Made by DATEXIS (Data Science and Text-based Information Systems) at Beuth University of Applied Sciences Berlin
Deep Learning Technology: Sebastian Arnold, Betty van Aken, Paul Grundmann, Felix A. Gers and Alexander Löser. Learning Contextualized Document Representations for Healthcare Answer Retrieval. The Web Conference 2020 (WWW'20)
Funded by The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy; Grant: 01MD19013D, Smart-MD Project, Digital Technologies
During pregnancy, even in the absence of preconception cardiovascular abnormality, women with Marfan syndrome are at significant risk of aortic dissection, which is often fatal even when rapidly treated. Women with Marfan syndrome, then, should receive a thorough assessment prior to conception, and echocardiography should be performed every six to 10 weeks during pregnancy, to assess the aortic root diameter. For most women, safe vaginal delivery is possible.
Marfan syndrome is expressed dominantly. This means a child with one parent a bearer of the gene has a 50% probability of getting the syndrome. In 1996, the first preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) therapy for Marfan was conducted; in essence PGT means conducting a genetic test on early-stage IVF embryo cells and discarding those embryos affected by the Marfan mutation.
Many other disorders can produce the same type of body characteristics as Marfan syndrome. Genetic testing and evaluating other signs and symptoms can help to differentiate these. The following are some of the disorders that can manifest as "marfanoid":
- Congenital contractural arachnodactyly or Beals syndrome
- Ehlers–Danlos syndrome
- Homocystinuria
- Loeys–Dietz syndrome
- MASS phenotype
- Multiple endocrine neoplasia, type 2B
- Shprintzen–Goldberg syndrome
- Stickler syndrome
Treatment with lamotrigine has been reported.
Treatment by acupuncture has been reported.
As mentioned, permissive hypotension is unwise. Especially if the crushing weight is on the patient more than 4 hours, but often if it persists more than one hour, careful fluid overload is wise, as well as the administration of intravenous sodium bicarbonate. The San Francisco emergency services protocol calls for a basic adult dose of a 2 L bolus of normal saline followed by 500 ml/h, limited for "pediatric patients and patients with history of cardiac or renal dysfunction."
If the patient cannot be fluid loaded, this may be an indication for a tourniquet to be applied.
The clinician must protect the patient against hypotension, renal failure, acidosis, hyperkalemia and hypocalcemia. Admission to an intensive care unit, preferably one experienced in trauma medicine, may be appropriate; even well-seeming patients need observation. Treat open wounds as surgically appropriate, with debridement, antibiotics and tetanus toxoid; apply ice to injured areas.
Intravenous hydration of up to 1.5 L/hour should continue to prevent hypotension. A urinary output of at least 300 ml/hour should be maintained with IV fluids and mannitol, and hemodialysis considered if this amount of diuresis is not achieved. Use intravenous sodium bicarbonate to keep the urine pH at 6.5 or greater, to prevent myoglobin and uric acid deposition in kidneys.
To prevent hyperkalemia/hypocalcemia, consider the following adult doses:
- calcium gluconate 10% 10ml or calcium chloride 10% 5 ml IV over 2 minutes
- sodium bicarbonate 1 meq/kg IV slow push
- regular insulin 5–10 U
- 50% glucose 1–2 ampules IV bolus
- kayexalate 25–50 g with sorbitol 20% 100 ml by mouth or rectum.
Even so, cardiac arrhythmias may develop; electrocardiographic monitoring is advised, and specific treatment begun promptly.
Brachioradial pruritus (BRP) is a localized pruritus of the dorsolateral aspect of the arm. BRP is an enigmatic condition with a controversial cause; some authors consider BRP to be a photodermatosis, whereas other authors attribute BRP to compression of cervical nerve roots.
BRP may be attributed to a neuropathy, such as chronic cervical radiculopathy. The possibility of an underlying neuropathy should be considered in the evaluation and treatment of all patients with BRP.
The main cause of BRP is not known, but there is evidence to suggest that BRP may arise in the nervous system. Cervical spine disease may be an important contributing factor.
Patients with BRP may have underlying cervical spine pathology. Whether this association is causal or coincidental remains to be determined.
There is controversy regarding the cause of brachioradial pruritus: is it caused by a nerve compression in the cervical spine or is it caused by a prolonged exposure to sunlight?
In many patients, itching of the arms or shoulders is seasonal. Some patients reported neck pain.
BRP can be linked to the thyroid.
The disease is chronic and often progresses slowly. Prognosis is generally poor when associated with glaucoma [1,2].
