scholarly journals Giant Actinomyces brain abscess in an immunocompetent child: A management strategy

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 325
Author(s):  
Nicole H. Chicoine ◽  
Jackson Griffith-Linsley ◽  
Joling Goh ◽  
John J. Manaloor ◽  
Jeffrey S. Raskin
Keyword(s):  
Brain Abscess ◽  
Medical Management ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Mass Effect ◽  
Needle Aspiration ◽  
Immunocompetent Child ◽  
Long Term Follow Up

Background: Intraparenchymal brain abscess is a collection of microbes caused by inoculation through direct extension or hematogenous spread. Although rare, intraparenchymal abscesses are potentially fatal and can be detected when patients are symptomatic due to local mass effect on adjacent neural tissue. Brain abscess treatment includes medical management with appropriate antibiotics alone or medical management in combination with surgical debridement. Treatment strategies depend on the size and location of disease, as well as the virulence of the microorganism. Similar to medical management strategies, surgical strategies among providers are not uniform, with variation in approaches from complete extirpation of the abscess, including the abscess wall, to minimally invasive stereotactic needle aspiration. In particular, for children, there are no guidelines for therapy. Case Description: We report a case of giant Actinomycosis right frontal brain abscess in an immunocompetent child without risk factors. A review of the literature for the treatment of brain abscess caused very rarely by Actinomyces in children is performed. Conclusion: Successful treatment of brain access depends on organism and location. The even more uncommon giant intraparenchymal abscesses can be managed with minimal access and prolonged antibiosis, especially when slow-growing organisms are identified. Long-term follow-up should be employed to mitigate missed late failures.

scholarly journals Coronary artery aneurysms: outcomes following medical, percutaneous interventional and surgical management

Open Heart ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. e001440
Author(s):  
Shameer Khubber ◽  
Rajdeep Chana ◽  
Chandramohan Meenakshisundaram ◽  
Kamal Dhaliwal ◽  
Mohomed Gad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coronary Artery ◽  
Surgical Management ◽  
Medical Management ◽  
Cox Regression ◽  
Artery Bypass ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Coronary Artery Aneurysms ◽  
Kaplan Meier

BackgroundCoronary artery aneurysms (CAAs) are increasingly diagnosed on coronary angiography; however, controversies persist regarding their optimal management. In the present study, we analysed the long-term outcomes of patients with CAAs following three different management strategies.MethodsWe performed a retrospective review of patient records with documented CAA diagnosis between 2000 and 2005. Patients were divided into three groups: medical management versus percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) versus coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). We analysed the rate of major cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) over a period of 10 years.ResultsWe identified 458 patients with CAAs (mean age 78±10.5 years, 74.5% men) who received medical therapy (N=230) or underwent PCI (N=52) or CABG (N=176). The incidence of CAAs was 0.7% of the total catheterisation reports. The left anterior descending was the most common coronary artery involved (38%). The median follow-up time was 62 months. The total number of MACCE during follow-up was 155 (33.8%); 91 (39.6%) in the medical management group vs 46 (26.1%) in the CABG group vs 18 (34.6%) in the PCI group (p=0.02). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that CABG was associated with better MACCE-free survival (p log-rank=0.03) than medical management. These results were confirmed on univariate Cox regression, but not multivariate regression (OR 0.773 (0.526 to 1.136); p=0.19). Both Kaplan-Meier survival and regression analyses showed that dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) and anticoagulation were not associated with significant improvement in MACCE rates.ConclusionOur analysis showed similar long-term MACCE risks in patients with CAA undergoing medical, percutaneous and surgical management. Further, DAPT and anticoagulation were not associated with significant benefits in terms of MACCE rates. These results should be interpreted with caution considering the small size and potential for selection bias and should be confirmed in large, randomised trials.

scholarly journals Does immunological remission, defined as disappearance of autoantibodies, occur with current treatment strategies? A long-term follow-up study in rheumatoid arthritis patients who achieved sustained DMARD-free status

2019 ◽  
Vol 78 (11) ◽  
pp. 1497-1504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debbie M Boeters ◽  
Leonie E Burgers ◽  
René EM Toes ◽  
Annette van der Helm-van Mil
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Current Treatment ◽  
Dmard Therapy ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Long Term Follow Up ◽  
Free Status

