Carotid Plaque Inflammation Assessed by 18F-FDG PET/CT and Lp-PLA2 Is Higher in Symptomatic Patients.

Carotid plaque inflammation assessed by 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) levels are higher in symptomatic patients. The aim of this study was to assess correlations between 18F-FDG uptake on PET scan of carotid artery plaques, plasma levels of Lp-PLA2, and cerebrovascular symptoms. The study included 45 consecutive patients (22 symptomatic, 23 asymptomatic) with >70% carotid stenosis. Patients were examined by hybrid PET/CT, and maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax) were recorded. Blood samples were obtained, and plasma was stored at -80 °C for subsequent Lp-PLA2 analysis. Symptomatic and asymptomatic patients showed no significant difference in classical cardiovascular risk factors. Asymptomatic carotid stenosis patients more frequently had a history of coronary artery disease (P = .025) and peripheral artery disease (P = .012). The symptomatic group had higher 18F-FDG uptake in carotid plaques (P < .001), higher plasma Lp-PLA2 (P < .01), and higher high-sensitive C-reactive protein (P = .022). 2-Deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose uptake on PET/CT and plasma Lp-PLA2 show a statistically significant association with the symptomatic status of carotid plaques.

Early glottic tumours with anterior commissure involvement. Literature review and consensus document. Head and Neck and Skull Base Commission, SEORL-CCC. / Tumores glóticos precoces con afectación de la comisura anterior. Revisión bibliográfica y documento de consenso. Comisión de cabeza y cuello y base de cráneo. SEORL-CCC.

The choice of the most appropriate treatment in early-stage glottic cancer with anterior commissure involvement remains controversial. Its therapeutic management is complex because it is a significant prognostic indicator of local control with 37% recurrence, due to the difficulty in establishing tumour extension with understaging of up to 40%, and due to the comparison of results in series on tumours that behave variably as they progress, such as T1a, T1b and T2a with commissure involvement. Furthermore, the complexity of the surgical approach using transoral CO2 laser microsurgery requires surgical skill, appropriate equipment and experience. Aspects to be reviewed in this document are: an updated anatomical definition of the anterior commissure, tumour progression based on histopathological studies, usefulness of videostroboscopy and NBI in diagnostic accuracy, validity of imaging tests, oncological results published in series reviews, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, tumour margin treatment and voice evaluation.Finally, by way of a summary, the document includes a series of recommendations for the treatment of these tumours.

Caracterización de las complicaciones de los pacientes diagnosticados con cólera en el Hospital Pediátrico de Centro Habana, 2013-2017 / Characterization of the complications of patients diagnosed with cholera in the Pediatric Hospital of Centro Habana, 2013-2017

Introducción: La séptima pandemia del cólera llegó a las Américas en 1991. En Cuba hacía más de 130 años no se registraba ningún caso. Objetivos: Identificar y caracterizar las complicaciones por cólera y su relación con características clínicas y de tratamiento. Métodos Se realizó un estudio descriptivo y prospectivo desde el año 2013-2017 a los pacientes a los que se les confirmó el V. cholerae como causa exclusiva de enfermedad diarreica aguda. Las variables cualitativas se describieron estadísticamente mediante frecuencias absolutas y relativas y para las variables cuantitativas se utilizó la media, la mediana, la desviación estándar y el rango intercuartílico como medidas de dispersión. Resultados: El 36,5 por ciento de los enfermos presentó complicaciones donde la deshidratación fue la más frecuente. El valor de la mediana del tiempo que medió entre la aparición de los síntomas y la atención en el centro fue menor en los pacientes con complicaciones comparado con el observado en los no complicados, pero la diferencia no fue significativa: (24 horas [RI: 24,0-72,0 horas] vs. 48 horas [RI: 24,0-72,0 horas], p= 0,355). Conclusiones: La mayoría de los enfermos no presentaron complicaciones y la más frecuente es la deshidratación ligera(AU)

Introduction: The seventh cholera pandemic arrived to the Americas in 1991. In Cuba for more than 130 years there were no case reports. Objectives: To identify and characterize the complications by cholera and its relation with clinical characteristics and treatment. Methods: A descriptive and prospective study was conducted from 2013 to 2017 to the patients who had been confirmed with V. cholerae as exclusive cause of acute diarrheal disease. The qualitative variables were described statistically using absolute and relative frequencies, and for the quantitative variables were used the average, medium, and standard deviation and the interquartile range as dispersion measures. Results: 36.5 percent of the patients presented complications where dehydration was the most frequent. The value of the median time between the onset of symptoms and attention in the center was lower in patients with complications in comparison with the observed in non-complicated patients, but the difference was not significant (24.0 h [RI: 24,0-72,0 h] vs. 48,0 h [RI: 24,0-72,0 h], p= 0.355). Conclusions: Most of the patients did not present complications and the most frequent is the slight dehydration (AU)

Caracterización clínica-epidemiológica según la edad de pacientes diagnosticados con cólera / Clinic-epidemiological description according to the age of patients diagnosed with cholera

