Spontaneous compartment syndrome in a patient with diabetes and statin administration: a case report

Compartment syndrome is a condition characterized by pressure increasing in the inextensible muscular compartments that leads to a decrease of capillary perfusion with consequent ischemic lesions of the logia elements. The authors report a case of an unusual compartment syndrome with spontaneous onset in a patient with type II diabetes and chronic therapy with statins (Atorvastatin). The condition was successfully treated by a fasciotomy and medical support. The importance of a correct anamnesis and a high level of suspicion is emphasized

Epidemiological study of onychomycosis in older adults with onychodystrophy

Aim: To identify the prevalence of onychomycosis and epidemiological features in older adults (>65%) with toenail onychodystrophy. In particular, the aim of the study was to analyze risk factors/protective factors, clinical manifestations, comorbidities and etiological agents. Methods: A prospective study was carried out from February 2012 to May 2012 at San Martino-IST of Genoa, Italy. The inclusion criteria for enrolment were the presence of onychodystrophy of one or more toenails and age >65years. The exclusion criteria were systemic/topical antifungal treatments in the previous 6months, drilling of the nail plate in the previous 6months and a specialist's diagnosis or suspicion of onychomycosis. A database was created for the patients' anamnesis, the clinics and testing results. Several statistical analyses were carried out. Results: A total of 100 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. A total of 35 cases had positive results, and the etiological agent was isolable in 14 cases. The most represented was Trichophyton mentagrophytes followed by Trichophyton rubrum and others. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed the significant roles of sex and diabetes as risk factors, and the use of statins as a protective factor. Conclusions: Onychomycosis has a high prevalence in older adults with onychodystrophy. It is important not to overlook onychodystrophy, and to carry out laboratory testing to exclude a fungal infection. In fact, as older patients often cannot undergo systemic antifungal therapies, it is fundamental to treat them early and avoid the spread of infection

HIPPARCOS, VLA, AND CCD OBSERVATIONS OF CYG OB2 No. 5 M.E. Contreras

Cyg OB2 No. 5 (BD+40 ffi 4220; V729 Cyg) is known to be a contact binary system formed by two O-type stars. For this object a 6-cm radio emission has been detected at the optical position as well as an additional weak non-thermal radio source located at ¸ 0:9 arcsec to the north east of the contact binary. It has been suggested that this radio component was possibly a third stellar object in the system. This was the first time that a radio companion was observed to be associated with the contact binary system. In this work we present new radio, CCD and Hipparcos observations that provide the basis for a plausible explanation of the origin of the non-thermal radiation emitted by the `third' component of this system and its nature. Key words: Radio continuum: general and stars; early-type stars. 1. INTRODUCTION One of the more reliable methods for the determination of the mass loss rate in massive stars is via the observation of the free-free radiation emitted by their ionized winds a..

Accumulation and erosion of Mars' south polar layered deposits

International audienceMars' polar regions are covered with ice-rich layered deposits that potentially contain a record of climate variations. The sounding radar SHARAD on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter mapped detailed subsurface stratigraphy in the Promethei Lingula region of the south polar plateau, Planum Australe. Radar reflections interpreted as layers are correlated across adjacent orbits and are continuous for up to 150 kilometers along spacecraft orbital tracks. The reflectors are often separated into discrete reflector sequences, and strong echoes are seen as deep as 1 kilometer. In some cases, the sequences are dipping with respect to each other, suggesting an interdepositional period of erosion. In Australe Sulci, layers are exhumed, indicating recent erosion