[Cutaneous anthrax: seven cases]. / Maladie du charbon cutanée: sept cas.

BACKGROUND: Anthrax is an acute infection caused by the Gram-positive organism, Bacillus anthracis, which rarely affects humans under normal conditions. Depending on the mode of contamination, there are three distinct clinical forms: pulmonary, gastrointestinal and cutaneous. This type of infection is still common in the developing countries, a fact that should be borne in mind by examining doctors, and in particular by dermatologists. It is important to recognise the clinical aspects of this disease rarely encountered in clinical practice since any delay in treatment may have fatal consequences, as illustrated by our case reports. CASE REPORTS: Five men and two women of mean age 35years presented one or more cutaneous lesions of the upper limbs in all instances. All patients had a fever of 39-40 degrees C but none were presenting gastrointestinal or pulmonary signs. Neurological signs and/or disturbed consciousness were seen in three patients. Bacteriological diagnosis was based on isolation of B. anthracis in cultures of skin specimens. Treatment with parenteral or oral ciprofloxacin was initiated in six patients, and this therapy was combined with oral corticosteroids in three patients. A favourable outcome was achieved in four patients, while the remaining three patients died of their disease. DISCUSSION: Anthrax is an anthropozoonosis that has now become rare in the developed countries. The disease is contracted by humans through touching either animals killed by anthrax or the products thereof. The cases we report were subsequent to collective contamination of several members of a single family, probably due to contact with goats carrying the disease. If left untreated, cutaneous anthrax may progress in 5 to 20% of cases to septicaemia with potentially lethal central nervous system involvement. The only means of eradicating anthrax in animals, and thus in humans, is through animal vaccination.

Prospects in NSAID-derived chemoprevention of colorectal cancer.

There is strong evidence for an important role for increased COX (cyclo-oxygenase)-2 expression and PG (prostaglandin) E2 production in colorectal tumorigenesis. PGE(2) acts through four E-prostanoid receptors (EP1-4). COX-2 has therefore become a target for the potential chemoprevention and therapy of colorectal cancer. However, any therapeutic/preventive strategy has the potential to have an impact on physiological processes and hence result in side effects. General COX (COX-1 and -2) inhibition by traditional NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), such as aspirin, although chemopreventive, has some side effects, as do some conventional COX-2-selective NSAIDs. As PGE2 is thought to be the major PG species responsible for promoting colorectal tumorigenesis, research is being directed to a number of protein targets downstream of COX-2 that might allow the selective inhibition of the tumour-promoting activities of PGE2, while minimizing the associated adverse events. The PGE synthases and E-prostanoid receptors (EP1-4) have therefore recently attracted considerable interest as potential novel targets for the prevention/therapy of colorectal cancer. Selective (and possibly combinatorial) inhibition of the synthesis and signalling of those PGs most highly associated with colorectal tumorigenesis may have some advantages over COX-2-selective inhibitors.

Subperiosteal face lift: a 200-case, 4-year review.

The subperiosteal face lift is a procedure designed to rejuvenate the upper and middle thirds of the face. Herein is reviewed a 4-year series of 200 consecutive patients who have undergone a subperiosteal face lift with a special emphasis on handling of the zygomatic arch. The main operative indication was significant ptosis of the midface soft tissue. Dissection of the maxilla, zygoma, periorbital areas, and the anterior arch was carried out through either a gingivo-buccal sulcus incision (39 cases) or a subciliary incision (161 cases). Dissection of the posterior arch was carried out in a plane superficial to the innominate fascia. A back-cut was made in the superficial musculoaponeurotic system and subcutaneous tissue down to midtragus, and a subperiosteal tunnel was entered by piercing through the posterior arch periosteum. By using a Cottle elevator (sweeping superiorly and inferiorly), the arch dissection was completed in a posterior to anterior direction. All patients underwent a concurrent brow lift (190 endoscopically and 10 by means of coronal incision). The forehead incision was used to dissect the lateral orbital rims. Twelve patients (6 percent) had undergone a previous rhytidectomy. All but four patients were women and ranged in age from 34 to 76 years (mean, 54+/-11). Mean follow-up period was 27 months (1 to 41 months). The postoperative complication rate was 5 percent and included transient frontal branch weakness (n = 2), resolved at 41 and 71 days postoperatively; hematoma (n = 2); transient infraorbital nerve paresthesia (n = 1); asymmetrical smile (n = 3); and facial tics (n = 2). Two patients (1 percent) required a secondary surgery on their brows or midface. An upper blepharoplasty was needed in 26 patients (13 percent). The overall aesthetic results were excellent, with good elevation of the eyebrows, lateral canthus, and the midface soft tissues. In conclusion, the subperiosteal face lift is a procedure designed to rejuvenate the upper and middle thirds of the face. Approaching the arch posteriorly and in a systematic fashion simplifies the procedure and reduces the risk of facial nerve injury.

