Citations

Mycoplasma hominis is a commensal in the genital tract of women and has been associated with urogenital and extragenital infections. However, central nervous system infections with this organism in adults are very rare. Here we describe the recovery of M. hominis from a brain abscess associated with a postpartum infection. Seroconversion to the isolated strain was detected by both a metabolic inhibition test and an immunoblotting assay. This case demonstrates the pathogenic potential of M. hominis and the need for rapid recognition of the organism so that appropriate chemotherapeutic intervention can occur.

Dementia is a frequent complication of Parkinson's disease (PD). About half of PD dementia (PDD) is hypothesized to be due to progression of the underlying Lewy body pathology into limbic regions and the cerebral cortex while the other half is thought to be due to coexistent Alzheimer's disease (AD). Clinically, however, these are indistinguishable. The spread of amyloid plaques to the striatum has been reported to be a sensitive and specific indicator of dementia due to AD. The purpose of the present study was to determine if the presence of striatal plaques might also be a useful indicator of the presence of diagnostic levels of AD pathology within PD subjects. We analyzed neuropathologically-confirmed cases of PD without dementia (PDND, N = 31), PDD without AD (PDD, N = 31) and PD with dementia meeting clinicopathological criteria for AD (PDAD, N = 40). The minimum diagnostic criterion for AD was defined as including a clinical history of dementia, moderate or frequent CERAD cortical neuritic plaque density and Braak neurofibrillary stage III-VI. Striatal amyloid plaque densities were determined using Campbell-Switzer and Thioflavine S stains. Striatal plaque densities were significantly higher in PDAD compared to PDD (p < 0.001). The presence of striatal plaques was approximately 80% sensitive and 80% specific for predicting AD. In comparison, the presence of cerebral cortex plaques alone was highly sensitive (100%) but had poor specificity (48% to 55%). The results suggest that striatal amyloid imaging may be clinically useful for making the distinction between PDD and PDAD.

Abstract Recent guideline statements approve the performance of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with non-conditional cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) under certain closely monitored conditions. Data from current registries may have lower power to discern changes that may occur in the CIED after the MRI. Objective We aimed to systematically review the literature to identify the adverse events and significance of changes in device function associated with performing MRI in patients with CIEDs Methods A comprehensive literature search of the databases was performed between 1980- 2017. Two independent reviewers selected studies and extracted data. A random-effects model was used for meta-analysis. Results A total of 7,422 patients underwent 8,865 MRI studies. No death occurred post MRI. Clinical adverse events were extremely rare (mostly less than 1%) and are summarized in Table 1. No significant changes in the pooled mean effect size estimate was noted for the changes in the lead parameters (pacing threshold, sensing and impedance) Binary outcomes post magnetic resonance imaging in patients with non-conditional cardiac implantable electronic devices Outcome Sample size Number of patients Rate SE LL of CI UL of CI Death 7401 0 0 0 0 0 Atrial arrhythmia 7173 10 0.001 0.0004 0.0007 0.0024 Ventricular arrhythmia 7371 9 0.0012 0.0004 0.0006 0.0022 Oversensing 4981 17 0.0034 0.0008 0.0020 0.0053 Inhibition of pacing 7371 6 0.0008 0.0003 0.0003 0.0016 Lead Failure/Generator Failure 7475/7475 2/8 0.0002/0.0011 0.0001/0.0004 0.0001/0.0005 0.0009/0.002 Power on Reset 1388 105 0.0131 0.0014 0.0107 0.0161 Did not complete scan 6851 13 0.0019 0.0005 0.0011 0.0031 Chest pain 7080 11 0.0021 0.0004 0.0008 0.0027. Lead threshold rise (>0.5v/>50%-A/V) 5076/6246 12/16 0.0024/0.0026 0.0007/0.0006 0.0013/0.0015 0.0040/0.0041 Change in Battery voltage >0.04V 7132 42 0.0061 0.0009 0.0043 0.0079 Sensing decrease >50%-A/V 5087/5834 17/9 0.0033/0.0015 0.0008/0.0005 0.0020/0.0008 0.0052/0.0028 Impedance changes >50ohms/>50% 5810 22 0.0038 0.0008 0.0024 0.0057 Rise in cardiac enzymes 1703 26 0.0152 0.0030 0.0102 0.0219 A, atrial; V, ventricular; SE, standard Error; LL, lower limit; UL, upper limit; CI, Confidence intervals. Conclusions MRI in patients with non-conditional CIEDs can be performed with high degree of safety and low rate of clinical events when performed under standardized protocols Acknowledgement/Funding None

