No description available.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 1997. / 3 articles written by the author in pocket. Includes bibliographical references (leaf 154-186).

Includes bibliographical references. / Introduction: High numbers of granulomata have been identified on kidney biopsy at Groote Schuur Hospital in HIV positive patients. In the literature granulomatous interstitial nephritis (GIN) is most commonly attributed to sarcoid and drug reactions and occurs in 0.5- 1.37% of kidney biopsies. Current data is only from developed countries and rarely in HIV positive individuals. As our yield of GIN appeared high we retrospectively reviewed the established HIV database of kidney biopsies to establish the likely causes of this histological finding in our HIV positive population. An extensive literature review was also performed with the intention of developing a diagnostic, and therapeutic, algorithm applicable to GIN in a South African setting. Subjects and Methods: A database of 370 HIV positive kidney biopsies dating from January 2005 was retrospectively reviewed. All patients with GIN on kidney biopsy were analysed. Medication history, creatinine, urine protein/creatinine ratio, CD4 count and serological evidence of vasculitis were recorded. A radiological evaluation and search for positive TB cultures was performed. Patients were divided according to the likely aetiology of GIN, ranging from least to most likely TB-GIN, together with the likelihood of a druginduced or ascending infection-related aetiology. Mortality data was obtained from reviewing the Clinicom system and patient records. Ethics was granted from the UCT ethics committee. Results: 45 patients (12.2%) had evidence of (GIN). 26 (57.8%) were female. Median age was 33 years (IQR 29-37). TB-GIN was likely in 62.2% of patients .Median CD4 was 126 cells/mm3 (IQR 54-237). There were 6 cases of possible paradoxical TB IRIS identified. [median CD4 count of 74 cells/mm3 (IQR 36-170)]. 49% of patients were on a drug implicated in GIN, with 11% on >1 drug [The most common drug being cotrimoxazole]. 6 patients had evidence of ascending infection. No patients had vasculitis.14/45 (31%) patients died on follow up with a median time to death of 119 days (IQR 30-444 days). Interpretation: GIN is common in our HIV population. TB is the most likely cause however other aetiologies require consideration, especially drugs. TB IRIS should be considered if cART has been recently initiated and the CD4 count is low. A proposed diagnostic algorithm was developed as part of this study, together with treatment guidelines. Further research is needed to evaluate the utility of these in a clinical setting.

published_or_final_version / Paediatrics / Master / Master of Philosophy

No description available.

INTRODUCTION: Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) is becoming more commonly recognized and reported more often. Currently, many recommend corticosteroids in its management. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 34-year-old G3P2 Hispanic female, 28 weeks pregnant, presented with a 19 cm right breast mass. She had a known prolactinoma treated with bromocriptine which was discontinued during her pregnancy. Ultrasound guided core biopsy procedure revealed granulomatous mastitis. The patient was told that the mass would resolve with observation. The patient seen at another institution by an infectious disease specialist who started treatment with amphotericin for presumptive disseminated coccidioidomycosis. Repeated titers were negative for coccidioides antibody. Repeat cultures were negative as well. Due to the persistence of the infectious disease specialist, tissue cultures were performed on fresh tissue specimens, which did not grow bacterial, fungal, nor acid fast organisms. The amphotericin regimen resulted in no improvement of her breast mass after 10 weeks. Within two weeks of stopping the antifungal therapy, however, the mass diminished to 6 cm. The patient delivered at 39 weeks. Bromocriptine was restarted, and within 4 weeks, the lesion was no longer palpable. She had not shown signs of recurrence for 32 months. DISCUSSION: Treatment recommendations for IGM vary widely but antibiotics and antifungal medications are not recommended. Corticosteroid treatment is most commonly recommended, however, outcomes may not be different from management with observation. Prolactin may be involved in the pathophysiology of the process. CONCLUSION: IGM is becoming recognized more frequently. Observation and patience with natural history can be an effective management. (C) 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. on behalf of Surgical Associates Ltd.

No description available.

Proefschrift Universiteit van Amsterdam. / Met lit. opg. - Met een samenvatting in het Nederlands.

No description available.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment for the Degree of Master of Medicine In the branch of Anatomical Pathology Johannesburg 2015 / Background: Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) poses a major global health problem. According to the World Health Organization, South Africa is a country with one of the highest reported incidence rates of this disease. Key to overcoming this preventable and treatable disease lies in establishing a reliable and rapid diagnostic approach. Aims and Objectives: This study aims to investigate the validity of the mycobacterium polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay applied to formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue in which the histology showed granulomatous inflammation with no demonstrable acid-fast bacilli. Methods: A retrospective, cross sectional and non-interventional study was conducted on 121 histopathology cases showing granulomatous inflammation with a negative Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) stain. The mycobacterium PCR results obtained in these cases were compared against the results of mycobacterium culture obtained from a specimen derived from the same or related site as the biopsy. Results: The mean age of the study population was 35.3 years and the study cohort included 63 males and 58 females. The sensitivity of nested mycobacterium PCR (detecting the 133 base pair product of the heat shock protein 65 kilo Dalton gene), was 64.1% and the specificity was 68.2%. The positive and negative predictive values were 49% and 80% respectively. Twenty six of the 121 cases studied had a false positive result (21.5%). CONCLUSION: There are many factors that may influence the result of a PCR assay and the interpretation thereof. Some of these factors include the inability of the test to distinguish between live and dead bacilli, the high risk of carry over contamination, and the paucibacillary nature of certain samples with an unequal distribution of the few bacilli that may be present. Although the sensitivity and specificity of mycobacterium PCR on paucibacillary, formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded tissue is suboptimal, the interpretation of these results must be performed in conjunction with the overall clinical presentation of the patient. / MT2016