Amyloidosis secondary to chronic pulmonary aspergillosis: Case report and a systematic review of literature.

Secondary amyloidosis results from the deposition of abnormally folded proteins in body organs due to chronic inflammatory disorders. Kidneys are the most commonly affected organ and manifest as nephrotic syndrome with or without renal failure. Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is a chronic infection of lung parenchyma affecting those with an underlying structural lung disease. Herein, we present a case of CPA where the initial manifestation was that of nephrotic syndrome due to renal amyloidosis. We also perform a systematic review for studies describing secondary amyloidosis due to CPA.

Quadriplegia complicating ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament.

We report a case of quadriplegia complicating ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) in a patient who was also found to have diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH). She also had osteomalacia (Vit. D deficiency) with secondary hyperparathyroidism. There could be a cause and effect relationship between the abnormal biochemistry and OPLL.

Cisplatin-based (PVB+M) chemotherapy in good-risk and poor-risk nonseminomatous germ cell tumors.

Twenty-seven patients with metastatic nonseminomatous germ cell tumors were treated with Cisplatin, vinblastine, bleomycin, and low-dose methotrexate (PVB+M) combinations. Patients were divided into good-risk and poor-risk groups. All seven patients (100%) with good-risk factors achieved complete response, and all are alive disease free at a median of 70 months. In the poor-risk group, only 10 of 20 patients (50%) achieved complete response, and seven (35%) are alive disease free at a median of 58 months. Eight patients, 4 in each group, were required to undergo surgery for removal of postchemotherapy residual masses. The results confirm that Cisplatin-based chemotherapy protocols are adequate to cure most patients with good-risk factors, and newer approaches are needed for patients at poor risk.

The relative incidence of idiopathic and secondary autoimmune thrombocytopenia: a clinical and serological evaluation in 508 patients.

Abnormally elevated levels of platelet-associated immunoglobulins were detected in 508 patients with the clinical and haematological criteria of autoimmune thrombocytopenia (AITP). In 246 patients (48.4%), thrombocytopenia was accompanied by a variety of disease entities, the most commonly associated being autoimmune disorders (21.0%) and lymphoproliferative diseases (14.8%). This group was classified as 'secondary' AITP. There was a female preponderance in both the idiopathic and secondary AITP's and peak age incidences were identified in the 3rd-4th decades and in the 7th-8th decades of life. In 253 patients, only platelet-associated IgG (PAIgG) was quantitated; there being insufficient material for further study. Both platelet associated immunoglobulins (PAIgG and PAIgM) were measured in the remaining 255 patients. When both parameters were quantitated, elevated PAIgM was seen slightly more frequently in the idiopathic group, in contrast to the secondary AITP's when PAIgG was seen more frequently abnormal. Both parameters were found most commonly elevated together in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and in those in whom thrombocytopenia was induced by drug intake or preceding viral illness. PAIgG and PAIgM were quantitated by modification of a previously described enzyme-linked immunoassay (Hegde et al. 1981).

A study of free amino acids in rice moth larvae during mycotoxicosis.

Free amino acid pattern has been studied in rice moth larvae during aflatoxicosis and compared with normal in ground nut meal and wheat bran. It was observed that there is an increase in free amino acids in intoxicated larvae and this was directly proportional to the degree of toxicity as indicated by decrease in growth of these larvae. The study of excretary pattern of amino acids shows that intoxicated larvae excrete less amino acids than the normal larvae. The results have been discussed.