Rat Microvascular Model is Tolerant to Technical Errors.

BACKGROUND: Extensive studies have been conducted using the rat model to understand the potential technical errors that lead to anastomotic failure. However, current literature indicates that the rat model has excellent tolerance to diverse errors committed by microsurgeons. The error-investigating rat model is often created by one or two experienced surgeons, and only one isolated technical error is examined. These biases may potentially cause limitations of the results from previous studies. Meanwhile, venous anastomoses have rarely been investigated in previous literature. Therefore, it is important to elucidate this topic with a more comprehensive study design. METHODS: Ninety-four arterial and 94 venous anastomoses on Sprague-Dawley rat femoral vessels that were performed by 47 microsurgeons who participated in the microsurgery course at the Columbia University and the University of Thessaloniki were evaluated. In total, 10 technical errors were examined: (1) disruption of suture line, (2) back-wall stitch, (3) oblique stitch, (4) wide bite, (5) partial thickness bite, (6) unequal suture distance, (7) tear in vessel wall, (8) excessively tight suture, (9) suture threads in lumen, and (10) large edge overlap. The frequency of each error committed, and the 30-minute postoperative patency was also recorded. The underlying causal relationship between these errors, potential interaction, and the short-term anastomosis patency was analyzed statistically. RESULTS: Only the back-wall stitch was found to have a significant causal effect on arterial anastomosis failure (p < 0.001). Back-wall stitch, wide bite, and partial thickness bite significantly impact venous anastomosis patency (p < 0.001). No other statistically significant result was found. CONCLUSION: Overall, the rat model is highly resilient to various technical errors despite these mistakes being often considered clinically unacceptable. Therefore, researchers need to consider the resilience of the rat model when designing and analyzing future studies. In addition, microsurgery instructors should focus on individual stitch quality rather than the final patency.

Navigating the management complexity in long-term asymptomatic immunodeficiency.

Background: Common variable immunodeficiency disorder (CVID) is a condition associated with recurrent infections and non-infectious outcomes, including lung disease like bronchiectasis and granulomatous and lymphocytic interstitial lung diseases (GLILD), autoimmune disease, enteropathy, and lymphoma. Treatment involves initiation of replacement immunoglobulin (Ig), which is a lifelong commitment. Prior to Ig replacement, life expectancy for patients with CVID was less than 15 years. With replacement Ig, it has improved to over 50 years. In most cases, patients present to a clinician with a history of recurrent infections, and treatment is indicated. However, in patients with asymptomatic disease, the best timing to start treatment can be difficult to determine. Case: We present a case of an otherwise healthy male who had an incidental diagnosis of CVID. Results: Workup revealed hypogammaglobulinemia for over 30 year. Discussion: Though successful in reducing infections, Ig replacement can come with many side effects, as well as a heavy medical burden to the patient and the healthcare system. It is also a big life adjustment, and can greatly affect a patient's quality of life. In the military, a diagnosis of an immunodeficiency, and the need for monthly intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) can be detrimental to deployment readiness, and a patient's military career. Risks and benefits need to be weighed prior to initiating Ig therapy.

Resorbable Nerve Wraps: Can They Be Overtightened?

BACKGROUND: Nerve wrapping has been advocated to minimize scarring and adhesion following neurorrhaphy or neurolysis. A wrap should provide an enclosure that is snug enough to protect and support the affected nerve without strangulating the nerve. The degree to which resorbable wraps should be ": tightened" around the nerve is largely subjective with scant literature on the subject. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of tightly fitting resorbable nerve wraps around intact rat sciatic nerves. METHODS: Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats underwent exposure and circumferential measurement of the right sciatic nerve. Porcine-derived extracellular matrix (ECM) wraps were trimmed and sutured to enclose the nerve with a tight (same as that of the nerve, n = 8) or loose (2.5x that of the nerve, n = 8) circumference. Sham-surgery control animals (n = 8) had no wrap treatment. Functional outcome was recorded biweekly by sciatic functional index (SFI) with walking track analysis and electrical stimulation. Animals were sacrificed at 12 weeks for histologic analyses. RESULTS: No withdrawal response could be evoked in the tight-wrap group until week 9, while significant improvement in SFI first occurred between weeks 5 and 7. By week 12, the tight-wrap group required 60% more current compared with baseline stimulation to produce a withdrawal response. They recovered 81% of SFI baseline values but also demonstrated significantly greater intraneural collagen content (p < 0.001) and lower axon density (p < 0.05) than in the loose-wrap and sham groups. The loose-wrap group had comparable functional and histologic outcomes to the sham control group. CONCLUSION: Resorbable ECM nerve wraps applied tightly around intact rat sciatic nerves caused significant functional impairment and histological changes characteristic of acute nerve compression. Significant but incomplete functional recovery was achieved by the tight-wrap group after 12 weeks, but such recovery may not apply in humans.

