Intestinal obstruction due to phytobezoar: A rare case in a 6-year-old Sudanese girl

We here report a rare case of a 6-year-old Sudanese girl diagnosed at laparotomy with phytobezoar (A phytobezoar is a type of bezoar, or trapped mass in the gastrointestinal system, that consists of components of indigestible plant material, such as fibers, skins and seeds) with good outcome.

Does the Nail Bed Regenerate?

Background: The regenerative potential of the nail bed after trauma remains controversial. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of 51 patients who underwent nail bed reconstruction with 2 techniques (direct flow island flap or a Tranquilli-Leali “Atasoy” flap) due to trauma involving the nail bed complex. These 2 flaps were used to support the loss of distal substance and to allow the regeneration of the nail bed. Outcomes were analyzed for at least 18 months. There were 34 men (66.7%), and the average age was 16.1 years. Most patients (56.9%) had crush injuries. The little (16) and index (14) fingers were the most affected. Twenty-seven were children (range: 4-11) with an average age of 7.4 ± 1.9 years. The middle finger was the most affected (29.2%). Results: The outcomes were good to excellent in 41 operated patients (80.4%). Hook nail was absent in 84.3% of the patients. Most patients (98%) did not develop necrosis. Children had an excellent/good outcome rate of 85.2%, while in adults, the rate was 75% of cases ( P = .485). Conclusion: The direct flow island flap is superior in terms of outcome, regardless of age, sex, affected finger, dominant hand, type of trauma, and injury zone. In cases where there was a correct reconstruction of the hyponychium, there was regeneration of the nail bed.

Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition Mediates Resistance to Maintenance Therapy with Vinflunine in Advanced Urothelial Cell Carcinoma

In the phase II MAJA trial, maintenance therapy with vinflunine resulted in longer progression-free survival compared to best supportive care in advanced urothelial cell carcinoma (aUCC) patients who did not progress after first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. However, despite an initial benefit observed in some patients, unequivocal resistance appears which underlying mechanisms are presently unknown. We have performed gene expression and functional enrichment analyses to shed light on the discovery of these underlying resistance mechanisms. Differential gene expression profile of eight patients with poor outcome and nine with good outcome to vinflunine administered in the MAJA trial were analyzed. RNA was isolated from tumor tissue and gene expression was assessed by microarray. Differential expression was determined with linear models for microarray data. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) was used for the functional classification of the genes. In vitro functional studies were performed using UCC cell lines. Hierarchical clustering showed a differential gene expression pattern between patients with good and poor outcome to vinflunine treatment. GSEA identified epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) as the top negatively enriched hallmark in patients with good outcome. In vitro analyses showed that the polyphenol curcumin downregulated EMT markers and sensitized UCC cells to vinflunine. We conclude that EMT mediates resistance to vinflunine and suggest that the reversion of this process could enhance the effect of vinflunine in aUCC patients.

Mechanical Thrombectomy Up to 24 Hours in Large Vessel Occlusions and Infarct Velocity Assessment

Background We retrospectively compared early‐ (<6 hours) versus late‐ (6–24 hours) presenting patients using perfusion‐weighted imaging selection and evaluated clinical/radiographic outcomes. Methods and Results Large vessel occlusion patients treated with mechanical thrombectomy from August 2017 to July 2020 within 24 hours of onset were retrieved from a single‐center database. Perfusion‐weighted imaging was analyzed by automated software and final infarct volume was measured semi‐automatically within 14 days. The primary end point was good outcome (modified Rankin Scale 0–2 at 90 days). Secondary end points were excellent outcome (modified Rankin Scale 0–1 at 90 days), symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, and death. Clinical characteristics/radiological values including hypoperfusion volume and infarct growth velocity (baseline volume/onset‐to‐image time) were compared between the groups. Of 1294 patients, 118 patients were included. The median age was 74 years, baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score was 14, and core volume was 13 mL. The late‐presenting group had more female patients (67% versus 31%, respectively; P =0.001). No statistically significant differences were seen in good outcome (42% versus 53%, respectively; P =0.30), excellent outcome (26% versus 32%, respectively; P =0.51), symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (6.5% versus 4.6%, respectively; P =0.74), and death (3.2% versus 5.7%, respectively; P =0.58) between the groups. The late‐presenting group had more atherothrombotic cerebral infarction (19% versus 6%, respectively; P =0.03), smaller hypoperfusion volume (median: 77 versus 133 mL, respectively; P =0.04), and slower infarct growth velocity (median: 0.6 versus 5.1 mL/h, respectively; P =0.03). Conclusions Patients with early‐ and late‐time windows treated with mechanical thrombectomy by automated perfusion‐weighted imaging selection have similar outcomes, comparable with those in randomized trials, but different in infarct growth velocities. Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT02251665.

