Epidural analgesia in children with cerebral palsy

PURPOSE: Two modalities of epidural analgesia in children with two types of cerebral palsy (CP) were compared for differences in the incidence of common complications (inadequate analgesia, hypopnea, hypoxaemia, sedation, vomiting, pruritus, urinary retention, and seizures). METHODS: Demographic, procedural and postoperative complication data were collected on children with CP receiving epidural analgesia. Information was recorded contemporaneously with the child's care by one of the authors on 92 consecutive children with CP (age, 107 +/- 50.1 mo; weight, 26 +/- 14.2 kg) who had undergone infra-umbilical orthopaedic or Nissen fundoplication procedures between December 1994 and December 1996. The first 44 patients received intermittent bolus (IB) epidural morphine and the next 48 received continuous infusion (CI) bupivacaine and fentanyl. Two forms of CP (spastic diplegia and quadriplegia) and the two modalities of analgesia were compared. RESULTS: Excellent analgesia was obtained in 91/92 patients. Excessive sedation occurred in six patients (6.5%) but only in IB patients, (P < 0.02 vs CI). Emesis occurred in 52% of patients, and was more common in diplegic than in quadriplegic patients (68% vs 38%, P < 0.01). Pruritus was observed in 29% of patients and was more common in diplegia than quadriplegia (48% vs 12.5%, P < 0.001). The incidences of hypopnea, hypoxaemia, urinary retention and seizures were not affected by the types of CP or analgesia and no difference in sedation was observed between spastic diplegic and quadriplegic patients. CONCLUSIONS: Continuous infusion of epidural bupivacaine and fentanyl provided excellent analgesia for children with CP without serious complications. Intermittent bolus epidural morphine was associated with a high incidence of excessive sedation and should be avoided in this population.     

Postoperative prophylactic anticonvulsant therapy in cerebral gliomas

A retrospective study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of prophylactic anticonvulsants in preventing seizures in 68 patients with supratentorial astrocytomas who had been treated with operation and irradiation and who had no previous history of convulsions. Thirty-three patients received prophylactic anticonvulsants and 38 patients did not. The incidence of all types of seizures (generalized convulsions or partial) was lower in patients receiving anticonvulsants. No seizures with an impairment of consciousness occurred in the patients with documented therapeutic anticonvulsant blood levels. The overall incidence of seizures was 39% in untreated patients and 21% in treated patients. The incidence of major seizures including tonic/clonic or partial complex seizures with impairment of consciousness was zero in patients with therapeutic anticonvulsant levels and 18% in untreated patients. Regarding the overall incidence of seizures in both groups, there tend to be fewer seizures in older patients, females, patients with a higher grade of malignancy, and patients who had a more radical resection of the tumor. This study suggests that seizures are a frequent occurrence after operation and irradiation for supratentorial glioma and that anticonvulsants may be effective in reducing the incidence of those seizures.     

The lack of isolated palatal clefts in Czech Gypsies

Orofacial clefts are usually divided into three basic types: isolated cleft lip (CL), cleft lip and palate (CLP) and isolated cleft palate (CP). The incidence of specific cleft types in a population and their relative numbers show specific differences between ethnic groups and races. However, there are no available data about the incidence and relative numbers of orofacial cleft types (CL, CLP, CP) in the gypsy ethnic group. The aim of this study was to compare relative numbers of specific types of orofacial clefts between the Czech gypsy and non-gypsy populations. We conducted a retrospective epidemiological study using a set of all living patients with orofacial clefts born in the Czech Republic from 1964 until 2002. The cleft patients were subdivided into three groups: 5304 non-gypsy children, both parents of whom were non-gypsies (NN), 98 gypsy children, both parents of whom were gypsies (GG) and 18 children with one parent non-gypsy and one parent gypsy (NG). The relative number of isolated CP was 37.1% in NN children. However, the relative number of CP was significantly reduced to 5.1% (P < 0.01) in the GG group. Conversely, the relative number of CLP was higher (P < 0.01) in the GG group (62.2%) in comparison to the NN group (39.2%). The tendency to decrease in the relative number of CP and increase in the relative number of CLP was also apparent in the NG group, but not so well expressed. We hypothesize that the decrease in CP and increase in CLP and CL in gypsies might be caused by their genetic predis-position to CL. Since the CP originates later than CL during embryonic development, some CP arise in embryos with already existing CL giving rise to CLP. Consequently, the missing isolated CP might be hidden in the group of CLP patients postnatally.     