Implementation of School Diabetes Care in the United States: A Scoping Review.

Diabetes management at school demands close collaboration of multiple stakeholders, including students with diabetes and parents, school nurses, teachers/staff, and local health care providers. This scoping review identified and synthesized evidence concerning factors that contributed to the quality and effectiveness of diabetes care implementation in U.S. K-12 schools. Forty-six studies met the eligibility criteria and were included. Five common factors emerged surrounding training and experiences, communications, parent engagement, resource allocations, and school environment. Complex interactions between multiple stakeholders jointly determined the quality of school diabetes care. A conceptual model was established to elucidate the complex interactions between multiple stakeholders and the relevant facilitators and barriers. Future research should improve sample representativeness, contrast school diabetes care practices to the national guidelines, and assess the impact of the social, economic, and political environment at federal, state, local/district levels on school diabetes care implementation.

Vulvar Primary Cutaneous CD8+ Aggressive Epidermotropic Cytotoxic T-Cell Lymphoma.

Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas may present with a clinical course that is incongruent with the associated histologic findings. Primary cutaneous CD8+ aggressive epidermotropic cytotoxic T-cell lymphoma classically presents as an abrupt eruption of disseminated ulcerated annular plaques with aggressive behavior and a poor prognosis. Herein we describe a vulvar primary cutaneous CD8+ aggressive epidermotropic cytotoxic T-cell lymphoma with a locally aggressive clinical course that was strikingly responsive to radiation therapy. As aggressive therapy involving systemic chemotherapy is indicated for primary cutaneous CD8+ aggressive epidermotropic cytotoxic T-cell lymphoma, appropriate clinico-pathologic correlation is crucial for preventing potentially excessive or insufficient therapeutic intervention. Our case also highlights the pivotal role of both radiation therapy and infection control in the management of aggressive cutaneous vulvar lymphomas.

Seizure-related apneas have an inconsistent linkage to amygdala seizure spread.

OBJECTIVE: Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is a frequent cause of death in epilepsy. Respiratory dysfunction is implicated as a critical factor in SUDEP pathophysiology. Human studies have shown that electrical stimulation of the amygdala resulted in apnea, indicating that the amygdala has a role in respiration control. Unilateral amygdala stimulation resulted in immediate onset of respiratory dysfunction occurring only during nose breathing. In small numbers of patients, some but not all spontaneous seizures resulted in apnea occurring shortly after seizure spread to the amygdala. With this study we aimed to determine whether seizure onset or spread to the amygdala was necessary and sufficient to cause apnea. METHODS: We investigated the temporal relationship between apnea/hypopnea (AH) onset and initial seizure involvement within the amygdala in patients with implanted depth electrodes. RESULTS: Data from 17 patients (11 female) with 47 seizures were analyzed. With seven seizures (three patients), AH preceded amygdala seizure involvement by 2 to 55 seconds. There was no AH with four seizures (three patients) that involved the amygdala. With eight seizures (four patients) AH occurred within 2 seconds following amygdala seizure onset. With 28 seizures, AH started >2 seconds after amygdala seizure onset (range 3-158 seconds). Following seizure onset, there was a significant difference between AH onset time and amygdala seizure onset (P < .001). The mean ± standard deviation (SD) AH onset was 27.8 ± 41.06 seconds, and the mean time to amygdala involvement was 8.83 ± 20.19 seconds. SIGNIFICANCE: There is a wide range of AH onset times relative to amygdala seizure involvement. With some seizures, amygdala seizure involvement occurs without AH. With other seizures, AH precedes amygdala seizures, suggesting that, with spontaneous seizures, involvement of the amygdala may not be crucial to induction of AH with all seizures. Other pathophysiology impacting brainstem respiratory networks may be of greater relevance to seizure-triggered apneas.

