1/11. Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome induced by whole-body hyperthermia and polychemotherapy in a patient with disseminated leiomyosarcoma of the uterus.OBJECTIVE: Whole-body hyperthermia (WBH) in combination with chemotherapy is a relatively new promising treatment modality for patients with cancer. The objective of this report is to present the development of an acute systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) following WBH in combination with chemotherapy. Although WBH can also induce cytokine production, MODS has not been described before in association with WBH. DESIGN: Case report. The patient was treated with WBH (core temperature 41.8 degrees C using a radiant heat device (Aquatherm) ) in combination with polychemotherapy (ifosfamide, carboplatin and etoposide (ice) ) in the context of a clinical trial for metastatic sarcomas. SETTING: Department of medical oncology and intensive care unit of a university hospital. PATIENT: A 58-year-old Caucasian woman treated for disseminated leiomyosarcoma of the uterus, who developed SIRS with brain dysfunction, hypotension, respiratory failure and renal dysfunction following WBH/ice. INTERVENTIONS: She was successfully treated in the intensive care unit by mechanical ventilation, inotropics and antibiotics. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: There was a remarkable recovery within 2 days: she regained full conciousness, could be extubated, inotropic support was stopped and creatinine levels returned to pre-treatment levels. All cultures remained sterile. After almost complete recovery, 5 days later a second episode of fever during neutropenia occurred and, despite antibiotic treatment, she died of bacteroides distasonis sepsis. CONCLUSION: WBH should be added as a new cause to the already known list of physical-chemical insults which can result in MODS.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/11. Horizontal transmission of Candida parapsilosis candidemia in a neonatal intensive care unit.This report describes the nosocomial acquisition of Candida parapsilosis candidemia by one of the six premature newborns housed in the same room of a neonatal intensive care unit at the Ospedale Santa Chiara, Pisa, italy. The infant had progeria, a disorder characterized by retarded physical development and progressive senile degeneration. The infant, who was not found to harbor C. parapsilosis at the time of his admission to the intensive care unit, had exhibited symptomatic conjunctivitis before the onset of a severe bloodstream infection. In order to evaluate the source of infection and the route of transmission, two independent molecular typing methods were used to determine the genetic relatedness among the isolates recovered from the newborn, the inanimate hospital environment, hospital personnel, topically and intravenously administered medicaments, and indwelling catheters. Among the isolates collected, only those recovered from the hands of two nurses attending the newborns and from both the conjunctiva and the blood of the infected infant were genetically indistinguishable. Since C. parapsilosis was never recovered from indwelling catheters or from any of the drugs administered to the newborn, we concluded that (i) horizontal transmission of C. parapsilosis occurred through direct interaction between nurses and the newborn and (ii) the conjunctiva was the site through which C. parapsilosis entered the bloodstream. This finding highlights the possibility that a previous C. parapsilosis colonization and/or infection of other body sites may be a predisposing condition for subsequent C. parapsilosis hematogenous dissemination in severely ill newborns.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/11. vaginitis: case reports and brief review.vaginitis is the most frequently gynecologic diagnosis encountered by physicians who provide primary care to women. Accurate diagnosis can be elusive, complicating treatment. Most experts believe that up to 90% of vaginitis cases are secondary to bacterial vaginosis, vulvo-vaginal candidiasis, and trichomoniasis. The diagnosis of vaginitis is based on the patient's symptoms, the physical examination, the findings of microscopic examination of the wetmount and potassium hydroxide (KOH) preparations, and the results of the pH litmus test. Additional cultures and testing may be needed for difficult-to-diagnose cases.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 12.086704504287keywords = physical examination, physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/11. diagnosis and management of Candida of the nipple and breast.diagnosis and treatment of ductal and/or nipple candidiasis in breastfeeding women is complicated by the variety of symptoms women experience. The differential diagnosis includes candidiasis of the nipple, candidiasis of the breast, bacterial infection of either nipple or breast, and other less common problems such as Raynaud's syndrome. diagnosis and treatment are based on history, physical examination, and presenting symptomatology because cultures of breast milk are often inconclusive. Differential diagnoses and treatment options are reviewed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 12.086704504287keywords = physical examination, physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/11. Pediatric acquired immunodeficiency syndrome with negative human immunodeficiency virus antibody response by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot.A 5-month-old white girl having persistent oral candidiasis was brought to medical attention because of acute respiratory distress, pneumonia, and hypoxia that worsened despite supportive care and antibiotics. Bronchial lavage fluid yielded pneumocystis carinii. The diagnosis of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) was suspected, although enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot tests were both negative for human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) antibody. Immunologic evaluation included the following results: a low normal CD4/CD8 ratio 0.88, CD4 lymphocytes 493/microL, and elevated IgA 539 mg/dL and IgM 175 mg/dL with normal IgG 492 mg/dL. Lymphocyte stimulation study results were depressed. lymphocytes sent for culture were subsequently positive for hiv. The mother was hiv antibody positive by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot but belonged to no high-risk group and was asymptomatic except for chronic diarrhea. The father was hiv antibody negative. The patient was treated with pentamidine and IV gamma-globulin with good clinical response and a rapid decrease of IgM and IgA toward normal values. Subsequent candidal pneumonia and candidal esophagitis were treated successfully with amphotericin b. The patient has received prophylactic IV gamma-globulin infusions for 6 months and remains hiv negative by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot. This case of pediatric AIDS highlights the need to consider hiv infection in the differential diagnosis of any child with physical findings or illnesses suggestive of aids-related complex or AIDS, even when hiv serologic findings are negative and parents belong to no high-risk group. Parental testing for hiv antibody is suggested in such cases.