Ectopic Cushing's syndrome due to a mesenteric neuroendocrine tumour.

INTRODUCTION: Neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) are tumours that commonly involve the gastrointestinal system. Common primary sites in the gastrointestinal system include the small intestine, appendix, rectum and pancreas. Mesenteric NETs are extremely rare entities and are sparsely reported in the literature. CASE HISTORY: We report the case of a 62-year-old woman with ectopic Cushing's syndrome due to excessive adrenocorticotropic hormone secretion by a primary mesenteric tumour in the small intestine and its liver metastases. CONCLUSIONS: Although rare, the mesentery can be a primary site for NETs. It can cause similar symptoms and require similar treatment options. Tumour resection and debulking are acceptable ways to improve both the survival and symptoms.

Increasing resistance to nalidixic acid in Shigella subgroups in a comparative study between 2001-2003 and 2004-2006.

INTRODUCTION: The Shigella spp. is an organism with an ongoing changing resistance pattern to different antibiotics, thus making its appropriate treatment difficult. Nalidixic acid has been one of the most common agents used for the treatment of shigellosis. Recently, some studies have reported an emerging resistance to this agent. METHODS: In this study, we compared the resistance of Shigella isolates during the period 2001-2003 with the period 2004-2006. RESULTS: Shigella spp. resistance was increased totally and in each subgroup, except for Shigella sonnei. CONCLUSION: Our results showed an increasing resistance of the Shigella spp., thus identifying an emergent need for an alternative agent for the treatment of shigellosis in future.