Cerebral oedema is a devastating consequence of acute liver failure(ALF)and may be associated with the development of intracranial hypertension and death.In ALF,some patients may develop cerebral oedema and increased ...Cerebral oedema is a devastating consequence of acute liver failure(ALF)and may be associated with the development of intracranial hypertension and death.In ALF,some patients may develop cerebral oedema and increased intracranial pressure but progression to lifethreatening intracranial hypertension is less frequent than previously described,complicating less than one third of cases who have proceeded to coma since the advent of improved clinical care.The rapid onset of encephalopathy may be dramatic with the development of asterixis,delirium,seizures and coma.Cytotoxic and vasogenic oedema mechanisms have been implicated with a preponderance of experimental data favouring a cytotoxic mechanism.Astrocyte swelling is the most consistent neuropathological finding in humans with ALF and ammonia plays a definitive role in the development of cytotoxic brain oedema.The mechanism(s)by which ammonia induces astrocyte swelling remains unclear but glutamine accumulation within astrocytes has led to the osmolyte hypothesis.Current evidence also supports an alternate‘Trojan horse’hypothesis,with glutamine as a carrier of ammonia into mitochondria,where its accumulation results in oxidative stress,energy failure and ultimately astrocyte swelling.Although a complete breakdown of the blood-brain barrier is not evident in human ALF,increased permeation to water and other small molecules such as ammonia has been demonstrated resulting from subtle alterations in the protein composition of paracellular tight junctions.At present,there is no fully efficacious therapy for cerebral oedema other than liver transplantation and this reflects our incomplete knowledge of the precise mechanisms underlying this process which remain largely unknown.展开更多
AIM: To evaluate the relative efficacy and safety of aflibercept for treatment of diabetic macular oedema (DMO). METHODS: A comprehensive search in MEDLINE, CENTRAL and EMBASE was undertaken for randomized con...AIM: To evaluate the relative efficacy and safety of aflibercept for treatment of diabetic macular oedema (DMO). METHODS: A comprehensive search in MEDLINE, CENTRAL and EMBASE was undertaken for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) versus another treatment. Primary outcome measures were proportion of patients with at least 15 letters of gain or loss on a logMAR visual acuity chart, and change in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness (CMT) from baseline. Safety outcomes were rates of death, thromboembolic events and any systemic or ocular serious adverse events. The final search was performed on November 2017. RESULTS: Four RCTs were included. Only one trial compared efficacy and safety of aflibercept with bevacizumab and ranibizumab over 1 or 2y. Three trials were included for Meta-analysis comprising 661 patients (331 in the aflibercept, and 330 in the photocoagulation group). Aflibercept was more efficacious compared to photocoagulation in the proportion of patients with at least 15 letters of improvement and worsening, and in improvement of BCVA and reduction in CMT at 1 or 2y. The safety estimates at 1 or 2y did not differ statistically. CONCLUSION: Aflibercept offers superior benefits over photocoagulation in improving and preserving vision, with no differences in safety. Further comparative effectiveness trials between aflibercept and other anti-VEGF agents will aid ophthalmologists in treatment decisions.展开更多
Negative Pressure pulmonary oedema (NPPO) is a medical emergency. It occurs when there is a strong inspiratory effort in obstructed upper airway. Laryngospasm is the main cause of postextubation negative pressure pulm...Negative Pressure pulmonary oedema (NPPO) is a medical emergency. It occurs when there is a strong inspiratory effort in obstructed upper airway. Laryngospasm is the main cause of postextubation negative pressure pulmonary oedema. Though it is life-threatening, early diagnosis and prompt treatment lead to rapid resolution with no residual respiratory complications. The mainstay management is to provide respiratory support, mostly in the intensive care unit. The recommended mode of respiratory support is to provide an invasive or non-invasive positive airway pressure. This requires the use of a ventilator. Most surgery centres in sub-Saharan Africa do not have intensive care unit or ventilators in their recovery wards. We report two cases of postextubation NPPO which occurred in a typical African hospital with no ventilator. All these two cases were successfully managed with a non-rebreather mask. The periods of resolution, both clinical and radiological, were 24 - 48 hrs. This is not significantly different from the resolution periods quoted in literature from cases managed in well-resourced centres with means of positive pressure ventilation. We therefore conclude that early detection and prompt initiation of management are important keys which can lead to good outcomes, even in low-resource centres.展开更多
