Subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum after endoscopic transnasal removal of nasopharyngeal angiofibroma

Introduction. Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma is a rare, benign, well-vascularized tumor of the skull base characterized by destructive growth. The development of endoscopic techniques and experience of surgeons have enabled the removal of this tumor both at early stages and late stages (advanced disease). Patients may develop various complications in the intraoperative and postoperative periods, including massive bleeding, nasal liquorrhea, facial paresthesia, lacrimal hyposecretion, etc. Air penetration into the subcutaneous fat and mediastinum during endoscopic surgery on the paranasal sinuses is rare. Such complication as subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum after endoscopic endonasal removal of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma has not been reported in the literature.Case report. A 19-year-old male patient has undergone endoscopic endonasal removal of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma. The tamponade was removed within the first 24 h postoperatively. Ten hours after it, the patient developed subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum triggered by sneezing. The diagnosis was confirmed by computed tomography of the neck and chest. The patient was transferred to the intensive care unit and received conservative treatment (including infusion, antibacterial, and antiinflammatory therapy). The symptoms of subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum subsided in response to treatment. Follow-up examinations (computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging) confirmed that the tumor had been completely removed. The patient was discharged in a satisfactory condition.Conclusion. Subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum are exceedingly rare complications of endoscopic endonasal removal of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma and are caused by anatomical connection between the parapharyngeal / retropharyngeal spaces and mediastinum. To prevent such complications, it is necessary to keep tampons in the nasal cavity for at least 2 days, as well as to instruct patients after surgery (avoid sneezing with their mouth closed, lifting weights, coughing, and vomiting). The nasoseptal flap used to repair the nasopharyngeal defect after tumor removal also ensures its sealing. Patients with complications should undergo computed tomography of the neck and chest (in case of emergency) and should be transferred to an intensive care unit. Conservative treatment (antibacterial and antiinflammatory therapy) will ensure good results in most patients.

Complicated intra-abdominal focal fat infarction: Emphasis on falciform ligament infarction with abscess formation: A case series

The term “Intra-Abdominal Focal Fat Infarction” (IFFI) encompasses a range of conditions where infarction of fatty tissue is the underlying pathological process, including Epiploic appendagitis, omental infarction, fat necrosis related to trauma or pancreatitis as well as rarer entities such as falciform ligament infarction. Uncomplicated IFFI is usually self-limiting and managed conservatively with oral antiinflammatory therapy. Rarely complications such as liquefaction and secondary abscess formation may arise with associated deterioration in symptoms and signs prompting a change in management including Laparoscopic resection or Percutaneous drainage. We present 3 cases of complicated IFFI with emphasis on the rarer Falciform ligament infarction with abscess formation.

Treatment of acute nasopharyngitis in children

Acute nasopharyngitis in children is an inflammation of the nasopharyngeal mucosa. Recently, the use of saline solutions in the pathology of the nose and nasopharynx has become a leader in cleaning the mucous membrane. The main direction of modern pharmacotherapy of pathology of the nose and nasopharynx today is antiinflammatory therapy. There are a sufficient number of studies proving the effectiveness of mometasone furoate nasal spray in the treatment of inflammatory diseases of the nasopharynx in children. Our study examined the clinical efficacy of Etacid in the treatment of acute nasopharyngitis in children. Among the clinical symptoms were considered nasal breathing disorders, nasalness, snoring, cough during sleep. Endoscopy studied stagnant signs in the nasal cavity, nasopharyngeal discharge, enlargement of the pharyngeal tonsil. Proven sufficient clinical efficacy of the drug "Etacid" in the treatment of acute nasopharyngitis.

