MRSA Isolates from Patients with Persistent Bacteremia Generate Nonstable Small Colony Variants In Vitro within Macrophages and Endothelial Cells during Prolonged Vancomycin Exposure.

Staphylococcus aureus (especially methicillin-resistant S. aureus [MRSA]) is frequently associated with persistent bacteremia (PB) during vancomycin therapy despite consistent susceptibility in vitro. Strategic comparisons of PB strains versus those from vancomycin-resolving bacteremia (RB) would yield important mechanistic insights into PB outcomes. Clinical PB versus RB isolates were assessed in vitro for intracellular replication and small colony variant (SCV) formation within macrophages and endothelial cells (ECs) in the presence or absence of exogenous vancomycin. In both macrophages and ECs, PB and RB isolates replicated within lysosome-associated membrane protein-1 (LAMP-1)-positive compartments. PB isolates formed nonstable small colony variants (nsSCVs) in vancomycin-exposed host cells at a significantly higher frequency than matched RB isolates (in granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor [GM-CSF], human macrophages PB versus RB, P < 0.0001 at 48 h; in ECs, PB versus RB, P < 0.0001 at 24 h). This phenotype could represent one potential basis for the unique ability of PB isolates to adaptively resist vancomycin therapy and cause PB in humans. Elucidating the molecular mechanism(s) by which PB strains form nsSCVs could facilitate the discovery of novel treatment strategies to mitigate PB due to MRSA.

Prevalence of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis regarding time of tuberculosis diagnosis in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Data on the prevalence of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) in patients with active or cured tuberculosis (TB) are scarce, mainly due to diagnostic difficulties. The diagnosis of CPA is based on pulmonary symptoms and chest computed tomography (CT) scans and is considered confirmed when there is microbiological or serological evidence of Aspergillus spp. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of CPA in patients treated or undergoing treatment for PTB, seen in two referral hospitals in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 193 consecutive patients who were treated or previously treated for pulmonary tuberculosis underwent prospective evaluation: (a) clinical evaluation; (b) chest CT scan; (c) sputum examination-culture for fungi and smears for direct mycology; (d) detection of anti-Aspergillus fumigatus antibodies using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay Platelia® test; and (e) anti-Aspergillus spp. antibodies were assessed via a DID test. RESULTS: The global prevalence of CPA was 10.9% (95% confidence interval, 7.2%-16.1%), but it increased with the time of TB diagnosis. The variables independently associated with CPA were previous pulmonary tuberculosis over 4 years ago and haemoptysis. Cavities, pleural thickening and the presence of a fungal ball were the most frequent tomographic findings in patients with CPA. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence observed and its increase over time suggest the need for continuous surveillance of CPA in patients with active or previous pulmonary tuberculosis and throughout life, with clinical, tomographic and serological evaluations (ELISA) for a timely diagnosis and a better prognosis.

Assessment of Early Treatment Response With DWI After CT-Guided Radiofrequency Ablation of Functioning Adrenal Adenomas.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to establish the suitability of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) as a parameter for evaluating early treatment response after percutaneous ablation of functional adrenal adenomas. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Seventeen adult patients with functioning adrenal adenomas underwent radiofrequency ablation. Serum hormone levels were analyzed before and up to 6 months after ablation. MRI findings (nodule size in cm, signal intensity index, ADC maps, and nodule-to-muscle ADC ratio) were analyzed before and up to 30 days after ablation. A consensus review of all scans was performed by two attending abdominal imaging radiologists. The procedure was considered successful if serum hormone levels normalized and no contrast enhancement of the adrenal lesion was seen on follow-up MRI. RESULTS: Of 17 patients who underwent radiofrequency ablation, complete response was achieved in 16 patients with partial response in one patient. Of the four parameters of interest, only ADC maps and nodule-to-muscle ADC ratio showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This prospective study suggests that apparent diffusion coefficient values may help radiologists monitor early treatment response after CT-guided radiofrequency ablation of functioning adrenal adenomas.

