Feasibility of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) assessment for cancer patients using electronic patient-reported outcome (ePRO) in daily clinical practice

Quality of Life Research - Routine Electronic Monitoring of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) (REMOQOL) in clinical care with real-time feedback to physicians could help to enhance...     

Acute, isolated and reversible paralysis of the soft palate in childhood

INTRODUCTION: Unilateral spinal and accessory palsy is uncommon in children. The main problem is the extensive exploration undertaken to achieve etiological diagnosis. OBSERVATION: We report two cases of transitory, unilateral, spinal and accessory palsy, associated in one case with homolateral hemi-pharyngeal palsy, that occurred in two previously healthy children. RESULTS: Few reports have been published in the literature to date. From those two cases and data of the literature, we suggest that the clinical presentation results from idiopathic peripheral nerve palsy. CONCLUSION: Further case reports would be useful to confirm the benign nature of this syndrome so that complementary investigations may be limited in future cases with a similar presentation.     

Spontaneous dissection of renal artery: long-term results of extracorporeal reconstruction and autotransplantation1

PURPOSE: We undertook this study to assess the outcome of spontaneous dissection of the renal artery and its branches surgically treated with extracorporeal reconstruction and autotransplantation. SUBJECTS: Between 1975 and 1996, 15 consecutive patients (19 kidneys) with spontaneous renal artery dissection underwent renal artery reconstruction. Fourteen patients had accelerated hypertension. Five patients had impaired renal function. In 14 patients the dissection was associated with fibrodysplasia, and in 1 patient it was related to arteriosclerosis. INTERVENTION: In 17 kidneys extracorporeal reconstruction and autotransplantation was used. The renal artery of 1 kidney was reconstructed in situ. One primary nephrectomy was performed. RESULTS: There were no operative deaths or major morbidity. All but 1 reconstruction was successful (94.4%). Results at follow-up (range, 1-8 years) were favorable in 14 patients; 79% had satisfactory blood pressure control, and all patients had normal renal function, including those with impaired renal function preoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Extracorporeal reconstruction and autotransplantation can be effectively used in patients with spontaneous renal artery dissection located in or extending into the distal branches. Early recognition and appreciation of the clinical presentation of spontaneous renal artery dissection are important.     

Impaired brain growth and neurodevelopment in preterm infants with posthaemorrhagic ventricular dilatation

Aim: To correlate volumetric magnetic resonance imaging at term with neurodevelopmental outcome at 2 years in infants with posthaemorrhagic ventricular dilatation. Preterm infants with posthaemorrhagic ventricular dilatation have high risk of disabilities, but the range is wide and predicting severity of motor and mental disability is difficult. Methods: Twenty‐five preterm infants with posthaemorrhagic ventricular dilatation had cerebral magnetic resonance imaging at term age. Total and regional brain volumes were calculated using a manual segmentation technique. Bayley Scales of Infant Development II were assessed at 2 years post‐term. Developmental Quotients (DQ) were calculated from Developmental Age Equivalent scores. Results: Total cerebral volume, excluding ventricles, correlated positively with Motor (r = 0.7, p < 0.0001) and Mental DQ (r = 0.4, p = 0.02). Only three of 16 infants with cerebral volume <336 cm³ were ambulant at 2 years. Cerebellar volumes correlated strongly with Motor DQ (r = 0.6, p = 0.002) but only with Mental DQ after adjustment. Thalamic volumes correlated strongly with Motor DQ (r = 0.7, p = 0.0002). Conclusion: Brain growth is significantly impaired in posthaemorrhagic ventricular dilatation. Volumetric measurements at term of total cerebral and cerebellar volume may have a role in predicting severity of disability.