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/11. Candida endophthalmitis after intravenous drug abuse.patients with endogenous Candida endophthalmitis associated with intravenous (IV) drug abuse may manifest ocular and systemic signs different from those seen in other forms of endogenous Candida endophthalmitis. There may be a sparcity of evidence of systemic candidiasis, including negative serology and normal physical examination results. Anterior uveitis and extensive vitreous involvement are common and do not necessarily have associated typical retinal lesions, which are more commonly seen in the compromised host. This may occur either because of the more transitory nature of choroidal or retinal lesions or because these patients often seek treatment at later stages. Even with a typical clinical picture, it is difficult to get culture confirmation of the diagnosis. Material obtained by vitrectomy must be concentrated before inoculation of media because of the known difficulty of culturing Candida from the vitreous cavity.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 12.086704504287keywords = physical examination, physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/11. Pseudocarcinomatous hyperplasia of the larynx due to candida albicans.A female patient presented with hoarseness. Findings on physical examination showed whitish true vocal cords. Laryngeal biopsies were performed on two two occasions. On the first biopsy a histopathological diagnosis of candida albicans and acanthosis was controversial because the acanthosis resembled squamous cell carcinoma. On the second biopsy, several months later, the diagnosis of acanthosis was again controversial, but a diagnosis of pseudocarcinomatous hyperplasia was not determined until several months later. Finally, we can point out that pseudocarcinomatous hyperplasia can be associated with primary candidiasis and state that hoarseness, whitish true vocal cords, and pseudocarcinomatous hyperplasia can masquerade as squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 12.086704504287keywords = physical examination, physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/11. Nosocomial candidemia: risk factors and attributable mortality.Over the past decade, the incidence of hospital-acquired bloodstream infections caused by Candida species has risen and the species associated with such infections have changed. The incidence of candidemia is dramatically higher in high-risk, critical-care units than in other parts of the hospital. Certain underlying physical conditions including acute leukemia, leukopenia, burns, gastrointestinal disease, and premature birth predispose patients to nosocomial candidemia. Independent risk factors include prior treatment with multiple antibiotics, prior Hickman catheterization, isolation of Candida species from sites other than the blood, and prior hemodialysis. In this article some of the challenges posed by the management of nosocomial candidemia are presented in three case studies. In addition, the results of several investigations of nosocomial candidemia at the University of iowa hospitals and Clinics are reviewed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/11. Successful interferon-gamma therapy in a chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) patient suffering from staphylococcus aureus hepatic abscess and invasive candida albicans infection.A 16-year old boy with an early history of recurrent lower respiratory tract infections exhibited symptoms of prolonged septic fever and liver abscess. Cultures from liver puncture were positive for staphylococcus aureus, and the patient initially responded to antibacterial therapy. After a period of 4 months, however, the infection relapsed, and further treatment with broad antibacterial, antifungal and tuberculostatic drugs was ineffective. Neither soluble nor particulate stimuli were found to elicit the respiratory burst response in granulocytes from the patient. Spectral analysis of granulocyte cytochrome-b confirmed the diagnosis of chronic granulomatous disease. Since the patient's physical condition deteriorated severely during the prolonged (10-week) septic course, immunosupportive interferon-gamma was added to the anti-microbial therapy. With this regime, the fever subsided and the general condition of the patient improved dramatically. He could be discharged from hospital 9 weeks after the introduction of interferon-gamma and was, at an elective follow-up control 1 month later, convalescing and showed no signs of active infection.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/11. Candida laryngitis appearing as leukoplakia and GERD.The symptoms and physical findings of reflux laryngopharyngitis are characteristic, but the mucosal alterations evident in the larynx are not exclusive to reflux. When conventional reflux management produces an equivocal response, other etiologic factors such as mycotic laryngitis, need consideration. The differential diagnosis of dysphonia in an immunocompromised patient always includes mycotic infections, but mycotic laryngitis can also occur in the immunocompetent host. Laryngeal candidiasis can produce physical findings, such as erythema and leukoplakia, that are similar to reflux laryngopharyngitis. Predisposing factors include previous radiation therapy, antibiotic therapy, corticosteroids, and any alteration in the mucosal barrier. diagnosis is established by mucosal biopsy with special staining of the tissue to identify the characteristic hyphae. Treatment of mycoses can be difficult and long-term therapy is often required.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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