Suspected systemic calcinosis and calciphylaxis in 5 horses.

Five horses were presented with signs of myopathy along with systemic malaise, hyperfibrinogenemia, hyperphosphatemia, and an elevated calcium phosphorus product (Ca*P). Postmortem findings were consistent with systemic calcinosis, a syndrome of calcium deposition in the tissue of organs including lungs, kidneys, muscle, and heart that has not been previously described in horses.

Home study course: winter 2008.

OBJECTIVE: The Home Study Course is intended for the practicing colposcopist or practitioner who is seeking to develop or enhance his/her colposcopic skills. The goal of the course is to present colposcopic cases that are unusual or instructive in terms of appearance, presentation, or management or that demonstrate new and important knowledge in the area of colposcopy or pathology. Participants may benefit from reading and studying the material or from testing their knowledge by answering the questions. ACCME ACCREDITATION: The American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The ASCCP designates this education activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category I Credittrade mark. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. The ASCCP also designates their educational activity for 1 Category 1 credit hour of the ASCCP's Program for Continuing Professional Development. Credit is available for those who choose to apply. The Home Study Course is planned and produced in accordance with the ACCME's Essential Areas and Elements. DISCLOSURE: The clinical history and images in the Home Study Course may represent an actual case, but not always. To improve educational quality, some gross, cytological, or histological images may come from photographic libraries. Good teaching cases are often difficult to obtain, and we encourage our readers to submit cases with high-quality images to the Home Study Course editor or executive editor to consider for publication. Lastly, faculty must disclose any significant financial interest or relationship with proprietary entities that may have a direct relationship to the subject matter. For this course, the authors had the following relationships to report: Gordon D. Davis, MD, FACOG: No such relationship to report Joseph A.D. Brooks, MD: No such relationship to report.

Home Study Course: summer 2007.

OBJECTIVE: The Home Study Course is intended for the practicing colposcopist or practitioner who is seeking to develop or enhance his/her colposcopic skills. The goal of the course is to present colposcopic cases that are unusual or instructive in terms of appearance, presentation, or management or that demonstrate new and important knowledge in the area of colposcopy or pathology. Participants may benefit from reading and studying the material or from testing their knowledge by answering the questions. ACCME ACCREDITATION: The American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The ASCCP designates this education activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category I Credittrade mark. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. The ASCCP also designates their educational activity for 1 Category I credit hour of the ASCCP's Program for Continuing Professional Development. Credit is available for those who choose to apply. The Home Study Course is planned and produced in accordance with the ACCME's Essential Areas and Elements. DISCLOSURE: The clinical history and images in the Home Study Course may represent an actual case but not always. To improve educational quality, some gross, cytological, or histological images may come from photographic libraries. Good teaching cases are often difficult to obtain, and we encourage our readers to submit cases with high-quality images to the Home Study Course editor or executive editor to consider for publication. Lastly, faculty must disclose any significant financial interest or relationship with proprietary entities that may have a direct relationship to the subject matter.

The vulvodynia guideline.

OBJECTIVE: To provide a review of the literature and make known expert opinion regarding the treatment of vulvodynia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Experts reviewed the existing literature to provide new definitions for vulvar pain and to describe treatments for this condition. RESULTS: Vulvodynia has been redefined by the International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease as vulvar discomfort in the absence of gross anatomic or neurologic findings. Classification is based further on whether the pain is generalized or localized and whether it is provoked, unprovoked, or both. Treatments described include general vulvar care, topical medications, oral medications, injectables, biofeedback and physical therapy, dietary changes with supplementations, acupuncture, hypnotherapy, and surgery. No one treatment is clearly the best for an individual patient. CONCLUSIONS: Vulvodynia has many possible treatments, but very few controlled trials have been performed to verify efficacy of these treatments. Provided are guidelines based largely on expert opinion to assist the patient and practitioner in dealing with this condition.