Prevalence of Pol d 1 sensitization in Polistes dominula allergy and its diagnostic role in vespid double-positivity

Abstract Aims The purpose of the study was to compare the accuracy of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) with echocardiography for the evaluation of ventricular dysfunction in patients of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Further, we evaluated the potential of CMR for myocardial tissue characterization. Design Prospective observational. Materials and Methods A total of 30 patients with suspected DCM prospectively underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (MR) using a 1.5 Tesla MR scanner, with appropriate phased-array body coils. Dynamic sequences after injection of 0.1 mmol/kg of body weight of gadolinium-based intravenous contrast (Magnevist) were acquired for each patient, after which delayed images were obtained at an interval of 12 to 15 minutes. Myocardial tagging was performed in all patients for assessment of wall motion abnormalities. Each MR examination was interpreted with two radiologists for chamber dimensions and ventricular dysfunction as well as morphologic characteristics with disagreement resolved by consensus. All patients included in the study were taken up for MR evaluation after cardiological evaluation through echocardiography and the results for both the studies were compared. Data were analyzed through standard statistical methods. Conclusion CMR is a comprehensive diagnostic tool, which can estimate the ventricular function more precisely than echocardiography. CMR reliably differentiates between ischemic and nonischemic etiologies of DCM based on patterns of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and based on the presence or absence of LGE, which helps to estimate the degree of myocardial fibrosis. Thereby it can be a useful tool in establishing risk stratification, predicting prognosis, and thus instituting appropriate therapy in DCM patients.

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332 The diagnostic role of shunt series radiographs (SSR) in children presenting to the children’s emergency department (CED) with suspected ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt failure

Emergency Medicine Journal ◽

10.1136/emj-2020-rcemabstracts.56 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 37 (12) ◽

pp. 852.3-853

Author(s):

Angharad Griffiths ◽

Ikechukwu Okafor ◽

Thomas Beattie

Keyword(s):

Clinical Outcome ◽

Sensitivity And Specificity ◽

Clinical Information ◽

Flow Diagram ◽

List Type ◽

Shunt Failure ◽

Vp Shunt ◽

Wide Range ◽

Diagnostic Role

Aims/Objectives/BackgroundVP shunts are used to drain CSF from the cranial vault because of a wide range of pathologies and, like any piece of hardware, can fail. Traditionally investigations include SSR and CT. This project examines the role of SSR in evaluating children with suspected VP shunt failure.Primary outcome: Sensitivity and specificity of SSR in children presenting to the CED with concern for shunt failure.Methods/DesignConducted in a single centre, tertiary CED of the national Irish Neurosurgical(NS) referral centre (ED attendance:>50,000 patients/year). 100 sequential SSR requested by the CED were reviewed. Clinical information was extracted from electronic requests. Shunt failure was defined by the need for NS intervention(Revision).Abstract 332 Figure 1Abstract 332 Figure 2Results/ConclusionsSensitivity and specificity is presented in figure 1 (two by two table).100 radiographs performed in 84 children.22% shunts revised (see flow diagram).7 SSR’s were abnormal.85% (n=6) shunts revised. [5 following abnormal CT].Of the normal SSR’s; 16 had abnormal CT and revised.85/100 received CT.64 of 85 CT’s (75%) were normal.□6 of the 64 had focal shunt concern.SSR’s shouldn’t be used in isolation. NPV&PPV, Sensitivity&Specificity is low.SSR’s are beneficial where there’s concern over focal shunt problems (injury/pain/swelling) or following abnormal CT.VP shunt failure is not well investigated with SSR alone.SSR’s could be omitted where there is no focal shunt concern/after normal CT (without impacting clinical outcome) reducing radiation exposure and reduce impact on CED’s.59 SSR’s could have been avoided without adverse clinical outcome.

