A Series of 8 Illicit Fentanyl Intoxication Deaths in Infants and Toddlers.

ABSTRACT: We report 8 children younger than 2 years who died from acute illicit fentanyl intoxications in Connecticut between 2020 and 2022.The Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (CT OCME) investigates all unexpected, violent, and suspicious deaths in Connecticut. The CT OCME's electronic database was searched for fentanyl deaths by age. All underwent autopsies and toxicology testing.The ages ranged from 28 days to 2 years (mean age, 12 months). The causes of death involved acute fentanyl intoxications with 1 having xylazine, 1 having para-fluorofentanyl, and 1 having cocaine and morphine. All the manners of death were certified as homicide. The postmortem fentanyl blood concentrations ranged from 0.40 to 46 ng/mL. Most of the children were found unresponsive after being put to sleep. Three were co-sleeping with adults (2 in bed; 1 on a recliner). There was a known history of parental/caregiver drug abuse in 7 of 8 of the fatalities.We summarize the key investigative, autopsy, and toxicological findings. As illicit fentanyl use increases, there is a potential for infant exposure and death. The investigation and certification of these deaths and the role of intentional administration versus inadvertent exposure due to caregiver neglect in the context of the certification of the manner of death are described.

Polyphenolic characterisation and antiprotozoal effect of extracts obtained by maceration, ultrasound, microwave and ultrasound/microwave of Porophyllum ruderale (Jacq.) Cass.

Porophyllum ruderale (Jacq.) Cass. (Asteraceae) has antiprotozoal properties and contains extractable phenolic compounds by the maceration method (M). However, new extraction proposals such as ultrasound (U), microwaves (MW), and ultrasound/microwaves (U/MW) have emerged to optimise yields, but it is unknown if these methods modify effectiveness. Therefore, the study consisted of extracting the aerial part of P. ruderale with ethanol using the M, U, MW and U/MW methods to study its composition by RP-HPLC-ESI-MS, its total polyphenol content and its effect against Entamoeba histolytica. The study showed that U, MW and U/MW did not modify the extraction yield compared to M, but they did change the composition and the total polyphenol content. All extracts contain phloretin, caffeic acid 4-O-glucoside, todolactol A, quercetin 3-O-glucoside, quercetin 3-O-rhamnoside, luteolin and 3,7-dimethylquercetin, and affected the growth of E. histolytica. However, M and U extracts were the most effective at 5 mg/mL.

Xylazine, a Veterinary Tranquilizer, Detected in 42 Accidental Fentanyl Intoxication Deaths.

ABSTRACT: Xylazine is an emerging adulterant with fentanyl in fatal drug intoxications, which has public health, safety, and criminal investigative implications. Xylazine is a nonnarcotic sedative used for analgesia and muscle relaxation exclusively in veterinary medicine. Its chemical structure is similar to clonidine and acts as a central α-2 agonist which may cause bradycardia and transient hypertension followed by hypotension. We report the detection of xylazine in 42 deaths in Connecticut from March to August 2019. Xylazine combined with an opioid or stimulant may affect the toxicity of these drugs. Detection of xylazine may help the forensic pathologist distinguish illicit from prescribed fentanyl, and law enforcement agents track the illicit drugs to a specific drug supplier. Because of its lack of response to naloxone, emergency medicine physicians need to be aware of its potential presence as it may affect therapy.

[Massive digestive hemorrhage from secondary fistulas of great vessels to the digestive tract]. / Hemorragia digestiva masiva por fístulas secundarias de grandes vasos al tracto digestivo.

The formation of a fistula between large caliber arteries and the digestive tract is an uncommon complication of reconstructive surgery of the large vessels secondary to the use of vascular prostheses, which manifest themselves with massive hemorrhages with high mortality. We report two cases of aorto-enteric fistula and carotid-esophageal fistula that share common characteristics such as the clinical manifestation of massive and fatal gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with a history of vascular prosthesis placement.

Hemorragia digestiva masiva por fístulas secundarias de grandes vasos al tracto digestivo / Massive digestive hemorrhage from secondary fistulas of great vessels to the digestive tract

RESUMEN La formación de una fístula entre arterias de gran calibre y el tubo digestivo es una complicación infrecuente de la cirugía reconstructiva de los grandes vasos sanguíneos secundario al uso de prótesis vasculares, los cuales se manifiestan con hemorragias masivas con elevada mortalidad. Presentamos dos casos de fístula aorto-entérico y de fístula carotideo-esofágico que comparten características comunes como la manifestación clínica de hemorragia digestiva masiva y mortal en pacientes con antecedentes de colocación de prótesis vasculares.

ABSTRACT The formation of a fistula between large caliber arteries and the digestive tract is an uncommon complication of reconstructive surgery of the large vessels secondary to the use of vascular prostheses, which manifest themselves with massive hemorrhages with high mortality. We report two cases of aorto-enteric fistula and carotid-esophageal fistula that share common characteristics such as the clinical manifestation of massive and fatal gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with a history of vascular prosthesis placement.

