Fatal cases of disseminated nocardiosis: challenges to physicians and clinical microbiologists - Case report.

Despite the development in the identification of Nocardia spp., common challenges exist in the laboratory diagnosis and management of nocardiosis. We report two cases of disseminated nocardiosis in a patient with hematologic disorder and in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus, where the cooperation between various specialists was essential to set up the adequate diagnosis of disseminated nocardiosis.

Non-invasive detection of hypovolemia or fluid responsiveness in spontaneously breathing subjects.

BACKGROUND: In the assessment of hypovolemia the value of functional hemodynamic monitoring during spontaneous breathing is debated. The aim of our study was to investigate in spontaneously breathing subjects the changes in hemodynamic parameters during graded central hypovolemia and to test whether slow patterned breathing improved the discriminative value of stroke volume (SV), pulse pressure (PP), and their variations (SVV, PPV). In addition, we tested the alterations in labial microcirculation. METHODS: 20 healthy volunteers participated in our study. Central hypovolemia was induced by lower body negative pressure (LBNP). Continuous signals of ECG, non-invasive blood pressure and central venous pressure were recorded. During baseline and each stage of LBNP the labial microcirculation was investigated by orthogonal polarization spectral imaging, 3 minute periods of patterned breathing at 6 and 15/min respiratory rate were performed, and central venous blood gas analysis was done. Data from baseline and those of different LBNP levels were compared by analysis of variance and those of different breathing rates by t-test. Finally, we performed ROC analysis to assess the discriminative values of SV, PP, SVV and PPV. RESULTS: Moderate central hypovolemia induced by LBNP caused significant, clinically relevant falls in PP (p < 0.05) and SV and central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2) (p < 0.001). The proportion of perfused vessels (p < 0.001) and microvascular flow index decreased (p < 0.05). PPV increased (p < 0.001), however the magnitude of fluctuations was greater during slow patterned breathing (p < 0.001). SVV increased only during slow patterned breathing (p < 0.001). ROC analysis confirmed the best predictive value for SV (at 56 ml cut-off AUC 0.97, sensitivity 94%, specificity 95%). Slow patterned breathing improved the discriminative value of SVV (p = 0.0023). CONCLUSIONS: Functional hemodynamic monitoring with slow patterned breathing to control spontaneous respiration may be worthy for further study in different populations for the assessment of hypovolemia and the prediction of volume responsiveness.

Characterization of functional biliary pain and dyspeptic symptoms in patients with sphincter of Oddi dysfunction: effect of papillotomy.

AIM: To characterize functional biliary pain and other gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in postcholecystectomy syndrome (PCS) patients with and without sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (SOD) proved by endoscopic sphincter of Oddi manometry (ESOM), and to assess the post-endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) outcome. METHODS: We prospectively investigated 85 cholecystectomized patients referred for ERCP because of PCS and suspected SOD. On admission, all patients completed our questionnaire. Physical examination, laboratory tests, abdominal ultrasound, quantitative hepatobiliary scintigraphy (QHBS), and ERCP were performed in all patients. Based on clinical and ERCP findings 15 patients had unexpected bile duct stone disease and 15 patients had SOD biliary type I. ESOM demonstrated an elevated basal pressure in 25 patients with SOD biliary-type III. In the remaining 30 cholecystectomized patients without SOD, the liver function tests, ERCP, QHBS and ESOM were all normal. As a control group, 30 'asymptomatic' cholecystectomized volunteers (attended to our hospital for general cardiovascular screening) completed our questionnaire, which is consisted of 50 separate questions on GI symptoms and abdominal pain characteristics. Severity of the abdominal pain (frequency and intensity) was assessed with a visual analogue scale (VAS). In 40 of 80 patients having definite SOD (i.e. patients with SOD biliary type I and those with elevated SO basal pressure on ESOM), an EST was performed just after ERCP. In these patients repeated questionnaires were filled at each follow-up visit (at 3 and 6 mo) and a second look QHBS was performed 3 mo after the EST to assess the functional response to EST. RESULTS: The analysis of characteristics of the abdominal pain demonstrated that patients with common bile duct stone and definite SOD had a significantly higher score of symptomatic agreement with previously determined biliary-like pain features than patient groups of PCS without SOD and controls. In contrary, no significant differences were found when the pain severity scores were compared in different groups of PCS patients. In patients with definite SOD, EST induced a significant acceleration of the transpapillary bile flow; and based on the comparison of VASs obtained from the pre- and post-EST questionnaires, the severity scores of abdominal pain were significantly improved, however, only 15 of 35 (43%) patients became completely pain free. Post-EST severity of abdominal pain by VASs was significantly higher in patients with predominant dyspepsia at initial presentation as compared to those without dyspeptic symptoms. CONCLUSION: Persistent GI symptoms and general patient dissatisfaction is a rather common finding after EST in patients with SOD, and correlated with the presence of predominant dyspeptic symptoms at the initial presentation, but does not depend on the technical and functional success of EST.

