Techniques to prevent symptomatic neuroma in digital amputations.

The occurrence of a symptomatic neuroma on a digital amputation stump, whether traumatic or not, is a frequent complication that affects the patient's quality of life. The objective of this study was to analyze the complications inherent to the various techniques used to manage the nerves when performing digital amputation. We compared different surgical nerve management techniques to determine if one technique is more effective than another in preventing neuroma occurrence. We reviewed 105 patients over a 5-year period. A DN4 score greater than 4 and the modified Tinel test (percussion) showing a trigger zone allowed us to clinically diagnose symptomatic neuroma-related pain. We found 23 symptomatic neuromas out of 131 digital amputations. Twelve neuromas were found when the nerves had been neglected (12/33), eight were found in nerves treated by stripping (8/60), three when nerves were treated by stripping and thermal ablation (3/18). No neuroma was found in the five cases of centrocentral union of the two proper palmar digital nerves, in the 5 nerves buried in the bone or in the 9 nerves subjected to thermal ablation only. Management of the nerve is essential for the prevention of neuromas in digital amputations. New techniques such as bone burial and centrocentral union of the two stumps appear to be particularly effective.

Influence of the level of arterial resection on the replanting and revascularization results in hand surgery: prospective study over 22 months.

The objective of this work was to assess whether the injury mechanisms are responsible for histological arterial lesions. This prospective single-center study included adults with wrist or hand arterial injury. Arterial resection of at least 2 mm from the proximal and distal stumps was performed before the arterial anastomosis. Histological analysis of the arterial stumps was performed. An ultrasound was performed 1 month postoperatively to check arterial patency. A clinical and functional evaluation was done at 1 month postoperative, then every 3 months. From 2018 to 2020, 46 patients were included with a maximum follow-up of 13 months. There were 35 cuts, 2 crush injuries, 8 amputation and 1 blast injury. Macroscopically, 37% of the margins were considered damaged. Histological analysis showed significant damage in 59% of the sections (27 out of 46 patients) with 50% for crush injury, 55% for cuts by mechanical tool, 62% for cuts by power tool, 62% for amputations and 100% for blasts. The failure rate was 9%: 2 replantations and 2 asymptomatic thromboses diagnosed by ultrasound. Postoperative pain on VAS was 1.75/10, range of motion was 87%, Quick DASH was 8%, SF36 PCS was 69% and SF36 MCS was 70%. Factors influencing the success or failure of anastomosis were the mechanism of injury (p = 0.02), associated nerve damage (p = 0.014) and length of proximal arterial cut (p = 0.046). Histological arterial lesions seem to correlate with the injury mechanism. Cuts caused by glass or crush injuries do not seem to require arterial resections of more than 2 mm. A continuation of the study with a larger number of subjects may generate statistically significant results.

Scaphotrapeziotrapezoid osteoarthritis: From the joint to the patient.

Scaphotrapeziotrapezoid osteoarthritis (STT OA) is common and often associated with thumb basal joint arthritis. Pain at the base of the thumb on the volar aspect and during resisted extension is characteristic of symptomatic STT OA. If conservative treatment fails, surgical treatment may be offered. In case of STT OA, treatment may range from arthrodesis to trapeziectomy (isolated or associated with ligament reconstruction and/or interposition). Any preoperative intracarpal instability (DISI) can be exacerbated by resecting more than 3 or 4 mm of the distal pole of scaphoid. For peritrapezial osteoarthritis, trapeziectomy is the logical solution, but it exposes the patient to known complications: loss of strength, long recovery, trapeziometacarpal impingement. Initial treatment of thumb basal joint arthritis by arthroplasty is also an option. Treatment of both sites is also possible by interposition of pyrocarbon implants. In all cases (isolated or associated STT OA) and no matter the technique chosen, maintaining the scaphoid height (arthrodesis, resection < 3 mm and/or associated interposition) and performing oblique trapezoidal osteotomy (to prevent scaphoid-metacarpal impingement) are the two crucial elements of surgical treatment.

Functional evaluation following emergency arthroplasty of the proximal interphalangeal joint for complex fractures with silicone implant.

The proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint is particularly vulnerable to trauma. In comminuted fractures, arthroplasty with a silicone implant is a treatment option that may be controversial in an emergency setting. This joint destruction is usually accompanied by soft tissue injuries (skin and tendon damage, devascularization) making the reconstruction all the more complex. The aim of our work was to evaluate emergency finger silicone implants for complex and comminuted fractures of the PIP joint as well as clinical and radiological complications. In this single-center, retrospective study, 13 patients operated between January 2007 and January 2019 on an emergency basis with a Neuflex® PIP arthroplasty were reviewed. This PIP joint reconstruction was associated with the soft tissue repair at the same time (skin cover, tendons, nerves) in all patients. The average age was 57.7 years with a male predominance (92%). The injuries were caused by a domestic accident in 61% of cases. The average follow-up was 4.7 years. The average total active motion arc was 183.8°. The average QuickDASH score was 24. There was one case of broken implant with no functional consequence. No infection or instability was reported. Silicone implant arthroplasty is a simple, reliable, fast, and durable solution for complex PIP fractures when conservative treatment is impossible. This solution is an alternative to arthrodesis or even finger amputation.

Cytological examination of cerebrospinal fluid: Sysmex UF-1000i versus optical microscopy.

We evaluated the body fluid module on Sysmex UF-1000i (UF-1000i-BF) for analysis of white blood cell (WBC) and red blood cell (RBC) in cerebrospinal fluid. We collected 93 cerebrospinal fluid samples and compared the results of the UF-1000i-BF mode with the Fast-Read 102 disposable counting cell. Results shows a good correlation between the UF-1000i and the microscopic examination. The concordance percentage is 99.06% for white blood cells and 85.18% for red blood cells. The UF-1000i-BF mode offers rapid and reliable total WBC and RBC counts for initial screening of cerebrospinal fluid, and can improve the workflow in a routine laboratory.

Fingertip amputations treated with occlusive dressings.

The aim of this study was to analyze a series of patients who suffered a distal finger amputation and who were treated with occlusive dressings. A retrospective study was done of 19 patients from a single hospital. At the review, an independent examiner evaluated the time required for wound healing, the number of occlusive dressings used, fingertip trophic skin changes, epicritic sensitivity using the Weber two-point discrimination (2PD) test, sensitivity based on the monofilament test, complications, the presence of dysesthesia or cold intolerance, and the QuickDASH score. The mean follow-up was 12.6 months (6-25). A mean of 3.2 occlusive dressings (3-5) were used per patient, and the mean healing time was 4.3 weeks (4-5). The skin texture, fingertips and nail bed were good or excellent in 18 cases. The 2PD test was good or normal in 16 cases. Eighteen patients were satisfied or very satisfied with the outcome. The mean QuickDASH score was 5.53 (0-20.45). In the literature, the recovery of tactile sensation is good after use of occlusive dressings (2PD of 2.5 to 4.0mm). The mean sensitivity reported in various studies is better than that observed after use of a skin flap. While the sample size in our study was small, the functional outcome and appearance were good. Thus we prefer using occlusive dressings in Zone 1 and 2 fingertip amputations, and flaps in zones 3 and 4 to ensure better fingertip viability and sensation.

Inter-comparison and assessment of gridded climate products over tropical forests during the 2015/2016 El Niño.

To understand the impacts of extreme climate events, it is first necessary to understand the spatio-temporal characteristics of the event. Gridded climate products are frequently used to describe climate patterns but have been shown to perform poorly over data-sparse regions such as tropical forests. Often, they are uncritically employed in a wide range of studies linking tropical forest processes to large-scale climate variability. Here, we conduct an inter-comparison and assessment of near-surface air temperature fields supplied by four state-of-the-art reanalysis products, along with precipitation estimates supplied by four merged satellite-gauge rainfall products. Firstly, spatio-temporal patterns of temperature and precipitation anomalies during the 2015-2016 El Niño are shown for each product to characterize the impact of the El Niño on the tropical forest biomes of Equatorial Africa, Southeast Asia and South America. Using meteorological station data, a two-stage assessment is then conducted to determine which products most reliably model tropical climates during the 2015-2016 El Niño, and which perform best over the longer-term satellite observation period (1980-2016). Results suggest that eastern Amazonia, parts of the Congo Basin and mainland Southeast Asia all experienced significant monthly mean temperature anomalies during the El Niño, while northeastern Amazonia, eastern Borneo and southern New Guinea experienced significant precipitation deficits. Our results suggest ERA-Interim and MERRA2 are the most reliable air temperature datasets, while TRMM 3B42 V7 and CHIRPS v2.0 are the best-performing rainfall datasets.This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'The impact of the 2015/2016 El Niño on the terrestrial tropical carbon cycle: patterns, mechanisms and implications'.

