Caregiver Burden and Quality of Life in Late Stage Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic, progressive, neurodegenerative disease involving both motor and non-motor symptoms (NMS). In the late stage of the disease, Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) stage IV-V, the symptomatology is often severe and patients become increasingly dependent on help in their daily life, resulting in an increased burden for the informal caregivers. To assess the implications of the caregiver burden, caregiver quality of life (QoL) was assessed in 74 informal caregivers to patients in late stage PD, by the Alzheimer’s Patient Partners Life Impact Questionnaire (APPLIQue), which has been found useful also in PD. The majority of caregivers were the spouse/partner. Individual items provided information on which aspects of caregiver burden were the most common, i.e., items: “feel guilty if not there (71% affirmed)”, “the situation wears me down” (65% affirmed) and “always on my mind” (61% affirmed). In simple linear regression analyses, male patient gender (p = 0.007), better cognition (p = 0.004), lower NMS burden (p = 0.012) and not being the partner (p = 0.022) were associated with better caregiver QoL. Multivariable linear regression analyses identified better cognition (p = 0.004) and male patient gender (p = 0.035) as independently associated with better informal caregiver QoL. Identifying and treating NMS as well as recognizing and alleviating caregiver burden seem essential to enhance QoL for both patients and caregivers in late stage PD.

Esquizencefalia bilateral gigante de labio abierto

Schizencephaly is a rare congenital brain malformation characterized by clefts in the cerebral cortex, it is classified in Type I (open lip) and Type II (close-lip). Patients with schizencephaly present seizures, hydrocephalus, motor and mental deficits. Ultrasound is used for in-utero and newborns patients’ diagnosis, and MRI or CT for already born patients. The management of schizencephaly is conservative, with rehabilitation in motor or mental deficits, medication or surgery for seizures and shunt in hydrocephalus with increased intracranial pressure. In the literature, only few giant bilateral cases have been reported. We report a case of giant bilateral open lip schizencephaly, in a 10-day old male patient, presenting with mild hypotonia and no seizures. This case is rare because the relatively benign features compared to other reported cases.

Osteopetrosis in a Patient of Systemic Sclerosis Sine Scleroderma: A Rare Association

Systemic sclerosis is a connective tissue disorder of unknown etiology. Although it is a multisystemic disorder, skin thickening is considered as a hallmark of the disease. It usually involves the lungs, gastrointestinal, and musculoskeletal systems. However, a rare subset of systemic sclerosis, systemic sclerosis sine scleroderma, is characterized by internal organ involvement and positive serologic markers with the total or partial absence of cutaneous manifestations. We present a rare association of osteopetrosis in a case of systemic sclerosis sine scleroderma, in a 22-year-old male patient, who presented with pulmonary symptoms as his chief complaints, unreported so far in literature.

Atypical Peripheral Ossifying Fibroma of the Mandible

Peripheral ossifying fibroma (POF) is a benign localized lesion originating from gingival and alveolar oral mucosa. Its origin can be cells of periodontal ligament. The lesions usually develop in women in their twenties. POF is a complex clinical and histological diagnosis due to its shared characteristics with many other conditions. In this paper, we presented a case of an atypical peripheral ossifying fibroma (POF) in the left lateral part of the mandible in a 70-year-old male patient who had two semicircular bridges supported on four implants in the upper and lower jaws. A review of CBCT and orthopedic imaging showed no visible intraosseous changes. Histological analysis revealed the diagnosis of POF. The case in question is interesting, as elaborated on in the discussion section of this paper because POF is usually found in female patients aged between 20 and 30 years.

Stump Appendicitis with Diagnostic Dilemma: A Case Report

Stump appendicitis is a rare delayed complication of incomplete appendectomy. The clinical symptoms and signs are like acute appendicitis. The possibility of stump appendicitis is not clear to all clinicians. It represents a diagnostic dilemma with incidence of one in 50,000 cases. We report how we encountered diagnostic dilemma during the management of a 30 years old male patient of acute abdomen with history of appendectomy done for acute appendicitis even years back.

Unresolved chronic ulcerated nodules: Disseminated Cutaneous Sporotrichosis

We present a case of disseminated cutaneous sporotrichosis in a 72-year-old male patient who has multiple ulcerated painless nodules over the left side of his chest and on his upper and lower left limbs for three years. He was initially diagnosed to have nodular vasculitis based on early repeated biopsies. Despite the patient’s good compliance with his prednisolone medication, no significant clinical improvement was observed. Another biopsy, which was arranged after two years of treatment for nodular vasculitis, supported the diagnosis of sporotrichosis. Itraconazole was initiated, and all the lesions showed a remarkable response toward the treatment. The delay in finding the correct diagnosis unnecessarily exposed the patient to the side effects of steroid and caused the disease to worsen. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol. 21(1) 2022 Page : 191-195

Testicular Torsion in Cerebropalsy Patient with Undescended Testis: Do Not Misdiagnose it!

We report a 13-year-old male patient with cerebropalsy, presented with right inguinal swelling since 12 hours. Physical examination found a firm painful swelling in the right inguinal region and an empty controlateral scrotum. Exploration found a testicular torsion with undescended testis. Detorsion and Orchidopexy were performed. Follow up was uneventful