Minimum clinically important difference of the health-related quality of life scales in adult spinal deformity calculated by latent class analysis: is it appropriate to use the same values for surgical and nonsurgical patients?

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) parameters have been shown to be reliable and valid in patients with adult spinal deformity (ASD). Minimum clinically important difference (MCID) has become increasingly important to clinicians in evaluating patients with a threshold of improvement that is clinically relevant.

Dentin enhances the effectiveness of bioactive glass S53P4 against a strain of Enterococcus faecalis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the current study was to test the impact of dentin powder on the antimicrobial efficacy of bioactive glass S53P4 (BAG). STUDY DESIGN: BAG was suspended (preincubated) in saline at 37 degrees C for different time periods with or without human dentin powder, hydroxylapatite, or decalcified dentin. Subsequently, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 cells were added to these suspensions and bacterial recovery measured with and without the use of gentle sonication. Furthermore, survival of bacteria in test and control suspensions was assessed over time. Supernatants of suspensions were analyzed for their element contents using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The effects of pH, silica, and osmolarity on E faecalis viability were assessed using specifically prepared solutions. RESULTS: BAG preincubated with dentin powder caused a significant (P < .05) decrease in viability compared to pure BAG suspensions. This was not based on adherence of bacteria to solid particles or agglutination of the cells, because sonication did not increase bacterial yields. Hydroxylapatite and decalcified dentin did not increase BAG killing efficacy. The additive effect of BAG + dentin powder was dose dependent, occurred only with solids in suspension, and increased with suspension time. An augmented dissolution of glass components, especially silicon, was measured in BAG + dentin powder compared to pure BAG suspensions or counterparts containing hydroxylapatite or decalcified dentin. High osmolarity per se did not affect E faecalis viability, whereas high pH and silica levels did. CONCLUSION: The observed phenomenon was related to an increased BAG dissolution triggered by dentin powder, causing elevated local pH and silica levels.     

Comparison of the Exposure Obtained by Endoscope and Microscope in the Extended Trans-Sphenoidal Approach

Objective: Trans-sphenoidal surgery is often combined with other approaches for the treatment of middle cranial base tumors. By combining a maxillotomy with trans-sphenoidal approach, significantly wider exposure to these regions is gained. However, endoscope-assisted techniques have also been used for sellar and parasellar and upper clival regions. Methods: An extended trans-sphenoidal approach was performed on 10 cadaver heads using the operating microscope and was repeated with a 0-degree endoscope. The mean horizontal and vertical distances were measured and pictured for each technique, and both distances were compared using a parametric paired Student's t-test. Results: The mean horizontal distances in the 10 specimens were 19.5 ± 1.8 mm by microscope and 27.5 ± 2.2 mm by endoscope, and the mean vertical distances were 25.8 ± 1.9 mm by the microscope and 34.5 ± 3.5 mm by the endoscope. Conclusion: The aim of this study was to quantify the amount of exposure obtained with an extended trans-sphenoidal approach and to compare both endoscopic and microscopic techniques. Using the endoscope in conjunction with the operating microscope may provide additional exposure and better access in skull base surgery.     

Value of acute-phase angiography in the detection of vascular injuries caused by gunshot wounds to the head: analysis of 12 cases.

A study of the angiographic findings in consecutive civilian patients with cranial gunshot wounds examined in the acute stage has not been done. Most prior clinical studies have evaluated the findings in survivors in the subacute or chronic stages and have often been of war-time casualties. We determined the clinicoradiologic features of six cases of posttraumatic intracranial aneurysm, vascular occlusion, or arteriovenous fistula caused by penetrating missiles among 12 civilian patients who were examined in the acute posttraumatic stage (within 48 hr of injury) during a 1-year period. Three internal carotid/vertebral artery aneurysms, one external carotid artery aneurysm, one combined aneurysm/arteriovenous fistula of the vertebrobasilar circulation, and one cerebral venous occlusion were identified. The 50% overall prevalence of major vascular lesions in this series of civilian patients with penetrating missile injuries examined in the acute stage suggests these injuries are more common than previously suspected. It may indicate that selective cerebral angiography should be considered in the evaluation of the cranial vascular system of such persons.     

Systemic endotoxin and gastric mucosal pH are the best parameters to predict lethal outcome in a porcine model of abdominal sepsis according to multivariate analysis.

