Contribution of a new electrophysiologic test to Morton's neuroma diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Morton's neuroma causes metatarsalgia due to the interdigital neuropathy. The small nerve diameter compromises their evaluation in image studies. To overcome this problem we propose a new electrophysiological test. METHODS: We conducted a prospective case-control study performing a orthodromic electroneurography using subdermal electrodes in controls and patients to assess the validity. Additionally all patients were tested with magnetic resonance. Some patients required surgery and subsequent histological evaluation. RESULTS: The new ENG procedure showed higher sensitivity and specificity. Methodological standardization was easy and the test was well tolerated by the subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Our test demonstrated remarkable diagnostic efficiency, and also was able to identify symptomatic patients undetected by magnetic resonance, which underlines the lack of correlation between the size and intensity of the lesion. This new electrophysiological method appears to be a highly sensitivity, well-tolerated, simple and low-cost for Morton's neuroma diagnosis.

Contribution of Orbital Ultrasound to the Diagnosis of Central Retinal Artery Occlusion.

We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of orbital ultrasound in the etiologic diagnosis of central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO). For this purpose, patients with CRAO evaluated at our center between 2011 and 2021 were reviewed. Demographic variables, vascular risk factors and ultrasound findings were collected. An orbital duplex was performed in all cases and complemented with other diagnostic explorations. We attended 36 cases of CRAO. In all patients, orbital ultrasound confirmed the diagnosis of CRAO: in 75% emboli material (spot sign) was observed in CRA and in 25% flow alteration in CRA without visible embolus. The positive spot sign (PSS) group differed from patients with negative spot sign (NSS) in terms of etiology: 8 PSS cases (29.6%) had a major cardioembolic cause, 4 (14.8%) a large vessel atheromatous disease, 15 (55.6%) an undetermined cause. Some 21 (77.8%) PSS patients had some minor cardioembolic cause, mainly calcifications of the left valves. In the NSS group, 2 (22%) were diagnosed with giant cell arteritis (GCA). In CRAO, the ultrasound spot sign could be a guide for the detection of embolic sources. Its absence makes it necessary to consider more strongly the possibility of arteritis. Furthermore, our findings suggest a key role of calcium embolism in PSS patients.

Neurologic manifestations in hospitalized patients with COVID-19: The ALBACOVID registry.

OBJECTIVE: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread worldwide since December 2019. Neurologic symptoms have been reported as part of the clinical spectrum of the disease. We aimed to determine whether neurologic manifestations are common in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and to describe their main characteristics. METHODS: We systematically reviewed all patients diagnosed with COVID-19 admitted to the hospital in a Spanish population during March 2020. Demographic characteristics, systemic and neurologic clinical manifestations, and complementary tests were analyzed. RESULTS: Of 841 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 (mean age 66.4 years, 56.2% men), 57.4% developed some form of neurologic symptom. Nonspecific symptoms such as myalgias (17.2%), headache (14.1%), and dizziness (6.1%) were present mostly in the early stages of infection. Anosmia (4.9%) and dysgeusia (6.2%) tended to occur early (60% as the first clinical manifestation) and were more frequent in less severe cases. Disorders of consciousness occurred commonly (19.6%), mostly in older patients and in severe and advanced COVID-19 stages. Myopathy (3.1%), dysautonomia (2.5%), cerebrovascular diseases (1.7%), seizures (0.7%), movement disorders (0.7%), encephalitis (n = 1), Guillain-Barré syndrome (n = 1), and optic neuritis (n = 1) were also reported, but less frequent. Neurologic complications were the main cause of death in 4.1% of all deceased study participants. CONCLUSIONS: Neurologic manifestations are common in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. In our series, more than half of patients presented some form of neurologic symptom. Clinicians need to maintain close neurologic surveillance for prompt recognition of these complications. The mechanisms and consequences of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 neurologic involvement require further studies.

[The 'black turbinate sign' in a case of rhinocerebral mucormycosis]. / Signo del cornete negro en un caso de mucormicosis rinocerebral.

TITLE: Signo del cornete negro en un caso de mucormicosis rinocerebral.

[Occipital neuralgia secondary to vasculitis of the occipital artery. Diagnosis using colour duplex]. / Neuralgia occipital secundaria a vasculitis de la arteria occipital. Diagnóstico mediante dúplex color.

TITLE: Neuralgia occipital secundaria a vasculitis de la arteria occipital. Diagnostico mediante duplex color.

Neuralgia occipital secundaria a vasculitis de la arteria occipital. Diagnóstico mediante dúplex color / Occipital neuralgia secondary to vasculitis of the occipital artery. Diagnosis using colour duplex

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Signo del cornete negro en un caso de mucormicosis Rinocerebral / The 'black turbinate sign' in a case of rhinocerebral mucormycosis

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Utilización de la vía subcutánea en Atención Primaria / Use of the subcutaneous route in primary care

La vía subcutánea se presenta como una alternativa a la vía oral cuando ésta no es posible. En el manejo de los pacientes paliativos está extendido el uso de esta vía, pero no es así en el resto de pacientes. Existen distintas situaciones en Atención Primaria donde nuestros enfermos se pueden beneficiar en numerosas ocasiones del uso de esta forma de administración de fármacos. Revisamos varios artículos, capítulos de libros y guías clínicas donde se precisan las ventajas e inconvenientes de esta vía, las principales indicaciones, las técnicas de administración subcutánea de fármacos en bolo o en infusión continua y los fármacos más empleados. En definitiva, intentamos hacer una revisión del uso de la vía subcutánea útil para el médico de familia y para los diplomados en enfermería que trabajan en atención primaria, tanto en la consulta diaria como en la atención continuada (AU)

The subcutaneous route may be used as an alternative when the oral route is not possible This route is commonly used in the management of palliative care patients, but not in other kinds of patients. Patients could benefit from this type of drug administration in several Primary Care situations. We reviewed several articles, book chapters and clinical guidelines which point out the advantages and disadvantages of this route, its main indications for use, subcutaneous bolus or continuous subcutaneous infusion administration techniques and the most commonly used drugs. In short, we attempted to provide a review of the use of the subcutaneous route that will be useful for the Primary Care Physicians and Nurses, not only in daily practice but also in continued care (AU)