Microsurgical clipping vs Woven EndoBridge (WEB) device for the management of unruptured wide-neck bifurcation aneurysms.

The Woven EndoBridge device (WEB) was introduced in 2010 to treat wide-neck bifurcation aneurysms (WNBAs). Three landmark studies have been conducted to assess its safety and efficacy: WEBCAST, WEBCAST 2, and French Observatory Study. However, these studies have not compared its safety and efficacy to other treatment modalities. In this study, we compare WEB versus microsurgical clipping in the management of unruptured WNBA. We conducted a retrospective study of unruptured WNBA meeting the morphological criteria to be amenable for WEB treatment operated on at our institution. Surgical morbidity, mortality, and occlusion rates were assessed. We compared our results to those reported in the cumulative population of the three WEB landmark studies at 1 year. A total of 84 patients with 89 WNBA were included. The most common aneurysm location was the middle cerebral artery bifurcation (n = 67/89, 75%). No operative mortality was observed. Morbidity comprised small-vessel vasospasm (n = 1/89, 1%) resulting in hemiparesis vs. 3% morbidity for WEB (p = .324). All but one (n = 1/89, 1%) WNBA were completely occluded vs WEB occlusion rate of 53% at 1 year, statistically significantly worse (p < .001). In our analysis, we were not able to show superiority of WEB in terms of procedural morbidity in comparison to microsurgical clipping, defined as worsening in mRS. Microsurgical clipping achieves statistically significantly higher rates of complete aneurysm occlusion, thus posing the question of whether the WEB should be presented as a viable, comparable alternative to patients amenable to surgical treatment.

Cervical Arterial Fibromuscular Dysplasia in a Biethnic Population: A Retrospective Study in the U.S.-Mexican Border.

Background There have been studies trying to characterize Fibromuscular Dysplasia (FMD); however, most of them are based in mainly non-Hispanic sample. The objective of this study is to better understand the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of craniocervical FMD in the Hispanic population. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the cerebral angiograms performed in our center in a period of 3.5 years under any indication looking for angiographic patterns of FMD. Exclusion criteria consisted of cases in which the first angiogram was done when the patients were younger than 18 years. Patients were subdivided based on those with FMD and those without it for baseline characteristics and were looked for any associations. We further compared the same baseline characteristics among Hispanic FMD and non-Hispanic FMD population. A chart review was conducted looking for clinical features and vascular events. Results We analyzed 448 angiograms among patients younger than 18 years. We identified 47 patients with evidence of FMD involving the cervical arteries and 401 patients without FMD. Of the 47 patients with FMD in our neuroendovascular registry, we found that 76.6% were women and 57.4% were Hispanics. There was no statistical significant difference when comparing the variables across ethnicities, except history of cigarette smoking and dyslipidemia. The most common associated supra-aortic arterial lesions seen in the FMD group were intracranial aneurysm and arterial dissections. We then used same variables to compare Hispanic FMD with non-Hispanic FMD. We have found that there has been a positive association of cigarette smoking and dyslipidemia with FMD ( p ≤ 0.05). Conclusion Our study suggests that FMD affecting the carotid and vertebral arteries has similar demographic pattern across ethnicities in the United States. In Hispanics, the disease appears to have a predilection for women and history of cigarette smoking. Intracranial aneurysm and arterial dissection were the most commonly associated arterial lesions.

Trans-arterial Onyx Embolization of a Functional Thoracic Paraganglioma.

Paragangliomas are rare tumors of the endocrine system. They are highly vascular and in some cases hormonally active, making their management challenging. Although there is strong evidence of the safety and effectiveness of preoperative embolization in the management of spinal tumors, only five cases have been reported in the setting of thoracic paragangliomas. We present the case of a 19-year-old man with a large, primary, functional, malignant paraganglioma of the thoracic spine causing a vertebral fracture and spinal cord compression. To our knowledge this is the first report of preoperative trans-arterial balloon augmented Onyx embolization of a thoracic paraganglioma.

ITS Y SIDA en adolescentes: descripción, prevención y marco legal / ITS and AIDS in adolescents: description, prevention and legal framework

Los adolescentes son vulnerables a adquirir ITS y VIH/SIDA por factores de riesgo como desconocimiento, sexo temprano, drogadicción, desigualdad social y de género y mitos. Las ITS más comunes son Gonorrea, Sífilis, VPH, VHS y Tricomonosis; todas son transmitidas por vía sexual sin embargo, Sífilis y Tricomonosis se pueden adquirir por otras vías de contacto. El SIDA es ocasionado por un retrovirus VIH, de transmisión sexual y transfusión sanguínea, se presenta en varias fases y lleva a la muerte. Los datos estadísticos de ONUSIDA/OMS muestran prevalencia de SIDA en población de 15 a 49 años, en Costa Rica por cada 10.000 habitantes hay 2.7 habitantes han contraído el virus del VIH/SIDA, según el último informe del Estado de la Nación. Es común que aparezcan nuevos casos de ITS, el 90 % entre los 15 - 30 años, y sobre todo en menores de 25 años. Dentro los métodos de prevención efectivos están la abstinencia, condón masculino y femenino, respecto a geles de nonoxinol-9 los estudios demuestran ineficacia y de las vacunas para VPH todavía está en estudio. Dentro del marco legal, hay penalización del delito de Propagación de enfermedades infecto-contagiosas y delito de Contagio Venéreo, también es vigente la ley del SIDA N° 7771. Además de la legislación que protege a adolescentes y demás población de Violación sexual y abuso sexual. Es necesario informar al adolescente de ITS y SIDA, porque es una población susceptible en el padecimiento de estas enfermedades. Aunque hay legislación en este tema, el derecho y la normativa parecen ir atrás de las necesidades de los posibles afectados.

Teenager population due to many risk factors like unknowledge, early sex begining age, drug use and abuse, social and gender inequality and myths, is vulnerable to get transmited disease (STD) and HIV/AIDS. The most common STD found are gonorrhea, syphilis and trichomoniasis (HVP, syphilis and trichomoniasis have also other routes of transmition). AIDS is caused by a retrovirus, the HIV, it can be adquired by either sexual or blood transmition, it has several phases and now a days it can be considered a chronic disease but in log terms it will eventually cause death. Statistical data of ONU and WHO shows that AIDS prevalence in Costa Ricaof the population between 15 and 29 years old is 2,7 for each 10000 inhabitants. From the new causes of STD 90% will happen between the ages of 15 - 30 years and the vast majority in 25 years or younger. Within the effective prevention methods we have abstinence and condoms. Reports have shown the innefficiency of the nonoxinol-9 gels, the vaccine of HPV is still under investigation phases. Within the legal frame, it exist a crime penalty for the propagation of infectious diseases, the best traslation for the crime will be venereal contagion or venereal transmition. There is also the law 7771 refering to AIDS. Besides legislation protects child teenagers and rape or abuse victims. It is necessary to provide usefull and truthfull information to populations in risk of special concern to these case teenagers not only because they are an concern group but also according to law they have theright to protect themselves.