Background: Optic disc oedema has various underlying pathologies, however, unless visually disabling does not usually bring a patient to the physician. The more common symptoms of headache, nausea and vomiting lead to...Background: Optic disc oedema has various underlying pathologies, however, unless visually disabling does not usually bring a patient to the physician. The more common symptoms of headache, nausea and vomiting lead to the incidental detection of bilateral disc oedema [1]. Optic disc oedema seen following spinal surgery is usually associated with visual acuity changes and often goes by the acronym POVL (Peri/ postoperative visual loss) wherein, as the name goes, visual acuity changes are profound [2] [3] [4]. Purpose: We would like to highlight a case of transient Bilateral Optic Disc oedema following Lumbar spinal surgery maintaining normal visual acuity and attaining spontaneous resolution. Case Report: A 42-year-old female presented with transient obscuration of vision and flashes of light post an uneventful lumbar spinal surgery. Ophthalmic evaluation revealed normal visual acuity and pupils but marked disc edema right more significant than left. There was no colour vision deficit, neither any field changes. By a process of exclusion, it was likely the patient had developed bilateral disc oedema secondary to the spinal surgery. On follow-up 6 weeks and 3 months later, the oedema had completely settled and visual acuity remained at 6/6. Conclusion: Optic disc oedema can be unilateral or bilateral with some of the uncommon conditions mentioned secondary to spinal surgery, however, in those situations, visual loss has been severe and permanent. Our case is unusual in its combination of disc edema with normal acuity along with its transient nature and resolution and to our knowledge, has not been published before.展开更多
We demonstrated the importance of managing a patient who presented with stridor due to severe Reinke’s oedema. The concept of managing difficult airway has thus been introduced for the otolaryngologists according to ...We demonstrated the importance of managing a patient who presented with stridor due to severe Reinke’s oedema. The concept of managing difficult airway has thus been introduced for the otolaryngologists according to a plan of action as described by the American Society of Anaesthesiologist’s difficult airway algorithm. Methods: A case report of interest and review of literature. PubMed search with keywords of difficult airway, stridor, awake intubation and Reinke’s oedema was used. Result: Management of an anticipated difficult airway with awake fiberoptic intubation with backup strategies of direct laryngoscopies with Eshmann stylet and awake invasive intubation is highlighted. Conclusion: This case report demonstrated a definitive strategy of securing a difficult airway with obstruction at the glottis and highlighted the role of teamwork between otolaryngologist and anaesthesiologist to secure difficult airway.展开更多
Background: Oedema, a constant feature of childhood nephrotic syndrome can be severe, enough to cause respiratory embarrassment. It can also be refractory to diuretic monotherapy. In such cases, combination of salt po...Background: Oedema, a constant feature of childhood nephrotic syndrome can be severe, enough to cause respiratory embarrassment. It can also be refractory to diuretic monotherapy. In such cases, combination of salt poor albumin (SPA) infusion and diuretics has remained the best treatment option. However, the cost of SPA has made it practically unavailable in resource-poor settings. It becomes a therapeutic dilemma when nephrotic syndrome patients of financially-constrained caregivers present with refractory anasarca in a resource-poor settings. Case review: We present a seven-year-old boy with relapsed steroid sensitive nephrotic syndrome who presented to Abia State University Teaching Hospital Aba, in respiratory distress with anasarca and a weight of 58 kilograms. SPA could not be accessed due to financial constraints. A decision to use fresh whole blood in the place of SPA, in combination with frusemide, achieved a lifesaving diuresis and regression of the anasarca. Conclusion: Whole blood is a good alternative for the treatment of refractory oedema in children with nephrotic syndrome in resource poor settings.展开更多