Aim To compare healthcare resource use and costs between newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) patients with and without skeletal-related events (SREs). Methods Adults newly diagnosed with MM (1 January 2006 and 30 June 2017) with at least 12 months continuous health coverage prior to diagnosis were identified using the IBM MarketScan administrative claims. To control for baseline differences, NDMM patients with SREs were propensity score matched to NDMM patients without SREs. Outcomes included annual HRU and costs during follow-up along with number and type of SREs (SRE cohort only). Patients with SREs were stratified by number of SREs, and annual SRE-related costs were reported. Student's t test and Chi-squared test were used to compare outcomes. Results Before matching, the 6648 patients in the SRE cohort had more comorbidities, were more likely to have MM treatment, and had higher pre-index healthcare costs than the 7458 patients in the non-SRE cohort. After matching, cohorts of 3432 patients were well balanced on baseline characteristics. Patients with SREs (vs. without SREs) had significantly higher inpatient, outpatient, and pharmacy HRU. Patients with SREs had significantly higher mean annual all-cause healthcare costs ($213,361 vs. $94,896, p < 0.001) with hospitalization being the leading driver of increased costs (38.7% of total). Among 6648 patients with SREs, the mean annual SRE-related healthcare costs were $39,603, $45,463, and $50,111 for patients with one, two, and three or more events, respectively. Conclusions NDMM patients with SREs have more than twice the all-cause healthcare costs than matched patients without SREs. Costs increase with the number of SRE events.

Abstract 1. Combinations of effective agents produce at least an additive increase in complete remission rates over that which can be achieved when the agents are used individually. 2. Patients who do not achieve complete remission with initial treatment have a significantly shorter survival. 3. Alternating MTX and 6-MP at 28-day intervals during remission does not prolong the duration of remission over that of combined concurrent 6-MP and MTX. 4. The administration of folic acid antagonists intrathecally at 28-day intervals during antimetabolite maintained remission did not prolong the duration of remission. Meningeal leukemia, however, occurred significantly less frequently in these patients. 5. The duration of combined 6-MP and MTX maintained remission is not greater than that of 6-MP maintained remission. 6. The toxicity of 6-MP and MTX in combination in patients in remission is additive. The above conclusions were drawn from this comparative study of combinations of chemotherapeutic agents in children with acute lymphocytic leukemia.

Abstract The efficacy of three therapeutic programs for acute leukemia were compared. These programs included (1) Methotrexate (Phase I) followed by 6-mercaptopurine (Phase II); (2) 6-mercaptopurine (Phase I) followed by Methotrexate (Phase II); and (3) Combination Therapy, i.e., 6-mercaptopurine given in combination with Methotrexate. In children with acute lymphocytic leukemia the remission rate was 59 per cent for combination therapy, 47 per cent for 6-mercaptopurine, and 29 per cent for Methotrexate. The better remission rate for combination therapy is consistent with that predicted if it is assumed that 6-mercaptopurine and Methotrexate act independently. The median duration of complete remissions for the three treatments was not different (4 to 5 months). However, long lasting remissions were more frequent in patients receiving combination therapy. The median survival from the onset of therapy to death was 9 months. There were no differences between the three treatment programs as regards survival. In adults the remission rate was 15 per cent for combination therapy, 21 per cent for 6-mercaptopurine and 7 per cent for Methotrexate. As regards survival in adults, early deaths were more common in patients who received MTX as initial therapy, whereas after 5 months survival was somewhat better in those patients receiving combination therapy. In both children and adults there was no evidence that prior treatment with one of the antimetabolites altered response to the other antimetabolite. This result differs from those in animal models, and its effect on our concept of the mechanism of resistance is discussed. Responsiveness to the second course of antimetabolite therapy (Phase II) was as good as that to the first course of treatment. This was true for the remission rate, remission duration, and even for survival when appropriate corrections were made. Thus, responsiveness to drug therapy is maintained as the disease progresses temporally. It may be concluded therefore that new agents can be effectively studied in patients with "late" disease. Responsiveness to Phase II therapy was independent of responsiveness to Phase I. The most common and severe toxic manifestations related to the bone marrow and gastrointestinal tract. There were no major differences quantitatively in the toxicity for the three treatment programs in children in spite of the fact that the drugs were given in full dosage in the combination program. Oral ulcers and a generalized erythematous rash occurred significantly more frequently in patients receiving Methotrexate. Jaundice was significantly more frequent in adults and in patients receiving 6-MP.

