Post-Cholecystectomy Mirizzi Syndrome: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND Mirizzi syndrome is biliary obstruction caused by extrinsic compression of the distal common hepatic duct by a gallstone in the adjacent cystic duct or infundibulum of the gallbladder. Post-cholecystectomy Mirizzi syndrome (PCMS) is Mirizzi syndrome in the post-surgical absence of a gallbladder. This case report of PCMS and review of the literature illustrates the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in evaluating and managing Mirizzi syndrome. CASE REPORT A 44-year-old female with a remote history of laparoscopic cholecystectomy presented to a community teaching hospital with acute and severe upper abdominal pain and tenderness. Laboratory data revealed markedly elevated transaminases of a magnitude most often observed with hepatitis from acute viral infection, ischemia, or exposure to a hepatotoxin. PCMS was ultimately diagnosed at endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography after being misdiagnosed as choledocholithiasis on magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography. After transfer to an academic quaternary care referral hospital, the patient's extrahepatic biliary tree was reportedly cleared of gallstones following endoscopically-directed shock-wave lithotripsy performed at repeat -endoscopic retrograde cholangiography. CONCLUSIONS Recognizing post-cholecystectomy syndrome, in general, and PCMS, in particular, is critical when caring for patients presenting with persistent or recurrent symptoms or signs of biliary obstruction following cholecystectomy. Expediently identifying and definitively relieving the biliary obstruction, while limiting the risk of iatrogenic complication, is the priority when caring for patients with PCMS.

Antibody against extracellular vaccinia virus (EV) protects mice through complement and Fc receptors.

Protein-based subunit smallpox vaccines have shown their potential as effective alternatives to live virus vaccines in animal model challenge studies. We vaccinated mice with combinations of three different vaccinia virus (VACV) proteins (A33, B5, L1) and examined how the combined antibody responses to these proteins cooperate to effectively neutralize the extracellular virus (EV) infectious form of VACV. Antibodies against these targets were generated in the presence or absence of CpG adjuvant so that Th1-biased antibody responses could be compared to Th2-biased responses to the proteins with aluminum hydroxide alone, specifically with interest in looking at the ability of anti-B5 and anti-A33 polyclonal antibodies (pAb) to utilize complement-mediated neutralization in vitro. We found that neutralization of EV by anti-A33 or anti-B5 pAb can be enhanced in the presence of complement if Th1-biased antibody (IgG2a) is generated. Mechanistic differences found for complement-mediated neutralization showed that anti-A33 antibodies likely result in virolysis, while anti-B5 antibodies with complement can neutralize by opsonization (coating). In vivo studies found that mice lacking the C3 protein of complement were less protected than wild-type mice after passive transfer of anti-B5 pAb or vaccination with B5. Passive transfer of anti-B5 pAb or monoclonal antibody into mice lacking Fc receptors (FcRs) found that FcRs were also important in mediating protection. These results demonstrate that both complement and FcRs are important effector mechanisms for antibody-mediated protection from VACV challenge in mice.

A protein-based smallpox vaccine protects non-human primates from a lethal monkeypox virus challenge.

Concerns about infections caused by orthopoxviruses, such as variola and monkeypox viruses, drive ongoing efforts to develop novel smallpox vaccines that are both effective and safe to use in diverse populations. A subunit smallpox vaccine comprising vaccinia virus membrane proteins A33, B5, L1, A27 and aluminum hydroxide (alum) ± CpG was administered to non-human primates, which were subsequently challenged with a lethal intravenous dose of monkeypox virus. Alum adjuvanted vaccines provided only partial protection but the addition of CpG provided full protection that was associated with a more homogeneous antibody response and stronger IgG1 responses. These results indicate that it is feasible to develop a highly effective subunit vaccine against orthopoxvirus infections as a safer alternative to live vaccinia virus vaccination.

Candy cocaine esophagus.

Reversible thermal injury to the esophagus from drinking boiling-hot liquids has been reported to produce alternating pink and white linear bands that impart a "candy-cane" appearance to the inner esophageal wall. This injury has been associated with chest pain, dysphagia, odynophagia, and abdominal pain. We describe a case of candy-cane esophagus caused by thermal injury from smoking freebase cocaine, associated with left shoulder and arm pain, diaphoresis, hypotension, and transient cardiac ischemia. This case illustrates the importance of considering candy cane esophagus in the evaluation of chest pain, even when this symptom is suspected to be of cardiac origin.