Assessment of the reproducibility of quantitative hepatobiliary scintigraphy (QHBS) in patients with sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (SOD)--inappropriate method or intermittent disease?

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although quantitative hepatobiliary scintigraphy (QHBS) was originally suggested as a promising method in the diagnosis of sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (SOD), it was recently claimed that QHBS displays poor reproducibility and specificity in cholecystectomized patients. The aim of the present study was to assess the reproducibility of QHBS in cholecystectomized patients. METHODOLOGY: 28 cholecystectomized patients with suspected SOD underwent QHBS evaluation on two separate occasions. On the basis of the clinical and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) data, patients with suspected SOD were categorized by applying the Geenen and Hogan classification: 10 were identified as having SOD of biliary type I (SO stenosis group), and the remaining 18 patients as having SOD of biliary type II or III (SO dyskinesia group). During the same period, 12 asymptomatic cholecystectomized individuals (control group) were recruited to undergo QHBS evaluation on two separate occasions. QHBS was performed with our standard method in all subjects. After an overnight fast, 140MBq 99mTc-EHIDA was injected intravenously. Digital images were recorded continuously on a 128 x 128 matrix, at one frame/min for 90 min. For the final analysis, the liver-choledochus T. difference (LCTD), half-time of excretion of the common bile duct (CBD T1/2), and the duodenum appearance time (DAT) were applied. RESULTS: In the 12 asymptomatic controls, the QHBS parameters were highly reproducible, all but 6 of the 72 separate parameters obtained from two repeated studies were within our normal limits. In all 10 patients belonging in the SO stenosis group, the QHBS parameters were markedly abnormal and again highly reproducible. All of the 60 separate quantitative parameters obtained in this group from the two repeated studies were high above our normal range. In contrast, in the 18 patients with SO dyskinesia, the QHBS parameters were distinctly variable and poorly reproducible. Of the 108 separate quantitative parameters obtained in this group the two separate studies, 55 were normal and 53 were above our normal range. Of the 18 SO dyskinesia patients, only 9 had at least one quantitative parameter abnormal in both QHBS examinations. CONCLUSIONS: QHBS is a highly reproducible technique in cholecystectomized controls and in patients with SO stenosis. In contrast, the reproducibility of QHBS is poor in patients with SO dyskinesia, which is probably a consequence of the disease characteristics rather than methodological insufficiency of QHBS.

Diagnosis of gallbladder dyskinesia by quantitative hepatobiliary scintigraphy.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to develop a new pharmacologic method during hepatobiliary scintigraphy by which patients with functional and organic forms of gallbladder (GB) dysfunction can be differentiated. METHODS: Quantitative hepatobiliary scintigraphy (QHBS) was performed on 31 patients with impaired GB motility selected by cerulein-augmented ultrasonography. Nineteen patients had acalculous biliary pain (ABP) and suspected GB dyskinesia, 6 patients had celiac disease, and 6 patients had type II diabetes mellitus. Sixty minutes after the isotope administration, 1 ng/bwkg/min cerulein (CCK10) was infused for 10 minutes, and then from the 90th minute, an equivalent dose of CCK10 was infused in the presence of 0.5 mg sublingual glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) in 12 or placebo in 7 consecutive patients. The GB ejection fraction (GBEF) was calculated repeatedly in time periods from 60 to 90 and from 90 to 120 minutes. RESULTS: In the majority of patients with ABP and suspected GB dyskinesia, CCK10 and GTN coadministration normalized the previously impaired GB-emptying. When the cumulative results of all 12 patients were calculated, we demonstrated significant differences (P=0.003) in the GBEF between the first (CCK10) versus the second (CCK10 plus GTN) stimuli: 19+/-11% versus 40+/-17%, respectively. In contrast, in 12 patients with celiac sprue and diabetes mellitus, no differences in the GBEF were detected when the first (CCK10 alone) versus the second (CCK10 plus GTN) stimuli was compared: 21+/-10% versus 22+/-13%, respectively. Finally, placebo and CCK10 coadministration in 7 consecutive patients with ABP and suspected GB dyskinesia did not influence the GBEF as compared with CCK10 alone: 13+/-9% versus 15+/-10%, respectively. CONCLUSION: GTN and CCK10 coadministration induces a significant improvement of the GBEF in patients with GB dyskinesia. The application of this new pharmacologic test during QHBS permitted the noninvasive separation of those patients with secondary impaired GB-emptying as a result of GB dyskinesia from those with primary forms of GB hypokinesia.

