A retrospective evaluation of the Modified Alvarado Score for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in HIV-infected patients.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the diagnostic value of a Modified Alvarado Score (MAS) ≥7 for acute appendicitis in both Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-negative (HIVneg) and positive (HIVpos) patientcohorts. METHODS: This retrospective study included all HIV-tested patients undergoing appendectomy at a regional hospital from March 2010 to March 2011. The MAS was calculated for all patients, as well as for the HIVneg and HIVpos groups separately. Two subgroups were considered for each of these: MAS ≥7 (high likelihood of appendicitis) and MAS <7 (low likelihood of appendicitis). These subgroups were then analysed against histopathological findings of the resected appendix. MAS specificities and sensitivities were determined by comparing Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) curves for the various scores. RESULTS: The study comprised 133 patients. Eighty-six (65%) were men and the median age was 20 years (range 4-64); 18 patients (14%) were HIVpos. Appendicitis was confirmed histologically in 113 patients, 100 in the HIVneg group and 13 in the HIVpos group. Specificity and sensitivity of a MAS ≥7 for HIVneg patients was 73 and 85% respectively. Based on the ROC curves, HIVpos patients only showed similar sensitivities (69%) and specificities (80%) at a MAS ≥8. CONCLUSION: A MAS ≥7 is a reliable predictor of acute appendicitis in HIVneg patients. In HIVpos patients, the MAS threshold required to accurately predict appendicitis is 8. The use of a MAS ≥7 in this group of patients will result in unnecessary surgical intervention.

Displasia mesenquimal placentaria: caso clínico / Placental mesenchymal dysplasia: a case report

La displasia mesenquimal placentaria es una entidad poco conocida, de etiología incierta y subdiagnosticada. Frecuentemente, es confundida con enfermedad trofoblástica gestacional debido a que se presenta con hallazgos ultrasonográficos caracterizados por una placenta engrosada, con quistes e imágenes hipoecogénicas y niveles de gonadotrofina coriónica humana normales o levemente aumentados. El feto es frecuentemente viable y puede manifestar retraso del crecimiento intrauterino, prematurez o asociarse al síndrome de Beckwith-Wiedemann. Se presenta el caso de una mujer joven con un parto pretérmino con placentomegalia, sospecha de mola hidatidiforme parcial y un recién nacido pequeño para la edad gestacional.

The placental mesenchymal dysplasia is a not well known entity, with an uncertain etiology and under diagnosed. It is frequently confused with gestational trophoblastic disease because of its ultrasonographic features of a thick placenta, cysts and hypoechogenic images, with normal or slightly increased levels of human chorionic gonadotrophic hormone. The fetus is often viable and can manifest intrauterine growth restriction, prematurity or be associated with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. We present a case report of a young woman with a preterm delivery, placentomegaly, suspicious of a partial hydatidiform mole and a low growth newborn.

Mismatch repair deficiency in colorectal cancer patients in a low-incidence area.

BACKGROUND: In a previous study we identified 206 patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma in the Northern Cape province of South Africa, diagnosed between January 2002 and February 2009. The age-standardised incidence was 4.2/100 000 per year world standard population. This is 10% of the rate reported in First-World countries. In high-incidence areas, the rate of abnormal mismatch repair gene expression in colorectal cancers is 2 - 7%. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hMLH1- and hMSH2-deficient colorectal cancer in the Northern Cape. METHODS: Formalin-fixed paraffin wax-embedded tissue blocks from 87 colorectal adenocarcinomas identified in the previous study were retrieved. Standard immunohistochemical staining methods were used to detect the expression of hMLH1 and hMSH2 (i.e. products of the hMLH1 and hMSH2 genes) in the tumours using heat-induced antigen retrieval and diaminobenzidene as a chromogen. Results. In 8 blocks there was insufficient tumour tissue and in 1 case the immunohistochemical staining failed, probably owing to poor fixation, leaving 78 cases for analysis. In 11 cases hMLH1 was deficient and in 6 cases hMSH2 was deficient. Overall, 21.8% of cancers were deficient for hMLH1 or hMSH2. CONCLUSION: Presuming that 80% of all hMLH1 deficiencies are due to hypermethylation of the gene, we found 10.5% of colorectal cancers in an area with a low incidence of colorectal cancer to be deficient in the product of the mismatch repair gene/s. This is approximately three times the reported rate in high-incidence areas.

Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori antibodies in children in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

BACKGROUND: An association of H. pylori infection with chronic gastritis, peptic ulceration and gastric cancer is known. METHODS: Prevalence of IgG antibodies to Helicobacter pylori in children in the Bloemfontein, South Africa area was studied. Children attending the general pediatric outpatient department at Pelonomi Hospital in Bloemfontein were grouped according to age. A minimum of 100 children was investigated in each age group. Baseline demographic and socioeconomic data were collected. RESULTS: The study showed a high prevalence of H. pylori antibodies. Prevalence increased with age: 13.5% in children 3 months-2 years, 48.5% at 2-5 years, 67.3% at 5-10 years and 84.2% at 10-15 years. Investigation of the socioeconomic data in relation to the prevalence of H. pylori was inconclusive. CONCLUSIONS: This high prevalence needs further study.