Comorbidity of bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis in its alternative course in school-age children

The study of the comorbidity of bronchial asthma (BA) and allergic rhinitis (AR) in children will expand the understanding of the pathogenetic mechanisms of the most trending childhood allergic diseases. Purpose — to investigate some clinical and paraclinical features of AR in its alternative course in schoolchildren for the optimization of the personalized antiinflammatory therapy of patients with comorbidity of BA and AR. Materials and methods. A comprehensive clinical and paraclinical examination of 66 of school-age children with BA with concomitant AR has beenperformed. Depending on the course of AR, patients have been divided into 2 groups: group I — 34 children with BA and intermittent AR (mean age — 13.4±0.8 years, the proportion of boys — 70.5%), group II — 32 asthma patients, which have signs of persistent AR (mean age — 12.1±1.1 years) (p>0.05), the proportion of boys — 81.2% (p>0.05). The diagnosis of BA and AR was established according to the modern requirements. All children underwent a study of bronchial lability by assessing their response to dosed exercise and inhalation of short-acting β2-adrenomimetics (200 mcg salbutamol) followed by calculation of bronchial lability, considered as the sum of its components — indicies of bronchospasm and bronchodilation. Results. Patients with persistent allergic rhinitis have had a more severe and less controlled course of bronchial asthma with a 3.0-fold increased risk. The baseline spirographic examination has showed that patients with intermittent allergic rhinitis were three times more likely to have FEV1<80% and the higher chances of marked airway lability at the level of small bronchi, including by forced midexpiratory flow rate as well. Conclusions. The comorbid course of bronchial asthma and intermittent allergic rhinitis in children was accompanied by a lower chance of uncontrolled asrhma, along with a higher probability of developing nonspecific airway hyperreactivity. The research was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki Declaration. The study protocol was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of all participating institution. The informed consent of the patient was obtained for conducting the studies. No conflict of interest was declared by the authors. Key words: bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, children.

Local anti-inflammatory therapy for osteoarthritis with high comorbidity

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a widespread disease, the leading symptom of which is pain in the load-bearing joints, and the incidence increases with age. Many patients with OA have several comorbidities, such as arterial hypertension, coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus, gastric and duodenal ulcers. Currently, there are different approaches to the treatment of OA with and without comorbidity. In particular, oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are not recommended for OA with high comorbidity. The literature review discusses the prospects and popularity of the use of local forms of NSAIDs associated with their equal analgesic efficacy relative to oral drugs, but with a smaller number of adverse events. Data on transcutaneous forms of diclofenac are analyzed, which can provide at least oral equivalent analgesia, improved physical function and reduced stiffness in osteoarthritis of the hands and knee joints, while showing fewer systemic adverse events. This feature of topical NSAIDs allows them to be considered as an effective first-line treatment option, especially in elderly patients and those with severe comorbidity. Topical medications containing diclofenac as the main active ingredient are popular among both patients and doctors, and their use has an extensive evidence base. Diclofenac ethylenediamine salt has advantages over sodium salt in its penetrating properties, and the form of an emulsion gel containing a hydrophobic phase that slows down the drying of the substance applied to the skin provides ease of use and improves the consumer properties of agents for local antiinflammatory therapy of osteoarthritis.

Modulation of immune cell reactivity with cis-binding Siglec agonists

Inflammatory pathologies caused by phagocytes lead to numerous debilitating conditions, including chronic pain and blindness due to age-related macular degeneration. Many members of the sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectin (Siglec) family are immunoinhibitory receptors whose agonism is an attractive approach for antiinflammatory therapy. Here, we show that synthetic lipid-conjugated glycopolypeptides can insert into cell membranes and engage Siglec receptors in cis, leading to inhibitory signaling. Specifically, we construct a cis-binding agonist of Siglec-9 and show that it modulates mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling in reporter cell lines, immortalized macrophage and microglial cell lines, and primary human macrophages. Thus, these cis-binding agonists of Siglecs present a method for therapeutic suppression of immune cell reactivity.

