A Decade of Antimicrobial Resistance in Human and Animal Campylobacter spp. Isolates.

Objectives: Campylobacter spp. remain a leading cause of bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide, with resistance to antibiotics posing significant challenges to treatment and public health. This study examines profiles in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) for Campylobacter isolates from human and animal sources over the past decade. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive review of resistance data from studies spanning ten years, analyzing profiles in resistance to key antibiotics, ciprofloxacin (CIP), tetracycline (TET), erythromycin (ERY), chloramphenicol (CHL), and gentamicin (GEN). Data were collated from various regions to assess global and regional patterns of resistance. Results: The analysis reveals a concerning trend of increasing resistance patterns, particularly to CIP and TET, across multiple regions. While resistance to CHL and GEN remains relatively low, the high prevalence of CIP resistance has significantly compromised treatment options for campylobacteriosis. Discrepancies in resistance patterns were observed between human and animal isolates, with variations across different continents and countries. Notably, resistance to ERY and CHL showed regional variability, reflecting potential differences in antimicrobial usage and management practices. Conclusions: The findings underscore the ongoing challenge of AMR in Campylobacter, highlighting the need for continued surveillance and research. The rising resistance prevalence, coupled with discrepancies in resistance patterns between human and animal isolates, emphasize the importance of a One Health approach to address AMR. Enhanced monitoring, novel treatment strategies, and global cooperation are crucial for mitigating the impact of resistance and ensuring the effective management of Campylobacter-related infections.

The Role of Amide Proton Transfer (APT)-Weighted Imaging in Glioma: Assessment of Tumor Grading, Molecular Profile and Survival in Different Tumor Components.

Amide Proton Transfer-weighted (APTw) imaging is a molecular MRI technique used to quantify protein concentrations in gliomas, which have heterogeneous components with varying cellularity and metabolic activity. This study aimed to assess the correlation between the component-specific APT signal of the neoplasm and WHO grade, molecular profile and survival status. Sixty-one patients with adult-type diffuse gliomas were retrospectively analyzed. APT values were semi-automatically extracted from tumor solid and, whenever present, necrotic components. APT values were compared between groups stratified by WHO grade, IDH-mutation, MGMT promoter methylation and 1- and 2-year survival status using Wilcoxon rank-sum test, adjusting for multiple comparisons. Overall survival (OS) was analyzed in the subgroup of 48 patients with grade 4 tumors using Cox proportional-hazards models. Random-effects models were used to assess inter-subject heterogeneity of the mean APT values in each tumor component. APT values of the solid component significantly differed between patients with grades 2-3 and 4 tumors (mean 1.58 ± 0.50 vs. 2.04 ± 0.56, p = 0.028) and correlated with OS after 1 year (1.81 ± 0.58 in survivors vs. 2.17 ± 0.51 in deceased patients, p = 0.030). APT values did not differ by IDH-mutation, MGMT methylation, and 2-year survival status. Within grade 4 glioma patients, higher APT kurtosis of the solid component was a negative prognostic factor (hazard ratio = 1.60, p = 0.040). Mean APT values of the necrosis showed high inter-subject variability, although most necrotic tumors were grade 4 and IDH wildtype. In conclusion, APTw imaging in the solid component provided metrics associated with glioma grade and survival status but showed weak correlation with IDH-mutation and MGMT promoter methylation status, in contrast to previous works. Further research is needed to understand APT signal variability within the necrotic component of high-grade gliomas.

