Intracranial complications of sinogenic and otogenic infections in children: an ESPN survey on their occurrence in the pre-COVID and post-COVID era.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 pandemic is thought to have changed the epidemiology of some pediatric neurosurgical disease: among them are the intracranial complications of sinusitis and otitis (ICSO). According to some studies on a limited number of cases, both streptococci-related sinusitis and ICSO would have increased immediately after the pandemic, although the reason is not clear yet (seasonal changes versus pandemic-related effects). The goal of the present survey of the European Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery (ESPN) was to collect a large number of cases from different European countries encompassing the pre-COVID (2017-2019), COVID (2020-2021), and post-COVID period (2022-June 2023) looking for possible epidemiological and/or clinical changes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An English language questionnaire was sent to ESPN members about year of the event, patient's age and gender, presence of immune-deficit or other favoring risk factors, COVID infection, signs and symptoms at onset, site of primary infection, type of intracranial complication, identified germ, type and number of surgical operations, type and duration of medical treatment, clinical and radiological outcome, duration of the follow-up. RESULTS: Two hundred fifty-four cases were collected by 30 centers coming from 14 different European countries. There was a statistically significant difference between the post-COVID period (129 children, 86 cases/year, 50.7% of the whole series) and the COVID (40 children, 20 cases/year, 15.7%) or the pre-COVID period (85 children, 28.3 cases/year, 33.5%). Other significant differences concerned the presence of predisposing factors/concurrent diseases (higher in the pre-COVID period) and previous COVID infection (higher in the post-COVID period). No relevant differences occurred as far as demographic, microbiological, clinical, radiological, outcome, morbidity, and mortality data were concerned. Paranasal sinuses and middle ear/mastoid were the most involved primary site of infection (71% and 27%, respectively), while extradural or subdural empyema and brain abscess were the most common ICSO (73% and 17%, respectively). Surgery was required in 95% of cases (neurosurgical and ENT procedure in 71% and 62% of cases, respectively) while antibiotics in 99% of cases. After a 12.4-month follow-up, a full clinical and radiological recovery was obtained in 85% and 84% of cases, respectively. The mortality rate was 2.7%. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the occurrence of ICSO was significantly increased after the pandemic. Such an increase seems to be related to the indirect effects of the pandemic (e.g., immunity debt) rather than to a direct effect of COVID infection or to seasonal fluctuations. ICSO remain challenging diseases but the pandemic did not affect the management strategies nor their prognosis. The epidemiological change of sinusitis/otitis and ICSO should alert about the appropriate follow-up of children with sinusitis/otitis.

Lumboperitoneal shunting in pediatric patients and the role of imaging in its evaluation.

Lumboperitoneal shunting makes it possible to regulate the flow of cerebrospinal fluid by establishing a connection between the thecal sac and the peritoneal cavity. The main indication for lumboperitoneal shunting in children is idiopathic intracranial hypertension, but the technique is also useful in the treatment of postinfectious, posthemorrhagic, and normotensive hydrocephalus, as well as in the treatment of postsurgical pseudomeningocele or leakage of cerebrospinal fluid. This article reviews nine cases treated at our centre to show the normal imaging findings for lumboperitoneal shunts in children and to provide a succinct review of the possible neurological and abdominal complications associated with this treatment.

[Continuous vs. intermitent intravenous analgesia for primary total knee replacement: analysis of the quality of the pain control, hospital stay and costs]. / Analgesia endovenosa continua versus analgesia endovenosa intermitente para reemplazo total de rodilla primario: análisis de la calidad analgésica, tiempo de hospitalización y costos económicos.

