Coexisting non-functioning pituitary macroadenoma and sellar-suprasellar lipoma: A case report and literature review

@#Intracranial lipomas are benign tumors that may occasionally be found in the suprasellar cistern while pituitary adenomas are far more common brain tumors. Pituitary adenomas may rarely coexist with other intracranial tumors in the sellar-suprasellar region. We share a unique case of a patient with coexisting non-functioning pituitary adenoma and sellar-suprasellar lipoma presenting with blurring of vision. We report a 55-year-old male presenting with a two-year history of blurring of vision with findings of a 2.7 x 3.0 x 3.2 cm homogeneously enhancing lobulated isointense mass on the sellar-suprasellar region. Hormonal workups revealed low cortisol and mildly elevated prolactin. He initially underwent endonasal transsphenoidal excision of the tumor which revealed to be a lipoma on histopathology. Due to minimal improvement of vision from the subtotal excision, he underwent repeat surgery through the transcranial approach which in turn showed a pituitary adenoma. The co-occurrence of two sellar-suprasellar tumors with different histology is rare, as most of the evidence is based on only a handful of case series. Intracranial lipomas result from persistence and abnormal differentiation of the meninx primitiva during the development of the subarachnoid cisterns. On the other hand, pituitary tumorigenesis is still largely unclear but appears to involve multiple tumor suppressor genes, oncogenes, cell cycle deregulation factors, and miRNAs. Given the differing pathogenesis of each tumor type, the coexistence may only be coincidental. The best surgical approach in this situation is unknown but the focus is on complete excision of the adenoma.

Exophytic and fungating papillary thyroid carcinoma: A rare and complex presentation of a well-differentiated malignancy

@#Papillary thyroid carcinoma is the most common well-differentiated thyroid malignancy accounting for more than 80 to 90% of all thyroid tumors. It has an overall excellent prognosis owing to advances in screening via imaging and ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy, which have facilitated early detection, diagnosis, and surgical treatment followed by adjuvant radioactive iodine therapy. Exceptionally rare cases of papillary thyroid tumors may present with enormous growth due to delayed consultation and, thus, late diagnosis, posing a challenge to definitive management, quality of life, overall survival, and prognosis. We report a case of a 35-year-old woman who presented with a 4-year history of a bleeding exophytic and fungating anterior neck mass. Computed tomography showed a fungating mass arising from the left thyroid lobe that measured 14.1 x 14.0 x 11.1 cm with areas of necrosis and hemorrhage, left internal jugular vein thrombus formation, and compression of the left internal carotid artery. The mass causes a displacement of the trachea to the right side and multiple bilateral cervical lymphadenopathies. The patient was fully aware, and she consented to undergo wide excision, total thyroidectomy, neck dissection, and pectoralis major muscle flap reconstruction. However, she went into arrest intraoperatively attributed to massive pulmonary embolism. Papillary thyroid cancer is well known for its excellent prognosis. However, outcomes may not be favorable and can even be fatal in advanced and extensive cases. Although fungating papillary cancers are rare, they remain more common in the developing countries, where early detection and access to healthcare remains limited. They also represent a big challenge to surgeons. Even if the outcome was not good, we opted to report this case as there were many learning points. If only patients with good and excellent outcomes are reported in the literature, it will overestimate the treatment success of these complex cases.

Quality of nutritional care assessment among critically-ill patients in a tertiary government hospital

@#<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Background and Objectives:</strong> Malnutrition is prevalent both at baseline admission and because of hospitalization. It is aggravated by adverse hospital practices and results in poor outcomes, reduced quality of life, and higher treatment costs. Improving quality of care involves nutritional intervention as a low-risk, cost-effective strategy which guides providers in improving practices systems-wise. This study aims to assess the quality of nutritional care and the nutritional status of critically- ill patients admitted in a low-resource setting.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Materials and Methods:</strong> This is a mixed methods study among adults admitted in intensive care units (ICUs) of a tertiary government hospital. Anthropometric and biochemical indicators were obtained through chart review. The degree of malnutrition was assessed using the Subjective Global Assessment. Quality indicators under Donabedian domains were assessed and compared to current standards. The length of ICU stay and mortality rate were recorded. Dietary prescription and provision practices of healthcare providers were supplemented by a focus group discussion (FGD). Factors causing provision interruptions were also identified.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Results and Discussion:</strong> Sixty-four ICU admissions were included. Staff-to-patient ratio was not ideal. Under process-related factors, out of 49% with actual anthropometric documentations (rest were estimates), 24% had normal body mass indices (BMI), 17% were underweight, and the rest were either overweight or obese. The baseline ICU malnutrition rate was 69%. Malnutrition screening, and assessment of risk and biochemical indicators were not done routinely. Majority (92%) had baseline dietary prescription but only 69% had specific energy and macronutrient breakdown, all done through predictive weight-based equations. Nutritional supplies arrived within 8 hours in 65% of patients. Feeding was initiated within 24-28 hours in 94% of patients. Commercial formula was the preferred type of enteral nutrition (EN). Total duration on nothing-by-mouth (NPO) (hours) throughout ICU stay was significant. Supportive measures to improve gastro-intestinal (GI) tolerance were not standardized. Common factors in delaying feeding initiation were hemodynamic instability, fasting for procedures and GI bleeding. Throughout the ICU stay, fasting for procedures, hemodynamic instability and mechanical ventilation (MV)-related factors were common. ICU mortality rate was 19% and average length of ICU stay was 5 days.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Malnutrition is still prevalent in our ICUs and is affected by suboptimal healthcare practices. Staff - to-patient ratios, malnutrition risk screening and assessment, dietary referrals, documentation and minimizing interruptions in nutritional care provision needs improvement. A system review and establishment of a nutrition team is imperative.</p>

Susceptibility of Arcobacter butzleri to human blood serum / Susceptibilidade de Arcobacter butzleri ao soro humano

A susceptibilidade de 10 amostras de Arcobacter butzleri ao soro humano foi estudada. A maior atividade bactericida foi encontrada no soro humano normal, com taxas de sobrevivência bacterianainversamente proporcionais à diluição do soro. As maiores taxas de sobrevivência foram obtidas com o soro inativado pelo calor. As taxas de sobrevivência decresceram com a adição de soro fresco ao inativado. O soro com valores reduzidos de gamaglobulinas e valores normais de complemento mostrou ativo efeito bactericida. Os resultados demonstraram que A. butzleri é altamente susceptível ao efeito bactericida do soro humano, sugerindo que pode ser capaz de ativar diretamente o complemento pela via alternativa.