The yield of routine EEG in geriatric patients: A prospective hospital-based study.

STUDY AIM: To study the yield of routine EEG in geriatric patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We examined standard EEG recordings of 701 patients aged 84.6±6.4 years. These were performed over a 15 month-period in a geriatric hospital. The majority of patients were hospitalized and 46.5% suffered from multiple medical problems. RESULTS: We found EEG abnormalities in 392/701 (56%) patients. These consisted of permanent diffuse slowing, either isolated (17.1%) or with intermixed epileptiform abnormalities (2.4%), focal slowing (15.4%), intermittent diffuse slowing (8.9%), triphasic waves (1.14%), periodic epileptiform discharges (0.57%), flat and inactive tracing (0.14%), status epilepticus (0.99%), seizures (0.42%), interictal epileptiform abnormalities (8.7%). Epileptiform abnormalities (both ictal and interictal) were observed in 92/701 (13.1%) patients. These were focal in the majority of cases (85.9%), most frequent in temporal regions (42%), followed by centroparietal (20.2%) and temporo-parieto-occipital carrefour regions (17.2%), but less frequent in frontal (6.3%) and occipital regions (3.8%). We found sleep activity without other EEG abnormalities in 13.7% of patients and subclinical rhythmic electrographic discharge in adult (SREDA) in 1% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, EEG abnormalities were very common, which reflects the high frequency of cerebral dysfunction in geriatric patients. These abnormalities are of various types, often suggestive of different aetiologies, and may be helpful in clinical management.

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation in patients with ß-thalassemia: King Faisal specialist hospital and research centre experience.

From January 1998-July 2006, 62 stem cell transplantation (SCT) were performed on 60 patients with beta-thalassemia from HLA-related match donors. The overall survival (OS) and event free survival (EFS) for all patients were 94 and 77%. The outcome of allogeneic SCT in our experience is satisfactory with OS 92% and EFS 77%. Transplantation at a young age and when the disease is mild offers the best outcome. More advanced disease is associated with higher rate of rejection and severe graft versus host disease.

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation in Fanconi anemia patients presenting with myelodysplasia and/or clonal abnormality: update on the Saudi experience.

In the literature, there is an abundance of promising data on the outcome of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) in patients with Fanconi anemia (FA); however, the data on the outcome of FA patients who present with myelodysplasia and/or abnormal clone are sketchy as the entity itself is a rare one, although, it is believed that the presence of any of these factors confers a worse prognosis on the outcome of the transplant. This is an update of our experience in 11 such patients who underwent SCT at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center; 10 from the matched and related donors and 1 from a partially matched unrelated cord blood unit; the conditioning was with the same regimen consisting of cyclophosphamide (total of 20 mg/kg), anti-thymocyte globulin (total dose 160 mg/kg of the equine product or 52 mg/kg of the rabbit product) and total-body irradiation at 450 cGy. Ten patients remain currently alive, well and with no evidence of disease, with a median follow-up of almost 4 years.

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation in a patient with dyskeratosis congenita after conditioning with low-dose cyclophosphamide and anti-thymocyte globulin.

Bone marrow failure is the major cause of early mortality in patients with dyskeratosis congenita (DC); early trials with conventional conditioning regimens were associated with remarkable chronic morbidity and mortality, and the optimal conditioning regimen for these patients remains undetermined. We report a case of a child afflicted with DC who underwent related full HLA-matched stem cell transplant (SCT) using a regimen of low dose cyclophosphamide and antithymocyte globulin (ATG). The regimen was well tolerated and associated with no significant short-term toxicity.

Stem cell transplantation for patients with Fanconi anemia with low-dose cyclophosphamide and antithymocyte globulins without the use of radiation therapy.

