Disseminated cryptococcosis in an AIDS patient with unusual clinical presentation

Disseminated cryptocococcosis is a rare and often fatal disease. Here in we report an unusual fatal case of disseminated cryptococcosis. The patient presented with a past history of postmenopausal bleeding with loss of consciousness, altered mental status, few seizures and a low grade fever. Lumbar puncture revealed elevated pressure, lymphocytic pleocytosis, elevated protein and markedly reduced glucose level. Cryptococcus neoformans was isolated from cerebrospinal fluid and blood. Serological assay revealed the presence of human immunodeficiency virus. The patient was treated with antifungal agents intravenously without any signs of improvement and the patient passed away after two weeks of therapy. This is the first case report of disseminated cryptococcosis in an AIDS patient suffering from cryptoccoccal vaginitis.     

Extramedullary Relapse of the AML Transformed from MDS Following Auto-HSCT: A Case Report

The treatment for AML (Acute myeloid/myelogenous leukemia) transformed from MDS (myelodysplastic syndrome) is difficult and controversial clinically, especially in elder patients. In this case report, we diagnosed a 59-year-old female patient with AML-M2a transformed form MDS which might be caused by her chemotherapy for mastocarcinoma. After achieving complete remission (CR) through combined chemotherapy, autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (auto-PBSCT) was attempted. Following auto-HSCT, marrow showed continuous CR but the patient later developed extramedullary bone-infiltration relapse. Then local radiotherapy has been applied, and the patient now has prolonged survival. This is the first (or a successful) case report of auto-HSCT in an elderly patient with AML transformed from MDS.     

Cytopathology of extramedullary plasmacytoma of the bladder: a case report

BACKGROUND: Plasmacytoma of the bladder is an extremely rare tumor, with all information concerning this neoplasm derived from case reports. It can be a major diagnostic pitfall on both histology and urine cytology. CASE: A 95-year-old woman presented with gross hematuria and a large bladder mass detected by ultrasound. The case was initially misdiagnosed as a high grade urothelial carcinoma. Since the urine cytology did not show the classical cytologic features of urothelial carcinoma, the histologic sections were reviewed and immunohistochemical staining performed. The final diagnosis was plasmacytoma of the bladder. Subsequently the patient underwent a skeletal survey and bone scan, which did not reveal any lesion suspicious for multiple myeloma. The patient was scheduled for radiotherapy. CONCLUSION: In this case of bladder plasmacytoma, urine cytology provided a clue to the diagnosis. Urine cytology can be a diagnostic tool to help make this diagnosis in the case of poorly differentiated bladder neoplasm, especially in a patient with a known history of multiple myeloma.     

Importance of alcohol and drug abuse in psychiatric emergencies.

Three cases of acute bilateral renal cortical necrosis, each with a different clinical course, are discussed. One patient spontaneously recovered renal function after prolonged oliguria. This case should be added to the small number of similar case reports in the literature. The second patient recovered adequate renal function temporarily, but eventually required chronic hemodialysis and renal transplantation. There was pathological evidence of progression from focal to massive cortical necrosis. The third patient never regained renal function, but is well after dialysis and transplantation.The influence of modern theories of pathogenesis of the disease, and increased availability of dialysis, are discussed in relation to the initial prognostic assessment of the patient with cortical necrosis.     

Local anesthetic resistance in a pregnant patient with lumbosacral plexopathy

BACKGROUND: We report a case of a patient with apparent resistance to local anesthetics. While similar cases of failure of regional anesthetics are often attributed to technical failure, the overall clinical presentation and history of this patient suggests a true resistance to local anesthetics. CASE PRESENTATION: This patient presented for elective cesarean section and the decision for regional anesthesia was made. While attempting to place an epidural, the patient failed to achieve adequate skin analgesia despite multiple attempts at local infiltration. When a spinal was ultimately placed, sensory or motor blockade was not obtained despite no evidence of technical problems with technique. Further questioning revealed multiple prior episodes of local anesthetic failure in this patient. CONCLUSIONS: While the failure rate of spinal anesthesia has been shown range from 4-13% and is often attributed to technical failure, elements of this particular case suggest a true resistance to local anesthetics.     

Autoimmune insulin syndrome in a patient with progressive systemic sclerosis receiving penicillamine.

The case of a patient with progressive systemic sclerosis, who developed hypoglycaemia and insulin autoantibodies, is described. Repeated blood glucose measurements showed levels less than 2.8 mmol/l. High immunoreactive insulin levels, with undetectable free insulin, led to the discovery of anti-insulin antibodies in the patient's serum. He had no history of exogenous insulin use and was receiving penicillamine treatment. A double mechanism for the autoimmune insulin syndrome in this case is proposed: acting in a patient with increased humoral immunoresponsiveness, penicillamine might have induced the development of insulin autoantibodies.     

