Isolated teres minor denervation is an uncommon finding on sonographic examination. We present a case of a 64-year-old man with increased echogenity of the teres minor muscle and a slight reduction in muscle bulk. Investigation of a suspected axillary nerve lesion included a detailed sonographic examination of the posterior shoulder and the axillary space, followed by MR imaging and electrophysiologic testing. This case demonstrates the potential importance of examining rotator cuff muscles when performing sonographic examination of the shoulder in patients with persistent symptoms, no history of trauma, and absence of tendon tears.

IntroductionThe aims of our study were to evaluate the impact of increased intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) on central nervous system (CNS) cytokines (Interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor), lactate and perfusion pressures, testing the hypothesis that intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) may possibly lead to CNS ischemia.MethodsFifteen pigs were studied. Helium pneumoperitoneum was established and IAP was increased initially at 20 mmHg and subsequently at 45 mmHg, which was finally followed by abdominal desufflation. Interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFa) and lactate were measured in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and intracranial (ICP), intraspinal (ISP), cerebral perfusion (CPP) and spinal perfusion (SPP) pressures recorded.ResultsIncreased IAP (20 mmHg) was followed by a statistically significant increase in IL-6 (p = 0.028), lactate (p = 0.017), ICP (p < 0.001) and ISP (p = 0.001) and a significant decrease in CPP (p = 0.013) and SPP (p = 0.002). However, further increase of IAP (45 mmHg) was accompanied by an increase in mean arterial pressure due to compensatory tachycardia, followed by an increase in CPP and SPP and a decrease of cytokines and lactate.ConclusionsIAH resulted in a decrease of CPP and SPP lower than 60 mmHg and an increase of all ischemic mediators, indicating CNS ischemia; on the other hand, restoration of perfusion pressures above this threshold decreased all ischemic indicators, irrespective of the level of IAH.

Critical illness has an important impact on the human endocrine system. Very few studies have been performed to elucidate the alterations of the GH/IGF-I axis in acutely ill children. The aim of this study was to investigate several parameters of this axis in children with trauma (TRA) and sepsis (SEP) requiring admission to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). A total of 16 children, ten with TRA and six with SEP (age 1-10 years) as well as 18 healthy children (CS) of similar age and gender were included in the study. Two children, one with TRA and one with SEP, died. Serum IGF-I and -II, IGFBP-1 and -3, and GH levels were measured on days 1, 3 and 7 after admission. GH levels were higher in the patients than in CS (p = 0.04), with no difference between TRA and SEP, and were elevated during PICU stay (p = 0.05). Serum IGF-I, -II and IGFBP-3 were lower in the patients than in CS (p = 0.03, 0.02 and 0.001, respectively) with a tendency to increase up to day 7. Finally, IGFBP-1 levels were similar in the patients and CS. These findings indicate that critically ill children are characterized by low levels of IGF-I and -II as well as IGFBP-3 accompanied by elevated levels of GH, probably reflecting the development of peripheral GH resistance. No significant differences were found between the different catabolic conditions, sepsis and trauma.

Selective compression neuropathy of the lateral branch of the deep peroneal nerve is rare. A 55-year-old woman with ankle instability and mild weakness of extension of the toes was examined with sonography (US), which revealed the presence of a ganglion cyst compressing selectively the lateral branch of the deep peroneal nerve. US-guided aspiration of the cyst resulted in nerve decompression and progressive resolution of symptoms. This case demonstrates the importance of examining the deep peroneal nerve and its branches when performing US in the clinical setting of ankle instability. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 45:108-111, 2017.

A 53-year-old male patient with a large hydatid cyst of the left hemidiaphragm and smaller secondary cysts located in the left thoracic cavity and upper left abdominal quadrant presented with two progressively enlarging lipoma-like masses in the left hypochondrium and under the left scapulae respectively. Total excision of all the cysts was performed through a bilateral subcostal incision, with the left hemidiaphragm near totally excised and replaced by a synthetic bilayer mesh.