Scintigraphic sign of functional biliary obstruction is pathognomic for sphincter of Oddi dysfunction.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Quantitative hepatobiliary scintigraphy (QHBS) is a valuable method for the detection of a low-grade biliary obstruction in patients with suspected sphincter of Oddi (SO) dysfunction (SOD), though the relatively low specificity of this noninvasive test has been criticized. The aim of the present study was a critical assessment of the diagnostic value of glyceryl trinitrate-augmented QHBS in patients with suspected SOD. METHODOLOGY: Glyceryl trinitrate-augmented QHBS and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was performed on 27 cholecystectomized patients with suspected SOD. RESULTS: In 14 patients the ERCP depicted organic causes of biliary obstruction (choledocholithasis, juxtapapillary diverticulum, Vater papilla adenoma and common bile duct stenosis). In 12 of the 13 patients with inconclusive ERCP, endoscopic SO manometry demonstrated an elevated SO basal pressure. In patients with manometrically confirmed SOD, glyceryl trinitrate administration significantly increased the radioactive bile transit into the duodenum and normalized the QHBS parameters. In contrast, the 14 patients with an organic biliary obstruction glyceryl trinitrate administration had no effect on the transpapillary bile flow. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, glyceryl trinitrate-augmented QHBS is a specific method in the diagnosis of SOD, proving the functional reversibility of the biliary obstruction.

Effect of nalbuphine on the motility of the sphincter of Oddi in patients with suspected sphincter of Oddi dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Nalbuphine is an ideal supplementary analgesic drug for midazolam-induced conscious sedation during operative endoscopy because it has no cardiovascular effect and only a moderate depressive effect on respiration. However, no data are available as to whether nalbuphine is suitable as an analgesic drug during endoscopic sphincter of Oddi manometry. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of nalbuphine on the sphincter of Oddi motility in patients with a suspected sphincter of Oddi dysfunction. METHODS: Seventeen patients who were suspected clinically to have SOD after cholecystectomy were prospectively investigated. Five mg of midazolam was administered intravenously before the procedure to induce conscious sedation. After approximately 5 minutes of stationary sphincter of Oddi manometry recording (baseline), either 10 mg of nalbuphine or saline solution (placebo) was administered intravenously in random fashion and pressure was recorded for a further 5 minutes. Maximum sphincter of Oddi basal pressure and average phasic contraction amplitude and frequency were measured before and after the infusion of the drug or saline solution. RESULTS: Nalbuphine administration effectively enhanced the sedation obtained with midazolam without any adverse effect. When the sphincter of Oddi manometric periods before and after the administration of nalbuphine versus placebo were compared, there was a significantly increased basal sphincter of Oddi pressure only in the nalbuphine group: respectively, 49 (18) and 77 (29) mm Hg (p = 0.003) versus 51 (24) and 49 (23) mm Hg (p = 0.9). The phasic contraction amplitude did not change in response to nalbuphine, but the phasic contraction frequency increased significantly, from 5 (3) to 8 (4) per minute (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Nalbuphine has a stimulatory effect on sphincter of Oddi motility in patients with a suspected sphincter of Oddi dysfunction. Nalbuphine should not be used as premedication before endoscopic ERCP if sphincter of Oddi manometry is to be performed.