1/6. Cushing's syndrome due to intermittent ectopic ACTH production showing a temporary remission during a pulmonary infection.OBJECTIVES: In about 15-20% of patients with ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome the source of ACTH is outside the pituitary gland. Pulmonary tumours are the most frequent, yet not unique, source of ectopic ACTH. In some instances the localisation of an ACTH-secreting tumour may be problematic. Occult ectopic ACTH secretion indicates the occurrence of ACTH-dependent hypercortisolism with an unknown origin. Another peculiarity of Cushing's syndrome may reside in the episodic cortisol hypersecretion, which can determine a pattern characterised by hypercortisolism together with periods of remission (cyclic Cushing's syndrome). We describe a very challenging case of Cushing's syndrome due to ectopic ACTH hypersecretion, showing virtually all of the most unusual features of the disease. DESIGN: A 55-year-old woman affected by Cushing's syndrome, presenting with biochemical features of ectopic ACTH secretion, has been followed for 7 years. methods: Thorough basal and dynamic hormonal assessment through the past 7 years is reported. In addition, the results of extensive imaging studies are presented. RESULTS: The source of ACTH secretion has not been identified so far, and hypercortisolism has been controlled by octreotide treatment. In addition, the patient showed a cyclic pattern of hypercortisolism with a long-term remission period. A unique feature of this case is represented by the fact that we observed a temporary, yet dramatic, short-lasting remission of ACTH and cortisol hypersecretion during a pulmonary infection, which occurred while the patient was hospitalised for a periodic hormonal assessment. CONCLUSIONS: This case well represents the wide spectrum of clinical variability of Cushing's syndrome. Most interestingly, to our knowledge, this is the first report of a case of Cushing's syndrome showing a remission during an acute infection.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = gland (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/6. Special sunrise & sunset solar energy stored papers and their clinical applications for intractable pain, circulatory disturbances & cancer: comparison of beneficial effects between Special solar energy Stored paper and qigong Energy Stored paper.Various phases of solar energy were evaluated for possible medical application, using the Bi-Digital O-Ring Test. A 2-4 minute interval of highly beneficial phase during sunrise and sunset which is comparable or is stronger than ( ) qigong Energy was detected. This energy was stored on 3 x 5 inch index cards. The sun energy stored on the exposed surface had a Bi-Digital O-Ring Test extremely strong positive ( ) response, and the opposite side of the index card which was not exposed to the sun showed an equally strong negative (-) response. When the Bi-Digital O-Ring Test strong positive side ( ) was applied to the patient's skin above various intractable painful areas with circulatory disturbances, including gangrenous pain, muscle pain, joint pain, & migraine headache, most of the pain disappeared or was significantly reduced within between 10 seconds and 5 minutes, with accelerated wound healing compared with qigong energy stored paper of the same exposure, which caused pain to disappear within between 1.5 minutes and 15 minutes. When this Special solar energy Stored paper was applied either directly to the skin above cancer positive areas or the midline of the upper chest above the thymus gland representation area, or the occipital area above the medulla oblongata, various cancer related parameters returned to close to normal values, with immediate clinical improvement. The beneficial effects of 10-60 seconds of application of the Special solar energy Stored paper lasted for between 7 and 40 days, depending on the individual and their environmental electromagnetic field, how the special solar energy was stored, and how it was applied to the patient.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = gland (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/6. Deep neck infection as the main initial presentation of primary head and neck cancer.OBJECTIVES: Primary head and neck cancer and deep neck infection are not uncommon, but deep neck infection as the initial presentation of primary head and neck cancer is rare and these patients risk potential misdiagnosis. MATERIALS AND methods: The records of 301 patients with deep neck infection and 3,337 patients with primary head and neck cancers from 1990 to 2002 were retrospectively reviewed. patients with primary head and neck cancers who had deep neck infection as their initial presentation were enrolled. RESULTS: Seven patients were identified (six men and one woman). The median age was 64 years. All patients presented with painful, erythematous neck swelling and all image studies showed abscess formation. Four abscesses received needle aspiration and three received surgical drainage, which yielded malignant cells in four specimens. The primary origins of malignancies were the nasopharynx (two patients), oropharynx (two patients), hypopharynx (one patient), parotid gland (one patient) and maxillary sinus (one patient). All patients had stage IV disease. Only three patients could receive curative therapy and only one patient was disease-free after three years. CONCLUSION: We suggest that detailed history-taking, complete examination of the ENT field and pathological study of the infected tissue must be performed for patients with deep neck infection to enable early detection and prompt treatment of any underlying malignancy.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = gland (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/6. IgE induces secretion of prostaglandin E2 by human monocytes.IgE was isolated from a patient with the hyper IgE, recurrent infection syndrome by immunoadsorption on sepharose bound goat anti-human IgE. Addition of this IgE to a monolayer culture of human monocytes resulted in a dose-dependent increase in PGE2 secretion. The addition of F(ab')2 fraction of goat anti-human IgE in the presence of sub-stimulating doses of IgE markedly increased PGE2 secretion; whereas addition of F(ab')2 fragment of irrelevant goat IgG had no effect. Similar activation of monocytes which could be enhanced by anti IgE was observed in the presence of the patient's serum. No such effect was seen in the presence of normal human serum. These results indicate that IgE may activate human monocytes and induce PGE secretion.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 4keywords = gland (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/6. An X-linked syndrome of diarrhea, polyendocrinopathy, and fatal infection in infancy.We have studied a patient from a family in which 17 male infants died in the first years of life. The clinical characteristics of this disorder were established from information from eight patients. The features included diarrhea, diabetes mellitus, hemolytic anemia, eczematoid rashes, and exaggerated responses to viral illnesses, combined with pathologic evidence of autodestruction of endocrine glands, insulitis, and thyroiditis with thyroid autoantibodies in one patient. When tested, B-lymphocyte cell function, T cell numbers, polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotaxis, and complement concentrations were normal. Lymphocyte stimulation with phytohemagglutinin was low in one to two affected males and delayed skin test anergy was noted in another, raising the question of a T-lymphocyte cell abnormality. The basic genetic mechanism is unknown, but involvement of an immune response locus on the x chromosome, dysfunction of which is responsible for overactivity of the autoimmune system, is postulated.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = gland (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/6. Bartholinitis after vulvovaginal surgery.OBJECTIVES: The object of the study was to determine whether obstruction of the Bartholin gland duct after vulvovaginal surgery is a cause of Bartholin gland infections or cysts. STUDY DESIGN: The records of patients with vulvovaginal surgical procedures performed by me between 1983 and 1997 were reviewed for evidence of a Bartholin gland infection or cyst formation. RESULTS: A postoperative Bartholin gland infection occurred in 2 of 217 patients with posterior colporrhaphy (with or without vault suspension) and 1 of 14 patients with partial vestibulectomy for vestibulitis. No patient had a chronic Bartholin cyst develop. CONCLUSIONS: Bartholin gland infections and Bartholin cysts are uncommon occurrences after surgical procedures that have the potential to obstruct the Bartholin duct.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = gland (Clic here for more details about this article) |