A pilot study into the use of Continuous Venous Hyperfiltration to manage patients in a critical state with dysregulated inflammation. / Estudio piloto sobre el uso de la Hiperfiltración Venosa Continua para el manejo de pacientes en estado crítico con inflamación desregulada.

INTRODUCTION: Haemofiltration paradigms used to manage critically ill patients with a dysregulated inflammatory response (DIR) assess kidney function to monitor its onset, adaptation, and completion. A Continuous Venous Hyperfiltration (CONVEHY) protocol is presented, in which a non-specific adsorption membrane (AN69-ST-Heparin Grafted) is used with citrate as an anticoagulant and substitution fluid. CONVEHY uses tools readily available to achieve kidney related and non-related objectives, and it is guided by the monitoring of pathophysiological responses. OBJECTIVES: To compare the response to an AN69-ST-HG membrane when heparin (He, n=5: Standard protocol) or citrate (Ci, n=6: CONVEHY protocol) was used to evaluate whether a larger study into the benefits of this protocol would be feasible. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a retrospective pilot study, the benefits of the CONVEHY protocol to manage patients with a DIR in a surgical critical care unit (CCUs) were assessed by evaluating the SOFA (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment) (He 11 ± 2.35; Ci 11 ± 3.63: p=0.54) and APACHE II (He 28.60 ± 9.40; Ci 24 ± 8.46: p=0.93) scores. RESULTS: Nights in hospital (He 35.2 ± 16.3 nights; Ci 9 ± 2.53: p=0.004), hospital admission after discharge from the CCUs (He 40.25 ± 21.82; Ci 13.2 ± 4.09: p=0.063), patients hospitalised >20 days (He 80%; Ci 0%: p=0.048), days requiring mechanical ventilation (He 16 ± 5.66; Ci 4 ± 1.72: p=0.004), and the predicted (55.39 ± 26.13%) versus real mortality in both groups (9.1%: p=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: The CONVEHY protocol improves the clinical responses of patients with DIR, highlighting the potential value of performing larger and confirmatory studies.

The role of brain biopsy in the clinical management of HIV-related focal brain lesions.

OBJECTIVES: Up to 20% of HIV-related focal brain lesion (FBL) diagnoses cannot be determined without invasive procedures. In such cases, brain biopsy is an important step in the evaluation algorithm. The aims of this study were to describe the clinical outcomes of patients with FBL, the proportion of diagnoses confirmed by brain biopsies and their aetiologies, and to analyse the proportion of patients in whom the biopsy motivated a change in therapeutic management. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed. The data from clinical records of patients with HIV-related FBL admitted between January 2005 and December 2015 were reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 137 patients were included in the study. The median age was 39 years [interquartile range (IQR) 33-44.5 years]. The median CD4 count was 54 cells/µL (IQR 21-124 cells/µL). Cerebral brain biopsy was performed in 21.16% of patients (29 of 137); 68.9% of these individuals (20 of 29) were diagnosed by histology, with results of central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma in 20.6% (six of 29), progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy in 6.8% (two of 29), toxoplasmosis in 6.8% (two of 29), tuberculoma in 6.8% (two of 29), and other diagnoses in 27.6% (eight of 29). In nine patients, the histology was nonspecific. In 75.8% of patients (22 of 29), the result of the biopsy led to a change in the therapeutic management. We did not observe higher rates of mortality related to the procedure. Overall mortality at 30 and 90 days was similar in patients who were and were not biopsied. CONCLUSIONS: In this retrospective cohort study, cerebral biopsy was associated with significant adjustments in therapeutic management for a high percentage of patients.

[Intraoperative fluid therapy in infants with congestive heart failure due to intracranial pial arteriovenous fistula]. / Fluidoterapia intraoperatoria en lactante con insuficiencia cardiaca congestiva por fístula arteriovenosa pial intracraneal.

Pial arteriovenous fistula is a rare intracranial congenital malformation (0.1-1: 100,000). It has a high blood flow between one or more pial arteries and drains into the venous circulation. It is usually diagnosed during the childhood by triggering an intracranial hypertension and/or congestive heart failure due to left-right systemic shunt. It is a rare malformation with a complex pathophysiology. The perioperative anaesthetic management is not well established. We present a 6-month-old infant diagnosed with pial arteriovenous fistula with hypertension and congestive heart failure due to left-right shunt. He required a craniotomy and clipping of vascular malformation. Anaesthetic considerations in patients with this condition are a great challenge. It must be performed by multidisciplinary teams with experience in paediatrics. The maintenance of blood volume during the intraoperative course is very important. Excessive fluid therapy can precipitate a congestive heart failure or intracranial hypertension, and a lower fluid therapy may cause a tissue hypoxia due to the bleeding.

Dentate gyrus expression of nestin-immunoreactivity in patients with drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy and hippocampal sclerosis.