Vitrectomy as an Adjunct to Treat-and-Extend Anti-VEGF Injections for Diabetic Macular Edema: The Vitrectomy in Diabetic Macular Oedema (VIDEO) Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: There are reported benefits from vitrectomy for diabetic macular edema (DME); however, data precede anti-vascular endothelial growth therapy (VEGF) therapy, supporting a need to assess the current role of vitrectomy. Objective: To determine rates of recruitment and efficacy outcomes of vitrectomy plus internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling adjunctive to treat-and-extend (T&E) anti-VEGF injections for diabetic macular edema (DME). Design, Setting, and Participants: This was a single-masked, multicenter randomized clinical trial at 21 sites in the United Kingdom from June 2018 to January 2021, evaluating single eyes of treatment-naive patients with symptomatic vision loss from DME for less than 1 year. Inclusion criteria were best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study letter score greater than 35 (approximate Snellen equivalent, 20/200 or better) and central subfield thickness (CST) greater than 350 µm after 3 monthly intravitreal injections of ranibizumab or aflibercept. Data analysis was performed in July 2023. Interventions: Patients were randomized 1:1 into vitrectomy plus standard care or standard care alone and further stratified into groups with vs without vitreomacular interface abnormality. Both groups received a T&E anti-VEGF injection regimen with aflibercept, 2 mg, or ranibizumab, 0.5 mg. The vitrectomy group additionally underwent pars plana vitrectomy with epiretinal membrane or ILM peel within 1 month of randomization. Main Outcomes and Measures: Rate of recruitment and distance BCVA. Secondary outcome measures were CST, change in BCVA and CST, number of injections, rate of completed follow-up, and withdrawal rate. Results: Over 32 months, 47 of a planned 100 patients were enrolled; 42 (89%; mean [SD] age, 63 [11] years; 26 [62%] male) completed 12-month follow-up visits. Baseline characteristics appeared comparable between the control (n = 23; mean [SD] age, 66 [10] years) and vitrectomy (n = 24; mean [SD] age, 62 [12] years) groups. No difference in 12-month BCVA was noted between groups, with a 12-month median (IQR) BCVA letter score of 73 (65-77) letters (Snellen equivalent, 20/40) in the control group vs 77 (67-81) letters (Snellen equivalent, 20/32) in the vitrectomy group (difference, 4 letters; 95% CI, -8 to 2; P = .24). There was no difference in BCVA change from baseline (median [IQR], -1 [-3 to 2] letters for the control group vs -2 [-8 to 2] letters for the vitrectomy group; difference, 1 letter; 95% CI, -5 to 7; P = .85). No difference was found in CST changes (median [IQR], -94 [-122 to 9] µm for the control group vs -32 [-48 to 25] µm for the vitrectomy group; difference, 62 µm; 95% CI, -110 to 11; P = .11). Conclusions and Relevance: Enrollment goals could not be attained. However, with 47 participants, evidence did not support a clinical benefit of vitrectomy plus ILM peeling as an adjunct to a T&E regimen of anti-VEGF therapy for DME. Trial Registration: isrctn.org Identifier: ISRCTN59902040.

Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia coli Accumulated by Freshwater Bivalves: An Underestimated Risk for Public Health?

As bioindicators, freshwater bivalves are crucial for the assessment of the contamination impact on different levels of biological integration. Escherichia coli is used as a bioindicator of water fecal contamination, representing a critical global concern, especially with the rise of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains. Phylogenetic diversity, pathotypic characterization, and antibiotic resistance profiles of E. coli isolated from freshwater bivalves (Anodonta anatina) were assessed. Samples were collected from the Tua River in Northern Portugal, from two different sites, Chelas and Barcel, representing different degrees of contamination. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by the disk diffusion method, and characterizations of the phylogenetic groups and pathotypes were assessed by PCR-multiplex and real-time PCR-multiplex, respectively. Results showed that 60% of isolates were characterized as MDR, including resistance to carbapenems, considered the last resort against multidrug-resistant bacteria. Within this study, it was also possible to verify the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profile differences between the two sampling sites, with bivalve isolates from the Chelas site showing a higher percentage of antibiotic resistance. Among the E. coli isolates, the highest prevalence (55%) was observed in group B1, followed by group D or E (15%), group A (10%), and group E or Clade I (10%). None of the isolates were classified as diarrheagenic E. coli (DEC). This work highlights the potential transmission of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria through bivalves in the food chain. The 'One Health' approach is crucial for combating antimicrobial resistance, namely in edible freshwater species, emphasizing active surveillance to protect human, animal, and environmental health against the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in aquatic environments.

Temporal evolution of primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS) on MRI following immunosuppressant treatment.

