Adult vasovagal syncope with abdominal pain diagnosed by head-up tilt combined with transcranial doppler: a preliminary study.

BACKGROUND: Syncope is a common condition that increases the risk of injury and reduces the quality of life. Abdominal pain as a precursor to vasovagal syncope (VVS) in adults is rarely reported and is often misdiagnosed.​. METHODS: We present three adult patients with VVS and presyncopal abdominal pain diagnosed by synchronous multimodal detection (transcranial Doppler [TCD] with head-up tilt [HUT]) and discuss the relevant literature. RESULTS: Case 1: A 52-year-old man presented with recurrent decreased consciousness preceded by six months of abdominal pain. Physical examinations were unremarkable. Dynamic electrocardiography, echocardiography, head and neck computed tomography angiography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and video electroencephalogram showed no abnormalities. Case 2: A 57-year-old woman presented with recurrent syncope for 30 + years, accompanied by abdominal pain. Physical examination, electroencephalography, and MRI showed no abnormalities. Echocardiography showed large right-to-left shunts. Case 3: A 30-year-old woman presented with recurrent syncope for 10 + years, with abdominal pain as a precursor. Physical examination, laboratory analysis, head computed tomography, electrocardiography, and echocardiography showed no abnormalities. Syncope secondary to abdominal pain was reproduced during HUT. Further, HUT revealed vasovagal syncope, and synchronous TCD showed decreased cerebral blood flow; the final diagnosis was VVS in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: Abdominal pain may be a precursor of VVS in adults, and our findings enrich the clinical phenotypic spectrum of VVS. Prompt recognition of syncopal precursors is important to prevent incidents and assist in treatment decision-making. Abdominal pain in VVS may be a sign of sympathetic overdrive. Synchronous multimodal detection can help in diagnosing VVS and understanding hemodynamic mechanisms.

Non-linear relationship between preoperative albumin-globulin ratio and postoperative pneumonia in patients with hip fracture.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Postoperative pneumonia (POP) is the leading cause of death among patients with hip fractures. Simple and cost-effective markers can be used to assess the risk of these patients. This study aims to investigate the association between POP and preoperative albumin-globulin ratio (AGR) in patients with hip fractures. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on data from 1417 hip fracture patients admitted to the Department of Orthopaedics at the hospital. Generalized additive and logistic regression models were used to determine both linear and non-linear associations between preoperative AGR and POP. A two-piece regression model was employed to determine the threshold effect. RESULTS: The study included 1417 participants, with a mean age of 77.57 (8.53) years and 26.96% (382/1417) male patients. The prevalence of POP was 6.21%. Following full covariate adjustment, each unit increase in AGR was associated with a 79% reduction in the incidence of POP (OR, 0.23; 95% CI: 0.08-0.63; P = 0.0046). The inflection point was found to be 1.33 using a two-piecewise regression model. For each unit increase in AGR on the left side of the inflection point, the incidence of POP decreased by 93% (OR, 0.07; 95%CI: 0.02-0.34; P = 0.0010). However, there was no statistically significant correlation on the right side of the inflection point (OR, 0.84; 95% CI: 0.17-4.10; P = 0.8287). CONCLUSION: There exists a non-linear association between preoperative AGR and the incidence of POP in elderly hip fracture patients. When AGR is less than 1.33, the incidence of POP is negatively correlated with AGR. However, there is no correlation when AGR is greater than 1.33.

Successful robot-assisted laparoscopic resection of pheochromocytoma in a patient with dilated cardiomyopathy: A case report on extremely high-risk anesthesia management.

RATIONALE: Anesthetic management during resection of pheochromocytoma is a huge challenge, especially when accompanied by dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). However, there is a lack of research evidence in this area. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 36-year-old man was admitted with a left retroperitoneal space-occupying lesion, present for 2 years. The patient also had DCM for 2 years. Blood analysis on admission showed elevated levels of norepinephrine and the N-terminus of the brain natriuretic peptide precursor. Abdominal computed tomography revealed a circular shadow in the left adrenal area. Echocardiography showed a cardiac ejection fraction of 31% to 37%, markedly enlarged left atrium and left ventricle, extensive cardiac hypokinesia, and reduced left ventricular diastolic and systolic functions. DIAGNOSES: The preoperative diagnosis was left paraganglioma/pheochromocytoma with DCM. INTERVENTIONS: Multidisciplinary consultation, blood pressure measurements, and volume expansion measurements were performed preoperatively. Invasive arterial blood pressure, central venous pressure, depth of anesthesia, cardiac function, left heart volume, and body temperature were monitored intraoperatively. OUTCOMES: The adrenal pheochromocytoma was successfully removed, and the patient recovered well. LESSONS: The anesthetic management for adrenal pheochromocytoma resection in adult patients with DCM is extremely high-risk but is evidently not impossible. Adequate preoperative evaluation and preparation, optimization of the anesthesia induction plan, close intraoperative monitoring of cardiac function and hemodynamic changes, and robot-assisted laparoscopic technology are the key success factors. The challenges to anesthetic management may be partly prevented with invasive monitoring techniques and minimally invasive surgery. This case confirms the importance of individual management and multidisciplinary cooperation for a successful outcome.

