Large Ulcer (large + ulcer)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Pyoderma gangrenosum of the scalp treated with cyclosporine A

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 12 2002
Pasquale Patrone MD
A 56-year-old woman presented with an ulcer, with a depth of 9 mm, on the vertex and frontal parietal regions of the scalp. The lesion had a round shape (diameter, 7 cm), with clear-cut margins and vertical borders sinking vertically to a bottom that was entirely covered with purulent fibrinous yellowish matter and greenish colored necrotic tissue. Other numerous small roundish ulcers were present next to the large ulcer. These had irregular margins with a yellowish fibrinous bottom (Fig. 1). The patient reported the appearance of two small ulcers on the left and on the right frontal parietal regions about 1 year earlier. These had been treated locally with antimicrobials and antiseptics with no result. During the 2 months prior to our evaluation, a few small round-shaped ulcers had appeared on the scalp. These had progressively increased in size and number. Figure Figure 1 . Large ulcer with clear-cut margins, covered by purulent fibrinous matter, and other small roundish ulcers The patient had been an insulin-dependent diabetic for 23 years. Hematochemical examinations showed no significant alterations, except for a rise in glycemia. Urine examination gave normal results. Carcinoembryonic antigen and lymphocytic phenotyping indices were normal. Echographic, endoscopic, and radiocontrast studies of the abdomen did not reveal the presence of lesions either in the gastrointestinal tract or in other organs. Samples of ulcerous tissue were collected from the scalp to perform histologic and microbiologic analysis in search of fungi and bacteria. This last examination revealed the presence of Staphylococcus aureus and Candida parapsylosis. Direct search for mycobacteria was negative. Histology indicated the presence of dermal granulomatous inflammation with giant multinucleate cells, associated with large zones of suppuration and colliquative necrosis. While waiting to complete the diagnostic course, topical antiseptic, antimicrobial, and fibrinolytic therapy was administered; subsequently, as this did not lead to any improvement, systemic treatment with cyclosporine A (5 mg/kg/day) was started. Rapid improvement of the clinical picture occurred. The ulcers appeared cleaner from the first 2 weeks of treatment, radial growth stopped, and the margins were slightly more superficial. The patient continued with immunomodulating therapy at home over a period of 7 months. The dose was progressively reduced until, over a period of about 3 months, complete re-epithelialization of the lesion, with subsequent partial regrowth of the hair, was obtained (Figs 2 and 3). No relapses were observed 1 year after treatment was suspended. Figure 2. Partial re-epithelialization of the lesion with partial regrowth of the hair Figure 3. Scar and hair regrowth [source]


Bacteria commonly isolated from keratitis specimens retain antibiotic susceptibility to fluoroquinolones and gentamicin plus cephalothin

CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL OPHTHALMOLOGY, Issue 1 2006
Cameron N Ly MB BS
Abstract Purpose:, Patients presenting with presumed infective keratitis were studied to determine predisposing factors, the current susceptibilities of the bacterial isolates to a range of relevant antibiotics, the success rate of topical antibiotic treatment of keratitis and predictors of failure of topical therapy. Methods:, Corneal scrapings taken from patients who presented between January 2002 and December 2003 to the Sydney Eye Hospital Emergency Department with keratitis were cultured. The minimum inhibitory concentration of selected antibiotics was determined for each bacterial isolate using an agar dilution technique. Results:, One hundred and twelve consecutive patients presented with corneal ulcers. Forty-seven of the 112 (42%) patients had a growth from the corneal scraping. Potential predisposing factors were identified in 64% of patients, most frequently contact lens wear (36% of patients). Coagulase-negative staphylococci were the most common species isolated. Other common organisms isolated include Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Corynebacterium spp., Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus spp. Conclusions:, Most microorganisms isolated from patients with bacterial keratitis showed susceptibility to ciprofloxacin and aminoglycosides. Cephalothin plus aminoglycoside constituted an effective initial broad-spectrum antibiotic combination. The success rate of topical antibiotic treatment of corneal abscess is 89%. Predictors of failure include older age group, medium or large ulcer, culture-negative keratitis, hypopyon and poor visual acuity. [source]


CLINICAL COURSE and RELAPSE RATE IN INTESTINAL BEHCET'S DISEASE

JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY, Issue 2001
TI Kim
Behçet's disease is a multisystemic recurrent inflammatory disease. Gastrointestinal tract involvement in Behçet's disease has been identified throughout the alimentary tract and causes diverse symptoms. Various treatment have been utilized to induce or maintain remission. However, little is known about clinical course and prognosis in Behçet's disease with intestinal involvement. The aims of this study were to evaluate the clinical course and relapse rate in intestinal Behçet's disease and to investigate factors that may affect relapse. Methods, Clinical course and characteristics, including demographic parameters, gastrointestinal symptoms as well as systemic manifestations, laboratory data, endoscopic findings, and treatment strategies for the induction of remission, of 97 patients (49 male, 48 female) with intestinal Behçet's disease were retrospectively reviewed. Cumulative relapse free rate and factors related with relapse were analysed by Kaplan,Meier method and log,rank test, respectively. Results, The median duration of the relapse free period was 7 months (ranges from 1 to 171 months). One, two, and five year relapse free rates were 41.2, 29.7 and 10.2%, respectively. Sex, clinical subtype of Behçet's disease, symptom and laboratory data at onset, colonoscopic findings, such as distribution of lesions as well as number, size, depth, and shape of ulcer, and initial treatment (medical vs. surgical) did not affect relapse rate. However, large ulcers (> 20 mm) and young age at onset (< 37 years old) were factors significantly related with higher relapse rate (P < 0.05, log,rank test). Conclusion, High relapse rate in intestinal Behçet's disease was identified. Age at onset and size of the ulcer are factors related with long-term prognosis of intestinal Behçet's disease. [source]


Is there an easier way to autograft skin in chronic leg ulcers? ,Minced micrografts', a new technique

JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY & VENEREOLOGY, Issue 10 2008
P Boggio
Abstract Background Chronic venous leg ulcers represent an urgent and increasing problem for public health. The use of skin autografts results in a greater therapeutic success in healing chronic ulcers. Objective A simple method of skin autografting that could permit a wider use of skin grafts in outpatients is needed. A new technique allowing skin autografting in a simple one-step process, without complex surgical procedures or expensive technical supplies, is presented. Methods A small, full-thickness skin specimen taken from the patient is finely minced and spread on his leg ulcer bed allowing to cover a surface many times wider than the sample itself. Results This method induces faster re-epithelization of chronic leg ulcers that failed to heal despite good conservative local therapy and give the possibility to repair very large ulcers with small fragments of skin. A clinical case is shown as an example out of 20 ulcers we recently treated. Conclusion Our preliminary report shows that this technique results in a greater therapeutic success (18 of 20 cases) in healing chronic leg ulcers, a common pathology that often affects outpatients treated for very long periods at home or in the Dermatologist's office. In our experience, this new and successful reparative possibility makes ,mince grafting' a recommendable procedure. [source]