US-guided percutaneous radiofrequency thermal ablation for the treatment of solid benign hyperfunctioning or compressive thyroid nodules

The aim of the study was to define the effectiveness and safety of ultrasound-guided percutaneous radiofrequency (RF) thermal ablation in the treatment of compressive solid benign thyroid nodules. Thirty-one patients not eligible for surgery or radioiodine (¹³¹I) treatment underwent RF ablation for benign nodules; a total of 33 nodules were treated (2 patients had 2 nodules treated in the same session): 10 cold nodules and 23 hyperfunctioning. Fourteen patients complained of compressive symptoms. Nodule volume, thyroid function and compressive symptoms were evaluated before treatment and at 1, 3 and 6 mo. Ultrasound-guided RF ablation was performed using a Starbust RITA^® needle, with nine expandable prongs; total exposure time was 6 to 10 min at 95° C in one area or more of the nodule. Baseline volume (measured at the time of RF ablation) was 27.7 ± 21.5 mL (mean ± SD), but significantly decreased during follow-up: 19.2 ± 16.2 at 1 mo (–32.7%; p < 0.001), 15.9 ± 14.1 mL at 3 mo (–46.4 %; p < 0.001) and 14.6 ± 12.6 mL at 6 mo (–50.7%; p < 0.001). After treatment, all patients with cold nodules remained euthyroid: five patients with hot nodules normalized thyroid function, and the remaining sixteen showed a partial remission of hyperthyroidism. Besides a sensation of heat and mild swelling of the neck, no major complications were observed. Improvement in compressive symptoms was reported by 13 patients, with a reduction on severity scale from 6.1 ± 1.4 to 2.2 ± 1.9 (p < 0.0001). Radiofrequency was effective and safe in reducing volume by about 50% and compressive symptoms in large benign nodules. Hyperfunction was fully controlled in 24% of patients and partially reduced in the others. (E-mail: mdeandrea@libero.it)     

Internally coated endotracheal tubes with silver sulfadiazine in polyurethane to prevent bacterial colonization: a clinical trial

OBJECTIVE: Coated medical devices have been shown to reduce catheter-related infections. We coated endotracheal tubes (ETT) with silver sulfadiazine (SSD), and tested them in a clinical study to assess the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of preventing bacterial colonization. DESIGN: A prospective, randomized clinical trial, phase I-II. SETTING: Academic intensive care unit (ICU). PARTICIPANTS: Forty-six adult patients expected to need 12-24 h of intubation were randomized into two groups. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomized to be intubated with a standard non-coated ETT (St-ETT, n=23; control group), or with a SSD-coated ETT (SSD-ETT, n=23). MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Coating with SSD prevented bacterial colonization of the ETT (frequency of colonization: SSD-ETT 0/23, St-ETT 8/23; p<0.01). No organized bacterial biofilm could be identified on the lumen of any ETT; however, SSD was associated with a thinner mucus layer (in the SSD-ETT secretion deposits ranged from 0 to 200 microm; in the St-ETT deposits ranged between 50 and 700 microm). No difference was observed between the two groups in the tracheobronchial brush samples (frequency of colonization: SSD-ETT 0/23, St-ETT 2/23; p=0.48). No adverse reactions were observed with the implementation of the novel device. CONCLUSION: SSD-ETT can be safely used in preventing bacterial colonization and narrowing of the ETT in patients intubated for up to 24 h (mean intubation time 16 h).     