BACKGROUND: The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) defines pain as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage. Total knee arthroplasty is one of the orthopedic surgeries that manifests more pain in the first 24-48 hours, needing a multimodal analgesic therapy. The objective of this work is to compare two different intravenous analgesic modes applied to patients undergoing a primary total knee arthroplasty, analyzing the quality of pain control, hospital stay and costs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Simple blind, comparative and prospective study comprised of 42 patients operated of total knee arthroplasty secondary to degenerative arthritis in the period between May 2016 and May 2017. RESULTS: The distribution of pain showed significant differences (p 0.0401) between both groups, indicating that the application of continuous pump for analgesia controls this symptom early. The hospital stay, on average, was different in the groups (p = 0.001), estimating about 15 hours less following the use of continuous pump. This strategy is globally more economic. DISCUSSION: The continuous infusion pump of analgesia compared with intermittent formal intravenous regimen showed better control of pain, decreasing the perception of pain by the patient, bettering the tolerance to physical therapy and reducing, on average, 15 hours of hospital stay, and thus, the final costs of the surgery.

INTRODUCCIÓN: La Asociación Internacional para el Estudio del Dolor (IASP, por sus siglas en inglés) define el dolor como una experiencia sensorial y emocional desagradable asociada a un daño tisular real o potencial. La artroplastía total de rodilla es una de las cirugías ortopédicas que cursa con más dolor en las primeras 24-48 horas, por lo que precisa de una terapia multimodal de analgesia. El objetivo de este trabajo es comparar dos modos analgésicos endovenosos diferentes aplicados a pacientes sometidos a cirugía de artroplastía total de rodilla primaria, analizando la calidad analgésica, el tiempo de hospitalización y los costos económicos. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Estudio prospectivo, comparativo y simple ciego conformado por 42 pacientes intervenidos quirúrgicamente de artroplastía total de rodilla secundaria a artrosis degenerativa en el período comprendido entre Mayo de 2016 y Mayo de 2017. RESULTADOS: La distribución del dolor mostró diferencias significativas (p 0.0401) entre ambos grupos, indicando que la aplicación de analgesia mediante bomba continua controla este síntoma de manera temprana. El tiempo de hospitalización promedio fue diferente en los grupos (p = 0.001); se estimaron alrededor de 15 horas menos siguiendo el protocolo de bomba continua. Además, esta estrategia es globalmente más económica. CONCLUSIÓN: La bomba de infusión continua de analgesia compara da con la analgesia endovenosa reglada intermitente logró un mejor control del dolor, disminuyendo la percepción del mismo por parte del paciente, con una mejor tolerancia a la fisioterapia y reduciendo, en promedio, 15 horas de hospitalización y, por ende, los costos finales aproximados de la cirugía.

IL17RA gene variants and anti-TNF response among psoriasis patients.

Polymorphisms at genes encoding proteins involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis (Psor) or in the mechanism of action of biological drugs could influence the treatment response. Because the interleukin (IL)-17 family has a central role in the pathogenesis of Psor, we hypothesized that IL17RA variants could influence the response to anti-TNF drugs among Psor patients. To address this issue we performed a cross-sectional study of Psor patients who received the biological treatments for the first time, with a follow-up of at least 6 months. All of the patients were Caucasian, older than 18 years old, with chronic plaque Psor, and had completed at least 24 weeks of anti-TNF therapy (adalimumab, etanercept or infliximab). The treatment response to anti-TNF agents was evaluated according to the achievement of PASI50 and PASI75 at weeks 12 and 24. Those who achieved PASI75 at week 24 were considered good responders. All patients were genotyped for the selected single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at IL17RA gene. A total of 238 patients were included (57% male, mean age 46 years). One hundred and five patients received adalimumab, 91 patients etanercept and 42 infliximab. The rs4819554 promoter SNP allele A was significantly more common among responders at weeks 12 (P=0.01) and 24 (P=0.04). We found a higher frequency of AA versus AG+GG among responders, but the difference was only significant at week 12 (P=0.03, odd ratio=1.86, 95% confidence of interval=1.05-3.27). Thus, in the study population, the SNP rs4819554 in the promoter region of IL17RA significantly influences the response to anti-TNF drugs at week 12.

An Uncommon Association of Familial Partial Lipodystrophy, Dilated Cardiomyopathy, and Conduction System Disease.

