Delayed Infection After Cervical Disc Arthroplasty: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

STUDY DESIGN: Case report and literature review. OBJECTIVE: To report the relatively rare complication of delayed infection after cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA). BACKGROUND: Delayed infection of the M6 device has been a rarely reported complication, with all cases described outside of the United States. The reliability of positive intraoperative cultures remains an ongoing debate. METHODS: Cases were reviewed, and findings were summarized. A literature review was performed and discussed, with special consideration to current reports of delayed M6 infection, etiology, and utility of intraoperative cultures. RESULTS: We present a case of delayed infection 6 years after primary 1-level CDA with the M6 device. At revision surgery, gross purulence was encountered. Intraoperative cultures finalized with Staphylococcus epidermidis and Cutibacterium acnes. The patient was revised with removal of the M6 and conversion to anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. A prolonged course of intravenous antibiotics was followed by an oral course for suppression. At the final follow-up, the patient's preoperative symptoms had resolved. CONCLUSION: Delayed infection after CDA is a rare complication, with ongoing debate regarding the reliability of positive cultures. We describe an infected M6 and demonstrate the utility of implant removal, conversion to anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, and long-term antibiotics as definitive treatment. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V-case report and literature review.

Migration of the anal distal end due to ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement: an atypical case report of a 9-month-old infant with tuberculous meningitis and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) represents one of the most classic and widely used treatments for hydrocephalus in pediatric patients. Migration and externalization of the distal end of the catheter through the rectum are extremely rare complications of intestinal perforation with devastating consequences such as meningitis or peritonitis due to enteric bacteria that are significantly life-threatening. Besides, one of the biggest topics with that is that it can happen without producing symptoms, like the patient we present in this case report, which further masks the condition and puts the patient's life more at risk. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of a 9-month-old infant patient, with a history of prematurity, tuberculous meningitis (TBM), and hydrocephalus, who came to ED with a functional VPS and the distal end of the catheter protruding outside the rectum for 7 days, without presenting neurological or intestinal symptoms accompanying. One of the parameters that guided the diagnosis and made us suspicious of asymptomatic intestinal perforation (IP) was the background of TMB. The patient was immediately transferred to the OR where both ends of the shunt were removed: in the first instance, the shunt tube was disconnected through the abdomen, thus withdrawing through the anus, and subsequently, the proximal end of the catheter was exteriorized. In turn, the intestinal fistula was successfully repaired laparoscopically, and prophylactic antibiotic treatment was early administered. On the 6th postop day, a shunt was internalized, and a child was discharged on postop day 15 without complications with alarm guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: The authors of this article strongly suggest that (1) anal extrusion of catheters is an uncommon complication but real: for this reason, its development should be considered in all patients with VPS, especially in infants. (2) The patients are often asymptomatic since false tracts can form around the catheter protecting it from spillage, and thus can be removed without complications. (3) Special care should be taken in patients with conditions that increase the risk of developing IP, such as TMB.

Nonylphenol ethoxylate degradation in detergents during shelf time, a new exposure pathway, and a perspective on their substitution.

Detergents are highly produced pollutants with environmental problems like foam generation and toxic effects in biota. Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) are efficient, economical, and versatile surfactants, used in detergents for more than 40 years due to their detergency capacity. In the environment, NPE biodegrades into the metabolite nonylphenol (NP), classified as an endocrine disruptor. The identification and quantification of 4-NP in a designed detergent and 30 commercially available detergents were performed to prove the degradation of NPE into 4-NP during storage time. This investigation introduces the first evidence of NPE degradation during storage in commercially available detergents, demonstrating a novel exposure pathway in humans that has not been explored before, representing potential human health risks. Therefore, simple, easy, low-cost, and available approaches to remove and substitute NP is paramount. Alkyl polyglucoside (APG) was assessed as a substitute, and the feasibility of this substitution was proven according to physical and chemical properties, cleaning performance, and antimicrobial properties. NPE substitution in detergents is demonstrated as a viable strategy to minimize exposure risks in humans and the environment.