Management of squamous cell carcinoma in a patient with dominant-type epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica: a surgical challenge

Epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica is a rare congenital skin disease inherited either as a recessive or dominant form, the latter form being less common and much less severe. Squamous cell carcinoma is a rare complication in the dominant form of the disease, only three such cases being reported before, making this case the fourth known case. Although the squamous cell carcinoma is well-differentiated by histopathology, it has a poor prognosis owing to its invasiveness, distant metastases, and multicentricity. Its management also poses a great challenge to the surgeon and personnel involved in patient care. A complete outline of the total management of such a case is described with some interesting observations not mentioned previously in the literature. All the previous three patients are deceased, and this is the only known surviving patient.     

Isolation of Candida protoplasts from a case of Candida endocarditis

Rosner, Richard (St. Joseph's Hospital, Paterson, N.J.). Isolation of Candida protoplasts from a case of Candida endocarditis. J. Bacteriol. 91:1320-1326. 1966.-A case of endocarditis caused by Candida tropicalis is described. Even though the patient was receiving adequate therapy, and all routine blood cultures were negative for growth, the patient continued to give clinical evidence of active, progressive endocarditis. The isolation of osmotically fragile bodies from blood cultures placed in an osmotically controlled medium is described in detail. The role of these bodies, called protoplasts, in the active disease process of this patient is discussed in relation to the criteria for the implication of protoplasts in the disease process. Several explanations as to what caused the in vivo formation of protoplasts of C. tropicalis in this patient are discussed.     

A Rare Case Report of Subcutaneous Phaeohyphomycotic Cyst Caused by Exophiala oligosperma in an Immunocompetent Host with Literature Review

We report a rare case of phaeohyphomycotic cyst in an immunocompetent patient caused by Exophiala oligosperma. This fungus is earlier known to cause infections in the immunocompromised. Identification of black fungi at species level is more challenging by conventional methods, and hence final identification of the fungi was based on sequencing of rDNA. The patient was managed with surgical excision. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of E. oligosperma human infection from India.     

Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis as presentation of HIV infection in Sardinia,insular Italy

Leishmaniasis is endemic in Sardinia but only cutaneous and visceral cases have been reported to date. We report a case of mucocutaneous leishmaniasis as presentation of HIV infection in a Sardinian patient who had never visited endemic areas. Serological and clinical diagnosis was cytologically and histopathologically confirmed. The patient had a good response to treatment with liposomal amphotericin combined with highly active antiretroviral therapy without recurrences after four years. Our case report highlights the need to better assess the circulation of species, risk factors and clinical spectrum of Leishmania infection in the Italian Mediterranean islands.     

标准化患者模拟结合案例情景对普外科见习教学的运用分析

目的：探究标准化患者模拟结合案例情景对普外科见习教学的运用。方法：选取我科2012年本科见习生120例进行随机分组,模拟组、案例组及联合组各40例,分别采用标准化患者模拟、案例情景及标准化患者模拟结合案例情景进行教学,对比三组见习生的学习效果,分析联合教学的运用方法。结果：联合组学生见习结束后学习兴趣、知识掌握情况及讲师满意度均显著高于其他两组,其课堂气氛活跃情况明显优于案例组（P〈0．05）;三组学生传统试题错题数无明显统计学差异（P〉0．05）,联合组学生病例分析错题数明显低于案例组及模拟组（P〈0．05）;见习结束时,联合组知识掌握程度及病历书写能力均显著优于模拟组及案例组,三组数据对比存在统计学差异（P〈0．05）。结论：标准化患者模拟结合案例情景能够有效弥补传统见习教学的不足,提高学生学习积极性、课堂活跃度及学习效果,使其知识掌握情况和病历书写能力得到大幅提升,是一种效果优秀的教学方式,值得广泛推广。     

Use of magnetic field in treatment of trophic leg ulcers]

Theoretical basis and favourable therapeutical application of magnetic field in case of trophic ulcerations of the lower limbs are discussed. As a clinical example of such action a case of a 39-year old female patient with trophic ulceration of the leg is presented. Practical advantages of magnetotherapy in similar to the described case patients are suggested.     

