Cardiophrenic Lymph Node Resection Through Abdominal Subxiphoid Approach: Surgical Technique.

While metastatic extension to the cardiophrenic lymph nodes (CPN) is relatively rare, cardiophrenic lymphadenectomy may be performed for diagnostic and/or therapeutic purposes. The subxiphoid approach is appropriate, especially for CPN in the prepericardiac area, offering adequate exposure while avoiding the morbidity associated with pleural or pericardial breach. In this article, we describe the surgical technique-detailing the retrosternal liberation section of the tranversus abdominis muscle, followed by cardiophrenic dissection and lymphadenectomy.

Diagnosis of Small Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms : Comparison of 7 T versus 3 T MRI.

Purpose: Differentiating normal anatomical variants such as an infundibulum or a vascular loop from true intracranial aneurysms is crucial for patient management. We hypothesize that high-resolution 7 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) improves the detection and characterization of normal anatomical variants that may otherwise be misdiagnosed as small unruptured aneurysms.

Methods: This is a retrospective, single-center study.

Lumbar trans-spinal direct current stimulation: A modeling-experimental approach to dorsal root ganglia stimulation.

Introduction: The excitability of spinal motor neurons (MN) can be altered through subthreshold currents, such as transcutaneous spinal direct-current stimulation (tsDCS). Current evidence shows that tsDCS can interfere with ascending somatosensory pathways and lower motor neurons' (LMN) excitability, which points to its therapeutic potential for repairing altered spinal responses. We aim to define the best tsDCS montage for maximizing the electric field (E-field) in the lumbar spinal cord (L-SC) by computer modeling; and to apply this montage to measure the effect on LMN excitability and somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP).

Global Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Stroke Volumes and Cerebrovascular Events: A 1-Year Follow-up.

Background And Objectives: Declines in stroke admission, IV thrombolysis (IVT), and mechanical thrombectomy volumes were reported during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a paucity of data on the longer-term effect of the pandemic on stroke volumes over the course of a year and through the second wave of the pandemic. We sought to measure the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the volumes of stroke admissions, intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), IVT, and mechanical thrombectomy over a 1-year period at the onset of the pandemic (March 1, 2020, to February 28, 2021) compared with the immediately preceding year (March 1, 2019, to February 29, 2020).

Impact of Asymptomatic Superior Mesenteric Vein Thrombosis on the Outcomes of Patients with Liver Cirrhosis.

Background:  The impact of asymptomatic superior mesenteric vein (SMV) thrombosis on the outcomes of cirrhotic patients remains uncertain.

Methods:  Nonmalignant cirrhotic patients who were consecutively admitted between December 2014 and September 2021 and underwent contrast-enhanced computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging scans were screened. Portal venous system thrombosis (PVST) was identified.

Can regular physical exercise be a treatment for panic disorder? A systematic review.

Introduction: In the last few decades, exercise has been explored as a potential tool to reduce symptoms experienced by patients with panic disorder (PD). This systematic review aims to assess the effects of regular exercise interventions on panic severity, global anxiety, and depression symptoms of these patients.

Areas Covered: A search was conducted on PubMed, ISI Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials using search terms related to PD and exercise.

OLA strategy for ARDS: Its effect on mortality depends on achieved recruitment (PaO/FiO) and mechanical power. Systematic review and meta-analysis with meta-regression.

Objective: The "Open Lung Approach" (OLA), that includes high levels of positive end-expiratory pressure coupled with limited tidal volumes, is considered optimal for adult patients with ARDS. However, many previous meta-analyses have shown only marginal benefits of OLA on mortality but with statistical heterogeneity. It is crucial to identify the most likely moderators of this effect.

Bioprosthetic Aortic Valve Degeneration: a Review from a Basic Science Perspective.

Introduction: The increase in the prevalence of aortic stenosis due to an aging population has led to an increasing number of surgical aortic valve replacements. Over the past 20 years, there has been a major shift in preference from mechanical to bioprosthetic valves. However, despite efforts, there is still no "ideal" bioprosthesis.

Benign growing mass of the digit presenting as an ulcerated mass - case report and review of the literature.

