Bucket-Handle Bipedicled Scalp Flaps for Coverage of Cranial Constructs in Cranioplasty.

Composite frontal scalp defects involving the frontal bone and full thickness scalp can pose a reconstructive challenge. Often, they necessitate the use of microsurgical free tissue transfer, which can be physiologically demanding in high-risk patients with multiple comorbidities, with exposure to prolonged general anesthesia time and increased surgical morbidity. The experience of a single surgeon was reviewed with reconstruction of composite frontal scalp wounds in 4 patients with structural framework and a bipedicled scalp advancement (ie, "bucket handle") flap, thus obviating the need for free tissue transfer. All 4 patients demonstrated complete wound healing by final follow-up, without need for further reoperations or ulcer recurrence. In face of composite frontal scalp defects in less than ideal candidates for lengthy microsurgical flap procedures, the bucket-handle flap can provide a simple and reliable reconstructive option.

To what extent are patients with migraine able to predict attacks?

PURPOSE: Premonitory symptoms (PSs) of migraine are those that precede pain in a migraine attack. Previous studies suggest that treatment during this phase may prevent the onset of pain; however, this approach requires that patients be able to recognize their PSs. Our objectives were to evaluate patients' actual ability to predict migraine attacks based on their PSs and analyze whether good predictors meet any characteristic profile. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective, observational study included patients with migraine with and without aura. Patients' baseline characteristics were recorded. During a 2-month follow-up period, patients used a mobile application to record what they believed to be PSs and later to record the onset of pain, if this occurred. When a migraine attack ended, patients had to complete a form on the characteristics of the episode (including the presence of PSs not identified prior to the attack). RESULTS: Fifty patients were initially selected. A final total of 34 patients were analyzed, recording 229 attacks. Of whom, 158 (69%) were accompanied by PSs and were recorded prior to the pain onset in 63 (27.5%) cases. A total of 67.6% of the patients were able to predict at least one attack, but only 35.3% were good predictors (>50% of attacks). There were only 11 cases in which a patient erroneously reported their PSs (positive predictive value: 85.1%). Good predictors were not differentiated by any specific clinical characteristic. However, a range of symptoms were particularly predictive; these included photophobia, drowsiness, yawning, increased thirst, and blurred vision. CONCLUSION: A large majority of patients with migraine experienced a PS and were able to predict at least one attack. Besides, only a small percentage of patients were considered as good predictors; however, they could not be characterized by any specific profile. Nonetheless, when patients with migraine believed that they were experiencing PSs, they were frequently correct.

Tumor de Wilms: estudio de centro único de Los Andes Ecuatorianos: serie de casos con seguimiento / Wilms' tumor: single center study from the Ecuadorian Andes: case series with follow-up

El Tumor de Wilms (TW) es el tumor renal más frecuente entre los 1 y 5 años de edad. La evidencia existente respecto de aspectos clínicos, terapéuticos y de supervivencia (SV) del TW es escasa. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar diferencias en la SV actuarial global (SVAG) y SV libre de enfermedad (SVLE) a 5 años en pacientes con TW tratados con quimioterapia neoadyuvante (QTNA) y cirugía inicial (CI). Serie de casos. Se incluyeron pacientes con TW de 11 meses y 13 años de edad, tratados en el Instituto del Cáncer SOLCA, Cuenca (1994-2019). Las variables resultado fueron SVAG y SVLE a 5 años. Otras variables de interés fueron: localización, estadio, histología, seguimiento y remisión completa (RC). Una vez concluidos sus tratamientos, los pacientes fueron sometidos a un seguimiento clínico. Se utilizó estadística descriptiva (medidas de tendencia central y dispersión) y analítica (Chi2, exacto de Fisher y corrección por continuidad). Se realizaron análisis de SV con curvas de Kaplan Meier y log-rank. Se reclutaron 36 pacientes (52,8 % hombres), con una mediana de edad de 44 meses; 55,5 % de ellos tuvieron histología favorable. La localización y estadio más frecuente fue riñón izquierdo (55,5 %) y I (33,3 %) respectivamente. El 58,3 % fueron sometidos a CI y el 41,7 % QTNA. Luego de aplicados los tratamientos 21 pacientes (58,3 %), alcanzaron RC. La SVAG y SVLE general a 5 años fue 72,0 % y 69,0 % respectivamente. Al comparar los subgrupos con QTNA y CI; se verificaron SVAG y SVLE a 5 años de 60,0 % y 81,0 % (p=0,118); y de 66,7 % y 71,4 % (p=0,536) respectivamente. La SVAG y SVLE verificadas son similares a las reportadas en otros estudios. No se evidenciaron diferencias de éstas con los tratamientos QTNA y CI.

Wilms tumor (WT) is the most common pediatric kidney tumor between 1 and 5 years of age. The existing evidence regarding clinical, therapeutic and survival (SV) aspects of TW is scarce. The aim of this study was to determine differences in 5-year overall survival (OS) and 5-year disease-free survival (DFS), in patients treated by WT with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) and initial surgery (IS). Case series. Patients with TW between 11 months and 13 years of age, treated at SOLCA Cancer Institute, Cuenca, Ecuador (1994-2019) were included. The outcome variables were OS and DFS. Once their treatments were completed, patients were followed clinically. Descriptive (measures of central tendency and dispersion) and analytical (Chi2, Fisher's exact and continuity correction) statistics were applied. SV analysis with Kaplan Meier curves and log-rank were performed. 36 patients (52.8 % men), with a median age of 44 months; 55.5 % of which had favorable histology were recruited. The most frequent location and stage was left kidney (55.5 %) and I (33.3 %) respectively. 58.3 % underwent IC and 41.7 % QTNA. After treatments, 21 patients (58.3 %) achieved complete remission. General OS and DFS were 72.0 % and 69.0 % respectively. When comparing subgroups with QTNA and CI. When comparing the subgroups with QTNA and CI, OS and DFS of 60.0 % and 81.0 % were verified (p=0.118); and of 66.7 % and 71.4 % (p=0.536) respectively. General OS and DFS observed are similar to those reported in other studies. No differences were evidenced with QTNA and CI treatments.

Papel de los antioxidantes en la prevención de la enfermedad cardiovascular / Antioxidants in the prevention of cardiovascular disease

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