Application of real-time polymerase chain reaction technology to detect prostatic bacteria in patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome

To investigate the potential association between prostate infection and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS), we used molecular approaches described in previous reports. These methods employed standard polymerase chain (PCR) reaction assays to provide a qualitative evaluation of prostatic bacterial species. Here, we report on the detection of prostatic bacteria using a real-time PCR. Template DNAs were examined from prostatic tissue samples from patients with CP/CPPS. Two PCR primer sets were used: one that amplifies a portion of all known bacterial ribosomal DNAs (16S rDNAs) and one that is specific for Escherichia coli as opposed to related, E. coli-like bacteria. The 16S rDNA real-time PCR assay detected bacterial DNAs in eight (26%) of 31 samples from patients with CP/CPPS, including three samples (10%) that were also positive by the E. coli real-time PCR assay. These E. coli positives were quantified at approximately 10(3) cfu/ml of tissue digested. Quantification, speed and specificity make real-time PCR a promising approach for the quantitative detection and identification of prostatic bacteria from CP/CPPS patients.     

Gas-forming liver abscess associated with rapid hemolysis in a diabetic patient

We experienced a case of liver abscess due to Clostridium perfringens(CP) complicated with massive hemolysis and rapid death in an adequately controlled type2 diabetic patient. The patient died 6 h after his first visit to the hospital. CP was later detected in a blood culture. We searched for case reports of CP septicemia and found 124 cases. Fifty patients survived, and 74died. Of the 30 patients with liver abscess, only 3 cases survived following treatment with emergency surgica drainage. For the early detection of CP infection, detection of Gram-positive rods in the blood or drainage fluid is important. Spherocytes and ghost cells indicate intravascular hemolysis. The prognosis is very poor once massive hemolysis occurs. The major causative organisms of gas-forming liver abscess in diabetic patients are Klebsiella pneumoniae(K. pneumoniae) and Escherichia coli(E. coli). Although CP is relatively rare,the survival rate is very poor compared with those of K. pneumoniae and E. coli. Therefore, for every case that presents with a gas-forming liver abscess, the possibility of CP should be considered, and immediate aspiration of the abscess and Gram staining are important.     

Human Papillomavirus and Overexpression of P16INK4a in Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer

BACKGROUND: P16INK4a overexpression has been identified as a specific biomarker in high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV)-infected cervical (pre)cancer lesions. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the overexpression of this cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor in skin tumors depending on HPV infections, we analyzed normal skin, benign skin disease, and skin cancer specimens. METHODS: Biopsies of 23 patients with normal histology (3), psoriasis (2), verrucae vulgaris (2), actinic keratoses (5), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in situ (3), Bowen's carcinoma (1), and SCC (7) were analyzed. Specimens of 23 patients were immunostained using the monoclonal antibody E6H4 specific for p16INK4a. HPV status was assessed by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) system to detect all currently known HPV types. MY (MY09/MY11 and MYN9/MYN10)-, CP (CP65/CP70 and CP66/CP69)-nested PCR, and three single PCR methods CN1, CN3, and CN4 were used in a first step, and HPV typing was performed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Only beta-globin-positive patients were included in this study. RESULTS: HPV DNA was detected in all actinic keratoses, SCC in situ, Bowen's carcinoma, and SCC, in 50% (one of two) of verrucae vulgaris, in 66% (two of three) of normal skin, and in none of two psoriasis. P16INK4a expression was not detected in normal skin, psoriasis, and verrucae vulgares. Overexpression of p16INK4a was detected in a subset of dysplastic cells (10% to 80%) of all skin (pre)cancer lesions such as actinic keratoses, SCC in situ, Bowen's carcinoma, and SCC infected with HPV independent of sun exposure. CONCLUSION: P16INK4a appears to be overexpressed in a portion of dysplastic cells from actinic keratoses and SCC. Further studies to examine the association of HPV infection and the overexpression of p16INK4a are warranted.     

