Corneal epithelial dendritic cells in patients with multiple sclerosis: An in vivo confocal microscopy study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate density and morphology of corneal epithelial dendritic cells (DCs) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) using in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM). METHODS: This was a single-center cross-sectional comparative study. All MS patients were clinically scored using the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score. Patients underwent ophthalmological examination and then cornea was analyzed by IVCM Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (HRT 3) in combination with Rostock Cornea Module and CCD camera. Five sectors (central, nasal, temporal, inferior, superior and central area) were analyzed in both patient eyes, then for each sector one image was selected and analyzed by using the manual cell counting system offered with the software and ImageJ program. DCs density (cell/mm2) and DCs size (µm2) were considered for the analyses. Difference between the two groups and correlation between DCs, MS type, EDSS score, optic neuritis and ongoing therapy were analyzed. RESULTS: We enrolled 46 consecutive patients: 23 with MS (age 47.87 ± 7.22 years (mean ± standard deviation) and 21 healthy subjects (age 46.0 ± 12.6 years) from July 2017 to July 2018. MS patients showed a lower DCs density when compared with healthy subjects (p < 0.05). Moreover, we found a direct correlation (r:0.48, p < 0.05) between DCs density and ongoing disease-modifying therapy. CONCLUSION: IVCM was able to show a difference in corneal DCs density between MS patients and healthy subjects, providing an insight to the underlying changes of the clinical manifestations of MS. Further studies are needed to provide evidence of possible clinical implications.

Altered handwriting suggests cognitive impairment and may be relevant to posthumous evaluation.

Judging the validity of a disputed will is complex; however, one of the main issues is what the mental status of the testator was at the time of the will. If the will is handwritten, a handwriting analysis can provide information on the mental status of the testator. We tested how two writing parameters (the "writing score," a novel evaluation scale that we previously described, and the percentage of spelling mistakes) are capable to identify cognitively impaired persons. These parameters are especially helpful because they can be used to evaluate the mental status of a deceased person. We found a significant correlation between either parameter and established scales of neuropsychological evaluation (Mini Mental State Examination and Milan Overall Dementia Assessment scale). Specifically, a poor score on either parameter reliably identified a compromised cognitive status. These may represent helpful additions to existing techniques in posthumously identifying persons with severe cognitive impairment.

Cognitive recovery after delayed carbon monoxide encephalopathy.

We report on a patient with delayed carbon monoxide encephalopathy who presented with severe cognitive impairment associated with MRI findings of extensive demyelination of the cerebral white matter after a silent period of three weeks from acute intoxication. Despite the severe signs of structural and functional cerebral impairment in the sub-acute stage, the clinical course was favorable but for residual mild dysfunction of the frontal lobes.

Peritonectomy and intraperitoneal hyperthermic perfusion (IPHP): a strategy that has confirmed its efficacy in patients with pseudomyxoma peritonei.

BACKGROUND: Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is a rare disease with a poor prognosis characterized by a complete redistribution of mucin within the peritoneal cavity. The aim of this multicentric study was to evaluate the survival, morbidity, toxicity, and mortality of patients with PMP treated by cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with intraperitoneal hyperthermic perfusion (IPHP). METHODS: Thirty-three patients with PMP (21 males and 12 females) were enrolled in a phase II clinical trial. One patient underwent surgery twice because of disease recurrence. CRS was performed with peritonectomy procedures. The closed abdomen technique was employed for IPHP with use of cisplatin (25 mg/m2/L) plus mitomycin-C (3.3 mg/m2/L) for 60 minutes under hyperthermic conditions (42.5 degrees C). RESULTS: Thirty-one patients (92%) were optimally cytoreduced. Five-year overall survival, progression-free survival, and locoregional progression-free survival rates were 97%, 43%, and 59%, respectively. Grade II and grade III morbidity was observed in 5 patient (15%) and 6 patients (18%), respectively. There was one treatment-related death (3%), 21 days after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: CRS associated with IPHP permitted complete tumor removal with an acceptable morbidity and mortality for patients with PMP. This study confirms the efficacy of the combined treatment in terms of long-term survival and local disease control.

Feasibility of peritonectomy associated with intraperitoneal hyperthermic perfusion in patients with Pseudomyxoma peritonei.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: Pseudomyxoma peritonei is a rare disease characterized by a complete redistribution of mucin within the peritoneal cavity. It can be classified into three histologic groups: disseminated peritoneal adenomucinosis, peritoneal mucinous carcinomatosis, and an intermediate group. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility of cytoreductive surgery requiring peritonectomy procedures associated with intraperitoneal hyperthermic perfusion, a technique that combines hyperthermia and high drug doses administered locally. METHODS: Twenty-seven patients with pseudomyxoma peritonei (19 males and 8 females) were enrolled in a phase II clinical trial. Twenty-two cases underwent cytoreductive surgery plus intraperitoneal hyperthermic perfusion, and 6 received debulking surgery only. One patient was operated on twice for disease recurrence. All patients with peritoneal mucinous carcinomatosis presented serous ascites, whereas all but one patient with disseminated peritoneal adenomucinosis or in the intermediate group presented mucinous ascites. Cytoreductive surgery was performed with peritonectomy procedures. The closed abdomen technique was adopted for intraperitoneal hyperthermic perfusion using a preheated polysaline perfusate containing cisplatin (25 mg/m2/L) plus mitomycin-C (3.3 mg/m2/L) through a heart-lung pump at a mean flow of 600 mL/min for 60 mins from the hyperthermic phase (42.5 degrees C). RESULTS: All but one of the patients with disseminated peritoneal adenomucinosis and 2 of the 3 patients in the intermediate group were optimally cytoreduced. Patients with serous ascites (all patients with peritoneal mucinous carcinomatosis and 1 patient with disseminated peritoneal adenomucinosis) were considered ineligible for treatment because of tumor diffusion. The morbidity rate was 22%. There was one case of treatment-related mortality 30 days after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The following conclusions can be drawn from this phase II clinical trial: 1) patients with pseudomyxoma peritonei originating from undifferentiated mucinous adenocarcinoma (peritoneal mucinous carcinomatosis), with complete distribution into the peritoneal cavity, are not eligible for the cytoreductive surgery plus intraperitoneal hyperthermic perfusion technique; 2) the presence of serous ascites would seem to exclude patients from the treatment; 3) cytoreductive surgery associated with intraperitoneal hyperthermic perfusion is the most suitable approach for patients with disseminated peritoneal adenomucinosis and in the intermediate group.