In all, 22 patients with confirmed Fanconi anemia (FA) underwent stem cell transplantation (SCT) from HLA-matched, related donors at KFSHRC. Median age at SCT was 7.6 years (range, 2.5-14.6 years). Conditioning regimen consisted of cyclophosphamide (CY) 15 mg/kg/day intravenously (i.v.) for 4 consecutive days, in addition to equine antithymocyte globulins (ATG) given i.v. at 40 mg/kg/day for four doses pre-SCT. No radiation therapy was given. For graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis, we used cyclosporin at the standard doses; ATG was added at 20 mg/kg/dose i.v. on days 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 post-SCT (total of six doses). All patients engrafted and are alive and transfusion independent with a median follow-up time of 20.2 months (range, 3.3-59 months). One patient however developed a decrease in her WBC and platelet count. Her work-up revealed slightly hypocellular bone marrow, and a series of chimerism studies over 1 year confirmed that she has stable mixed chimerism; she remains transfusion independent. We conclude that low-dose CY without radiation therapy can be used satisfactorily in the conditioning of patients with FA undergoing related SCT.

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation for patients with congenital amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia (CAT).

Five patients with confirmed congenital amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia (CAT) underwent stem cell transplantation (SCT) from HLA-matched related donors at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (KFSHRC). The median age at SCT was 3.2 years (range, 0.4-5 years). Conditioning regimen consisted of busulfan (BU) 4 mg/kg p.o. for 4 days (total dose of 16 mg/kg), and cyclophosphamide (CY) 50 mg/kg once daily i.v. for 4 days (total dose of 200 mg/kg). Antithymocyte globulin (ATG) was given i.v. at a dose of 30 mg/kg for 4 days pre-SCT (total of 120 mg/kg); graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis was with cyclosporine and methotrexate. Four patients engrafted and are alive and transfusion independent with a median follow up time of 30 months (range, 16-45 months). One patient failed to engraft and underwent a second SCT 4 months later but died of respiratory failure. We conclude that the use of allogeneic SCT may be curative for such patients.

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation in patients with Fanconi's anemia and myelodysplasia or leukemia utilizing low-dose cyclophosphamide and total body irradiation.

Five patients with confirmed Fanconi's anemia (FA) and myelodysplasia and/or leukemia underwent stem cell transplantation (SCT) from related donors at KFSHRC. The median age at SCT was 12.6 year (range, 6.2-15 years). Conditioning regimen consisted of cyclophosphamide (CY) 5 mg/kg/day i.v. for 4 days, total body irradiation (TBI) 450 cGy in a single dose. Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis was with cyclosporine and antithymocyte globulins (ATG). The median time to engraftment (defined as ANC>/=0.5 x 10(9)/l) was 16 days (range, 12-26 days). The median time to a self-sustaining platelet count of >/=20 x 10(9)/l was 27 days (range, 12-40 days). All patients engrafted. Two patients developed acute GVHD; one of the gut (grade 3) and the other of the skin (grade 1), and one patient developed chronic GVHD of the liver. Four are alive and well with no evidence of the disease; one patient died of bacterial sepsis after controlling her GVHD and clearing her pulmonary aspergillosis and CMV infection. We conclude that the use of low-dose CY plus TBI in patients with FA and MDS/AML undergoing SCT is adequate; the regimen is well tolerated and may be curative for such patients.

Identification of harman as the antibiotic compound produced by a tunicate-associated bacterium.

The alkaloid harman, previously reported from some marine invertebrates, was identified as the antibiotic substance of the tunicate-associated bacterium Enterococcus faecium. It exhibited antibacterial activity (MIC, 0.017 mM) against the ichthyopathogenic strain Vibrio anguillarum.

Screening of nonpolyenic antifungal metabolites produced by clinical isolates of actinomycetes.

The purpose of this work was to screen clinical isolates of actinomycetes producing nonpolyenic antifungals. This choice was made to limit the problem of rediscovery of well-known antifungal families, especially polyenic antifungals. One hundred and ten strains were tested, using two diffusion methods and two test media, against three yeast species and three filamentous fungi. Among 54 strains (49%) showing antifungal activity, five strains belonging to the genus Streptomyces were active against all test organisms and appeared promising. These results indicate that clinical and environmental isolates of actinomycetes could be an interesting source of antifungal bioactive substances. The production of nonpolyenic antifungal substances by these five active isolates was investigated using several criteria: antibacterial activity, ergosterol inhibition, and UV-visible spectra of active extracts. One active strain responded to all three selection criteria and produced potentially nonpolyenic antifungal metabolites. This strain was retained for further investigation, in particular, purification, structure elucidation, and mechanism of action of the active product.

