Altered Processing of Complex Visual Stimuli in Patients with Postconcussive Visual Motion Sensitivity.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Vestibular symptoms are common after concussion. Vestibular Ocular Motor Screening identifies vestibular impairment, including postconcussive visual motion sensitivity, though the underlying functional brain alterations are not defined. We hypothesized that alterations in multisensory processing are responsible for postconcussive visual motion sensitivity, are detectable on fMRI, and correlate with symptom severity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve patients with subacute postconcussive visual motion sensitivity and 10 healthy control subjects underwent vestibular testing and a novel fMRI visual-vestibular paradigm including 30-second "neutral" or "provocative" videos. The presence of symptoms/intensity was rated immediately after each video. fMRI group-level analysis was performed for a "provocative-neutral" condition. Z-statistic images were nonparametrically thresholded using clusters determined by Z > 2.3 and a corrected cluster significance threshold of P = .05. Symptoms assessed on Vestibular Ocular Motor Screening were correlated with fMRI mean parameter estimates using Pearson correlation coefficients. RESULTS: Subjects with postconcussive visual motion sensitivity had significantly more Vestibular Ocular Motor Screening abnormalities and increased symptoms while viewing provocative videos. While robust mean activation in the primary and secondary visual areas, the parietal lobe, parietoinsular vestibular cortex, and cingulate gyrus was seen in both groups, selective increased activation was seen in subjects with postconcussive visual motion sensitivity in the primary vestibular/adjacent cortex and inferior frontal gyrus, which are putative multisensory visual-vestibular processing centers. Moderate-to-strong correlations were found between Vestibular Ocular Motor Screening scores and fMRI activation in the left frontal eye field, left middle temporal visual area, and right posterior hippocampus. CONCLUSIONS: Increased fMRI brain activation in visual-vestibular multisensory processing regions is selectively seen in patients with postconcussive visual motion sensitivity and is correlated with Vestibular Ocular Motor Screening symptom severity, suggesting that increased visual input weighting into the vestibular network may underlie postconcussive visual motion sensitivity.

Intraosseous Lipoma of the Proximal Radius with Extra Osseous Extension leading to Posterior Interosseous Nerve Compression: HRUS Diagnosis.

INTRODUCTION: Benign musculoskeletal lipomatous lesions are common in both soft tissue and bone. Imaging features of benign lipomatous lesions are often pathognomonic. Ultrasound (US) has been used to examine both soft tissue and bone tumors, allowing targeted CT or MRI examination of the region of interest. CASE REPORT: A 46-year-old female presented with a four year history of palpable mass lesion just below the lateral aspect of right elbow with clinical evidence of posterior interosseous nerve compression. X-ray showed the presence of a radiolucency mass in relation to radius. HRUS demonstrated a hyperechoic mass in soft tissue with a focal irregularity in bony cortex of radius. The mass lesion compressed the posterior interosseous nerve. CONCLUSION: Although CT and MRI diagnose them accurately, but ultrasound characteristics are also conclusive for extra osseous component. This case highlights the importance of HRUS for evaluation of musculoskeletal tumors and any secondary changes in a readily available cost effective dynamic modality and thus guide for treatment planning accordingly.

Costs associated with hospital-acquired bacteraemia in an Indian hospital: a case-control study.