Introducción: Se estima que 1,4 billones de personas están en riesgo de infectarse por cólera y la mitad de los fallecidos son menores de 5 años. Objetivo: Caracterizar clínica y epidemiológicamente a los pacientes afectados por vibrión colérico según la edad de los enfermos y el tiempo que medió entre la aparición de los síntomas de la enfermedad y la asistencia al Sistema Nacional de Salud. Métodos: Estudio clínico, epidemiológico, descriptivo y prospectivo desde 2013-2017 a los pacientes que se les confirmó por coprocultivo el V. cholerae como causa de enfermedad diarreica aguda en el hospital pediátrico de Centro Habana. Se analizaron variables cualitativas y cuantitativas. Resultados: Se registraron 115 niños mayores de 5 años y 44 menores de 5 años afectados por el cólera. El 54,7 por ciento del total de pacientes estudiados estuvo en la zona afectada, el 94,3 por ciento presentó deposiciones líquidas, el 18,2 por ciento con aspecto de agua de arroz, el 7,5 por ciento con olor a pescado, el 47,2 por ciento presentó vómitos, el 6,9 por ciento fiebre y el 12,8 por ciento dolor abdominal. El valor de la mediana del tiempo que medio entre la aparición de los síntomas y la asistencia al médico fue de 24 horas. Conclusiones: Los pacientes más afectados son los mayores de 5 años y los que más tardíamente acudieron al Sistema Nacional de Salud. En todos predomina la procedencia de la zona afectada, las deposiciones líquidas y los vómitos(AU)

Introduction: It is estimated that 1.4 billion people are at risk of being infected by cholera and half of them are children under 5 years old. Objective: To describe clinically and epidemiologically the patients affected by Vibrio cholerae according to their age and the time passed from the onset of symptoms of disease to their attendance to the National Health System. Methods: Clinical, epidemiological, descriptive and prospective study from 2013 to 2017 in patients with confirmed V. cholerae by stool culture as a cause of acute diarrheal disease in the Pediatric Hospital of Centro Habana municipality.Qualitative and quantitative variables were analyzed. Results: There was a record of 115 children over 5 years and 44 children under 5 years affected by cholera. The 54.7percent of the total number of patients studied was in the affected area, 94.3 percent presented liquid stool, 18.2 percent of those looked like rice water, 7.5 percent with fishy smell; 47.2 percent of the patients presented vomiting, and 6.9 percent fever and 12.8 percent abdominal pain. The value of the mean time between the onset of symptoms and the assistance to the physician was of 24 hours. Conclusions: Most affected patients and that attended late to the National Health System were the ones over 5 years. In all predominated coming from the affected area, liquid stools and vomiting(AU)

Cricopharyngeal myotomy in the treatment of oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy.

Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) is an autosomal dominant myopathic disease which provokes oropharyngeal dysphagia, palpabral ptosis and proximal limb weakness. It is the abnormal expression of the GCG triplet in the PABPN1 gene on chromosome 14 that causes this disease. The study of the oropharyngeal dysphagia that these patients suffer from should include upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, barium video-radiology and oesophageal manometry. Genetic study confirms the diagnosis. We report 6 patients (3 of whom were siblings) referred to our department with a confirmed diagnosis of OPMD, who underwent cricopharyngeal myotomy to achieve normal swallowing.

Diagnostic accuracy of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography and duplex ultrasound in patients with peripheral vascular disease.

INTRODUCTION: Noninvasive techniques such as duplex ultrasound (DU) and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (CE-MRA) are valid alternatives in the preoperative evaluation of such patients. Our aim is to assess the diagnostic accuracy of CE-MRA and DU in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). METHODS: Forty consecutive patients underwent DU, hybrid CE-MRA, and digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Magnetic resonance angiography and DSA images were evaluated independently and in a blinded fashion. Every segment was graded as normal, stenosed less than 50%, stenosed more than 50%, or occluded. RESULTS: There were 1720 segments for analysis. Duplex ultrasound depicting stenosis >50% demonstrated a sensitivity (S) 81.4%, specificity (E) 99%, positive predictive value (PPV) 96.2%, and negative predictive value (NPV) 94.8%. Occlusions showed S 90%, E 97%, PPV 98.1%, and NPV 88.4%. Magnetic resonance angiography depicting stenosis >50% demonstrated a S 91%, E 99%, PPV 96.7%, and NPV 97.6%. Occlusions showed S 95.4%, E 98%, PPV 98.4%, and NPV 94.7%. CONCLUSION: Combined CE-MRA and DU is the first diagnostic approach in the preoperative assessment of PAD, leading to the use of DSA for selected cases.

Ruptured popliteal aneurysm resulting from neurofibromatosis-a case report and review of the literature.

Rupture of an aneurysm in a patient suffering from neurofibromatosis is a rare though documented complication. Presented here is the case of a 33-year-old woman with known neurofibromatosis who underwent repair of a symptomatic popliteal aneurysm. The presentation, diagnostic evaluation, and treatment are discussed, and the literature is reviewed on this rare entity.

Aortoiliac thrombosis in antiphospholipid syndrome-case report and literature review.

Antiphospholipid syndrome is accepted as one of the most important causes of hypercoagulable states. Thrombotic events in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome, predominantly women, occur at a younger age than in those suffering from atherosclerotic disease. The majority of the thrombotic events affect the deep venous system of the lower limbs and arterial thrombosis predominates in the cerebral territory. The use of anticoagulant therapy prevents recurrent thrombosis but the duration and intensity of treatment remain controversial. Aortic disease is an anecdotal fact in the literature. A case of infrarenal aortic occlusion involving both iliac arteries associated with primary antiphospholipid syndrome is presented.