Cost Effectiveness of Metal Stents in Relieving Obstructive Jaundice in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer.

BACKGROUND: ASGE and ESGE guidelines recommend endoscopic metal stent placement for pancreatic carcinoma patients with biliary obstruction, and whose estimated life expectancy is greater than 6 months. Because median overall survival (OS) of metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma until recently has been less than 6 months, plastic biliary stents were preferentially placed rather than metal due to the greater upfront cost of the latter. Recent advances in the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer have extended median OS beyond the 6-month range. Given this improvement in OS, we performed a cost-effectiveness analysis of initial metal biliary versus plastic stent placement in metastatic pancreatic cancer patients with biliary obstruction. METHODS: A Markov model was developed to predict lifetime costs, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), and cost effectiveness of metal compared with plastic stents. Adult patients entered the model with locally advanced cancer and underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with placement of metal or plastic stents. A targeted literature search was conducted to identify published sources, which were used to estimate clinical, cost, utility, and event rate inputs to the model. Results were estimated from the third-party payer perspective in 2012 US dollars per QALY. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the impact on model outcomes resulting from uncertainty among inputs. RESULTS: Our analysis found that initial placement of metal stents was more cost effective than plastic biliary stents with lower overall costs due to lower restenting rates while at the same time associated with a better quality of life. Based on model projections, placement of metal stents could save approximately $1450 per patient over a lifetime, while simultaneously improving quality of life. These findings were robust in sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Placement of metal biliary stents at initial onset of obstructive jaundice in adult patients with metastatic pancreatic carcinoma with an expected OS greater than 6 months was found to be a more cost-effective strategy than plastic stents. These results reinforce guidelines' suggestions for metal stent placement.

Role of Whole-Body MR with DWIBS in child's Bartonellosis.

Cat-scratch disease (CSD) is a zoonosis in children, result of infection by Bartonella henselae, a gram-negative bacillus. Infection is generally characterized by regional and self-limited lymphadenopathy after exposure to a scratch or bite from a cat. Rarely, B. henselae is cause of fever of unknown origin (FUO), with dissemination to various organs, most often involving the reticuloendothelial system (liver, spleen, bone marrow), mimicking an inflammatory rather than a lymphoproliferative disease. Whole-body Magnetic Resonance Imaging (WBMRI), in association with diffusion-weighted imaging (DWIBS), allows a comprehensive evaluation of pediatric patients, without the risks inherent to ionizing radiation. It is a rapid and sensitive method for detecting and monitoring multifocal lesions such as proliferative or inflammatory and infectious processes. We report a case of systemic CDS in an immunocompetent young boy with fever of unknown origin, without history of cat contact, investigated by WBMRI.

Avatares en prematuros de 3 a 5 años y sus madres / Early identification of socioemotional and behavioral problems in premature children attending kindergarden

Estudio transversal sobre problemas conductuales/socioemocionales y el desarrollo en niños nacidos con peso menor a 1500 gramos entre 3 y 5 años, controlados en el Programa de Seguimiento de Prematuros del Hospital Materno-Infantil “Ramón Sardá”. El desenvolvimiento se ve restringido por el riesgo biológico más las condiciones ambientales y emocionales, siendo influido negativamente por la inestabilidad afectiva. La limitación intelectual originada en etapas tempranas es causa importante de deserción escolar. No existen prácticamente medidas generalizadas para cuidar a los niños pequeños por parte de las instituciones, por lo que es imprescindible diseñar estrategias para modificar dicha situación. A través del empleo del Inventario de problemas conductuales y socioemocionales para niños entre 3 y 5 años (IPCS, Rodríguez, S. et al), el test de Graffar (encuesta social simplificada) y el "Test de Desarrollo Infantil de 2 a 5 años" (TEPSI, Hauessler, M. et al) se logró identificar tempranamente problemas en las díadas estudiadas.

It is a cross-sectional, prospective, descriptive and analytical study in which mothers were invited to participate in an interview with their children to identify development, behavioral and socioemotional problems in children from 3 to 5 years old attending at the “Hospital Materno Infantil Ramón Sardá”. We used semiquantitative and semiqualitative methods. The cognitive development of our children is limited by the environmental and the emotional risk conditions. The affective inestability influence negatively on the children development. Intellectual limitations occurred early in life is a common cause of dropping school. It is vital to implement different strategies to modify this situation. We employed the Inventario de problemas conductuales y socioemocionales para niños entre 3 y 5 años (IPCS, Rodríguez, S. el. al), Graffar's Test (social simplified survey) and the Test de Desarrollo Infantil (TEPSI, Hauessler, M. et al).

