Reconstruction of cervical stability following old facet dislocation of cervical spine]

One hundred fifty adolescent inpatients with major depression were systematically assessed for demographic and clinical differences between psychotic and nonpsychotic depression. Delusions and/or hallucinations were present in 10% of the subjects. The psychotic group had significantly more frequent and severe suicidal ideation. Posttraumatic stress disorder was also more frequent in the psychotic group.     

腕月骨脱位及月骨周围脱位的诊断与治疗

目的:探讨腕月骨脱位及月骨周围脱位的诊断手段与治疗方法,为临床月骨脱位及月骨周围脱位的诊断与治疗提供依据,防止误诊和漏诊的发生.方法:收集本院2001年1月到2010年6月收治并就诊的在外院漏诊或误诊的月骨脱位或月骨周围脱位患者21例,采用拍摄腕部正位和侧位X片进行诊断,并依据病情进行早期复位和适当的固定,并于术后1年后进行Mayo Modified Wrist Score功能评价.结果:①共诊断出月骨脱位5例,经舟骨月骨脱位2例,月骨周围脱位9例,经舟骨月骨周围脱位4例,不典型月骨周围脱位1例.②术后患者的平均得分为81.2±3.8分,除1例患者得分为差外,其余20例患者得分均在尚可以上,占95.2%.结论:腕月骨脱位及月骨周围脱位情况比较复杂,应避免漏诊和误诊,尤其是不典型月骨周围脱位,及时和分型的术后治疗有助于腕关节功能的恢复.     

Polyneuropathy: diagnosis and management

A polyneuropathy is characterized by a symmetrical distribution of sensory or motor abnormalities, more pronounced distally than proximally and usually more evident in the lower than in the upper limbs. Polyneuropathies may be classified on the basis of (a) clinical picture: acute/subacute/chronic, sensory/motor/autonomous, axonal degeneration/segmental demyelinization, and (b) cause: metabolic disorder, deficiency, infection, auto(dys)immunity, hereditary and toxic/iatrogenic polyneuropathy, with idiopathic polyneuropathy as the remaining group. Damaged nerves may recover as the result of spontaneous remyelinization and axonal regeneration. Treatment is particularly successful in immunomediated neuropathies. Withdrawal is often successful in intoxications and suppletion in deficiencies. Even if no treatment is possible, the diagnosis is important: the patient can be taught to accept his disease and the prognosis can be determined, in connection with possible handicaps.     

Priapism: diagnosis and management

A 32-year-old female patient with a primary adenohypophyseal neoplasm that rapidly progressed to a fatal outcome is presented. The time interval between her admission to the hospital and her death was 3 months. Despite dopamine agonist therapy, local invasion as well as frontal and spinal cord metastases at Th 10-12 region developed, and four surgical resections were performed. The serum prolactin levels were high. Both the primary pituitary tumour and all the metastatic tumours had the same histological findings and immunohistochemical reactions. Each was composed of pleomorphic chromophobic cells with enlarged nuclei. Mitoses and necroses were frequent. Immunostains revealed prolactin in the tumour cells. A literature review revealed that in most of the pituitary carcinomas as in our case hyperprolactinaemia did not respond to medical therapy and the histopathological appearance of the tumour has not correlated with the aggressive behaviour of the tumour. It may therefore be considered that at least some of the cases with metastases in prolactin secreting pituitary carcinomas could be the result of hyperprolactinaemia itself.     

Parathyroid carcinoma: diagnosis and management

A patient with severe hypercalcemia and a palpable neck mass is presented. The highest calcium was 18.8 mg/dL. A left lower neck mass was felt on examination. The trachea was deviated to the right side on a chest film. A barium swallow demonstrated an indentation on the left side of the esophagus. An en-bloc resection of the mass including the thyroid lobe, the strap muscles, and the recurrent laryngeal nerve was done. The pathologic specimen revealed parathyroid carcinoma with dense fibrous septae, invasion of the capsule, and vascular invasion. The patient is alive and without evidence of hypercalcemia or recurrence of the disease 23 years after surgery, probably the longest survivor with carcinoma of the parathyroid gland. Parathyroid carcinoma should be suspected in any patient with severe hypercalcemia and a palpable mass. The best chance for cure is obtained by performing a wide surgical excision during the initial operation.     