Large and Uneven Bites in End-to-End Anastomosis of the Rat Femoral Artery.

BACKGROUND: Successful microvascular anastomosis depends on sutures that adequately oppose both cut vessel edges. Trainees tend to take oversized or uneven bite. To improve early microsurgical skill acquisition using the rat, this study tests the belief that such bites compromise early patency by applying exaggerated bites to end-to-end arterial anastomoses. METHODS: Twelve Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to one of the four bite techniques to be applied to both femoral arteries (mean diameter, 0.8 mm). Large (L) and standard (S) bites measured 1.0 and 0.2 mm from the edge, respectively. Eight simple interrupted anastomoses were performed per bite technique, each labeled according to every proximal end bite size, followed by every distal end bite size: LL, LS, SL, and SS. Anastomosis time and blood flow rates were recorded and analyzed statistically. After sacrifice 5 days postoperation, anastomosis sections of each technique were examined histologically. RESULTS: All 24 anastomoses (100%) maintained patency for 5 days. There was no statistical difference between all postoperative blood flow measurements at any given time. Anastomosis times using LL, LS, SL, and SS bite techniques were 41.6, 33.2, 34.8, and 25.5 minutes, respectively. Anastomosis time for the traditional bite technique (SS) was significantly shorter than all other bite techniques (p < 0.05). Histological examination of the harvested segments from each group revealed similar pathophysiological features. CONCLUSION: Oversized bites (1 mm), placed symmetrically and asymmetrically across the anastomosis, do not affect early patency in the rat femoral artery. A reduced reliance on conventional guidelines for suture bites appears acceptable during microarterial anastomoses if the goal is vessel patency. However, we believe clinical competence involves the ability to place small, even bites consistently and uniformly. During microsurgical training, the occasional large bite need not be replaced; however, the trainee should be encouraged to take standard bites.

Unusual presentation of Kaposi sarcoma in an HIV-negative woman.

Kaposi sarcoma typically presents as violaceous macules and papules in immunocompromised, specifically HIV-positive, patients. Its distinct clinical features often facilitate rapid diagnosis. In this article, we report a case of Kaposi sarcoma presenting as a concerning yet nondescript lesion in an HIV-negative woman. Although Kaposi sarcoma is frequently part of the differential diagnosis for skin lesions affecting HIV-positive patients, it is less frequently considered in HIV-negative individuals. Additionally, this case differs from the classic clinical presentation of Kaposi sarcoma by resembling a squamous cell carcinoma or superficial basal cell carcinoma. Therefore, it illustrates the importance of suspicious lesion biopsies to ensure accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Tonic electromyographic activity following bilateral tonic-clonic seizures is associated with periictal respiratory dysfunction and postictal generalized EEG suppression.

OBJECTIVE: No biomarkers reliably predict risk for sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). Postictal generalized electroencephalography (EEG) suppression (PGES) is a possible biomarker for SUDEP risk. However, its utility in predicting SUDEP remains uncertain. We had observed that postictal tonic electromyography (PTEMG) activity follows some generalized convulsive seizures (GCS). PTEMG activity and PGES may have a common pathophysiologic basis. PGES is associated with periictal respiratory distress. There is evidence that tonic EMG occurs with brain hypoxia. Thus PTEMG activity may be related to seizure-associated hypoxemia. Pronounced variation occurs among expert clinicians in identifying PGES, thereby limiting its utility as a biomarker. Characteristics of PTEMG activity and its relationship to preceding GCS have not been explored. We studied PTEMG activity characteristics, its relationship to the preceding seizure and associated respiratory dysfunction. METHODS: We reviewed 145 GCS in 66 patients undergoing video-EEG telemetry (VET). The presence of PTEMG activity was defined when tonic EMG occurred for at least 3 seconds following seizure termination and was identified with filter settings at 5-200 Hz. Duration of PTEMG activity, the seizure, PGES, seizure-associated peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SpO2 ) change, and end-tidal CO2 were analyzed. We compared data from GCS with and without PTEMG activity. RESULTS: Ninety of 145 seizures with GCS had PTEMG activity. The remainder had postictal slowing without PTEMG activity, and cessation of activity was followed by EEG slowing. Duration of the initial PTEMG discharge was 39.1 (mean) ± (standard deviation) 17.9 seconds. SpO2 nadir was lower (P = 0.005) in seizures with PTEMG activity than in those without (72% vs 77%). End-tidal CO2 was higher (P = 0.05) in seizures with PTEMG activity than in those without (63  vs 56 mm Hg). PGES duration was 35.6 ± 22.2 seconds and associated with duration of PTEMG activity (P < 0.001). SIGNIFICANCE: The novel finding is that PTEMG activity occurs following 62% of GCS and that seizures with PTEMG activity have greater severity of respiratory dysfunction than seizures without. PTEMG activity is readily discerned by visual analysis of VET at appropriate filter settings and has the potential of being a complementary or surrogate biomarker of PGES for assessing SUDEP risk.