Measurable prediction for the single patient and the results of large double blind controlled randomized trials

BACKGROUND: It has been shown that the clinical state of one patient can be represented by known measured variables of interest, each of which then form the element of a fuzzy set as point in the unit hypercube. We hypothesized that precise comparison of a single patient with the average patient of a large double blind controlled randomized study is possible using fuzzy theory. METHODS/PRINCIPLE FINDINGS: The sets as points unit hypercube geometry allows fuzzy subsethood to define in measures of fuzzy cardinality different conditions, similarity and comparison between fuzzy sets. A fuzzy measure of prediction is defined from fuzzy measures of similarity and comparison. It is a measure of the degree to which fuzzy set A is similar to fuzzy set B when different conditions are taken into account and removed from the comparison. When represented as a fuzzy set as point in the unit hypercube, a clinical patient can be compared to an average patient of a large group study in a precise manner. This comparison is expressed by the fuzzy prediction measure. This measure in itself is not a probability. Once thus precisely matched to the average patient of a large group study, risk reduction is calculated by multiplying the measured similarity of the clinical patient to the risk of the average trial patient. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Otherwise not precisely translatable to the single case, the result of group statistics can be applied to the single case through the use of fuzzy subsethood and measured in fuzzy cardinality. This measure is an alternative to a Bayesian or other probability based statistical approach.     

Effectiveness of chronic treatment with ketoconazole in a patient with diabetic Cushing's disease resistant to surgery

Without treatment, Cushing's disease has significant morbidity and mortality. Where a surgical approach may not be feasible, or is refused by the patient, medical therapy becomes the only option. In this case report, we discuss the effects of two years of ketoconazole treatment on diabetes regulation and insulin resistance in a patient reluctant to agree to surgery. A 62 year-old female patient with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus was investigated. Cushing's disease was confirmed by the results of high urine free cortisol level and dexamethasone suppression tests. We discuss the effects of two years of 600 mg/day ketoconazole treatment on diabetes regulation and insulin resistance in a patient with Cushing's disease reluctant to agree to surgery. This case report illustrates the beneficial long-term effects of 24 months of ketoconazole treatment on the clinical and laboratory findings and also on steroid and glucose metabolism.     

Disseminated histoplasmosis with lesions restricted to the larynx in a patient with AIDS. Report of a case and review of the literature

Histoplasmosis is an endemic and systemic mycosis, caused by the dimorphic fungus Histoplasma capsulatum var capsulatum. Disseminated disease in immunocompromised patients generally results from the reactivation of latent foci after a prolonged period of asymptomatic infection. We report a case of laryngeal histoplasmosis as the unique clinical manifestation of a progressive form of the disease in a patient with advanced HIV/AIDS disease. Histopathological analysis of laryngeal biopsy smears revealed granulomas containing Histoplasma-like organisms. Treatment with amphotericin B followed by itraconazole resulted in complete remission of laryngeal lesions. To our knowledge, this is the third case report of laryngeal histoplasmosis in a patient with AIDS.     

A case of Diphyllobothrium latum infection with a brief review of diphyllobothriasis in the Republic of Korea

A case of Diphyllobothrium latum infection in a 49-year old man is described, and diphyllobothriasis latum in the Republic of Korea is briefly reviewed. An incomplete strobila of a tapeworm, 95 cm in length, without scolex and neck, was spontaneously discharged in the feces of a patient. On the basis of morphologic characteristics of the worm and eggs, the worm was identified as D. latum. The patient was successfully treated with a single dose (15 mg/kg) of praziquantel. The most probable source of infection was salmon flesh according to the past history of the patient. The first case of D. latum infection was documented in 1971, and this is the 43rd recorded case in the Republic of Korea. The 43 cases were briefly reviewed. The patientso main complaints were gastrointestinal troubles, such as mild abdominal pain, indigestion, and diarrhea, and discharge of tapeworm segments in the feces. The suspected infection sources included raw or improperly cooked flesh of fresh or brackish water fish, including the perch, mullet, salmon, and trout.     

Fatal outcome of acute thrombocytopenic purpura associated with a viral infection in an 11-year-old child

A case of fatal intracranial hemorrhage is reported in an eleven year old girl with acute idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura following a viral infection. The patient was randomized to the IgG-arm of the ITP therapy study. Immunoglobulin administration was not followed by a raise of the thrombocyte count. Neither the IgG therapy nor intensive therapeutic measurements were able to prevent the fatal course of cerebral hemorrhage in this case. Pathological and immunological findings indicate that our patient suffered from a fulminant ITP which must be considered as a part of a still active viral disease.     

Toxic shock syndrome in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus.

A case is presented of toxic shock syndrome in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus. Toxic shock syndrome is rarely reported in patients who are immunosuppressed, perhaps because such patients are often treated vigorously with antibiotics at the earliest sign of infection. The association in this case may have been coincidental.     

Isolated lissencephaly sequence associated with a microdeletion at chromosome 17p13

Summary DNA markers YNZ22.1, YNH37.3, 144D6 and VAW508 were studied in a patient with the isolated lissencephaly sequence (ILS). A normal karyotype was found in the patient. The DNA of the patient showed deletions of markers YNZ22.1 and YNH37.3. This is the first report of a case of ILS (with grade 3 lissencephaly) with a submicroscopic deletion. The presence of a micro deletion in 17p13 in an ILS patient indicates that Miller-Dieker syndrome and ILS have a common etiology.