Predicting survival after brain metastases in patients with bladder cancer.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: Because of its rarity, limited data concerning brain metastasis (BM) from bladder cancer (BCa) are available, so this phenomenon remains unclear. We aimed to contribute to understanding this unique patient population's clinical behavior and outcomes. METHODS/MATERIALS: This retrospective cohort study included 27 BCa patients with BM treated at our Cancer Institute between April 2009 and December 2022. The time from initial diagnosis to BM and overall survival from BM diagnosis were calculated (Kaplan-Meier method). Cox regression was used to test key clinicopathologic associations. RESULTS: A total of 27 patients were included in the study (male/female = 23/4). The median patient age at BM diagnosis was 62.0 (47-79) years. The median interval from initial diagnosis to BM was 11.0 ± 2.59 (95 % CI, 5.91-16.08) months. Twenty (74.0 %) patients were diagnosed with BM by postsymptomatic imaging. The most common symptoms were headache-dizziness (n = 9, 33.3 %), seizure (n = 3, 11.1 %), hemiparesis (n = 2, 7.4 %), and vision defects (n = 2, 7.4 %). The most common sites of extracranial metastasis were the lung (n = 10, 52.6 %), bone (n = 7, 36.8 %), and lymph nodes (n = 6, 31.5 %). More than half of the patients (55.5 %) had multiple BMs. Eight (29.6 %) patients underwent surgery for BM. All of the patients received radiotherapy (RT) for BM (whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT)/stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) = 24/3), and eight patients received RT for the second time. Six patients were treated with systemic chemotherapy (CT) after BM. The median survival from BM was 3.0 ± 1.2 (95 % Cl, 0.4-5.5) months in the entire cohort. A low number of BMs (HR 0.270, 95 % CI 0.083-0.885; p = 0.031), surgery for BM (HR 0.174, 95 % CI 0.043-0.712; p = 0.015), CT after BM (HR 0.207, 95 % CI 0.057-0.755; p = 0.017), and better ECOG performance score (HR 0.248, 95 % CI 0.074-0.836; p = 0.025) were associated with better OS. CONCLUSIONS: Factors associated with improved survival in BCa patients with BM include a few brain lesions, intracranial resection, CT after BM, and better ECOG performance scores. Larger-scale prospective studies are needed to define the optimal management strategy further.

Talonavicular-cuneiform arthrodesis in the management of Mueller-Weiss Syndrome: a retrospective case series.

Mueller-Weiss Syndrome (MWS), characterized by spontaneous adult-onset tarsal navicular osteonecrosis, is an uncommon cause of chronic midfoot pain that can lead to functional impairment and progressive deformities. This study aimed to present clinical and radiological outcomes of talonavicular-cuneiform (TNC) arthrodesis in the treatment of patients with MWS. A retrospective study was performed on 8 consecutive patients (6 female, 2 male; mean age = 50 years; range = 33-64) who underwent TNC arthrodesis using plate fixation with autologous bone grafting for the treatment of MWS. To evaluate clinical status, the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Midfoot Score was performed immediately preoperatively and at the final follow-up. In radiographic evaluation, talus-first metatarsal angle (Meary's angle) was measured preoperatively and at the final follow-up. Solid fusion was also examined on postoperative radiographs and computerised tomography. The mean follow-up was 35 months (range = 24-52). The mean AOFAS improved from 37 (range = 24-53) preoperatively to 85 (range = 80-93) at the final follow-up (p < 0.001). No major intra- operative complications were observed in any of the patients. According to the Maceira and Rochera radiological staging system, 5 feet was stage 3, and 3 feet was stage 4. The mean union time was 10 months (range = 5-15). Radiographic solid fusion was achieved in all but one foot that developed talonavicular non-union. TNC arthrodesis using plate fixation with autologous bone grafting seems to be an effective surgical method for reconstruction of MWS.

The Effect of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure on Basal Metabolism Rate in Patients with Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome

ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the effect of the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment on basal metabolism rate (BMR) in patients with severe obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS). Methods: Demographic characteristics, body mass index (BMI), apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) and smoking history of the patients were recorded. Basal metabolism rate was measured via indirect calorimetry in the morning following nights of polysomnography and CPAP titration. Basal metabolism rate, oxygen consumption (VO2) and carbon dioxide output (VCO2) levels were compared before and after CPAP administration. Results: A total of 25 patients with a mean age of 51.4 ± 13.7 years were included in the study: 6 (24%) female and 19 (76%) male. A significant reduction in the BMR (p = 0.049), VO2 (p = 0.042) and VCO2 (p = 0.008) values were observed after a single night administration of CPAP as compared to before treatment. Furthermore, it was detected that this reduction provided by CPAP treatment was more significant in current smokers, patients with AHI > 60 and BMI ≥ 30. Conclusion: It is suggested that there is a correlation between BMR and the severity of OSAS, and it is possible to provide a significant reduction in BMR with single night administration of CPAP depending on the patient's smoking history, degree of obesity and disease severity.

Malignancy and Pulmonary Thromboembolism: Comparison of Symptomatic Cases with the Incidental Ones

ABSTRACT Objective: The use of advanced techniques of computed tomography (CT) has resulted in increased incidentally detected pulmonary embolism in oncology patients undergoing routine cancer staging CT scans. The aim of this study was to compare the symptomatic and incidental pulmonary emboli cases in oncologic patients. Methods: The medical data of the patients diagnosed with pulmonary embolism (ICD: I.26) and had an underlying malignancy were evaluated retrospectively from their hospital records between the years of 2009 and 2013. The results of their right ventricle dilatations were evaluated from the thorax CT. Results: There were 38 women (44.2%) and 48 men (55.8%), totalling 86 patients. Their mean age was 61.7 ± 11.9 years and the median duration of their follow-up was 6 months. Their most common underlying malignancies were gastrointestinal (29.4%), lung (22.4%), genitourinary (21.2%) and breast cancers (10.6%). Their pulmonary thromboembolism was diagnosed incidentally on routine control thorax CT in 39 of the cases (45.3%). When the incidental cases were compared with the symptomatic ones, no statistically significant difference was found with respect to the type of malignancy, history of chemotherapy, the presence of metastasis and evidence of septum flattening on the thorax CT. The presence of bilateral thrombus was found to be increased in the symptomatic cases compared with the incidental ones and the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.026). It was found that the right ventricle/left ventricle ratio was significantly higher in symptomatic cases (p = 0.03) than in the incidental ones. Conclusion: A considerable number of pulmonary thromboemboli episodes could be asymptomatic in malignant patients. It is suggested that the submassive clinical course and preserved right ventricle functions could be the reason for the asymptomatic events.