PURPOSE: To systematically analyse the time course of vessel wall enhancement and associated stenosis in patients with primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS) following immunosuppressive therapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two neuroradiologists retrospectively analysed MRIs of patients with PACNS seen at the Bern University Hospital and the St. Gallen Cantonal Hospital between 2015 and 2020. MRIs were examined for the presence of vessel wall enhancement, length of vessel wall enhancement (mm), circumferential extent of enhancement (degree) and degree of stenosis (%). Descriptive statistics and measurements of interobserver reliability were obtained. To investigate the temporal profiles of the variables following the commencement of immunosuppressant treatment, four series of Bayesian generalised multi-level models were generated. RESULTS: A total of 23 patients with 43 affected vessels identified from 209 MRI exams were evaluated (mean follow-up: 715 days, standard deviation ± 487 days), leading to a complete dataset of 402 entries. Vessel wall enhancement and circumferential extent of enhancement decreased for approximately 1 year after the initiation of immunosuppressant therapy. Changes were more pronounced in younger patients. Disappearance of vessel wall enhancement (in at least one vessel) was seen in about half of patients after a median of 172 days interquartile range 113-244, minimum 54 days, maximum 627 days. CONCLUSIONS: This study evaluated the typical time course of vessel wall enhancement in patients with PACNS. Our results could be a useful reference for radiologists and clinicians interpreting follow-up imaging in patients with PACNS. CRITICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Routine clinical exams can be interpreted with more confidence when radiologists are aware of the typical temporal evolution of vessel wall enhancement in patients with primary angiitis of the central nervous system after initiation of immunosuppressive therapy. KEY POINTS: Few data exist for vessel wall imaging of primary angiitis of the central nervous system. Following immunosuppressant therapy, vessel wall enhancement decreases for approximately one year. These results may serve as a reference for radiologists performing follow-up imaging.

Shoulder, arm, and elbow injuries in soccer players.

Soccer is a global widespread sport with a high injury rate, mostly to the lower limbs. Even though upper limb injuries are much less common among soccer players, their prevalence has increased in recent years. This is due to several reasons/factors, including new and more aggressive tactics, a rise in the number of younger players with different levels of skeletal maturation, and due to the growth of women's participation in sports, which is in line with the fast progression in the degree of professionalism in women's soccer. This review paper aims to (a) describe the most common injuries in the shoulder, arm, and elbow in soccer players and (b) to show the role of different imaging modalities in diagnosing upper extremity injuries that can occur in this sport. Familiarity with these injuries and their mechanisms will lead to a quicker diagnosis and correct reporting of imaging of soccer players.

Diagnostic performance of long head of biceps tendon tears on MRI: systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this meta-analysis was to determine the diagnostic performance of conventional MRI and MR arthrography for tendinosis, and partial and complete tears of the long head of the biceps tendon (LHBT) using arthroscopy as the reference standard. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review was performed using predefined data fields in PubMed, and all articles published from January 2000 up to April 2022 were retrospectively pooled and reviewed. Six MRI studies on complete tear (n = 555) and ten studies on partial tear/tendinosis (n = 2487) were included in the analysis. Two of the included studies in each group investigated the use of MR arthrography. The data sets were analyzed using a univariate approach with the DerSimonian and Laird random effects model and the proportional hazards model. RESULTS: MRI shows high specificities in diagnosing complete tears of the LHBT ranging from 93.0 to 99.0%. Diagnostic sensitivity was more heterogeneous ranging from 55.9 to 90.0%. The overall negative likelihood ratio was 0.29 (95% CI: 0.17-0.50) and the overall positive likelihood ratio was 37.3 (95% CI: 11.9-117.4). The mean sensitivity in diagnosing partial tear/tendinosis of the LHBT was 67.8% (95% CI: 54.3-78.9%) and the specificity was 75.9% (95% CI: 63.6-85.0%), resulting in a balanced accuracy of 71.9%. The overall negative likelihood ratio was 0.44 (95% CI: 0.32-0.59) and the overall positive likelihood ratio was 2.64 (95% CI: 1.91-3.65). CONCLUSION: MRI is highly specific for the diagnosis of complete tears of the LHBT, whereas diagnostic sensitivity was more heterogeneous. The diagnosis of partial tears and/or tendinosis of the LHBT remains challenging on MRI, which may warrant complementary clinical examination or other imaging modalities to increase diagnostic confidence in equivocal cases. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Conventional MRI and MR arthrography have high diagnostic performance for complete tendon tear when compared to arthroscopy. The diagnosis of tendinosis/partial tears remains challenging and may require comparison with clinical tests and other imaging modalities. KEY POINTS: •There is no clear consensus regarding the primary imaging modality for the evaluation of LHBT disorders. •Conventional MRI and MR arthrography are highly specific in diagnosing complete tears of the LHBT. •Diagnosis of partial tears/tendinosis of the LHBT on conventional MRI and MR arthrography remains a diagnostic challenge.