Prostatitis syndrome

Prostatitis syndrome is a multifactorial disease with a largely unknown etiology. Quite different therapeutic options are therefore recommended. According to the new NIH classification, pathogens can be cultured only in acute and chronic bacterial prostatitis. A long-term antimicrobial therapy, mainly with fluoroquinolones, is then recommended. Most patients suffer from chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) which can be subdivided into inflammatory and non-inflammatory types. Whether the inflammatory CP/CPPS is an infectious disease remains uncertain. The effect of an antibiotic therapy therefore remains debatable. In case of proven or suspected functional infravesical obstruction, treatment with a-receptor blockers is recommended. Accompanying symptomatic therapy is also recommended. It is important, however, to keep the patient fully informed about the diagnostic and therapeutic limitations.     

Neurosurgical treatment of patients with supratentorial cavernoma

The aim of this study is to present the principal clinical manifestations and neurosurgical results of the treatment of patients with supratentorial cavernoma and epilepsy. The retrospective study included 14 patients with supratentorial lesion on MRI and CT scan of the brain that manifested with epileptic seizures. All patients were surgically treated and pathophysiologic evaluation in all patients confirmed that cavernoma was in question. Results were analyzed and compared with data from the literature. Epileptic seizures are the most frequent clinical manifestation found in supratentorial cavernoma and neurosurgical treatment gives excellent result as regards the control of epilepsy, with a very low incidence of morbidity and mortality. A complete resection of all cavernomas in this study was confirmed by postoperative neurosurgical diagnosing. 12 patients did not have any more epi seizures in the postoperative period, and in 2 patients we found decrease in the occurrence of epilepsy seizures.     

New Antiepileptic Drugs: Lacosamide,Rufinamide, and Vigabatrin

The treatment of epilepsy is complicated by the multiple seizure types and epilepsy syndromes needing therapy. In addition, seizures in up to 30% of epilepsy patients are resistant to available medications. The three newest antiepileptic medications (lacosamide, rufinamide, and vigabatrin) all putatively have novel mechanisms of action, which might increase the chance of treatment success in patients failing previous antiepilepsy drug trials and the chance of successful synergy with currently available medications. In our experience, all three drugs generally are well tolerated, although the risk for serious long-term complications with vigabatrin presents special challenges and precautions. Lacosamide is approved for the adjunctive therapy of complex partial seizures in adults and also is available in an intravenous formulation. Rufinamide is a new treatment option for seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, and although it is not FDA approved for partial seizures, it has shown efficacy for that indication as well. Vigabatrin has been approved in adults for drug-resistant complex partial seizures and in infants as a treatment option for infantile spasms.     

Neurologic complications after solid organ transplantation

Neurologic complications are common after solid organ transplantation and are associated with significant morbidity. Approximately one-third of transplant recipients experiences neurologic alterations with incidence ranging from 10% to 59%. The complications can be divided into such of those common to all types of transplant and others of those specific to transplanted organ. The most common complication seen with all types of transplanted organ is neurotoxicity attributable to immunosuppressive drugs, followed by seizures, opportunistic central nervous system (CNS) infections, cardiovascular events, encephalopathy and de novo CNS neoplasms. Amongst immunosuppressants, calcineurin inhibitors are the main drugs involved in neurotoxicity, leading to complications which ranges from mild symptoms, such as tremors and paresthesia to severe symptoms, such as disabling pain syndrome and leukoencephalopathy. Neurologic complications of liver transplantation are more common than that of other solid organ transplants (13–47%); encephalopathy is the most common CNS complication, followed by seizures; however, central pontine myelinolysis can appear in 1–8% of the patients leading to permanent disabilities or death. In kidney transplanted patients, stroke is the most common neurologic complication, whereas cerebral infarction and bleeding are more typical after heart transplantation. Metabolic, electrolyte and infectious anomalies represent common risk factors; however, identification of specific causes and early diagnosis are still difficult, because of patient's poor clinical status and concomitant systemic and metabolic disorders, which may obscure symptoms.     