Objectives The aim of this work was to devise mitigation strategies for addressing a range of image artifacts on a clinical 7 T magnetic resonance imaging scanner using the regulatory-approved single-channel radiofrequency transmit mode and vendor-supplied radiofrequency coils to facilitate clinical scanning within reasonable scan times. Materials and Methods Optimized imaging sequence protocols were developed for routine musculoskeletal knee and neurological imaging. Sources of severe image nonuniformities were identified, and mitigation strategies were devised. A range of custom-made high permittivity dielectric pads were used to compensate for B1 + and B1 − inhomogeneities, and also for magnetic susceptibility-induced signal dropouts particularly in the basal regions of the temporal lobes and in the cerebellum. Results Significant improvements in image uniformity were obtained using dielectric pads in the knee and brain. A combination of small voxels, reduced field of view B0 shimming, and high in-plane parallel imaging factors helped to minimize signal loss in areas of high susceptibility-induced field distortions. The high inherent signal-to-noise ratio at 7 T allowed for high receiver bandwidths and thin slices to minimize chemical shift artifacts. Intermittent artifacts due to radiofrequency inversion pulse limitations (power, bandwidth) were minimized with dielectric pads. A patient with 2 implanted metallic cranial fixation devices located within the radiofrequency transmit field was successfully imaged, with minimal image geometric distortions. Conclusions Challenges relating to severe image artifacts at 7 T using single-channel radiofrequency transmit functionality in the knee and brain were overcome using the approaches described in this article. The resultant high diagnostic image quality paves the way for incorporation of this technology into the routine clinical workflow. Further developmental efforts are required to expand the range of applications to other anatomical areas, and to expand the evidence- and knowledge-base relating to the safety of scanning patients with implanted metallic devices.

AbstractObjectiveTo rigorously compare automated atlas‐based and manual tracing hippocampal segmentation for accuracy, repeatability, and clinical acceptability given a relevant range of imaging abnormalities in clinical epilepsy.MethodsForty‐nine patients with hippocampal asymmetry were identified from our institutional radiology database, including two patients with significant anatomic deformations. Manual hippocampal tracing was performed by experienced technologists on 3T MPRAGE images, measuring hippocampal volume up to the tectal plate, excluding the hippocampal tail. The same images were processed using NeuroQuant and FreeSurfer software. Ten subjects underwent repeated manual hippocampal tracings by two additional technologists blinded to previous results to evaluate consistency. Ten patients with two clinical MRI studies had volume measurements repeated using NeuroQuant and FreeSurfer.ResultsFreeSurfer raw volumes were significantly lower than NeuroQuant (P < 0.001, right and left), and hippocampal asymmetry estimates were lower for both automatic methods than manual tracing (P < 0.0001). Differences remained significant after scaling volumes to age, gender, and scanner matched normative percentiles. Volume reproducibility was fair (0.4–0.59) for manual tracing, and excellent (>0.75) for both automated methods. Asymmetry index reproducibility was excellent (>0.75) for manual tracing and FreeSurfer segmentation and fair (0.4–0.59) for NeuroQuant segmentation. Both automatic segmentation methods failed on the two cases with anatomic deformations. Segmentation errors were visually identified in 25 NeuroQuant and 27 FreeSurfer segmentations, and nine (18%) NeuroQuant and six (12%) FreeSurfer errors were judged clinically significant.InterpretationAutomated hippocampal volumes are more reproducible than hand‐traced hippocampal volumes. However, these methods fail in some cases, and significant segmentation errors can occur.