Complete Resolution of Primary Cutaneous Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma With Topical Imiquimod

Primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (pc-ALCL) is a CD30+ subtype of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. It typically has a very favorable prognosis; however, traditional treatment can be expensive, invasive, and associated with significant adverse events. Imiquimod is a topical toll-like receptor approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for genital warts, actinic keratosis, and primary superficial basal cell carcinoma. In previous case reports, imiquimod has been shown to be effective against pc-ALCL. We present a case of complete resolution of pc-ALCL within 8 weeks with topical imiquimod and review the current literature. J Drugs Dermatol. 2019;18(5):460-462.

Diagnosis of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma by insurance type before and after the Affordable Care Act: a national database study.

The Affordable Care Act (ACT) was implemented to increase health care access and reduce the uninsured in the age group between pediatric and Medicare populations (18-64). The association of the ACA with insurance type upon diagnosis (uninsured, Medicaid, non-Medicaid) has been investigated for otolaryngologic, gynecologic, and the top five non-skin malignancies. Such studies for cutaneous malignancies are lacking. We conducted a retrospective analysis of the prospective National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) cancer database to assess the impact of the ACA on new diagnoses of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) by insurance type. Unlike prior studies of other malignancies, we did not observe significant differences between rate of diagnosis of CTCL by insurance type before and after full implementation of the ACA in all states, expansion states, and non-expansion states. Skin cancers do not have screening guidelines and CTCL is an uncommon malignancy, both of which may contribute to these findings. However, Medicaid-expansion states were much closer to reducing the percentage of newly diagnosed uninsured patients with CTCL than non-expansion states. As such, it may be prudent to investigate intrinsic socioeconomic barriers to care in Medicaid patients to improve their access to care to decrease the uninsured population and improve outcomes.

Potentially high-risk cardiac arrhythmias with focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizures and generalized tonic-clonic seizures are associated with the duration of periictal hypoxemia.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate potentially high-risk cardiac arrhythmias (PHAs) following focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizures (FBTCSs) and generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCSs) and to study the association of PHAs with seizure characteristics and the severity of associated ictal respiratory dysfunction. METHODS: Electrocardiographic (EKG) and pulse oximetry (SpO2 ) data were recorded concurrently with video-electroencephalographic telemetry in the epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU). One minute of preictal EKG, the ictal EKG, and 2 min of ictal/postictal data were reviewed for each seizure. Nonsustained ventricular tachycardia, bradyarrhythmia, and/or sinus pauses were considered as PHAs. FBTCSs/GTCSs with PHAs were compared to those that had only ictal sinus tachycardia. RESULTS: Data from 69 patients with 182 FBTCSs/GTCSs with usable SpO2 and EKG recordings were available. There were 10 FBTCSs/GTCSs in 10 patients with a PHA. The presence of PHAs was not associated with seizure duration or SpO2 nadir. FBTCSs/GTCSs with a PHA were significantly associated with the duration of oxygen desaturation < 90% when compared with FBTCSs/GTCSs with only sinus tachycardia (Mann-Whitney, p = 0.042). Desaturation duration of <100 s was not significantly associated with occurrence of PHAs (p = 0.110) when compared with seizures that had only sinus tachycardia. The odds ratio for occurrence of PHA was 7.86 for desaturation durations ≥ 125 s versus desaturations < 125 s (p = 0.005). The odds ratio increased to 13.09 for desaturation durations ≥ 150 s (p < 0.001). Preictal and ictal/postictal arrhythmias occurred with focal seizures that did not progress to FBTCSs. Four patients with focal seizures had ictal/postictal PHAs without preictal PHAs. Two of these patients had evidence for prior cardiac disturbance. SIGNIFICANCE: PHAs following a single FBTCS/GTCS in the EMU are significantly associated with the duration of ictal/postictal hypoxemia. It is possible that FBTCS/GTCS-associated hypoxemia may trigger fatal cardiac arrhythmias in a subset of susceptible patients dying of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy.