MRCP与ERCP在慢性胰腺炎中的诊断价值

目的 评价ERCP和MRCP在慢性胰腺炎诊断中的应用价值。方法 回顾分析1993年1月至2001年5月我院收治的经临床表现、影像学及病理检查确诊的慢性胰腺炎262例，其中同时行ERCP和MRCP检查120例。结果 120例慢性胰腺炎病人中经ERCP检查发现胰、胆管病变并确诊慢性胰腺炎108例，准确率为90％；经MRCP发现胰、胆管狭窄、扩张，结石等病变并诊断慢性胰腺炎106例，准确率为88.3%，统计分析两者无显著意义（P＝0.678）；ERCP和MRCP同时提示胰、胆管病变并确诊慢性胰腺炎96例，诊断符合率为81.4%；ERCP同MRCP相结合诊断慢性胰腺炎118例，诊断准确率为98.3%；ERCP和MRCP造影成功率均为1005％，未发生严重的并发症。结论 ERCP和MRCP在诊断慢性胰腺炎中有很好的相关性。两种诊断方法这间统计分析无显著差异，两种检查方法相结合几科能完全确诊慢性胰腺炎。而且ERCP除诊断作用之外，还兼有治疗作用，对一般状况较好，有ERCP绝对适应证者应首选ERCP检查。     

慢性前列腺炎与细胞因子的关系研究进展

慢性前列腺炎(CP)是男科常见病,其发病机制至今尚未明确。CP的不同类型、发展过程中的不同阶段都伴随着细胞因子水平的精细调节,炎症、炎症细胞与细胞因子交互作用促进了CP的发生发展。随着对CP发病机制的免疫学及分子生物学研究不断深入,更多的炎性细胞因子应用于CP的检测过程中,运用细胞因子检测手段对CP进行合理分型,并制定相应的治疗方法,尤为重要。本文就细胞因子在前列腺炎尤其是慢性非细菌性前列腺炎(CAP)或慢性盆腔疼痛综合征(CPPS)的发病中所起的作用,与CP的关系及其在CP/CPPS的分型、诊断中的意义进行综述。     

保留十二指肠的胰头切除术治疗胰腺分隔症并发慢性胰腺炎的疗效分析

目的探讨保留十二指肠的胰头切除术对胰腺分隔症并发慢性胰腺炎的治疗效果。方法回顾性分析 1989～ 1997年间 2 2例胰腺分隔症并发慢性胰腺炎患者接受保留十二指肠的胰头切除术的临床资料。结果本组术后平均住院时间为 13d ,无手术死亡 ,无严重并发症发生。术后随访 33个月 ,胰腺内分泌功能无明显变化 ,部分患者外分泌功能受损 ,腹痛分数由术前的 5 8± 1 1降为 3 4± 1 2 (P <0 0 5 )。结论保留十二指肠的胰头切除术是一种治疗胰腺分隔症并发慢性胰腺炎的理想手术     

The duodenum-preserving resection of the head of the pancreas in patients with pancreas divisum

