Sleep and resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging connectivity in middle‐aged adults and the elderly: A population‐based study

Sleep problems increase with ageing. Increasing evidence suggests that sleep problems are not only a consequence of age‐related processes, but may independently contribute to developing vascular or neurodegenerative brain disease. Yet, it remains unclear what mechanisms underlie the impact sleep problems may have on brain health in the general middle‐aged and elderly population. Here, we studied sleep's relation to brain functioning in 621 participants (median age 62 years, 55% women) from the population‐based Rotterdam Study. We investigated cross‐sectional associations of polysomnographic and subjectively measured aspects of sleep with intrinsic neural activity measured with resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging on a different day. We investigated both functional connectivity between regions and brain activity (blood‐oxygen‐level‐dependent signal amplitude) within regions, hierarchically towards smaller topographical levels. We found that longer polysomnographic total sleep time is associated with lower blood‐oxygen‐level‐dependent signal amplitude in (pre)frontal regions. No objective or subjective sleep parameters were associated with functional connectivity between or within resting‐state networks. The findings may indicate a pathway through which sleep, in a ‘real‐life’ population setting, impacts brain activity or regional brain activity determines total sleep time.     

A rare presentation of cardiac amyloid deposits isolated to intramural vessels

The present case illustrates the diagnostic challenges in symptomatic patients with heart failure of unknown etiology. The patients were previously diagnosed with κ‐light chain amyloidosis without cardiac involvement. Echocardiography showed heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction but no signs of amyloidosis. Coronary angiogram showed normal arteries and 11C‐PIB positron emission tomography was negative for amyloid deposits. Exercise testing revealed severe heart failure and reduced coronary flow velocity reserve. Endomyocardial biopsies showed amyloid in the intramural coronary arteries without interstitial amyloid deposits. Hence, the patient was diagnosed with microvascular dysfunction‐induced heart failure due to vessel wall amyloidosis.     

Adherence to ESMO clinical recommendations for prophylaxis of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting

Background  

We assessed adherence to the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO)/Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer recommendations for prophylaxis of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) at our institution.     

TMD before and after correction of dentofacial deformities by orthodontic and orthognathic treatment

The aims of the study were to investigate the alteration of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) after correction of dentofacial deformities by orthodontic treatment in conjunction with orthognathic surgery; and to compare the frequency of TMD in patients with dentofacial deformities with an age and gender matched control group. TMD were evaluated in 121 consecutive patients (treatment group), referred for orthognathic surgery, by a questionnaire and a clinical examination. 18 months after treatment, 81% of the patients completed a follow-up examination. The control group comprised 56 age and gender matched subjects, of whom 68% presented for follow-up examination. TMD were diagnosed according to research diagnostic criteria for TMD. At baseline examination, the treatment group had a higher frequency of myofascial pain (P = .035) and arthralgia (P = .040) than the control group. At follow-up, the frequencies of myofascial pain, arthralgia and disc displacement had decreased in the treatment group (P = .050, P = .004, P = .041, respectively). The frequency of TMD was comparable in the two groups at follow-up. Patients with dentofacial deformities, corrected by orthodontic treatment in conjunction with orthognathic surgery, seem to have a positive treatment outcome in respect of TMD pain.     

Psoriasis from a Prosthesis: Unusual Koebner Phenomenon in a Girl with Autoamputation of the Leg

An 8‐year‐old girl showed psoriatic lesions confined to her autoamputated left thigh. She was wearing an above‐the‐knee prosthesis that induced plaque psoriasis by koebnerization. Rapid clinical remission was achieved using tacrolimus 0.03% ointment.     

Progressive dyspnea and signs of right heart dysfunction

A 40‐year‐old woman was admitted due to dyspnea and fever. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed signs of right heart volume overload and vegetations on the tricuspid valve with insufficiency. Transesophageal echocardiography showed a sinus venosus defect (SVD) with significant left‐to‐right shunt. Computed tomography scanning was primarily performed to rule out pulmonary embolism; however, it showed interatrial communication. Due to the concomitant tricuspid insufficiency with additional volume overload, the diagnosis of SVD was more challenging. Usually, transthoracic echocardiography remains the initial diagnostic imaging modality; however, detection rates are very low. Therefore, further imaging is mandatory in unexplained substantial right heart dilatation.     

Early and sustained haemodynamic improvement with levosimendan compared to intraaortic balloon counterpulsation (IABP) in cardiogenic shock complicating acute myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the haemodynamic effects of levosimendan in patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) complicating acute myocardial infarction in comparison to the effects of intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation (IABP). METHODS: 10 patients with intractable CS under standard therapy (including the use of PCI, inotropes, and vasopressors) received i.v. infusion of levosimendan (bolus 12 microg/kg i.v., followed by continuous infusion 0.1 microg/kg/min for 24 h). Haemodynamic effects were compared to the effects of IABP-placement added to standard care in 12 patients with CS. RESULTS: Within 24 h, both levosimendan and IABP produced a significant increase in cardiac index (CI) and cardiac power index and a decrease in systemic vascular resistance (SVR) (CI [l/min/m2] baseline 1.97+/-0.15, at 24 h 2.82+/-0.22 for levosimendan; baseline 1.98+/-0.17, at 24 h 2.66+/-0.08 for IABP; SVR [dyn*s*cm-5] baseline 1353+/-106, at 24 h 846+/-69 for levosimendan; baseline 1311+/-214, at 24 h 853+/-63 for IABP, respectively). After 3 h of treatment, CI and SVR had significantly improved in patients treated with levosimendan but not in the IABP-group (CI [l/min/m2] at 3 h 2.72+/-0.28 (+38%) for levosimendan versus 2.18+/-0.15 (+10%) for IABP). CONCLUSION: Infusion of levosimendan in acute CS results in early and sustained haemodynamic improvement. Short-term haemodynamic effects compare favourably with those seen after invasive IABP placement.