Objective:To evaluate the possible anti-inflammatory effect of garden egg[Solatium aethiopieum (S.aethiopieum)]using experimentally induced inflammatory models in rals.Methods:Oedema was induced on the rat hind paw In...Objective:To evaluate the possible anti-inflammatory effect of garden egg[Solatium aethiopieum (S.aethiopieum)]using experimentally induced inflammatory models in rals.Methods:Oedema was induced on the rat hind paw In the injection of 0.1 mL undiluted fresh egg albumin(pbilogistic agent) into the subplantar surface of the rat paw.Tissue granuloma was induced in the rats by the implantation of two autoelaved cotton pellets(30 mg) under the flank o(previously shaved back of anaesthetised rats.Garden egg extract doses were administered to the rats for seven consecutive davs.On dav 8.the animals were killed and the pellets surrounded by granuloma tissue were disseeled out and dried.Results:Extracts of garden egg significanlly(P【0.05) reduced the fresh egg albumin-induced ral paw oedema and also significantly(P【0.05) reduced the granuloma tissue formation in the treated groups when compared to the control.Conclusions:This stud) shows that the fruits of garden egg(S.aethiopieum) have anti-inflammatory activity in the models studied.展开更多
Thyroid associated ophthalmopathy is an autoimmune disorder which involves orbital and periorbital tissue. The immune-mediated inflammation of the orbital tissues can involve extraocular muscles, orbital connective ti...Thyroid associated ophthalmopathy is an autoimmune disorder which involves orbital and periorbital tissue. The immune-mediated inflammation of the orbital tissues can involve extraocular muscles, orbital connective tissue or orbital fat and periocular soft tissues. Bilateral involvement of thyroid associated orbitopathy is usually asymmetric, but unilateral thyroid associated orbitopathy has been less reported. Periorbital oedema as the only sign with hypothyroidism is uncommon and if present, it is more frequent bilaterally present and no cases are evidenced as unilateral. Pitting oedema in hypothyroidism is rare and can be due to increased capillary permeability, decreased adrenergic tone and increase in serotonin metabolism. Unilateral periorbital and eyelid oedema can associate with various clinical entities, multidisciplinary team is necessary to exclude the concomitant disease, so the patient can immediately be treated with proper therapy. We represent the case of unusually unilateral recurrent periorbital oedema in the period of time for 3 years with stabilized primary hypothyroidism and multinodular goitre.展开更多
Throughout the years,people with diabetic macular oedema(DMO)have seen the number of options for their treatment increasing.Laser photocoagulation was the first of these and great experience is behind it;intraocular s...Throughout the years,people with diabetic macular oedema(DMO)have seen the number of options for their treatment increasing.Laser photocoagulation was the first of these and great experience is behind it;intraocular steroids followed and more recently anti-vascular endothelial growth factor(anti-VEGF)agents came to light.Ophthalmologists face now the dilemma of determining which may be the best therapeutic strategy for each particular patient based on best available evidence.This article summarises data available from randomised clinical trials(RCTs)on treatments for DMO and provides some facts about this condition and its treatments that need to be taken into consideration when treatment decisions are made.展开更多
The macula is an imperative part present in our human visual system which is most responsible for clear and colour vision. For the people suffering from diabetes, the various parts of the body including the retina of ...The macula is an imperative part present in our human visual system which is most responsible for clear and colour vision. For the people suffering from diabetes, the various parts of the body including the retina of the eye are affected. These retinal damages cause swelling and other abnormalities nearby macula. The pathologies in macula due to diabetes are called Diabetic Macular oEdema (DME). It affects patients’ vision that may lead to vision loss. It can be overcome by advance identification of causes for