = 50). Mean VAS cosmetic outcome scores for antibacterial suture (67.2) were better than for Chinese silk (45.4) at day 30 (P < 0.0001)). Mean mHCS cosmetic outcome total scores, were also higher for antibacterial suture (5.7) than for Chinese silk (5.0) at day 30 (P = 0.002).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Patients using coated VICRYL Plus suture had significantly better cosmetic outcomes than those with Chinese silk sutures. Patients using coated VICRYL Plus suture had a lower SSI incidence compared to the Chinese silk sutures, although the difference did not reach statistical significance.</p>