A 68 year-old female presents with an ulcerated mass of the 5th digit, with rapid growth during the previous month to surgery. The mass was excised and covered with a 4th dorsal metacarpal artery perforator flap. The histologic analysis was compatible with the diagnosis of fibro-osseous pseudotumor of the digit.

OLA strategy for ARDS: Its effect on mortality depends on achieved recruitment (PaO/FiO) and mechanical power. Systematic review and meta-analysis with meta-regression.

Objective: The "Open Lung Approach" (OLA), that includes high levels of positive end-expiratory pressure coupled with limited tidal volumes, is considered optimal for adult patients with ARDS. However, many previous meta-analyses have shown only marginal benefits of OLA on mortality but with statistical heterogeneity. It is crucial to identify the most likely moderators of this effect.

Sustained NMDA receptor hypofunction impairs brain-derived neurotropic factor signalling in the PFC, but not in the hippocampus, and disturbs PFC-dependent cognition in mice.

Background: Cognitive deficits profoundly impact on the quality of life of patients with schizophrenia. Alterations in brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signalling, which regulates synaptic function through the activation of full-length tropomyosin-related kinase B receptors (TrkB-FL), are implicated in the aetiology of schizophrenia, as is N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA-R) hypofunction. However, whether NMDA-R hypofunction contributes to the disrupted BDNF signalling seen in patients remains unknown.

[Correction to the article "Case Series of 103 Children with SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Portugal", published on Acta Med Port 2020 Dec;33(12):795-802].

On page 801, fifth, where it reads: "No início da pandemia, teorizou-se que a vacina BCG pudesse ter um efeito protetor relativamente à COVID-19,27,28 mas não se encontrou até à data evidência para tal, não estando atualmente recomendada a vacinação BCG na prevenção da COVID-19.28,29 No nosso estudo, a maioria dos doentes (76%) tinha sido vacinada. Analisámos separadamente o subgrupo de crianças nascidas após janeiro de 2016, altura em que passaram a ser vacinadas apenas as crianças pertencentes a grupos de risco.

Effects of Early Placement of Transjugular Portosystemic Shunts in Patients With High-Risk Acute Variceal Bleeding: a Meta-analysis of Individual Patient Data.

Background & Aims: Compared with drugs plus endoscopy, placement of transjugular portosystemic shunt within 72 hours of admission to the hospital (early or preventive transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt [TIPS], also called preemptive TIPS) increases the proportion of high-risk patients with cirrhosis and acute variceal bleeding who survive for 1 year. However, the benefit of preemptive TIPS is less clear for patients with a Child-Pugh score of B and active bleeding (CP-B+AB). We performed an individual data meta-analysis to assess the efficacy of preemptive TIPS in these patients and identify factors associated with reduced survival of patients receiving preemptive TIPS.

[Case Series of 103 Children with SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Portugal].

Introduction: The North Lisbon University Hospital Center was activated for referral of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients on the 11th March 2020. The aim of this study is to describe the experience at the Department of Pediatrics in the approach and the clinical outcomes of infected children.

Material And Methods: A descriptive observational study was performed.

Rebleeding and mortality risk are increased by ACLF but reduced by pre-emptive TIPS.

Background & Aims: The relationship between acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) and acute variceal bleeding (AVB) is poorly understood. Specifically, the prevalence and prognosis of ACLF in the context of AVB is unclear, while the role of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) in the management in patients with ACLF has not been described to date.

Methods: A multicenter, international, observational study was conducted in 2,138 patients from 34 centers between 2011 and 2015.

Impact of Non-Cardiac Clinicopathologic Characteristics on Survival in Transthyretin Amyloid Polyneuropathy.

Introduction: Hereditary (variant) transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRv) with polyneuropathy (ATTR-PN) is a rare genetic disorder that causes progressive autonomic and sensorimotor neuropathy, severe disability, and death within 10 years of onset. Previous studies have primarily focused on how baseline cardiac characteristics affect mortality, but the impact of non-cardiac baseline characteristics is less defined.

Methods: We systematically searched PubMed/Medline (1990-2019) to identify studies that assessed the impact of baseline ATTR-PN characteristics on survival.