scholarly journals Surgical Treatment for Refractory Aggression after Bacterial Meningitis Complicated by Stroke: Case Report

Author(s):  
Pietro Alessandro Vaccario ◽  
Alícia Carolina Rodrigues Rocha ◽  
Ledismar José da Silva

AbstractBacterial meningitis remains a public health problem. One of the complications of this group of diseases is cerebral ischemia, an important indicator of severity and an independent predictor of poor prognosis. It is already known that, in many cases, pathological aggressiveness is the result of brain abnormalities in individuals with mental illnesses. The indication of neurosurgeries for psychiatric disorders (NPDs) relies on numerous studies based on scientific evidence that correlate psychiatric illnesses with the limbic system and the pathophysiology of emotions. The development of sophisticated stereotactic target localization techniques, brain atlases, and imaging methods made stereotaxis possible, a procedure that increased the precision of neurosurgery and reduced brain damage. Nowadays, multiple targets can be treated during NPD, according to the particular characteristics of the patient. Moreover, the combination of lesions leads to more significant improvements compared with isolated procedures. The present study aimed to report the rare case of a patient with a history of bacterial meningitis who developed stroke and chronic pathological aggressiveness refractory to clinical treatment and underwent ablation using the multitarget stereotactic technique.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Huang ◽  
Xia Wan ◽  
Shixiang Wang

Abstract BackgroundDue to the lack of predictors, high mortality and poor prognosis have always been a serious threat to the breast cancer (BC) patients. Accumulating studies have shown that molecular markers which affect the tumor microenvironment (TME) play an important role in the development of cancer. Here, we aim to use machine learning to identify a new prognostic gene signature and independent prognostic factors related to BC survival through comprehensive bioinformatics analysis.Results This 6-mRNA signature-based model is not only an important indicator to predict the prognosis and survival of BC, but also a potential indicator to monitor the clinical therapeutic effect with certain clinical significance.Conclusions A new 6-gene prognostic signature was discovered and it is a promising independent predictor. The 6 feature genes can function as important biomarkers for BC clinical treatment. At the same time, our study also provides a new insight to explore the molecular mechanism of TME and immune cells that influence BC progress.


Author(s):  
Zhisong Zhang ◽  
Kaising Sun ◽  
Chonnakarn Jatchavala ◽  
John Koh ◽  
Yimian Chia ◽  
...  

Background: In psychiatry, stigma is an attitude of disapproval towards people with mental illnesses. Psychiatric disorders are common in Asia but some Asians receive inadequate treatment. Previous review found that Asians with mental illness were perceived to be dangerous and aggressive. There is a need for renewed efforts to understand stigma and strategies which can effectively reduce stigma in specific Asian societies. The objective of this systematic review was to provide an up-to-date overview of existing research and status on stigma experienced by psychiatric patients and anti-stigma campaigns in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Korea, and Thailand. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in the following databases, including PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase, Web of Science, and local databases. Studies published in English and the official language of included countries/territories were considered for inclusion in the systematic review. Any article on stigma related to any form of psychiatric illness in the six Asian societies was included. Results: One hundred and twenty-three articles were included for this systematic review. This review has six major findings. Firstly, Asians with mental illnesses were considered as dangerous and aggressive, especially patients suffering from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder; second, psychiatric illnesses in Asian societies were less socially-acceptable and were viewed as being personal weaknesses; third, stigma experienced by family members was pervasive and this is known as family stigma; fourth, this systemic review reported more initiatives to handle stigma in Asian societies than a decade ago; fifth, there have been initiatives to treat psychiatric patients in the community; and sixth, the role of supernatural and religious approaches to psychiatric illness was not prevailing. Conclusion: This systematic review provides an overview of the available scientific evidence that points to areas of needed intervention to reduce and ultimately eliminate inequities in mental health in Asia.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-45
Author(s):  
Nikolaj P. Lihonosov ◽  
Abdul H. Ajub ◽  
Alina Ju. Babenko ◽  
Sergey Yu. Borovets

The article contains a review of domestic and foreign literature on the assessment of the clinical significance of inhibin B in the male factor infertility. Modern scientific evidence is given that inhibin B plays an important role in the regulation of spermatogenesis and can be an independent predictor of early violations of spermatogenesis, damage to the spermatogenic epithelium, as well as an important indicator in the identification of disorders of spermatogenesis.


2004 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Christopher R. Brigham ◽  
Kathryn Mueller ◽  
Douglas Van Zet ◽  
Debra J. Northrup ◽  
Edward B. Whitney ◽  
...  

Abstract [Continued from the January/February 2004 issue of The Guides Newsletter.] To understand discrepancies in reviewers’ ratings of impairments based on different editions of the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (AMA Guides), users can usefully study the history of the revisions as successive editions attempted to provide a comprehensive, valid, reliable, unbiased, and evidence-based system. Some shortcomings of earlier editions have been addressed in the AMA Guides, Fifth Edition, but problems remain with each edition, largely because of the limited scientific evidence available. In the context of the history of the different editions of the AMA Guides and their development, the authors discuss and contextualize a number of key terms and principles including the following: definitions of impairment and normal; activities of daily living; maximum medical improvement; impairment percentages; conversion of regional impairments; combining impairments; pain and other subjective complaints; physician judgment; and causation analysis; finally, the authors note that impairment is not synonymous with disability or work interference. The AMA Guides, Fifth Edition, contrasts impairment evaluations and independent medical evaluations (this was not done in previous editions) and discusses impairment evaluations, rules for evaluations, and report standards. Upper extremity and lower extremity impairment evaluations are discussed in terms of clinical assessments and rating processes, analyzing important changes between editions and problematic areas (eg, complex regional pain syndrome).