swelling. The major causes for the swelling are neovascularization and other abnormalities occurring in the blood vessels nearby the macula. The aim of this work is to avoid vision loss by detecting the presence of abnormalities in macula in advance. The pathologies present in the abnormal images are detected by image segmentation technique viz. Fuzzy K-means algorithm. The classification is done by two different classifiers namely Cascade Neural Network and Partial Least Square which are employed to identify whether the image is normal or abnormal. The results of both the classifiers are compared with respect to classifier accuracy, sensitivity and specificity. The classifier accuracies of Cascade Neural Network and Partial Least Square are 96.84% and 94.36%, respectively. The information about the severity of the disease and the localization of pathologies are very useful to the ophthalmologist for diagnosing the disease and apply proper treatments to the patients to avoid the formation of any lesion and prevent vision loss.展开更多
基金Supported by Medical Research Council(MRC)Centre for Transplantation,King’s College London,United Kingdom-MRC grant No.MR/J006742/1The National Institute for Health Research(NIHR)Biomedical Research Centre based at Guy’s and St Thomas’NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London
文摘Cerebral oedema is a devastating consequence of acute liver failure(ALF)and may be associated with the development of intracranial hypertension and death.In ALF,some patients may develop cerebral oedema and increased intracranial pressure but progression to lifethreatening intracranial hypertension is less frequent than previously described,complicating less than one third of cases who have proceeded to coma since the advent of improved clinical care.The rapid onset of encephalopathy may be dramatic with the development of asterixis,delirium,seizures and coma.Cytotoxic and vasogenic oedema mechanisms have been implicated with a preponderance of experimental data favouring a cytotoxic mechanism.Astrocyte swelling is the most consistent neuropathological finding in humans with ALF and ammonia plays a definitive role in the development of cytotoxic brain oedema.The mechanism(s)by which ammonia induces astrocyte swelling remains unclear but glutamine accumulation within astrocytes has led to the osmolyte hypothesis.Current evidence also supports an alternate‘Trojan horse’hypothesis,with glutamine as a carrier of ammonia into mitochondria,where its accumulation results in oxidative stress,energy failure and ultimately astrocyte swelling.Although a complete breakdown of the blood-brain barrier is not evident in human ALF,increased permeation to water and other small molecules such as ammonia has been demonstrated resulting from subtle alterations in the protein composition of paracellular tight junctions.At present,there is no fully efficacious therapy for cerebral oedema other than liver transplantation and this reflects our incomplete knowledge of the precise mechanisms underlying this process which remain largely unknown.
基金Supported by the University of Sydney,Sydney,Australia
文摘AIM: To evaluate the relative efficacy and safety of aflibercept for treatment of diabetic macular oedema (DMO). METHODS: A comprehensive search in MEDLINE, CENTRAL and EMBASE was undertaken for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) versus another treatment. Primary outcome measures were proportion of patients with at least 15 letters of gain or loss on a logMAR visual acuity chart, and change in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness (CMT) from baseline. Safety outcomes were rates of death, thromboembolic events and any systemic or ocular serious adverse events. The final search was performed on November 2017. RESULTS: Four RCTs were included. Only one trial compared efficacy and safety of aflibercept with bevacizumab and ranibizumab over 1 or 2y. Three trials were included for Meta-analysis comprising 661 patients (331 in the aflibercept, and 330 in the photocoagulation group). Aflibercept was more efficacious compared to photocoagulation in the proportion of patients with at least 15 letters of improvement and worsening, and in improvement of BCVA and reduction in CMT at 1 or 2y. The safety estimates at 1 or 2y did not differ statistically. CONCLUSION: Aflibercept offers superior benefits over photocoagulation in improving and preserving vision, with no differences in safety. Further comparative effectiveness trials between aflibercept and other anti-VEGF agents will aid ophthalmologists in treatment decisions.
