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Cureus Apr 2024Herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) is a condition resulting from the reactivation of dormant varicella zoster virus within the sensory nerve ganglion in the ophthalmic...
Herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) is a condition resulting from the reactivation of dormant varicella zoster virus within the sensory nerve ganglion in the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve. The tell-tale rash along one side of the nerve tract accompanied by pain, a burning sensation, and itching alerts health practitioners on the right path to diagnosis. Conversely, HZO can present with other rarer complications such as intraocular and extraocular manifestations. This case report deals with a seemingly healthy 45-year-old female who developed left abducens nerve palsy within one week of developing a vesicular rash on the same side. Curiously, those afflicted are usually of an advanced age or suffer from an immunocompromised state; this patient however suffered from no other comorbidities nor did she report having been in contact with anyone of a similar affliction. In this case, the classical treatment regime of antivirals and corticosteroids resulted in the complete resolution of the infection and the return of full ocular function. Being able to recognize and appreciate these typical and atypical signs and symptoms of HZO can aid in the further propagation of good outcomes and timely resolutions.
PubMed: 38707108
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.57506 -
Annals of Ibadan Postgraduate Medicine Dec 2023Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a relatively new terminology composed to encompass patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and related immunological...
BACKGROUND
Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a relatively new terminology composed to encompass patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and related immunological conditions. The diagnosis of this condition requires a seropositive aquaporin-4 immunoglobulin G (AQP-4 IgG), the presence of at least one core clinical characteristic and the exclusion of alternative diagnoses. Very few cases have been reported in sub-Saharan Africa.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this article is to report a classical case of NMOSD with AQP-4 IgG seropositivity and normal brain, cervical and thoracic MRI findings.
RESULT
We report a 25-year-old Nigerian woman who presented with recurrent and alternating weakness, pain and numbness of all limbs, associated with episodic painful left-sided tonic spasms and urinary incontinence. She had earlier had symptoms of recurrent, episodic and alternating loss of vision in both eyes, associated with ocular pain.Examination findings revealed an intact mental status, no cranial nerve deficit and no focal limb weakness. Right-sided deep tendon reflexes were exaggerated. Vital signs were within normal limits. Brain MRI, Cervical spine MRI and Thoracic spine MRI all revealed normal findings. Serum aquaporin-4 IgG assay returned positive with a titer of 1:32.She was commenced on high dose steroids and there was gradual improvement of symptoms.
CONCLUSION
These findings confirmed the diagnosis of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, and satisfies the diagnostic criteria published in 2015 by the International Panel for NMO Diagnosis (IPND).
PubMed: 38706629
DOI: No ID Found -
Journal of Pain Research 2024Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is a prevalent complication of multiple myeloma (MM), due to the disease itself or its treatment. Despite extensive research, the optimal... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is a prevalent complication of multiple myeloma (MM), due to the disease itself or its treatment. Despite extensive research, the optimal treatment for multiple myeloma peripheral neuropathy (MMPN) remains unclear. Clinical practice has shown the potential efficacy of acupuncture in managing MMPN. This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the literature to assess the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture as a treatment for MMPN.
METHODS
The PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases were comprehensively searched from inception to November 1, 2023 to identify relevant studies pertaining to the use of acupuncture to treat MMPN.
RESULTS
A total of five studies, encompassing 97 patients diagnosed with drug-related PN, were ultimately included in this analysis. The literature lacks any reports pertaining to the utilization of acupuncture for disease-related PN. ST36, LI4, SP6, and EX-LE-10 were found to be the most frequently chosen acupoints. Following acupuncture treatment, there was a consistent reduction in scores on the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Neuropathic Pain Scale (NPS), Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form (BPI-SF), and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecologic Oncology Group-Neurotoxicity (FACT/GOG-Ntx) among MMPN patients. The results of Nerve Conduction Velocity (NCV) tests yielded conflicting results. No severe adverse effects were reported.
CONCLUSION
The use of acupuncture for disease-related PN has not been studied to date. Acupuncture is safe for drug-related PN and is helpful for relieving pain. But uncertainty exists regarding the efficacy of this approach because there is substantial heterogeneity with respect to acupuncture treatment regimens, and more high-quality studies on this topic are warranted.
