Fournier's gangrene (FG) is a rare, rapidly progressive, fulminant form of necrotizing fasciitis of the genital, perianal and perineal regions. Several factors have been reported to contribute to the clinical outcomes. The primary aims of this study were to examine the clinical features of patients with FG and evaluate the predictivity of the Fournier's Gangrene Severity Index (FGSI) score on the outcomes. We carried out a collective retrospective chart review of patients diagnosed and treated for FG in three reference centers between January 1995 and July 2007. Seventy-two patients with FG with were included to the study. Data were collected on medical history, symptoms, physical examination findings, admission and final laboratory tests, timing and extent of surgical debridement and antibiotic therapy. Perianal and perirectal abscess, scrotal abscess and urethral stenosis were the leading etiological factors. Diabetes mellitus was the predominant risk factor. Etiological factors and risk factors did not significantly contribute to survival or mortality, and duration of the symptoms was significantly longer in the non-survivor's group (P < 0.05). The FGSI scores were higher in the non-survivor's group. Regression analysis showed a FGSIS score of 10.5 as the cut-off to the outcome. Based on these results, we conclude that a patient's metabolic status and the extent of disease at presentation are the most important factors determining the prognosis of FG. The FGSI score may be considered as an objective and simple tool to predict the outcome in the patient with FG and should be used in further studies of FG patient series for comparison purposes.

Background: The small intestine is extremely sensitive to ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury and a range of microcirculatory disturbances which contribute to tissue damage. Previous studies have shown that leptin plays an important physiological role in the microvasculature. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effects of leptin in I/R -induced mucosal injury in the small intestine.

Combined duplication of the colon and vermiform appendix is one of the rare congenital anomalities of the alimentary tract. Only a few cases have been reported in the adult population. A 28-year-old man presented to the clinic with a mass in the right flank. Imaging showed only a hydronephrotic atrophic kidney. The final diagnosis was only available at exploration. Combined duplication of the tubular colon and vermiform appendix was confirmed histopathologically. The patient was treated with nephrectomy and complete resection of the duplicated colon and vermiform appendix. The patient recovered uneventfully, and has done well for the past year. This is believed to be one of the first reports of combined duplication of the tubular colon and vermiform appendix as a cause of hydronephrotic atrophic kidney in an adult patient.

Playing with an anesthesia mask given during a preanesthesia visit relieved anxiety, improved mask acceptance quality and shortened the induction period. We believe that this type of premedication would be feasible in gaseous induction of anesthesia in children.

These results suggest that EPO is effective in attenuating liver and renal injury in HS, even with inhibition of tyrosine kinase activity with genistein.