Use of intravenous lipid emulsion therapy as a novel treatment for brevetoxicosis in sea turtles

The southwest coast of Florida experiences annual red tides, a type of harmful algal bloom that results from high concentrations of Karenia brevis. These dinoflagellates release lipophilic neurotoxins, known as brevetoxins, that bind to sodium channels and inhibit their inactivation, resulting in a variety of symptoms that can lead to mass sea turtle strandings. Traditional therapies for brevetoxicosis include standard and supportive care (SSC) and/or dehydration therapy; however, these treatments are slow-acting and often ineffective. Because red tide events occur annually in Florida, our objective was to test intravenous lipid emulsion (ILE) as a rapid treatment for brevetoxicosis in sea turtles and examine potential impacts on toxin clearance rates, symptom reduction, rehabilitation time, and survival rates. Sea turtles exhibiting neurological symptoms related to brevetoxicosis were brought to rehabilitation from 2018–2019. Upon admission, blood samples were collected, followed by immediate administration of 25 mg ILE/kg body mass (Intralipid® 20%) at 1 mL/min using infusion pumps. Blood samples were collected at numerous intervals post-ILE delivery and analyzed for brevetoxins using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. In total, nine (four subadults, one adult female, four adult males) loggerheads (Caretta caretta), five (four juvenile, one adult female) Kemp’s ridleys (Lepidochelys kempii), and four juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas) were included in this study. We found that plasma brevetoxins declined faster compared to turtles that received only SSC. Additionally, survival rate of these patients was 94% (17/18), which is significantly higher than previous studies that used SSC and/or dehydration therapy (47%; 46/99). Nearly all symptoms were eliminated within 24–48 h, whereas using SSC, symptom elimination could take up to seven days or more. The dosage given here (25 mg/kg) was sufficient for turtles in this study, but the use of a higher dosage (50–100 mg/kg) for those animals experiencing severe symptoms may be considered. These types of fast-acting treatment plans are necessary for rehabilitation facilities that are already resource-limited. Intravenous lipid emulsion therapy has the potential to reduce rehabilitation time, save resources, and increase survival of sea turtles and other marine animals experiencing brevetoxicosis.

Features of prophylactic treatment in patients with different forms of migraine, complicated by migraine status

The purpose of this study was to study the dynamics of indicators of the scale of Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) in patients with different forms of migraine, which is complicated by migraine status due to the use of prophylactic treatment. 50 patients suffering from migraine, complicated by migraine status, have been examined and treated in the neurological department of the Kyiv Railway Clinical Hospital №2. The degree of pain has been assessed on a visual analog scale (VAS) and the level of disability has been assessed on MIDAS. The solution of valproate acid was used in the main group of patients for the treatment of migraine status during three days. The traditional vasoactive and dehydration therapy was used in the control group within ten days. It was proved, that the solution of preparation of valproic acid for treatment of status migrainous authentically increases degree of headache and level of disadaptation in patients during 6 months. Migraine attacks continued to lead to loss of working capacity and daily activity of patients in the control group. Treatment was safe for patients and well tolerated.Our study showed that the use of solution of valproate acid in the treatment of migraine status in patients with different forms of migraine is authentic effective and leads to decrease the degree of disadaptation in patients during 6–8 months after treatment.

Goal-directed dehydration therapy in sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome guided by volumetric hemodynamic monitoring

The aim of our study was to improve results of treatment of critically ill patients with sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) using the goal-directed dehydration therapy (DT).Sixty adult patients with sepsis and ARDS receiving mechanical ventilation for at least 24 hours were enrolled into a prospective randomized study. The patients were randomized into groups of dehydration guided either by extravascular (group of extravascular lung water index ‒ EVLWI, n = 30) or intravascular (group of global end-diastolic volume index ‒ GEDVI, n = 30) compartment. Dehydration was performed over 48 hours by administering diuretics or controlled extracorporeal ultrafiltration. We measured ventilation parameters, blood gases, and parameters of volumetric monitoring. The baseline characteristics of the patients did not differ between the groups. By 48 hours, the target fluid balance was achieved in both groups. In the EVLWI group at 48 hours, we found reduction of EVLWI by 15.4% (p < 0.001) and increase in PaO2/FiO2 by 23.3% as compared with baseline (p < 0.001). In parallel, we observed decrease in creatinine and urea (p < 0.05). In the GEDVI group, PaO2/FiO2 rose by 12.5% (p = 0.021), whereas EVLWI remained unchanged (p = 0.4). Maximal decrease in EVLWI and improvement of PaO2/FiO2 were achieved in direct ARDS.Thus, in patients with sepsis and ARDS the de-escalation goal-directed therapy resulted in the improvement of arterial oxygenation and organ function. The efficacy of dehydration was increased in direct ARDS. The extravascular compartment dehydration algorithm attenuated pulmonary edema and acute kidney injury more efficiently. Therefore, sepsis-induced ARDS may require personalized therapeutic approach.

Prognostic relevance of anamnestic and diagnostic parameters in low-frequency hearing impairment

Low-frequency hearing impairment (LFHI) is mainly attributed to endolymphatic hydrops and has a great variety of possible outcomes. At present, no conservative therapeutic regimen has proven to be ‘gold-standard’, and information about the prognostic indicators of LFHI is scarce.In a retrospective investigation, we evaluated the records of 90 patients who had been treated with infusions improving blood perfusion. In patients lacking complete remission, dehydration infusion therapy was added. We also undertook audiometric follow up. We calculated the outcomes after infusion therapy, dehydration therapy and after long-time hearing follow up, and we determined the prognostic relevance of several parameters of anamnesis and clinical examination to outcomes, for both therapeutic interventions and long-time hearing.The prognosis of LFHI was significantly correlated to certain anamnestic and clinical parameters; a short duration of the disease, lack of vertigo and female gender implied a better outcome. The pretherapeutic hearing threshold was an important prognostic factor; the outcome was significantly worse in patients with distinct hearing impairment in low or high frequencies, compared with that in patients with little hearing loss. Whereas vertigo was a negative prognostic factor, the results of quantitative vestibular testing were irrelevant to the outcome. The glycerol test failed to predict the effectiveness of dehydration therapy and lacked any value in predicting prognosis.These results allow the clinician to focus the anamnesis and diagnostic examination on prognostically relevant parameters, thus enabling a better estimation of the long-term disease course and improved counselling of patients. Furthermore, these results help to distinguish valuable from irrelevant diagnostic procedures.

Features of a craniocerebral injury received against the background of craniostenosis

Examined 87 patients with craniostenosis at the age from 3 to 14 years, who had suffered a moderate craniocerebral injury. It was found that in the stage of compensation, a relatively mild traumatic brain injury leads to mild brain contusion. Treatment of patients in this category should be conservative, but longer than in patients without concomitant craniostenosis. In the decompensated stage of craniostenosis, a similar injury causes the development of moderate brain contusion. With severe cerebral edema, flap craniotomy is indicated, since conventional dehydration therapy is ineffective.

Atrax Robustus Envenomation

Two patients who developed massive pulmonary oedema, profound vasoconstriction and hypertension followed by hypotension after Atrax Robustus envenomation are described. The pulmonary oedema is due to increased pulmonary capillary membrane permeability which may be due to neurogenic or toxic causes. Use of artificial ventilation with high level PEEP, isoprenaline and high dose steroids allowed support of the patients during volume replacement with albumin. When the circulation was stable and airway frothing ceased, conventional dehydration therapy further improved lung function. Both patients were discharged well.