Nd Yag laser angioplasty: a safe procedure in peripheral vascular surgery.

BACKGROUND: Thirty-three patients (34 limbs) with peripheral vascular occlusive disease were treated with Nd Yag laser assisted angioplasty over a three-year period (1989-1991). METHODS: Sixteen males and 17 females were included in the study. The mean age of all patients was 70.29 (44-86) years. Twenty-two (66.7%) patients were smokers, 21 (63.6%) had coronary artery disease and 14 (42.4%) had diabetes mellitus. Thirty-three patients (100%) had disabling intermittent claudication, 20 patients (60.6%) had rest pain, 2 patients (6.1%) had ulcers and 10 patients (30.3%) had gangrenous changes. Thirty-nine vessels were treated; 34 (87.2%) superficial femoral arteries, 4 (10.3%) popliteal arteries and 1 external iliac artery. Eleven (28.2%) vessels were totally occluded and the remaining 28 (71.8%) vessels had high grade stenosis of more than 90%. The mean preoperative ABI Index was 0.23+/-12. RESULTS: The preoperative angiogram showed poor out-flow in 24 (70.6%) extremities, 1 patent distal vessel in 7 extremities (20.6%) and at least 2 vessels in 3 extremities (8.8%). The patients were followed up for a period of 9.9 months (20 days-30 months). The procedure could not be done in 2 extremities. All the remaining 32 extremities had patent vessels at the end of the procedure. Fifteen (48.4%) patients stated that they improved but remained symptomatic. Twelve (38.7%) were completely asymptomatic, 3 (9.7%) patients had no change in their symptoms and 2 patients worsened at the end of the follow-up period. The mean postoperative ABI was 0.78. Bleeding from the puncture site requiring closure was the most common complication of the procedure in 6 patients (19.4%). Angioplasty in 5 of these patients was done by the open technique. Other complications included hematoma in 3 (9.7%) patients and one case (3%) of artery perforation. Among those who remained asymptomatic at the end of the follow-up period the mean change in ABI was 0.625+/-0.19, those who improved but remained symptomatic the mean ABI change was 0.43+/-0.25 while those whose symptoms did not change or worsened the mean ABI change was 0.12+/-0.13. The ABI change in the first two groups was significantly higher than the last one (p<0.006 and p<0.001 respectively). There was no significant difference in the outcome of LABA between stenosed and occluded vessels. Smoking was significantly higher in the symptomatic patients (7/20) compared to those who were asymptomatic 5/12, p<0.02. Diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease and the preoperative ABI were not significant variables in the outcome of angioplasty. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, Nd Yag laser assisted angioplasty is a safe procedure. It could relieve symptoms in 87.1% of cases. Change in the ABI and smoking are predictive of the success of the procedure.

Laparoscopic appendectomy: a viable alternative approach.

Laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) is relatively a new technique and requires comparison to open appendectomy (OA) to determine the more favorable approach in the surgical management of acute appendicitis. We designed this study to compare the course and postoperative complications between LA and OA. We reviewed the charts of both groups of patients and followed their course in the hospital. Seventy-seven patients who underwent LA with one conversion to the open technique (1.3%) were compared to 84 patients who underwent OA. There was no difference in age and sex distribution. The mean hospital stay was shorter in the LA (32.5+/-10 vs 74.2+/-24 h, p < 0.0001). Parenteral analgesia requirement was higher in the OA group (4.7+/-1.4 vs 2.6+/-2, p < 0.0001). The total cost was higher in the OA group ($11,260+/-4000 vs 7,090+/-3500, p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the OR time, duration of the procedure, and surgery costs between both groups. Normal appendices removed were similar in both OA and LA groups (23.8 vs 28.9%). There was no difference in the rates of postoperative complications between both groups. We conclude that LA is a viable alternative to OA. It is safe, cost effective, and less invasive than the OA with less pain and shorter hospital stay.

Spontaneous duodenal perforation in neonates: a case report and review of literature.

Although duodenal perforation in neonates is an extremely rare entity, it should be suspected in any case with signs of viscus perforation. If found in the absence of possible causes, duodenal perforation is considered to be spontaneous. It is believed to be of multifactorial origin. Once found primary closure with or without omental patching is the treatment of choice. In this article we describe one case of spontaneous perforation and analyze the possible causes.

Effects of interleukin-6 and its neutralizing antibodies on peritoneal adhesion formation and wound healing.