Atrophia Maculosa Varioliformis Cutis (AMVC) is a condition involving spontaneous scarring, specifically depressed scars on the face occurring over a period of months to years. It appears to only affect children and young adults, is considered to be quite rare, normally occurs on the cheeks, temple area and forehead, and is not well understood nor presently treatable. Case reports indicate the scars deepen over time but remain relatively superficial, and with the frequency of new scar appearance diminishing over time.
AMVC is quite difficult to diagnose, for reasons including the depressed box and ice pick scars being very similar to that caused by Acne vulgaris. A confident diagnosis can be made if such scars recently appeared without present acne and without a history of acne. Otherwise the correct diagnosis is usually not made, and even doing so provides little benefit as there is no treatment. It has been suggested in case reports that the condition, although rare, is likely underreported.
Penetrating karatoplasty and endothelial keratoplasty can be used as treatments for severe cases of ICE [2,8]. Because glaucoma and elevated intraocular pressure are often present in ICE patients, long term follow up may be needed to ensure adequate intraocular pressures are maintained [2,7]
Diagnosis is typically obtained by an allergist or other licensed practitioner performing a cold test. During the cold test, a piece of ice is held against the forearm, typically for 3–4 minutes. A positive result is a specific looking mark of raised red hives. The hives may be the shape of the ice, or it may radiate from the contact area of the ice." However, while these techniques assist in diagnosis, they do not provide information about temperature and stimulation time thresholds at which patients will start to develop symptoms."which is essential because it can establish disease severity and monitor the effectiveness of treatment.
Screening athletes for cardiac disease can be problematic because of low prevalence and inaccurate performance of various tests that have been used. Nevertheless, sudden death among seemingly healthy individuals attracts much public and legislator attention because of its visible and tragic nature.
As an example, the Texas Legislature appropriated US$1 million for a pilot study of statewide athlete screening in 2007. The study employed a combination of questionnaire, examination and electrocardiography for 2,506 student athletes, followed by echocardiography for 2,051 of them, including any students with abnormal findings from the first three steps. The questionnaire alone flagged 35% of the students as potentially at risk, but there were many false positive results, with actual disease being confirmed in less than 2%. Further, a substantial number of screen-positive students declined repeated recommendations for follow-up evaluation. (Individuals who are conclusively diagnosed with cardiac disease are usually told to avoid competitive sports.) It should be stressed that this was a single pilot program, but it was indicative of the problems associated with large-scale screening, and consistent with experience in other locations with low prevalence of sudden death in athletes.
In terms of the prognosis of ulnar neuropathy early decompression of the nerve sees a return to normal ability (function). which should be immediate.Severe cubital tunnel syndrome tends to have a faster recovery process in individuals below the age of 70, as opposed to those above such an age. Finally, revisional surgery for cubital tunnel syndrome does not result well for those individuals over 50 years of age.
Among the diagnostic procedures done to determine if the individual has ulnar neuropathy are (but may not be limited to the following):
- Nerve conduction exam/study (Nerve Conduction Velocity is a measurements made in a nerve conduction exam)
- Physical exam
- Medical history
- X ray
- CBC
- Urinalysis
- MRI
- Ultrasound
- Histology study
Diagnosis is largely based on patient description and relevant details about recent surgeries, hip injuries, or repetitive activities that could irritate the nerve. Examination checks for sensory differences between the affected leg and the other leg. Accurate diagnosis may require an abdominal and pelvic examination to exclude problems in those areas.
Electromyographic (EMG) nerve-conduction studies may be required. X-rays may be needed to exclude bone abnormalities that might put pressure on the nerve; likewise CT or MRI scans to exclude soft tissue causes such as a tumor.
Immediate treatment consists of rinsing the bite site in cold water. If not too painful, ice the bite site. This constricts the blood vessels so the venom does not spread. Also recommended is papain, an enzyme that breaks down protein. Papain can be found in meat tenderizer and papaya. This deactivates the majority of the centipede venom's proteins. Depending on the type of centipede and level of envenomation, this treatment may not degrade the entire venom dose and residual pain will remain.
Individuals who are bitten by centipedes are sometimes given a urine test to check for muscle tissue breakdown and/or an EKG to check for heart and vascular problems.
Reassurance and pain relief is often given in the form of painkillers, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, antihistamines and anti-anxiety medications. In a severe case the affected limb can be elevated and administered diuretic medications.
Wound care principles and sometimes antibiotics are used to keep the wound itself from becoming infected or necrotic.
