Impact of asthma on severe food-induced allergic reactions: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Summary: Background. Food allergy can range from mild to severe, life-threatening reactions with various symptoms and organ involvement. The impact of asthma on severe food-induced allergic reactions is not completely understood. In the hypothesis that asthma increases the risk of severe food-induced allergic reactions, the aim of this study is to compare the incidence of severe food-induced allergic reactions in patients with history of asthma compared with patients without history of asthma. Methods. We performed a systematic research on electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Observational studies, studies reporting medical characteristics of patients diagnosed with food allergy, and studies reporting medical history of patients with allergic reactions were included. The primary outcome was the incidence of severe food-induced allergic reactions in patients with history of asthma compared with patients without history of asthma. The protocol of this review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023448293). Results. Eight studies with a total of 90,367 patients met the inclusion criteria and were included, with a total population of 28,166 of patients with food allergy. The incidence of severe food-induced allergic reactions in patients with history of asthma compared with patients without history of asthma was increased (OR = 1.28; 95% CI 1.03-1.59; p = 0.03; I2 = 59%). Conclusions. Individuals with both food allergy and asthma are at high risk of severe, potentially fatal allergic reactions. Healthcare professionals should prioritize prevention and management strategies for these subjects.

Early detection of encephalitis with 18F-FDG PET/CT / Detección precoz de encefalitis con 18F-FDG PET/TC

Encephalitis is a relatively rare condition for which making an accurate diagnosis can be challenging. In fact, clinical features are not specific and structural imaging can be normal in a considerable number of cases. However, an early diagnosis is important as many forms of treatment are effective if started promptly. Even though recent guidelines do not recommend 18F-FDG PET/CT for patients with suspected encephalitis, the case presented suggests that 18F-FDG PET/CT may play a relevant role for the early diagnosis of this clinical condition (AU)

La encefalitis es una enfermedad relativamente rara para la cual hacer un diagnóstico preciso puede ser un reto. De hecho, las características clínicas de la encefalitis no son específicas y las imágenes estructurales pueden ser normales en un número considerable de casos. Sin embargo, un diagnóstico precoz es importante ya que el tratamiento de muchas formas es eficaz si se inicia sin demora. Aunque recientes guías de práctica clínica no recomiendan 18F-FDG PET/TC para los pacientes con sospecha de encefalitis, este caso sugiere que 18F-FDG PET/TC puede jugar un papel relevante para el diagnóstico precoz de tal condición clínica (AU)

Early detection of encephalitis with (18)F-FDG PET/CT.

Encephalitis is a relatively rare condition for which making an accurate diagnosis can be challenging. In fact, clinical features are not specific and structural imaging can be normal in a considerable number of cases. However, an early diagnosis is important as many forms of treatment are effective if started promptly. Even though recent guidelines do not recommend (18)F-FDG PET/CT for patients with suspected encephalitis, the case presented suggests that (18)F-FDG PET/CT may play a relevant role for the early diagnosis of this clinical condition.

Rupture of spinal dermoid tumors with spread of fatty droplets in the cerebrospinal fluid pathways.

Cranial and spinal MRI was carried out at 0.5 or 1.5 T in five patients with spinal dermoid tumours. Free fatty material was appreciated within the normally communicating cerebrospinal fluid pathways in all five cases and in one case fat droplets were also observed within a dilated central canal of the spinal cord. While dissemination of lipid within the subarachnoid space and ventricles is easily understandable, the presence of lipid droplets within the central canal is more difficult to explain, since the central canal is only potential in the adult. When a dermoid tumor is suspected, we recommend MRI of the entire central nervous system, to detect possible leakage of fat from rupture of a cystic portion of the tumour.

[Possible role of 06-methylguanine-DNA-transferase in the response of patients with primary tumor of the brain to chemotherapy using chloro-ethyl-nitroso-urea: results of a current study]. / Possible ruolo della 06-metilguanina-DNA-Transferasi nella risposta di pazienti con tumori cerebrali primitivi alla chemioterapia con Cloro-Etil-Nitroso-Uree: risultati di uno studio in corso.

We have started a study to measure the MT activity in surgical specimens from high grade human malignant gliomas, with the dual aim to (i), know whether lack of activity can be demonstrated in these tumors, and (ii), relate the measured levels of MT to the histology of the tumors and to the response of patients to chemotherapy with 1-(2-Chloroethyl)-3-Cyclohexyl-1-Nitrosourea (CCNU). To date, 12 Gliomas have been assayed. In 11 tumors, MT activities ranging from 30 to 150 fmoles/mg protein have been measured. The only negative specimen derived from a patient who had received radiotherapy before surgery. At the present stage of the study, therefore, we have no unequivocal evidence for the existence of MT-deficient Gliomas.

CT in low back and sciatic pain due to lumbar canal osseous changes.

In a consecutive series of 600 patients scanned by CT for various spinal diseases, those with low back and sciatic pain without disc herniation were selected for study. The causes proved to be joint facet degeneration (32 cases), stenosis of the neural foramina (13 cases), stenosis of the spinal canal (13 cases), lateral recess stenosis (6 cases) and spondylolisthesis (6 cases). The predominance of joint facet pathology as the underlying cause of low back and sciatic pain in the absence of disc herniation is confirmed. CT scanning of the soft tissues as well as of the skeletal structures is crucial to the aetiological diagnosis of the condition under study and hence to the proper planning of treatment.

Partial ventricular dilatation contralateral to chronic subdural haematoma.

In a series of 88 cases of chronic subdural haematoma, the occurrence of dilatation of the posterior portion of the contralateral ventricle was found to be unrelated to any major neurological variable. There was, however, a prevalence of recurrences of the subdural effusions in the patients with partial hydrocephalus, compared with patients without ventricular dilatation.

Degenerative changes in hypophyseal adenomas: CT features.

16 patients with hypophyseal adenoma undergoing degenerative changes, namely necrotic-cystic changes, bleeding and calcification, were subjected to CT and the resulting density values studied. The cases were verified at operation and at histological examination. Evaluation of these features, despite the limitations of the method, proved to be very useful in differential diagnosis and in the planning of treatment.