Skipped vertebral spontaneous spondylodiscitis caused by Granulicatella adiacens: Case report and a systematic literature review

BackgroundGranulicatella adiacens is a nutritional variant of streptococcus (NVS), which has been rarely reported as an etiologic agent in spondylodiscitis (SD).Material and methodsWe report a case of a 51-year-old male with from chronic low-back pain associated with right sciatica and ipsilateral monoparesis. Spinal MRI showed radiological signs on L1-L2 and L5-S1 discs consistent with SD. We also performed a systematic review of the pertinent literature in order to retrieve all the key information regarding microbiological and clinical features.ResultsIncluding our patients, seven cases with a mean age 56 ± 10.2 years were reported in English literature. Six patients were conservatively managed with antibiotic therapy (66%), whereas three with surgery in combination with antibiotics (33%). An endocarditis was associated in three cases, and a pacemaker infection in one. All patients received targeted antibiotic therapy resulting in a quick improvement of clinical symptoms with favorable outcome. Our case is the only with a skip spontaneous SD, which needed a surgical decompression due to the associated neurological symptoms.ConclusionsThis incidence of SD sustained by Granulicatella adiances could be underestimated due to their particular microbiological conditions requested for their cultures. However, this infection should be suspected in cases of culture-negative SD, especially when associated with endocarditis.     

Symptom improvement in dry eye subjects following intranasal tear neurostimulation: Results of two studies utilizing a controlled adverse environment

PurposeTo evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the intranasal tear neurostimulator (ITN) in improving dry eye symptoms assessed in a controlled adverse environment (CAE®).MethodsStudy 1: Multicenter, subject-masked, randomized-sequence, crossover design. Single intranasal (active) and extranasal (control) ITN administration during CAE exposure. Study 2: Single-arm, open-label design. Intranasal ITN administration ≥2 times/day for 45 days, CAE assessment at days 0 and 45. In both studies, upon CAE entry, and every 5 min thereafter, subjects assessed eye dryness score (visual analog scale, 0–100 mm; EDS-VAS), and ocular discomfort score (ODS; Ora Calibra™, 0–4), for ≈2 h. Study 1: when ODS was ≥3 at 2 consecutive timepoints, subjects applied ITN intranasally or extranasally for ≈3 min, and again when achieving the same ODS criteria in randomized sequence. Study 2: days 0 and 45, ITN was applied for ≈3 min employing the same ODS criteria as Study 1.ResultsStudy 1: Significantly greater pre- to post-application reductions in mean [SEM] EDS (−16.5 [1.7] vs −3.1 [1.7], P < 0.0001) and ODS (−0.93 [0.08] vs −0.34 [0.08], P < 0.0001; n = 143) with intranasal vs extranasal stimulation. Study 2: On day 0 (n = 52) and day 45 (n = 48), significant pre- to post-application reductions in mean [SEM] EDS (−15.9 [2.7] and −15.2 [2.4]; P < 0.0001), and ODS (−1.3 [0.2] and −1.3 [0.1]; P < 0.0001). Few device-related adverse events were reported, none serious.ConclusionsAcute symptom relief is significant with the ITN and remains undiminished after daily use.     

Grading Facial Nerve Function Following Combined Static and Mimetic Surgical Techniques

Objective To present a grading scale to assess the functional recovery of the facial nerve in patients who have undergone mimetic and static surgical techniques for facial reanimation. Study design This is a proposed new facial nerve grading system that will be demonstrated with specific case presentations. All patients underwent a variety of neural grafting, microvascular free-flap reconstruction, or surgical static procedures. Results The proposed facial nerve grading scale is one that has not been described previously in the literature and is applicable to a unique patient population. Its ease of use in this patient population will allow otolaryngologists to assess facial recovery accurately and quickly in cases where the facial nerve is not anatomically intact. Conclusion The proposed facial recovery grading scale provides an efficient means of grading facial recovery for a unique group of patients who previously could not be followed. The proposed scale is practical and easy to use in a clinical setting.     