In Barbados, a folk remedy involves applying a freshly cut onion to the site of the injury "bite" for 10 minutes. Repeat until relief is obtained.
The following diagnostic criteria are given for ophthalmodynia periodica:
1. Head pain occurring as a single stab or a series of stabs
2. Solely felt in the areas surrounding the eyes and temples
3. Pain lasting only a few seconds with irregular frequency
4. No additional symptoms
5. "Not attributed to another disorder"
Diagnosis of aquagenic urticaria will begin with an evaluation of the patient's clinical history looking for any signs of what might be causing this severe reaction. The patient will then be put to a water treatment test where water will be applied to the upper body for 30 minutes. Water may be placed directly on the skin or a soaked paper towel may be applied. In many cases distilled water, tap water and saline will be used to check for a difference in reaction. After this is removed the skin will be checked for a reaction for the next 10–15 minutes. Because aqugenic urticaria frequently accompanies other types of physical urticaraia, the doctor may perform tests to check for these other conditions. An ice cube may be placed on the forearm for a few minutes to check for cold urticarial, exposure to a hot bath will be used to check for Cholinergis uticaria and the lesions will be inspected to determine the root cause of their appearance.
Evaluations for aquagenic urticaria consist of a clinical history and water challenge test. The standard test for aquagenic urticaria is application of a 35 °C water compress to the upper body for 30 minutes. Water of any temperature can provoke aquagenic urticaria; however, keeping the compress at a similar temperature to that of the human body (37 °C) avoids confusion with cold-induced or local heat urticaria. In addition, a forearm or hand can be immersed in water of varying temperatures. A diagnosis of aquagenic urticaria requires exclusion of other types of physical urticaria, so an exercise test and ice cube test should be performed to rule out other types of physical urticarial. aquagenic urticaria should be distinguished from aquagenic pruritus, in which brief contact with water evokes intense itching without wheals or erythema. The pathogenesis of aquagenic urticaria is not fully known; however, several mechanisms have been proposed. Interaction with water with a component in or on the stratum corneum or sebum, generating a toxic compound, has been suggested. Absorption of this substance would exert an effect of perifollicular mast cell degranulation with release of histamine.
Ophthalmodynia periodica is also referred to as "ice-pick headache", "needle-in-the-eye syndrome", and "sharp short-lived head pain." Ophthalmodynia periodica is considered a primary headache disorder, so it is not caused by any other conditions. Another well-known name for ophthalmodynia periodica is "jabs and jolts syndrome."
Treatment varies. In most cases, the best treatment is to remove the cause of compression by modifying patient behavior, in combination with medical treatment to relieve inflammation and pain. Whatever the cause, typical treatment takes several weeks to months—depending on the degree of nerve damage. Typical treatment options include:
- Active Release Technique (ART) soft tissue treatment
- Wearing looser clothing and suspenders rather than belts
- Weight loss if obesity is present
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to reduce inflammatory pain if pain level limits motion and prevents sleep
- Reducing physical activity in relation to pain level. Acute pain may require absolute bed rest
- Deep tissue massage to reduce tension in the gluteal muscles, most commonly the gluteus maximus. The tensor fasciae latae may also be implicated.
The lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh can occasionally be damaged during laparoscopic hernia repair, or scarring from the operation can lead to meralgia paraesthetica.
For lower pain levels, treatment may involve having the patient:
- Seek appropriate physical therapy, such as stretching and massage, which plays a large role in the management of pain
- Learn to perform inguinal ligament stretching (from a physical therapist or from a YouTube video) which can rapidly relieve symptoms
- Use rest periods to interrupt long periods of standing, walking, cycling, or other aggravating activity
- Lose weight, and exercise to strengthen abdominal muscles
- Wear clothing that is loose at the upper front hip area
- Apply heat, ice, or electrical stimulation
- Take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications for 7–10 days
- Remove hair in affected area (shave)
- Lidocaine patches (must shave area first)
- Titanium dioxide patches to interfere with the electrostatic effect of the nerves on the surface of the skin
Pain may take significant time (weeks) to stop and, in some cases, numbness persists despite treatment. In severe cases, the physician might perform a local nerve block at the inguinal ligament, using a combination of local anaesthetic (lidocaine) and corticosteroids to provide relief that may last several weeks. Pain modifier drugs for neuralgic pain (such as amitriptyline, carbamazepine or gabapentin) may be tried, but are often not as helpful in the majority of patients.
