Supraorbital craniotomy to approach the sellar and the parasellar regions

We report on the experience with supraorbital minicraniotomy in a series of 36 operated cases with good results: 31 aneurysms, 4 pituitary adenomas, 1 anaplastic astrocytoma and 1 arachnoid cyst. One death occurred in this series. The technique is detailed. We conclude that the minicraniotomy is a safe method for the treatment of several parasellar pathologies.The efficacy must be evaluated in clinical trials concerning other approaches.Relatamos nossa experiência com a minicraniotomia supraorbital em uma série de 36 pacientes operados, com resultados satisfatórios. Foram operados 31 aneurismas 4 adenomas hipofisários, um astrocitoma anaplásico e um cisto aracnóide. Houve um óbito na série. A técnica foi descrita em detalhes. Concluimos que a minicraniotomia é um método seguro para o tratamento de várias patologias parasselares, devendo ser avaliada a sua eficácia em estudos comparativos com as técnicas tradicionais.Universidade Federal da Bahia Faculdade de MedicinaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de MedicinaUNIFESP, EPMSciEL

Cardiac safety of dual anti-HER2 blockade with pertuzumab plus trastuzumab in early HER2-positive breast cancer in the APHINITY trial.

BACKGROUND Trastuzumab increases the incidence of cardiac events (CEs) in patients with breast cancer (BC). Dual blockade with pertuzumab (P) and trastuzumab (T) improves BC outcomes and is the standard of care for high-risk human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive early BC patients. We analyzed the cardiac safety of P and T in the phase III APHINITY trial. PATIENTS AND METHODS Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥ 55% was required at study entry. LVEF assessment was carried out every 3 months during treatment, every 6 months up to month 36, and yearly up to 10 years. Primary CE was defined as heart failure class III/IV and a significant decrease in LVEF (defined as ≥10% from baseline and to <50%), or cardiac death. Secondary CE was defined as a confirmed significant decrease in LVEF, or CEs confirmed by the cardiac advisory board. RESULTS The safety analysis population consisted of 4769 patients. With 74 months of median follow-up, CEs were observed in 159 patients (3.3%): 83 (3.5%) in P + T and 76 (3.2%) in T arms, respectively. Most CEs occurred during anti-HER2 therapy (123; 77.4%) and were asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic decreases in LVEF (133; 83.6%). There were two cardiac deaths in each arm (0.1%). Cardiac risk factors indicated were age > 65 years, body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m2, baseline LVEF between 55% and <60%, and use of an anthracycline-containing chemotherapy regimen. Acute recovery from a CE based on subsequent LVEF values was observed in 127/155 patients (81.9%). CONCLUSIONS Dual blockade with P + T does not increase the risk of CEs compared with T alone. The use of anthracycline-based chemotherapy increases the risk of a CE; hence, non-anthracycline chemotherapy may be considered, particularly in patients with cardiovascular risk factors

Molecular analysis of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in an HIV co-infected patient with reactivation of occult HBV infection following discontinuation of lamivudine-including antiretroviral therapy

Abstract Background Occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (OBI) is characterized by HBV DNA persistence even though the pattern of serological markers indicates an otherwise resolved HBV infection. Although OBI is usually clinically silent, immunocompromised patients may experience reactivation of the liver disease. Case presentation We report the case of an individual with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and anti-HBV core antibody positivity, who experienced severe HBV reactivation after discontinuation of lamivudine-including antiretroviral therapy (ART). HBV sequencing analysis showed a hepatitis B surface antigen escape mutant whose presence in an earlier sample excluded reinfection. Molecular sequencing showed some differences between two isolates collected at a 9-year interval, indicating HBV evolution. Resumption of ART containing an emtricitabine/tenofovir combination allowed control of plasma HBV DNA, which fell to undetectable levels. Conclusion This case stresses the ability of HBV to evolve continuously, even during occult infection, and the effectiveness of ART in controlling OBI reactivation in HIV-infected individuals.</p

Dostoyevsky and epilepsy: between science and mystique Dostoiévski e a epilepsia: entre a ciência e a mística

This article, the result of a research project presented as a Master's degree dissertation in the graduate program of "Teaching of Health Education" at UNIFESP, seeks to highlight the pertinence of analyzing epilepsy and especially, the paradoxical experience of the epileptic individual through literary narrative. Using as its object the novel, The Idiot, by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, it seeks to discuss the relationship between epilepsy and the mystic experience, bearing in mind the context of the scientific and humanistic perspectives of the 19th century and today.<br>Este artigo, fruto de uma pesquisa apresentada como dissertação de mestrado junto ao programa de pós-graduação "Ensino em Ciências da Saúde" da UNIFESP, procura apontar a pertinência de se analisar a epilepsia e, principalmente, a paradoxal experiência do epiléptico através da narrativa literária. Tomando como objeto o romance O Idiota, de Fiódor Dostoiévski, procura-se discutir a relação entre epilepsia e experiência mística, considerando o contexto das perspectivas científicas e humanísticas do século XIX e de hoje