A 46-year-old African American woman presented with severe respiratory distress requiring intubation and was diagnosed with nonischemic cardiomyopathy. She had the typical phenotype of familial partial lipodystrophy 2 (FPLD2). Sequence analysis of LMNA gene showed a heterozygous missense mutation at exon 8 (c.1444C>T) causing amino acid change, p.R482W. She later developed severe coronary artery disease requiring multiple percutaneous coronary interventions and coronary artery bypass surgery. She was later diagnosed with diabetes, primary hyperparathyroidism, and euthyroid multinodular goiter. She had sinus nodal and atrioventricular nodal disease and had an implantable cardioverter defibrillator implantation due to persistent left ventricular dysfunction. The device eroded through the skin few months after implantation and needed a re-implant on the contralateral side. She had atrial flutter requiring ablation. This patient with FPLD2 had most of the reported cardiac complications of FPLD2. This case is presented to improve the awareness of the presentation of this disease among cardiologists and internists.

Common and rare CARD14 gene variants affect the antitumour necrosis factor response among patients with psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: The CARD14 gene encodes a protein that enhances nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation and the upregulation of proinflammatory pathway genes. CARD14 is upregulated in psoriatic vs. normal skin, and rare and common CARD14 variants have been associated with the risk of developing psoriasis. Our hypothesis was that CARD14 variants could also influence the response to antitumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapies among patients with psoriasis. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether CARD14 gene variants were linked to a significant positive anti-TNF response in patients with psoriasis. METHODS: DNA from 116 patients with psoriasis was subjected to next-generation sequencing of the CARD14 gene. All of the patients were nonresponders or had contraindications to conventional systemic treatments. RESULTS: A reduction of at least 75% in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI 75) at week 24 was considered a positive response to treatment. In total 116 patients (79 responders and 37 nonresponders) were next-generation sequenced, and we identified five nucleotide variants that would result in missense amino acid changes. These variants were determined in all of the patients, and allele and genotype frequencies were compared between the two groups. We found a significantly higher frequency of rs11652075 CC (p.Arg820Trp) among the group with a positive response (P = 0.01, odds ratio 3.71, 95% confidence interval 1.30-10.51). Furthermore, among responders, six patients were heterozygous carriers of the rare p.Glu422Lys variant, and two patients were heterozygous for p.Arg682Trp (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: The common CARD14 p.Arg820Trp variant might have a significant effect on the response to anti-TNF therapies among patients with psoriasis. In addition, rare CARD14 missense variants could also predispose to a better response.

Minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis in distal radius fractures with metaphyseal extension: A series of 13 cases.

UNLABELLED: To evaluate objective and subjective outcomes after minimally invasive volar locked plate fixation of distal radius fractures with metaphyseal extension, we retrospectively evaluated 13 patients with unstable distal radius fractures with metaphyseal extension, treated by minimally invasive volar locked plating. Patients' average age was 41 years. Two volar incisions, 2 to 3cm long, were made; indirect reduction was performed and a volar locked T-plate was placed submuscularly under fluoroscopy guidance. Twelve fractures healed after an average of 2.46 months; one patient needed revision due to a new injury. The plate had to be removed in one patient. On X-rays, radial height averaged 12.78mm, radial inclination averaged 21.34° and volar tilt averaged 8.22°. Flexion averaged 75°, extension 71.5°, pronation 82.08° and supination 83.08°. Grip strength averaged 83.75% of the contralateral wrist. The DASH score averaged 13.91 points and pain assessed on VAS averaged 0.92 points. In unstable distal radius fractures with metaphyseal extension, minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis using volar locked plates led to good reduction and stable fixation, with low pain levels, and good functional and esthetic results. Indirect reduction techniques, fluoroscopy, and restoration of radial length, rotation and alignment, are necessary to achieve these outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Reembolización de arterias uterinas por hemorragia posparto en una segunda gestación / Uterine artery embolization for postpartum hemorrhage in a second pregnancy

La hemorragia posparto es la principal causa de muerte obstétrica. Presentamos el caso de una gestación y parto normales tras la embolización bilateral de ambas arterias uterinas, por hemorragia posparto en la gestación anterior. La paciente requirió de una nueva embolización bilateral de arterias uterinas en esta segunda gestación con buen resultado obstétrico. La embolización arterial pélvica en el manejo de la hemorragia posparto refractaria al tratamiento médico, permite en ocasiones evitar el tratamiento quirúrgico, conservando la fertilidad de la paciente.

