Percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy for benign and malignant biliary disease using a novel short single-operator cholangioscope.

Background: The length of conventional single-use cholangioscopes poses a challenge for percutaneous or laparoscopic approaches for direct visualization of the biliary tract. The aim of this retrospective observational clinical study was to assess the use of a dedicated percutaneous short single-operator cholangioscope (PSSOC) for diagnosis and treatment of benign or malignant biliary diseases.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database including all consecutive patients undergoing percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy with the PSSOC between 06/2021 and 01/2023.

Study COVID-19 Severity of Patients Admitted to Emergency Room (ER) with Chest X-ray Images.

We have conducted a study of the COVID-19 severity with the chest x-ray images, a private dataset collected from our collaborator St Bernards Medical Center. The dataset is comprised of chest x-ray images from 1,550 patients who were admitted to emergency room (ER) and were all tested positive for COVID-19. Our study is focused on the following two questions: (1) To predict patients hospital staying duration, based on the chest x-ray image which was taken when the patient was admitted to the ER.

National Registry of Acute Coronary Syndrome in Paraguay (RENASCA-PY).

Objective: To determine the initial management and in-hospital mortality of patients with acute coronary syndrome who attended referral hospitals in Paraguay.

Method: Observational, multicenter study, in patients over 18 years with a confirmed diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome.

Results: 780 patients were included from May 2015 to February 2016; the mean age was 64.

The Relationship Between Social Anxiety Disorder and Motor Symptoms of Parkinson Disease: A Pilot Study.

Background: In patients with Parkinson disease (PD), motor symptoms coexist with several nonmotor neuropsychiatric symptoms. Various anxiety subtypes (generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder [SAD]) are more prevalent in patients with PD than in the general population.

Objective: We estimated the prevalence of SAD in early patients with PD and the relationship between severity of SAD and PD symptoms.

Plasma exchange in cryptogenic new onset refractory status epilepticus.

Objective: New onset refractory status epilepticus (NORSE) is a recently described entity and has been difficult to treat because the etiology is often cryptogenic. Our aim in each case was to stop status epilepticus while simultaneously searching for the etiology.

Methods: We describe three patients who presented with NORSE, who were refractory to multiple anticonvulsants and general anesthetics for at least 5 days.