Endovascular Treatment of Brain Arteriovenous Malformations in Pediatric Patients: A Single Center Experience and Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: Brain arteriovenous malformations (bAVMs) are abnormal vascular connections with direct arteriovenous shunts, generally symptomatic in the adult life. However, a small number of bAVMs may manifest in pediatric patients, with higher bleeding risk and mortality rates when compared to adults. The purpose of this study is to review our experience with endovascular treatment of bAVMs in pediatric patients. METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of all bAVMs in pediatric patients (0-18 years) who underwent diagnostic digital subtraction angiography (DSA) at our institution from January 2010 to June 2021. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients met the inclusion criteria, of which 12 underwent endovascular treatment. Treated patients had a mean age of 10.25 years and 58% were females. Complete angiographic exclusion was achieved in five (42%) patients with endovascular treatment. Five patients with residual bAVM after embolization needed adjuvant therapy with surgery (n = 3) or stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS; n = 2). Two patients are still undergoing embolization sessions. Procedure-related complications occurred in two patients (17%) and included small vessel perforation and an occipital ischemic stroke. Two patients showed bAVM recurrence on follow-up (17%) and subsequently underwent SRS (n = 1) or surgery (n = 1), both resulting in complete bAVM exclusion. All patients had a modified Rankin scale (mRS) score of 0 to 2 on follow-up. CONCLUSION: Our experience supports the effectiveness and safety of endovascular treatment of bAVM in selected pediatric patients. A multidisciplinary approach combining surgery and SRS is warranted to achieve higher complete bAVM obliteration rates. Long-term follow-up is important as these lesions may show recurrence over time, especially in the pediatric population.

A Rare Case Report of Intraventricular Anaplastic Pleomorphic Xanthoastrocytoma.

We describe a rare case of a 33-year-old man presenting with a three-day history of dizziness and memory impairment. On clinical examination, he had a wide-based gait and postural instability. Laboratory tests were unremarkable. The patient underwent a CT scan, which showed an intraventricular heterogeneous mass, with calcifications. An MRI scan was performed, revealing a well-defined intraventricular lesion, with cystic and necrotic areas, hemorrhagic components, areas of restricted diffusion, and a peripheral solid component with post-contrast enhancement. This lesion was ultimately diagnosed as an anaplastic form of pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (PXA) (WHO grade 3). Prototypical PXA is a rare low-grade astrocytic tumor, almost always hemispheric. To our knowledge, this is only the third case report to describe an intraventricular PXA. Anaplastic forms of PXA have a more aggressive behavior and should be distinguished from other high-grade astrocytic neoplasms, especially from glioblastoma, isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-wildtype variants (GB). Histopathological features of anaplastic forms of PXA (WHO grade 3) with epithelioid features are very similar to those of epithelioid glioblastoma and its differentiation is a common diagnostic challenge that should prompt genetic testing. Distinguishing between these two entities is crucial since the former is associated with significantly more survival benefits from targeted therapies (MAPK pathway inhibitors).

