The 'Ugly Duckling' Rule in Melanoma Self-exam

Compared with the more traditional ABCD rule, does the 'ugly duckling' sign improve melanoma detection?
Medscape Dermatology

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Assessment of atrazine toxicity to the estuarine phytoplankter, Dunaliella tertiolecta (Chlorophyta), under varying nutrient conditions

Abstract

Anthropogenic inputs of chemical environmental contaminants are frequently associated with developing harmful algal blooms, but little is known about how estuarine phytoplankton assemblages respond to multiple, co-occurring chemical stressors in chronically disturbed habitats. The goals of this research were to establish a robust protocol for testing the effects of atrazine on estuarine phytoplankton, and then to use that protocol to compare the effects of atrazine exposure with and without nutrient enrichment on a cosmopolitan estuarine/marine alga, Dunaliella tertiolecta (Chlorophyta). Atrazine sensitivity in nutrient-replete media (96-h growth inhibition \( \overline{x} \) ) was 159.16 μg l⁻¹, but sensitivity was influenced by exposure duration, and inhibitory effects of herbicide on algal growth decreased under imbalanced nutrient regimes and low nitrogen and phosphorus supplies. These findings advance knowledge about how nutrient regimes and herbicides interact to control estuarine phytoplankton population dynamics.

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Hepatotoxicity Associated With Vismodegib

An 82-year-old Caucasian woman with a history of basal cell carcinoma on vismodegib presented with nausea, vomiting and intermittent abdominal pain. Laboratory results were remarkable for the elevation of liver enzymes. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogram (PTC) did not show evidence of intrahepatic or extrahepatic obstruction of the biliary tract. During PTC external biliary catheter was placed; however, bilirubin continued to rise. Further, laboratory work-up and imaging studies ruled out other possible aetiologies for hepatotoxicity such as infections, autoimmune hepatitis and other drugs known to be hepatotoxic thus leaving vismodegib the most likely cause of hepatotoxicity.

http://ift.tt/2BNryUK

Intracaval misplacement of a double-J ureteral stent

Double-J ureteral stent (DJUS) is an important therapeutic tool in endourology. There are well-known frequent complications associated with DJUS placement such as distal and proximal migration within the urinary tract. However, perforation and stent misplacement are uncommon but serious complications of this technique. We present a case of a 63-year-old man who had a misplacement of a DJUS into the inferior vena cava during an elective procedure of ureteral catheterisation. The stent placement was performed under fluoroscopic control and it seemed well positioned. Actually, the DJUS was misplaced in the inferior vena cava after drilling at the level of the crossing of the ureter with the ipsilateral iliac vessels. Diagnosis was incidentally made 3 months after the placement of the stent in a renal CT scan. The patient was always asymptomatic. We performed an endoscopic removal of the ureteral stent, which took place without complications.

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Double invasive fungal infection due to dematiaceous moulds in a renal transplant patient

Alternaria and Verruconis are two dematiaceous moulds that occasionally cause disease in immunocompromised hosts. We present the case of a 58-year-old man with history of deceased donor renal transplantation 14 months prior, who presented with fevers and cough. He was found to have right upper lobe pneumonia and a non-healing eschar of his right knee. Dematiaceous fungi grew from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and was sent to reference lab for identification. Meanwhile, the eschar on his right knee was biopsied and grew Alternaria spp. Pathology was consistent with invasive mould infection and he was treated as having disseminated Alternaria infection with voriconazole and amphotericin B lipid complex. Later on, the dematiaceous mould from a BAL specimen was identified as Verruconis gallopava. The patient was discharged on voriconazole awaiting minimal inhibitory concentrations for V. gallopava but was readmitted 2 days later with high fevers and died from acute respiratory failure.

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Pathological fracture of femoral neck in a middle-aged woman: a rare presentation of primary hydatid cyst disease in humans

Hydatid disease in humans is caused by Echinococcus granulosus. It most commonly involves the liver and, to a lesser extent, the lungs and spleen; however, it is known to involve other areas, too. Involvement of bone by hydatid cyst is rare. Here, we describe the case of a 37-year-old woman who presented with pain in the left groin and swelling in the left thigh. The radiological imaging showed a fracture of the femoral neck and cysts in the shaft of the femur. Diagnosis of hydatid cyst was confirmed on the basis of histopathology of biopsy specimens. The patient recovered after surgical excision of the cyst. This case illustrates the various sites and presentations of hydatid cyst disease, and the need to investigate for it if cystic bony lesions are encountered especially in endemic regions, as a delay in diagnosis can lead to long-term morbidity and even death.

http://ift.tt/2shD9rd

Autoimmune fasciitis triggered by the anti-programmed cell death-1 monoclonal antibody nivolumab

A 43-year-old woman with a history of recently diagnosed metastatic melanoma was commenced on systemic therapy with nivolumab, an anti-programmed cell death-1 monoclonal antibody and one of an increasing group of the so-called 'immune checkpoint inhibitors'. She experienced a dramatic complete response within 6 months of initiation. However, in addition to developing incident autoimmune hypothyroidism, she also developed progressive fatigue, proximal weakness, myalgia and dysphagia. Initial investigations with blood tests, electrophysiology and a muscle biopsy were non-specific or normal. Subsequent examination revealed 'woody' thickening of the subcutaneous tissues of the forearms, thighs and calves consistent with fasciitis. MRI and a full-thickness skin–muscle biopsy were ultimately diagnostic of a likely iatrogenic autoimmune myofasciitis. The clinical manifestations only responded partly to prednisolone 30 mg orally and treatment was escalated to include intravenous immunoglobulin. At 3 months, this has only resulted in a modest incremental improvement.

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