Halo traction in basilar invagination: technical case report

BACKGROUND: In the management of basilar invagination, traction therapy may help by pulling down the odontoid process away from the brain stem that may result in clinical and radiological improvement. We aimed to discuss the role of the halo vest apparatus traction on the reduction of severe anterior compression pathologies in basilar invagination. CASE DESCRIPTION: We describe a simple and safe cervical traction method by the halo vest apparatus that is followed by rigid posterior occipitocervical fixation and foramen magnum decompression in a patient who presented with basilar invagination and symptoms of severe brain stem compression. An MR-suitable halo vest apparatus was used for reduction of the deformity. The reduction of the basilar invagination was achieved gradually by distracting the halo crown in stages. CONCLUSION: The halo vest apparatus can be safely used in complex craniocervical junction anomalies. An effective cervical traction can be performed in basilar invagination, and reduction of the deformity may be achieved without the risk of overdistraction. In some cases, even partial reduction of the deformity may facilitate brain stem and spinal cord relief without any need of posterior decompression. Patients may benefit from ambulatory functions because bed rest is eliminated in this procedure. Neurovascular structures and the degree of the reduction can be observed on MRIs when an MR-suitable device is used.     

Chronic pain associated with penile prostheses may persist despite revision or explantation

IntroductionInflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) implantation is the gold standard treatment for medically refractory erectile dysfunction. New chronic pain after IPP implantation is rarely discussed and the optimal treatment is unclear. We evaluated whether IPP re-operation for a primary indication of chronic pain improves patients’ symptoms. Our secondary aim was to explore factors associated with resolution or persistence of pain after IPP reoperation.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective analysis of 315 patients who had an IPP revision or explantation at two high-volume prosthetic centers between May 2007 and May 2017. We excluded patients who had device malfunction, pain for <2 months, pain associated with infection or erosion, and patients without long-term followup data. Persistent pain was diagnosed based on patient self-report.ResultsA total of 31 patients met our criteria for having undergone a surgical revision (n=18) or explantation (n=13) for pain relief. Eighteen (58%) patients had persistent pain despite surgical intervention. Only patients who had pain secondary to a device malposition improved after re-operation (n=13). A prior diagnosis of a chronic pain syndrome was associated with persistent pain despite intervention. Pain improvement was not associated with age, comorbid conditions, duration of implant, or the number of surgical revisions performed.ConclusionsSurgical intervention for chronic penile prosthesis pain is unlikely to relieve symptoms, particularly for patients with chronic pain disorders. Patients should be counselled that IPP reoperative procedures as a treatment for pain should be avoided unless the device is identified to be malpositioned, and consideration of alternative therapeutic options may be more beneficial.     

A Relação entre Compartimentos de Volume Extracelular e Matriz Metaloproteinase 2 na Remodelação do Ventrículo Esquerdo após o Infarto do Miocárdio

Background:Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) can affect myocardial extracellular volume (ECV) and its compartments, and this can provide more detailed information about the mechanism of adverse left ventricular (LV) remodeling (AR) after acute myocardial infarction (MI).Objectives:To investigate the role of changes (Δ) in ECV compartments (matrix volume (MVi) and cell volume (CVi)) in the development of AR after MI, and their relationship with MMP-2 expressions.Methods:Ninety-two first MI patients who underwent 3 Tesla cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging performed 2 weeks (baseline) and 6 months post-MI. We measured T1 mapping with MOLLI sequences. ECV was performed post-gadolinium enhancement. ECV and LV mass were used to calculate MVi and CVi. AR was defined as an increase of ≥ 12% in LV end-diastolic volume in 6 months. MMPs were measured using a bead-based multiplex immunoassay system at first day (baseline) and 2 weeks post-MI. P <0.05 was accepted as statistically significant.Results:Mean ECV and mean MVi baseline levels were higher in AR group compared to without AR group (42.9±6.4 vs 39.3±8.2%, p= 0.037; 65.2±13.7 vs 56.7±14.7 mL/m², p=0.010; respectively). CVi levels was similar between groups. A positive correlation was found between baseline levels of MMP-2 and baseline levels of ECV (r=0.535, p<0.001) and MVi (r=0.549, p<0.001). Increased ΔMVi levels was independently predictor of AR (OR=1.03, p=0.010). ΔMVi had superior diagnostic performance compared to ΔECV in predicting AR (ΔAUC: 0.215±0.07, p<0.001).Conclusion:High MVi levels are associated with AR, and ΔMVi was independently predictor of AR. This may be associated with MMP-2 release due to increased inflammatory response.     