PubMed: 38699068
DOI: 10.2147/JPR.S448634 -
Journal of Medical Case Reports May 2024Orbital metastasis is a possible complication of small cell lung cancer and a pattern of bilateral invasion of the extraocular muscles has rarely been reported in...
BACKGROUND
Orbital metastasis is a possible complication of small cell lung cancer and a pattern of bilateral invasion of the extraocular muscles has rarely been reported in literature.
CASE PRESENTATION
A 46-year-old white male with a past medical history of smoking and stage IV small cell lung carcinoma presented with loss of vision and pain in the left eye. Examination revealed bilateral proptosis and left afferent pupillary defect, and visual acuity was hand motion on the left eye and 4/10 on the right eye. An orbital computed tomography scan showed a compression of the left optic nerve between the extraocular muscles at the apex, and a lateral canthotomy was performed for a new-onset compressive optic neuropathy, with residual visual improvement. There was also significant enlargement of the extraocular muscles in the right orbit. The patient was maintained in palliative treatment with both chemotherapy and local medical and surgical (amniotic membrane cover for exposure keratopathy) ophthalmological treatments until he eventually died 5 months after.
CONCLUSION
Bilateral metastasis to the extraocular muscles is a very rare manifestation of small cell lung cancer and the palliative treatment in these cases is challenging.
Topics: Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Fatal Outcome; Lung Neoplasms; Oculomotor Muscles; Orbital Neoplasms; Palliative Care; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 38693545
DOI: 10.1186/s13256-024-04525-z -
World Journal of Clinical Oncology Apr 2024Low-grade myofibroblastic sarcoma (LGMS) is an extremely rare tumor characterized by the malignant proliferation of myofibroblasts. LGMS most commonly develops in...
BACKGROUND
Low-grade myofibroblastic sarcoma (LGMS) is an extremely rare tumor characterized by the malignant proliferation of myofibroblasts. LGMS most commonly develops in adults, predominantly in males, in the head and neck region, oral cavity, especially on the tongue, mandible, and larynx. This article presents 2 cases of LGMS localized to the maxillary sinus and provides an overview of the available literature.
CASE SUMMARY
Two patients with LGMS located in the maxillary sinus underwent surgery at the Department of Head and Neck Surgery. Case 1: A 46-year-old patient was admitted to the clinic with suspected LGMS recurrence in the right maxillary sinus (rT4aN0M0), with symptoms of pain in the suborbital area, watering of the right eye, thick discharge from the right nostril, and augmented facial asymmetry. After open biopsy-confirmed LGMS, the patient underwent expanded maxillectomy of the right side with immediate palate reconstruction using a microvascular skin flap harvested surgically from the middle arm. The patient qualified for adjuvant radiotherapy for the postoperative bed, with an additional margin. Currently, the patient is under 1.5 years of observation with no evidence of disease. Case 2: A 45-year-old man was admitted to our clinic with facial asymmetry, strabismus, exophthalmos, and visual impairment in the right eye. Six months earlier, the patient had undergone partial jaw resection at another hospital for fibromatosis. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan revealed a tumor mass in the postoperative log after an earlier procedure. An open biopsy confirmed low-grade fibrosarcoma (rT4aN0M0). The patient qualified for an extended total right maxillectomy with orbital excision and right hemimandibulectomy with immediate microvascular reconstruction using an anterolateral thigh flap. The patient subsequently underwent adjuvant radiotherapy to the postoperative area. After 9 months, recurrence occurred in the right mandibular arch below the irradiated area. The lesion infiltrated the base of the skull, which warranted the withdrawal of radiotherapy and salvage surgery. The patient qualified for palliative chemotherapy with a regimen of doxorubicin + dacarbazine + cyclophosphamide and palliative radiotherapy for bone metastases. The patient died 26 months after surgical treatment. The cases have been assessed and compared with cases in the literature.