VASA ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reich-Schupke ◽  
Weyer ◽  
Altmeyer ◽  
Stücker

Background: Although foam sclerotherapy of varicose tributaries is common in daily practice, scientific evidence for the optimal sclerosant-concentration and session-frequency is still low. This study aimed to increase the knowledge on foam sclerotherapy of varicose tributaries and to evaluate the efficacy and safety of foam sclerotherapy with 0.5 % polidocanol in tributaries with 3-6 mm in diameter. Patients and methods: Analysis of 110 legs in 76 patients. Injections were given every second or third day. A maximum of 1 injection / leg and a volume of 2ml / injection were administered per session. Controls were performed approximately 6 months and 12 months after the start of therapy. Results: 110 legs (CEAP C2-C4) were followed up for a period of 14.2 ± 4.2 months. Reflux was eliminated after 3.4 ± 2.7 injections per leg. Insufficient tributaries were detected in 23.2 % after 6.2 ± 0.9 months and in 48.2 % after 14.2 ± 4.2 months, respectively. Only 30.9 % (34 / 110) of the legs required additional therapy. In 6.4 % vein surgery was performed, in 24.5 % similar sclerotherapy was repeated. Significantly fewer sclerotherapy-sessions were required compared to the initial treatment (mean: 2.3 ± 1.4, p = 0.0054). During the whole study period thrombophlebitis (8.2 %), hyperpigmentation (14.5 %), induration in the treated region (9.1 %), pain in the treated leg (7.3 %) and migraine (0.9 %) occurred. One patient with a history of thrombosis developed thrombosis of a muscle vein (0.9 %). After one year there were just hyperpigmentation (8.2 %) and induration (1.8 %) left. No severe adverse effect occurred. Conclusions: Foam sclerotherapy with injections of 0.5 % polidocanol every 2nd or 3rd day, is a safe procedure for varicose tributaries. The evaluation of efficacy is difficult, as it can hardly be said whether the detected tributaries in the controls are recurrent veins or have recently developed in the follow-up period. The low number of retreated legs indicates a high efficacy and satisfaction of the patients.


Author(s):  
I.E. Levchenko ◽  
◽  
A.Y. Kuznetsov ◽  
E.G. Korniltseva ◽  
◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 05 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sadia Nikhat ◽  
Mohd. Fazil

Background: Diabetes mellitus type-II is a major public health problem characterized by hypo-insulinemia and insulin resistance leading to hyperglycemia and its complications. In Unani medicine, it is known as ziyābetus. Several drugs are prescribed in Unani medicine as single and compound formulations for various abnormalities caused by the disease. Most of these drugs have been studied on scientific parameters and have shown significant activity in reducing the symptoms and complications of diabetes. Objectives: The literature research was planned with the objective to find out the action mechanisms of certain selected herbal drugs of Unani medicine, with evidence of their efficacy. Methods: Unani literature was first reviewed extensively and the most frequently-prescribed and easily available drugs for diabetes were selected, followed by a search on major internet search engines for scientific evidence of their efficacy alongwith information of their active ingredient and dosage. Ten drugs were selected for the present review. Results and Conclusion: There is convincing evidence to suggest that the selected drugs have a promising action against diabetes and its complications. Also, there are largely no adverse events reported and some of the preparation methods described in Unani medicine have been proven to reduce or eliminate the adverse events, if any.


Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1287
Author(s):  
T. Walter ◽  
Jennifer Iudicello ◽  
Debra Cookson ◽  
Donald Franklin ◽  
Bin Tang ◽  
...  

Methamphetamine (METH) use disorder is highly prevalent among people with HIV (PWH) and is a significant public health problem. HIV and METH use are each associated with immune system dysfunction; however, the combined effects on the immune system are poorly understood. This cross-sectional project measured soluble immune biomarkers in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collected from a control group, people with a history of a METH use disorder (METH+), PWH with no history of METH use disorder (HIV+), and PWH with a history of METH use disorder (HIV+/METH+). HIV, METH, and immune dysfunction can also be associated with affective and cognitive deficits, so we characterized mood and cognition in our participants. Two factor analyses were performed for the plasma and CSF biomarkers. Plasma IL-8, Ccl2, VEGF, and 8-isoprostane loaded onto one factor that was highest in the HIV+/METH+ group (p < 0.047) reflecting worse inflammation, vascular injury, and oxidative stress. This plasma factor was also negatively correlated with delayed recall (R = −0.49, p = 0.010), which was worst in the HIV+/METH+ group (p = 0.030 compared to the control group). Overall, these data implicate that combined HIV-1 infection and METH use may exacerbate inflammation, leading to worse cognition.


Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 767
Author(s):  
Priscila Baltazar Gonçalves ◽  
Ana Carolina Rennó Sodero ◽  
Yraima Cordeiro

The potential to treat neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) of the major bioactive compound of green tea, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), is well documented. Numerous findings now suggest that EGCG targets protein misfolding and aggregation, a common cause and pathological mechanism in many NDs. Several studies have shown that EGCG interacts with misfolded proteins such as amyloid beta-peptide (Aβ), linked to Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and α-synuclein, linked to Parkinson’s disease (PD). To date, NDs constitute a serious public health problem, causing a financial burden for health care systems worldwide. Although current treatments provide symptomatic relief, they do not stop or even slow the progression of these devastating disorders. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop effective drugs for these incurable ailments. It is expected that targeting protein misfolding can serve as a therapeutic strategy for many NDs since protein misfolding is a common cause of neurodegeneration. In this context, EGCG may offer great potential opportunities in drug discovery for NDs. Therefore, this review critically discusses the role of EGCG in NDs drug discovery and provides updated information on the scientific evidence that EGCG can potentially be used to treat many of these fatal brain disorders.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document