Highly realistic simulation for robot-assisted hypothalamic hamartoma real-time MRI-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT).

PURPOSE: Real-time MRI-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) is a challenging procedure due to its technical complexity, as well as the need for efficient multidisciplinary teamwork and transfer of an anesthetized patient between operating room (OR) and magnetic resonance (MR). A highly realistic simulation was developed to design the safest process before being applied to real patients. In this report, authors address the description of the methodology used for this simulation and its purposefulness. METHODS: The entire image planning, anesthetic, and surgical process were performed on a modified pediatric simulation mannequin with a brain made of medical grade silicone including a hypothalamic hamartoma. Preoperative CT and MR were acquired. Stereotactic insertion of the optical fiber was assisted by the Neuromate® stereotactic robot. Laser ablation was performed with the Medtronic Visualase® MRI-guided system in a 3T Phillips Ingenia® MR scanner. All the stages of the process, participants, and equipment were the same as planned for a real surgery. RESULTS: No critical errors were found in the process design that prevented the procedure from being performed with adequate safety. Specific proposals for team positioning and interaction in patient transfers and in MR room were validated. Some specific elements that could improve safety were identified. CONCLUSION: Highly realistic simulation has been an extremely useful tool for safely planning LITT, because professionals were able to take actions in the workflow based not on ideas but on lived experiences. It contributed definitively to build a well-coordinated surgical team that worked safely and more efficiently.

Endocrine Abnormalities and Growth Characterization in Colombian Pediatric Patients with 22q11 Deletion Syndrome

Objective: Several endocrine manifestations have been described in patients with 22q11 deletion syndrome, including growth retardation, hypoparathyroidism, and thyroid disorders. This study aimed to characterize these abnormalities in a Colombian retrospective cohort of children with this condition. Methods: A retrospective study comprising a cohort of children with 22q11 deletion syndrome in Medellín, Colombia followed up between 2011 and 2017 was conducted. Results: Thirty-seven patients with a confirmed diagnosis of 22q11 deletion syndrome were included. 37.8% had some endocrinopathy, the most frequent being hypoparathyroidism (21.6%), followed by hypothyroidism (13.5%), hyperthyroidism (2.7%) and growth hormone deficiency (2.7%). There was wide heterogeneity in the clinical presentation, with late onset of severe hypocalcemia associated with seizure or precipitated in postoperative cardiac surgery, which highlights the importance of continuous follow-up as indicated by the guidelines. Short stature was mainly related to nutritional factors. Growth monitoring is required with the use of syndrome-specific charts and careful monitoring of the growth rate. Conclusion: As previously reported, a significant proportion of patients with endocrine abnormalities were found in this cohort. This highlights that it is essential to carry out an adequate multidisciplinary follow-up, based on the specific clinical guidelines, in order to avoid serious complications such as convulsions due to hypocalcemia. It is important to track size with curves specific to the syndrome and analyze the growth rate.

Robot-assisted, real-time, MRI-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy for pediatric patients with hypothalamic hamartoma: surgical technique, pitfalls, and initial results.

OBJECTIVE: Real-time, MRI-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy (MRgLITT) has been reported as a safe and effective technique for the treatment of epileptogenic foci in children and adults. After the recent approval of MRgLITT by the European Medicines Agency in April 2018, the authors began to use it for the treatment of hypothalamic hamartomas (HHs) in pediatric patients with the assistance of a robotic arm. In this study, the authors report their initial experience describing the surgical technique, accuracy of the robotic arm, safety, and efficacy. METHODS: The laser fiber was placed with the assistance of the stereotactic robotic arm. The accuracy of the robotic arm for this procedure was calculated by comparing the intraoperative MRI to the preoperative plan. Common demographic and seizure characteristics of the patients, laser ablation details, complications, and short-term seizure outcomes were prospectively collected. RESULTS: Sixteen procedures (11 first ablations and 5 reablations) were performed in 11 patients between 15 months and 17 years of age (mean age 6.4 years) with drug-resistant epilepsy related to HHs. The mean target point localization error was 1.69 mm. No laser fiber needed to be repositioned. The mean laser power used per procedure was 4.29 W. The trajectory of the laser fiber was accidentally ablated in 2 patients, provoking transient hemiparesis in one of these patients. One patient experienced postoperative somnolence and syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion, and 2 patients had transient oculomotor (cranial nerve III) palsy. Fifty-four percent of the patients were seizure free after the first ablation (mean follow-up 22 months, range 15-33 months). All 5 patients who experienced an epilepsy relapse underwent a second treatment, and 4 remain seizure free at least 5 months after reablation. CONCLUSIONS: In the authors' experience, the robotic arm was sufficiently accurate for laser fiber insertion, even in very young patients. MRgLITT appears to be an effective treatment for selected cases of HH. MRgLITT for HH is a minimally invasive procedure with appealing safety features, as it allows delivery of energy precisely under real-time MRI control. Nonetheless, complications may occur, especially in voluminous HHs. The amount of delivered energy and the catheter cooling system must be closely monitored during the procedure. A larger sample size and longer follow-up duration are needed to judge the efficacy and safety of MRgLITT for HH more rigorously. This initial experience was very promising.