The postpartum hemorrhage is the main cause of obstetric death. We report a case of normal pregnancy and delivery after bilateral embolization of uterine arteries due to postpartum hemorrhage in a previous pregnancy. A new bilateral embolization of uterine arteries was needed in this second pregnancy with good obstetric results. The pelvic arterial embolization in the management of postpartum hemorrhage refractory to medical treatment, avoids the surgical treatment, preserving fertility.

Ictus isquémico poscefalea migrañosa en gestante a término / Ischemic ictus post migraine headache in a pregnancy woman

Se presenta el caso de una primigesta de 32 años que acude en la semana 38,3 por cefalea de carácter migrañoso de aparición brusca e intensidad moderada de dos días de evolución, asociada a fotopsias y a pérdida definida de un campo de la visión lateral izquierda. Tras descartar otra focalidad neurológica y preclampsia se comprueba el bienestar fetal y es valorada por oftalmólogos y neurólogos diagnosticando una cuadrantapnosia superior izquierda asociada a un síndrome de vasoconstricción cerebral reversible. La resonancia magnética revela un infarto cerebral en el territorio de la arteria cerebral posterior derecha y se comprueba en la angio-resonancia el defecto de repleción. Valorando la posibilidad de un inicio espontáneo del parto y la necesidad de iniciar tratamiento médico con ácido acetil salicílico para resolver el ictus se realiza una cesárea urgente con anestesia general con excelente resultado obstétrico y materno.

We report a case of a 38.3 weeks first prengancy woman o 32 year old who comes to the emergency service because she referred a two day acute migraine headache of sudden appereance with spintherism and a loose of a part of the left visual field. She did not had convulsive seizures nor strength or sensitive looses. Blood pressure was incongruous with preeclampsia, and she did not have proteinuria. After reassuring about well fetal being she is studied by ophtalmologists and neurologist who diagnose an of upper-left quadrantapnosia due to a reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome. NMR and angio-NMR show a cerebral infarction in the right back cerebral artery area. Because of the risk of an spontaneous start of birth labour and the need of salicilyc acid treatment we decided to finish the pregnancy practising an urgent caesarean section under general anesthesic with an excellent mother and fetal result.

Embarazo con acromegalia materna asociada a crecimiento intrauterino fetal retardado / Pregnancy in acromegalic women associated with intrauterine growth restriction

La acromegalia es el exceso de secreción de hormona de crecimiento (HC). Esta alteración está relacionada con esterilidad y con complicaciones maternas durante el embarazo por aumento de la secreción de la HC. Presentamos el caso de una gestante diagnosticada de acromegalia persistente a pesar de haber sido operada vía transesfenoidal y tratada con cabergolina. Durante la gestación, la paciente no presentó complicaciones metabólicas ni tensionales, observándose un progresivo descenso de los niveles del factor de crecimiento insulínico-1 (IGF-I). El feto tuvo un crecimiento acorde con la amenorrea hasta la semana 31 en la que hizo una restricción del crecimiento con oligoamnios y alteración en el doppler en la semana 37. Se finalizó la gestación realizando una cesárea naciendo un recién nacido de 2400 gramos sin complicaciones neonatales. Aunque el curso del embarazo de las gestantes con acromegalia transcurre generalmente sin complicaciones, presentamos el primer caso descrito de un crecimiento intrauterino retardado en una paciente con acromegalia.

Pregnancy in acromegalic patients is an infrequent event, due to perturbed gonadotroph function. On the other hand, pregnancy may cause an enlargement of the adenoma or an increase of growth hormone (GH) secretion. We report the case of a pregnant acromegalic woman who had been previously operated by transphenoidal approach and treated with cabergolin. A progressive decrease of insuline-like growth factor-1 (IGF1) level during pregnancy without tumoral syndrome or visual troubles was shown during pregnancy. Neither metabolic complication nor hypertension were detected. Ultrasound performed at 31th week showed a decrease of the fetal growth. At 37th week, an intrauterine growth restriction and oligohydramnios was diagnosed. It was performed a cesarean section and it was delivered a healthy 2700 grams male newborn. Our report suggests that pregnancy could not influence negatively in acromegalic patient but may be associated with intrauterine growth restriction.

