ABSTRACT
Primary appendicular adenocarcinoma is a rare tumor, mucinous variety, being most common. The case presentation highlights the unusual appearance and diagnostic dilemma of an appendicular adenocarcinoma. Our elderly patient presented with an ill-defined tender lump which later was diagnosed as a perforated appendicular adenocarcinoma, responsive to single-staged surgery and adjunct chemotherapy. We considered the single-staged surgery since the appendix was perforated and right colectomy would not aid the prognosis. High index of clinical suspicion for malignancy should be kept in mind for elderly patients presenting with an appendicular lump. Every effort should be made during the elective surgery to remove the mass during the single-staged surgery.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To report the clinical and pathologic findings in a patient with a primary Acanthamoeba subretinal abscess. METHODS: A healthy 40-year-old man was evaluated and treated for a subretinal abscess. A subretinal aspirate was evaluated using hematoxylin-eosin stains and polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Results of the histologic examination of the subretinal aspirate demonstrated numerous Acanthamoeba cysts. The diagnosis was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. The infection was treated with local and systemic antimicrobials. The visual acuity remained stable, and there was no local or systemic spread of the infection. CONCLUSION: To the authors' knowledge, this is the first biopsy-proven case of primary subretinal abscess because of Acanthamoeba. Acanthamoeba should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a subretinal abscess, even in the absence of systemic or corneal symptoms. Aggressive treatment can prevent serious ocular and systemic complications.
ABSTRACT
Exposure to Listeria monocytogenes during pregnancy can result in spontaneous abortion and stillbirths; however, the mechanisms are unknown. Our objective was to determine the effects of infection on specific inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine mRNA expression and apoptosis in the placenta after infection with L. monocytogenes. Pregnant guinea pigs were treated on gestation day (gd) 35 with 10(8) colony forming units L. monocytogenes and sacrificed on gd 37, 41, 44, or 55. At gd 41, IFN-gamma and IL-2 mRNA expression was significantly decreased in placentas from treated dams (0.0012-fold and 0.131-fold, respectively). At gd 55, TNF-alpha mRNA expression was significantly decreased (0.19-fold), while IFN-gamma mRNA expression was significantly increased (32-fold), and apoptosis was detected in 100% of placentas from treated dams. In conclusion, inflammatory cytokine mRNA expression is altered and apoptosis is increased in the placenta after treatment with L. monocytogenes, and these changes may contribute to fetal death.