PURPOSE: Granule cells pathology in dentate gyrus, have received considerable attention in terms of understanding the pathophysiology of temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis. The aim of this study was to determine the nestin (an intermediate filament protein expressed by newly formed cells), immunoreactivity (IR) in granular cells layers of hippocampal tissue extirpated during epilepsy surgical procedure, in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. METHODS: Hippocampal sections of 16 patients with hippocampal sclerosis and drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy were processed using immunoperoxidase with antibody to nestin. Archival material from 8 normal post-mortem hippocampus, were simultaneously processed. Reactive area for nestin-IR, the total number of positive nestin cells per field (20×), and the MGV (mean gray value) was determined by computerized image analysis (ImageJ), and compared between groups. Student's t test was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Nestin-IR cells were found in granule cells layers of both controls and patients. Larger reactive somas (p < 0.01) were found in epileptic's sections but a significant reduction in the total number of nestin-IR cells per field and in the MGV was found in granular cells layers of patients with hippocampal sclerosis (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Reduced expression of nestin-IR in granular cells layers of epileptic's dentate gyrus may reflect changes in dentate gyrus neuroplasticity associated to chronic temporal epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis. Further studies are required to determine the clinical implications on memory an emotional alterations such as depression.

Crossed aphasia after right anterior temporal lobectomy. A case report.

The occurrence of crossed aphasia as a complication after temporal lobe epilepsy surgery is extremely rare. We report the case of a 47-year-old right-handed patient with drug-resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) who developed a transitory aphasic syndrome after a right temporal anterior lobectomy. This syndrome was characterized by anomia, poor verbal fluency, verbal perseveration, and verbal comprehension difficulties. He also showed writing difficulties, reading substitutions, and calculation task errors. The patient was regularly assessed with language tasks, and showed a spontaneous and progressive recovery of his symptoms, with remaining naming difficulties. We discuss the role that epileptogenic zone could play in cortical reorganization of the language systems.

HIV-infected children with moderate/severe immune-suppression: changes in the immune system after highly active antiretroviral therapy.

The objective of this study was to monitor the changes in the immune system of HIV-infected children with moderate or severe immunodeficiency after highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), comprising a follow-up study in 14 HIV-infected children on HAART at two time points separated approximately by 11.8 +/- 0.4 (9.9; 15.4) months. HIV-infected children had significantly lower TREC levels than the control group, but 1 year after HAART the levels increased significantly (P < 0.05). In contrast, viral load (VL) did not change significantly. A positive correlation between T cell receptor excision circle (TREC) levels and both CD4(+) T cell absolute counts (r = 0.558; P = 0.05) and percentages (r = 0.625; P = 0.030) was found. During follow-up on HAART, the percentages and absolute counts of naive CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell subsets were increased significantly (P < 0.05). CD4(+) CD45RA(hi+) CD62L(+), CD4(+) CD45RA(+) and CD4(+) CD38(+) percentages, and the CD8(+) CD45RA(hi+) CD62L(+) counts reached similar values to the control group. Also, CD8(+) CD45RO(+) CD38(+) and CD8(+) CD45RO(+) percentages, and CD8(+) CD45RO(+) CD38(+) absolute counts (P < 0.05) decreased with respect to the baseline. Lymphoproliferative responses to pokeweed mitogen (PWM) before HAART were lower in HIV-infected children than the control group, but they recovered to normal levels after a year on HAART. Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interferon (IFN)-gamma production by PHA-activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was lower before HAART (P < 0.001), but reached similar levels to the control group 1 year after HAART. In HIV-infected children IgG, IgG(1) and IgG(3) plasma levels decreased significantly after HAART. The immune system reconstitution induced by HAART in HIV-infected children seems to be the consequence of decreased immune system activation and naive T cell reconstitution, mainly of thymic origin.

Clinical-electroencephalogram patterns at seizure onset in patients with hippocampal sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to identify specific clinical-electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns at seizure onset in patients with hippocampal sclerosis (HS). METHODS: Sixty-six ictal video-EEG recordings corresponding to 26 patients with HS have been reviewed, focusing on the EEG features found during the first 30 ictal s. The EEG activity has been classified into the following groups: (A) according to spatial distribution: type 1: temporal electrodes on one side; type 2: temporal and adjacent frontal electrodes on one side; and type 3: non-lateralizing electrographic activity; and (B) according to morphology; subtype (a): regular 5-9 Hz rhythmic activity (RA); subtype (b): low-voltage rapid activity, followed by a 5-9 Hz RA; and subtype (c): irregular EEG sharp waves. We analyzed the clinical symptoms sequence and established the relationship with the ictal EEG patterns. RESULTS: Considering spatial distribution and morphology, the most frequent ictal EEG patterns were type 1 (57%), type 2 (37%), and subtype (a): 62%; subtype (b): 27%; and subtype (c): 11%. The sequence of clinical symptoms observed was: aura-->behavioral arrest-->oro-alimentary automatisms-->unilateral hand automatisms. All seizures with aura and including two or more symptoms of the clinical sequence (65%) were associated with a 1a, 1b, 2a or 2b EEG pattern. CONCLUSIONS: The identification of a specific clinical-EEG pattern provides a useful tool for the epileptogenic zone localization in non-invasive pre-surgical assessment of patients with hippocampal sclerosis. SIGNIFICANCE: The identification of a specific clinical-EEG pattern associated to neuroimaging findings and neuropsychological testing allows indicating surgery for the treatment of epilepsy in patients with hippocampal sclerosis, without performing any further complementary studies.