CONCLUSION
No specific diagnostic criteria or treatment strategies have been developed for LGMS. The treatment used for LGMS is the same as that used for sinonasal cancer radical tumor excision; adjuvant radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy should also be considered. They have low malignant potential but are highly invasive, tend to recur, and metastasize to distant sites. Patients should undergo regular follow-up examinations to detect recurrence or metastasis at an early stage. Patients should be treated and observed at the highest referral centers.
PubMed: 38689628
DOI: 10.5306/wjco.v15.i4.566 -
Perioperative Medicine (London, England) Apr 2024This trial aimed to study the efficacy of articaine in pain management during endodontic procedures in pediatric patients.
OBJECTIVE
This trial aimed to study the efficacy of articaine in pain management during endodontic procedures in pediatric patients.
METHODS
Ninety-eight children who received endodontic painless treatment were collected and randomly divided into the control group and observation group, with 49 cases in each group. The control group received infiltration anesthesia with lidocaine, and the observation group received infiltration anesthesia with articaine. Anesthesia effect, anesthesia onset time, sensory recovery time, duration of anesthesia, pain intensity, blood pressure, heart rate, and adverse reactions were compared.
RESULTS
The effective rate of anesthesia in the observation group was higher than that in the control group. The anesthesia onset time and sensory recovery time were shorter, the duration of anesthesia was longer, and the VAS score and facial expression score were lower in the observation group than in the control group. The heart rate of the observation group was lower, and diastolic blood pressure was higher than those of the control group. The total incidence of adverse reactions in the observation group was lower than that in the control group.
CONCLUSION
In the treatment of dental pulp diseases in children, the use of articaine can achieve better anesthesia effect and rapid onset of anesthesia and has less impact on the patient's blood pressure and heart rate, but it also can relieve pain and has good safety after the use of medication. It is worthy of clinical application.
PubMed: 38689354
DOI: 10.1186/s13741-024-00389-5 -
The Ocular Surface Jul 2024Corneal neuropathy involves corneal nerve damage that disrupts ocular surface integrity, negatively impacting quality-of-life from pain and impaired vision. Any ocular... (Review)
Review
Corneal neuropathy involves corneal nerve damage that disrupts ocular surface integrity, negatively impacting quality-of-life from pain and impaired vision. Any ocular or systemic condition that damages the trigeminal nerve can lead to corneal neuropathy. However, the condition currently does not have standardized diagnostic criteria or treatment protocols. The primary aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of interventions for treating corneal neuropathy. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated corneal neuropathy treatments were eligible if the intervention(s) was compared to a placebo or active comparator. Comprehensive searches were conducted in Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase and clinical trial registries from inception to July 2022. The Cochrane Risk-of-Bias 2 tool was used to assess study methodological quality. Certainty of the body of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Overall, 20 RCTs were included. Evaluated interventions comprised regenerative therapies (n = 6 studies), dietary supplements (n = 4), anti-glycemic agents (n = 3), combination therapy (n = 3), supportive therapies (n = 2) and systemic pain pharmacotherapies (n = 2). Nine RCTs were judged at high risk of bias for most outcomes. Definitions for corneal neuropathy in the populations varied substantially across studies, consistent with lack of consensus on diagnostic criteria. A diverse range of outcomes were quantified, likely reflecting absence of an agreed core outcome set. There was insufficient evidence to draw definitive conclusions on the efficacy or safety of any intervention. There was low or very low certainty evidence for several neuroregenerative agents and dietary supplements for improving corneal nerve fiber length in corneal neuropathy due to dry eye disease and diabetes. Low or very low certainty evidence was found for neuroregenerative therapies and dietary supplements not altering corneal immune cell density. This review identifies a need to standardize the clinical definition of corneal neuropathy and define a minimum set of core outcome measures. Together, this will provide a foundation for improved phenotyping of clinical populations in studies, and improve the capacity to synthesize data to inform evidence-based care. Protocol registration: PROSPERO ID: CRD42022348475.