文摘Negative Pressure pulmonary oedema (NPPO) is a medical emergency. It occurs when there is a strong inspiratory effort in obstructed upper airway. Laryngospasm is the main cause of postextubation negative pressure pulmonary oedema. Though it is life-threatening, early diagnosis and prompt treatment lead to rapid resolution with no residual respiratory complications. The mainstay management is to provide respiratory support, mostly in the intensive care unit. The recommended mode of respiratory support is to provide an invasive or non-invasive positive airway pressure. This requires the use of a ventilator. Most surgery centres in sub-Saharan Africa do not have intensive care unit or ventilators in their recovery wards. We report two cases of postextubation NPPO which occurred in a typical African hospital with no ventilator. All these two cases were successfully managed with a non-rebreather mask. The periods of resolution, both clinical and radiological, were 24 - 48 hrs. This is not significantly different from the resolution periods quoted in literature from cases managed in well-resourced centres with means of positive pressure ventilation. We therefore conclude that early detection and prompt initiation of management are important keys which can lead to good outcomes, even in low-resource centres.
文摘Background: Optic disc oedema has various underlying pathologies, however, unless visually disabling does not usually bring a patient to the physician. The more common symptoms of headache, nausea and vomiting lead to the incidental detection of bilateral disc oedema [1]. Optic disc oedema seen following spinal surgery is usually associated with visual acuity changes and often goes by the acronym POVL (Peri/ postoperative visual loss) wherein, as the name goes, visual acuity changes are profound [2] [3] [4]. Purpose: We would like to highlight a case of transient Bilateral Optic Disc oedema following Lumbar spinal surgery maintaining normal visual acuity and attaining spontaneous resolution. Case Report: A 42-year-old female presented with transient obscuration of vision and flashes of light post an uneventful lumbar spinal surgery. Ophthalmic evaluation revealed normal visual acuity and pupils but marked disc edema right more significant than left. There was no colour vision deficit, neither any field changes. By a process of exclusion, it was likely the patient had developed bilateral disc oedema secondary to the spinal surgery. On follow-up 6 weeks and 3 months later, the oedema had completely settled and visual acuity remained at 6/6. Conclusion: Optic disc oedema can be unilateral or bilateral with some of the uncommon conditions mentioned secondary to spinal surgery, however, in those situations, visual loss has been severe and permanent. Our case is unusual in its combination of disc edema with normal acuity along with its transient nature and resolution and to our knowledge, has not been published before.
文摘We demonstrated the importance of managing a patient who presented with stridor due to severe Reinke’s oedema. The concept of managing difficult airway has thus been introduced for the otolaryngologists according to a plan of action as described by the American Society of Anaesthesiologist’s difficult airway algorithm. Methods: A case report of interest and review of literature. PubMed search with keywords of difficult airway, stridor, awake intubation and Reinke’s oedema was used. Result: Management of an anticipated difficult airway with awake fiberoptic intubation with backup strategies of direct laryngoscopies with Eshmann stylet and awake invasive intubation is highlighted. Conclusion: This case report demonstrated a definitive strategy of securing a difficult airway with obstruction at the glottis and highlighted the role of teamwork between otolaryngologist and anaesthesiologist to secure difficult airway.
文摘Background: Oedema, a constant feature of childhood nephrotic syndrome can be severe, enough to cause respiratory embarrassment. It can also be refractory to diuretic monotherapy. In such cases, combination of salt poor albumin (SPA) infusion and diuretics has remained the best treatment option. However, the cost of SPA has made it practically unavailable in resource-poor settings. It becomes a therapeutic dilemma when nephrotic syndrome patients of financially-constrained caregivers present with refractory anasarca in a resource-poor settings. Case review: We present a seven-year-old boy with relapsed steroid sensitive nephrotic syndrome who presented to Abia State University Teaching Hospital Aba, in respiratory distress with anasarca and a weight of 58 kilograms. SPA could not be accessed due to financial constraints. A decision to use fresh whole blood in the place of SPA, in combination with frusemide, achieved a lifesaving diuresis and regression of the anasarca. Conclusion: Whole blood is a good alternative for the treatment of refractory oedema in children with nephrotic syndrome in resource poor settings.
