Subject(s)
Actinomyces/isolation & purification , Actinomycosis/diagnosis , Actinomycosis/etiology , Genital Diseases, Female/diagnosis , Genital Diseases, Female/etiology , Intrauterine Devices/adverse effects , Actinomycosis/drug therapy , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Biopsy , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Genital Diseases, Female/microbiology , Humans , Laparotomy , Middle Aged , Pelvic Neoplasms/diagnosis , Penicillins/therapeutic use , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Developing reliable methods to test the T-cell system may be important in the treatment of colon cancer patients with 5-fluorouracil/levamisole. In a pilot study we explored whether DNCB (dinitrochlorobenzene) skin testing correlated with plasma levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2r) and soluble CD8 (sCD8) and, secondly, whether the application of DNCB had any influence on the production of sIL-2r and sCD8. METHODS: In 10 patients with advanced colon cancer and in 10 healthy volunteers, plasma levels of sIL-2r and sCD8 were measured before and 10 days after the application of 2 mg DNCB on the inner side of the forearm. RESULTS: As expected, colon cancer patients showed a depressed immune system compared to healthy volunteers (DNCB skin test: P = .005, sIL2r [medians 700 vs 295, P = .002], sCD8 [medians 158 vs 90, P = .03], M-W test). The plasma levels for sIL-2r and sCD8 were significantly lower in the skin-positive cases (P = .01 and P = .03, M-W test). However, a large overlap in plasma levels could be observed between the two skin categories. DNCB had no influence on the production of sIL-2r and sCD8; median change skin-negative and skin-positive -10 vs +25, P = .14, respectively; 48 vs 0, P = .32 (M-W test). CONCLUSIONS: DNCB skin testing and plasma levels of sIL-2r and sCD8 seem to be equally useful in evaluating the T-cell system and can be used simultaneously.
Subject(s)
CD8 Antigens/blood , Colonic Neoplasms/blood , Colonic Neoplasms/immunology , Dinitrochlorobenzene , Indicators and Reagents , Receptors, Interleukin-2/blood , Skin Tests/methods , T-Lymphocytes/immunology , Adjuvants, Immunologic/administration & dosage , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use , Case-Control Studies , Colonic Neoplasms/drug therapy , Colonic Neoplasms/pathology , Fluorouracil/administration & dosage , Humans , Levamisole/administration & dosage , Middle Aged , Pilot Projects , Reproducibility of ResultsABSTRACT
Burns due to fire-eating are relatively rare. In a short period (6 months) four patients (men aged 9, 22, 27, and 15) were sent to the Burns Centre of the Martini Hospital of Groningen, the Netherlands. They had used car petrol in stead of paraffin oil. Their burns were not very severe but they were hospitalized because of the risk of an inhalation injury, especially oedema of the glottis. Signs related to inhalation injury are: burned hairs of the nose, smut on the mucous membrane in the mouth and nose or in the sputum, hoarseness, increase of tachypnoea and dyspnoea. Burns in the face are suggestive of an inhalation injury, of which there are three forms: oedema of the glottis, tracheobronchitis, and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The four patients did not develop inhalation injury and recovered completely.
Subject(s)
Burns, Inhalation/therapy , Burns/therapy , Adolescent , Adult , Burns/complications , Burns/etiology , Child , Fires , Glottis , Humans , Laryngeal Edema/etiology , Leisure Activities , MaleABSTRACT
Giant-cell tumours of bone occur infrequently. Recurrence is often observed following excochleation. Due to the fact that most of these tumours are located in the epiphysis of long bones, treatment of extensive tumours with preservation of joint function usually is troublesome. Two patients are presented: one underwent resection and implantation of an endoprosthesis, the other one excochleation in combination with cryosurgery.
Subject(s)
Bone Neoplasms/surgery , Giant Cell Tumors/surgery , Humerus/surgery , Adult , Cryosurgery , Humans , Joint Prosthesis , Male , Methods , Middle Aged , Neoplasm Recurrence, LocalABSTRACT
An aneurysmal bone cyst is a benign, locally aggressive bone process which frequently recurs after excochleation. Exocochleation can be extended without loss of bone tissue by making use of cryosurgery. This combined technique was used in the treatment of 5 patients, without complications. None of the patients described had a demonstrable recurrence 12-60 (average 35) months after this combined therapy.
Subject(s)
Bone Cysts/surgery , Cryosurgery , Adolescent , Adult , Bone Cysts/diagnostic imaging , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Radiography , RecurrenceABSTRACT
The symptomatology, diagnosis and treatment of perforating rectal injuries are discussed. An analysis is presented of the data concerning 24 patients with intra- and extraperitoneal penetration of the rectum. Factors that contribute to the continuing high mortality rate of rectal perforation are its rarity, the highly infectious character of faecal contamination of the abdominal cavity or perirectal tissue, and the fact that examination often reveals little or no external trauma. The treatment of choice would appear to be an aggressive approach based on faecal diversion and drainage, supplemented with peroperative irrigation of the injured rectum.
