Catatonia in obsessive-compulsive disorder: etiopathogenesis, differential diagnosis, and clinical management.

OBJECTIVE: We describe the case of a patient who developed an episode of catatonia during the course of her life-long obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and discuss issues related to the etiopathogenesis, differential diagnosis, and therapeutic management of this association. BACKGROUND: Catatonia is conventionally considered a heterogeneous syndrome of motor dysregulation characterized by mutism, immobility, negativism, posturing (catalepsy), stereotypies, and echophenomena. The relationship between OCD and catatonia is still misunderstood and poses significant challenges to the diagnosis and treatment of patients with both conditions. METHOD: Naturalistic follow-up of a single case. RESULTS: A patient with OCD developed catatonia in concert with deteriorating mood, thought, and behavior. This atypical clinical presentation of individuals with OCD and the list of differential diagnosis raised during the patient's clinical assessment are discussed on 3 different levels: symptomatic presentation, comorbidity pattern, and pharmacodynamic mechanisms involved. CONCLUSIONS: The development of a systematic therapeutic plan for patients with OCD and comorbid catatonia includes: the fine-tuning of the antiobsessional treatment; management of comorbid disorders that may engender catatonia; prompt discontinuation, and subsequent slow reintroduction of drugs deemed to trigger toxic reactions or to worsen comorbid disorders and, ultimately, the catatonia; and the implementation of specific anticatatonia measures.     

Inhibition of cysteine proteinases by autolytic digestion is mediated by CBP2/Hsp47

CBP2/Hsp47 is a glycoprotein normally limited to the ER-Golgi where it is first associated with procollagen chains at a very early point during translation of nascent chains and later with properly folded procollagen. Although CBP2/Hsp47 is regarded as a molecular chaperone belonging to the serpin superfamily, this protein does not appear to inhibit serine proteinases. Here we demonstrate that CBP2/Hsp47 functions in a manner similar to other serpin superfamily members by cross class inhibiting cysteine proteinases. A CBP2/Hsp47 to cathepsin L inactivation stoichiometery of approximately 1.5 revealed concurrent cleavage of CBP2/Hsp47 with proteinase inactivation. Cleavage of the CBP2/Hsp47 was shown to occur outside the P1-P1' at the P16-P15 and P2'-P3' bonds. In addition, the proteinase bands in SDS/PAGE diminished on reaction of the enzyme with CBP2/Hsp47. These results sustain a mechanism advocated by Bjork et al. (1998), in which cysteine proteinases assault a peptide bond in the reactive site loop of serpins, (CBP2/Hsp47) adjacent to the P1-P1' bonds involved in serine proteinase inhibition. The reaction proceeds with the substrate pathway dominating in the cysteine proteinase reaction. In these complexes the cysteine proteinases, papain and cathepsin L, are rendered more susceptible to proteolysis and are degraded by active enzyme. These properties help explain the mechanism by which CBP2/Hsp47 increases the fidelity of collagen production. Moreover, if CBP2/Hsp47 is shown to involve the multiplexin subclass of collagens, it may further provide a mechanism by which the motogen and angiogenic properties during development and/or neoplasia are regulated.     

The Effect of Presleep Focal Attention Load on Subsequent Sleep Patterns

The hypothesis that a load on focal attention prior to sleep results in subsequent changes in sleep patterns was investigated. Eight females and 2 males slept in the laboratory for 4 nights: 2 adaptation nights, 1 experimental night preceded by a focal attention load, and 1 control night preceded by relaxed activity. On the experimental night, time in bed, total sleep time, and stage REM sleep were significantly longer than on the control night. The results support the hypothesis and suggest that attention during REM sleep has a unique character.     