Summary. In 1–6 % of the patients who are investigated by endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography a pancreas divisum can be found. In some patients pancreas divisum can lead to an acute relapsing and finally chronic pancreatitis (CP). Surgical intervention in these cases seems to offer a good chance of recovery. We report our experience with the duodenum-preserving resection of the head of the pancreas in 12 patients with pancreas divisum and CP. In all patients the preoperative evaluation showed clinical, functional or radiological signs of CP. The duodenum-preserving resection of the head of the pancreas was carried out in all patients without perioperative mortality. Ten postoperative versus eight preoperative patients showed a pathological exocrine function of the pancreas. Endocrine function, measured by the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), improved postoperatively in two patients. Eleven patients who were investigated after a mean follow-up time of 31 months (3–75 months) were completely pain free. No late mortality occurred. OGTT revealed a diabetic endocrine function in two patients. Disturbed exocrine pancreatic function had to be substituted in nine patients. One patient had to be reoperated by duct incision and renewal of the pancreatico-jejunostomy 10 months after the first operation. In conclusion, the duodenum-preserving resection of the head of the pancreas reduced pain in all patients with pancreas divisum and CP and may lead to an improvement of endocrine pancreatic function. Other, nonresecting procedures or endoscopic interventional therapy should be avoided in these patients.      

Callosotomy for severe epilepsies with generalized seizures: Outcome and prognostic factors

Summary The purpose of the present study was to verify the effect of callosotomy on generalized seizures, to check the effect on other seizure types and to search for possible prognostic factors.Twenty patients with a minimum follow-up of one year (mean 3.5 years) were available for our analysis. In six of them the callosotomy was performed in two stages (total: 26 surgical procedures). Age ranged from 14 to 40 years (mean 23 years). Different aetiologies were known in 15 patients. Duration of epilepsy ranged from 6 to 23 years (mean 15 years). The frequency of seizures ranged between 19 and 750 per month.The most significant effect of surgery was the complete suppression of the generalized seizures associated with falling in 9/19 and their reduction of more than 80% in 7/19 patients (total good results: 16/19). The generalized tonic-clonic seizures were less affected. The surgical effect on the partial seizures was very variable, the partial simple seizures being the most affected. A positive statistical association with the outcome of the generalized seizures with fall was found for a presurgical seizure frequency below 90 per month, a prevalent bilateral EEG epileptic activity and, to a less extent, the absence of cerebral structural lesions. The role of age, aetiology, duration of the disease, single or more seizure types, mental impairment and extent of callosotomy remains uncertain. Disconnection syndrome does not appear if the splenium is spared.The present findings confirm that the main indication for callosotomy is the occurrence of generalized seizures with fall. Surgery can be initially limited to the anterior 2/3 of the corpus callosum; further posterior section of the corpus, excluding the splenium, should be regarded as a second step, when necessary.     

Chronic prostatitis during puberty

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the features of chronic prostatitis (CP) during puberty and the effects of biofeedback on young males with this disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In all, 40 patients were divided into two groups; group 1 included 25 pubertal patients with CP (mean age 16.5 years, sd 1.1) and group 2 was a control group including 15 patients (mean age 16.2 years, sd 1.2) with a normal lower urinary tract. National Institute of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) scores (three parts) were assessed individually in both groups. Expressed prostatic secretions and urine samples after prostate massage from group 1 were cultured to determine whether patients were infected with bacteria, and group 1 was categorized into various NIH types. Each patients in the two groups underwent urodynamics and group 1 were treated with biofeedback. RESULTS: In group 1, there were one, three and 21 patients with type II, IIIA and IIIB prostatitis. The incidence of staccato voiding and detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia (DSD), and the maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), postvoid residual urine volume (PVR), maximum detrusor pressure (Pdetmax) and maximum urethral closure pressure (MUCP) between the groups were significantly different (P < 0.05). The total NIH-CPSI scores and all the subdomains between the groups before biofeedback were significantly different (P < 0.001). In group 1 the difference in NIH-CPSI scores and Qmax before and after biofeedback was significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The main type of CP during puberty is IIIB; the dominating symptom is a voiding disorder. The impact on life and psychological effects are substantial. Pubertal boys with CP have pelvic floor dysfunction and several abnormal urodynamic values, i.e. staccato voiding, DSD, decreasing Qmax, and increasing Pdetmax and MUCP. The effect of biofeedback strategies for treating pubertal CP is satisfactory.     