Influence of Heavy Cigarette Smoking on Heart Rate Variability and Heart Rate Turbulence Parameters

Background: Cigarette smoking increases the risk of cardiovascular events related with several mechanisms. The most suggested mechanism is increased activity of sympathetic nervous system. Heart rate variability (HRV) and heart rate turbulence (HRT) has been shown to be independent and powerful predictors of mortality in a specific group of cardiac patients. The goal of this study was to assess the effect of heavy cigarette smoking on cardiac autonomic function using HRV and HRT analyses. Methods: Heavy cigarette smoking was defined as more than 20 cigarettes smoked per day. Heavy cigarette smokers, 69 subjects and nonsmokers 74 subjects (control group) were enrolled in this study. HRV and HRT analyses [turbulence onset (TO) and turbulence slope (TS)] were assessed from 24‐hour Holter recordings. Results: The values of TO were significantly higher in heavy cigarette smokers than control group (?1.150 ± 4.007 vs ?2.454 ± 2.796, P = 0.025, respectively), but values of TS were not statistically different between two groups (10.352 ± 7.670 vs 9.613 ± 7.245, P = 0.555, respectively). Also, the number of patients who had abnormal TO was significantly higher in heavy cigarette smokers than control group (23 vs 10, P = 0.006). TO was correlated with the number of cigarettes smoked per day (r = 0.235, P = 0.004). While LF and LF/HF ratio were significantly higher, standard deviation of all NN intervals (SDNN), standard deviation of the 5‐minute mean RR intervals (SDANN), root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), and high‐frequency (HF) values were significantly lower in heavy smokers. While, there was significant correlation between TO and SDNN, SDANN, RMSSD, LF, and high frequency (HF), only HF was correlated with TS. Conclusion: Heavy cigarette smoking has negative effect on autonomic function. HRT is an appropriate noninvasive method to evaluate the effect of cigarette on autonomic function. Simultaneous abnormal HRT and HRV values may explain increased cardiovascular event risk in heavy cigarette smokers.     

Metformin and oral contraceptive treatments reduced circulating asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

There is a little information in literature about circulating asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) concentrations in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and the results reported are discrepant. In this study, therefore, we aimed (1) to determine the circulating ADMA concentrations in 44 women with PCOS and 22 age- and BMI-matched healthy controls, (2) to evaluate its correlations with insulin resistance, gonadotrophins, and androgen secretion, and (3) to compare effects of metformin and ethinyl estradiol-cyproterone acetate (EE/CPA) treatments on circulating ADMA concentrations. In conclusion, our data indicate that circulating ADMA concentrations in non-obese, non-hypertensive and young women with PCOS are significantly higher than healthy controls and they improved by a 3-month course of metformin and oral contraceptive treatments.     

Effect of methylphenidate treatment on appetite and levels of leptin,ghrelin, adiponectin,and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in children and adolescents with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder

Objectives. We aimed to explore whether the use of methylphenidate relates leptin, ghrelin, adiponectin, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). In addition, the relationship between methylphenidate-related weight loss in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) patients and these biomolecules were evaluated. Methods. Thirty ADHD patients receiving methylphenidate and 20 healthy controls were included. Leptin, ghrelin, adiponectin, and BDNF levels were measured at baseline and after two-month treatment in both groups. Results. At baseline, leptin, ghrelin, adiponectin, and BDNF levels were similar in the ADHD and control groups. The most common adverse events occurring in the ADHD group after a 2-month treatment period included loss of appetite (70%) and weight loss (66.7%). A significant difference was found in body weight, BMI, and CGI scores of the ADHD patients after the treatment. While post-treatment ghrelin and adiponectin levels were significantly higher in the ADHD group, BDNF level was significantly lower. Post-treatment decrease in leptin levels was not significant. Conclusions. Leptin and BDNF were not associated with poor appetite and/or weight loss due to methylphenidate treatment. However, ghrelin and adiponectin might be biomolecules that play a role in underlying neurobiological mechanisms of methylphenidate-related appetite or weight loss.