Purely intramedullary spinal cord primitive neuroectodermal tumor: case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNETs) are malign neoplasms of the central nervous system which mainly locate in cerebellum (medulloblastoma). Primary intraspinal PNETs are rare. Within this group, we have found ten cases of purely intramedullary PNETs (IPNETs). In this report, we describe a new IPNET case and review the literature about these infrequent intramedullary tumors. CASE REPORT: A 17 month-old boy showed progressive decrease of motion in his lower extremities. Spine magnetic resonance imaging revealed an intramedullary expansive lesion from T3 to T10. A near-total removal was performed. The pathological diagnosis was PNET. Subsequent chemotherapy was recommended. Six months after operation, holocord progression has occurred. CONCLUSION: IPNETs are uncommon tumors affecting children and young adults. They are characterized by recurrence, progression or intracranial dissemination. Outcome is dismal: most patients die within two years in spite of surgical resection followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

[Dumbbell-shaped spinal epidural cavernous angioma. Case report and review of the literature]. / Cavernoma raquídeo epidural en reloj de arena. Presentación de un caso y revisión de la literatura.

Spinal epidural cavernous angiomas are rare vascular malformations that exceptionally present with dumbbell-shape morphology. When it happens, preoperative misdiagnosis is the rule, because the clinicoradiological picture is quite similar to the nerve sheath tumours one. Spinal epidural cavernomas complete resection can be achieved with surgical treatment and scarcely morbi-mortality, and excellent outcome can be expected. We report a case of a 57 year-old woman carrying a dumbbell-shaped epidural cavernoma located at C7 and D1 levels that was surgically removed. Special diagnostic features of this kind of lesions are discussed and treatment options currently available are reviewed.

Hemorrhagic stroke associated with the Iowa amyloid precursor protein mutation.

The authors searched for mutations in the beta-amyloid precursor protein in a Spanish family with a hereditary syndrome of hemorrhagic stroke, dementia, leukoencephalopathy, and occipital calcifications. DNA from two affected members demonstrated the Iowa amyloid precursor protein mutation previously identified as a cause of severe amyloid angiopathy without hemorrhagic stroke. These data point to other genetic or environmental factors that may determine the occurrence of symptomatic hemorrhage in amyloid angiopathy.

Comparación de susceptibilidad de especies de shigella a antimicrobianos de uso habitual en el Hospital Regional de Temuco, Chile 1990-2001 / Shigella species susceptibility to commonly used antimicrobials in the Temuco Regional Hospital, Chile 1990-2001

Background: The permanent surveillance of antimicrobial susceptibility of Shigella sp in the Temuco Regional Hospital, allowed us to define the empirical use of antimicrobials in dysenteric syndrome. Aim: To study antimicrobial susceptibility of Shigella strains collected from 1997 to May 2001 and compare the results with those reported in 1990. Material and methods: Two hundred and seventeen Shigella strains, coming from stool cultures of pediatric patients, were studied. Results: In the period 1989-1990 Shigella flexneri was the main species isolated (83 percent) whereas, in the period 1997-2001, Shigella sonnei (55.8 percent) predominated. In the second period, an increase of antimicrobial resistance, as compared with the period 1989-1990, was observed for ampicillin (74.5 and 42 percent respectively), for cotrimoxazol (57.5 and 45 percent respectively) and tetracycline (64 and 8 percent respectively). Chloramphenicol resistance increased from 0 to 57.5 percent. In the second period no resistance to ciprofloxacin was detected. There was simultaneous resistance to four drugs in 30 percent of the strains, predominating multiresistance in S flexneri (52.1 percent). Conclusions: In the two periods studied, a significant increase was detected in the resistance of Shigella strains to antimicrobials

