Parole chiave: malformazioni cerebrali, ecotomografia transfontanellare, tomografia computerizzata RIASSUNTO -In questo studio vengono esaminati 5 piccoli pazienti, 4 affetti da malformazione vera di Dandy-Walker ed 1 da variante di tale malformazione, mediante ecotomografia transfontanellare e TC in modo da valutare comparativamente i risultati ottenuti con le due metodiche. Gli autori concludono che ambedue le indagini possiedono la stessa sensibilita; la TC e tuttavia piu specifica, in quanto ha sempre permesso una diagnosi di certezza. SUMMARY-Aim of the present work is of comparatively analize trans.fontanellar US and CT in the observation of Dandy-Walker malformation.Such a pathology is characterized by absence or hypoplasia of the cerebellar vermis, a distinctive dilatation of the IV ventricle and a higher implatation of the tentorium. A severe hydrocephalus affecting the supratentorial portion of the ventricular system is often associated with this.We can make a diagnosis of Dandy-Walker malformation by US, CT and MRI, but the first two methods are more frequently performed in order to study new-born encephalic malformations.In the period starting from January 1986 to December 1988,five children, being from three days to four months old, who were affected by Dandy-Walker malformation, were observed.All of them underwent US and CT examination, which gave the following results: 1) Us has the same sensitivity as CT in discovering liquor cysts in the posterior cranial fossa.2) CT seems to be a more specific methodology than US in order to evidence Dandy-Walker malformation.Introduzione 11 prototipo delle anomalie cistiche sottotentoriali e la malformazione di Dandy-Walker. Tale patologia e caratterizzata dall'assenza 0 dalla ipoplasia del verme cerebellare, dalla notevole dilatazione del IV ventricolo e dalla inserzione alta del tentoria. E associato frequentemente un grave quadro di idrocefalia che interessa la porzione so-pratentoriale del sistema ventricolare.Ecotomografia transfontanellare, tomografia computerizzata e risonanza magnetica rappresentano le metodiche fondamentali nello studio di questa malformazione.Scopo del presente lavoro e analizzare comparativamente i risultati ottenuti con l'US transfontanellare e la TC in tale ambito patologico. 91
Objectives: The aim of this study is to investi-gate the association between the urinary metabolic milieu and kidney stone recurrence with a validated papillary evaluation score (PPLA).Materials and methods: We prospectively enrolled 30 stone for-mers who underwent retrograde intrarenal surgery procedures. Visual inspection of the accessible renal papillae was performed to calculate PPLA score, based on the characterization of ductal plugging, surface pitting, loss of papillary contour and Randall’s plaque extension. Stone compositions, 24h urine collections and kidney stone events during follow-up were collected. Relative supersaturation ratios (RSS) for calcium oxalate (CaOx), brushite and uric acid were calculated using EQUIL-2. PPLA score > 3 was defined as high.Results: Median follow-up period was 11 months (5, 34). PPLA score was inversely correlated with BMI (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.38, 0.91, p = 0.018), type 2 diabetes (OR 0.04, 95% CI 0.003, 0.58, p = 0.018) and history of recurrent kidney stones (OR 0.17, 95%CI 0.04, 0.75, p = 0.019). The associations between PPLA score, diabetes and BMI were not confirmed after excluding patients with uric acid stones. Higher PPLA score was associated with lower odds of new kidney stone events during follow-up (OR 0.15, 95% CI 0.02, 1.00, p = 0.05). No other significant correla-tions were found.Conclusions: Our results confirm the lack of efficacy of PPLA score in phenotyping patients affected by kidney stone disease or in predicting the risk of stone recurrence. Larger, long-term studies need to be performed to clarify the role of PPLA on the risk of stone recurrence.
Introduction Although arteriovenous autologous fistula is the vascular access of choice due to better long-term outcome than central venous catheters, the use of central venous catheters is increasing. Our study aims to describe the survival and epidemiological features of a cohort of dialysis patients with a focus on the role of vascular access. Methods Our study comprises a follow-up period from 2001 to 2020 in a single center. Descriptive analysis was performed on baseline data. Moreover, we analysed predictive variables of death with univariable and multivariable logistic regressions. Predictors of survival were analysed by univariable and multivariable Cox regression. Results Our analysis includes 754 patients undergoing chronic haemodialysis. In the multivariable logistic regression, the use of tunnelled catheters resulted protective against death from any cause (Odds Ratio 0.43; p = 0.017). In the multivariable Cox analysis, being “late referral” was associated with decreased survival in the first 6 months since haemodialysis start (Hazard Ratio 3.79; p = 0.001). In the subgroup of elderly (age ≥ 75 years) patients (n = 201/472) with a follow up of 7–60 months, multivariable logistic regression showed that tunnelled catheters at the start of haemodialysis were associated with lower mortality (Odds Ratio, 0.25; p = 0.021), whereas vascular disease was found to be the main risk factor for death (Odds Ratio, 5.11; p = 0.000). Moreover, vascular disease was confirmed as the only independent risk factor by Cox analysis (Hazard Ratio, 1.58; p = 0.017). Conclusions In our cohort, mortality was found to be more closely associated with comorbidities than with the type of vascular access. Tunnelled central venous catheters might be a viable option for haemodialysis patients. Graphical abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Despite arteriovenous native fistula (AVF) is the vascular access (VA) of choice due to a better outcome than central venous catheter (CVC) [1], catheter use is still common among haemodialysis (HD) patients. Our study aims to describe the survival and epidemiological features of a cohort of dialysis patients with a focus on the role of VA type. METHOD Our cohort comprises a prospective follow-up