Addition of dexamethasone to manage acute phase responses following initial zoledronic acid infusion.

Acute phase response (APR), including myalgia, influenza-like symptoms, headache, arthralgia, and pyrexia, is the most common adverse reaction to initial zoledronic acid infusion. Dexamethasone plus acetaminophen is effective in significantly reducing the incidence and severity of APR. INTRODUCTION: Acute phase response (APR), including myalgia, influenza-like symptoms, headache, arthralgia, and pyrexia, is due to immunomodulatory actions and is the most common adverse reaction to zoledronic acid (ZOL). The aims of our study were to compare the differences between acetaminophen and dexamethasone plus acetaminophen on the incidence and severity of APRs and to clarify the clinical factors related to APR with initial ZOL infusion. METHODS: Patients with osteoporosis receiving their first ZOL infusion (N = 96) were assigned into two groups and given either acetaminophen (58 patients, control group) or acetaminophen plus dexamethasone (38 patients, study group). APRs were assessed through telephone interviews 2 weeks later post-infusion. Clinical, demographic, and serologic data were recorded. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in the incidence and severity of any APR in the control group than the study group (67% vs. 34%, p = 0.003; 0.69 ± 0.50 vs. 0.34 ± 0.48, p = 0.001). Among the APRs, only myalgia incidence and score were significantly higher in the control group than in the study group. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that previous use of osteoporosis medication and participation in the study group was negatively related to the occurrence of any APR or myalgia. Advanced age was shown to significantly increase myalgia. Study group participants had significantly reduced severity of myalgia. The adherence for redosing ZOL was significantly higher in the study group. CONCLUSION: Dexamethasone plus acetaminophen is effective in significantly reducing the incidence and severity of APR, especially myalgia, and increasing adherence following initial ZOL infusion.

Secular trends in incidence and recurrence rates of hip fracture: a nationwide population-based study.

We assessed the incidence of hip fracture and second hip fractures in Taiwan from 2001 to 2012. Age-standardized incidence rates decreased after 2005. However, mortality rate after first hip fracture was substantial compared to second hip fracture rate in a competing risk model. INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study is to assess the incidence rates (IRs) of hip fractures, including changes in trends and medical costs, and second hip fractures in the Taiwanese population. METHODS: The number of hip fractures and the associated medical costs were obtained from the annual report of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan, for individuals ≥50 years of age. The data of population at risk were retrieved from annual population reports from the Ministry of the Interior, Taiwan. The incidence of second hip fractures was evaluated from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan for insured individuals aged ≥50 years from 2001 to 2011 with follow-up until 2013 using a competing risk model. RESULTS: The IR for the entire population increased from 332.7 to 336.5 per 100,000 person-years during 2001-2005 and decreased thereafter. This secular change was driven by a decrease in hip fractures for both men and women. The 10-year cumulative incidence rate of second hip fracture was 11.2% (95% CI 11.0-11.5%) in women and 7.9% (95% CI 7.6-8.1%) in men. Adjusted by consumer price index (CPI), the costs of hospitalization due to hip fracture increased from NTD 1.17 billion in 2001 to NTD 1.43 billion in 2012. However, the CPI-adjusted costs of each admission decreased from NTD 74944 in 2001 to NTD 65791 in 2012. CONCLUSIONS: Since 2006, the IR of hip fractures has been declining in Taiwan. The 10-year cumulative IR of mortality is substantial for individuals who with first hip fracture.

Phosphatidic acid osmotically destabilizes lysosomes through increased permeability to K+ and H+.

Lysosomal destabilization is a critical event not only for the organelle but also for living cells. However, what factors can affect lysosomal stability is not fully studied. In this work, the effects of phosphatidic acid (PA) on the lysosomal integrity were investigated. Through the measurements of lysosomal beta-hexosaminidase free activity, intralysosomal pH, leakage of lysosomal protons and lysosomal latency loss in hypotonic sucrose medium, we established that PA could increase the lysosomal permeability to K+ and H+, and enhance the lysosomal osmotic sensitivity. Treatment of lysosomes with PA promoted entry of K+ into the organelle via K+/H+ exchange, which could produce osmotic stresses and osmotically destabilize the lysosomes. In addition, PA-induced increase in the lysosomal osmotic sensitivity caused the lysosomes to become more liable to destabilization in osmotic shocks. The results suggest that PA may play a role in the lysosomal destabilization.