Diagnostic imaging strategies of acute intracerebral hemorrhage in European academic hospitals-a decision-making analysis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate and compare which factors are relevant to the diagnostic decision-making and imaging workup of intracerebral hemorrhages in large, specialized European centers. METHODS: Expert neuroradiologists from ten large, specialized centers (where endovascular stroke treatment is routinely performed) in nine European countries were selected in cooperation with the European Society of Neuroradiology (ESNR). The experts were asked to describe how and when they would investigate specific causes in a patient who presented with an acute, atraumatic, intracerebral hemorrhage for two given locations: (1) basal ganglia, thalamus, pons or cerebellum; (2) lobar hemorrhage. Answers were collected, and decision trees were compared. RESULTS: Criteria that were considered relevant for decision-making reflect recommendations from current guidelines and were similar in all participating centers. CT Angiography or MR angiography was considered essential by the majority of centers regardless of other factors. Imaging in clinical practice tended to surpass guideline recommendations and was heterogeneous among different centers, e.g., in a scenario suggestive of typical hypertensive hemorrhage, recommendations ranged from no further follow-up imaging to CT angiography and MR angiography. In no case was a consensus above 60% achieved. CONCLUSION: In European clinical practices, existing guidelines for diagnostic imaging strategies in ICH evaluation are followed as a basis but in most cases, additional imaging investigation is undertaken. Significant differences in imaging workup were observed among the centers. Results suggest a high level of awareness and caution regarding potentially underlying pathology other than hypertensive disease.

Occurrence and seasonality of Campylobacter spp. in Portuguese dairy farms.

The growing idea that natural products are better for consumption is creating behaviors that can lead to food safety problems and an increase of healthcare costs. One of the trending products is raw milk, which in some countries is sold by vending machines outside dairy farms. Campylobacteriosis is the most common gastrointestinal infection in humans in the European Union since 2005. Several outbreaks have been associated with the consumption of raw milk contaminated with Campylobacter spp. In the present study, the occurrence and seasonality of Campylobacter spp. in raw cow's milk were determined. Other samples from the dairy farm environment were also analyzed to understand the possible routes of contamination. The study was conducted from November 2020 to September 2021 in randomly selected dairy farms located in northern Portugal. One liter of milk was collected from bulk cooling tanks transported to the laboratory and analyzed within 24 h. Campylobacter spp. detection and identification were performed using real-time PCR methodology and confirmation followed ISO standards. From 100 dairy farms evaluated, the occurrence of Campylobacter spp. was estimated at 4.0 % in raw cow's milk samples. In the samples from the environment of the farms, only contaminated fecal samples were found, corresponding to an occurrence of 4.2 %. Positivity was observed in summer months. The results of this study indicate the potential risk of campylobacteriosis after the consumption of raw milk. Consumers who seek raw milk for health reasons should be aware of the risk, especially if they belong to vulnerable groups. Moreover, it raises the question of how climate change will impact food safety, suggesting that routine surveillance for zoonotic pathogens should be implemented in dairy farms.

Cerebral Toxoplasmosis as an Uncommon Complication of Biologic Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Toxoplasmosis is one of the most common opportunistic infections, mainly reported in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have also been linked to reactivation of toxoplasmosis due to immunosuppressive treatment, although biologic drugs have seldom been implicated. We present a case of cerebral toxoplasmosis in a 62-year-old female patient with RA after initiation of biologic therapy (adalimumab). The patient had detectable serum IgG antibodies to toxoplasma gondii, was also on chronic treatment with other non-biologic drugs and presented with worsening disorientation, unsteady gait and left hemiparesis. Imaging studies showed a space-occupying lesion in the right basal ganglia with ring-enhancement. Brain biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis and the patient was treated with pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine for 6 weeks, showing complete recovery on follow-up. A review of the literature yielded other four case reports of cerebral toxoplasmosis implying biologic drugs; however, data concerning toxoplasmosis serologic testing, prophylaxis and treatment in these patients are lacking. Each case must be carefully evaluated prior to treatment and a high-index of suspicion in seropositive patients is warranted. Since the use of biologic drugs is increasing, further research is needed to establish practical guidelines for seropositive patients receiving immunosuppressive treatment.