Perfil clínico y análisis de sobrevida en pacientes con neoplasia mucinosa papilar intraductal diagnosticados por ecoendoscopía / Clinical profile and survival analysis in patients with intraductal papilar mucinous neoplasm by endoscopic ultrasound

RESUMEN Introducción. La neoplasia mucinosa papilar intraductal (IPMN) se diagnostica ahora con mayor frecuencia debido al mayor uso de los métodos de imágenes, y conlleva un desafío clínico su manejo y seguimiento por su probable transformación maligna. Objetivos. Conocer las características por ecoendoscopía (USE), evolución clínica y sobrevida de los pacientes diagnosticados de IPMN por USE. Materiales y métodos. Estudio de cohorte retrospectivo con análisis de sobrevida en pacientes diagnosticados de IPMN por USE entre 2013 y 2018 en el Hospital Nacional Edgardo Rebagliati Martins (HNERM). Se analizaron variables demográficas y ecoendoscópicas, además de seguimiento hasta el fallecimiento o 6 meses después del término del estudio. Se realizó el análisis de sobrevida con los métodos de Kaplan-Meyer y de regresión de Cox. Resultados. Se incluyeron 133 pacientes con IPMN. Edad media fue 68,6 años, 80 (60,2%) fueron mujeres. Según subtipos, 89 (66,9%) fueron de rama secundaria, 23 (17,3%) de ducto principal y 21 (15,8%) de tipo mixto. La principal localización fue cabeza de páncreas (41,4%). En el seguimiento, 22 (16,5%) fueron a cirugía, 22 (16,5%) fallecieron después de una mediana de seguimiento de 522 días. En 8 pacientes (6%) se detectó neoplasia maligna. La tasa de sobrevida global fue 86.8% (IC 95%, 79,6-91,6) al año y de 81.9% (IC95%, 73,3-88,0) a los 3 años. En análisis univariado los factores asociados a la sobrevida fueron los subtipos de IPMN-DP (p=0,02) y mixto (p=0,005), sexo masculino (p=0,004), tamaño de lesión ≥30 mm (p=0,000), nódulos (p=0,014) y Wirsung ≥10 mm (p=0,01). En el análisis multivariado, los factores predictores asociados con la sobrevida fueron: IPMN-DP (HR=6,3, p=0,005), IPMN mixto (HR=4,9, p=0,008) y tamaño de lesión ≥30 mm (HR=7,1, p=0,000). Conclusiones. El diagnostico de IPMN de ducto principal y mixto se asocian como factores predictores de sobrevida, al igual que el tamaño de la lesión ≥30 mm.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) are diagnosed more frequently because the higher use of radiologic exams, in that sense they are a great challenge to define its management and treatment in relation to its potential malignant transformation. Objective: To describe IPMN clinical profile, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) characteristics and survival in all patients diagnosed with IPMN by EUS at HNERM. Materials and methods: Retrospective cohort of patients with IPMN diagnosed at HNERM by EUS from 2013 to 2018. Descriptive statistics was used for clinical profile and EUS characteristics. Kaplan Meir Method and Cox regression analysis was applied for survival analysis. Results: 133 patients with IPMN were included. Medium age was 68.6 years, 80 (60.2%) were female. According to IPMN subtypes, 89 (66.9%) originated from secondary branch, 23 (17.3%) from main duct (MD) and 21 (15.8%) were mixed type (MT). Head of pancreas was the main localization (41.4%). In follow-up, 22 (16.5%) were derived to surgery. Mortality occurred in 16.5% (22 cases) after a median follow-up of 522 days. Malignant transformation was diagnosed in 6% (8 cases). Survival was 86.8% (IC 95%, 79.6-91.6) at 1 year and 81.9% (IC95%, 73.3-88.0) at 3 years. Univariate analysis demonstrated that factors associated to survival were MD-IPMN (p=0.02) y MT-IPMN (p=0.005), male gender (p=004), nodule size ≥30 mm (p=0.000), presence of nodules (p=0.014) and Wirsung ≥10 mm (p=0.01). Multivariate analysis showed that predictive factors for survival were MD-IPMN (HR=6.3, p=0.005), MT-IPMN (HR=4.9, p=0.008) and nodule size ≥30 mm (HR=7.1, p=0.000). Conclusions: Diagnosis of MD-IPMN and MT-IPMN are predictive factors for survival as well as nodule size ≥ 30mm.

Neuropathologic Examination in Sudden Unexpected Deaths in Infancy and Childhood: Recommendations for Highest Diagnostic Yield and Cost-Effectiveness in Forensic Settings.

In infants and toddlers (less than four years of age), determination of cause and manner of death often requires a complete autopsy. Few evidence-based guidelines exist regarding optimum nervous system sectioning in this population. Over a six-month interval and using a comprehensive section protocol, we categorized cases having neuropathological findings that were critical (Class A), contributory (Class B), or noncontributory (Class C) to the final cause and manner of death. We further evaluated which sections helped make this determination. Among 53 cases (44 infants, 9 toddlers; 26 girls, 27 boys), Class A neuropathology was noted in nine (16.9%). Seven infants had meningoencephalitis (2/7, 28.6%), craniospinal trauma (3/7, 42.8%), brainstem necrosis suggesting Leigh Disease (1/7, 14.3%), and hydrocephalus in Dandy-Walker malformation (1/7, 14.3%); two toddlers had inflicted craniospinal trauma (2/2, 100%). Class B factors were identified in 11/53 (20.8%), including recent hypoxic-ischemic lesions (2/11, 18.2%), meningitis or dural venous sinus thrombosis in systemic sepsis (2/11, 18.2%), multicystic encephalopathy following peripartum asphyxia (2/11, 18.2%), and microcephaly and delayed myelination (Cri-du-Chat Syndrome) (1/11, 9.09%). Class B also included three toddlers (3/11, 27.2%) with features of hippocampal dysgenesis, two in the setting of febrile seizures. Class C comprised normal brains (3/53, 5.7%), and those with findings of uncertain significance, such as white matter and brainstem gliosis (30/53, 56.6%). The sections most valuable for detection of relevant pathology, and thus recommended for routine sampling, were: 1) bilateral hippocampus; 2) cerebral cortex and leptomeninges; and 3) pons or medulla.