scholarly journals Fifteen-minute consultation: Management of the infant born to a mother with toxoplasmosis in pregnancy

2020 ◽  
Vol 105 (5) ◽  
pp. 262-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anja Saso ◽  
Alasdair Bamford ◽  
Karen Grewal ◽  
Muna Noori ◽  
James Hatcher ◽  
...  

Congenital toxoplasmosis occurs following transplacental transfer of Toxoplasma gondii. Irrespective of symptom status at birth, infants with congenital infection may develop serious long-term sequelae, including learning disability, seizures, hydrocephalus, motor and hearing deficits, chorioretinitis and retinal scarring with impaired vision. Timely diagnosis facilitates early initiation of therapy, aimed at prevention or amelioration of adverse clinical consequences. Diagnosis can be difficult, however, since acutely infected mothers are often asymptomatic and laboratory testing can be complex. Moreover, any decision to start treatment in the newborn must include careful consideration of the benefits and risks. This paper outlines a structured approach for managing an infant born to a woman with possible or confirmed T. gondii infection during pregnancy, including key aspects of the antenatal history, interpretation and timing of investigations, treatment and appropriate follow-up. Our recommendations are based on current evidence in the literature, consensus from two UK paediatric infectious disease centres and the UK specialist Toxoplasma Reference Unit.

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. e000340
Author(s):  
Hugo Bourdon ◽  
Vittoria Aragno ◽  
Christophe Baudouin ◽  
Antoine Labbé

Plateau iris syndrome (PIS) is a frequent cause of angle closure. Argon laser peripheral iridoplasty (ALPI) has been proposed in PIS to widen the iridocorneal angle. The objective of the present study was to perform a systematic review of the available studies evaluating the efficacy of ALPI on intraocular pressure (IOP), iridocorneal angle opening and the number of medications in patients with chronic angle-closure associated with PIS. One prospective and seven retrospective studies with a minimum 1 month of follow-up were included. Although ALPI seemed to lower IOP, to decrease the number of topical antiglaucoma medications and widen the iridocorneal angle shortly after the procedure, there is no current evidence of long-term efficacy. To date, there is no robust scientific evidence to advocate ALPI as a treatment for chronic angle-closure caused by PIS.


2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
H Chaudhry ◽  
J Abiola

Abstract Introduction The Covid-19 pandemic has had a global impact on healthcare. As a result, changes have been made to healthcare provision. In the UK, the focus was changed to urgent and emergency treatment only, and therefore a shift from face-to-face consultations to video and telephone consultations was implemented. Our aim was to look at the telephone consultations in our oral and maxillofacial (OMF) department to identify their effectiveness. Method A search was carried out using the electronic patient record for patients booked for consultations in the OMF clinics from the 23rd of March to the 1st of May 2020. Trauma clinics and ad-hoc clinics were excluded. Results 21 clinic codes were found as suitable for inclusion. 185 consultations were booked during the 6-week period. Of these, 165 were via telephone and 20 face-to-face. A total of 75 consultations resulted in discharge and 110 required further follow up or further investigation. Of the 75 patients discharged, 73 of these were via telephone. The main reason for discharge was delivery of benign biopsy results. Conclusions Covid-19 will have long term impacts on healthcare provision. If implemented correctly, virtual consultations carry the potential in making healthcare more accessible.


Author(s):  
Ayla C Newton ◽  
Marion Bohatschek ◽  
Andreas Rehm ◽  
Elizabeth Ashby

The Newborn and Infant Physical Examination screening is a national screening programme which aims to identify infants with congenital abnormalities to minimise the risk of long-term complications. It involves a top to toe examination with special focus on the heart, eyes, testes and hips. The hip component of the Newborn and Infant Physical Examination screen aims to pick up infants with developmental dysplasia of the hips and refer them for appropriate treatment in a timely manner. Guidelines for the hip section of have recently changed. This article reviews these changes, the timings of the follow up and investigations, and the diagnosis and management of developmental dysplasia of the hips.


Author(s):  
Andrew Horton ◽  
Mark Broadhurst

Liaison psychiatry is a subspecialty of psychiatry which involves the diag­nosis, treatment, and management of psychiatric illness in patients who have physical illnesses or present with physical symptoms. There is considerable overlap between psychiatric and medical condi­tions which requires close working relationships with medical colleagues. Liaison psychiatry is a fascinating area where the range of psychiatric presentations is wide, every case is different, and there is opportunity to keep up to date with medicine as it evolves. Within the UK there are different models practiced in different areas, ranging from assessment and signposting services to services with provi­sion for long-term outpatient follow-up. There is increasing interest in the provision of liaison services in primary care because of the challenges faced by GPs in treating patients with medically unexplained symptoms. Another driver is the hugely increased morbidity and mortality rates seen in patients with co-morbid physical and mental illnesses who receive the majority of their treatment in secondary care.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 786
Author(s):  
Alessandra Coscia ◽  
Agata Leone ◽  
Carlotta Rubino ◽  
Ganna Galitska ◽  
Matteo Biolatti ◽  
...  

