A 67-year-old man presented to our hospital with general malaise, fever and diffuse abdominal and lower back pain 7 weeks after endovascular aneurysm repair. Blood samples showed a leukocyte count of 10.9 x 10(9)/l and a C-reactive protein of 239 mg/l. The computed tomography (CT)-scan showed fluid collections behind the proximal part of the endovascular graft and dorsal to the aorta. CT-guided translumbar needle aspiration of these collections yielded growth with Listeria monocytogenes. Prosthetic endograft infection is an extremely rare event, especially when it is caused by L. monocytogenes. Given the scarcity of this complication, no consensus has been reached for its treatment. In the described case, radiological drainage and prolonged antibiotic treatment resulted in favourable outcome at midterm follow-up with preservation of the endograft.

For the management of pediatric neuroblastoma, a promising experimental treatment includes slow systemic infusion of a human/ mouse chimeric monoclonal antibody against the GD2 ganglioside. Beneficial actions are however, accompanied by severe pain and altered cardiovascular tone. The pain is conventionally controllable with moderate to relatively high doses of intravenous morphine. An animal model was established to examine the change in nociceptive threshold produced by anti-GD2-antibody. Rats given bolus injections of antibody through an in-dwelling jugular catheter developed a quantifiable mechanical allodynia. At higher doses, allodynia and touch evoked agitation began within the first 15-min test interval, was maximal within the first hour, and for some doses was still present, although greatly reduced at 24 and 48 h. Rapid administration of antibody led to an increase in mean resting blood pressure of 12 mmHg +/- 1.8 (P < or = 0.02) and the development of a prolonged cardiovascular response to an otherwise innocuous stimulus. These observations demonstrate that the pain associated with monoclonal antibody treatment can be modeled in animals. This approach has potential for defining the pharmacology of the allodynia and ways in which the pain state may be ameliorated.

Several diagnostic imaging techniques are available for assessment of the anatomical and functional characteristics of CAFs.

Background: Haemodialysis patients have a high risk of malnutrition which is associated with increased mortality. Nocturnal haemodialysis (NHD) is associated with a significant increase in protein intake compared with conventional haemodialysis (CHD). It is unclear whether this leads to improved nutritional status. Therefore, we studied whether 1 year of NHD is associated with a change in body composition. Methods: Whole-body composition using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and normalised protein catabolic rate (nPCR) were measured in 11 adult patients before and 1 year after the transition from CHD (12 h dialysis/week) to NHD (28-48 h dialysis/week). Similar measurements were performed in a matched control group of 13 patients who stayed on CHD. Differences between groups were analysed with linear mixed models. Results: At baseline, nPCR, total mass, fat-free mass, and fat mass did not differ significantly between the CHD and NHD groups. nPCR increased in the NHD group (from 0.96 ± 0.23 to 1.12 ± 0.20 g/kg/day; p = 0.027) whereas it was stable in the CHD group (0.93 ± 0.21 at baseline and 0.87 ± 0.09 g/kg/day at 1 year, n.s.). The change in nPCR differed significantly between the two groups (p = 0.027). We observed no significant differences in the course of total mass, fat-free mass, and fat mass during the 1-year observation period between the NHD and CHD groups. Conclusions: One year of NHD had no significant effect on body composition in comparison with CHD, despite a significantly higher protein intake in patients on NHD.

BackgroundSelection of patients with anal cancer for groin irradiation is based on tumor size, palpation, ultrasound, and fine needle cytology. Current staging of anal cancer may result in undertreatment in small tumors and overtreatment of large tumors. This study reports the feasibility of the sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in patients with anal cancer and whether this improves the selection for inguinal radiotherapy.MethodsA total of 50 patients with squamous anal cancer were evaluated prospectively. Patients without a SLNB (n = 29) received irradiation of the inguinal lymph nodes based on lymph node status, tumor size, and location of the primary tumor. Inguinal irradiation treatment in patients with a SLNB was based on the presence of metastases in the SLN.ResultsSLNs were found in all 21 patients who underwent a SLNB. There were 5 patients (24%) who had complications after SLNB and 7 patients (33%) who had a positive SLN and received inguinal irradiation. However, 2 patients with a tumor-free SLN and no inguinal irradiation developed lymph node metastases after 12 and 24 months, respectively.ConclusionsWe conclude that SLNB in anal cancer is technically feasible. SLNB can identify those patients who would benefit from refrain of inguinal irradiation treatment and thereby reducing the incidence of unnecessary inguinal radiotherapy. However, because of the occurrence of inguinal lymph node metastases after a tumor-negative SLNB, introduction of this procedure as standard of care in all patients with anal carcinoma should be done with caution to avoid undertreatment of patient who otherwise would benefit from inguinal radiotherapy.