Isavuconazonium for the treatment of Purpureocillium lilacinum infection in a patient with pyoderma gangrenosum.

Purpureocillium lilacinum is a rare but emerging pathogen in immunocompromised patients that primarily infects the skin and subcutaneous tissue. We present a novel case of Purpureocillium lilacinum infection in a patient with pyoderma gangrenosum who was successfully treated with isavuconazonium, followed by a literature review of 13 total cases of infection with Purpureocillium lilacinum gathered from a review of the PubMed database. Previous reports have utilized voriconazole, an antifungal with significant toxic side effects. Our case highlights the importance of culture and biopsy in patients with pyoderma gangrenosum who are unresponsive to standard treatment irrespective of pathergy risk.

MEF2B is a member of the BCL6 gene transcriptional complex and induces its expression in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the germinal center B-cell-like type.

Myocyte enhancer-binding factor 2B (MEF2B) has been implicated as a transcriptional regulator for BCL6. However, details about the interaction between MEF2B and BCL6 during expression, as well as the relationship of MEF2B to the expression of other germinal center (GC) markers, have not yet been fully explained. Using germinal center B-cell-like diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (GC-DLBCL) and activated B-cell diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (ABC-DLBCL) cell lines, we analyzed the expression of MEF2B and its associations with BCL6, CD10, and ERK. Furthermore, small interfering RNA (siRNA) was used to study the possible effects of MEF2B knockdown on these proteins and cell growth. Analysis of the BCL6 transcriptional complex was performed using electrophoretic mobility shift assay. The correlation between MEF2B expression and the genetic type of DLBCL was assessed using immunohistochemistry on 111 patient samples, and via in silico analysis of publicly available microarray (Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO)) datasets. Our results indicate that the expression of MEF2B protein is important for the growth of GC-DLBCL cells, as evidenced by MEF2B knockdown inhibition of cell growth and the subsequent suppression of BCL6, CD10, and ERK phosphorylation. Analysis of BCL6 transcription factors in nuclear extracts of MEF2-expressing DLBCL cells showed involvement of MEF2B with AP-2α and BCL6 proteins in the formation of the BCL6 gene transcriptional complex. Indeed, differential expression of MEF2B in the GC-DLBCL is statistically significant compared to the ABC-DLBCL in the GEO datasets, as well as in tissue microarray, as indicated via immunohistochemistry (Visco-Young algorithm). Our findings indicate that MEF2B is an essential component of the BCL6 gene transcriptional complex for the regulation of DLBCL growth via the promotion of BCL6 expression. Beyond its regulatory role in DLBCL growth, MEF2B expression correlated positively with BCL6 and CD10 expression, and was preferentially expressed in the GBC-DLBCL group.

Risk and outcomes of 24-h delayed and weekend appendectomies.

BACKGROUND: Time interval from hospital admission to operative intervention has been suggested as a crucial risk factor for a number of surgical procedures. In this study, we aim to compare postappendectomy outcomes for operations performed 24 h after admission or on the weekend to within 24 h and weekday operations, respectively. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database, 2004-2009. The study population included patients who underwent appendectomy for acute appendicitis. RESULTS: A total of 265,972 records were identified, of which 221,745 (83.4%) patients had appendectomy on the same day of admission, whereas 16.6% had the procedure the following day. Next day operations were more likely to be associated with postoperative complications (OR = 1.26, 95% CI = [1.19-1.33], P < 0.001). A hospital stay of >3 d was also more common for next day interventions (P < 0.001). Appendectomies performed on weekends had a higher risk of complications compared to other days (OR = 1.08, 95% CI = [1.02-1.14], P = 0.005). Teaching and urban hospitals were more likely to perform appendectomies on the day after admission (P < 0.05). Older patients (≥35 years), females, Blacks and Hispanics, and those on Medicaid or Medicare were all at higher risk of next day intervention (P < 0.01 each). The average cost of next day operations was higher compared to same day operations ($9890.11 ± 119.64 versus $8744.57 ± 77.67, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Appendectomies performed 1 d after admission or on the weekend are associated with disadvantageous outcomes. Demographic factors, in addition to hospital attributes, place certain subpopulations at higher risk of next day appendectomies.

Remote access thyroid surgery.

Robot assisted thyroid surgery has been the latest advance in the evolution of thyroid surgery after endoscopy assisted procedures. The advantage of a superior field vision and technical advancements of robotic technology have permitted novel remote access (trans-axillary and retro-auricular) surgical approaches. Interestingly, several remote access surgical ports using robot surgical system and endoscopic technique have been customized to avoid the social stigma of a visible scar. Current literature has displayed their various advantages in terms of post-operative outcomes; however, the associated financial burden and also additional training and expertise necessary hinder its widespread adoption into endocrine surgery practices. These approaches offer excellent cosmesis, with a shorter learning curve and reduce discomfort to surgeons operating ergonomically through a robotic console. This review aims to provide details of various remote access techniques that are being offered for thyroid resection. Though these have been reported to be safe and feasible approaches for thyroid surgery, further evaluation for their efficacy still remains.