Clinical characteristics and long-term follow-up outcomes of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease in Han Chinese participants.

Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) is an immune-mediated inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. This study aimed to delineate the clinical manifestations, imaging features, and long-term outcomes in Chinese patients with MOGAD and analyze the recurrence-associated factors. The phenotypic and neuroimaging characteristics of 15 Han Chinese patients with MOGAD were retrospectively analyzed. Demyelinating attacks, MOG antibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid/serum, response to immunotherapy, follow-up outcomes, and recurrence-associated factors were recorded. The median age at disease onset was 34 years (range, 4-65 years). The most common initial presentations included vision loss (10/15, 66.7%) and seizures (5/15, 33.3%). Serum MOG-Ab titers in 14/15 cases were higher than those in the cerebrospinal fluid and were detected in 3/6 relapsed patients. Brain magnetic resonance imaging during acute attacks showed lesions in 10/15 patients (66.7%), mostly in the cortex/subcortical white matter (5/15, 33.3%). Recurrence occurred in 6/15 patients (40.0%); in 4 patients, recurrence occurred shortly after immunotherapy discontinuation. Residual neurological deficits were present in 5/15 patients (33.3%), including visual impairment, incapacitation, cognitive impairment, and speech reduction. Optic neuritis was the most common clinical manifestation of MOGAD. magnetic resonance imaging findings were heterogeneous and the cerebral cortex/subcortical white matter was the most susceptible brain region. Although patients in the acute phase responded well to methylprednisolone pulse therapy, the long-term recurrence rate was high. Consistently detected serum MOG antibodies and inappropriate maintenance immunotherapy may be associated with recurrence, and residual neurological deficits should not be ignored.

Synchronous multimode ultrasound for assessing right-to-left shunt: a prospective clinical study.

Background: Right-to-left shunt (RLS) is associated with several conditions and causes morbidity. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of synchronous multimode ultrasonography in detecting RLS. Methods: We prospectively enrolled 423 patients with high clinical suspicion of RLS and divided them into the contrast transcranial Doppler (cTCD) group and synchronous multimode ultrasound group, in which both cTCD and contrast transthoracic echocardiography (cTTE) were performed during the same process of contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging. The simultaneous test results were compared with those of cTCD alone. Results: The positive rates of grade II (22.0%:10.0%) and III (12.7%:10.8%) shunts and the total positive rate (82.1748%) in the synchronous multimode ultrasound group were higher than those in the cTCD alone group. Among patients with RLS grade I in the synchronous multimode ultrasound group, 23 had RLS grade I in cTCD but grade 0 in synchronous cTTE, whereas four had grade I in cTCD but grade 0 in synchronous cTTE. Among patients with RLS grade II in the synchronous multimode ultrasound group, 28 had RLS grade I in cTCD but grade II in synchronous cTTE. Among patients with RLS grade III in the synchronous multimode ultrasound group, four had RLS grade I in cTCD but grade III in synchronous cTTE. Synchronous multimode ultrasound had a sensitivity of 87.5% and specificity of 60.6% in the patent foramen ovale (PFO) diagnosis. Binary logistic regression analyses showed that age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.041) and risk of paradoxical embolism score ≥ 7 (OR = 7.798) were risk factors for stroke recurrence, whereas antiplatelets (OR = 0.590) and PFO closure with antiplatelets (OR = 0.109) were protective factors. Conclusion: Synchronous multimodal ultrasound significantly improves the detection rate and test efficiency, quantifies RLS more accurately, and reduces testing risks and medical costs. We conclude that synchronous multimodal ultrasound has significant potential for clinical applications.

Association of hemoglobin levels at admission with postoperative pneumonia in elderly patients with hip fracture: A retrospective cohort study.