Congenital Leptin Deficiency and Leptin Gene Missense Mutation Found in Two Colombian Sisters with Severe Obesity.

BACKGROUND: Congenital leptin deficiency is a recessive genetic disorder associated with severe early-onset obesity. It is caused by mutations in the leptin (LEP) gene, which encodes the protein product leptin. These mutations may cause nonsense-mediated mRNA decay, defective secretion or the phenomenon of biologically inactive leptin, but typically lead to an absence of circulating leptin, resulting in a rare type of monogenic extreme obesity with intense hyperphagia, and serious metabolic abnormalities. METHODS: We present two severely obese sisters from Colombia, members of the same lineal consanguinity. Their serum leptin was measured by MicroELISA. DNA sequencing was performed on MiSeq equipment (Illumina) of a next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel involving genes related to severe obesity, including LEP. RESULTS: Direct sequencing of the coding region of LEP gene in the sisters revealed a novel homozygous missense mutation in exon 3 [NM_002303.3], C350G>T [p.C117F]. Detailed information and clinical measurements of these sisters were also collected. Their serum leptin levels were undetectable despite their markedly elevated fat mass. CONCLUSIONS: The mutation of LEP, absence of detectable leptin, and the severe obesity found in these sisters provide the first evidence of monogenic leptin deficiency reported in the continents of North and South America.

Laryngeal Mask Ventilation During Lumbar Spine Neurosurgery in Knee-Chest Position is Feasible.

BACKGROUND: This study describes our experience with laryngeal mask (LM) inserted after anesthetic induction in patients already in knee-chest position for lumbar neurosurgery. METHODS: Airway management (need for LM repositioning, orotracheal intubation because of failed LM insertion), anticipated difficult airway, and airway complications were registered. Statistics were compared between groups with the t test or the χ test, as appropriate. RESULTS: A total of 358 cases were reviewed from 2008 to 2013. Tracheal intubation was performed in 108 patients and LM was chosen for 250 patients (69.8%). Intubated patients had a higher mean age and rate of anticipated difficult airway; duration of surgery was longer (P<0.001, all comparisons). LM insertion and anesthetic induction proved effective in 97.2% of the LM-ventilated patients; 7 patients (2.8%) were intubated because of persistent leakage. Incidences with airway management were resolved without compromising patient safety. CONCLUSION: LM airway management during lumbar neurosurgery in knee-chest position is feasible for selected patients when the anesthetist is experienced.

Bacteriemia por Vibrio cholerae (no-O1/no O139): reporte de caso / Vibrio cholerae bacteremia (non-O1/non-O139): case report

RESUMEN Vibrio cholerae (no-O1/no-O139) es un patógeno poco común que causa infecciones en humanos y que se encuentra en vida libre en ríos y en el mar, donde coloniza peces y moluscos, fuente principal de contagio para los humanos. Se presenta el caso de un paciente de 78 años con antecedente de diabetes mellitus y sospecha de neoplasia pancreática, quien consultó por síndrome febril asociado a dolor abdominal y se documentó bacteriemia por V. cholerae, por lo que se inició manejo antibiótico con posterior resolución del cuadro clínico. Como el caso se relacionó con el consumo de agua contaminada, se notificó a la autoridad competente para realizar el control de la fuente infecciosa, intervención que permitirá evitar la infección de la población que tiene contacto con ese pozo de agua.

ABSTRACT Vibrio cholerae (non-O1/non-O139) is an uncommon pathogen that causes infection in humans, it is a free-living microorganism in river and sea waters, where it colonizes fish and shellfish, which are the main transmission sources. We present the case of a 78-year old man with a history of diabetes mellitus and suspected pancreas malignancy; who was brought because of fever disease with abdominal pain, and Vibrio cholerae bacteremia was documented, so antibacterial therapy was started, and his clinical condition resolved. Since this case was related to the ingestion of contaminated water, we notified the authorities so the infectious source may be controlled, and this intervention will prevent the occurrence of infections in persons in contact with this particular water source.