Eyelid disorders: diagnosis and management

Eyelid problems range from benign, self-resolving processes to malignant, possibly metastatic, tumors. Inflammation, infection, benign and malignant tumors, and structural problems such as ectropion, entropion and blepharoptosis may occur. Fortunately, most eyelid disorders are not vision-threatening or life-threatening; however, many cause irritative symptoms such as burning, foreign-body sensation or pain. Blepharitis, or eyelid inflammation, one of the most common problems, is characterized by erythematous eyelids with accumulation of debris along the eyelid margin. Malignant eyelid tumors may be associated with lash loss and erosion of normal eyelid structures. Recognition and diagnosis of these problems are crucial to their proper management. Warm compresses and antibiotics suffice for many conditions, while excision, cryotherapy or laser treatment are required for some.     

Hemangioma-like lesions: diagnosis and management

The distinctive color that serves as the basis for the appearance of blue lesions arises from the accumulation of pigmented material, blood, or clear fluid in abnormal amounts within the oral tissues. Clinical appearance of these lesions varies and, despite their morphological similarity, their pathogenesis, etiology, and clinical behavior is different, as are their treatment and prognosis. Because of the clinical similarity between benign and malignant blue lesions (as illustrated by the patients described in this report), the need for precise histologic diagnosis prior to definitive treatment is emphasized.     

Choroidal melanoma: diagnosis and management

We have expressed the alpha 1 A calcium channel subunit alone, and in combination with different beta subunits, and investigated the effect of the external Ba2+ concentration on the voltage dependence of activation. Increasing the external Ba2+ concentration from 2.5 to 40 mM induced in all cases a depolarising shift of the potential for half-activation. The magnitude of this shift however, was different depending on whether the alpha 1 A subunit was expressed alone or with a beta subunit. Consistently, calculated external surface-charge density and potential were larger when a beta subunit was expressed. These results suggest that expression of an auxiliary subunit can influence calcium channel gating by modifying the sensitivity of the voltage sensor to the membrane potential profile.     

Misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis in traumatic intracranial haematoma

Out of 51 patients with traumatic intracranial haematoma admitted to a teaching hospital 11 (22%) died undiagnosed, and out of 307 such patients transferred to the West of Scotland Regional Neurosurgical Centre 111 (36%) had been deteriorating for more than 12 hours in another hospital. In two-thirds of these cases the delay was due to an erroneous diagnosis, either of cerebrovascular accident or of alcoholic intoxication.     

Radial tunnel syndrome: diagnosis and management

PURPOSE: To present the first documentation of iris retraction syndrome in eyes with nonrhegmatogenous retinal detachment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One patient with age-related macular degeneration and another with panuveitis developed exudative retinal detachment with iris retraction configuration. Ultrasound biomicroscopy was performed to investigate the anatomic relationship of structures in the anterior segment of the eye. RESULTS: Ultrasound biomicroscopy demonstrated a severe backward bowing of the peripheral iris with irido-ciliary body and irido-zonular contact as well as broad iris lens touch. The iris retraction syndrome resolved after pupil dilation and disruption of the pupillary adhesions in both cases. The retinal detachment resolved several months later, without surgery. CONCLUSION: Iris retraction syndrome appears not to be exclusive to rhegmatogenous retinal detachment but can present in eyes with exudative - nonrhegmatogenous retinal detachment. Thus, when the configuration of the iris shows bowing in patients with retinal detachment, iris retraction syndrome should be considered and prompt pupil dilation should be carried out.     

Traumatic aortic rupture: diagnosis and management

BACKGROUND: Traumatic aortic rupture is a relatively uncommon lesion that presents the cardiothoracic surgeon with unique challenges in diagnosis and management. To address controversial aspects of this disease, we reviewed our experience. METHODS: The study was performed by retrospective chart review. RESULTS: Forty-two patients with traumatic thoracic aortic ruptures were managed between January 1988 and June 1997. Nine arrived without vital signs and died in the emergency department. Admission chest radiographs were normal in 3 patients (12%) and caused significant delays in diagnosis. Four of 30 patients admitted with vital signs had rupture before thoracotomy and died. Twenty-six underwent aortic repair. In 1 patient repair was performed with simple aortic cross-clamping, whereas a second was managed with a Gott shunt. The remaining 24 patients had repair with partial left heart bypass. In 1 patient hypothermic circulatory arrest was required. Two patients (7.7%) died. There were no cases of new postoperative paraplegia in the bypass group. There was no morbidity directly attributable to the administration of heparin for cardiopulmonary bypass. CONCLUSIONS: In a discrete group of patients with traumatic rupture of the aorta, the rupture will become complete during the first few hours of hospital admission; aggressive medical treatment with beta-blockade and vasodilators in the interval before the operation is an essential aspect of management. Active distal circulatory support with partial left-heart bypass provides the optimal means of preventing spinal cord ischemia during repair of acute traumatic aortic rupture.     

