Purple urine bag syndrome is characterized by the urinary drainage bag turning purple in patients on prolonged urinary catheterization, especially those in the bedridden state. It is associated with bacterial urinary tract infections caused by indigo-producing and indirubin-producing bacteria, usually affects women, and is associated with alkaline urine, constipation, and a high bacterial load in the urine. Almost all patients with purple urine bag syndrome are catheterized due to significant disability, and the urinary pH is 7.0 or more. In general, intensive treatment with antibiotics is not recommended. Purple urine bag syndrome per se almost always appears to be asymptomatic and harmless. However, caution is needed, because some cases have been reported to show progression to severe disease states, so further research into the morbidity and mortality of this infection is warranted.

Abstract.Cryoglobulins are immunoglobulins that precipitate at low temperatures and redissolve upon rewarming. Cryoglobulinemia refers to the presence of circulating cryoglobulins in serum, and generally leads to a systemic inflammatory syndrome characterized by fatigue, arthralgia, purpura, neuropathy and glomerulonephritis. The disease mainly involves small to medium-sized blood vessels and causes vasculitis due to cryoglobulin-containing immune complexes. Cryoglobulinemia is classified into three types (I, II and III) on the basis of immunoglobulin composition. Predisposing conditions include lymphoproliferative disease, collagen disease and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The diagnosis of cryoglobulinemic syndrome is predominantly based on the laboratory demonstration of serum cryoglobulins. Treatment is often directed towards the underlying disease state. For patients with chronic HCV infection, anti-viral therapy is indicated. Intense immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory therapy, including steroids, plasmapheresis and cytotoxic agents, is reserved for organ-threatening or recalcitrant disease. In this review, we discuss the clinical characteristics of the three types of cryoglobulinemia.

No abstract

BackgroundA placental polyp is an intrauterine polypoid mass or pedunculated mass occurring from residual trophoblastic tissue following abortion, cesarean section or vaginal delivery. Recently uterine preservation surgery represented by transcervical resection (TCR) has been performed for placental polyps. However TCR without intravascular intervention, including uterine artery embolization (UAE) may cause profound bleeding which necessitate emergency laparotomy.MethodsSeventeen cases of placental polyp were retrospectively examined. We divided cases into two groups: strong vascularity group (n = 13) and weak vascularity group (n = 4). Mass extraction of polyp by TCR was conducted in 16 cases, 6 case without UAE and 10 cases with UAE.ResultsAs for the weak vascularity group, one case was naturally resolved while planning surgery and 3 cases were treated with TCR without UAE without major intra- and/or postoperative bleeding. On the other hand in the strong vascularity group, 2 out of 3 cases of TCR without UAE resulted in major bleeding during and after the surgery, both needed transfusion and one needing postoperative UAE. Ten cases of strong vascularity group, TCR with UAE were performed and all of them were accomplished without major bleeding. TCR without UAE was safely performed in cases where there was absent or mild to moderate blood flow.ConclusionsOur report suggests that adding UAE might be safer to treat placental polyps that have strong vascularity.

The present authors analyzed patients' backgrounds and pre-surgical findings to clarify the risk factors of rupture of fallopian tubal pregnancy. The surgical findings 113 cases were clearly diagnosed as fallopian tubal pregnancy with or without rupture. Twenty-six cases of fallopian tubal pregnancy were ruptured and 87 cases were not ruptured at the time of operation. The risk factors of fallopian tubal rupture were assessed by Chi-square for independence test and multiple regression analysis. Obesity (BMI over 26), prior birth history, social welfare entitlement, ultrasonography findings of fetal heart movement, and pre-surgical serum beta-hCG level more than 3,000 mIU/ml patient were significantly higher risk in fallopian tubal rupture. Fertility treatment patient were at significantly lower risk for fallopian tubal rupture. Higher beta-hCG levels, especially >3,000 mIU/ml is associated with increased risk of fallopian tubal rupture in ectopic pregnancy.