Previous studies have suggested a correlation between low preoperative hemoglobin (Hb) levels and postoperative pneumonia (POP) in elderly patients with hip fractures. However, the exact inflection point of Hb level that increases the risk of POP remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the quantitative relationship between preoperative Hb levels and the incidence of POP in this patient population. This retrospective study included 1417 elderly patients with hip fractures who were admitted to the Department of Orthopedics at Shenzhen Second People's Hospital between January 2012 and December 2021. Demographic and clinical data, including laboratory test results, were analyzed and compared to explore the relationship between Hb levels at admission and the incidence of POP in this patient population. This study included 1417 elderly patients with hip fractures, comprising 382 males and 1035 females, with a mean age of 77.57 ± 8.73 years. The incidence of POP was 6.21% (88/1417) in this patient population. After adjusting for confounding factors in model II, the regression equation showed that the incidence of POP decreased by 2% with each 1 g/L increment in Hb levels (OR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.97-1.00; P = .0211). Additionally, a two-piecewise regression model was used to explore the relationship between Hb levels and POP incidence, after adjusting for confounding factors. Threshold effect analysis showed that the inflection point was 83.5 g/L. On the left side of the inflection point, Hb levels were negatively correlated with the incidence of POP (OR: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.86-0.97, P = .0030). There was a nonlinear relationship between preoperative Hb level and POP in elderly patients with hip fractures. When Hb levels were lower than 83.5 g/L, preoperative Hb levels were negatively correlated with POP.

Relationship between preoperative red blood cell distribution width and postoperative pneumonia in elderly patients with hip fracture: a retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: The relationship between the preoperative red blood cell distribution width and postoperative pneumonia in elderly patients with hip fractures remains unclear. This study investigated whether the preoperative red blood cell distribution width was associated with postoperative pneumonia in elderly patients with hip fractures. METHODS: Clinical data of patients with hip fractures in the Department of orthopedics of a hospital from January 2012 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. A generalized additive model was used to identify both linear and nonlinear relationships between red blood cell distribution width and postoperative pneumonia. A two-piecewise linear regression model was used to calculate the saturation effect. Subgroup analyses were performed using stratified logistic regression. RESULTS: This study included a total of 1444 patients. The incidence of postoperative pneumonia was 6.30% (91/1444), the mean age of the patients was 77.55 ± 8.75 years, and 73.06% of them (1055/1444) were female. After full adjustment for covariates, the preoperative red blood cell distribution width showed a nonlinear relationship with postoperative pneumonia. The two-piecewise regression model showed an inflection point at 14.3%. On the left side of the inflection point, the incidence of postoperative pneumonia increased by 61% for every 1% increase in red blood cell distribution width (OR: 1.61, 95% CI 1.13-2.31, P = 0.0089). The effect size was not statistically significant on the right side of the inflection point (OR: 0.83, 95% CI 0.61-1.12, P = 0.2171). CONCLUSION: The relationship between preoperative red blood cell distribution width and incidence or postoperative pneumonia was nonlinear in elderly patients with hip fractures. The incidence of postoperative pneumonia was positively correlated with red blood cell distribution width when it was < 14.3%. A saturation effect was observed when the red blood cell distribution width reached 14.3%.

Healthy adults with Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis and Streptococcus pneumoniae subdural abscess: two case reports and a literature review.

We present the cases of two otherwise healthy adults, one with meningitis and another with a subdural abscess, with both conditions attributable to Streptococcus pneumoniae. A 31-year-old man was admitted with a 3-day history of fever, headache, and vomiting. Physical examination revealed intermittent confusion, irritability, and neck stiffness. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture was positive for S. pneumoniae. Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (C-MRI) revealed multiple small lesions on the bilateral frontal lobes. Intravenous ceftriaxone and vancomycin were administered, followed by intravenous moxifloxacin. His symptoms resolved within 3 months. Additionally, a 66-year-old man was admitted for acute fever with confusion, abnormal behavior, and a recent history of acute respiratory infection. Physical examination revealed confusion, neck stiffness, and a positive right Babinski sign. CSF metagenomic analysis detected S. pneumoniae. C-MRI disclosed left occipitotemporal meningoencephalitis with subdural abscesses. Intravenous ceftriaxone was administered for 3 weeks. His condition gradually improved, with resorbed lesions detected on repeat MRI. This study expanded the clinical and imaging spectra of S. pneumoniae meningitis. In healthy adults, S. pneumoniae can invade the brain, but subdural abscess is a rare neuroimaging manifestation. Early diagnosis of S. pneumoniae meningitis by high-throughput sequencing and flexible treatment strategies are necessary for satisfactory outcomes.