Pelvic inflammatory disease: diagnosis and management

BACKGROUND: Acute pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a major gynecologic health problem in the United States, afflicting more than 1 million women each year and generating annual direct and indirect costs estimated at $4.2 billion. Family physicians can play an important role in the prevention, as well as diagnosis and treatment, of PID. METHODS: A MEDLINE search for articles published from 1985 to the present was made using the key words "pelvic inflammatory disease," "endometritis," "salpingitis," "tubo-ovarian abscess," "adnexitis," "pelvic abscess," "parametritis," and "oophoritis." The bibliographies of these articles and the author's personal files were also sources of information. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: A number of risk factors have been linked to PID, including young age, age at first intercourse, multiple sex partners, the presence of bacterial vaginosis, vaginal douching, the use of an intrauterine contraceptive device, and a history of a sexually transmitted disease. The diagnosis of PID represents a major clinical challenge that requires a careful history and physical examination coupled with selective and knowledgeable use of the diagnostic tests and procedures currently available. Broad-spectrum antibiotics, which represent the cornerstone of therapy, must adequately cover the polymicrobial spectrum of pathogens implicated in this infection, which includes Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, and specific cervicovaginal anaerobic and aerobic bacteria. The numerous sequelae associated with PID, which include infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and chronic pelvic pain syndromes, underscore the need for effective measures for preventing pelvic inflammatory disease.     

Obstructive sleep apnoea: diagnosis and management

Snoring and the associated syndrome of sleep apnoea can have severe effects on the lives of sufferers and their families. This article discusses why obstructive sleep apnoea is potentially fatal, and how it may be identified and managed.     

Primary biliary stones: diagnosis and management

To review the results of treatment of primary biliary stones, 96 consecutive patients managed from 1991 to 1996 were studied retrospectively. Acute cholangitis and abdominal pain were the presenting symptoms in 57 patients (59%) and 29 patients (30%), respectively. Fifty-four patients (56%) had a history of biliary surgery. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, ultrasonography, and computed tomography were frequently employed for diagnosis of primary biliary stones and were performed on 84 patients (88%), 90 patients (94%), and 89 patients (93%), respectively. Intrahepatic stones were identified in 91 patients (95%) and biliary strictures in 34 patients (35%). Concomitant cholangiocarcinoma occurred in 15 patients (16%). Hepatic resection was required in 55 patients (57%) for removal of an atrophic liver lobe or a segment related to repeated infection, biliary strictures, liver abscesses, or cholangiocarcinoma. Intraoperative choledochoscopy was routinely performed in all patients to detect, remove, or confirm clearance of biliary stones. A hepaticocutaneous jejunostomy (HCJ) was constructed in 70 patients (73%) to facilitate postoperative choledochoscopic examination or biliary stone extraction. Twenty-two patients (23%) had residual stones and required postoperative choledochoscopic extraction. Complete eradication of residual stones was achieved in all patients. Postoperative morbidity occurred in 28 patients (29%), and there was one hospital death (a patient with cholangiocarcinoma). With a median follow-up of 26 months (range 2-62 months), stones recurred in three patients. In conclusion, the early results of treatment of primary biliary stones were satisfactory owing to a systematic, aggressive approach that consisted of hepatic resection, frequent construction of an HCJ, and postoperative choledochoscopy.     

Intracranial hemorrhage: diagnosis and emergency management

Intracranial hemorrhages are an important cause of acute neurologic disease presenting in the emergency setting. To optimize outcome, it is important that the physician quickly recognize intracranial hemorrhages. To minimize mortality and neurologic morbidity, it is often necessary to initiate urgent therapy in the emergency rooms and to obtain neurosurgical consultation in order to pursue early surgical therapy. This article discusses the recognition and early treatment of the various types of intracranial hemorrhages.