Development of a Novel Peptide Nucleic Acid Probe for the Detection of Legionella spp. in Water Samples.

Legionella are opportunistic intracellular pathogens that are found throughout the environment. The Legionella contamination of water systems represents a serious social problem that can lead to severe diseases, which can manifest as both Pontiac fever and Legionnaires' disease (LD) infections. Fluorescence in situ hybridization using nucleic acid mimic probes (NAM-FISH) is a powerful and versatile technique for bacterial detection. By optimizing a peptide nucleic acid (PNA) sequence based on fluorescently selective binding to specific bacterial rRNA sequences, we established a new PNA-FISH method that has been successfully designed for the specific detection of the genus Legionella. The LEG22 PNA probe has shown great theoretical performance, presenting 99.9% specificity and 96.9% sensitivity. We also demonstrated that the PNA-FISH approach presents a good signal-to-noise ratio when applied in artificially contaminated water samples directly on filtration membranes or after cells elution. For water samples with higher turbidity (from cooling tower water systems), there is still the need for further method optimization in order to detect cellular contents and to overcome interferents' autofluorescence, which hinders probe signal visualization. Nevertheless, this work shows that the PNA-FISH approach could be a promising alternative for the rapid (3-4 h) and accurate detection of Legionella.

Prevalence and Diversity of Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcal Enterotoxins in Raw Milk From Northern Portugal.

Staphylococcus aureus and staphylococcal enterotoxins are a serious public health concern associated with hospital and community-acquired illnesses. Dairy animals frequently shed S. aureus into the milk supply which can lead to food poisoning in humans. This study aims to investigate the prevalence and genetic diversity of S. aureus and staphylococcal enterotoxins in raw milk from the main dairy region of mainland Portugal. S. aureus was found in 53.0% (95% CI: 40.6-65.4%) of 100 raw cow's milk samples collected from bulk cooling tanks. The highest contamination level was 3.4 log10 CFU.mL-1, and in some samples more than one S. aureus strain was identified. Staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEA-SEE) were detected in one sample. Spa typing revealed 62 distinct S. aureus isolates, being t529 (17.7%, 95% CI: 8.2-27.3%) and t1403 (16.1%, 95% CI: 7.0-25.3%) the predominant types, commonly associated with livestock infection or carriage. The antimicrobial susceptibility test showed that 35.5% of the S. aureus isolates were resistant to at least one antimicrobial agent, with resistance to penicillin being the highest (32.3%, 95% CI: 20.6-43.9%) followed by tetracycline (24.2%, 95% CI: 13.5-34.9%), ciprofloxacin (16.1%, 95% CI: 7.0-25.3%) and chloramphenicol (16.1%, 95% CI: 7.0-25.3%). Moreover, five isolates (8.1%, 95% CI: 1.3-14.8%) were identified as methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA, cefoxitin resistant). Regarding virulence/resistance genes, 46,8% (95% CI: 34.4-59.2%) isolates harbored at least one enterotoxin-encoding gene, and the seg gene was the most frequently detected (41.9%, 95% CI: 29.7-54.2%) followed by the sei (40.3%, 95% CI: 28.1-52.5%), sec (6.5%, 95% CI: 0.3-12.6%), seh (4.8%, 95% CI: 0.0-10.2%), and sea (1.6%, 95% CI: 0.0-4.7%) genes. Five (8.1%, 95% CI: 1.3-14.8%) non-enterotoxigenic isolates carried the mecA gene (corresponding to isolates phenotypically classified as MRSA), and 4.8% (95% CI: 0.0-10.2%) enterotoxigenic strains also had the tsst-1 gene. Our study confirm that raw milk can be a zoonotic source of S. aureus, including enterotoxigenic and MRSA strains. Furthermore, the majority of enterotoxigenic isolates were found to contain genes encoding SEs (SEG, SEH and SEI) not routinely screened. This shows the need for a broader SE screening in food safety control, as well as the relevance of risk mitigation measures to control S. aureus transmission along the food chain in Portugal.