Case report: Cryptogenic giant brain abscess caused by Providencia rettgeri mimicking stroke and tumor in a patient with impaired immunity.

The highly lethal cryptogenic brain abscess can be easily misdiagnosed. However, cryptogenic brain abscess caused by Providencia rettgeri is rarely reported. We present the case of a cryptogenic Providencia rettgeri brain abscess and analyze the clinical manifestations, imaging findings, treatment, and outcome to improve the level of awareness, aid in accurate diagnosis, and highlight effective clinical management. A 39-year-old man was admitted to the hospital after experiencing acute speech and consciousness disorder for 1 day. The patient had a medical history of nephrotic syndrome and membranous nephropathy requiring immunosuppressant therapy. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed giant, space-occupying lesions involving the brain stem, basal ganglia, and temporal-parietal lobes without typical ring enhancement, mimicking a tumor. Initial antibiotic treatment was ineffective. Afterward, pathogen detection in cerebrospinal fluid using metagenomic next-generation sequencing revealed Providencia rettgeri. Intravenous maximum-dose ampicillin was administered for 5 weeks, and the patient's symptoms resolved. Cryptogenic Providencia rettgeri brain abscess typically occurs in patients with impaired immunity. Our patient exhibited a sudden onset with non-typical neuroimaging findings, requiring differentiation of the lesion from stroke and brain tumor. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing was important in identifying the pathogen. Rapid diagnosis and appropriate use of antibiotics were key to obtaining a favorable outcome.

Novel truncating variant of MN1 penultimate exon identified in a Chinese patient with newly recognized MN1 C-terminal truncation syndrome: Case report and literature review.

MN1 C-terminal truncation (MCTT) syndrome is a newly recognized neurodevelopmental disorder due to heterozygous gain-of-function C-terminal truncating mutations clustering in the last or penultimate exon of MN1 gene (MIM: 156100). Up to date, only 25 affected patients have been reported. Here, we report a 2-year-old Chinese girl with MCTT syndrome. The girl presented with the characteristic features of the syndrome, including global developmental delay (GDD), facial dysmorphism and hearing impairment. Notably, the patient did not have other frequently observed symptoms such as hypotonia, cranial or brain abnormalities, indicating variability of the phenotype of patients with MN1 C-terminal truncating mutations. Trio whole-exome sequencing revealed a novel de novo heterozygous nonsense variant in the extreme 3' region of penultimate exon of MN1 (NM_002430.3: c.3743G > A, p.Trp1248*). This rare truncating variant was classified as pathogenic due to its predicted gain-of-function effect, given that the gain-of-function MN1 truncating variants producing C-terminally truncated proteins have been confirmed to cause the recognizable syndrome. Additionally, a systematic review of previously reported MN1 variants including C-terminal truncating variants and N-terminal truncating variants shows that different location of MN1 truncating variants causes two distinct clinical subtypes. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of MCTT syndrome caused by a novel MN1 C-terminal truncating variant in a Chinese population, which enriched the mutation spectrum of MN1 gene and further supporting the association of the novel MCTT syndrome with MN1 C-terminal truncating variants.

Corrigendum: Case report: Cryptogenic giant brain abscess caused by Providencia rettgeri mimicking stroke and tumor in a patient with impaired immunity.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.1007435.].

LINC00305 represses miR-124 expression to trigger inflammatory insults in the presence of lipopolysaccharide.

Background: The anti-inflammatory function of microRNA-124 (miR-124) has been a matter of extensive studies in the last few years. Although LINC00305 regulates biological activities by acting as a miR sponge, it is still unexplored whether LINC00305 is involved in inflammation by regulating miR-124. Methods: Cell viability and apoptosis were evaluated with commercial kits, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) kit, respectively. LINC00305, miR-124 and mRNA levels were quantified by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). Protein level was assessed with Western blot assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: The expression of LINC00305 was up-regulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). LINC00305 overexpression further suppressed the cell viability, promoted apoptosis and induced inflammation in LPS-treated ATDC5 cells while its silence enhanced the cell viability, inhibited apoptosis and ameliorated inflammation. miR-124 was negatively regulated by LINC00305 and its overexpression abolished the effects of LINC00305 in the presence of LPS. LINC00305 further triggered the Notch/nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signalling pathway in LPS-treated ATDC5 cells and this activation was abrogated when ATDC5 cells overexpressed miR-124. Conclusion: LINC00305 might emerge as a novel suppressor for miR-124. LINC00305-caused miR-124 silence compromises ATDC5 cell viability and ultimately results in inflammatory insults by activating Notch/NF-κB pathway.