Campylobacter coli bacteraemia: how common is it?

Campylobacter species are known to cause enteritis. However, over the past 40-50 years, there have been reports of varying presentations, such as cellulitis, spondylodiscitis and bacteraemia. Of the Campylobacter species, Campylobacter jejuni is the most common culprit for causing bacteraemia, however, Campylobacter coli bacteraemia is becoming more prevalent. Here, we discuss an unusual case of C. coli bacteraemia in a patient with decompensated liver cirrhosis.

Inhibitory deficits in prepulse inhibition, sensory gating, and antisaccade eye movement in schizotypy.

Schizotypy is a term that refers to a continuum of personality characteristics, emerging from mental states ranging from organized and normal to unorganized and disordered; with the latter tending to include individuals with high schizotypal scores as well as those diagnosed with schizotypal personality disorder. Evidence from psychophysiological studies has found a relative weakness in the inhibitory functioning, including prepulse inhibition (PPI), sensory gating (SG), and antisaccade eye movement (AEM) in schizotypy and schizophrenia. As schizotypy and schizophrenia are in the same spectrum, understanding the nature of sensory and motor inhibitory weakness associated with schizotypy will optimize the prevention and intervention for both schizotypy and schizophrenia populations. This review aims at examining the deficits of sensory gating, saccade control, and prepulse inhibition in schizotypy; examining the relationship between the three measures and schizotypal symptoms and traits; examining the effect of nicotine on the three measures; and examining the relevant brain regions to the three measures. We searched multiple databases (such as MEDLINE, Pubmed, PsychINFO, Google Scholar) using combinations of the keywords: schizotypy, schizotypal personality disorder, prepulse inhibition, sensory gating and antisaccade for articles published in English since 1980. We found that three measures (SG, PPI and AEM) are associated with major schizotypal symptoms, suggesting that three measures could be used to predict the disease etiology and prognosis. Secondly, the three measures are modulated by nicotine administration at a certain level, providing a potential tool to study the role of nicotine in the cognition and symptom improvement in schizotypy. Thirdly, brain-imaging studies have localized activity in brain regions associated with sensory gating, saccade control, and prepulse inhibition, narrowing the search for brain regions to target for the treatment and prevention of schizotypy. Overall, the three measures are suggested to be a valuable tool to study the inhibitory deficits in schizotypy, and maybe used as a tool for the prevention and treatment of schizotypy as well.

Intracerebral laser interstitial thermal therapy followed by tumor resection to minimize cerebral edema.

OBJECTIVE Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) is used in numerous neurosurgical applications including lesions that are difficult to resect. Its rising popularity can be attributed to its minimally invasive approach, improved accuracy with real-time MRI guidance and thermography, and enhanced control of the laser. One of its drawbacks is the possible development of significant edema, which contributes to extended hospital stays and often necessitates hyperosmolar or steroid therapy. Here, the authors discuss the use of minimally invasive craniotomy to resect tissue ablated with LITT in attempt to minimize cerebral edema. METHODS Five patients with glioblastoma multiforme prospectively underwent LITT followed by resection. The LITT was performed with the aid of an MR-compatible skull-mounted frame in the MRI suite. Ablated tumor was then resected via small craniotomy by using the NICO Myriad system or cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirator. Postoperative management involved dexamethasone administration slowly tapered over several weeks. RESULTS The use of resection following LITT, as compared with open resection or LITT alone, did not extend the hospital stay except in 1 patient who required 3-day inpatient management of edema with a trapped ventricle. No new neurological deficits were encountered, although 1 patient developed seizures postoperatively. No increase in infection rates was identified. CONCLUSIONS Resection of ablated tumor is a viable option to reduce the incidence of neurological deficits due to edema following LITT. This approach appears to mitigate cerebral edema by increasing available volume for mass effect and reducing the tissue burden that may promote an inflammatory response.