Radiofrequency Ablation of Functioning Adrenal Adenomas: Preliminary Clinical and Laboratory Findings.

PURPOSE: To evaluate clinical and laboratory findings in patients undergoing radiofrequency (RF) ablation for functioning adrenal adenomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eleven adult patients, nine with Conn syndrome and two with Cushing syndrome, underwent percutaneous computed tomography-guided RF ablation for benign adrenal neoplasms. Systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressure and the number of classes of antihypertensive drugs used by each patient were analyzed before and 1, 4, and 12 weeks after the procedure. Serum hormone levels were analyzed within 30 days before and 12 weeks after the procedure. RESULTS: Of the nine patients with Conn syndrome, eight showed normal serum aldosterone levels after the procedure and one patient had a nodule located very close to the inferior vena cava, resulting in incomplete ablation. The two patients with Cushing syndrome had normal serum and salivary cortisol levels after the procedure. Mean aldosterone concentration at baseline was 63.3 ng/dL ± 28.0 and decreased to 13.3 ng/dL ± 13.5 at 12 weeks postoperatively (P = .008). Systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressures decreased significantly in the first week after the procedure (P < .001) and remained stable during further follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with Conn syndrome or Cushing syndrome, percutaneous RF ablation of functioning adrenal adenomas may result in normalization of hormone secretion, improvement in blood pressure, and reduced need for antihypertensive drugs.

Percutaneous ablation of functioning adrenal adenoma: a report on 11 cases and a review of the literature.

PURPOSE: Percutaneous ablation of functioning adrenal adenomas has been an alternative to videolaparoscopic treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, safety and efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in the treatment of functioning adrenal tumors using a computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous technique as demonstrated by our experience and the literature. METHODS: Eleven adult patients (mean age 46 years) with a diagnosis of functioning adrenal adenoma underwent CT-guided RFA between October 2011 and August 2012. All RFA procedures were performed using a needle electrode with a single lateral filament and the RITA(®) 1500X radiofrequency generator. The RFA protocol consisted of two cycles of 5 min each with 1-min interval, with no additional ablation cycles. Contrast-enhanced CT scans were obtained and analyzed for immediate treatment success and possible complications. RESULTS: Maximum tumor dimension ranged from 1.2 to 3.4 cm. The mean procedure time was 74 min, and length of hospital stay ranged from 0.9 to 3.2 days (mean 1.8 days). One patient had residual pneumothorax and one patient had neuritis involving the T10 dermatome. Of 11 patients, 10 recovered from their condition. Only one patient remained with hyperaldosteronism, but with reduced anti-hypertensive medication. CONCLUSIONS: CT-guided percutaneous RFA was a safe and effective treatment for functioning adrenal adenomas, with short hospital length of stay and low complication rate.

Computed tomography fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous biopsy of pulmonary nodules ≤ 10 mm: retrospective analysis of procedures performed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of computed tomography (CT) fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy (PTNB) in pulmonary nodules ≤ 10 mm during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Materials and Methods: Between January 1, 2020 and April 30, 2022, a total of 359 CT fluoroscopy-guided PTNBs were performed at an interventional radiology center. Lung lesions measured between 2 mm and 108 mm. Of the 359 PTNBs, 27 (7.5%) were performed with an 18G core needle on nodules ≤ 10 mm in diameter. Results: Among the 27 biopsies performed on nodules ≤ 10 mm, the lesions measured < 5 mm in four and 5-10 mm in 23. The sensitivity and overall diagnostic accuracy of PTNB were 100% and 92.3%, respectively. The mean dose of ionizing radiation during PTNB was 581.33 mGy*cm (range, 303-1,129 mGy*cm), and the mean biopsy procedure time was 6.6 min (range, 2-12 min). There were no major postprocedural complications. Conclusion: CT fluoroscopy-guided PTNB appears to provide a high diagnostic yield with low complication rates.

Endobiliary biopsy.