Familial occipital calcifications, hemorrhagic strokes, leukoencephalopathy, dementia, and external carotid dysplasia.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a new familial association of late-onset dementia, patchy leukoencephalopathy, intracerebral hemorrhages, bilateral occipital calcifications (BOC), and external carotid artery dysplasia (ECAD). METHODS: At age 62, the proband, who was of Spanish descent, had left temporal hemorrhage in a background of progressive mental deterioration. Neuroimaging revealed fine tram-line BOC, extensive leukoencephalopathy, and bilateral ECAD. Biologic screening for celiac disease was negative. Skin biopsy with ultrastructural study revealed heretofore unreported changes in the basal lamina of capillaries, with multilayered appearance and round-shaped microcalcifications. Of 19 next-of-kin who survived beyond 60 years of age, six had brain disorders; four of the six presented at least three components of the syndrome. The proband's mother had died at age 83 with profound dementia; one sister, who was diagnosed with dementia with BOC and leukoencephalopathy at age 67, died 2 years later from intracerebral hemorrhage; a brother had an occipital hemorrhage at age 58, at which time BOC and leukoencephalopathy were discovered; and another brother died after a minor stroke at age 70 with dementia, leukoaraiosis, BOC, and ECAD. A proband's cousin also had an unexplained ischemic stroke at age 55, but without other features of the entity. In no subject was there evidence of seizures, facial angioma, or intracranial vascular malformation, and arterial hypertension was neither constant nor severe. CONCLUSION: These clinical, neuroradiologic, and histologic features suggest a new familial cerebrovascular entity with widespread microvascular calcifications and autosomal (presumably dominant) inheritance. We suggest the acronym FOCHS-LADD, for familial occipital calcifications, hemorrhagic strokes, leukoencephalopathy, arterial dysplasia, and dementia.

Resistencia de especies de shigella a antimicrobianos de uso habitual en el Hospital Regional Temuco, Chile / Resistance of the shigella species to regular antibiotics in the Regional Hospital of Temuco, Chile

El Hospital Regional de Temuco realiza vigilancia permanente de susceptibilidad a antimicrobianos en shigella detectándose desde 1996 resistencia progresiva a cloranfenicol, droga de elección en el tratamiento empírico frente a la sospecha de shigellosis. Se estudiaron 200 cepas de shigella aisladas de pacientes pediátricos que consultaron por diarrea entre julio 1997 y octubre 2000. La identificación bioquímica y serológica de las especies se realizó mediante metodología tradicional. La susceptibilidad a antimicrobianos de uso habitual, se midió mediante método de difusión en agar (Kirby-Bauer). Distribución por especies: shigella sonnei 64,5 por ciento y S. flexneri 35,5 por ciento. Se detectó 73 por ciento de resistencia a ampicilina, 56,5 por ciento a cloranfenicol, 45 por ciento a cotrimoxazol y 0 por ciento a ciprofloxacino. S. flexneri presentó resistencia y multirresistencia significativamente mayor. La resistencia limita las posibilidades terapéuticas, lo que incentiva a continuar con la vigilancia, para establecer normas de tratamiento y controlar la selección y diseminación de cepas multirresistentes

Oxidative stress in chronic renal failure.

This study focuses on the oxidative stress in patients with severe chronic renal failure who are not undergoing dialysis treatment. The erythocyte levels, creatinine clearing and plasma- and cell activities of the following enzymes were determined: glutathione peroxidase (Gpx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione transferase (GT). The concentrations of non-enzyme molecules such as total glutathione in both oxidized and reduced forms, and malonyldialdehyde (MDA) were also measured. The obtained values were compared with those in healthy blood donors of comparable age and social status. The results indicate that chronic renal patients have lower glutathione levels and reduced activities of glutathione peroxidase and of glutathione reductase, while exhibiting elevated levels of malonyldialdehyde and activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione transferase, and catalase. Finally, creatinine clearing was found to be correlated (p < 0.001) to total (oxidized and reduced) glutathione, Gpx and MDA. These observations may serve to establish a simple protocol for evaluation of renal function.