Alopecia areata treated with topical minoxidil.

A 1% minoxidil topical solution was used to treat 48 patients with alopecia areata, ie, 24 patients with patchy disease and 24 patients with alopecia totalis or alopecia universalis. Twenty-five patients had terminal hair regrowth; in 11 of the 25 patients, it was cosmetically acceptable. No clinical features of the disease seemed to indicate the likelihood of hair regrowth. Hair regrowth began approximately two months after the initiation of treatment and was not uniformly well maintained after the treatment was terminated. One patient had an allergic contact dermatitis reaction to the minoxidil solution; no systemic side effects were seen. No notable systemic absorption was found in 18 adult patients. Effects on cutaneous blood flow or the immune system or some direct effect on hair follicles are possible mechanisms by which minoxidil therapy might stimulate hair growth.

Surgical treatment of adjacent instability after lumbar spine fusion.

STUDY DESIGN: This study is a retrospective review of 39 patients with previous instrumented lumbar fusion who underwent secondary spine surgery for lumbar adjacent instability. To the authors' knowledge, this is the largest study of surgical treatment of lumbar adjacent instability in the literature to date. OBJECT: This study evaluated the feasibility of adjacent instability treated with medial facetectomy, fusion with autologous bone grafting, and pedicle screw instrumentation. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The surgical treatment of adjacent instability has seldom been discussed. Revision spine fusions are challenged by high pseudarthrosis rates. METHODS: Thirty-nine patients with previous lumbar fusion underwent second lumbar spine surgery for adjacent instability. All were treated with autogenous posterolateral arthrodesis and transpedicle screw fixation in addition to decompressive laminectomy. Medical records, radiographs, and pain scores were obtained. RESULTS: The clinical results were excellent or good in 76.9% of patients, and the radiographic fusion was successful in 37 (94.9%) of patients. Flat back was noted in 8 (20.5%) of patients. In 5 patients (12.8%), neighboring segment breakdown again developed, and 2 of those patients underwent a third lumbar fusion. Dural tear during operation occurred in 2 patients. One patient experienced cauda equina syndrome but recovered bladder function 1 month later. CONCLUSION: Autogenous posterolateral arthrodesis combined with pedicle screw fixation led to successful radiologic and clinical outcome in patients with lumbar adjacent instability. Adequate decompression of the adjacent stenosis requires medial facetectomy, thus preventing aggressive nerve root manipulation and reducing the incidence of dural tear.

Multicentric fibromatosis of familial inheritance.

This is an unusual case presentation of a young woman with a clinical history and course simulating juvenile hyaline fibromatosis, but without hyalinization in the stroma. Because of the age of onset, the apparent familial inheritance, the nonaggressive and nonregressive tumor traits, the disease cannot be classified as multicentric fibromatosis. Therefore, we are referring to this case as multicentric fibromatosis with familial inheritance, a previously unreported entity to our knowledge.

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia in a patient with mycosis fungoides.

We report a case of autoimmune hemolytic anemia in a patient with mycosis fungoides. We propose that autoimmune hemolytic anemia may be induced by cutaneous lymphoproliferative diseases. Thus, hemolysis should be considered as a mechanism of anemia in patients with mycosis fungoides.

Two-staged revision total hip arthroplasty due to Salmonella infection: case report.

Salmonella infection of a hip prosthesis has rarely been reported, and only a few cases have been documented. It is painful, disabling, costly, and may be associated with life-threatening sepsis even in a healthy individual. Removal of the implant is often required to eradicate the infection. Several early studies reported procedures to control the salmonella infection, but none described reconstruction of the destroyed hip joint. We present a case of salmonella sepsis 4 years after a total hip arthroplasty (THA). After prosthesis removal, radical debridement of the infected tissues, and administration of Imipenum (500 mg, 4 times daily), the systemic sepsis and hip infection were ameliorated. Four months later, a 2-stage revision THA was done for reconstruction of the hip joint. The clinical results 51 months following the THA procedure were satisfactory without an infectious reaction.

Endometrial adenocarcinoma metastatic to the scalp: case report and literature review.

