Pial arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is a rare vascular lesion, with less than 120 reported cases in the English literatures (Hoh et al., Neurosurgery 2001;49(6):1351). The angio-architecture, clinical course and therapeutic options are all different from arteriovenous malformation (AVM), dural AVM or other intracranial vascular lesions. A review of literatures to analyse the clinical course of pial AVF was carried out. The presence of varix dictates the clinical course and presentation. Paediatric type had high percentage of varix, and mass effect as clinical presentation while the adult type usually manifest by haemorrhage. Disconnection of direct shunting, either by endovascular or surgically, is sufficient to achieve successful treatment; therefore, total resection of the lesion is unnecessary.

These data demonstrate that neuronavigation-guided cannulation of the foramen ovale can be executed both quickly and safely on an outpatient basis. Additionally, the use of CT with integrated neuronavigation technology provides superior visual-spatial information compared to conventional fluoroscopy, the process of CT scanning, object planning, and neuronavigation-guided intervention can be completed in the same locale, and its application is easy to master and has the potential to enhance procedure tolerability of awake patients.

Genetic polymorphism of XRCC1 Arg399Gln may be a candidate for contributing interindividual difference in the OS of gemcitabine/platinum-treated advanced NSCLC patients.

The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has spread across the world and is responsible for over 1,686,267 deaths worldwide. Co-infection with influenza A virus (IFV-A) during the upcoming flu season may complicate diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19. Little is known about epidemiology and outcomes of co-infection. Data for 213 COVID-19 patients treated at Tongji Hospital in Wuhan from January 28, 2020 to March 24, 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Ninety-seven of the patients (45.5%) tested positive for anti-IFV-A immunoglobulin M antibodies. The clinical characteristics were described and analyzed for patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection only and patients with SARS-CoV-2/IFV-A co-infection. Patients with co-infection showed similar patterns of symptoms and clinical outcomes to patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection only. However, an increased expression of serum cytokines (interleukin-2R [IL-2R], IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-α) and cardiac troponin I, and higher incidence of lymphadenopathy were observed in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection only. Male patients and patients aged less than 60 years in the SARS-CoV-2 infection group also had significantly higher computed tomography scores than patients in co-infection group, indicating that co-infection with IFV-A had no effect on the disease outcome but alleviated inflammation in certain populations of COVID-19 patients. The study will provide a reference for diagnosing and treating IFV-A and SARS-CoV-2 co-infection cases in the upcoming flu season.

Background and objectives This study compared the risk of subdural hematoma (SDH) and subsequent mortality in hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients with ESRD.Design, setting, participants, & measurements Claims data were obtained from the National Health Insurance Administration Research Database in Taiwan. This retrospective cohort study comprised 10,136 PD patients and 10,136 HD patients with newly diagnosed ESRD from 1998 to 2010. Patients were matched by propensity score and year of dialysis initiation. Incidence rates and hazard ratios of SDH as well as odds ratios of subsequent 30-day deaths from SDH were evaluated from the date of the first dialysis session to the date when SDH was diagnosed, or the date of renal transplantation, death, withdraw from insurance, or the end of the follow-up period (December 31, 2011).Results Median (25th percentile, 75th percentile) follow-up times for SDH events were 3.61 years (1.91, 6.33) and 3.33 years (1.83, 5.66) in the HD and PD cohorts, respectively. The overall SDH incidence rate (95% confidence interval [95% CI]) was 61.4% higher in the HD cohort than in the PD cohort (34. Conclusions HD patients have a higher risk of developing SDH than PD patients. Both patient groups have a high risk of mortality. Routine education on fall prevention is needed for dialysis patients.

These results suggest an important role for oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of NP and a causal relation between oxidative stress and inflammatory cells, especially the eosinophils. Free radical levels in polyp-tissues associated with NP severity and with BHR/asthma phenotype in nonallergic NP patients.

To assess the association of the interleukin (IL)-1␤ and the IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) gene polymorphisms with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Design: Genotyping of the 2 IL-1␤ gene (IL1B) polymorphisms (promoter and exon) and the IL-1Ra gene (IL1RN) polymorphism (intron 2) was performed using polymerase chain reaction and restriction length fragment polymorphism analyses.

The expressions of SOD3 and SOD1 were higher in polyp tissues. These results are consistent with previously reported data and support the hypothesis that there is increased oxidative stress in NP. Our data also suggest that the SODs might be important in the pathogenesis of NP; however, the roles these SOD isoforms, especially SOD3, play in both normal nasal mucosa and NP require further clarification.