Endoscopic treatment of spondylodiscitis: systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Spondylodiscitis is a severe condition where standalone antibiotic therapy resolves most cases. In refractory infections, open surgery may aid with infection debulking. However, significant morbidity can occur. Nowadays, endoscopic approaches are emerging as an alternative. However, until now, only small-scale studies exist. Being so, we carried the first systematic review on spondylodiscitis endoscopic debridement indications, technique details, and outcomes. METHODS: Search for all English written original studies approaching the spondylodiscitis endoscopic treatment was performed using PubMed and EBSCO host. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed, and a pre-specified protocol was registered at PROSPERO (CRD42020183657). RESULTS: Fourteen studies involving 342 participants were included for analysis. Data overall quality was fair. Indications for the endoscopic approach were poorly defined. The most consensual indication was refractory infection to conservative treatment. Spinal instability or neurological deficits were common exclusion criteria. All authors described similar techniques, and despite the frequent severe co-morbidities, procedure morbidity was low. Re-interventions were common. Microorganism identification varied from 54.2 to 90.4%. Treatment failure among studies ranged from 0 to 33%. Pain, functional status, and neurological deficits had satisfactory improvement after procedures. CONCLUSIONS: The endoscopic debridement of spondylodiscitis seems to be an effective and safe approach for refractory spondylodiscitis. A novel approach with initial endoscopic infection debulking and antibiotic therapy could improve the success of spondylodiscitis treatment.

Lymphoplasmacyte-rich meningioma: A rare histologic variant of benign meningioma with atypical bone invasion.

Meningiomas are the most common primary intracranial brain tumor and have been divided into 15 histologic subtypes, which are further classified into 3 grades according to biological behavior. Lymphoplasmacyte-rich meningioma is a rare histologic subtype of benign (grade 1) meningiomas characterized by prominent infiltration of plasma cells and lymphocytes, with a variable proportion of meningothelial elements. These benign meningioma variants usually cause significant peritumoral brain edema and mimic higher-grade lesions, which is believed to represent inflammatory cell infiltration rather than true neoplastic invasion. Bone invasion in these tumors is exceedingly rare and its clinical significance remains elusive. We describe the case of a lymphoplasmacyte-rich meningioma with skull invasion and peritumoral brain edema in a 57-year-old female patient presenting with left hemiparesis. Gross total resection of the lesion and adjacent skull were performed and histophatological examination disclosed a lymphoplasmacyte-rich meningioma. Gradual decrease of the parenchymal edema was seen on postoperative imaging studies and the patient showed progressive improvement of the motor deficit. This case report depicts rare bone invasion by lymphoplasmacyte-rich meningioma and highlights the other imaging features of this rare histologic subtype of benign meningioma. Due to the paucity of cases, gross total resection, and long-term follow-up are warranted as the prognosis of these tumors is still not fully understood.

Evaluation of Antimicrobial Resistance of Different Phylogroups of Escherichia coli Isolates from Feces of Breeding and Laying Hens.

Animal and food sources are seen as a potential transmission pathway of multi-drug resistance (MDR) micro-organisms to humans. Escherichia. coli is frequently used as an indicator of fecal contamination in the food industry and known as a reservoir of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). Microbial contamination as a major outcome for the poultry and egg industry and is a serious public health problem. In the present study we performed the quantification of ß-glucoronidase positive E. coli in 60 fecal samples of breeding and laying hens collected in Portugal in 2019. Phylogenetic and pathotypic characterization, antimicrobial susceptibility, and detection of resistant extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL) genes were assessed. The phylogenetic and pathogenic characterization and detection of ESBL genes were assessed by real-time PCR and antimicrobial susceptibility was evaluated using the disk diffusion method. Overall, E. coli quantification was 6.03 log CFU/g in breeding hens and 6.02 log CFU/g in laying hens. The most frequent phylogroups were B1. None of the isolates was classified as diarrheagenic E. coli (DEC). In total, 57% of the isolates showed MDR and 3.8% were positive for ESBL. Our study highlights that consumers may be exposed to MDR E. coli, presenting a major hazard to food safety and a risk to public health.