Utility of the pictorial Epworth sleepiness scale in the adult down syndrome population

Objective/BackgroundThe utility of the pictorial Epworth sleepiness scale (pESS) has been assessed by only a few studies in a clinical population. Some of its questions may be inappropriate in certain patient groups. The aim of this study was to assess the utility of the pESS in the adult Down syndrome (DS) population in the United Kingdom (UK).Patients/MethodsA modified sleep questionnaire including the pESS was administered to 5430 adults with DS living in the UK. Standard statistical analysis was undertaken.ResultsOf 1105 valid responses (20.35%), the pESS was incomplete in 129 (11.67%) cases. Of the incomplete responses, “Q1. Likelihood of dozing/falling sleep while sitting and reading?” was most frequently missed (63.6% of 129 responses).ConclusionsThe pESS may not be entirely appropriate in certain populations such as those with intellectual disability where literacy levels may be low. Question modification may be necessary.Clinical trial registration numberISRCTN55685305.     

哈尔滨市农村癫痫患者健康相关生命质量评价研究

目的 评价哈尔滨市农村癫痫患者健康相关生命质量并分析其影响因素。方法 通过简单随机抽样方法，随机选取哈尔滨市236例惊厥型癫痫患者，基于中国人群的EQ-5D效应值积分体系计算癫痫患者健康效应值，采用秩和检验和Tobit回归模型方法对癫痫患者健康水平影响因素进行分析。结果 调查的236名癫痫患者在5个维度有困难者占比排序为:焦虑或沮丧（42.74%）、疼痛或不适（30.77%）、日常活动（28.63%）、自己照顾自己（18.80%）、行动（16.67%），基于中国积分体系计算癫痫患者健康效应值为0.85，Tobit回归模型结果表明，职业（95%CI = 0.004～0.313，P = 0.045）、体育运动（95%CI = 0.001～0.438，P = 0.049）、最近一次发作时间（95%CI = - 0.316～- 0.020，P = 0.027）、总病程（95%CI = - 0.051～- 0.387，P = 0.011）对癫痫患者的健康效用值得分有统计学差异。结论 癫痫对患者心理方面的影响程度大于生理方面，应加大对癫痫患者心理方面的关注。脑力劳动者、体育运动的癫痫患者健康效用值相对较高，发作时间在0～3个月内、总病程较长的癫痫患者健康效用值相对较低。     

Mechanical Thrombectomy in Acute Ischemic Stroke—The Role of Interventional Cardiologists: A Prospective Single-Center Study

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to assess the safety and outcomes of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) performed at a stroke center by interventional cardiologists (ICs) compared with other interventionists. The primary endpoint was functional independence of stroke survivors (modified Rankin scale score 0-2) at 3 months. The secondary endpoints included recanalization rate, reduction in stroke severity, and 3-month mortality.BackgroundMT is a validated treatment for large vessel occlusion acute ischemic stroke. Incorporating ICs with their infrastructure into a comprehensive stroke team may increase the accessibility of this therapy.MethodsIn this single-center, prospective study, we included 248 ischemic stroke patients (mean age 68 ± 13 years, 48% women) with confirmed large vessel occlusion. The procedures were performed by ICs (n = 80), vascular surgeons (n = 116), and neuroradiologists (n = 52).ResultsFunctional independence after 3 months was similar between patients operated by cardiologists and other specialists (modified Rankin scale score 0-2 in 44% vs 55%; P = 0.275). Similarly, the mortality rate at 3 months did not differ (28% vs 31%; P = 0.585). Procedures performed by cardiologists took longer than those performed by other specialists (120 minutes vs 105 minutes; P = 0.020). A percentage of procedures with angiographic success (TICI [Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction] grade 2b or 3) was lower when performed by cardiologists (55.7% vs 71.7%; P = 0.013), but the change in stroke severity (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score after 24 hours) was similar.ConclusionsEndovascular treatment in stroke provided by interventional cardiologists in cooperation with noninvasive stroke specialists is noninferior to procedures performed by the other endovascular specialists. Mortality and functional independence after 3 months are similar regardless of an interventionist performing the procedure.