Domed Silica Microcylinders Coated with Oleophilic Polypeptides and Their Behavior in Lyotropic Cholesteric Liquid Crystals of the Same Polypeptide.

Liquid crystals can organize dispersed particles into useful and exotic structures. In the case of lyotropic cholesteric polypeptide liquid crystals, polypeptide-coated particles are appealing because the surface chemistry matches that of the polymeric mesogen, which permits a tighter focus on factors such as extended particle shape. The colloidal particles developed here consist of a magnetic and fluorescent cylindrically symmetric silica core with one rounded, almost hemispherical end. Functionalized with helical poly(γ-stearyl-l-glutamate) (PSLG), the particles were dispersed at different concentrations in cholesteric liquid crystals (ChLC) of the same polymer in tetrahydrofuran (THF). Defects introduced by the particles to the director field of the bulk PSLG/THF host led to a variety of phases. In fresh mixtures, the cholesteric mesophase of the PSLG matrix was distorted, as reflected in the absence of the characteristic fingerprint pattern. Over time, the fingerprint pattern returned, more quickly when the concentration of the PSLG-coated particles was low. At low particle concentration the particles were "guided" by the PSLG liquid crystal to organize into patterns similar to that of the re-formed bulk chiral nematic phase. When their concentration increased, the well-dispersed PSLG-coated particles seemed to map onto the distortions in the bulk host's local director field. The particles located near the glass vial-ChLC interfaces were stacked lengthwise into architectures with apparent two-dimensional hexagonal symmetry. The size of these "crystalline" structures increased with particle concentration. They displayed remarkable stability toward an external magnetic field; hydrophobic interactions between the PSLG polymers in the shell and those in the bulk LC matrix may be responsible. The results show that bio-inspired LCs can assemble suitable colloidal particles into soft crystalline structures.

Doctor of Nursing Practice and Its Application to School Nursing.

School nurses who are considering a terminal degree in nursing have two options, a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or a Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD). There are several factors for school nurses to consider when determining which terminal degree is best suited for them. This article focuses on the relevance of a DNP degree to school nursing, by first reviewing the evolution of DNP programs and then pivoting to discussions by three school nurses on why they chose this terminal degree and the projects completed during their courses of study. A main focus of a DNP project is to gather, analyze, synthesize, and translate research into practice, often operationalized as quality improvement (QI) in clinical settings. School nurses, practicing independently from other healthcare professionals while often managing large workloads, stand to benefit from obtaining or working with a nurse prepared at this level.

Association of Flame-Retardant Clothing With Mycosis Fungoides: A Retrospective Analysis.

Introduction: Mycosis fungoides (MF), the most prevalent form of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), has been associated with a variety of environmental and occupational exposures. Flame-retardant clothing (FRC), in contrast to flame-resistant clothing, is chemically treated and may constitute a previously unrecognized occupational hazard. Objectives: To report an association between FRC and MF. Methods: After encountering several young male patients whose onset of MF coincided with the occupational use of FRC and occupation as fire fighters, we did a retrospective search. Additional biopsy proven MF patients with use of FRC were identified by the EPIC electronic medical record using the search terms "CTCL, mycosis fungoides, flame, and flame-retardant." Results: Eight MF patients, all males, ranging in age from 31 years to 64 years (median age, 35 years) with exposure to FRC were identified. MF remission was noted in three patients who discontinued FRC use and in one patient who used a cotton undershirt barrier, while disease persistence was noted in one patient who continued to use FRC. Conclusions: FRC appears to be associated with development of MF through chronic antigen stimulation. Use of FRC is an occupational hazard for fire fighters. Any patient whose MF coincides with use of FRC should avoid further exposure through avoidance or switching to clothing made from inherently flame-resistant fibers.

Determinants of School Diabetes Care Services and Quality Through the Lens of the School Nurse: A Qualitative Analysis.