The differential diagnosis between benign and malignant biliary strictures is challenging and requires a multidisciplinary approach with the use of serum biomarkers, imaging techniques, and several modalities of endoscopic or percutaneous tissue sampling. The diagnosis of biliary strictures consists of laboratory markers, and invasive and non-invasive imaging examinations such as computed tomography (CT), contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS). Nevertheless, invasive imaging modalities combined with tissue sampling are usually required to confirm the diagnosis of suspected malignant biliary strictures, while pathological diagnosis is mandatory to decide the optimal therapeutic strategy. Although EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy is currently the standard procedure for tissue sampling of solid pancreatic mass lesions, its diagnostic value in intraductal infiltrating type of cholangiocarcinoma remains limited. Moreover, the "endobiliary approach" using novel slim biopsy forceps, transpapillary and percutaneous cholangioscopy, and intraductal ultrasound-guided biopsy, is gaining ground on traditional endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography endobiliary forceps biopsy. This review focuses on the available endobiliary techniques currently used to perform biliary strictures biopsy, comparing the diagnostic performance of endoscopic and percutaneous approaches.

A scoping study of pulmonary paracoccidioidomycosis: severity classification based on radiographic and tomographic evaluation.

The lungs have great importance in patients with paracoccidioidomycosis since they are the portal of entry for the infecting fungi, the site of quiescent foci, and one of the most frequently affected organs. Although they have been the subject of many studies with different approaches, the severity classification of the pulmonary involvement, using imaging procedures, has not been carried out yet. This study aimed to classify the active and the residual pulmonary damage using radiographic and tomographic evaluations, according to the area involved and types of lesions.

Long-term results of oversized balloon dilation for benign anastomotic biliary strictures: initial two-center experience.

Objective: To describe, assess the feasibility of, and quantify the long-term patency achieved with percutaneous transhepatic biliary dilation using the anastomotic biliary stricture (ABS) oversized balloon dilation technique as a single-step procedure for the treatment of benign anastomotic biliary strictures following hepatobiliary surgery. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective, two-center study including 16 consecutive cases of symptomatic benign biliary-enteric strictures. After assessment of the diameter of the bile duct by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, the strictures were dilated with oversized balloons (40-50% larger than the bile duct diameter) and an external biliary-enteric drain was placed. After drain removal, clinical symptoms and laboratory test results were evaluated every three months, whereas follow-up magnetic resonance imaging was performed at 30 days out and follow-up computed tomography was performed at 6 and 12 months out. Results: The mean follow-up time was 31.8 ± 8.15 months. Kaplan-Meier-estimated 1-, 2-, and 3-year patency rates were 88.2%, 82.4%, and 82.4%, respectively. There was one major complication-a small dehiscence of the anastomosis-which extended the catheter dwell time. Minor complications occurred in two cases-one small perihepatic hematoma and one segmental thrombosis of the left portal branch-neither of which required further intervention. Conclusion: The single-step ABS oversized balloon dilation technique is a feasible treatment for benign anastomotic biliary-enteric strictures. The technique appears to be associated with high rates of long-term clinical success and patency.

Objetivo: Descrever o procedimento, avaliar a viabilidade e perviedade em longo prazo da dilatação biliar trans-hepática percutânea usando a técnica de dilatação por balão superdimensionado para o tratamento em uma única etapa de estenose biliar anastomótica benigna após cirurgia hepatobiliar. Materiais e Métodos: Este estudo retrospectivo de dois centros incluiu 16 casos consecutivos de estenoses bilioentéricas benignas sintomáticas. A dilatação das estenoses com superdimensionamento do balão de 40-50% foi realizada após avaliação pré-procedimento do diâmetro do ducto biliar por tomografia computadorizada ou ressonância magnética e um dreno externo foi colocado. Os sintomas clínicos e exames laboratoriais foram avaliados a cada três meses após a remoção do dreno, enquanto o acompanhamento radiológico foi realizado com ressonância magnética em 30 dias e tomografia computadorizada em 6 e 12 meses. Resultados: O tempo médio de seguimento foi de 31,8 ± 8,15 meses. As estimativas de perviedade em um, dois e três anos foram 88,2%, 82,4% e 82,4%; respectivamente. Houve uma complicação importante, com pequena deiscência da anastomose biliodigestiva, que exigiu prolongamento do tempo de permanência do dreno externo. Complicações menores ocorreram em dois casos, um pequeno hematoma peri-hepático e uma trombose segmentar do ramo portal esquerdo e nenhum deles necessitou de intervenção adicional. Conclusão: A técnica de dilatação com balão superdimensionado para o tratamento de estenoses biliares anastomóticas benignas foi viável para o tratamento de estenoses anastomóticas bilioentéricas benignas. A técnica parece estar associada a altas taxas de perviedade e de sucesso clínico no longo prazo.