Antiphospholipid antibodies: a risk factor for occlusive retinal vascular disorders. Comparison with ocular inflammatory diseases.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) together with immunological characteristics of patients with occlusive retinal vascular disorders (ORVD) with and without risk factors (systemic arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and embolizing cardiac disease) for retinal occlusions compared to patients with ocular inflammatory diseases (OID) and healthy controls. METHODS: Sixty-eight patients with ORVD, 45 patients with OID, and 49 healthy persons were prospectively studied. Serologic studies included determination of anticardiolipin antibodies, lupus anticoagulant, antinuclear antibodies (ANA), levels of complement 4 and 3, total hemolytic complement (CH100), and circulating immune complexes (CIC). RESULTS: Elevated levels of aPL were detected in 16 (24%) patients with ORVD compared to 4 (9%) patients with OID (OR 3.15, p < 0.05) and 4 (8%) controls (OR 3.46, p < 0.05). No significant differences were seen in the prevalence of aPL comparing risk factor-positive patients with ORVD (8 of 33, 24%) to risk factor-free patients with ORVD (8 of 35, 23%). A higher frequency of positive ANA, elevated IgA, and increased CIC were detected in aPL positive patients with ORVD compared to patients with OID. CONCLUSION: Detection of aPL in patients with ORVD may help determine which patients are eligible for prophylactic treatment. An immunologic profile characterized by high prevalence of ANA, CIC, and elevated IgA distinguishes ORVD patients with aPL from inflammatory ophthalmologic disorders.

[Retinal thrombosis in young patients. Immunological and clinical aspects]. / Trombosis retiniana en pacientes jóvenes. Aspectos inmunológicos y clínicos.

OBJECTIVES: To ascertain preexisting medical conditions, clinical evolution of retinopathy, and associated immunological disorders in a series of young patients suffering from retinal thrombosis, and to determine the prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies. METHODS: Twenty two patients younger than 50 years, who had presented an acute retinal thrombotic episode, were studied prospectively with a general physical, ophthalmoscopic and immunological examination, placing special emphasis on the detection of antiphospholipid antibodies (anticardiolipin antibodies and lupus anticoagulant). RESULTS: No baseline disease stood out significantly over the others, and the most frequent risk factor found was systemic arterial hypertension (5/22%). No associated risk factor was found in nine cases (41%), and more than two factors were found in six cases (27%). Most of the vascular occlusions affected the venous vessels (18/81%), and five of them were associated with vasculitis. The ophthalmologic follow-up showed a rapid evolution to retinal neovascularization in 11 cases. Our data show many immunologically altered values, there being nine cases (41%) of the series with more than four parameters altered. The antiphospholipid assay showed a high prevalence of anticardiolipin antibodies (5/23%), and two patients were diagnosed of primary antiphospholipid syndrome. The lupus anticoagulant was negative in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of anticardiolipin antibodies and immunologic abnormalities found in the retinal thrombosis younger patients leads us to recommend the systematic immunological study in these subjects. It has relevant diagnostic and therapeutic implications in a population with no evident associated risk factors and a greater severity of retinopathy.

Subfascial and submuscular methods of temporal muscle dissection and their relationship to the frontal branch of the facial nerve. Technical note.

The microsurgical anatomy of the temporal and zygomatic branches of the facial nerve are presented along with related local vasculature (frontal and parietal branches of the superficial temporal artery [STA]) as encountered when using subfascial and submuscular temporal muscle dissection techniques for anterolateral craniotomies. Twenty sides were studied in 10 cadaveric specimens that had been previously injected with latex. The rami of the temporal and zygomatic branches of the facial nerve and branches of the STA were dissected out through pterional and orbitozygomatic approaches by using a submuscular or subfascial temporal muscle dissection technique. The three rami of the temporal branch of the facial nerve (the auricularis, frontalis, and orbicularis) were found to run within the galeal plane of the scalp. The zygomatic branch of the facial nerve was found to course deeper than the most caudal extension of the galea, known as the superficial musculoaponeurotic layer. The frontal branch of the STA served as an important landmark for the subfascial or submuscular dissections because excessive reflection of the scalp flap inferior to the level of this vessel would inadvertently injure the frontalis branch of the facial nerve. Subfascial and submuscular dissections of the temporal muscle offer an alternative to the interfascial technique during anterolateral craniotomies. Scalp and temporal dissection performed with careful attention to anatomical landmarks (frontal branch of the STA and the suprafascial fat pad) provides a safe and expeditious alternative to the traditional interfascial technique.