Persistent and severe cases may require surgery to decompress the nerve or, as a last resort, to resect the nerve. The latter treatment leaves permanent numbness in the area.
If severe pain persists after the first 24hours it is recommended that an individual consult with a professional who can make a diagnosis and implement a treatment plan so the patient can return to everyday activities (Flegel, 2004). These are some of the tools that a professional can use to help make a full diagnosis;
Nerve conduction studies may also be used to localize nerve dysfunction ("e.g.", carpal tunnel syndrome), assess severity, and help with prognosis.
Electrodiagnosis also helps differentiate between myopathy and neuropathy.
Ultimately, the best method of imaging soft tissue is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), though it is cost-prohibitive and carries a high false positive rate.
Most hand injuries are minor and can heal without difficulty. However, any time the hand or finger is cut, crushed or the pain is ongoing, it is best to see a physician. Hand injuries when not treated on time can result in long term morbidity.
Antibiotics in simple hand injuries do not typically require antibiotics as they do not change the chance of infection.
Massage therapy using trigger-point release techniques may be effective in short-term pain relief. Physical therapy involving gentle stretching and exercise is useful for recovering full range of motion and motor coordination. Once the trigger points are gone, muscle strengthening exercise can begin, supporting long-term health of the local muscle system.
Myofascial release, which involves gentle fascia manipulation and massage, may improve or remediate the condition.
A systematic review concluded that dry needling for the treatment of myofascial pain syndrome in the lower back appeared to be a useful adjunct to standard therapies, but that clear recommendations could not be made because the published studies were small and of low quality.
Posture evaluation and ergonomics may provide significant relief in the early stages of treatment. Movement therapies such as Alexander Technique and Feldenkrais Method may also be helpful.
Gentle, sustained stretching exercises within a comfortable range of motion have been shown to decrease pain thresholds. Regular, non-intense activity is also encouraged.
The first-line therapy in ColdU, as recommended by EAACI/GA2 LEN/EDF/WAO guidelines, is symptomatic relief with second-generation H1- antihistamines. if standard doses are ineffective increasing up to 4-fold is recommended to control symptoms.
The second-generation H1-antihistamine, rupatadine, was found to significantly reduce the development of chronic cold urticaria symptom without an increase in adverse effects using 20 and 40 mg.
Allergy medications containing antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), cetirizine (Zyrtec), loratidine (Claritin), cyproheptadine (Periactin), and fexofenadine (Allegra) may be taken orally to prevent and relieve some of the hives (depending on the severity of the allergy). For those who have severe anaphylactic reactions, a prescribed medicine such as doxepin, which is taken daily, should help to prevent and/or lessen the likelihood of a reaction and thus, anaphylaxis. There are also topical antihistamine creams which are used to help relieve hives in other conditions, but there is not any documentation stating it will relieve hives induced by cold temperature.
Cold hives can result in a potentially serious, or even fatal, systemic reaction (anaphylactic shock). People with cold hives may have to carry an injectable form of epinephrine (like Epi-pen or Twinject) for use in the event of a serious reaction.
The best treatment for this allergy is avoiding exposure to cold temperature.
Studies have found that Omalizumab (Xolair) may be an effective and safe treatment to cold urticaria for patient who do not sufficiently respond to standard treatments.
Ebastine has been proposed as an approach to prevent acquired cold urticaria.
The causes of MPS are not fully documented or understood. At least one study rules out trigger points: "The theory of myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) caused by trigger points (TrPs) ... has been refuted. This is not to deny the existence of the clinical phenomena themselves, for which scientifically sound and logically plausible explanations based on known neurophysiological phenomena can be advanced." Some systemic diseases, such as connective tissue disease, can cause MPS. Poor posture and emotional disturbance might also instigate or contribute to MPS.
Cardiomyopathies are generally inherited as autosomal dominants, although recessive forms have been described, and dilated cardiomyopathy can also be inherited in an X-linked pattern. Consequently, in addition to tragedy involving an athlete who succumbs, there are medical implications for close relatives. Among family members of index cases, more than 300 causative mutations have been identified. However, not all mutations have the same potential for severe outcomes, and there is not yet a clear understanding of how these mutations (which affect the same myosin protein molecule) can lead to the dramatically different clinical characteristics and outcomes associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).
Since HCM, as an example, is typically an autosomal dominant trait, each child of an HCM parent has a 50% chance of inheriting the mutation. In individuals without a family history, the most common cause of the disease is a "de novo" mutation of the gene that produces the β-myosin heavy chain.