Blood pressure reduction does not reduce perihematoma oxygenation: a CT perfusion study

Blood pressure (BP) reduction after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is controversial, because of concerns that this may cause critical reductions in perihematoma perfusion and thereby precipitate tissue damage. We tested the hypothesis that BP reduction reduces perihematoma tissue oxygenation.Acute ICH patients were randomized to a systolic BP target of <150 or <180 mm Hg. Patients underwent CT perfusion (CTP) imaging 2 hours after randomization. Maps of cerebral blood flow (CBF), maximum oxygen extraction fraction (OEF^max), and the resulting maximum cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO₂^max) permitted by local hemodynamics, were calculated from raw CTP data.Sixty-five patients (median (interquartile range) age 70 (20)) were imaged at a median (interquartile range) time from onset to CTP of 9.8 (13.6) hours. Mean OEF^max was elevated in the perihematoma region (0.44±0.12) relative to contralateral tissue (0.36±0.11; P<0.001). Perihematoma CMRO₂^max (3.40±1.67 mL/100 g per minute) was slightly lower relative to contralateral tissue (3.63±1.66 mL/100 g per minute; P=0.025). Despite a significant difference in systolic BP between the aggressive (140.5±18.7 mm Hg) and conservative (163.0±10.6 mm Hg; P<0.001) treatment groups, perihematoma CBF was unaffected (37.2±11.9 versus 35.8±9.6 mL/100 g per minute; P=0.307). Similarly, aggressive BP treatment did not affect perihematoma OEF^max (0.43±0.12 versus 0.45±0.11; P=0.232) or CMRO₂^max (3.16±1.66 versus 3.68±1.85 mL/100 g per minute; P=0.857). Blood pressure reduction does not affect perihematoma oxygen delivery. These data support the safety of early aggressive BP treatment in ICH.     

Immunocryosurgery for basal cell carcinoma: results of a pilot, prospective, open-label study of cryosurgery during continued imiquimod application

Background/aim  Theoretical considerations support the combination of cryosurgery and topical imiquimod to treat basal cell carcinomas (BCC). The aim of the present study was to test the feasibility and efficacy of 'cryosurgery during continued imiquimod application' ('immunocryosurgery') to treat 'high-risk-for-recurrence' BCCs.
Methods  Thirteen patients with 21 biopsy-proven tumours (4 of 21 relapses after prior surgery) were included. After 2–5 weeks (median, 3) of daily 5% imiquimod cream application, the tumours were treated by liquid N₂ cryosurgery (spray, two cycles, 10–20 s) and imiquimod was continued for additional 2–12 weeks (median, 4). The outcome after at least 18 months of follow-up (18–24 months) is currently reported.
Results  Nineteen of 21 tumours responded promptly to immunocryosurgery; two tumours required additional treatment cycles to clear. Thus, the clinical clearance rate was 100%. Only 1 of 21(5%) tumour relapsed after at least 18 months of follow-up (cumulative efficacy: 95%).
Conclusions  'Immunocryosurgery' is a promising non-surgical combination modality to treat 'high-risk-for-recurrence BCCs'. Initial evidence is suggestive of an at least additive effect of the two combined modalities. Further studies comparing immunocryosurgery directly with cryosurgery and imiquimod monotherapies will confirm the reported results.     

Stroke Mimics Transported by Emergency Medical Services to a Comprehensive Stroke Center: The Magnitude of the Problem

Background

Despite the use of validated prehospital stroke scales, stroke mimics are frequent among patients transported by Emergency Medical Services to the Emergency Department. We aimed to describe the frequency and characteristics of neurological and non-neurological mimics transported to a comprehensive stroke center for acute stroke evaluation.

Dynamics of personality test responses: the empiricist's manifesto revisited

This article revisits the classic empirical manifesto written by Meehl in 1945, and examines subsequent developments in structured personality assessment. The current status of personality assessment from an empirical-scale-development perspective is presented, with examples drawn from recent work on the MMPI-2. Meehl's heuristic defense of empirically based personality-scale construction was reexamined and the lasting influences of these views were highlighted. Meehl's early conceptualization of the relative unimportance of item content in personality-test construction and several alternative views were summarized, and Meehl's modified position was described. The role that test-taking attitudes can play in personality assessment was discussed in the 1945 article, and Meehl's views on the need for appraisal of invalidating conditions have been reaffirmed in contemporary test development. Finally, the so-called "dynamics" of a structured personality item response were discussed from a contemporary perspective, and some recent research was included to illustrate the continued importance of anchoring test interpretation in empirical correlates.     

Composite tumor of the larynx.

Composite tumor of the larynx has been described as a mixed squamous cell and oat cell carcinoma originating in the larynx. Only eight cases of composite tumor of the larynx have been described in the world medical literature. We present the ninth case ever reported. Therapy for this very aggressive malignancy is with a combined approach--surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. A common etiology for both squamous cell and oat cell carcinoma has been proposed. Recommendations for diagnostic evaluation as well as therapeutic intervention will be discussed.