The pretemporal transcavernous approach to the interpeduncular and prepontine cisterns: microsurgical anatomy and technique application.

OBJECTIVE: To illustrate in a stepwise fashion the microsurgical anatomy of the transcavernous approach to the interpeduncular and prepontine cisterns and to discuss our initial results with 15 basilar tip aneurysms managed through that approach. METHODS: Using 10 embalmed cadaveric heads perfused with colored silicon, we performed bilateral stepwise dissections of the transcavernous approach via an orbitozygomatic pretemporal craniotomy. Measurements of the exposure of the basilar artery obtained along the dorsum sellae and upper clivus were taken. Our clinical data were derived from a series of 15 patients with large basilar tip aneurysms treated surgically via the transcavernous approach between 1997 and 1999. Indications for surgery were based on the size of the aneurysm (all were large) and its position in relation to the dorsum sellae (eight were more than 5 mm below the level of the dorsum sellae). RESULTS: Good exposure of the neurovascular structures of the interpeduncular and prepontine cisterns (namely, the basilar artery) was obtained in all cases as compared with other well-established approaches to the area. All patients in our surgical series did well except that all incurred an expected third nerve palsy, caused by surgical manipulation, which resolved over the course of 2 weeks to 3 months. CONCLUSION: Although technically difficult, the transcavernous approach provides better exposure of the interpeduncular and prepontine cisterns relative to that afforded by other, more conventional approaches. The satisfactory results obtained in our preliminary series of patients greatly support the use of this approach for complex basilar tip aneurysms.

Immunological abnormalities in primary APS evolving into SLE: 6 years follow-up in women with repeated pregnancy loss.

We have performed a prospective study to determine the prevalence of immunological abnormalities and the evolution from primary antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) into systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in women who had had unexplained repeated pregnancy loss (PL) and APS. Of 105 women with abortions or fetal deaths, 33(31%) fulfilled criteria for APS. Among these patients with primary APS, 24% had antinuclear antibodies (ANA), 91% had elevated circulating immune complexes (CIC), 70% had low total haemolytic complement (CH100), 52% had low levels of complement 4 (C4) and 30% had low levels of complement 3 (C3), in a significantly higher prevalence than women whose pregnancies were successful (control group). Through out a 6 y follow-up, 3 (9%) of the patients with APS who had autoimmune related abnormalities when entered into the study developed features of lupus like disease (LLD) or fullblown SLE. Our findings suggest that women with unexplained repeated PL with APS who presented with positive ANA, high levels of CIC, low levels of CH100, C3 and C4, may define a subset of patients exhibiting immunological alterations similar to those of SLE. These parameters may help in the assessment of prognosis in APS patients with PL. Those patients should be carefully surveyed with regard to the development of connective tissue diseases.

Compression of the internal jugular vein by the transverse process of the atlas as the cause of cerebellar hemorrhage after supratentorial craniotomy.

BACKGROUND: The cerebellar hemorrhage reported in numerous cases after supratentorial craniotomy has uniformly exhibited the characteristics of hemorrhage associated with venous infarction rather than arterial bleeding. The cause has remained obscure, although previous reports suggested that the cause may be obstruction of flow in the internal jugular vein immediately below the base of the skull. METHODS: The microsurgical anatomy of 36 internal jugular veins in the upper cervical region were defined in adult cadaveric specimens using 3-40x magnification with special attention to the relationship of the vein to the atlas. RESULTS: In every specimen, the posterior wall of the internal jugular vein rested against the transverse process of the atlas as the vein descended immediately below the jugular foramen. In 14 of 36 specimens, the transverse process indented the posterior wall of the vein, causing the vein to be slightly or moderately angulated as it descended across the anterior surface of the transverse process. Three veins were severely kinked as they descended across the transverse process of the atlas. CONCLUSIONS: Obstruction of flow in the internal jugular vein at the site where the vein descends across the transverse process of the atlas is a likely cause of the venous hypertension that has resulted in the cerebellar hemorrhage reported in numerous cases after supratentorial craniotomy. An examination of the biomechanics of the region confirms that turning the head to the side opposite a supratentorial craniotomy and extending the neck, common practices with unilateral supratentorial craniotomy, further aggravates the angulation and obstruction of the internal jugular vein at the transverse process of C1 on the side ipsilateral to the craniotomy.