Topics: Humans; Cornea; Corneal Diseases; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Trigeminal Nerve Diseases; Quality of Life
PubMed: 38688453
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtos.2024.04.004 -
The Primary Care Companion For CNS... Apr 2024Current therapies for multiple sclerosis (MS) often have limited efficacy and side effects, necessitating alternative approaches. Noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS),...
Current therapies for multiple sclerosis (MS) often have limited efficacy and side effects, necessitating alternative approaches. Noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS), such as transcranial direct current stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), offers potential solutions. Among NIBS techniques, theta burst stimulation (TBS) is notable for its ability to modulate cortical activity. The objective of this systematic review is to assess the impact of TBS on MS symptoms. The study conducted rigorous systematic searches in PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases up to June 2023, using specific Medical Subject Headings terms related to NIBS and MS, such as TMS and TBS, in conjunction with terms like MS or demyelinating disease. Additionally, the bibliographic references of included studies, book chapters, and original articles were manually reviewed. The study selection process involved a 2-tiered screening mechanism, beginning with an evaluation of titles and abstracts, followed by a full-text review of selected articles. Inclusion criteria incorporated randomized controlled trials (RCTs) focusing on TBS with MS patients. Exclusion criteria included non-qualitative, non-MS, and non-TBS studies. Risk of bias assessment was conducted using the 2008 Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 Scale for RCTs. Data extraction was conducted by thoroughly reviewing each research article and systematically recording the relevant information using a standardized data extraction form, ensuring consistency and accuracy throughout the process. In a systematic review encompassing 5 randomized controlled trials involving 117 individuals with relapsing-remitting or secondary progressive MS across Italy, France, and Russia, various forms of TBS were applied. These interventions ranged from intermittent TBS (iTBS) to continuous intermittent TBS (c-iTBS) that demonstrated favorable outcomes. Notably, TBS interventions led to significant reductions in spasticity, fatigue, and pain, with c-iTBS combined with vestibular rehabilitation showing additional improvements in vestibular-ocular reflexes, gait, and balance. While specific protocols varied among the studies, collectively, the results suggest promise for TBS approaches in alleviating MS-related symptoms. The findings of this review suggest that TBS may hold promise in addressing specific MS symptoms, notably fatigue and spasticity. Future research should include a more diverse participant pool to explore TBS effects across different MS subtypes and aim for larger sample sizes to enhance statistical power and result reliability. .
Topics: Humans; Multiple Sclerosis; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; Theta Rhythm
PubMed: 38684013
DOI: 10.4088/PCC.23r03645 -
Journal of Current Ophthalmology 2023To report a case of multiple bilateral retinal pigment epithelial detachments (PEDs) in a woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
PURPOSE
To report a case of multiple bilateral retinal pigment epithelial detachments (PEDs) in a woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
METHODS
Case Report.
RESULTS
A 28-year-old female with mild blurred bilateral vision in both eyes (OU) without pain or any other symptom was admitted to the hospital due to worsening renal function and uncontrolled high blood pressure (HBP). Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/30 and 20/40, right and left eyes, respectively. She had SLE, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, and immune thrombocytopenic purpura. BP was over 150/90 mmHg for more than 1.5 years, and she used corticosteroids at varying doses for more than 4 years. During hospitalization, she was taking prednisone 60 mg daily as Class IV lupus nephritis was diagnosed. On fundoscopy, she had a lacy retinal pattern, remarkably on the macula in OU. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography revealed multiple bilateral serous PEDs and pachychoroid. Angiofluoresceinography displayed multiple pooling hyperfluorescence areas. Six months afterward, while she was on prednisolone 10 mg daily, and antihypertensive medications, BCVA was improved to 20/25 OU. Nevertheless, she had no retinal or choroidal changes. Her findings could be related to SLE choroidopathy, central serous chorioretinopathy-like disease, and/or hypertensive choroidopathy.
CONCLUSIONS
Ocular involvement affects nearly one-third of SLE patients. The findings are variable and can include nearly any part of the eyeball. Multiple bilateral PEDs have been described in the literature; however, in this case, it is probably multifactorial and not only related to SLE.
PubMed: 38681692
DOI: 10.4103/joco.joco_267_22