Desarrollo alejado de niños nacidos prematuros / Long-term development in children born premature

El riesgo de alteraciones en el neurodesarrollo es elevado en prematuros de muy bajo peso al nacer, más si se asocia a riesgo ambiental. Su monitoreo interdisciplinario a largo plazo permite disminuir su vulnerabilidad, detectar handicaps, vehiculizar su resolución y/o tratamiento y mejorar su evolución. Se presenta un estudio descriptivo, analítico y transversal que se refiere al desarrollo psicomotor de niños de 3 años controlados en el Programa de Seguimiento de la Maternidad “Ramón Sardá”. Se relaciona el Puntaje Total de Desarrollo del Test de Desarrollo Psicomotor Infantil de 2 a 5 años (TEPSI, Haeussler M. et al.) con morbilidad temprana y factores socioculturales. La muestra incluyó a 56 niños nacidos durante 2000-2001 a la edad promedio de 3 años. Se analizaron datos de morbilidad perinatal (peso de nacimiento, edad gestacional, patologías severas) y socioculturales (edad y educación materna, crianza sola, estabilidad laboral y nivel socio-económico). Se excluyeron niños con síndromes genéticos o infecciones intrauterinas. Resultados: en el 76 por ciento (43/56) del TEPSI (>=40), 87,5 por ciento. (49/56) en Coordinación, 73 por ciento (41/56) en Lenguaje y 68 por ciento (38/56) en Motora los puntajes fueron normales. Hubo asociación significativa entre DBP o ROP y bajo score en el TEPSI. Conclusiones: Algunas patologías severas casi exclusivas de prematuros, más frecuentes a menor edad gestacional y no resueltas al alta neonatal, comprometen el desarrollo y se relacionan significativamente con Puntaje TEPSI en riesgo/retraso (<40) y probables problemas durante la escolaridad que requieren programas de intervención adecuados.

The risk of neurodevelopment deficiencies is high in very low birth weight premature infants, especially if they are environmentally challenged. These children require a multidisciplinary approach to detect their vulnerability and disabilities, as well as for better diagnosis and treatment, and in the long run to improve their development. The purpose of this study was to analyze the association between the psychomotor development, birth morbidity (birth weight, gestational age and severe diseases) and socio-cultural factors (mother' s age, mother' s level of education, single mother, working income, uncovered basic needs). This descriptive cross sectional study included 56, 2 to 5 year old preterm children who were born in 2000-2001 and were participating in a follow up program at this hospital (HMIRS). Children with genetics syndromes and intrauterine infections were excluded. The psychomotor test used was Test de Desarrollo Psicomotor Infantil de 2 a 5 años (TEPSI, Haeussler M. y cols.). Results: 76 per cent of the children obtained a normal TEPSI score (>=40). The score was normal for coordination, speech and motor are as in 87.5 per cent, 73 per cent, and 68 per cent respectively. There was a significant association between DBP or ROP and a low TEPSI score. Conclusions: Certain pathologies are unique to premature children. The lower the gestational age the greater their prevalence. These affect the children development and are significantly associated to TEPSI lower scores, and may predict learning problems in the long run. Therefore, an adequate and early intervention is required.

Blood lipid changes in hypertensive, dyslipidemic patients under long term quinapril treatment.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed at verifying Quinapril effects on both pressure and lipid profile in 15 patients (5 M, 10 F), aged 45 to 80 years (63 +/- 9), complaining for mild to moderate hypertension and dyslipidemia (total cholesterol > 200 mg/dl and triglycerides > 200 mg/dl). No relevant associated disease was present, including diabetes mellitus not any lipid lowering drugs were given. METHOD: After a wash-out period of one week, all patients, who had been hypertensive for 2 to 120 months (33 +/- 11), were given Quinapril 20 mg orally once a day for 6 months and kept on a low lipid diet from before treatment to the end of the study. Lipid profile we assessed at three-month intervals. RESULTS: Blood pressure, monitored at two-week intervals, significantly decreased on the 1st month (p < 0.001), and kept lower thereafter. Mean total cholesterol, triglycerides and low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, after 6 months of therapy, were reduced by 44 mg/dl (p < 0.001), 29 mg/dl (p < 0.001) and 39 mg/dl (p < 0.002) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our results seen indicate that Quinapril antihypertensive effects are accompanied by a significant improvement of the lipid profile.

[Cutaneous microcirculation in systemic sclerosis. Morpho-functional research using capillaroscopy and laser-Doppler]. / Il microcircolo cutaneo nella sclerosi sistemica. Ricerche morfofunzionali mediante capillaroscopia e laser-Doppler.

Our previous researches proved that, in patients affected by Raynaud disease, microcirculatory alterations were greater in those cases in which the small vessels showed evocative appearances of a sclerodermatous connectivopathy. In this study we evaluated cutaneous microvasculature in 18 patients suffering from clear systemic sclerosis, compared with a group of 16 subjects affected by primitive Raynaud disease and a group of healthy subjects. We used videocapillaroscopy and laser-Doppler fluxmetry for morphological and functional study respectively. In patients affected by systemic sclerosis the rest flow was clearly reduced and morphological pattern of cutaneous small vessels deranged. The response to ischemic test allowed us to subdivide the skin-bounds in two subgroups: "no responders" 8 subjects (44%), in which reactive hyperaemia was completely absent, "responders" 10 patients (56%) in which the hyperaemia was completely overlapped with that of the two other groups, but with longer reaction times. In skinbounds the capillaroscopic pattern was clearly severe in comparison with other two groups (18.8 +/- 5.7 vs 5.7 +/- 2.3 and 3.6 +/- 1). Thus, in advanced stage of the pathology, is microangiopathy (in its tromboischemic and inflammatory aspects) that plays a very important role in the development of organ damage. Therefore, all those clinical and instrumental tests which may allow a differential early diagnosis between a primitive and a secondary Raynaud phenomenon be done, for its prognostic value in connection with the appearance of systemic sclerosis.