Blue esophagus as a diagnosis of aortic dissection.

A 76-year-old patient, admitted to the department of cardiac surgery, anticoagulated, started with acute dysphagia. An upper endoscopy revealed a blue mucosa from the upper to distal esophagus, with narrowing of the lumen caused by an extrinsic compression. A computed to¬mography (CT) of the thorax was performed, showing a 85x55 mm mediastinal hematoma causing extrinsic compression of the esophagus. Subsequently, a contrast-enhanced CT scan was performed, confirming a contained rupture of descending thoracic aortic dissection as the cause of the hematoma.

Calvarial hemangiomas: Series of 6 cases and review of literature.

Calvarial haemangiomas are benign, vascular tumours of the skull involving parietal and frontal bones. Mostly these lesions remain asymptomatic, and present with cosmetic deformity, headache, uncommon neurological symptoms and reported as case reports and case series. The radiological appearance can range from sessile growing intradiploically to globular and the lesions may extend outwards or inwards after eroding the outer and inner tables of the skull. "Sunburst appearance" and "Wagon-wheel sign" are classical radiological findings but the lesions may present simply as a lytic expansile or even sclerotic calvarial mass. Because of varied clinical presentation and atypical radiological characteristics, the final diagnosis can be clinched by histology only. In selected cases where these lesions are not cosmetically acceptable, en bloc resection with tumour free margins followed by cranioplasty is the treatment of choice. Most reports of calvarial haemangiomas in literature are in the form of case reports.

Improving potential energy surfaces using measured Feshbach resonance states.

The structure and dynamics of a molecular system is governed by its potential energy surface (PES), representing the total energy as a function of the nuclear coordinates. Obtaining accurate potential energy surfaces is limited by the exponential scaling of Hilbert space, restricting quantitative predictions of experimental observables from first principles to small molecules with just a few electrons. Here, we present an explicitly physics-informed approach for improving and assessing the quality of families of PESs by modifying them through linear coordinate transformations based on experimental data. We demonstrate this "morphing" of the PES for the He - H2+ complex using recent comprehensive Feshbach resonance (FR) measurements for reference PESs at three different levels of quantum chemistry. In all cases, the positions and intensities of peaks in the energy distributions are improved. We find these observables to be mainly sensitive to the long-range part of the PES.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of studies comparing baseline D-dimer level in stroke patients with or without cancer: Strength of current evidence.

Objectives: D-dimer levels are increased in stroke and cancer. Cancer patients are at a higher risk of stroke. However, the evidence is unclear if high D-dimer in stroke patients can suggest the diagnosis of concomitant cancer or the development of stroke in a cancer patient. The objective is to assess the evidence available on the baseline D-dimer level in stroke patients with and without cancer. Materials and Methods: We conducted the systematic review and meta-analysis using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis guidelines. We searched PUBMED, Cochrane, ScienceDirect, and Scopus for potentially eligible articles published till June 2023. All the review steps were iterative and done independently by two reviewers. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale tool was used to assess the quality of included studies for case control and cohort studies and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality tool for cross-sectional studies. The qualitative synthesis is presented narratively, and quantitative synthesis is shown in the forest plot using the random effects model. I2 of more than 60% was considered as high heterogeneity. Results: The searches from all the databases yielded 495 articles. After the study selection process, six papers were found eligible for inclusion in the qualitative and quantitative synthesis. In the present systematic review, 2651 patients with ischemic infarcts are included of which 404 (13.97%) patients had active cancer while 2247 (86.02%) did not. The studies included were of high quality and low risk of bias. There were significantly higher baseline D-dimer levels in stroke patients with cancer than in non-cancer patients with a mean difference of 4.84 (3.07-6.60) P < 0.00001. Conclusion: D-dimer is a simple and relatively non-expensive biomarker that is increased to significant levels in stroke patients, who have cancer and therefore may be a tool to predict through screening for active or occult cancer in stroke patients.

Secondary aorto-duodenal fistula: a diagnostic challenge in a patient with fever and anemia.

A 69-year-old male, three years post-endovascular exclusion for an abdominal aortic aneurysm, presented with asthenia and fever. An abdominal CT scan showed no gastrointestinal tract communications, abscess, or contrast extravasation. Tc-99m-HMPAO-labeled leukocytes scintigraphy with SPECT/CT revealed increased uptake on the posterior surface of the aortic graft, along with air bubbles in its right iliac limb. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed, revealing a duodenal ulcer in the transition between the second and third portions. The ulcer exhibited yellow graft tissue at its center. The patient underwent in situ reconstruction, involving the replacement of the infected prosthetic graft, and the duodenal defect was addressed through segmental resection and duodenojejunal anastomosis. Secondary aorto-duodenal fistula (SADF), a rare complication of vascular surgery, may arise from factors such as local infection or graft-bowel contact. SADF, often located in the duodenum, poses a high mortality risk, necessitating early diagnosis. Clinical presentation varies from significant upper gastrointestinal bleeding to obscured bleeding.

Genetic risk score for insulin resistance based on gene variants associated to amino acid metabolism in young adults.

Circulating concentration of arginine, alanine, aspartate, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, proline, tyrosine, taurine and valine are increased in subjects with insulin resistance, which could in part be attributed to the presence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within genes associated with amino acid metabolism. Thus, the aim of this work was to develop a Genetic Risk Score (GRS) for insulin resistance in young adults based on SNPs present in genes related to amino acid metabolism. We performed a cross-sectional study that included 452 subjects over 18 years of age. Anthropometric, clinical, and biochemical parameters were assessed including measurement of serum amino acids by high performance liquid chromatography. Eighteen SNPs were genotyped by allelic discrimination. Of these, ten were found to be in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, and only four were used to construct the GRS through multiple linear regression modeling. The GRS was calculated using the number of risk alleles of the SNPs in HGD, PRODH, DLD and SLC7A9 genes. Subjects with high GRS (≥ 0.836) had higher levels of glucose, insulin, homeostatic model assessment- insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), total cholesterol and triglycerides, and lower levels of arginine than subjects with low GRS (p < 0.05). The application of a GRS based on variants within genes associated to amino acid metabolism may be useful for the early identification of subjects at increased risk of insulin resistance.

MicroRNAs: The Missing Link between Hypertension and Periodontitis?

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, and arterial hypertension is a recognized cardiovascular risk factor that is responsible for high morbidity and mortality. Arterial hypertension is the result of an inflammatory process that results in the remodeling and thickening of the vascular walls, which is associated with an immunological response. Previous studies have attempted to demonstrate the relationship between oral disease, inflammation, and the development of systemic diseases. Currently, the existence of an association between periodontitis and hypertension is a controversial issue because the underlying pathophysiological processes and inflammatory mechanisms common to both diseases are unknown. This is due to the fact that periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the interface of teeth and surrounding tissues. However, the most likely explanation for understanding this association is related to low-grade chronic inflammation. An initial path in the study of the relationship between the mentioned pathologies is the possibility of an epigenetic influence, mediated by noncoding RNAs as microRNAs. Thus, in the present review we describe the role of microRNAs related to arterial hypertension and/or periodontitis. In addition, we identified 13 common microRNAs between periodontitis and hypertension. According to the predictions of the DIANA-mirPath program, they can regulate genes involved in 52 signaling pathways.

Immune evasion by dormant disseminated cancer cells: A Fermi paradox?

Rare disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) can persist after treatment in patients for years, and the immune system does not eliminate them. Goddard et al. propose that immune evasion by rare dormant DTCs is due to an improbability of contact imposed by large distances separating effector T cells and DTCs.

Anatomical Relationships of the Sciatic Nerve and Pudendal Nerve to the Ischial Spine as They Exit the Greater Sciatic Foramen.

OBJECTIVE: Deep gluteal syndrome is a clinical condition in which discomfort may arise due to the pathoanatomy of the subgluteal space. We conducted an anatomical exploration to categorize the relationship of the piriformis muscle, sciatic nerve (SN), and pudendal nerve (PN) to the ischial spine (IS) and sacrospinous ligament. METHODS: We analyzed 22 cadavers. The piriformis muscle, SN, and PN were exposed through either a transgluteal approach or a gluteal flap. The relationship of the neural structures to the IS, sacrospinous ligament, and ischial bone as they exit the greater sciatic foramen was observed, and the exit zones were classified as zone A, medial to the IS (entirely on sacrospinous ligament); zone B, on the IS; and zone C, lateral to the IS (entirely on ischial bone). RESULTS: The SN was observed either in zone B or zone C in all specimens. The PN was found to be in either zone A or zone B in 97.6% of specimens. The most common combinations were SN in zone B and PN in zone A (type I), and SN in zone C and PN in zone B (type II). CONCLUSIONS: The results from this study show clear anatomical differences in the SN-PN relationship, which may play a role in pain seen in deep gluteal syndrome. Moreover, classification of the SN-IS and PN-IS relationships described in this article will help describe different pathologies affecting the deep gluteal area.

[Clinical experience in patients with intestinal failure: a cohort study in a third referral hospital]. / Experiencia clínica en pacientes con falla intestinal: estudio de cohorte en un hospital de referencia.

INTRODUCTION: intestinal failure (IF) is an organic failure classified into three types (I-III); it conditions inability to absorb nutrients and water, so parenteral nutrition (PN) is required. OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the characteristics of hospitalized patients with IF, and their association with clinical and nutritional outcomes. METHODS: historical cohort of hospitalized adults with IF and PN. Variables of the nutritional care process (screening, anthropometric, biochemical, clinical, nutritional), mortality and hospital stay were recorded. RESULTS: six hundred and ninety-seven patients aged 56 (41-68) years, 327 women (46.8 %), with body mass index (BMI) 22.4 (18.3-25.9), were included. DIAGNOSIS: 577 patients with IF-I, 96 patients with IF-II, and 24 patients with IF-III. The most frequent causes were malignant neoplasms, IF-I (26.7 %) and surgical complications in IF-II (21.9 %) and IF-III (37.5 %). The most common pathophysiology in all types of IF was motility disorders (40.6 % in IF-I; 43.8 % in IF-II; 33.8 % in IF-III). The majority of patients had high nutritional risk (92.4 %) and refeeding syndrome (65.6 % high and very high). In acute IF (FI-I) compared to prolonged IF (If-II/IF-III) there is a higher BMI (p = 0.039), visceral fat (p = 0.041) and over-hydration (p = 0.014), but they have a smaller phase angle (p = 0.004), with a lower adequacy percentage than what is prescribed in relation to their energy expenditure (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: during the nutritional care process there are differences between the types of IF, which are relevant to optimize their multidisciplinary management and avoid related complications.

Hamstring Injuries: A Current Concepts Review: Evaluation, Nonoperative Treatment, and Surgical Decision Making.

The purpose of this current concepts review is to highlight the evaluation and workup of hamstring injuries, nonoperative treatment options, and surgical decision-making based on patient presentation and injury patterns. Hamstring injuries, which are becoming increasingly recognized, affect professional and recreational athletes alike, commonly occurring after forceful eccentric contraction mechanisms. Injuries occur in the proximal tendon at the ischial tuberosity, in the muscle belly substance, or in the distal tendon insertion on the tibia or fibula. Patients may present with ecchymoses, pain, and weakness. Magnetic resonance imaging remains the gold standard for diagnosis and may help guide treatment. Treatment is dictated by the specific tendon(s) injured, tear location, severity, and chronicity. Many hamstring injuries can be successfully managed with nonoperative measures such as activity modification and physical therapy; adjuncts such as platelet-rich plasma injections are currently being investigated. Operative treatment of proximal hamstring injuries, including endoscopic or open approaches, is traditionally reserved for 2-tendon injuries with >2 cm of retraction, 3-tendon injuries, or injuries that do not improve with 6 months of nonoperative management. Acute surgical treatment of proximal hamstring injuries tends to be favorable. Distal hamstring injuries may initially be managed nonoperatively, although biceps femoris injuries are frequently managed surgically, and return to sport may be faster for semitendinosus injuries treated acutely with excision or tendon stripping in high-level athletes.

"Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage and Cocaine Consumption: A Systematic Review and Metanalysis".

BACKGROUND: The use of cocaine can lead to a variety of neurologic complications, including cerebral vasoconstriction, ischemia, aneurysm formation, and aneurysm rupture. A previous study has shown that cocaine use is associated with an increased risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). This study conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies to assess the association between cocaine use and the risk of poor neurological outcomes and mortality in patients with SAH. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed following the meta-analysis of observational studies in epidemiology (MOOSE) declaration for systematic reviews and the Cochrane Manual of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs), nonrandomized clinical trials, and prospective and retrospective cohort studies that reported data about adults who suffered Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (aSAH) after having consumed cocaine recreationally were included. Variables such as mortality, vasospasm, seizures, re-bleeding, and complications were analyzed. RESULTS: After a thorough selection process, 14 studies involving 116,141 patients, of which 2227 had a history of cocaine consumption, were included in the analysis. There was a significant increase in overall unfavorable outcomes in aSAH patients with a history of cocaine use (OR 5.51 CI 95% [4.26-7.13] P = <0.0001; I2 = 78%), with higher mortality and poor neurologic outcomes. There were no significant differences in the risk of hydrocephalus, seizures, or re-bleeding. Cocaine use was found to increase the risk of vasospasm and overall complications. CONCLUSIONS: This study insinuates that cocaine use is associated with worse clinical outcomes in aSAH patients. Despite the cocaine users did not exhibit a higher risk of certain complications such as hydrocephalus and seizures, they had an increased risk of vasospasm and overall complications. These findings highlight the importance of addressing the issue of cocaine consumption as a primary preventive measure to decrease the incidence of aSAH and improve patient outcomes.

Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Pre-pandemic Among Adults Hospitalized With Congestive Heart Failure or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Older Adults.

BACKGROUND: Data are limited on influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) in the prevention of influenza-related hospitalizations in older adults and those with underlying high-risk comorbidities. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, test-negative, case-control study at 2 US hospitals from October 2018-March 2020 among adults aged ≥50 years hospitalized with acute respiratory illnesses (ARIs) and adults ≥18 years admitted with congestive heart failure (CHF) or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations. Adults were eligible if they resided in 1 of 8 counties in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia. Nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs were tested using BioFire FilmArray (bioMérieux, Inc.) respiratory panel, and standard-of-care molecular results were included when available. Influenza vaccination history was determined from the Georgia vaccine registry and medical records. We used multivariable logistic regression to control for potential confounders and to determine 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Among 3090 eligible adults, 1562 (50.6%) were enrolled. Of the 1515 with influenza vaccination history available, 701 (46.2%) had received vaccination during that season. Influenza was identified in 37 (5.3%) vaccinated versus 78 (9.6%) unvaccinated participants. After adjustment for age, race/ethnicity, immunosuppression, month, and season, pooled VE for any influenza-related hospitalization in the eligible study population was 63.1% (95% CI, 43.8-75.8%). Adjusted VE against influenza-related hospitalization for ARI in adults ≥50 years was 55.9% (29.9-72.3%) and adjusted VE against influenza-related CHF/COPD exacerbation in adults ≥18 years was 80.3% (36.3-93.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Influenza vaccination was effective in preventing influenza-related hospitalizations in adults aged ≥50 years and those with CHF/COPD exacerbations during the 2018-2020 seasons.

Serum and Urine Metabolomic Profiling of Newly Diagnosed Treatment-Naïve Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a prevalent chronic noncurable disease associated with profound metabolic changes. The discovery of novel molecular indicators for unraveling IBD etiopathogenesis and the diagnosis and prognosis of IBD is therefore pivotal. We sought to determine the distinctive metabolic signatures from the different IBD subgroups before treatment initiation. METHODS: Serum and urine samples from newly diagnosed treatment-naïve IBD patients and age and sex-matched healthy control (HC) individuals were investigated using proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Metabolic differences were identified based on univariate and multivariate statistical analyses. RESULTS: A total of 137 Crohn's disease patients, 202 ulcerative colitis patients, and 338 HC individuals were included. In the IBD cohort, several distinguishable metabolites were detected within each subgroup comparison. Most of the differences revealed alterations in energy and amino acid metabolism in IBD patients, with an increased demand of the body for energy mainly through the ketone bodies. As compared with HC individuals, differences in metabolites were more marked and numerous in Crohn's disease than in ulcerative colitis patients, and in serum than in urine. In addition, clustering analysis revealed 3 distinct patient profiles with notable differences among them based on the analysis of their clinical, anthropometric, and metabolomic variables. However, relevant phenotypical differences were not found among these 3 clusters. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the molecular alterations present within the different subgroups of newly diagnosed treatment-naïve IBD patients. The metabolomic profile of these patients may provide further understanding of pathogenic mechanisms of IBD subgroups. Serum metabotype seemed to be especially sensitive to the onset of IBD.

Role of proton pump inhibitors dosage and duration in Helicobacter pylori eradication treatment: Results from the European Registry on H. pylori management.

BACKGROUND: Management of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection requires co-treatment with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and the use of antibiotics to achieve successful eradication. AIM: To evaluate the role of dosage of PPIs and the duration of therapy in the effectiveness of H. pylori eradication treatments based on the 'European Registry on Helicobacter pylori management' (Hp-EuReg). METHODS: Hp-EuReg is a multicentre, prospective, non-interventionist, international registry on the routine clinical practice of H. pylori management by European gastroenterologists. All infected adult patients were systematically registered from 2013 to 2022. RESULTS: Overall, 36,579 patients from five countries with more than 1000 patients were analysed. Optimal (≥90%) first-line-modified intention-to-treat effectiveness was achieved with the following treatments: (1) 14-day therapies with clarithromycin-amoxicillin-bismuth and metronidazole-tetracycline-bismuth, both independently of the PPI dose prescribed; (2) All 10-day (except 10-day standard triple therapy) and 14-day therapies with high-dose PPIs; and (3) 10-day quadruple therapies with clarithromycin-amoxicillin-bismuth, metronidazole-tetracycline-bismuth, and clarithromycin-amoxicillin-metronidazole (sequential), all with standard-dose PPIs. In first-line treatment, optimal effectiveness was obtained with high-dose PPIs in all 14-day treatments, in 10- and 14-day bismuth quadruple therapies and in 10-day sequential with standard-dose PPIs. Optimal second-line effectiveness was achieved with (1) metronidazole-tetracycline-bismuth quadruple therapy for 14- and 10 days with standard and high-dose PPIs, respectively; and (2) levofloxacin-amoxicillin triple therapy for 14 days with high-dose PPIs. None of the 7-day therapies in both treatment lines achieved optimal effectiveness. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend, in first-line treatment, the use of high-dose PPIs in 14-day triple therapy and in 10-or 14-day quadruple concomitant therapy in first-line treatment, while standard-dose PPIs would be sufficient in 10-day bismuth quadruple therapies. On the other hand, in second-line treatment, high-dose PPIs would be more beneficial in 14-day triple therapy with levofloxacin and amoxicillin or in 10-day bismuth quadruple therapy either as a three-in-one single capsule or in the traditional scheme.