Metastatic Ewing sarcoma/PNET of bone at diagnosis: prognostic factors--a report from Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate outcome and prognostic factors in Saudi Arabian patients with metastatic Ewing sarcoma and PNET of bone (PMES) at diagnosis. PROCEDURE: Ninety-nine of 304 (33%) consecutive patients with Ewing sarcoma and PNET of bone registered at our centre from 1975 to 1998, had metastatic disease at registration and 93 were available for analysis. The maximum x-axis diameter of the primary tumor was used as the measure of primary tumor size. Usually a trial of systemic treatment was undertaken before a decision was made on local treatment. Standard chemotherapy regimens were used in all treated patients. Forty-one (44%) patients did not receive radical local treatment due to an inadequate response to chemotherapy, or a decision not to undertake more than palliative treatment. Radical treatment of the primary site was radiation alone 41 (79%), resection alone 7 (13%), and resection and radiation 4 (8%). RESULTS: The 5-year survival rates were 9% for all 93 evaluable patients, 16% for 52 patients who received chemotherapy and radical local treatment, 0% for 41 patients who received lesser treatment, 19% for 43 patients with lung metastases alone, and 0% (P = 0.002) for 50 patients with other sites involved. For 60 patients with imaging data, 5-year survivals were 34 and 0% when the maximum transverse diameter of the primary tumor was < 10 cm (N = 20) and > or = 10 cm (N = 40), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Small primary tumor size and the presence of lung metastases alone were the only significant favorable prognostic factors. Earlier diagnosis will be the basis for better results.

1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylene-1,3-cyclohexadiene compounds with leaving groups at C6: generation, solvolytic reactivity, and their importance in the photochemistry of 3,5-dimethoxybenzyl derivatives

The photochemistry of 3,5-dimethoxybenzyl compounds with the leaving groups acetate (1a), chloride (1b), bromide (1c), iodide (1d), diethyl phosphate (1e), and trimethylamine (1f), as the chloride, was examined by both product studies and flash photolysis. The isomeric triene, 5-methylene-1,3-cyclohexadiene derivative was observed for the acetate (2a), diethyl phosphate (2e) and trimethylammonium chloride (2f). The solvolysis of these derivatives, 2, was examined in alcohol solvents and the rate correlation with YOTS values gave m = 0.47 (2a) and 0.63 (2e), suggesting SN1 reactivity but with an early transition state. Quantum yields for formation of 2a and 2e indicated that these trienes play only a minor role (approximately 16%) in the overall photochemistry of the corresponding arylmethyl substrates.

Extramedullary myeloid tumors in children: the limited value of local treatment.

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence of extramedullary tumors (EMT) in Saudi Arabian children with acute myeloid leukemia, the factors associated with these tumors and the impact of local treatment on local tumor control, complete remission and survival rates. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred children, median age 6 years, who received their primary treatment for acute myeloid leukemia at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, from 1983 to 1997 were studied. EMT at diagnosis occurred in 18 (18%) patients at 25 sites. Meningeal leukemia, hepatosplenomegaly, lymph node enlargement, gingival hypertrophy, and cutaneous infiltration were not included in the definition of EMT. With these exclusions, children with EMT were younger than those without EMT (median age, 3.5 v. 7.5 years) and were more likely to have meningeal leukemia at diagnosis (33% v. 10%). The t(8;21) translocation was associated with a 47% EMT incidence compared with 23% without the translocation. Local radiation treatment was given to 16 of 25 (64%) EMT sites. RESULTS: The overall 5-year survival rate for all patients was 28%, and this was not significantly influenced by the drug regimen used, meningeal leukemia at diagnosis, the presence of the (8;21) translocation, M4 and M5 morphology combined, or EMT at diagnosis. Significant differences were observed in the 5-year survival rates for patients who underwent allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (52%; N = 37) and those who attained complete remission (CR) but did not undergo transplantation (21%; N = 44) and those who did not achieve complete remission with initial therapy (5%; N = 19). Systemic and local EMT CR was achieved in 17 of 18 patients with EMT, including 12 patients who underwent radiation treatment and 5 of 6 of those who did not. Isolated relapse was not seen at an EMT site and was not noted at any later stage of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: Permanent local control at sites of EMT was achieved in all patients who attained a bone marrow CR, whether or not the site was irradiated. Local radiation treatment of an EMT site did not appear to contribute to overall CR and survival rates. The use of radiation treatment should be conservative and limited to patients in whom there is a real and immediate threat to vision or renal function or when the spinal cord is compromised.