An unusual abdominal tumor--leiomyosarcoma of the mesentery: a case report.

We report the case of an 82-year-old woman who presented with an ill-defined mass and tenderness in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen. On computerized tomography scan, she had an irregular large bosselated mass of the mesentery located medial to the cecum and associated with multiple loops of small intestine. Preoperative differential diagnoses included leiomyosarcoma, lymphoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumor. The mesenteric mass was resected and identified as a leiomyosarcoma. This patient's tumor is typical of a mesenteric leiomyosarcoma and recurred with hepatic metastases two years after its initial removal. Such tumors usually do not become symptomatic until late in the course of disease, often after distant metastases have occurred. Mesenteric leiomyosarcomas are rare and have a reported incidence of 1: 350,000.

The cockroach as a host for Trichinella and Enterobius vermicularis: implications for public health.

Cockroaches are known carriers of bacteria and fungi that produce disease in humans. However, the link between pathogenic helminths and cockroaches has not been fully explored. This preliminary study demonstrates Trichinella and Enterobius (also known as human "pinworm") infestation in cockroaches obtained from a grade school and hospitals in Hawaii. This is the first report of Trichinella and Enterobius infestation in naturally occurring cockroaches. These results suggest that roachs are an unappreciated hosts for these human pathogens and are potential reservoirs for these nematodes, supporting their persistence and transmissibility in the environment. Given the ubiquitous nature of the cockroach and the human-occupied settings in which the infested roaches were found, public health concerns are apparent. Furthermore, this information may have diagnostic value when examining Trichinella and Enterobius-infected individuals.

Ophthalmomyiasis in Hawaii.

Ophthalmomyiasis is the infestation of the eye by fly larvae. Commonly caused by Oestrus ovis, a female sheep botfly will accidentally deposit her larvae into a human eye, resulting in disease. Prompt recognition and treatment of this condition will improve patient care and reduce potential complications. We report a case of ophthalmomyiasis in a young man from Molokai who was infested while unloading a Christmas tree.

Unusual botfly skin infestation.

Myiasis, the infestation of humans and animals with fly larvae, is observed in tropical, lowland areas. Dermatobia hominis is a common cause of cutaneous human infestation in these areas. Patients often present with a furuncular lesion on the extremities, back, or scalp. We report a case of furuncular myiasis in a patient returning from a trip to South America. We will discuss the life-cycle of D. hominis and the clinical findings important in the diagnosis of myiasis.

Fatal postoperative arrhythmia in a man with a remote history of methamphetamine and cocaine use: a case report.

Long-term methamphetamine and cocaine use are associated with significant cardiovascular consequences. Despite these demonstrated associations, adverse effects that persist after cessation of drug use are difficult to establish. Cardiovascular pathology associated with long-term drug use may have subclinical presentations that persist long after cessation of drug use. In asymptomatic persons with a remote history of long-term methamphetamine or cocaine use, it may be prudent to assume existing subclinical cardiovascular pathology with positive methamphetamine or cocaine use history as a cardiac risk factor.