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Double-Balloon Enteroscopy in Detecting Small-Bowel Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: A Single-Center Prospective Study

Digestion ◽

10.1159/000511850 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Roberta Elisa Rossi ◽

Luca Elli ◽

Federica Branchi ◽

Dario Conte ◽

Sara Massironi

Keyword(s):

Small Bowel ◽

Neuroendocrine Neoplasm ◽

Unknown Primary ◽

Neuroendocrine Neoplasms ◽

Double Balloon Enteroscopy ◽

Balloon Enteroscopy ◽

Double Balloon ◽

Diagnostic Role ◽

Positive Results

Background and Aim: Small-bowel neuroendocrine neoplasm (sbNEN) diagnosis has improved with double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE). DBE efficacy in the detection of sbNENs is unknown. We aimed to report the experience at a single referral center for NENs. Methods: All consecutive patients with a suspected sbNEN selected for diagnostic DBE were enrolled. Results: Between 2011 and 2016, 25 patients were referred for a suspected sbNEN. In 15/25 patients, a primary NEN was detected outside the small bowel; in 4, NEN was excluded. After extensive workup, 6 patients (4 males, median age 50 years) underwent DBE (3 anterograde, 2 retrograde, and 1 both; median time: 60 min; median insertion 200 cm). DBE was positive in 3 patients: one had an ileal 2-cm NEN G1, one had an ileal 1.3-cm NEN G1, and one had an ileal 1-cm NEN G2, all surgically removed. Of the 3 other patients, one had a metastatic NEN of unknown primary, the other two had small intestinal NENs, both surgically removed (1.6-cm G1 and G2 NEN). DBE showed a sensitivity of 60% and, in absence of false-positive results, a specificity of 100%. Accuracy resulted 67%. No complications were observed. Conclusions: In line with data from the literature, the present series showed that DBE is a safe and effective procedure in the diagnosis of sbNENs. Further studies are needed to better clarify the diagnostic role of DBE in the neuroendocrine tumor setting and its relationship with other techniques.

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A Rare Case of Acute Interstitial Pneumonia Diagnosed at Autopsy

American Journal of Clinical Pathology ◽

10.1093/ajcp/aqaa161.335 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 154 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S153-S154

Author(s):

E Conner ◽

D Troxclair ◽

H Khokhar ◽

W Beversdorf

Keyword(s):

Respiratory Failure ◽

Interstitial Pneumonia ◽

Diffuse Alveolar Damage ◽

Ventilatory Support ◽

Respiratory Illness ◽

High Dose ◽

Atypical Pneumonia ◽

Acute Interstitial Pneumonia ◽

Diagnostic Role ◽

History Of

Abstract Introduction/Objective Acute interstitial pneumonia (AIP) is a rare disease clinically characterized by rapidly progressing respiratory failure in individuals with no history of respiratory illness or other inciting factors. While most often diagnosed in middle-aged adults, it may present in any age group. Initial presentation is described as influenza- like, and respiratory failure requiring ventilatory support often progresses within weeks to months. Prognosis is poor, with an estimated mortality rate approaching 80% without treatment. Methods We present the case of a 44-year-old male nonsmoker with no significant medical history, who presented in 2018 with 1.5 months of dyspnea and headache initially diagnosed as atypical pneumonia. Chest imaging revealed bilateral opacities; however, microbial workup revealed no evidence of infectious etiology. Autoimmune serology studies were likewise unrevealing. Despite aggressive supportive and medical management, he deteriorated to respiratory failure and succumbed. Results At autopsy, the lungs were symmetrically congested and edematous (combined weight 2,340 g) but free of evident consolidation or discrete lesions. Microscopic examination revealed diffuse alveolar damage with extensive hyaline membrane formation, interstitial edema, and fibroblastic proliferation. The vasculature was severely congested, and the alveoli contained hemorrhage and scattered macrophages. No fungal or mycobacterial elements were identified by staining. Based on the histologic features and clinical context, the diagnosis of AIP was made. Conclusion AIP is a rare, aggressive, and diagnostically challenging disease that includes a broad range of both clinical and histologic differentials. Timely recognition and intervention with aggressive respiratory support and high- dose glucocorticoids are the mainstays of clinical management. The diagnostic role of histology is significant, but hinges on early clinical consideration of AIP as disease progression may later preclude the biopsy procedure. We share this case to raise awareness of this rapidly progressive and diagnostically troubling interstitial lung disease while emphasizing the importance of clinicopathologic correlation.

