Adenocarcinoma of the parotid gland with calcification.

A 78-year-old Korean woman was referred to Chonbuk National University Dental Hospital complaining of facial palsy and palpable mass in the right parotid gland area for 4 years. Clinical examination showed an asymmetrical facial appearance due to a 4 cmx5 cm hard, fixed, non-tender mass in the right parotid gland area, incomplete eye closure and a slight tremor at the corner of the mouth. A panoramic radiograph showed an amorphous calcified mass on the posterior mandibular ramus with thinning of the cortical plate adjacent to the mass. A sialogram showed constriction of the main duct and no further filling of striated, intercalated ducts and parenchymal areas. CT indicated an expansile mass with slight contrast enhancement involving the right parotid gland. The large mass showed necrotic areas and calcifications. A bone scan showed marked accumulation of (99)Tc(m)-methylene diphosphonate on the right posterior maxilla. Microscopic findings revealed minimal morphological alterations and rare mitotic figures within tumour cells, and the lesion was diagnosed as adenocarcinoma not otherwise specified (NOS, grade II).

Tea tree oil reduces histamine-induced skin inflammation.

BACKGROUND: Tea tree oil is the essential oil steam-distilled from Melaleuca alternifolia, an Australian native plant. In recent years it has become increasingly popular as an antimicrobial for the treatment of conditions such as tinea pedis and acne. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the anti-inflammatory properties of tea tree oil on histamine-induced weal and flare. METHODS: Twenty-seven volunteers were injected intradermally in each forearm (study and control assigned on an alternating basis) with histamine diphosphate (5 microg in 50 microL). Flare and weal diameters and double skin thickness were measured every 10 min for 1 h to calculate flare area and weal volume. At 20 min, 25 microL of 100% tea tree oil was applied topically to the study forearm of 21 volunteers. For six volunteers, 25 microL paraffin oil was applied instead of tea tree oil. RESULTS: Application of liquid paraffin had no significant effect on histamine-induced weal and flare. There was also no difference in mean flare area between control arms and those on which tea tree oil was applied. However, mean weal volume significantly decreased after tea tree oil application (10 min after tea tree oil application, P = 0.0004, Mann-Whitney U-test). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to show experimentally that tea tree oil can reduce histamine-induced skin inflammation.

[Severe respiratory failure with pulmonary tuberculosis during initial phase of chemotherapy].

In seven patients with tuberculosis required ventilatory assistance, in our IRCU at the Habikino Hospital, we found worsening of the findings on chest X-ray film and clinical status during initial phase of chemotherapy, although their sputum became negative for acid-fast bacilli. On admission, six of them had large infiltration with cavities and discharged a large number of bacilli with elevation of ESR and hypoalbuminemia. We could get four patents off ventilator after start of PEEP therapy and high dose corticosteroid therapy. But three of them died at last, because they developed severe respiratory failure again. Pulmonary histology was available in five patients. We found interstitial and intra-alveolar pulmonary edema, intra-alveolar organization, hyperplasia of alveolar wall, and hyaline membrane formation. These findings were compatible with diffuse alveolar damage.