This study was devised to identify sepsis-relevant parameters that early and reliably predict a lethal outcome in intra-abdominal sepsis. In 18 Duroc pigs, peritonitis was induced through standardized gastrotomy. Twelve hours later the defect was oversewn and the abdominal cavity lavaged thoroughly. Sepsis relevant parameters were measured before initiating therapy, and 30 min later animals were extubated and observed for a period of 6 days under adequate analgesia with free access to water and food. All parameters were correlated with survival postoperatively. In the treatment group, 7 out of 18 pigs (39%) died within the observation period. Endotoxin level at 30 min after initiation of therapy [17.9 EU/mL (+/- 12.1) vs. 110.9 EU/mL (+/- 21); p <.001] and Delta pHi [0.015 (+/- 0.011) vs. -0.039 (+/- 0.013); p =.016] were identified as the two parameters with highest predictive power regarding mortality in a multivariate analysis. In conclusion measurement of endotoxin and gastric tonometry should gain wider clinical application in septic patients.     

Enterovesical fistula secondary to mucinous adenocarcinoma of appendix

We report an unusual case of an enterovesical fistula secondary to adenocarcinoma of the appendix.     

Percutaneous Transhepatic Cholangiodrainage as Rescue Therapy for Symptomatic Biliary Leakage Without Biliary Tract Dilation After Major Surgery

Symptomatic biliary leakage following major upper abdominal surgery is a severe complication resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. Treatment options usually include either endoscopic intervention or surgical revision. These options may be burdened by a high perioperative risk for the patient (e.g., patients with severe disease) or simply may not be possible (e.g., nonpreserved gastroduodenal passage). In the past, percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage did only seem to be a viable option for patients with dilated bile ducts. Here, we present our experience in a consecutive series of patients with symptomatic biliary leakage following major upper abdominal surgery and without dilation of the biliary system that underwent percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage was feasible in 15 of 18 patients (83.3%). The procedure was technically not possible in three patients (16.7%). In 10 of the 15 patients (66.6%) with feasible percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage, biliary leakage was definitely controlled without the need for surgical revision. Depending on the experience with the interventional procedure, percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage should be considered as an alternative for treatment of symptomatic biliary leakage instead of immediate reoperation. Presented at the Digestive Disease Week 2005 (DDW), Chicago, IL, May 14–19, 2005 (poster presentation).     

Frontal lobe epilepsy presented as ictal aggression

Abstract Aggressive behaviour is rarely observed as an ictal semiology. Ictal aggression can occur in lesions of frontal and limbic structures. In limbic structure lesions, the main mechanism of aggressive behaviour is hyperactivity; whereas frontal lesions may cause aggressive behaviour with an indirect mechanism in which the suppression on limbic system is lost. Here we present a patient with ictal aggression. In this case a right frontoparietal epileptiform focus was detected during the postictal period. Magnetic resonance imaging showed cortical dysplasia on the right inferior frontal gyrus. The seizures disappeared completely after pharmacological treatment.     

The <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arg</Emphasis>194<Emphasis Type="Italic">Trp</Emphasis> polymorphism in DNA repair gene XRCC1 and the risk for sporadic late-onset Alzheimer's disease

Abstract Alzheimer's disease (AD) is defined pathologically by the presence of β-amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles and extensive neuronal loss. Evidence indicates that increased DNA damage may contribute to neuronal loss in AD. Recently, it has been shown that in AD neurons have a reduced capacity for some types of DNA repair. Polymorphisms in DNA repair genes may be associated with differences in repair efficiency of DNA damage. Variants of several DNA repair genes, including the base excision repair gene XRCC1, have been described previously. We hypothesised that Arg194Trp polymorphism of XRCC1 gene may contribute to genetic susceptibility for AD. In order to test this hypothesis, we investigated Arg194Trp polymorphism at the XRCC1 gene in the DNA samples of 98 patients with AD and 95 healthy subjects. The frequency of the Trp allele was more pronounced among cases (11.2%) compared with controls (5.8%). On combining the homozygous and heterozygous variants of each codon, the variants seemed to be at twofold risk of AD, although the risk estimates were not statistically significant (OR=1.95, 95% CI 0.88–4.34, p=0.09). In addition, the 194Trp allele revealed a borderline significance (OR=2.05, 95% CI 0.96–4.37, p=0.056). According to our results, it may be speculated that the polymorphic variants of XRCC1 codon 194 have a role in the development of AD.