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the leading cause of congenital infection. Its occurrence is phenotypically heterogeneous. The type of maternal infection, primary or non-primary, is an important factor related to the symptomatic disease, the primary infection was long considered the only cause of severe neonatal disease. We aimed to analyze the association of primary and non-primary infection with pathological outcomes in infants and with long-term sequelae at follow-up. This was a monocentric retrospective observational study on a population of 91 infants diagnosed with a CMV infection at the Neonatal Care Unit of Neonatology at the Sant’Anna Hospital of Turin during the period of June 2005 to December 2018. Infants underwent clinical, laboratory, and neuroradiological evaluations at birth. Subsequently, the patients were monitored in an auxological, neurodevelopment, and audiological follow-up. Regarding primary vs. non-primary infection, we found a higher percentage of incidence of symptomatic and neurological localized infection, as well as long-term sequelae in the latter. However, no significant difference between the two populations was found. We underline the possibility of re-infection in previously immunized mothers (non-primary infection) with unfavorable neonatal and long-term outcomes.


Biomolecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 856 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Aaseth ◽  
Valeria Marina Nurchi ◽  
Ole Andersen

Follow-up studies after the Chernobyl and Fukushima accidents have shown that 137Cs and 131I made up the major amount of harmful contaminants in the atmospheric dispersion and fallout. Other potential sources for such radionuclide exposure may be terrorist attacks, e.g., via contamination of drinking water reservoirs. A primary purpose of radionuclide mobilization is to minimize the radiation dose. Rapid initiation of treatment of poisoned patients is imperative after a contaminating event. Internal contamination with radioactive material can expose patients to prolonged radiation, thus leading to short- and long-term clinical consequences. After the patient’s emergency conditions are addressed, the treating physicians and assisting experts should assess the amount of radioactive material that has been internalized. This evaluation should include estimation of the radiation dose that is delivered and the specific radionuclides inside the body. These complex assessments warrant the reliance on a multidisciplinary approach that incorporates regional experts in radiation medicine and emergencies. Regional hospitals should have elaborated strategies for the handling of radiation emergencies. If radioactive cesium is a significant pollutant, Prussian blue is the approved antidote for internal detoxification. Upon risks of radioiodine exposure, prophylactic or immediate treatment with potassium iodide tablets is recommended. Chelators developed from calcium salts have been studied for gastrointestinal trapping and enhanced mobilization after strontium exposure.


Pathogens ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 24 ◽  
Author(s):  
François Peyron ◽  
Coralie L’ollivier ◽  
Laurent Mandelbrot ◽  
Martine Wallon ◽  
Renaud Piarroux ◽  
...  

Women infected with toxoplasmosis during pregnancy do not present symptoms in most cases, but the consequences of the congenital infection may be severe for the unborn child. Fetal damage can range from asymptomatic to severe neurological alterations to retinal lesions prone to potential flare up and relapses lifelong. Despite the possible severity of outcome, congenital toxoplasmosis (CT) is a neglected disease. There is no consensus regarding screening during pregnancy, prenatal/postnatal treatment or short or medium term follow-up. Since 1992, France has offered systematic serological testing to non-immune pregnant women, monthly until delivery. Any maternal infection is thus detected; moreover, diagnosis of congenital infection can be made at birth and follow-up can be provided. “Guidelines” drawn up by a multidisciplinary group are presented here, concerning treatment, before and after birth. The recommendations are based on the regular analysis of the literature and the results of the working group. The evaluation of the recommendations takes into account the robustness of the recommendation and the quality of the evidence.


2001 ◽  
Vol 160 (9) ◽  
pp. 534-540 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martine Wallon ◽  
Grégoire Cozon ◽  
René Ecochard ◽  
Patricia Lewin ◽  
François Peyron

Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 109 (3) ◽  
pp. 1228-1232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia Gonzalez-Paz ◽  
Wee J. Chng ◽  
Rebecca F. McClure ◽  
Emily Blood ◽  
Martin M. Oken ◽  
...  

Abstract The biological and clinical implications of p16 gene methylation in multiple myeloma (MM) are still unclear despite previous studies. In this comprehensive study, using methylation-specific PCR (MS-PCR), we show that p16 methylation is relatively common and occurs in monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS; n = 17), smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM; n = 40), and MM (n = 522) at a prevalence of 24%, 28%, and 34%, respectively. However, p16 methylation does not appear to affect gene expression level. In a large cohort of patients with long-term follow-up information (n = 439), there was no difference in overall survival between patients with or without p16 methylation. We also found no association between p16 methylation and the main cytogenetic categories, although it was more common among patients with 17p13.1 deletions (p53 locus), a genetic progression event in MM. In addition, p16 methylation has no apparent effect on the cycle because there was also no difference in the plasma cell labeling index (a direct measurement of proliferation) between patients with and without p16 methylation. Our results question a major role for p16 methylation in the oncogenesis of the PC neoplasm, and we now believe p16 methylation may be a marker for overall epigenetic changes associated with disease progression, with no obvious direct biological or clinical consequences.


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