Transcallosal resection of hypothalamic hamartomas, with control of seizures, in children with gelastic epilepsy

OBJECTIVE: Hypothalamic hamartomas (HHs) are associated with precocious puberty and gelastic epilepsy; the seizures are often refractory to antiepileptic medications and associated with delayed development and disturbed behavior. The current opinion is that surgery to treat intrahypothalamic lesions is formidable and that complete excision is not technically achievable. We report our experience with a transcallosal approach to the resection of HHs. METHODS: Five children (age, 4-13 yr) with intractable epilepsy and HHs underwent preoperative clinical, electroencephalographic, and imaging evaluations. Two patients experienced only gelastic seizures, and three patients experienced mixed seizure disorders with drop attacks; all experienced multiple daily seizures. Patients were evaluated with respect to seizures, cognition, behavior, and endocrine status 9 to 37 months (mean, 24 mo) after surgery. The HHs were approached via a transcallosal-interforniceal route to the third ventricle and were resected using a microsurgical technique and frameless stereotaxy. RESULTS: Complete or nearly complete (>95%) excision of the HHs was achieved for all patients, with no adverse neurological, psychological, or visual sequelae. Two patients experienced mild transient diabetes insipidus after surgery. Two patients developed appetite stimulation, but no other significant endocrinological sequelae were observed. Three patients are seizure-free and two patients have experienced only occasional, brief, mild gelastic seizures after surgery, all with reduced antiepileptic medications. On the basis of parental reports and our own subjective observations, the children also exhibited marked improvements in behavior, school performance, and quality of life. CONCLUSION: Complete or nearly complete resection of HHs can be safely achieved via a transcallosal approach, with the possibility of seizure freedom and neurobehavioral improvements.     

Early seizures after clipping of unruptured aneurysms of the anterior circulation: analysis on consecutive 1,000 cases

Seizures occurring after clipping of unruptured cerebral aneurysms have rarely been documented in the literature. The objective of this retrospective study is to clarify whether the frequency of early seizures, i.e., seizures occurring within 14 days of surgery, is influenced by patient- or aneurysm-specific characteristics. Data on 1,000 consecutive patients who underwent clipping of unruptured anterior circulation aneurysms were reviewed. They consisted of 387 men and 613 women with mean age of 59.8?±?9.7 years. Fifty-one patients (5.1 %) developed early seizures. Interestingly, the frequency was similar to that occurring after clipping of unruptured posterior circulation aneurysms (n?=?20, 5.0 %). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that younger age was correlated with early seizures (odds ratio (OR) 0.902; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.891–0.989). However, other variables, including aneurysm size and operation length, were not correlated. Although patients with history of epilepsy exhibited relatively high frequency of early seizures, the difference was not statistically significant. The frequency was unaffected by location or multiplicity of aneurysms. Thirty-one patients (61 %) developed seizures within 24 h of clipping. Regarding seizure types, 34 (67 %) developed generalized seizures and the other 17 (33 %) experienced partial seizures. Patients with generalized seizures were significantly more likely to harbor an iatrogenic brain lesion than those with partial seizures (47 vs. 18 %; OR 4.148; 95 % CI 1.005–17.113). Among 40 patients with follow-up period >12 months, seizures were temporary without recurrence in 38 (95 %). Although early seizures are mostly benign, a small possibility of them becoming a permanent morbidity needs to be explained to patients undergoing elective clipping.     

The diagnosis and surgical treatment of complicated forms of chronic pancreatitis

The experience of surgical treatment of 517 patients with complicated forms of chronic pancreatitis (CP) was analyzed. In patients with the fibrotic CP without ductal hypertension, while involvement in the process of neighboring organs, the operations were conducted for the biliary and duodenal impassability elimination. The drainage operations of various types are indicated in fibrotic CP with ductal hypertension. In patients with fibrotic-degenerative CP the resectional methods were applied. Postoperative mortality have constituted 1.9%. Good and fair result of treatment in the late follow-up period was achieved in 75.7% of patients due to application of the proposed differentiative tactics.