What the radiologist should know about the role of percutaneous gastrostomy: a pictorial essay.

The image-guided gastrostomy techniques, as transoral and transabdominal, can be performed when there is a failure of the endoscopic procedure or in some specific clinical scenarios. This pictorial essay intends to show the percutaneous gastrostomy techniques, indications, technical approaches, post-procedure care, and complications.

As técnicas de gastrostomia guiadas por imagem, por via transoral e transabdominal podem ser realizadas quando há falha na técnica endoscópica ou em cenários clínicos em que a endoscopia não pode ser realizada. Este ensaio iconográfico pretende mostrar as técnicas de gastrostomia percutânea, suas indicações, aspectos técnicos, cuidados pós-procedimento e complicações.

A telemedicine instrument for remote evaluation of tremor: design and initial applications in fatigue and patients with Parkinson's disease.

INTRODUCTION: A novel system that combines a compact mobile instrument and Internet communications is presented in this paper for remote evaluation of tremors. The system presents a high potential application in Parkinson's disease and connects to the Internet through a TCP/IP protocol. Tremor transduction is carried out by accelerometers, and the data processing, presentation and storage were obtained by a virtual instrument. The system supplies the peak frequency (fp), the amplitude (Afp) and power in this frequency (Pfp), the total power (Ptot), and the power in low (1-4 Hz) and high (4-7 Hz) frequencies (Plf and Phf, respectively). METHODS: The ability of the proposed system to detect abnormal tremors was initially demonstrated by a fatigue study in normal subjects. In close agreement with physiological fundamentals, the presence of fatigue increased fp, Afp, Pfp and Pt (p < 0.05), while the removal of fatigue reduced all the mentioned parameters (p < 0.05). The system was also evaluated in a preliminary in vivo test in parkinsonian patients. Afp, Pfp, Ptot, Plf and Phf were the most accurate parameters in the detection of the adverse effects of this disease (Se = 100%, Sp = 100%), followed by fp (Se = 100%, Sp = 80%). Tests for Internet transmission that realistically simulated clinical conditions revealed adequate acquisition and analysis of tremor signals and also revealed that the user could adequately receive medical recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed system can be used in a wide spectrum of telemedicine scenarios, enabling the home evaluation of tremor occurrence under specific medical treatments and contributing to reduce the costs of the assistance offered to these patients.

Biliary involvement in liver metastases: long-term experience with biliary biopsy from a single center.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate long-term results of biliary biopsy performed with transluminal forceps in the setting of metastatic biliary involvement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between September 2014 and June 2019, 25 patients-18 males (72%)-with a mean age of 65 ± 15 years, underwent 26 biliary biopsy procedures with a dedicated forceps system. All patients presented with obstructive jaundice that was suspected of being malignant and underwent pre-procedural magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography. The biopsies were performed during percutaneous placement of an internal-external biliary drainage catheter, under fluoroscopic guidance. RESULTS: The technical success rate was 96% (corresponding to 25 of the 26 procedures). The histological diagnosis was inflammatory biliary stricture in five cases, pancreatic adenocarcinoma in six, liver metastases from colorectal cancer in eight, and hepatocellular carcinoma in three, the biliary mucosa being categorized as normal in three cases. In one case, the sample was considered insufficient and the procedure was successfully repeated, after which a diagnosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma was made. Over a follow-up period of 6-48 months, there were five false-negative results: two findings of inflammatory biliary stricture were later identified as liver metastases from breast and gastric cancer, respectively; and all three patients in which the biliary mucosa was categorized as normal were subsequently diagnosed with metastatic hilar lymph nodes. The procedure was found to have a sensitivity of 77%, a specificity of 100%, and an overall accuracy of 80%. The complication rate was 11.5% (mild, transient hemobilia occurring in three cases). CONCLUSION: Percutaneous transluminal forceps biopsy is a safe, effective, minimally invasive procedure for histological characterization in patients presenting with obstructive jaundice due to a non-primary biliary tumor.