A rare case of scalp metastasis from endometrial adenocarcinoma, demonstrating the poor prognosis for these patients, is reported. A 56-year-old woman with FIGO Stage IC, Grade 1 endometrial adenocarcinoma presented 15 months after initial surgery and radiation therapy with a scalp metastasis. Metastatic evaluation revealed widespread extrapelvic disease. She did not respond to chemotherapy and died 3 months after recurrence. Her course typifies that of patients with other cutaneous metastases as described in the literature: disease noted elsewhere at the time of recurrence, poor response to therapy, and death within 6 months.

Total hip arthroplasty in Salmonella coxitis: four cases report.

Suppurative coxitis induced by salmonella is rarely reported in the literature. Furthermore, reconstruction with a total hip arthroplasty (THA) in such patients has never been reported. However, in this study, we present 4 cases; 2 normal male patients and 2 female patients with underlying systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The ages range from 26 to 61 years. All 4 cases revealed growth of group B salmonella from the cultures of synovial fluid. They all received THA after the infections were eradicated. The functional assessment of pain, range of motion, walking ability together with the radiographic assessment were used according to the new hip score system. After a minimum follow-up of 2 years, all of the reconstructed hips showed good to excellent results since no infections recurred during this period. Although the long-term results are uncertain, the short-term clinical advantage of THA in the treatment of quiescent salmonella coxitis is encouraging.

Eosinophilic fasciitis.

Shulman's syndrome includes fasciitis of rapid onset, sclerodermoid skin changes, absence of Raynaud's phenomenon, absence of visceral manifestations of progressive systemic sclerosis, hypergammaglobulinemia, transient eosinophilia, and a dramatic response to systemic corticosteroid therapy. Although this syndrome may be a variant of scleroderma, its dramatic responsiveness to corticosteroid therapy is a particularly distinguishing feature.

Local tumor hyperthermia using a computer-controlled microwave system.

A minicomputer-based system was designed to control the microwave (2.45-GHz) power to four local hyperthermia applicators. Errors in temperature measurement, due to electromagnetic field interactions with small thermocouple probes, are minimized by sampling the temperature only when the microwave power is off. The programmable controller can regulate the temperature in tumors in 0.1 degree C increments from 30 to 60 degrees C. This technique reduces temperature differences throughout the tumor at steady state to less than 0.4 degrees C and prevents skin burns.

Non-tuberculous cold abscess of the psoas muscle--an unusual manifestation of colocutaneous fistula.

We report here a case of colocutaneous fistula drained from the retroperitoneal space mimicking a cold abscess of the psoas muscle. A 60-year-old diabetic woman with a 6-year history of a chronic draining sinus over her right thigh had been treated intermittently with antibiotics. At presentation, she had no systemic toxic signs nor other constitutional symptoms. The patient was inadequately managed by curettage at first under the tentative diagnosis of tuberculous cold abscess. After the correct diagnosis of colocutaneous fistula, right nephrectomy and right hemicolectomy with ileotransverse colostomy were done. The patient was well 5 years later without recurrence. This is an atypical presentation of enterocutaneous fistula in an immunodeficient patient that should be emphasized to facilitate the correct diagnosis and early treatment.

Vascularized island pedicle iliac bone grafting for avascular necrosis of the femoral head.

BACKGROUND: Nontraumatic avascular necrosis of the femoral head is a common disorder causing disability of the hip joint. The methods for optimally treating this disease in active young patients are still controversial. In this study we investigated the surgical outcome of vascularized pedicle iliac bone grafting for treating nontraumatic avascular necrosis of the femoral head. METHODS: Between 1994 and 1999, we treated 100 cases of avascular necrosis of the femoral head with vascularized pedicle iliac bone grafting. Thirty-nine hips in 33 patients were followed-up longer than 24 months. These patients included 30 men and 3 women, with an average age of 40 years. Steinberg's classification and Ohzono's types were used to categorize the diseased hips. The clinical results were evaluated using Charnley's modification of Merle d'Aubigne and Postel's numeric classification. RESULTS: Of the 33 patients, 82% were satisfied with their decision to have vascularized pedicle iliac bone grafting for avascular necrosis of the femoral head. No serious complications arose during this study. The average operation time for vascularized pedicle iliac bone grafting was 3.5 hours for one team. The rate of conversion to replacement arthroplasty was 10.3% (4 of 39 patients). CONCLUSION: Vascularized pedicle iliac bone grafting is a useful alternative treatment option for patients with avascular necrosis of the femoral head.