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Eignung der Kapillarmikroskopie zur Diagnostik und Differenzierung einer ILD

Karger Kompass Pneumologie ◽

10.1159/000514899 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-3

Author(s):

Sabine Adler

Keyword(s):

Computed Tomography ◽

Creatine Phosphokinase ◽

Correct Diagnosis ◽

Diagnostic Assessment ◽

Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies ◽

Inflammatory Myopathies ◽

Nailfold Videocapillaroscopy ◽

High Resolution Computed Tomography ◽

Diagnostic Role

Nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) is an easy tool used for the assessment of patients with Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) as possibly associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Recent insights have also highlighted its role in the diagnostic assessment of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs). The aim of this study is to describe the diagnostic role of NVC in a series of 361 consecutive patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD). All the patients were assessed by clinical pulmonary and rheumatic examinations, blood exams, high-resolution computed tomography and NVC. NVC was considered positive only in the presence of avascular areas or giant capillaries, but also, the presence of bushy capillaries (BCs) was recorded. NVC was positive in 17.7% of ILD patients and in 78.1% of ILD patients associated with a diagnosis of connective tissue disease (CTD). In 25% of SSc-ILD patients, NVC proved necessary for a correct diagnosis. The presence of BCs and/or NVC positivity in ILD patients with normal levels of creatine phosphokinase is associated with amyopathic IIM, regardless the presence of RP. In conclusion, NVC is useful for the diagnostic assessment of incomplete forms of CTD and in amyopathic IIMs. NVC should be considered in the diagnostic assessment of ILD patients regardless of the presence of RP.

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Unlocking the Power of Exosomes for Crossing Biological Barriers in Drug Delivery

Pharmaceutics ◽

10.3390/pharmaceutics13010122 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 122 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Rebekah Omarkhail Elliott ◽

Mei He

Keyword(s):

Drug Delivery ◽

Traffic Control ◽

Information Transfer ◽

Cancer Metastasis ◽

Research Field ◽

Blood Retinal Barrier ◽

Biological Barriers ◽

Diagnostic Role ◽

Delivery Platform ◽

Traffic Control System

Since the 2013 Nobel Prize was awarded for the discovery of vesicle trafficking, a subgroup of nanovesicles called exosomes has been driving the research field to a new regime for understanding cellular communication. This exosome-dominated traffic control system has increased understanding of many diseases, including cancer metastasis, diabetes, and HIV. In addition to the important diagnostic role, exosomes are particularly attractive for drug delivery, due to their distinctive properties in cellular information transfer and uptake. Compared to viral and non-viral synthetic systems, the natural, cell-derived exosomes exhibit intrinsic payload and bioavailability. Most importantly, exosomes easily cross biological barriers, obstacles that continue to challenge other drug delivery nanoparticle systems. Recent emerging studies have shown numerous critical roles of exosomes in many biological barriers, including the blood–brain barrier (BBB), blood–cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCSFB), blood–lymph barrier (BlyB), blood–air barrier (BAB), stromal barrier (SB), blood–labyrinth barrier (BLaB), blood–retinal barrier (BRB), and placental barrier (PB), which opens exciting new possibilities for using exosomes as the delivery platform. However, the systematic reviews summarizing such discoveries are still limited. This review covers state-of-the-art exosome research on crossing several important biological barriers with a focus on the current, accepted models used to explain the mechanisms of barrier crossing, including tight junctions. The potential to design and engineer exosomes to enhance delivery efficacy, leading to future applications in precision medicine and immunotherapy, is discussed.

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