Schools play a critical role in students' diabetes management and ensure their safety and well-being. We conducted key informant interviews with 11 school nurses in Missouri to assess determinants for diabetes care implementation. Five themes and 29 subthemes were identified concerning school nurses, schools, external stakeholders, government, and the COVID-19 pandemic. A social-ecological model was developed to elucidate each level's barriers, facilitators, and resources, and their interplay. School nurses should lead diabetes management, emergency planning, and health education for students/staff. Multiple gray areas existed regarding school nurses' specific roles/responsibilities. Lacking funding, insurance, and communication with parents/physicians further challenged diabetes care.

Case Report: COVID Associated Pancytopenia Unmasking Previously Undiagnosed Pernicious Anemia.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-associated pancytopenia is a known but rare complication of COVID-19 syndrome that is not well described in literature. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has shown the potential to affect any organ including the bone marrow, which then results in a decrease in all three blood cell lines. These cases usually resolve with the passage of time and treatment of underlying risk factors. As COVID pneumonia rates continue to increase worldwide, it is crucial to be able to recognize this complication. Additionally, deeper investigation into patient's response to COVID infection can be complicated by unexpected underlying disease. We report a case of a symptomatic 24-year-old active duty male in Hawaii with post-COVID pancytopenia that was found to have previously undiagnosed pernicious anemia and his response to standard treatment.

Clinical and Pathological Characteristics and Outcomes Among Patients With Subcutaneous Panniculitis-like T-Cell Lymphoma and Related Adipotropic Lymphoproliferative Disorders.

Importance: There is a knowledge gap about subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma (SPTCL) owing to its rarity and diagnostic difficulty, resulting in an absence of well-documented large case series published to date. Objective: To generate consensus knowledge by a joint multi-institutional review of SPTCL and related conditions. Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective clinical and pathological review included cases initially diagnosed as SPTCL at 6 large US academic centers. All cases were reviewed by a group of pathologists, dermatologists, and oncologists with expertise in cutaneous lymphomas. Through a process of group consensus applying defined clinical and pathological diagnostic criteria, the cohort was classified as (1) SPTCL or (2) adipotropic lymphoproliferative disorder (ALPD) for similar cases with incomplete histopathological criteria for SPTCL designation. Exposures: Cases of SPTCL diagnosed between 1998 and 2018. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcome was disease presentation and evolution, including response to therapy, disease progression, and development of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Results: The cohort of 95 patients (median [range] age, 38 [2-81] years; female-to-male ratio, 2.7) included 75 cases of SPTCL and 20 cases of ALPD. The clinical presentation was similar for both groups with multiple (61 of 72 [85%]) or single (11 of 72 [15%]) tender nodules mostly involving extremities, occasionally resulting in lipoatrophy. Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) was only observed in SPTCL cases. With a mean follow-up of 56 months, 60 of 90 patients (67%) achieved complete remission with a median (range) of 3 (1-7) cumulative therapies. Relapse was common. None of the patients died of disease progression or HLH. Two patients with ALPD eventually progressed to SPTCL without associated systemic symptoms or HLH. Conclusions and Relevance: In this case series of patients initially diagnosed as having SPTCL, results showed no evidence of systemic tumoral progression beyond the adipose tissue. The SPTCL experience in this study confirmed an indolent course and favorable response to a variety of treatments ranging from immune modulation to chemotherapy followed by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Morbidity was primarily associated with HLH.

Cashew-Induced Oxalate Nephropathy: A Rare Cause of Acute Renal Failure.

We present a rare case of cashew-induced oxalate nephropathy in a 69 year old veteran male with history of type 2 diabetes mellitus, nephrolithiasis, and undiagnosed chronic kidney disease (CKD). Oxalate nephropathy is a rare cause of acute renal failure with poor prognosis. The various causes of oxalate nephropathy are categorized as primary or secondary hyperoxaluria. Primary hyperoxaluria is caused by genetic mutation in genes involved in the metabolism of glyoxylate. Secondary hyperoxaluria is caused by mal-absorptive state, excessive intake of oxalate-rich diet, inflammatory diseases, and medications such as orlistat and antibiotics. Diet-induced oxalate nephropathy is often identified after unexplained acute kidney injury in patients with underlying CKD. Definitive diagnosis requires renal biopsy as laboratory tests are non-specific. A simple dietary history in CKD patients during routine primary care visit may lead to early diagnosis and lead to prevention of acute renal failure and progression of renal disease.