Personality styles in patients with fibromyalgia,major depression and healthy controls

Background  

The fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is suggested to be a manifestation of depression or affective spectrum disorder. We measured the cognitive style of patients with FMS to assess personality styles in 44 patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) by comparing them with 43 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and 41 healthy controls (HC).     

Usefulness of the N-Terminal Fraction of Brain Natriuretic Peptide for Deciding When to Refer Patients With Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome to the Cardiologist

Introduction and objectiveWhen sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (SAHS) and cardiovascular disease occur concurrently, prognosis is affected. Echocardiography can detect structural cardiac abnormalities but using this technique in all patients would place a heavy burden on resources. The objective of this study was to investigate whether the N-terminal fraction of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) can be used as a marker for silent heart disease.Patients and methodsNT-proBNP concentration was measured in the 114 consecutive patients with SAHS who underwent echocardiography before starting treatment. Left and right ventricular systolic and diastolic function, as well as structural abnormalities, were studied. Correlations between NT-proBNP concentration and the abnormalities detected were investigated. A receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve was plotted for NT-proBNP concentration and cardiac abnormalities.ResultsData for 98 patients were finally analyzed. NT-proBNP concentration was significantly correlated with ventricular septal thickness (r=0.63), posterior wall thickness (r=0.45), and left ventricular enddiastolic diameter (r=0.51) (P<.0001 for all correlations). The area under the ROC curve was significant (0.870; 95% confidence interval, 0.801-0.939; P<.0001). Assuming that specificity would be more useful for clinical practice, we calculated that NT-proBNP concentrations below 100 and 200 pg/mL could rule out structural abnormalities with a reliability of 90% and 100%, respectively.ConclusionsNT-proBNP concentration was strongly correlated with echocardiographic abnormalities and so could be a useful tool for identifying patients who should be referred to the cardiologist.     

Flexible and floating choroid plexus cyst of the third ventricle: an ultrasonographic video documentation

Introduction Choroid plexus cysts can lead to isolation of the lateral ventricles and distension of the third ventricle. We present an ultrasonographic video documentation of an infant with variably shaped and localized choroid plexus cyst of the third ventricle. Case report An infant had periods of increased intracranial pressure with changing dilatation of the first to third ventricle. Cerebral ultrasonography of the not crying boy demonstrated a choroid plexus cyst limply hanging down from the roof of the third ventricle to the beginning of the aqueduct of Sylvius. During crying, the cyst prolapsed from the third into left lateral ventricle and was strangled by the foramen of Monro. Endoscopic cyst fenestration and third ventriculostomy continuously solved the problem of intermittent hydrocephalus occlusus. Conclusion Depending not only on localization and size but also on cyst form and cerebrospinal fluid pressure, a single choroid plexus cyst can cause various obstructions of cerebrospinal fluid pathways.     

Iniencephaly and long-term survival: a rare case report

Introduction Iniencephaly, a neural tube defect involving occiput and inion and combined with rachischisis of the cervical, thoracic spine, and retroflexion position of the head is a very rare congenital abnormality of the fetus–newborn with a 0.1–10 of 10,000 prevalence. This abnormality’s prognosis is thought to be dismal. This abnormality can be associated with other abnormalities such as anencephaly, encephalocele, hydrocephalus, cyclopia, absence of the mandible, cleft lip and palate, cardiovascular disorders, diaphragmatic hernia, renal abnormalities, overgrowth of the arms compared to the legs, and club food and gastrointestinal atresia. Discussion Most of the patients are dead born, and the others die in a few hours. There are only six previously documented long-term survivors. In our case, our patient with iniencephalic signs and findings is still living. She is 2 years old now. We think that this patient presents a mild form of iniencephaly.     

Comparative early and midterm results of open juxtarenal and infrarenal aneurysm repair

Background and aims Since the introduction of endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) for aortic aneurysms, the number of juxtarenal aortic aneurysms (JRA) has been growing steadily due to selection bias (neck morphology for EVAR). This case-match study compares the perioperative outcome and midterm results of suprarenally clamped JRA with infrarenal aortic aneurysms (AAA). Methods From 1997 to 2004, patients who received open surgery with suprarenal clamping for JRA were included in the study and compared to matched patients with infrarenal clamping (AAA). Measurements analyzed were the in-hospital mortality and morbidity. Midterm results were obtained through clinical investigation and magnetic resonance angiography imaging. Results Thirty-five patients (mean age, 68.4 years; 30 male and 5 female) received suprarenal cross-clamping for JRA. The overall in-hospital mortality for JRA and for the controls (AAA) with elective aortic repair was 4.5% (6.1% JRA; 3% AAA, p = 0.058). The morbidity of JRA was elevated according to the rate of pulmonary complications (p = 0.021) and the need for re-operation (p = 0.019). The mean follow-up time was 2.3 years (range, 8–96 months). At follow-up, 28 patients (80%) from the JRA group and 29 patients from the AAA group (82.9%) were alive. Conclusion Open aortic surgery for JRA with the need for suprarenal cross-clamping shows a slightly elevated in-hospital mortality rate without statistical significance and equal midterm mortality results in comparison with infrarenally clamped aortic aneurysms.     

Cavo-portal transposition in rat: a new simple model

Background  

Liver transplantation in presence of diffuse portal vein thrombosis is possible by using caval blood as portal inflow, through cavo-portal transposition. However, clinical results are heterogeneous and experimental studies are needed, but similar hemodynamic conditions are difficult to obtain, especially in small animals. Herein we describe a new simple model of cavo-portal transposition in rat.