Spontaneous Uterine Rupture in the Second Trimester in a Patient With Previous Pelvic Radiotherapy in Childhood: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Pelvic irradiation in childhood may result in abnormal uterine function. Poor obstetric outcomes have been reported in these patients. CASE: A 30-year-old woman with a previous midtrimester miscarriage, G2, P0, presented at 234 weeks gestation with acute abdominal pain and signs of hemodynamic instability. The patient was treated in childhood for Ewing sarcoma of the pelvis. Spontaneous uterine rupture was diagnosed. A supracervical hysterectomy with intrauterine fetus was performed. CONCLUSION: A high index of suspicion is needed in primigravidas with risk factors for uterine rupture. Pelvic radiotherapy in childhood may be a risk factor.

Primary fatty amides in plasma associated with brain amyloid burden, hippocampal volume, and memory in the European Medical Information Framework for Alzheimer's Disease biomarker discovery cohort.

INTRODUCTION: A critical and as-yet unmet need in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the discovery of peripheral small molecule biomarkers. Given that brain pathology precedes clinical symptom onset, we set out to test whether metabolites in blood associated with pathology as indexed by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) AD biomarkers. METHODS: This study analyzed 593 plasma samples selected from the European Medical Information Framework for Alzheimer's Disease Multimodal Biomarker Discovery study, of individuals who were cognitively healthy (n = 242), had mild cognitive impairment (n = 236), or had AD-type dementia (n = 115). Logistic regressions were carried out between plasma metabolites (n = 883) and CSF markers, magnetic resonance imaging, cognition, and clinical diagnosis. RESULTS: Eight metabolites were associated with amyloid ß and one with t-tau in CSF, these were primary fatty acid amides (PFAMs), lipokines, and amino acids. From these, PFAMs, glutamate, and aspartate also associated with hippocampal volume and memory. DISCUSSION: PFAMs have been found increased and associated with amyloid ß burden in CSF and clinical measures.

Multiplex PCR reveals that viruses are more frequent than bacteria in children with cystic fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Cystic fibrosis is a degenerative disease characterized by progressive epithelial secretory gland dysfunction associated with repeated respiratory infections. Bacterial infections are very frequent in children with cystic fibrosis, but because rapid METHODS: for screening for the wide variety of potentially involved viruses were unavailable until recently, the frequency of viral presence is unknown. Multiplex PCR enables screening for many viruses involved in respiratory infections. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of viruses and bacteria in respiratory specimens from children with cystic fibrosis and to clarify the incidence and characteristics (seasonality and age of patients) of different viruses detected in children with cystic fibrosis. STUDY DESIGN: In this 2-year prospective study, we obtained paired nasopharyngeal-swab and sputum specimens from children with cystic fibrosis during clinical respiratory examinations separated by at least 14days. We analyzed viruses in nasopharyngeal-swab specimens with multiplex PCR and bacteria in sputum with standard methods. RESULTS: We analyzed 368 paired specimens from 33 children. We detected viruses in 154 (41.8%) and bacteria in 132 (35.9%). Bacteria were commoner in spring and summer; viruses were commoner in autumn and winter. In every season, Staphylococcus aureus was the commonest bacteria and rhinovirus was the commonest virus. Nearly all infections with Haemophilus influenzae occurred in autumn and winter. Viruses were more prevalent in children <5 years old, and bacteria were more prevalent in children ≥12 years old. CONCLUSIONS: Multiplex PCR screening for respiratory viruses is feasible in children with cystic fibrosis; the clinical implications of screening warrant further study.

Tick-borne lymphadenopathy: a new infectious disease in children.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiologic and clinical aspects of patients with tick-borne lymphadenopathy (TIBOLA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included all patients treated in our hospital who presented characteristic clinical signs of TIBOLA consisting in the presence of an inoculation lesion after a tick bite with regional lymphadenopathies. The study was carried out at the "Corporació Parc Taulí" hospital in the city of Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain. The inclusion period was from April 2000 to April 2006. Serology tests were performed for Rickettsia conorii, R. slovaca, and Borrelia burgdorferi. The presence of Rickettsia was assessed by means of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and linear-after-the exponential-PCR in blood, skin biopsy, and ticks from the patients. RESULTS: Thirty-six patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Twenty-eight patients were children. In most cases, infection occurred between the months of October and April. In 34 patients the tick bite was on the scalp. A necrotic eschar surrounded by a perilesional erythematous halo was observed in 29 cases. All patients had painful regional lymphadenopathies. Serology for R. conorii was positive in 8 cases and for R. slovaca in 2. PCR was negative. The tick, identified as Dermacentor marginatus, was studied in 7 patients. Four of the 7 D. marginatus were positive for sequences compatible with R. slovoca as determined by RFLP or DNA sequencing. Thirty-three patients received antibiotic treatment. Progress was satisfactory in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: TIBOLA is present in Catalonia (Northeastern Spain) mainly in children. Although clinical and epidemiologic manifestations are very specific microbiologic confirmation is difficult.