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting in acute stroke caused by basilar artery steno-occlusive disease: The experience of a single stroke centre.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting in acute stroke due to severe basilar artery stenosis or basilar artery occlusion remain a matter of debate. The higher risk of stroke recurrence in patients with vertebrobasilar stenosis compared to anterior circulation atherosclerotic disease creates high expectations concerning endovascular approaches. This study aims to review our experience with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting in acute stroke caused by basilar artery steno-occlusive disease. METHODS: Our prospective database from June 2014 until December 2020 was screened and patients with acutely symptomatic severe (>80%) basilar artery stenosis or acute basilar artery occlusion who underwent percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting were analysed. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients included: 72% men (mean age 68.6 years), all with prior modified Rankin Scale <2. Twelve presented with acute basilar artery occlusion and were submitted to mechanical thrombectomy before percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting, while the remaining had severe basilar artery stenosis. Successful stent placement was achieved in 22 (88%). Procedure-related complications included new small ischemic lesions (16%), basilar artery dissection (8%), vertebral artery dissection (12%) and death (12%). At 3 months post-percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting, 10 out of 23 patients (43.5%) were independent (mRS ≤ 2) and six died. Fourteen patients underwent transcranial Doppler ultrasound 3 months post-percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting: 12 showed residual stenosis, one significant stent restenosis and one presented stent occlusion. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting showed to be a technically feasible and reasonably safe procedure in selected patients. However, good clinical outcomes may be difficult to achieve as only 43.5% of the patients remained independent at 3 months. Randomized studies are needed to confirm the efficacy and safety outcomes of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting in acute stroke caused by basilar artery steno-occlusive disease.

Segmentation of male pelvic organs on computed tomography with a deep neural network fine-tuned by a level-set method.

Computed Tomography (CT) imaging is used in Radiation Therapy planning, where the treatment is carefully tailored to each patient in order to maximize radiation dose to the target while decreasing adverse effects to nearby healthy tissues. A crucial step in this process is manual organ contouring, which if performed automatically could considerably decrease the time to starting treatment and improve outcomes. Computerized segmentation of male pelvic organs has been studied for decades and deep learning models have brought considerable advances to the field, but improvements are still demanded. A two-step framework for automatic segmentation of the prostate, bladder and rectum is presented: a convolutional neural network enhanced with attention gates performs an initial segmentation, followed by a region-based active contour model to fine-tune the segmentations to each patient's specific anatomy. The framework was evaluated on a large collection of planning CTs of patients who had Radiation Therapy for prostate cancer. The Surface Dice Coefficient improved from 79.41 to 81.00% on segmentation of the prostate, 94.03-95.36% on the bladder and 82.17-83.68% on the rectum, comparing the proposed framework with the baseline convolutional neural network. This study shows that traditional image segmentation algorithms can help improve the immense gains that deep learning models have brought to the medical imaging segmentation field.

Nonenhancing intracranial intradural chordoma mimicking an epidermoid cyst on magnetic resonance imaging: a case report.

Chordomas are relatively rare malignant tumors derived from embryonic notochord remnants. Most intracranial chordomas show extradural extension and cause bone erosion. However, a small percentage of these tumors are exclusively intradural and tend to show less aggressive features, although local recurrence and metastatic spread have been described. Intradural chordomas with imaging features similar to epidermoid cysts are exceedingly rare. We describe the case of a nonenhancing and nondestructive intradural prepontine chordoma showing restricted diffusion on magnetic resonance imaging on a 44-year-old man who presented with acute-onset vertigo and vomiting. Subtotal resection of the lesion was performed followed by adjuvant radiation therapy. Histopathological examination revealed a chordoma. This case report highlights the need to include intradural chordomas in the differential diagnosis of a nonenhancing and nondestructive prepontine intradural lesion demonstrating restricted diffusion. Gross total resection, adjuvant radiation therapy in cases of macro/microscopical residual disease and regular follow-up imaging assessment are warranted due to the possibility of local recurrence and metastatic dissemination.