Carotid endarterectomy in asymptomatic carotid stenosis: a decision analysis

OBJECTIVES: To present a model of decision analysis that allows assessing the trade-off between the short-term risks of performing a carotid endarterectomy and the rate of preventable future events. METHODS: We used data from a systematic review to define values for a base case and perform a sensitivity analysis. The primary endpoint was a comparison of the fatal and disabling stroke-free survival during a 5-year period in a cohort of hypothetical patients who presented asymptomatic severe carotid stenosis and were treated with either immediate prophylactic carotid endarterectomy or medical treatment alone. RESULTS: The difference in estimated fatal and disabling stroke-free survival favoring endarterectomy in patients with asymptomatic severe carotid stenosis is less than 4 days over the course of 5 years. One-way sensitivity analysis demonstrated that if the perioperative rate of death or disabling stroke is greater than 2.1%, then medical treatment is better. A non-surgical strategy is also better if the risk of fatal and disabling stroke with medical treatment is less than 1.09% per year, or if the rate of fatal and disabling stroke beyond 30 days following endarterectomy is greater than 0.51% per year. CONCLUSIONS: In this model, immediate prophylactic carotid endarterectomy seems to offer a minimum net benefit in terms of fatal or disabling stroke-free survival over a 5-year period, when compared to medical treatment alone.     

Efficacy of extended thrombo-prophylaxis in major abdominal surgery: what does the evidence show? A meta-analysis

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a frequent complication following major abdominal surgery. The use of low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWH) to prevent thrombotic events in these patients is a common and well documented practice. However, there is some controversy surrounding the duration of the prophylaxis, as it has been suggested that the risk persists for several weeks after surgery. The objective of this meta-analysis is to systematically review the clinical studies that compared safety and efficacy of extended use of LMWH (for three to four weeks after surgery) versus conventional in-hospital prophylaxis. An electronic data base search was performed. Only randomized, controlled studies were eligible. Data on the incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), VTE and bleeding were extracted. Only three studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The indication for surgery was neoplastic disease in 70.6% (780/1104) of patients. The administration of extended LMWH prophylaxis significantly reduced the incidence of VTE, 5.93% (23/388) versus 13.6% (55/405), RR 0.44 (CI 95% 0.28 - 0.7); DVT 5.93% (23/388) versus 12.9% (52/402), RR 0.46 (CI 95% 0.29 - 0.74); proximal DVT 1% (4/388) versus 4.72% (19/402), RR 0.24 (CI 95% 0.09 - 0.67). We found no significant difference in major or minor bleeding between the two groups: 3.85% (21/545) in the extended thrombo-prophylaxis (ETP) group versus 3.48% (19/559) in the conventional prophylaxis group; RR 1.12 (CI 95% 0.61 - 2.06). There was no heterogeneity between the studies. We conclude that ETP with LMWH should be considered as a safe and useful strategy to prevent VTE in high-risk major abdominal surgery.     

A pilot trial of levetiracetam in eyelid myoclonia with absences (Jeavons syndrome)

OBJECTIVE: Eyelid myoclonia with absences (EMA) or Jeavons syndrome characterized by eyelid myoclonia (EM) (with or without absences), eye closure-induced EEG paroxysms, and photosensitivity. We conducted an open-label trial of levetiracetam in EMA. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were recruited in different Italian Epilepsy Centres. Levetiracetam was administrated at starting dose of 10 mg/kg/day up to 50-60 mg/kg/day in two doses. Treatment period included a 5-6 week up-titration phase and a 12-week evaluation phase. The number of days with EM (i.e., days with seizures, DwS) and number of generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS) were evaluated. Analysis of intent-to-treat population was performed using Fisher's and Wilcoxon tests. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients (23 F) with a mean age of 19 +/- 6 years were recruited. Twenty-seven had previously undergone one to five adequate trials of antiepileptic drugs. The median number of DwS/month was 12 +/- 8.2. Twenty-one patients experienced GTCS (median number/month: 1 +/- 0.2). Thirty-four subjects completed the trial. Levetiracetam was well tolerated (mean dose: 1985 mg/day). Responders were 28/35 (80%) patients, nine taking levetiracetam as monotherapy. Six patients were seizure-free, 15 had > or =75% and seven >50% seizure reduction. GTCS remitted in 14 out of 21 (66.6%) patients. The number/month of DwS (median: 12 vs 5; p = 0.0001) and of GTCS (median: 1 vs 0; p = 0.0001) decreased compared to baseline period. Disappearance or clear reduction in paroxysmal abnormalities at eye closure occurred in 20 of the responders and photoparoxysmal response in 19. Mean follow-up was 23.9 +/- 18.5 months. CONCLUSION: Levetiracetam is effective and well tolerated in EMA. Placebo-controlled studies should confirm these findings.     

