Bronchial Artery Embolization in Pediatric Pulmonary Hemorrhage: A Single-Center Experience

PurposeTo explore the safety and effectiveness of bronchial artery (BA) embolization (BAE) in children with pulmonary hemorrhage.Materials and MethodsBetween February 2016 and February 2019, 41 patients (median age, 4 y; interquartile range, 2.3-8 y; median weight, 17.6 kg; interquartile range, 12.3–23.6 kg) underwent BAE. The indication of BAE included massive hemoptysis in 10 patients (24.4%), recurrent hemoptysis in 18 patients (43.9%), and refractory anemia in 13 patients (31.7%). The main etiology of pulmonary hemorrhage included pulmonary hemosiderosis (58.5%), congenital heart disease (17.1%), and infection (14.6%). A retrospective review was conducted of clinical outcomes of BAE.ResultsThere were 44 embolization sessions, with a total of 137 embolized vessels. Pulmonary hemorrhage was caused by BAs in 30 cases, nonbronchial systemic arteries plus BAs in 10, and nonbronchial systemic arteries in 1. Embolic particles were used in 30 cases (24 polyvinyl alcohol [PVA] and 6 microsphere), coils in 9 cases, and particles plus coils in 5 cases (4 PVA and 1 microsphere). Technical success (ability to embolize abnormal vessel) was achieved in 97.6% of patients (40 of 41), and clinical success (complete or partial resolution of hemoptysis within 30 days of embolization) was achieved in 90.2% (37 of 41). There was 1 procedure-related complication (2.4%) of cerebral infarction and 1 death from multiple-organ dysfunction (2.4%). Bleeding-free survival rates at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months were 92.5%, 83.9%, 83.9%, and 70.8%, respectively.ConclusionsBAE is a safe and effective procedure in children with pulmonary hemorrhage.     

Idiopathic myointimal hyperplasia of mesenteric veins: Rare case of ischemic colitis mimicking inflammatory bowel disease

Idiopathic myointimal hyperplasia of mesenteric veins (IMHMV) is a rare and poorly understood ischemic colitis that occurs in the rectosigmoid colon of predominantly young, previously healthy, male patients. A 76‐year‐old Japanese man presented to our hospital with a 1‐year history of worsening diarrhea, lower abdominal pain, and weight loss (−6 kg). Laboratory evaluation revealed white blood cell count of 13 200/μL, C‐reactive protein level of 2.0 mg/dL (normal range, 0.0–0.3), and negative results for stool culture (including Clostridium difficile). Colonoscopy showed circumferential and edematous narrowing of the sigmoid colon with deep longitude ulceration. Biopsy was done and examination of the specimen demonstrated no specific ischemia. The patient was treated with bowel rest, antibiotics, and i.v. fluids; however, his symptoms worsened. Finally, sigmoidectomy was carried out. Histological examination demonstrated significant myointimal hyperplasia of mesenteric veins leading to thickening and stenosis of the venous lumen. Therefore, the final diagnosis was IMHMV. Three months following sigmoidectomy, he was asymptomatic.     

Preliminary laboratory based diagnostic criteria for immune thrombocytopenic purpura: evaluation by multi-center prospective study

BACKGROUND: We proposed diagnostic criteria for immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) by modifying the existing guidelines for diagnosis of ITP and by incorporating laboratory tests found useful for predicting its diagnosis, for example erythrocyte count, leukocyte count, anti-GPIIb/IIIa antibody-producing B cells, platelet-associated anti-GPIIb/IIIa antibodies, percentage of reticulated platelets, and plasma thrombopoietin. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: To validate our criteria, we conducted a multi-center prospective study involving 112 patients with thrombocytopenia and a morphologically normal peripheral blood film at the first visit. Each patient underwent a physical examination, routine laboratory tests, and specialized tests for the anti-GPIIb/IIIa antibody response and platelet turnover. RESULTS: Ninety-one patients (81%) satisfied the proposed criteria at first visit. Clinical diagnosis was made by skilled hematologists > 6 months after the first visit; ITP was diagnosed in 88 patients and non-ITP disorders in 24. The proposed criteria had 98% sensitivity, 79% specificity, a 95% positive predictive value, and a 90% negative predictive value. A relatively low specificity appears to be attributed to a few patients who had both ITP and aplastic anemia or myelodysplastic syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary diagnostic criteria based on ITP-associated laboratory findings were useful for the differential diagnosis of ITP, but additional evaluations and modifications will be necessary to develop criteria that can be used routinely.     

Idiopathic Headache as a Possible Risk Factor for Phantom Tooth Pain

Following tooth pulp extirpation, some subjects suffer from persistent pain which affects edentate sites in absence of any local pathology. As regards this peculiar pain, called phantom tooth pain (PTP), what is puzzling is the fact there is a low prevalence of PTP in a very large population showing identical conditions of tooth pulp extirpation. The present investigation indicates that PTP mainly affects migraine (M) and cluster headache (CH) sufferers, whereas it does not affect subjects who have a negative personal and family history for idiopathic headache (IH). These results circumscribe the presence of PTP to a specific section of the population. The present results, besides indicating that PTP may be the result of a peculiar neuronal predisposition relating to IH pathogenesis, suggests some practical therapeutic hints. In fact, successful anti- M and anti-CH prophylactic treatment greatly improve PTP syndrome.     

Platelet-binding immunoglobulins in pregnancy-induced hypertension I. Platelet-associated IgM on fetal platelets: evidence of a fetal autoimmune reaction?

Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) can be complicated by maternal or fetal thrombocytopenia, or both. In order to investigate possible immunologic causes of these thrombocytopenias, platelet-associated IgG (PAIgG) and IgM (PAIgM) were measured in mothers with PIH and in their infants and compared with those from patients with autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura (ATP), a known immunodestructive platelet disorder. Many PIH patients (33.3%) and most ATP patients (68.1%) had elevated levels of maternal PAIgG. In both diseases, the amount of PAIgG was directly proportional with the degree of thrombocytopenia (r = 0.446 in PIH and R = 0.668 for ATP). But in neither disease did the degree of maternal thrombocytopenia correlate with the degree of neonatal thrombocytopenia (r = 0.153 for PIH and R = 0.175 for ATP). Umbilical cord samples from PIH patients contained PAIgG (53.3%) and PAIgM (53.8%), whereas the umbilical cord samples from ATP patients had elevated amounts of PAIgG but not PAIgM. PAIgM in the umbilical cord blood could not be accounted for by IgM rheumatoid factors, IgM-containing immune complexes, or non-specific adsorption because of elevated total IgM levels. The umbilical cord blood PAIgM was probably not of maternal origin because it was observed even when the maternal blood contained no PAIgM and maternal IgM is not normally transported transplacentally. Therefore, the PAIgM appears to be of fetal origin. These results suggest that both maternal and fetal immunologic mechanisms may be involved in PIH-induced thrombocytopenia; if so, this is one of the first reported examples of a possible fetal autoimmune response.     

青少年特发性胸椎侧凸患者的脊髓偏移及临床意义

[目的]揭示青少年胸椎特发性侧凸患者椎管内脊髓的偏移，明确其变化趋势，并探讨其可能的发生机制和临床意义。[方法]本研究包括39名以右胸弯为主弯的青少年特发性脊柱侧凸（adolescent idiopathic scoliosis，AIS）患者。测量主胸弯节段内（T5-12）椎管内脊髓与凸凹侧椎弓根之间的距离，计算脊髓的偏移，揭示其变化趋势，并分析顶椎区脊髓偏移与主胸弯Cobb＇s角和顶椎相对偏移之间的相关性。[结果]在T5-12节段椎管内，脊髓与凸侧椎弓根之间的距离显著大于与凹侧椎弓根之间的距离（P〈0．05），即脊髓向凹侧椎弓根偏移，且以顶椎区最为显著，而逐渐向两侧端椎区递减。顶椎区脊髓偏移与主胸弯Cobb’s角和顶椎相对偏移存在显著的正相关（相关系数分别为0．631和0．546）。[结论]胸椎特发性脊柱侧凸患者存在侧凸节段椎管内脊髓偏移的现象，且以顶椎区最显著。研究结果提示脊髓偏移可能与脊椎偏移后凹侧脊神经的牵拉有关，而且凹侧置钉的风险高于凸侧。     

Long-term results of surgical treatment of dysphagia secondary to cervical diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis

Background contextLarge, prominent osteophytes along the anterior aspect of the cervical spine have been reported as a cause of dysphagia. Improvement of swallowing after surgical resection has been reported in a few case reports with short-term follow-up. The current report describes outcomes of a series of five patients with surgical treatment for this rare disorder, with a long-term follow-up.PurposeTo study the clinical and radiographic outcomes of a case series of patients surgically treated for dysphagia secondary to cervical diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH).Study designRetrospective review of a case series.Patient sampleFive cases from a University Hospital.Outcome measuresClinical and imagenological follow-up.MethodsThe records of five patients with dysphagia who had undergone anterior surgical resection of prominent osteophytes secondary to DISH were reviewed. Extrinsic esophageal compression secondary to anterior cervical osteophytes was radiographically confirmed via preoperative barium esophagogram swallowing study. All patients underwent anterior cervical osteophytes resection without fusion. Postoperatively, patients were followed-up clinically and radiographically with routine lateral cervical radiographs.ResultsPreoperative esophagogram showed that the esophageal obstruction was present at one level in three cases and two levels in two cases. The C3–C4 level was involved in three cases, C4–C5 in three cases, and C5–C6 in one case. There were no postoperative complications, including recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy, wound infection, or hematomas. All patients had resolution of dyphagia soon after surgery (within 2 weeks). Postoperative radiographs demonstrated complete removal of osteophytes. At final follow-up, ranging from 1 to 9 years (average 59.8 months, median 53 months), no patients reported recurrence of dysphagia. Final radiographic examination demonstrated minimal regrowth of the osteophytes.ConclusionsAlthough rarely indicated, surgical resection of anterior cervical osteophytes from DISH causing dyphagia produces good clinical and radiographical outcomes. After thorough evaluation to rule out other intrinsic or extrinsic causes of swallowing difficulty, surgical treatment of this uncommon condition might be considered.     

Chronic orchialgia: Consider gabapentin or nortriptyline before considering surgery

OBJECTIVE: To establish if there is a role for gabapentin or nortriptyline in the treatment of chronic orchialgia. METHODS: Twenty-six consecutive patients with chronic orchialgia were seen in the chronic pain clinic by a multidisciplinary team. A pain questionnaire was completed prior to commencing either gabapentin or nortriptyline. They were reviewed at 3 months and a repeat questionnaire completed. A 50% improvement in pain was considered successful. RESULTS: Complete data was available for 19 patients. Overall, 61.5% of patients commenced on gabapentin and 66.6% of patients commenced on nortriptyline had a greater than 50% improvement in pain. Patients with post-vasectomy testicular pain were considered as a subgroup. None of these patients had a greater than 50% improvement in pain. However, 80% of patients in the subgroup with idiopathic chronic orchialgia had a greater than 50% improvement in pain. CONCLUSION: Although this is a small study, it appears that gabapentin and nortriptyline are effective in the treatment of idiopathic chronic orchialgia but not post-vasectomy pain.