Mirtazapine-induced serotonin syndrome

An 85-year-old woman developed sudden confusion and dysarthria progressing to mutism, orobuccal dyskinesias, generalized tremors worse with activity, ataxia, and rigidity with cog wheeling without high-grade fevers or dysautonomia. These findings were related temporally to the institution of mirtazapine as monotherapy for a major depressive illness with superimposed anxiety disorder. Withdrawal of the agent resulted in early notable clinical resolution with only residual hypertonia after 2 weeks. This is a rare report of serotonin syndrome induced by mirtazapine monotherapy. The hypothesized pathophysiologic mechanism in this case is overstimulation of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine or 5-HT) type 1A receptors (5-HT(1A)) in the brainstem and spinal cord in an individual with risk factors for hyperserotoninemia resulting from reduced, acquired endogenous serotonin metabolism.     

Place of Video-thoracoscopy in Thoracic Surgical Practice

The advent of video-endoscopy revolutionizes the practice of surgery. Within a short span of time, video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) has become an acceptable approach to a wide range of thoracic procedures. The use of VATS as a diagnostic modality is now well established. For therapeutic procedures, VATS has also been generally accepted for the treatment of such conditions as primary spontaneous pneumothorax, loculated effusions, thoracodorsal sympathectomy, and resection of simple mediastinal cysts. Its roles in more complex procedures such as thymectomy and anatomic lung resections, however, remain poorly defined at present, even though the existing intermediate-term results are encouraging. VATS is still in evolution. Miniaturization of instruments promises to reduce access-induced trauma even further. On the other hand, attention to cost-containment is essential if VATS is to be applicable to patients in developing countries. Technology will continue to change. Carefully conducted clinical trials should precede the general acceptance of any new technology, no matter how attractive it may appear initially.     

市场乏力,如何突出重围——抗生素之市场销售及研发分析

抗生素市场正日趋成熟,过去5年的年平均增长率仅为4%。在现有市场机制以及制药工业以追求利益最大化的前提下,如何通过新药开发来突出重围成为各企业战略部署的重要考量。     

Discal cysts of the lumbar spine: report of five cases and review of the literature

Discal cysts are rare causes of low back pain and radiculopathy. Only few reports in the literature describe these pathologies. In this article, the authors report five cases (3 males and 2 females) of lumbar discal cysts treated surgically by microdiscectomy. These patients were admitted with a history of back pain and/or sciatalgia. Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine of all patients revealed lumbar discal cysts, causing compression to the spinal dura and roots. All patients were treated by partial hemilaminectomy and microscopic cyst resection. Postoperatively, the complaints showed improvement, and the patients were discharged with no complications. The cases of lumbar discal cysts are described in the literature as individual case reports, therefore; the authors performed a wide systemic review of all these cases published in PubMed and MedLine, including the patients in the present report. The data of all patients were analyzed to obtain statistically based estimated information about the incidence, the epidemiology, the natural history and the optimum management of these lesions.     

Simultaneous total arch replacement and abdominal aortic surgery

It is common to encounter patients with coexisting aortic arch aneurysm and abdominal aortic lesions. We conducted simultaneous total arch replacement and abdominal aortic surgery in 3 patients having such lesions. Mean operative time was 511 minutes and no in-hospital mortality occurred. Postoperative respiratory failure was observed in an 80-year-old patient who recovered and all three patients were discharged in good condition. No other postoperative complication was seen. Simultaneous total arch replacement and abdominal aortic surgery may thus offer advantages to patients with such double aortic lesions if it can be conducted safely.     

Video-assisted thoracic surgery: A renaissance in surgical therapy

Within a few years, video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) has become the accepted or preferred approach over a wide range of thoracic procedures. The authors review the development of this technique, the basic operative strategies and the current surgical indications. Technical pitfalls and future developments are also discussed.     

The acute phase response in scleroderma. Differing responses to intravenous PGE1

A defective acute phase response of scleroderma patients following intravenous PGE1 infusion has been reported. Serum C-reactive protein levels in scleroderma patients before and after a seventy-two hour infusion of either PGE1 or placebo were measured in the present study. The mean baseline serum CRP level in scleroderma patients was significantly greater than in normal controls (12 +/- 9.0 mcg/ml vs 1.4 +/- 1.7 mcg/ml) (p less than 0.001). Before the intravenous infusion, the PGE1-treated and placebo-treated groups had mean serum CRP concentrations of 14 +/- 9 and 10 +/- 9 mcg/ml, respectively. After the three-day infusion, these values were 109 +/- 75 and 11 +/- 10 mcg/ml (p less than 0.01). Scleroderma patients appeared to have two types of response to PGE1. Three patients had large increases (mean = 167 +/- 32 mcg/ml) and three had smaller increases (mean = 22 +/- 17) (p less than 0.005). The patients with greater increases had disease of shorter duration and greater cutaneous involvement. Overall, the acute phase response appears to be intact in scleroderma patients, but may differ in degree.     

Enteral Stents for Malignancy: A Report of 46 Consecutive Cases over 10 years,with Critical Review of Complications

Background  Current management of malignant gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) includes surgical diversion or enteral stent placement for unresectable cancer. We analyzed the long-term results, predictive factors of outcomes, and complications associated with enteral stents with focus on their management. Methods  Between 1997 and 2007, 46 patients with malignant GOO underwent placement of self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) for palliation. Patients were captured prospectively after 2001 and followed until complication or death. Patency, management of complications, and long-term survival were analyzed. Results  Forty-six patients had a mean survival of 152 ± 235 days and a mean SEMS patency rate of 111 ± 220 days. SEMS patency rates of 98%, 74%, and 57% at 1, 3, and 6 months were seen. Thirteen patients presented with obstruction and included two SEMS migration, two early occlusion, one fracture, four malignant ingrowth, and four with delayed clinical failure. Interventions included seven endoscopic revisions with three SEMS replacements. Six had percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy with jejunal arm placed. Two patients eventually underwent surgical bypass. Two patients required surgery for complications including delayed duodenal perforation and aortoenteric fistula. Conclusions  SEMS effectively palliate gastric outlet obstructions that result from upper gastrointestinal malignancies. Their benefits offset potential complications or malfunctions, when a pluridisciplinary approach is adopted. Presented at Digestive Disease Week/SSAT, May 2008, San Diego, California.