This study investigates the effects of preoperative IV administration of IL-6 and anti IL-6 on peritoneal adhesion formation and wound healing. Thirty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats (350-400 mg) were divided into three groups: control (group 1); IL-6 (group 2); and anti IL-6 (group 3). Under sterile conditions, all rats underwent a midline laparotomy. Ten cm2 of cecal serosa was abraded, the cecum further irritated with 0.1 ml of 70 per cent alcohol, and the incision closed in layers. At 3 weeks, peritoneal adhesions were graded using a score of 0 (none) to 3 (extensive, dense). Skin samples from incisional sites were examined tensiometrically (true stress and true strain), biochemically (collagen content), and histologically. Adhesion formation score was significantly increased in IL-6 group (2.78 +/- 0.44, Mean +/- SD) and decreased in anti IL-6 group (1.40 +/- 0.52) compared to control (2.00 +/- 0.50). (P < 0.03 by Kruskal Wallis test). There was no significant difference in true stress, true strain, and collagen content between the two treatment groups and controls at the 0.05 level by ANOVA. Histological analysis showed higher number of inflammatory cells and fibroblasts in IL-6 treated groups. We conclude that IL-6 plays a major role in peritoneal adhesion formation. Selective immunosuppression, using IL-6 neutralizing antibodies preoperatively, leads to a reduction of such adhesion formation without a significant effect on wound healing.

Preoperative administration of antibodies against tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1 (IL-1) and their impact on peritoneal adhesion formation.

This study investigates the effects of preoperative intravenous administration of antibodies against TNF-alpha and IL-1 on peritoneal adhesion formation. Fifty-six Sprague-Dawley rats (350-400 gm) were used in this study. Eight rats were used to empirically determine the amount of anti TNF-alpha and anti IL-1 needed for complete in vivo neutralization. This amount was used for preoperative treatment of selected groups. Forty-eight rats were divided into four equal groups (n = 12). All rats underwent a midline laparotomy. Ten cm square of cecal serosa was abraded, the peritoneal cavity was irrigated with normal saline, and the incision was closed in layers. Cultures were obtained intraoperatively and rats with positive cultures were excluded. Rats in Group 1 were not treated (control), while rats in Groups 2, 3, and 4 were treated with anti TNF-alpha, anti IL-1, and a combination of anti TNF-alpha and IL-1 respectively. All rats were killed at 3 weeks, and peritoneal adhesions were graded using a scale of 0 (none) to 3 (extensive, dense). Rats treated with anti IL-1 (Group 3) and those treated with a combination of anti TNF-alpha and anti IL-1 (Group 4) had significantly fewer adhesions when compared with Group 1 (control) (P < 0.01 and < 0.005, respectively). Least adhesion formation was associated with Group 4 rats. In conclusion, selective immunosuppression, at a molecular level, appears to have a significant impact on rates of postoperative peritoneal adhesion formation.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha: a marker for peritoneal adhesion formation.

This study investigates the possible correlation between higher levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and higher rates of adhesion formation following standard bowel injury. Forty-five Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three equal groups. Blood was obtained from all rats preoperatively. All rats were subjected to a laparotomy. In group 1 the peritoneal cavity was irrigated with normal saline. In group 2 the cecal serosa was abraded, while rats in group 3 had 2 cm of their small bowel resected. A peritoneal catheter was placed in all rats prior to closure. Blood samples were obtained at 30, 90, and 180 min following injury. Peritoneal exudate (PE) was collected and the catheter removed in 3 hr. Blood samples and peritoneal exudate were processed and levels of TNF-alpha were determined. The severity of adhesions was graded 3 weeks postoperatively using a score of 0 (absent) to III (extensive, dense). Histological evaluation for collagen deposition and fibroblasts was carried out. Rats in group 1 had significantly lower adhesion grades when compared to groups 2 and 3 (grade 0; P < 0.0001). Postoperatively, groups 2 and 3 had higher serum and PE TNF-alpha levels when compared with group 1 (P < 0.01). There was a significant correlation between higher grades of adhesions and higher levels of serum and PE at 30, 90, and 180 min following operation (P < 0.01 and < 0.05, respectively). TNF-alpha, a proinflammatory cytokine, appears to be a good biological marker for postoperative intraabdominal adhesion formation.

Intraradicular disc herniation: a case report and review of the literature.

Intradural disc herniation accounts for < 0.3% of all disc herniations. Intraradicular disc herniation accounts for 4.1% of all such cases. Preoperative diagnosis is difficult, and a high index of suspicion during surgery is required for the diagnosis. We present a patient with intraradicular disc herniation in the lumbar region whose symptoms were severe enough to recommend surgery. The myelogram showed a block at the involved nerve root. Diagnosis of intraradicular herniation was made during surgery. The symptoms were immediately relieved by surgery. The literature on intradural and intraradicular disc herniation is reviewed.