Imaging More than Skin-Deep: Radiologic and Dermatologic Presentations of Systemic Disorders.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous manifestations of systemic diseases are diverse and sometimes precede more serious diseases and symptomatology. Similarly, radiologic imaging plays a key role in early diagnosis and determination of the extent of systemic involvement. Simultaneous awareness of skin and imaging manifestations can help the radiologist to narrow down differential diagnosis even if imaging findings are nonspecific. AIMS: To improve diagnostic accuracy and patient care, it is important that clinicians and radiologists be familiar with both cutaneous and radiologic features of various systemic disorders. This article reviews cutaneous manifestations and imaging findings of commonly encountered systemic diseases. CONCLUSIONS: Familiarity with the most disease-specific skin lesions help the radiologist pinpoint a specific diagnosis and consequently, in preventing unnecessary invasive workups and contributing to improved patient care.

Clinical Characteristics and Predictors of Short-Term Outcome in Mexican Adult Patients with Guillain-Barré Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Information regarding the clinical presentation and outcome of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) in adults from Latin America is limited. OBJECTIVE: To identify clinical characteristics and short-term outcome predictors in adult Mexican patients with GBS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included adult patients with clinical and electrophysiological data with confirmed GBS, admitted to a tertiary hospital in Western Mexico, from January 2002 to February 2011. A good outcome at hospital discharge was considered if patients had a Hughes score of 0-2 and at 3 and 6 months, a Hughes score of 0-1. RESULTS: A total of 115 patients were analyzed (68% men, mean age 44 years old, range 18-84). Previous infection occurred in 63% of cases. Descendent pattern of weakness was observed in 40 (35%) patients. GBS subtypes were: acute motor axonal neuropathy in 31%, acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy in 29%, sensory axonal neuropathy (AMSAN) in 18%, and equivocal in 22%. A total of 73 (63%) patients received induction therapy: 50 (68%) received plasmapheresis and 13 (18%) received intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). In-hospital mortality occurred in 14 (12%) patients. Early gait complaints and emergency room admission with mild Hughes score (0-2) were predictors for a good outcome at hospital discharge (P < 0.05); meanwhile, age >75 years; dysarthria and higher Hughes score were associated with a poor outcome(P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Axonal pattern, motor involvement, and the descendent pattern of presentation were the main clinical GBS findings in our cohort. Higher Hughes scale scores at hospital admission were a strong predictor for a bad outcome at hospital discharge and short-term follow-up, independently of treatment type or in-hospital management. GBS in Mexico still carries considerable mortality.

Acceleration of the formation of biofilms on contact lens surfaces in the presence of neutrophil-derived cellular debris is conserved across multiple genera.

Purpose: We have previously shown that invasive strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa exploit the robust neutrophil response to form biofilms on contact lens surfaces and invade the corneal epithelium. The present study investigated the ability of multiple bacterial genera, all commonly recovered during contact lens-related infectious events, to adhere to and form biofilms on contact lens surfaces in the presence of neutrophils. Methods: Five reference strains from the American Type Culture Collection were used: P. aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Each bacterial strain was incubated overnight with or without stimulated human neutrophils in the presence of an unworn contact lens. Standard colony counts and laser scanning confocal microscopy of BacLight-stained contact lenses were used to assess bacterial viability. Three-dimensional modeling of lens-associated biofilms with Imaris software was used to determine the biofilm volume. Lenses were further examined using scanning electron microscopy. Results: Less than 1% of the starting inoculum adhered to the contact lens surface incubated with bacteria alone. There were no differences in adhesion rates to contact lens surfaces between bacteria in the absence of neutrophils for either the Gram-negative or Gram-positive test strains. Bacterial adhesion to contact lens surfaces was accelerated in the presence of human neutrophils for all test strains. This effect was least evident with S. epidermidis. There was also an increase in the number of viable bacteria recovered from contact lens surfaces (p<0.001 for the Gram-negative and Gram-positive test strains, respectively) and in biofilm volume (p<0.001 for the Gram-negative test strains, p = 0.005 for S. aureus). Conclusions: These results show that in addition to P. aeruginosa, other bacteria commonly encountered during contact lens wear possess the capacity to utilize neutrophil-derived cellular debris to facilitate colonization of the lens surface. These data suggest that this phenomenon is conserved among multiple genera. Thus, during contact lens wear, the presence of inflammation and the accumulation of neutrophil debris under the posterior lens surface likely contribute to colonization of the lens. Further studies are needed to correlate these findings with risk for infection in an animal model.

The Importance of Patient Registries in Skin of Color.

Patient registries serve as powerful and cost-effective research tools that can help improve our understanding of disease pathogenesis and treatment. Although patient registries for various dermatologic diseases currently exist, few address diseases affecting primarily skin of color. Establishing patient registries for diseases that affect skin of color is one potential solution to overcoming some of the limitations researchers face when studying these disorders. Here, we present two patient registries in dermatology that may serve as examples of how patient registries can contribute to advancing our understanding of dermatologic diseases. We also address some of the potential benefits and limitations of patient registries.

