Emergency surgery for brainstem cavernoma haemorrhage with severe neurological presentation. Is it indicated and worthwhile?

Brainstem Cavernoma (BSCM) haemorrhage is a complex condition, especially when patients present rapid neurological deterioration. Traditionally, these patients were initially treated by non-interventional means. Surgery was generally reserved for cases who presented a 'benign' evolution in a subacute/delayed fashion.

Reappraising the need for a control CT in mild head injury patients on anticoagulation.

Background: Head injury is a frequent reason for admission to the emergency department. In parallel, there is a growing use of anticoagulants in an increasingly aging population, which renders this particular group of trauma patients more frequent. In several countries, including Portugal, a 24-h surveillance period followed by repetition of head computed tomography (CT) is the standard procedure for these patients.

Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of Streptococcus tigurinus endocarditis.

Background: Streptococcus tigurinus was recently described as a new streptococcal species within the viridans group streptococci (VGS). The objectives of the present work were to analyse the clinical and microbiological characteristics of S. tigurinus isolated from patients with bacteraemias, to determine the prevalence of S.

Characterization of plasmids carrying the blaOXA-24/40 carbapenemase gene and the genes encoding the AbkA/AbkB proteins of a toxin/antitoxin system.

Background: Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAb) is a major source of nosocomial infections in Spain associated with the production of OXA-58-like or OXA-24/40-like β-lactamase enzymes. We analysed the plasmids carrying the bla(OXA-24/40)-like gene in CRAb isolates obtained a decade apart.

Methods: The presence of β-lactamases was screened for by PCR (metallo-β-lactamases, carbapenem-hydrolysing class D β-lactamases, GES and KPC) in 101 CRAb isolates obtained in two multicentre studies (GEIH/REIPI-Ab-2000 and GEIH/REIPI-Ab-2010; n = 493 Acinetobacter spp).

Recurrent respiratory infection caused by Bordetella bronchiseptica in an immunocompetent infant.

Bordetella bronchiseptica rarely infects immunocompetent humans. We report an unusual case of recurrent pertussis-like syndrome caused by B. bronchiseptica in a 7-month-old immunocompetent boy.

Impact of EGFR genetic variants on glioma risk and patient outcome.

Background: The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) regulates important cellular processes and is frequently implicated in human tumors. Three EGFR polymorphisms have been described as having a transcriptional regulatory function: two single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the essential promoter region, -216G/T and -191C/A, and a polymorphic (CA)(n) microsatellite sequence in intron 1. We aimed to elucidate the roles of these EGFR polymorphisms in glioma susceptibility and prognosis.

Pharmacological versus microvascular decompression approaches for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia: clinical outcomes and direct costs.

In idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia (TN) the neuroimaging evaluation is usually normal, but in some cases a vascular compression of trigeminal nerve root is present. Although the latter condition may be referred to surgery, drug therapy is usually the first approach to control pain. This study compared the clinical outcome and direct costs of (1) a traditional treatment (carbamazepine [CBZ] in monotherapy [CBZ protocol]), (2) the association of gabapentin (GBP) and analgesic block of trigger-points with ropivacaine (ROP) (GBP+ROP protocol), and (3) a common TN surgery, microvascular decompression of the trigeminal nerve (MVD protocol).

Prognostic value of MGMT promoter methylation in glioblastoma patients treated with temozolomide-based chemoradiation: a Portuguese multicentre study.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and aggressive primary brain tumor. The identification of novel molecular prognostic markers of GBM has recently been an area of great interest in neuro-oncology. The methylation status of the MGMT gene promoter is currently a promising molecular prognostic marker, but some controversial data have precluded its clinical use.

[Spinal subdural haematoma].

Spinal subdural haematoma is a rare pathology and may cause severe neurological deficit. In this paper a case of acute spinal subdural haematoma of multifactorial etiology--traumatic versus iatrogenic--is presented, in which the clinical evaluation, Computerized Tomography and Magnetic Resonance were of utmost importance as far as the early diagnosis is concerned, allowing therefore decompressive surgery to avoid neurological deficit development.

High-energy in-fiber pulse amplification for coherent lidar applications.

An Er:Yb codoped fiber amplifier chain for the generation of pulses for coherent lidar applications at a wavelength near 1.5 microm is reported. The final 1.