ObjectivesSustained disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD)-free status, the sustained absence of synovitis after cessation of DMARD therapy, is infrequent in autoantibody-positive rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but approximates cure (ie, disappearance of signs and symptoms). It was recently suggested that immunological remission, defined as disappearance of anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) and rheumatoid factor (RF), underlies this outcome. Therefore, this long-term observational study determined if autoantibodies disappear in RA patients who achieved sustained DMARD-free remission.MethodsWe studied 95 ACPA-positive and/or RF-positive RA patients who achieved DMARD-free remission after median 4.8 years and kept this status for the remaining follow-up (median 4.2 years). Additionally, 21 autoantibody-positive RA patients with a late flare, defined as recurrence of clinical synovitis after a DMARD-free status of ≥1 year, and 45 autoantibody-positive RA patients who were unable to stop DMARD therapy (during median 10 years) were studied. Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide 2 (anti-CCP2) IgG, IgM and RF IgM levels were measured in 587 samples obtained at diagnosis, before and after achieving DMARD-free remission.Results13% of anti-CCP2 IgG-positive RA patients had seroreverted when achieving remission. In RA patients with a flare and persistent disease this was 8% and 6%, respectively (p=0.63). For anti-CCP2 IgM and RF IgM, similar results were observed. Evaluating the estimated slope of serially measured levels revealed that RF levels decreased more in patients with than without remission (p<0.001); the course of anti-CCP2 levels was not different (p=0.66).ConclusionsSustained DMARD-free status in autoantibody-positive RA was not paralleled by an increased frequency of reversion to autoantibody negativity. This form of immunological remission may therefore not be a treatment target in patients with classified RA.

scholarly journals Tissue is the issue: when a second biopsy reveals the true diagnosis

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne-Marie Bogaert ◽  
Anne Hoorens ◽  
Marleen Praet ◽  
Jo Van Dorpe ◽  
Bruce Poppe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Kidney Biopsy ◽  
Late Onset ◽  
Immunosuppressive Treatment ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Nephrotic Proteinuria ◽  
Long Term Follow Up ◽  
Generation Sequencing ◽  
Genetic Form

Abstract We describe the case of a woman with minimal glomerular changes on initial kidney biopsy. On long-term follow-up, the patient developed nephrotic proteinuria and a second kidney biopsy was performed, which revealed focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Findings from electron microscopy (EM) examination suggested a genetic form of FSGS. Next-generation sequencing showed heterozygosity for a mutation in COL4A3. Collagen IV nephropathies can be linked to late-onset FSGS. By establishing a genetic cause of FSGS, immunosuppressive treatment can be avoided. This case emphasizes the importance of re-biopsy in cases of a non-explained rise in proteinuria. EM can be helpful in differentiating between primary and secondary FSGS and informing treatment strategies. In cases of adult-onset FSGS that cannot be categorized by clinical–pathological assessment, genetic testing should be considered.

Central Neurocytoma

Neurosurgery ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 407-414 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin Wook Kim ◽  
Dong Gyu Kim ◽  
In Kyeong Kim ◽  
Yong Hwy Kim ◽  
Seung Hong Choi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Overall Survival ◽  
Clinical Outcomes ◽  
Functional Outcomes ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Central Neurocytoma ◽  
Tumor Control ◽  
Seizure Outcome

Abstract BACKGROUND: A thorough investigation of the long-term outcomes of central neurocytoma (CN) after different treatments is required to establish optimal management strategies. OBJECTIVE We retrospectively reviewed the long-term clinical outcomes of patients with CN according to various treatments and suggest treatment strategies based on 30 years of experience in a single institution. METHODS: Fifty-eight consecutive patients with CN were treated at our institution between 1982 and 2008. Patient demographics, overall survival, local control rates according to multimodal treatments, and functional outcomes were evaluated. The mean clinical and radiological follow-up periods were 119 months (range, 18-304 months) and 98 months (range, 13-245 months), respectively. RESULTS: The initial treatment modality was classified into 4 subgroups: operation only (34 patients), operation followed by radiation therapy (7 patients) or radiosurgery (7 patients), and radiosurgery alone (10 patients). The actuarial overall survival was 91% at 5 years and 88% at 10 years. The actuarial overall survival and local tumor control rate did not differ significantly according to the various treatments and the initial extent of the surgical resection. However, functional outcomes, such as the postoperative seizure outcome at the last follow-up, differed according to the surgical approach. CONCLUSION: The long-term clinical outcomes of CN after multimodal treatment seem to be excellent. Our study suggests that treatment strategies for CN should focus on the patient's quality of life, as well as on tumor control, because of the benign nature of CN.

Diagnosis, Treatment, and Long-Term Follow-Up of Bilateral, Upper Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) in a Cat

2002 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 213-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
SI Thoresen ◽  
WP Bredal ◽  
RD Sande
Keyword(s):  
Urinary Tract Infection ◽  
Urinary Tract ◽  
Tract Infection ◽  
Supportive Therapy ◽  
Needle Aspiration ◽  
Upper Urinary Tract ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Long Term Follow Up

A case of bilateral, upper urinary tract infection caused by haemolytic E coli in a female Birman cat is presented. Ultrasonographic examination of the kidneys documented changes in size, outline, echogenicity and architecture. Ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration of fluid from the renal pelvis was used to make the diagnosis. Fluid was submitted for culture and sensitivity and based on the results, antimicrobial therapy was initiated. The treatment was monitored over a 406-day follow-up period. Despite extensive treatment with specific antibiotics and supportive therapy, recurrence of urinary tract infection occurred.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document