Myocardial Infarction in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus – the Sex Specific Risk Profile

Background: Accelerated atherosclerosis is widely present in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Objective: The aim of this review is to analyze the relationship between systemic lupus erythematosus and cardiovascular diseases, with the emphasis on acute myocardial infarction. Results: Various molecular mechanisms triggered by infection/inflammation are responsible for endothelial dysfunction and development of atherosclerosis at an earlier age. Contributing factor is the cumulative effect of traditional cardiovascular risk factors interaction with disease related characteristics. Myocardial infarction rates are 2- to 10-fold higher compared to the general population. Young women have the highest relative risk, however, men carry at least 3- fold higher risk than women. Coronary involvement varies from normal coronary artery with thrombosis, coronary microartery vasculitis, coronary arteritis, and coronary atherosclerosis. Typical clinical presentation is observed in men and older women, while atypical is more frequent in young women. Treatment is guided by the underlying mechanism, engaging invasive procedures alone, or accompanied with immunosuppressive and/or antiinflammatory therapy. There are significant gender differences in pathophysiology and clinical presentation. However, they receive the same therapeutic treatments. Conclusion: Systemic lupus erythematosus is a major contributor to atherosclerotic and non-atherosclerotic mechanisms involved in the development of myocardial infarction, which should be taken into account during therapeutic treatment. Although Systemic lupus erythematosus per se is a “female” disease, males are at increased cardiovascular risk and worse outcome. Method: We conducted a literature review through PubMed and Cochrane, using key words: SLE, atherosclerosis, atherothrombosis, coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, prognosis, sex specifics.

Adherence to urate-lowering therapy while following the national guidelines for the management of patients with gout (preliminary evidence)

Low compliance in patients with gout is one of the reasons for inadequate disease control.Objective: to study treatment adherence in compliance with the national guidelines for the management of gout patients, which provide for the continuous use of urate-lowering drugs, a gradual increase in their dose until the target serum uric acid (UA) level is reached, prophylactic antiinflammatory therapy, and regular patient monitoring.Patients and methods. This was a prospective single-center study. By now, 60 of the 80 enrolled gout patients had completed the study. The follow-up period was at least 24 weeks, during which allopurinol or febuxostat was used at the final dose. During initiation of urate-lowering therapy, allopurinol 100 mg/day was prescribed, followed by dose titration to reach the target UA level (<360 μmol/L) for all patients or <300 μmol/L for those with severe tophaceous gout. Patients with ineffective allopurinol and/or in the presence of its associated adverse reactions were prescribed febuxostat (Azurix®) 80 mg/day; the dose was increased up to 120 mg/day as needed. To prevent acute arthritis attacks, all the patients received a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) at minimal therapeutic doses or colchicine 0.5 mg/day, and in the presence of contraindications to their use, they took glucocorticoid (GC) 7.5 mg/day calculated with reference to prednisolone. The four-item Morisky–Green questionnaire was used to assess patient adherence to therapy.Results and discussion. At 24 weeks after the start of their follow-up, 53 (88%) of the 60 patients received urate-lowering therapy; 38 (72%) of these 53 patients achieved the target UA level. The dose of allopurinol was titrated in 19 patients; and 10 (53%) of them achieved the target serum UA levels. Due to its inefficacy, allopurinol was replaced by febuxostat in 24 patients. In this group, the target UA level was recorded in 16 (67%) patients. Seventeen patients were immediately prescribed febuxostat that could achieve the target UA level in 12 (71%) of them. All the patients enrolled in the study received prophylactic anti-inflammatory therapy: NSAIDs were used in 9 (15%) patients, colchicine and GC were given to 46 (77%) and 5 (8%), respectively. Twenty-six (49%) patients who had completed the investigation were ascertained to have a high adherence therapy. Moderate and low adherence was observed in 9 (17%) and 18 (34%) patients, respectively. High therapy adherence was noted in more than half of cases in the febuxostat group and in 40% in the allopurinol one.Conclusion. High compliance in gout patients can be achieved through the observance of the national guidelines for the treatment of this disease.

An unusual course of COVID-19 infection with late increase in C-reactive protein (clinical case reports)

Clinical signs of COVID-19 infection are non-specific and diagnosis is typically based on comprehensive evaluation of the patient’s history, clinical status, radiological and laboratory findings. A common finding in COVID-19 patients is increased C-reactive protein (CRP), though in some patients, CRP remains within normal range notwithstanding the presence of other criteria of severe disease. We describe two clinical cases of COVID-19 with severe bilateral pneumonia and late increase in CRP. Similar cases re quite challenging for making the diagnosis and indicating the antiinflammatory therapy.