[Cutaneous microcirculation and diabetic disease. A functional and flowmetry study in subjects with diabetes mellitus type 2]. / Microcircolo cutaneo e malattia diabetica. Studio funzionale e flussimetrico in soggetti affetti da diabete mellito di tipo II.

Laser-Doppler single fingertip skin blood flow has been evaluated in 41 euglycemic type II diabetic patients under basal conditions and after dynamic testing (both ischemia and thermal stress). The same subjects have also undergone tests for the assessment of the degree of autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction. The results have been compared to those obtained in 38 age-matched healthy subjects. In diabetic patients: baseline flow levels were much higher; the post-ischemic flow increase was less evident; a shorter hyperemic phase followed ischemia; a longer latency period was noticed, during thermal stress, together with a lower and slower hyperemic peak level. According to the results of ANS dynamic tests, diabetic subjects were divided into 3 groups: Group 1 (subjects with negative results); Group 2 (subjects with only one positive result); Group 3 (subjects with more than one positive test). Microcirculation disturbances were more often found in Group 3. These results show that a correlation exists between diabetic microangiopathy and ANS dysfunction. They also support the hypothesis, already pointed out by other research groups, of a similar mechanism causing diabetic neurologic and vascular complications.

[Microcirculatory changes in mitral prolapse as an expression of a systemic change in the connective tissue]. / Alterazioni microcircolatorie nel prolasso della mitrale quali espressione di una alterazione sistemica del tessuto connettivo.

Many authors hypothesize that mitral valve prolapse (MVP) can be, in most cases, only a clinical sign of a primitive and systemic disorder of the connective tissue, like in Marfan Syndrome (MS). In our previous works we supported the presence of morphological and functional alterations of the microcirculation in patients affected by MS. In order to characterize a possible common denominator between these pathologies we have studied the cutaneous microcirculation in a group of patients affected by MVP, divided into 2 groups: anatomic MVP (MVP) and MVP syndrome (MVPS). The morphologic parameters have been investigated by nailfold capillaroscopy while digital laser-Doppler was used to study skin flowmetry. The results have been compared with a control group. Capillaroscopic remarkers showed an architecturally disorganized microvasculature with aspects related to a reduced compactness of the microvasculature unit with a significatively higher score compared with controls (7.3 +/- 2.9 vs 3.6 +/- 1 p less than 0.0005). Laser-Doppler flowmetry showed a significatively reduced rest flow; ischemic test showed: spike time 48.9 +/- 36.9 vs 15.3 +/- 7.7 s (p less than 0.0005), hyperemic acme 6.6 +/- 2.7 vs 12.5 +/- 8.4 UP (p less than 0.002); % increase 32.1 +/- 20.2 vs 51.5 +/- 15.4 (p less than 0.002). Thermic test showed a significatively higher thermic acme 8.7 +/- 4.2 vs 12.6 +/- 9.11 UP (p less than 0.05). These results appeared to be correlated with stage pathology as it was observed a severe microvasculature disorders in MVPS. Therefore we suppose that a phenotypic continuum may exist between MS and MVP.

[The incidence and clinical significance of the echocardiographic finding of false chordae tendineae]. / Frequenza e significato clinico del rilievo ecocardiografico di false corde tendinee.

The presence of false tendons (FT) with M-mode and 2-D echocardiography in a consecutive series of 916 patients (520 men--396 women) with a wide age range (9-83 y) was investigated, and a possible correlation with heart systolic murmurs and/or heart arrhythmias evaluated. The problems that FT cause in differential diagnosis with other intraventricular structures were also considered. FT were observed in 53 subjects (5.8%), 30 men--23 women, and in an additional 51 cases (96%) in the left ventricular cavity. A clear prevalence of FT was observed during childhood and adolescence (26.1%), with the preferential location at the top of the ventricular chamber. No relevant correlation between FT and heart systolic murmurs and/or cardiac rhythm disorders was found. Although our results show that FT constitute an occasional finding, with no anatomic or functional relevance, they should always be held in due consideration in case of diagnostic uncertainty with other pathological structures, in particular intracavitary thrombi.

[False chordae tendineae: incidence and clinical meaning]. / False corde tendinee: incidenza e significato clinico.

The presence of false tendons (FT) was sought with M-mode and 2-D echocardiography in a consecutive series of 316 patients with a wide age range (13-73 yrs). FT were observed in 13 patients (4.1%), all of them in the left ventricular cavity. Their clinical significance is pointed out together with the possibility of diagnostic error with other pathological formations, particularly intracavitary thrombi.