Two familial cases of perianal streptococcal dermatitis.

Two cases of perianal streptococcal dermatitis (PSD) occurred in a brother and sister, aged 4 and 6 years, respectively. The diagnosis was confirmed by the detection of group A beta-hemolytic streptococci in the perineal area and pharynx of both patients. We emphasize the importance of a quick and accurate diagnosis of the infection because PSD is frequently confused with other perianal diseases of infancy.

Hepatocellular carcinoma: comparison between liver transplantation, resective surgery, ethanol injection, and chemoembolization.

Between January 1989 and June 1997, 533 patients (423 male, 110 female, mean age 61 years, range 22-89 years) with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were observed at our center. We report on 419 patients retrospectively compared for different treatments: liver transplantation (LT; 55 patients), resective surgery (RS; 41 patients), transarterial chemoembolization (TACE; 171 patients) and percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI; 152 patients). The 3- and 5-year actuarial survival rates were, respectively, 72% and 68% for LT, 64 and 44% for RS, 54 and 36% for PEI, and 32 and 22% for TACE.

[Mesenteric venous hypertension in an adolescent with common ileocolic mesentery].

The case of a twelve year-old boy suffering from "common ileocolic mesentery" with surgical finding of very serious splanchnic venous dilatation is presented. Mesenteric arteriography was the most useful test for diagnosis. The surgical technique has been compared with that described by other Authors.

[Tibio-fibular graft as a treatment of non-union of the tibia (author's transl)].

The authors have reviewed 47 cases of septic non-union of the tibia treated by tibio-fibular graft, Bone union was obtained in 31 cases, 2 limbs were amputated and 13 tibiae were united after another procedure. In 17 cases the grafts were performed in the presence of a discharging sinus. These cases did as well as any others.

Prevalence of hepatitis B markers (HBsAg and HBsAb) in women screened at time of delivery.

Two thousand women were screened at the time of delivery for two hepatitis B markers, surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody (HBsAb), in order to determine prevalence rates, define high-risk groups and estimate the cost-efficiency of routine screening. It was found that 2.2% of the women were HBsAg positive and 32% of a 20% subsample were HBsAb positive.

[Assay of antithrombin III and soluble fibrin complexes in the study of blood thrombophilia (author's transl)].

The authors conducted a series of experiments concerning the condition of hypercoagulability of patients with a history of thrombosis, in view of determining whether or not the risk of thrombosis could be assessed by laboratory tests. To that end they assayed antithrombin iii activity and soluble fibrin complexes in their test subjects. Antithrombin activity was assayed by a chromogenic method; soluble fibrin complexes by the hemoagglutination test.