Reporte de 4 casos de inversión de cromosoma 9 en una muestra de 4755 líquidos amnióticos en una población venezolana

La inversión del cromosoma 9, inv (9), es una reordenación cromosómica relativamente común y generalmente se considera como una variante normal. No obstante, varios estudios han sugerido una posible asociación con síndrome metabólico, obesidad, galactosemia, diabetes mellitus y aborto espontáneo recurrente. Este estudio tiene como objetivo describir cuatro casos con la misma inversión cromosómica 9, inv (9) (p12; q12), y compararlo con lo que ha sido expuesto en la literatura. Se realizaron una serie de casos retrospectivos. Se evaluó una gran base de datos de informes de amniocentesis realizados en el centro Policlínica Metropolitana de Caracas entre 2005 y 2016. Como parte del protocolo del centro, todas las muestras de líquido amniótico recuperadas se centrifugaron a 800 rpm. Finalmente, se realizó un análisis de 20 bandas en metafase G para el cariotipo. Se recuperaron todos los cariotipos que informaron inv (9) (p12; q12). De 4755 informes de amniocentesis, se identificaron un total de 4 casos de inv (9) (p12; q12) pericéntrico. Según la literatura, este tipo de reordenamiento se ha asociado a algunas enfermedades metabólicas. Este hallazgo está respaldado por el hecho de que esta región cromosómica contiene el factor 1 promotor de insulina y el factor iniciador para la alfa quinasa 3 del factor de iniciación de traducción eucariótico, ambos implicados en la diabetes transitoria. Existe escasa literatura sobre este tipo de inversión, y se necesitan más estudios para un análisis de correlación adecuado. Los resultados de esta breve serie y los hallazgos de la literatura respaldan la importancia de los primeros estudios de cariotipo para identificar posibles asociaciones.

The inversion of chromosome 9, inv (9), is a relatively common chromosomal rearrangement and is commonly considered as a normal variant. However, several studies have suggested a possible association with metabolic syndrome, obesity, galactosemia, diabetes melli-tus and recurrent spontaneous abortion. This study aims to describe four cases with the same chromosome inversion 9, inv (9) (p12; q12), and compare them with what has been shown in the literature. A set of retrospective cases were carried out. A large database of amniocentesis reports made at the Policlinica Metropolitana of Caracas between 2005 and 2016 were analyzed. As part of the protocol of the Center, all recovered amniotic fluid samples were centrifuged at 800 rpm. Finally, an analysis of 20 metaphase G bands was performed for the karyotype. All the karyotypes that reported inv (9) (p12; q12) were recovered. According to 4755 reports of amniocentesis, a total of 4 cases of inv (9) pericentric (p12; q12) were identified. Based on the literature, this type of rearrangement has been associated with some metabolic diseases. This finding is supported by the fact that this chromosomal region contains the insulin promoter factor-1 and the initiating factor for alpha kinase 3 of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor, both involved in transient diabetes. There is not enough literature on this type of inversion, and more and more studies are needed to perform an adequate correlation analysis. The findings of this brief series and the literature review support the importance of the first karyotype studies to identify possible associations.

A inversão do cromossomo 9, inv (9), é um rearranjo cromossômico relativamente comum e é geralmente considerada como uma variante normal. No entanto, vários estudos sugeriram uma possível associação com a síndrome metabólica, obesidade, galactosemia, diabetes mellitus e aborto espontâneo recorrente. Este estudo tem como objetivo descrever quatro casos com a mesma inversão cromossômica 9, inv (9) (p12q12), e compará-lo com o exposto na literatura. Uma série de casos retrospectivos foi feita. Avaliara-se uma grande base de dados de relatórios de amniocentese realizada no centro Policlínica Metropolitana de Caracas entre 2005 e 2016. Como parte do protocolo do centro, todas as amostras de líquido amniótico recuperadas foram centrifugadas a 800 rpm. Finalmente, uma análise de 20 bandas G foi realizada para o cariótipo. Todos os cariótipos com inv (9) (p12q12) foram recuperados. Dos 4.755 relatos de amniocentese, foram identificados 4 casos de inv (9) pericêntricos (p12q12). Segundo a literatura, esse tipo de rearranjo tem sido associado a algumas doenças metabólicas. Esta conclusão é apoiada pelo facto de que esta região cromossómica contém o fator promotor de insulina 1 e o fator iniciador para a 3-quinase alfa do fator de início de tradução de euca-riotos, ambos envolvidos na diabetes transitória. Há escassa literatura sobre este tipo de inversão, e mais estudos são necessários para uma análise de correlação adequada. Os resultados desta breve série e os resultados encontrados na literatura corroboram a importância dos primeiros estudos de cariótipos para identificar possíveis associações.