OBJETIVO: Investigar os resultados a longo prazo da biópsia endobiliar realizada com um pinça tipo fórceps transluminal no diagnóstico de neoplasia biliar metastática. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Entre setembro de 2014 e junho de 2019, 25 pacientes - 18 homens (72%), com idade média de 65 ± 15 anos) - foram submetidos a 26 procedimentos de biópsia endobiliar com um conjunto dedicado. Todos os pacientes apresentaram icterícia obstrutiva, suspeita de malignidade e colangiorressonância pré-procedimento. Os procedimentos foram realizados durante o posicionamento percutâneo da drenagem biliar interna-externa, sob orientação fluoroscópica. RESULTADOS: A taxa de sucesso técnico foi de 96% (25 casos), com diagnóstico histológico de estenose benigna (inflamatória) em cinco casos, adenocarcinoma pancreático em seis casos, metástases hepáticas retais no cólon em oito casos, carcinoma hepatocelular em três casos e de mucosa biliar normal em três casos. Em um caso a amostra foi considerada insuficiente pelo patologista (um adenocarcinoma pancreático) e o procedimento foi repetido com sucesso. O seguimento de 6 a 48 meses mostrou cinco casos falso-negativos, em particular dois casos de metástases hepáticas retais sem cólon (câncer de mama e gástrico) e três linfonodos hilares metastáticos. A análise estatística revelou sensibilidade de 77%, especificidade de 100% e precisão geral de 80%. A taxa de complicações foi de 11,5% (três casos com hemobilia transitória). CONCLUSÃO: A biópsia biliar transluminal realizada com pinça tipo fórceps é um procedimento minimamente invasivo, seguro e eficaz para caracterização histológica em pacientes que apresentam icterícia obstrutiva no diagnóstico de neoplasia biliar metastática.

New frontiers in endovascular therapies for locally advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common primary malignant liver tumour and is a leading cause of death worldwide. Despite the advent of screening programmes, most cases of hepatocellular carcinoma are diagnosed late (in an advanced stage) which precludes curative treatments such as surgery and ablation. Therefore, intra-arterial locoregional treatments now play a central role in the management of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, such treatments ranging from trans-arterial chemo-embolisation to the more recently developed trans-arterial radio-embolisation technique. In this essay, we discuss the state of the art of intra-arterial treatment for locally advanced hepatocellular carcinoma and the future directions for such treatment.

O carcinoma hepatocelular é o tumor hepático maligno primário mais frequentemente observado, sendo uma das principais causas de mortalidade mundial. Apesar do advento dos programas de triagem, na maioria dos casos o diagnóstico tardio está associado a um estágio avançado da doença que impede o tratamento curativo, como cirurgia ou ablação. Assim, os tratamentos locorregionais intra-arteriais têm agora um papel central no gerenciamento avançado do carcinoma hepatocelular, passando por quimioembolização transarterial e radioembolização. Neste ensaio, discutimos o estado da arte do tratamento intra-arterial atualmente disponível para o carcinoma hepatocelular localmente avançado e suas direções futuras.

Percutaneous solutions for biliary stent dysfunction: pictorial essay.

