Pubic lice: an endangered species?

UNLABELLED: The incidence of pubic lice infestations is estimated to be between 1.3% and 4.6%, with an average incidence of 2% worldwide. It is also estimated that 70% to 80% of adults now remove pubic hair in part or entirety, using a variety of methods. It is hypothesized that the destruction of this pubic hair habitat may account for the falling incidence of pubic lice and may possibly lead to its eradication or atypical presentation. AIM: To report the changing incidence of pubic lice infestation from our unit over the last 10 years and assess its association, if any, with pubic hair removal of any kind. METHODS: Assessment of medical records and questionnaires were used to identify the incidence of hair removal and pubic lice infestation over a 10-year period. Data were anonymized and analyzed to identify any correlation. RESULTS: A significant and strong correlation between the falling incidence of pubic lice infections and increase in pubic hair removal was observed, with a Pearson correlation r value of 0.9686 (95% confidence intervals, 0.88-0.992). The P value is less than 0.0001. CONCLUSIONS: The increased incidence of hair removal may lead to atypical patterns of pubic lice infestations or its complete eradication as the natural habitat of this parasite is destroyed.

Factors associated with early recurrence and death after esophagectomy for cancer.

BACKGROUND: Accurate selection of patients for radical treatment of esophageal cancer is essential to avoid early recurrence and death (ERD) after surgery. We sought to evaluate a large series of consecutive resections to assess factors that may be associated with this poor outcome. METHODS: This was a cohort study including 680 patients operated for esophageal cancer between 2000 and 2010. The poor outcome group comprised 100 patients with tumor recurrence and death within 1 year of surgery. The comparison group comprised 267 long-term survivors, defined as those surviving more than 3 years from surgery. Pathological characteristics associated with poor outcome were analyzed using logistic regression to determine odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: On the adjusted model T stage and N stage predicted poor survival, with the greatest risk being patients with locally advanced tumors and three or more involved lymph nodes (OR 10.6, 95% CI 2.8-40.0). Poor differentiation (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.4-5.5), chemotherapy response (OR 3.6, 95% CI 1.2-10.6), and involved resection margins (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.2-6.0) were all significant independent prognostic markers in the multivariable model. There was a trend toward worse survival with lymphovascular invasion (OR 2.0, 95% CI 0.9-4.2) and low albumin (OR 1.9, 95% CI 0.8-4.4) but not of statistical significance in the adjusted model. CONCLUSIONS: Esophageal cancer patients with poorly differentiated tumors and three or more involved lymph nodes have a particularly high risk of ERD after surgery. Accurate risk stratification of patients may identify a group who would be better served by alternative oncological treatment strategies.

Mycophenolate mofetil and sirolimus in hepatocyte transplantation in an experimental model of toxic acute liver failure.

INTRODUCTION: Hepatocyte transplantation is proposed as a solution for liver failure. The allotransplantation of hepatocytes has been studied extensively, however, graft rejection remains a major problem. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the immunosuppressive activity of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), sirolimus, and their combination in an experimental model of hepatocyte allotransplantation in rats with acute liver failure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five male Wistar rats were used as hepatocyte donors and 60 male Lewis rats as recipients. The recipients were divided into five groups of 12 animals each. Group 1: no treatment. Group 2: cyclosporine. Group 3: sirolimus. Group 4: MMF. Group 5: MMF and sirolimus. All surviving animals were preserved for 15 days. For the induction of acute liver failure the recipients were injected with N-dimethyl-nitrosamine 24 hr before transplantation. The isolated hepatocytes were transplanted intrasplenically. RESULTS: Analysis of the results showed a statistically significant prolongation of animal survival for groups 3, 4, and 5. More animals in group 5 survived than those in groups 3 and 4, although the difference was not statistically significant. Transplant hepatocyte survival was significantly better in groups 3, 4, and 5. Hepatocytes transplanted in the spleen of animals of group 5 showed better survival compared with those of groups 3 and 4. CONCLUSION: Use of MMF and sirolimus, as monotherapy or in combination, is both effective and safe as immunosuppressive treatment in hepatocyte transplantation, as was proven in this experimental protocol.