Objective] To investigate the clinical features of amebic liver abscess, the causes of misdignosis and the effect of medical and surgical therapy on patient′s prognosis. [Methods] The clinical features of 36 patients with amebic liver abscess admitted from 1982 to 1997 in our hospital were retrospectively reviewed. [Results] The major clinical manifestations were: abdominal pain (86 1%), fever (86 1%),hepatomegaly with tenderness (83 3%) and right intercostal tenderness(58 3%). Leukocytosis was observed in 61 1%, and increased of ESR in 88 5% (23/28). Serologies against Entamoeba histolytica were noted in 92 6%. Ultrasonography showed single lesions in 75% and right\|lobe involvement in 75%. All patients were treated with metronidazole and 27 patients received treatment with needle aspiration or draining at the same time. After treatment, 10 patients were cured, 25 patients were improved significantly and effective rate was 97 2%. One patient died of hepatic failure. [Conclusion] Medical therapy alone was excellent for small abscesses, while percutaneous needle aspiration or draining was a successful approach in patients with large abscesses.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics of tuberculosis (TB) first presenting as fever of unknown origin (FUO). Methods The clinical data of 100 cases of FUO, diagnosed as TB finally, among in-patients in Peking Union Medical College Hospital were analyzed retrospectively.Results ( 1 ) Sites of TB: there were 39 patients with merely pulmonary TB, 28 patients with merely extrapulmonary TB, and 33 patients with both pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB. (2) Clinical manifestations: depending on the different sites of tuberculous lesion, the clinical symptoms varied accordingly. The common laboratory findings included anemia, hypoalbuminemia, elevation of the level of ESR and C-reactive protein (CRP). (3) Methods for diagnosis: 34 cases were diagnosed by sputum smearor cultivation-positive for acid-fast bacilli; 8 cases by histopathology; 49 cases by clinical diagnosis of TB with an effective anti-TB therapy; and 9 cases by effective diagnostic anti-TB therapy. (4) Responses to treatment: among 73 cases with complete follow-up data, only 2 cases (2. 7% ) died and the other cases were cured or alleviated. Fifty-five cases (77.5%) showed marked efficacy after less than 4 weeks of regular anti-TB therapy, 37 cases ( 52. 1% ) suffered adverse effects of anti-TB agents, and all of them had improved after modifying anti-TB therapy and supporting treatment. Conclusions The diagnosis of TB that presents as FUO is quite difficult, and the median interval time for making diagnosis is 14 weeks (3-77weeks). Investigating clinical manifestations comprehensively, reviewing radiology data carefully, and eliciting microbiological and pathologic evidence of TB, are extremely important for making the correct diagnosis. In some cases, a therapeatic trial of anti-TB therapy is necessary.

Objective To report the clinical characteristics of prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE).Methods All 25 cases of definite PVE (Duke criteria) diagnosed at our hospital between January 1992 to December 2008 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 7 cases were pathologically confirmed and the others were clinically confirmed with either 2 major criteria or 1 major and ≥3 minor criteria. Their clinical characteristics, underlying heart diseases, previous heart operations, presenting manifestations, causative microbes, echocardiographic findings and prognosis, were studied. Results (1) Although most cases underwent valve transplantations for underlying heart diseases of rheumatic heart diseases and congenital heart diseases, 10 patients were complicated with infectious endocarditis (IE) prior to the operations, 4 of them were PVE. (2) Eleven of them developed PVE within 2 months postoperatively. Fever (100%),major vessel embolism (48%), and anemia (36%) were the most frequently manifestations. Fourteen cases (56%) had positive culture results with 15 causative pathogens, including 5 coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CNS, 3 were methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, MRSCoN), 4 fungi, 2Enterococcus faecalis, 2 Burkholderia cepacia, 1 Stenotrophomonasmal-tophilia, and 1 Streptococcus.(3)Prosthetic valve vegetations, periannular leakage, regurgitation, were the main echocardiographic findings.Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) revealed 13 PVE who had no positive findings on previous transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). (4) Eighteen PVE (72%) developed peri-annular complications (12 leakage, 3 dehiscence, 2 abscesses, 1 fistula), major vessel embolism, congestive heart failure (16%) were frequently observed, 9 of the 17 patients died in hospital, in spite of intensive managements.Conclusions PVE has a high mortality and is a severe complication for patients who underwent heart surgery. Its causative pathogen spectrum is quite different from that of native valve endocarditis. TTE is not sensitive for some PVE cases.