COVID-19 masquerading as a non-convulsive status epilepticus

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), more and more atypical presentations of COVID-19 are being reported. Here, we present and discuss non-convulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) as presenting symptom of SARS-CoV-2 infection at the Emergency Department.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

A case of non-atherosclerotic carotid disease as an uncommon cause of stroke

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Vagal nerve activity predicts overall survival in metastatic pancreatic cancer, mediated by inflammation

Recent research findings suggest neuro-modulation of tumors. Finding new modifiable prognostic factors paves the way for additional treatments, which is crucial in advanced cancer, particularly pancreatic cancer. This study examined the relationship between vagal nerve activity, indexed by heart rate variability (HRV), and overall survival (OS) in patients (N = 272) with advanced pancreatic cancer. A "historical prospective" design was employed, where vagal activity and other confounders were retroactively obtained from medical charts at diagnosis, and subsequent OS was examined. HRV was obtained from 10 sec ECGs near diagnosis. Levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured as an inflammatory marker. OS and survival date were obtained from medical charts and the Belgian national registry. Patients with high HRV (>20 msec) survived on average more than double the days (133.5) than those with low HRV (64.0). In a multivariate cox regression, higher initial HRV was significantly correlated with lower risk of death, independent of confounders including age and cancer treatments. This relationship was statistically mediated (accounted for) by CRP levels. Importantly, in patients who lived up to one month from diagnosis only, HRV was unrelated to CRP, while in patients surviving longer, HRV was significantly inversely related to CRP (r = -0.20, p < 0.05). These results are in line with possible vagal nerve protection in a fatal cancer, and propose that the mechanism may involve neuroimmuno-modulation. Future studies must test whether vagal nerve activation may help patients with advanced cancers.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Temporomandibular pain and visual disturbance at the emergency department: Not Always a Horton arteritis

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Higher incidence of arrhythmia in COVID-19 than in other community-acquired pneumonia: possible role of concurrent therapies

SCOPUS: le.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Study conclude that TXA in severely injured was associated with lower mortality: beware of potential confounders

SCOPUS: le.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Comparison between meropenem and ceftolozane/tazobactam: possible influence of CRRT

SCOPUS: le.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe