A young woman with persistent nausea, vomiting and hiccups. / En ung kvinne med langvarig kvalme, oppkast og hikke.

BACKGROUND: Neuromyelitis optica is an inflammatory syndrome of the central nervous system, associated with anti-aquaporin-4 IgG antibodies. It is associated with severe neurological symptoms and risk of permanent neurological disability. The diagnosis can be established on the basis of clinical core characteristics of neuromyelitis optica, together with serological testing for anti-aquaporin-4 IgG antibodies and magnetic resonance imaging of the central nervous system. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe the case of a young woman presenting with obstipation, persistent nausea, vomiting and hiccups. The initial diagnostic workup confirmed obstipation, but did not find any underlying gastrointestinal pathology that could explain her persistent symptoms. Her condition deteriorated, she was unable to eat or drink without inducing vomiting, and eventually she received parenteral nutrition. Further diagnostic workup included magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, which revealed a T2-hyperintense lesion in the medulla oblongata, more specifically in the area postrema. Neurological and neuroradiological assessment led to a tentative clinical diagnosis of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder with a well-described, but rare, presentation: the area postrema syndrome. The diagnosis was confirmed by serological testing for anti-aquaporin-4 IgG antibodies. She was successfully treated with methylprednisolone with complete remission of symptoms. Patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders frequently experience relapses of the disease if untreated, and she was therefore treated with rituximab to prevent future relapses. INTERPRETATION: This case is a reminder that common gastrointestinal symptoms may be caused by diseases of the central nervous system.

Children treated for medulloblastoma and supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumor in Norway from 1974 through 2013: Unexplainable regional differences in survival.

BACKGROUND: A previous study based on Norwegian Cancer Registry data suggested regional differences in overall survival (OS) after treatment for medulloblastoma (MB) and supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumor (CNS-PNET) in Norway. The purpose of the present study was to confirm in an extended cohort whether there were regional differences in outcome or not, and if so try to identify possible explanations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data from patients aged 0-20 years diagnosed with and treated for MB/CNS-PNET at all four university hospitals in Norway from 1974 to 2013 were collected and compared. RESULTS: Of 266 identified patients, 251 fulfilled inclusion criteria. MB was diagnosed in 200 and CNS-PNET in 51 patients. Five-year OS and event-free survival (EFS) were 59% and 52%, respectively. There was a significant difference in five-year OS and EFS between MB and CNS-PNET patients; 62% versus 47% (P =  0.007) and 57% versus 35% (P < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, two factors were found to significantly contribute to improved five-year OS and EFS, whereas one factor contributed to improved five-year OS only. Gross total resection (GTR) versus non-GTR (hazard ratio [HR] 0.53, P =  0.003; HR 0.46, P < 0.001) and cerebrospinal irradiation (CSI) versus non-CSI (HR 0.24, P < 0.001; HR 0.28, P < 0.001) for both, and treatment outside Oslo University Hospital for OS only (HR 0.64, P =  0.048). CONCLUSION: Survival was comparable with data from other population-based studies, and the importance of GTR and CSI was confirmed. The cause for regional survival differences could not be identified.

Healing process of venous ulcers: the role of microcirculation.

In order to describe adequately the process of healing in the intermediate degrees, we investigated microcirculatory changes in the venous ulcers at well-defined stages of wound repair. We investigated dynamic changes in microcirculation during the healing process of venous ulcers. Ten venous ulcers were investigated in three consecutive clinical stages of wound healing: non granulation tissue (NGTA), GTA and scar. Subpapillary microcirculation was measured by laser Doppler perfusion (LDP) imaging and expressed using LDP values in arbitrary units. Nutritive perfusion by capillary microscopy and expressed as capillary density (CD) - the number of capillaries per square millimetre. Before the development of GTA the LDP was low (median 1·35; lower-upper quartiles 0·71-1·83) accompanied with zero CD in all but one patient who had a density of 1. With the first appearance of GTA in the same area, the LDP was improved (2·22; 1·12-2·33; P = 0·0024) when compared with NGTA, in combination with a significant increase in CD (1·75; 0-3; P = 0·0054). In scar, the LDP was similar to that in the NGTA (1·03; 0·77-1·83; P = 0·278), combined with the highest CD (5·75; 4·5-8) in comparison with the previous stages of the area (for both pairs, P < 0·0001). Venous ulcers are caused by poor nutritive and subpapillary perfusion. Subpapillary perfusion plays a major role in the formation of GTA. In a scar, the increased nutritive perfusion is sufficient to cover the blood supply and keep skin viable while subpapillary perfusion is low.

Evaluation of quality of life after radical prostatectomy-experience in Serbia.

The aim of this study was to compare health related quality of life (QoL) of patients with prostate cancer, who had undergone radical prostatectomy (RP), with patients who were carefully monitored. This prospective study included 56 patients who had undergone the radical prostatectomy (RP) and 48 non-operated patients (watchful waiting, WW). All patients filled EPIC questionnaire at baseline, 1th, 3rd, 6th and 12th month. At baseline, mean scores were similar in both groups, but one month after the surgery in RP group, patients had statistically significant lower score of urinary incontinency, urinary function and sexual function compared with WW patients. These scores were significantly higher in the 3rd, 6th and 12th month in operated patients, but there was no improvement in the WW group. Radical prostatectomy does not significantly improve quality of life. Prostatectomized patients had worse scores on the QoL scale, with exception of the urinary disturbance dimension.