文摘Objective:To evaluate the possible anti-inflammatory effect of garden egg[Solatium aethiopieum (S.aethiopieum)]using experimentally induced inflammatory models in rals.Methods:Oedema was induced on the rat hind paw In the injection of 0.1 mL undiluted fresh egg albumin(pbilogistic agent) into the subplantar surface of the rat paw.Tissue granuloma was induced in the rats by the implantation of two autoelaved cotton pellets(30 mg) under the flank o(previously shaved back of anaesthetised rats.Garden egg extract doses were administered to the rats for seven consecutive davs.On dav 8.the animals were killed and the pellets surrounded by granuloma tissue were disseeled out and dried.Results:Extracts of garden egg significanlly(P【0.05) reduced the fresh egg albumin-induced ral paw oedema and also significantly(P【0.05) reduced the granuloma tissue formation in the treated groups when compared to the control.Conclusions:This stud) shows that the fruits of garden egg(S.aethiopieum) have anti-inflammatory activity in the models studied.
文摘Thyroid associated ophthalmopathy is an autoimmune disorder which involves orbital and periorbital tissue. The immune-mediated inflammation of the orbital tissues can involve extraocular muscles, orbital connective tissue or orbital fat and periocular soft tissues. Bilateral involvement of thyroid associated orbitopathy is usually asymmetric, but unilateral thyroid associated orbitopathy has been less reported. Periorbital oedema as the only sign with hypothyroidism is uncommon and if present, it is more frequent bilaterally present and no cases are evidenced as unilateral. Pitting oedema in hypothyroidism is rare and can be due to increased capillary permeability, decreased adrenergic tone and increase in serotonin metabolism. Unilateral periorbital and eyelid oedema can associate with various clinical entities, multidisciplinary team is necessary to exclude the concomitant disease, so the patient can immediately be treated with proper therapy. We represent the case of unusually unilateral recurrent periorbital oedema in the period of time for 3 years with stabilized primary hypothyroidism and multinodular goitre.
文摘Throughout the years,people with diabetic macular oedema(DMO)have seen the number of options for their treatment increasing.Laser photocoagulation was the first of these and great experience is behind it;intraocular steroids followed and more recently anti-vascular endothelial growth factor(anti-VEGF)agents came to light.Ophthalmologists face now the dilemma of determining which may be the best therapeutic strategy for each particular patient based on best available evidence.This article summarises data available from randomised clinical trials(RCTs)on treatments for DMO and provides some facts about this condition and its treatments that need to be taken into consideration when treatment decisions are made.
文摘The macula is an imperative part present in our human visual system which is most responsible for clear and colour vision. For the people suffering from diabetes, the various parts of the body including the retina of the eye are affected. These retinal damages cause swelling and other abnormalities nearby macula. The pathologies in macula due to diabetes are called Diabetic Macular oEdema (DME). It affects patients’ vision that may lead to vision loss. It can be overcome by advance identification of causes for swelling. The major causes for the swelling are neovascularization and other abnormalities occurring in the blood vessels nearby the macula. The aim of this work is to avoid vision loss by detecting the presence of abnormalities in macula in advance. The pathologies present in the abnormal images are detected by image segmentation technique viz. Fuzzy K-means algorithm. The classification is done by two different classifiers namely Cascade Neural Network and Partial Least Square which are employed to identify whether the image is normal or abnormal. The results of both the classifiers are compared with respect to classifier accuracy, sensitivity and specificity. The classifier accuracies of Cascade Neural Network and Partial Least Square are 96.84% and 94.36%, respectively. The information about the severity of the disease and the localization of pathologies are very useful to the ophthalmologist for diagnosing the disease and apply proper treatments to the patients to avoid the formation of any lesion and prevent vision loss.