Studies from around the world have shown that hospital-acquired infections increase the costs of medical care, morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to determine cost and attributable mortality associated with hospital-acquired bacteraemia in a tertiary care centre in India. This was a retrospective case-control, cost utility analysis set in the cardiothoracic unit of a 200-bedded tertiary care cardiac hospital. Cases included adult patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft and/or valve replacement surgery who developed bacteraemia (indicated by positive blood cultures) during postoperative stay (N=24). Controls were age- and sex-matched adult patients who underwent similar procedures but who did not develop bacteraemia (N=48). Data were collected from patient medical records and other administrative databases for cost analysis. Prolongation of hospital stay, attributable mortality and extra costs associated with hospital-acquired bacteraemia were analysed. Statistical analysis was done using Fisher's exact test and unpaired t-test. Patients with hospital-acquired bacteraemia experienced a significantly longer total hospital stay [mean: 22.9 days; 95% confidence interval (CI): 17.2-28.6; P<0.0001], significantly longer ICU stay (mean: 11.3 days; 95% CI: 9.0-13.6; P<0.0001), a significantly higher mortality (mean: 54%; P<0.0001) and cost significantly more (mean: US $14,818; 95% CI: 10,663-18,974; P<0.0001) than controls. We conclude that hospital-acquired bacteraemia significantly increases mortality and costs of hospitalisation in lower income developing countries. Our study demonstrates that costs associated with HAIs are similar between developing and developed countries. Better infection control planning and infrastructure may offset some of these costs.

Outcomes of symptomatic osteonecrosis in 95 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the frequency and type of symptomatic osteonecrosis (ON) in a large cohort of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) followed in a single center and to describe the outcome in terms of mortality and disability compared to SLE patients without ON. METHODS: Patients with ON were identified from the University of Toronto Lupus Clinic Database. The diagnosis of ON was confirmed by radiographs, bone scans, tomograms, or magnetic resonance images. A comparison group of patients with SLE without ON was selected from the same database, matched by year of birth, sex, and year of entry to the clinic. Mortality, disability, and health related quality of life were compared between patients with and without ON. RESULTS: Ninety-nine patients with ON were identified with 217 affected joints, the majority hips and knees, often in a bilateral distribution. There was no increase in mortality. Patients with ON had higher Health Assessment Questionnaire scores and lower SF-20 scores of physical functioning, suggesting increased disability. Hip joints that underwent surgery were more likely to have higher grades of ON at diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Symptomatic ON occurred in 12.8% of 744 patients with SLE and often involved multiple joints. ON was not associated with increased mortality but was associated with physical disability. Radiological class of the hip jointsat diagnosis of ON was predictive of subsequent surgery.

Predictive factors for symptomatic osteonecrosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze predictive factors for the development of osteonecrosis (ON) in a large cohort of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) followed in a single center. METHODS: A nested matched case control design was used. Patients with SLE who developed ON during followup were identified from the University of Toronto Lupus Clinic database. The diagnosis of ON was confirmed by either radiographs, bone scans, tomograms, or magnetic resonance imaging. A comparison group of patients with SLE without ON was selected from the same database, matched by year of birth. sex, and year of entry to the clinic to the patients with ON. Clinical, laboratory, and therapeutic factors thought to be relevant to the development of ON were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: Seventy patients with SLE developed ON in the course of followup at the clinic. In univariate analysis, arthritis was the only clinical feature predictive of the development of ON. Use of glucocorticosteroid therapy, dose and duration, as well as Cushingoid appearance and cytotoxic therapy were also predictive for the development of ON. Multivariate analysis revealed that glucocorticosteroid use, the presence of arthritis, and the use of cytotoxic medications remained significant. CONCLUSION: Glucocorticosteroid therapy, the presence of arthritis, and use of cytotoxic medication are independent risk factors for development of ON in patients with SLE.

Organomercury(II) complexes of 6-thioguanine: synthesis, characterization, and biological studies.

Organomercury(II) complexes involving 6-thioguanine, of the type p-XC6H4HgL (Fig. 1) [LH = 6-thioguanine; X = Me, MeO, NO2], have been synthesized and characterized. Conductance measurements indicate that the complexes are nonelectrolytes. From IR and UV studies, it is concluded that 6-thioguanine acts as a bidentate ligand, coordinating through the 6-thione group and deprotonation of N-7. 1H and 13C NMR support the stoichiometry of the complexes. From thermal studies (TG and DSC) various kinetic and thermodynamic parameters for thermal degradation have been enumerated. In addition, the fragmentation pattern of the complexes have been analyzed on the basis of mass spectra. The p-MeC6H4HgL and p-MeOC6H4HgL complexes display significant activity against L1210 leukemia cells.