Oxidative-stress-induced apoptosis in PBLs of two patients with Parkinson disease secondary to alpha-synuclein mutation

Alpha-synuclein has been implicated in the pathology of certain neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson disease (PD). Although the precise physiological and pathological role of alpha-synuclein is unclear, overexpression of the protein or its mutants may reduce cell viability. In this study we evaluated the apoptotic response to oxidative stress induced by 2-deoxy-d-ribose (dRib) in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) of two siblings with Parkinson disease secondary to A53T alpha-synuclein mutation. PBLs exposed to oxidative stress showed a higher percentage of apoptotic cells in PD patients than in controls. However in cells of PD patients, the increase of apoptotic response was lower than in controls, suggesting that cells of PD patients have greater "resistance" to oxidative stress. We conclude that other environmental agents could play a key role in inducing programmed cell death in cells of PD patients with mutant alpha-synuclein.     

Adult polyglucosan body disease: proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the brain and novel mutation in the GBE1 gene

Adult polyglucosan body disease (APBD) is characterized by the accumulation of insoluble glucose polymers within the central and peripheral nervous systems. A common missense mutation in the glycogen branching enzyme (GBE1) gene has been identified in Ashkenazi patients with APBD. We report on a non-Jewish patient with APBD on whom we performed proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging of the brain. GBE activity in fibroblasts was markedly reduced, and a novel heterozygous mutation was identified in the GBE1 gene. Our findings widen the spectrum of APBD genotypes, underline the importance of performing GBE analysis in all APBD patients, and suggest that brain white matter degeneration in APBD may result from tissue damage involving axons and myelin.     

Elbow interposition arthroplasty in children and adolescents: long-term follow-up

A long-term follow-up was made of 12 elbows operated upon between 1971 and 1986, with more than 20 years' follow-up, in nine males and three females, age at the time of surgery between 10 and 19 years . Eight right and four left elbows were involved, and there were three aetiological causes. Seven cases were sequelae of elbow fractures, of which five were supracondylar and two were of the olecranon. There were four cases of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and one was post-osteomyelitis. The surgical technique involved a modification made by Vainio of MacAusland's technique (wider resection of the osseous ends and total covering of the bloody surfaces) [5, 9]. After extirpating the tissue blocking the joint, we proceeded to remodel the distal humerus in a wide V shape, the proximal end of the ulnar and, if necessary, the radial head. The proximal end of the ulna was sectioned transversely. All surgery was carried out sub-periosteally. Then, an interposition material was placed in one piece and sutured over the distal humerus and cut ends of the ulna and radius. The articular ends were brought together, and the capsule was closed using equidistant stitching, as is the skin. A small compression bandage was applied, and the arm was immobilised with a collar and cuff sling, with the forearm flexed to slightly less than a right angle. In ten cases, the interposition material was fascia lata grafts; in one case, skin graft and in one case, Gelfoam graft. Early rehabilitation began when post-operative pain allowed. Follow-up ranged from 25 to 32 years. Pre-surgical movement ranged between 90 degrees and 120 degrees of flexion and 30 degrees and 90 degrees of extension. Post-operative range varied between 90 degrees and 150 degrees of flexion. The five cases of full pre-operative ankylosis achieved between 90 degrees and 150 degrees of flexion and between 0 degrees and 70 degrees of extension. The total range of motion at the latest follow-up varied from 35 degrees to 150 degrees . Patients who were able to perform flexion of 120 degrees or more were considered to be excellent, those between 90 degrees and 119 degrees were graded good, from 60 degrees to 89 degrees fair and those 59 degrees or less poor. The ability to attain a hand to mouth position requires a mobility of 120 degrees . We obtained excellent results in two patients, good results in three, fair results in four and poor results in three. The fascia lata was used in 83% of cases, obtaining excellent to good results in five patients (41%). Elbow interposition arthroplasty has its indications in children and adolescents where arthrodesis or total joint replacement cannot be performed.