Filariasis of the Axilla in a Patient Returning from Travel Abroad: A Case Report

Background: The term filariasis comprises a group of parasitic infections caused by helminths belonging to different genera in the superfamily Filaroidea. The human parasites occur mainly in tropical and subtropical regions, but filariae are also found in temperate climates, where they can infect wild and domestic animals. Humans are rarely infected by these zoonotic parasites. Patients and Methods: A 55-year-old patient presented with a new-onset, subcutaneous, non-tender palpable mass in the right axilla. Ultrasonography showed a 1.3-cm, solid, singular encapsulated node. Sonography of the breast on both sides, axilla and lymphatic drainage on the left side, lymphatic drainage on the right side, and mammography on both sides were without pathological findings. The node was excised under local anesthesia as the patient refused minimal invasive biopsy. Results: On histopathological examination, the tail of a parasite of the group of filariae was found. The patient revealed that she had stayed in Africa and Malaysia for professional reasons. 6 months before the time of diagnosis, she had also suffered from a fever and poor general condition after a trip abroad. The patient was referred for further treatment to the Institute for Tropical Medicine at the University of Dusseldorf, where a treatment with ivermectin was conducted on the basis of positive staining with antibodies against filariae. Conclusion: Our case demonstrates the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration between breast center, pathology, and other specialties such as microbiology and tropical medicine

Prenatal Diagnosis of Agenesis of Ductus Venosus: A Retrospective Study of Anatomic Variants, Associated Anomalies and Impact on Postnatal Outcome

Purpose To assess the anatomic variants, associated anomalies and postnatal outcome of fetuses with a prenatally diagnosed agenesis of ductus venosus (ADV). Materials and Methods Retrospective study of 119 cases with agenesis of ductus venosus diagnosed by prenatal ultrasound in two tertiary referral centers from 2006 to 2014. The type and location of the umbilical venous drainage site was noted. Charts were reviewed for associated structural or chromosomal anomalies, pregnancy outcome and postnatal course. Results In 24 cases (20.2%) ADV was an isolated finding, while 95 cases (79.8%) had associated anomalies. We identified 84 cases (70.6%) with intrahepatic and 35 cases (29.4%) with extrahepatic drainage of the umbilical vein. 58.8% of neonates were alive at follow-up.There was no statistical association between drainage site and associated anomalies or outcome. Postnatal outcome was determined by the presence and severity of associated anomalies. There was no adverse outcome in the isolated group related to ADV. Overall, there were 6 persistent portosystemic shunts, 3 of them with a spontaneous closure, and one total agenesis of the portal venous system with lethal outcome. Conclusion Postnatal outcome in cases with ADV mainly depends on the presence of associated anomalies. In isolated cases the prognosis is generally good, but neonates with a prenatally diagnosed portosystemic shunt should be followed until its occlusion. Portal venous system agenesis is rare but should be ruled out on prenatal ultrasound

Transplantation of Cryopreserved Human Ovarian Tissue: Restoration of Reproductive Function after Two Cycles of Radio - and Chemo-Therapeutic Treatments

Background: Patient S. was born in 1983, developed a Ewing-Sarcoma and obtained low dose chemotherapy in 1996. In 2007, Patient S. received high-dose chemotherapy because lung-metastases were diagnosed. The aim of the study was to investigate the health of cryopreserved ovarian tissue and also to examine whether this ovarian tissue can restore the reproductive function of patient after two cycles of radio-and chemo-therapeutic treatments. Methods: Twenty pieces of ovarian tissue (total of similar to 200 mm(2)) were conventionally frozen with 6% (v/v) dimethyl sulfoxide, 6% (v/v) ethylene glycol and 0.15 M sucrose and kept for five years before 8 pieces were thawed and transplanted back into the patient. Two small (1 x 2 x 1 mm) pieces of this thawed tissue were cultured in a chicken embryonic chorioallantoic membrane (CAM)-system for 5 days to assess the tissue viability. Results: The ovarian tissue that was grafted re-established spontaneous menstrual bleeding within five months and serum 17-beta estradiol increased from 19 to 330 pg/mL. Ultrasound revealed a dominant follicle at the site of the transplanted tissue in the follicular phase after the menstrual bleed. Analysis of the CAM cultured tissue established that 88% of the primordial follicles had degenerated and there was limited growth of blood vessels. Conclusions: In spite of the damage caused by the cryopreservation the surviving follicles could restore ovarian function after re-transplantation

Ezetimibe added to statin therapy after acute coronary syndromes

BACKGROUND: Statin therapy reduces low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels and the risk of cardiovascular events, but whether the addition of ezetimibe, a nonstatin drug that reduces intestinal cholesterol absorption, can reduce the rate of cardiovascular events further is not known. METHODS: We conducted a double-blind, randomized trial involving 18,144 patients who had been hospitalized for an acute coronary syndrome within the preceding 10 days and had LDL cholesterol levels of 50 to 100 mg per deciliter (1.3 to 2.6 mmol per liter) if they were receiving lipid-lowering therapy or 50 to 125 mg per deciliter (1.3 to 3.2 mmol per liter) if they were not receiving lipid-lowering therapy. The combination of simvastatin (40 mg) and ezetimibe (10 mg) (simvastatin-ezetimibe) was compared with simvastatin (40 mg) and placebo (simvastatin monotherapy). The primary end point was a composite of cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, unstable angina requiring rehospitalization, coronary revascularization ( 6530 days after randomization), or nonfatal stroke. The median follow-up was 6 years. RESULTS: The median time-weighted average LDL cholesterol level during the study was 53.7 mg per deciliter (1.4 mmol per liter) in the simvastatin-ezetimibe group, as compared with 69.5 mg per deciliter (1.8 mmol per liter) in the simvastatin-monotherapy group (P<0.001). The Kaplan-Meier event rate for the primary end point at 7 years was 32.7% in the simvastatin-ezetimibe group, as compared with 34.7% in the simvastatin-monotherapy group (absolute risk difference, 2.0 percentage points; hazard ratio, 0.936; 95% confidence interval, 0.89 to 0.99; P = 0.016). Rates of pre-specified muscle, gallbladder, and hepatic adverse effects and cancer were similar in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: When added to statin therapy, ezetimibe resulted in incremental lowering of LDL cholesterol levels and improved cardiovascular outcomes. Moreover, lowering LDL cholesterol to levels below previous targets provided additional benefit