Antimicrobial Efficacy of Contact Lens Care Solutions Against Neutrophil-Enhanced Bacterial Biofilms.

PURPOSE: Neutrophil-derived extracellular debris has been shown to accelerate bacterial biofilm formation on hydrogel and silicone hydrogel contact lens surfaces compared to lenses inoculated with bacteria alone. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the disinfection efficacy of four standard commercial contact lens cleaning regimens against neutrophil-enhanced bacterial biofilms formed on silicone hydrogel contact lenses. METHODS: Four reference strains were used: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, and Staphylococcus aureus. Human neutrophils were isolated from peripheral blood by venipuncture. Unworn Lotrafilcon B lenses were incubated overnight in each respective strain with stimulated neutrophils. Contact lenses were then cleaned using one of four contact lens care solutions according to manufacturer instructions. Bacterial viability was assessed by colony counts and confocal microscopy. Volume of residual debris on lens surfaces after cleaning was quantified using IMARIS software. RESULTS: All four solutions tested showed effective antimicrobial activity against each bacterial strain; however, substantial amounts of nonviable bacteria and cellular debris remained on the lens surface despite concomitant digital cleaning. CONCLUSIONS: Necrotic cellular debris that accumulates under the posterior lens surface during wear of an inoculated contact lens is not fully removed during routine cleaning and disinfection. TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE: The accumulation of residual cellular debris on the contact lens surface may contribute to new colonization of the lens and represents a significant risk factor for a contact lens-related adverse event. Additional studies are needed to correlate these findings with risk for corneal infiltrative and/or infectious events in a standard animal model.

Diversity in the dermatology workforce.

The United States is becoming increasingly diverse, and minorities are projected to represent the majority of our population in the near future. Unfortunately, health disparities still exist for these groups, and inequalities have also become evident in the field of dermatology. There is currently a lack of diversity within the dermatology workforce. Potential solutions to these health care disparities include increasing cultural competence for all physicians and improving diversity in the dermatology workforce.

[Laparoscopic versus open surgery for colorectal cancer. A comparative study]. / Estudio comparativo entre cirugía laparoscópica y cirugía abierta en cáncer colorrectal.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer is currently accepted and widespread worldwide. However, according tol the surgical experience on this approach, surgical and short-term oncologic results may vary. Studies comparing laparoscopic vs. open surgery in our population are scarce. OBJECTIVE: To determine the superiority of the laparoscopic vs. open technique for colorectal cancer surgery. METHODS: This retrospective and comparative study collected data from patients operated on for colorectal cancer between 1999 and 2011 at the Angeles Lomas Hospital, Mexico. RESULTS: A total of 82 patients were included in this study; 47 were operated through an open approach and 35 laparoscopically. Mean operative time was significantly lower in the open approach group (p= 0.008). There were no significant difference between both techniques for intraoperative bleeding (p= 0.3980), number of lymph nodes (p= 0.27), time to initiate oral feeding (p= 0.31), hospital stay (p= 0.12), and postoperative pain (p= 0.19). Procedure-related complications rate and type were not significantly different in both groups (p= 0.44). Patients operated laparoscopically required significantly less analgesic drugs (p= 0.04) and less need for epidural postoperative analgesia (p= 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic approach is as safe as the traditional open approach for colorectal cancer. Early oncological and surgical results confirm its suitability according to this indication.

Antecedentes: la cirugía laparoscópica para tratar pacientes con cáncer colorrectal ha sido ampliamente aceptada y difundida en todo el mundo. Sin embargo, dependiendo de la experiencia en este abordaje los resultados quirúrgicos y oncológicos a corto plazo pueden variar. En nuestra población existen pocos estudios que comparan los resultados de esta técnica con los de la cirugía abierta. Objetivos: determinar la superioridad de la técnica laparoscópica o abierta en cirugía de cáncer colorrectal. Material y métodos: estudio retrospectivo y comparativo de pacientes operados con técnica abierta o laparoscópica por cáncer de colon y recto entre 1999 y 2011 en nuestro centro. Resultados: se incluyeron 47 pacientes intervenidos de manera convencional y 35 por laparoscopia. El tiempo operatorio fue menor en el grupo de cirugía abierta (p= 0.008). No se encontraron diferencias en: sangrado intraoperatorio (p= 0.3980), número de ganglios resecados (p= 0.27), inicio de la vía oral (p= 0.31), tiempo de estancia hospitalaria (p= 0.12), y dolor referido por el paciente (p= 0.19). En el grupo de cirugía laparoscópica se requirieron menos dosis de analgésicos (p= 0.04) y menor necesidad de catéter epidural para analgesia postoperatoria (p= 0.01). Las tasas de morbilidad (p= 0.44) y mortalidad (p= 0.39) fueron similares en ambos grupos. Conclusiones: la cirugía laparoscópica es equiparable a la técnica abierta en cuanto a estándares oncológicos y resultados técnicos. Este trabajo demuestra que en nuestro hospital la cirugía laparoscópica en pacientes con cáncer de colon y recto es tan segura como la cirugía abierta.