conduced from 2001 to 2020, which led to recruit 754 patients in HD. We identified a subgroup of patients survived less than 7 months (n 124) and a subgroup of patients survived more or equal than 7 months and up to 60 months (n = 472). In addition to this, every subgroup was subdivided into two different age groups, including patients of age ≤74 years old and those ≥75 years old. Other analysed characteristics were demographic features and baseline clinical data, like primary cause of ESKD, co-morbidities at the beginning of the HD treatment and type of VA both at start of HD and at the end of the follow-up. Starting HD without planning, namely being ‘late referral’, was also considered. Descriptive analysis was performed on baseline data. Moreover, we analysed predictive variables of death for any cause with Univariate and Multivariate Logistic Regression. Predictors of survival were analysed through univariate and multivariate Cox regression. RESULTS At the multivariate logistic regression, the use of tunnelled CVC at the start of HD resulted protective against death from any cause (aOR, 0.43; P = 0.017) in the whole cohort (n = 754). In the subgroup analysis of patients (n = 124) with a follow-up < 7 months, malignancy (aOR, 4.57; P = 0.002), severe cardiomyopathy (aOR, 4.35; P = 0.001) and vascular disease (aOR, 3.22; P = 0.008) were estimated as significantly predictors of death. At the multivariate Cox analysis, being ‘late referral’ was associated with decreased survival within 6 months (aHR, 3.79; P = 0.001). In the subgroup of elderly (≥75 years old; n = 201/472) survived within 7–60 months, multivariate logistic regression showed that the use of tunnelled CVC at the start of HD (Figure 1) resulted even more protective against death (aOR 0.25; P = 0.021). Moreover, vascular disease resulted as the main risk factor for death (aOR 5.11; P = 0.000), and it was confirmed as the only independent risk factor at the COX analysis (aHR 1.58; P = 0.017; see Figure 2). CONCLUSION Vascular disease is the main risk factor for death in haemodialysis patients. Furthermore, cardiovascular disease influences patient outcome more than the VA type, confirming the assumption that the choice of VA might be influenced by several issues as age and comorbidities [2, 3]. In the short-term survival subgroup, neither VA nor age emerged to be predictor of mortality, suggesting that health status before starting maintenance HD might explain an important part of the risk often attributed to catheter use.[4] Moreover, starting RRT without proper planning (‘late referral’) was extremely relevant in determining short-term survival. Tunnelled CVC might be the option of choice as VA, specifically in the elderly with vascular disease. In conclusion, our long-term experience suggests that the choice of VA should not necessarily follow the ‘fistula first’ approach, but it should be based on dialytic life expectancy and comorbidities.
Background and Aims Nephrolithiasis is a medical condition characterized by high prevalence among the general population both in Europe and in the U.S. and it is responsible for high costs reaching up to $10 billion per year. It is associated with specific comorbidities such as obesity, arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome and chronic kidney disease. Kidney stones development is believed to start either from Randall’s plaques or from stone plugs. Both these lesions can be seen on renal papillary surfaces, but what promotes the formation of plaques and plugs is not entirely understood. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between the urinary metabolic milieu and a published endoscopic papillary evaluation score (PPLA). We also evaluated the correlation of PPLA score with kidney stone recurrence during follow-up. Method We prospectively enrolled 31 stone forming patients who undergone retrograde intrarenal surgery procedures. Visual inspection of the accessible renal papillae was performed in order to calculate the PPLA score based on the appearance of ductal plugging, surface pitting, loss of papillary contour and Randall’s plaque extension. Demographic information, blood samples, 24h urine collections and kidney stone events during follow-up were collected. Stone composition was analyzed using infrared-spectroscopy. Relative urinary supersaturations (RSS) for calcium oxalate (CaOx), calcium phosphate (CaPi) and uric acid (UA) were calculated using the Equil2 software. PPLA score > 3 was defined as high. Results Median follow-up period was 11 (min/max 5, 34) months. PPLA score was inversely correlated with BMI (rho = −0.39, p = 0.035) and history of recurrent kidney stones (median PPLA 5.0 vs 2.5, p = 0.029), these results were confirmed when PPLA was considered as a categorical variable (median BMI 27 vs 24, recurrent stone disease 12 vs 62%, p= 0.006). Furthermore, high PPLA score was associated with lower odds of new kidney stone events during follow-up (OR 0.154, 95% confidence interval 0.024, 0.998, p = 0.05). No significant correlations were found between PPLA score, stone composition, blood parameters, 24h urine solute excretions and RSS for CaOx, CaPi and UA. Conclusion Different papillary abnormalities seem to be linked to specific mechanisms of stone formation. Although data regarding PPLA score are inconsistent, it may be a valid asset for both medical and surgical management of nephrolithiasis. Larger, long-term prospective clinical studies need to be conducted to assess the validity of PPLA score system in evaluating risk of stone recurrence.
In order to evaluate the peculiar features of a population of compulsorily admitted (CA) versus voluntarily admitted (VA) schizophrenics, the psychopathological status, disability measure and sociodemographic characteristics were recorded for the two studied groups. Among other assessed variables only the total score of the Current Behavioral Schedule (CBS), used as a global index of impairment, differentiated the two groups, CA patients being the more severely impaired. The severity of the CBS measure correlated with the length of current hospitalization in the CA but not in the VA group.
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