Plastic and metal biliary stents can fail to function properly, such failure being due to a positioning error or to the migration, occlusion, or fracture of the stent. An obstructed biliary stent can act as a nidus, causing complications such as recurrent persistent cholangitis. It can also cause vascular complications (such as bleeding and the formation of pseudoaneurysms), perforate the liver capsule (causing biloma or abscess), or, in rare cases, cause intestinal obstruction or perforation. In this pictorial essay, we demonstrate various interventional radiology techniques for the treatment of biliary stent dysfunction in patients with obstructive biliary disease.

Disfunção das próteses biliares plásticas ou metálicas pode ser causada por migração, oclusão, mau posicionamento ou fratura. Uma prótese disfuncional na via biliar pode atuar como nidus causando complicações como colangite recorrente e persistente. Pode ainda causar complicações vasculares como formação de pseudoaneurismas ou sangramento, e além disso, perfurar a cápsula hepática causando biloma ou abscesso, ou raramente, causar obstrução intestinal e/ou perfuração. Demonstramos diferentes técnicas da radiologia intervencionista no tratamento de endopróteses biliares plásticas e metálicas disfuncionais, em pacientes com doença biliar obstrutiva.

Endovascular management of giant common iliac artery pseudoaneurysm after complications in simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic transplantation is a definitive treatment for selected patients with insulin-dependent diabetes. It is a technically challenging surgery, and vascular complications are the most common cause of pancreatic graft failure. Although rare, pancreas transplants present higher rates of pseudoaneurysms at the vascular anastomosis than other visceral transplants. We present a case of a simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant complicated with graft failure and common iliac artery pseudoaneurysm that was successfully treated through endovascular techniques. CASE PRESENTATION: A 34-year-old White woman presented with abdominal pain and a history of type 1 diabetes mellitus, end-stage renal disease, and two previous pancreas transplantation failures. The first was a simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation performed 7 months prior that was complicated by pancreas graft thrombosis within 1 month and required graft resection. Five months later, she underwent a second pancreas transplantation with another pancreatic graft thrombosis requiring graft resection. Abdominal angiotomography revealed a pseudoaneurysm in the right common iliac artery at the point of the previous graft anastomosis. The patient was successfully treated endovascularly with a covered stent in the common iliac artery. CONCLUSION: Stent graft implantation for the treatment of common iliac artery pseudoaneurysm as a complication of simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation is a safe and feasible procedure.

Neuroinflammation in autism spectrum disorders: Exercise as a "pharmacological" tool.

The worldwide prevalence of ASD is around 1%. Although the pathogenesis of ASD is not entirely understood, it is recognized that a combination of genetic, epigenetics, environmental factors and immune system dysfunction can play an essential role in its development. It has been suggested that autism results from the central nervous system derangements due to low-grade chronic inflammatory reactions associated with the immune system activation. ASD individuals have increased microglial activation, density, and increased proinflammatory cytokines in the several brain regions. Autism has no available pharmacological treatments, however there are pedagogical and psychotherapeutic therapies, and pharmacological treatment, that help to control behavioral symptoms. Recent data indicate that exercise intervention programs may improve cognitive and behavioral symptoms in children with ASD. Exercise can also modify inflammatory profiles that will ameliorate associated metabolic disorders. This review highlights the involvement of neuroinflammation in ASD and the beneficial effects of physical exercise on managing ASD symptoms and associated comorbidities.

Varicocele-Associated Infertility and the Role of Oxidative Stress on Sperm DNA Fragmentation.

Varicocele has been extensively described and studied as the most important reversible cause of male infertility. Its impact on semen parameters, pregnancy rates, and assisted reproductive outcomes have been associated with multifactorial aspects, most of them converging to increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS). More recently, sperm DNA fragmentation has gained significant attention and potential clinical use, although the body of evidence still needs further evolution. The associations between sperm DNA damage and a variety of disorders, including varicocele itself, share common pathways to ROS increase. This mini-review discusses different aspects related to the etiology of ROS and its relation to varicocele and potential mechanisms of DNA damage.