Comparing the Approach to Radical Prostatectomy Using the Multiport da Vinci Xi and da Vinci SP Robots: A Propensity Score Analysis of Perioperative Outcomes

BackgroundUse of the single-port da Vinci SP robotic platform for various urological procedures has been described by several groups. However, the comparative performance of the SP robot in relation to earlier models such as the da Vinci Xi is still unclear.ObjectiveTo compare intraoperative and short-term postoperative outcomes between the da Vinci Xi and SP robots for patients undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP) in a referral center.Design, setting, and participantsData were prospectively collected for patients undergoing RP from June 2019 to April 2020 in a single center. The da Vinci SP was used for 71 patients and the da Vinci Xi for 875 patients. After propensity score (PS) matching, two groups of 71 patients were selected for the comparative study.InterventionRP via a transperitoneal approach using the same technique steps and anatomy access with both robot consoles.Outcome measurements and statistical analysisA PS analysis was performed using the covariates age, body mass index, Charlson comorbidity index, Sexual Health Inventory for Men score, American Urological Association symptom score, prostate size, prostate-specific antigen levels, Gleason score, D’Amico risk group, and degree of nerve-sparing. Intraoperative performance and short-term functional (continence and potency) and oncological outcomes were compared between the groups.Results and limitationsMedian follow-up was 4.4 mo (interquartile range [IQR] 1.6–7.2) for the SP group and 3.2 mo (IQR 1.6–4.8) for the Xi group (p = 0.2). The median total operative time and median console time were both significantly higher in the SP group, with median differences of 14 min (95% confidence interval [CI] 9–19) and 5 min (95% CI 0–5), respectively. The proportion of patients with blood loss of >100 ml was significantly lower in the SP group (difference of 27%, 95% CI 12–42%). No intra- or postoperative complications were reported in either group. There were no significant differences in pain scores at 6, 12, and 18 h or in positive surgical margin rates between the groups. The SP group had a significantly higher percentage of extraprostatic extension than the Xi group (difference of 16%, 95% CI 4.6–27%). None of the patients experienced biochemical recurrence during follow-up. The difference in continence rates at 45 d between the SP and Xi groups was 11% (95% CI ?5.6% to 28%) and the difference in potency rates at 45 d was ?7.3% (95% CI ?21% to 6.2%). The short-term follow-up for comparison of functional and oncological outcomes is a limitation.ConclusionsDespite differences in trocar placement and technology between the two da Vinci consoles, the SP has satisfactory intraoperative performance compared to the Xi. SP surgery can be performed safely and effectively during the initial learning phase. However, longer-term follow-up is needed to provide further evidence on the impact of SP implementation on functional and oncological outcomes.Patient summaryWe compared intraoperative and short-term postoperative outcomes for patients who underwent radical prostatectomy using two different robots, the da Vinci Xi and the single-port da Vinci SP. We found that operative time was longer for the Single Port console. Studies with long-term follow-up are needed to compare the functional and oncological outcomes.     

Giant hepatic extra-gastrointestinal stromal tumor treated with cytoreductive surgery and adjuvant systemic therapy: A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUNDPrimary extra-gastrointestinal stromal tumors (E-GIST) of the liver are rare. The clinical presentation may range from asymptomatic to bleeding or manifestations of mass effect. Oncologic surgery followed by adjuvant therapy with imatinib is the standard of care. However, under specific circumstances, a cytoreductive approach may represent a therapeutic option. We describe herein the case of an 84-year-old woman who presented with a tender, protruding epigastric mass. Abdominal computed tomography scan revealed a large, heterogeneous mass located across segments III, IV, V, and VIII of the liver. The initial approach was transarterial embolization of the tumor, which elicited no appreciable response. Considering the large size and central location of the tumor and the advanced age of the patient, non-anatomic complete resection was indicated. Due to substantial intraoperative bleeding and hemodynamic instability, only a near-complete resection could be achieved. Histopathology and immunohistochemical staining confirmed the diagnosis of primary E-GIST of the liver. Considering the risk/benefit ratio for therapeutic options, debulking surgery may represent a strategy to control pain and prolong survival.CASE SUMMARYHere, we present a case report of a patient diagnosed with E-GIST primary of the liver, which was indicated a cytoreductive surgery and adjuvant therapy with imatinib.CONCLUSIONE-GIST primary of the liver is a rare conditional, the treatment is with systemic therapy and total resection surgery. However, a cytoreductive surgery will be necessary when a complete resection is no possible.