A novel nomogram for predicting prognosis after mechanical thrombectomy in patients with acute ischemic stroke

Background: Mounting evidence has shown that mechanical thrombectomy [MT] improves clinical outcomes for large vessel occlusions [LVOs] in patients with acute ischemic stroke [AIS] of the anterior circulation. The present study aimed to provide a comprehensive analysis of risk factors associated with clinical outcomes in AIS patients receiving MT. Methods: A total of 212 consecutive patients who underwent MT for AIS were enrolled in the present study. Clinical characteristics were recorded at admission. Two endpoints were defined according to the 3-month modified Rankin scale [mRS] score after AIS [good outcome, mRS 0-2; and death, mRS 6]. Additionally, we compared the clinical outcomes and safety of MT alone and bridging therapy in AIS patients. Results: Of the 212 patients treated with MT, 114 [53.77%] patients had a good outcome and 31 [14.62%] died. The incidence of a worse outcome after MT was significantly elevated in males and patients with high WBC counts, high admission blood glucose levels, high baseline NIHSS scores and a long interval time from groin puncture to reperfusion in AIS patients treated with MT after adjustment for covariates [P<0.05]; these risk factors were further confirmed by our constructed nomograms. In addition, we observed no significant benefit of bridging therapy compared to MT alone in AIS patients. Conclusion: Our constructed nomogram based on male sex, admission WBC, admission blood glucose, NIHSS, and the interval time from groin puncture to reperfusion predicts prognosis after mechanical thrombectomy in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein Autoimmunity: A French Cohort Study

Objectives:To report the clinical, biological, imaging features, and the clinical course of a French cohort of patients with glial fibrillar acidic protein (GFAP) autoantibodies.Methods:We retrospectively included all patients tested positive for GFAP antibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid, by immunohistochemistry and confirmed by cell-based assay using cells expressing human GFAPα, since 2017, from two French referral centers.Results:We identified 46 patients with GFAP antibodies. Median age at onset was 43 years, and 65% were men. Infectious prodromal symptoms were found in 82%. Other auto-immune diseases were found in 22% of patients, and coexisting neural autoantibodies in 11%. Tumors were present in 24%, and T cell dysfunction in 23%. The most frequent presentation was subacute meningoencephalitis (85%) with cerebellar dysfunction in 57% of cases. Other clinical presentation included myelitis (30%), visual (35%) and peripheral nervous system involvement (24%). MRI showed perivascular radial enhancement in 32%, periventricular T2 hyperintensity in 41%, brainstem involvement in 31%, leptomeningeal enhancement in 26%, and reversible splenial lesions in 4 cases. 33/40 patients had a monophasic course, associated to a good outcome at last follow-up (Rankin Score≤2: 89%), despite a severe clinical presentation. Adult and pediatric features are similar. Thirty-two patients were treated with immunotherapy. 11/22 patients showed negative conversion of GFAP antibodies.Interpretation:GFAP auto-immunity is mainly associated with acute/subacute meningoencephalomyelitis with prodromal symptoms, for which tumors and T cell dysfunction are frequent triggers. The majority of patients followed a monophasic course with a good outcome.