Levodopa-Entacapone-Carbidopa Intestinal Gel in the Treatment of Advanced Parkinson's Disease: A Single Center Real-World Experience

Levodopa-entacapone-carbidopa intestinal gel infusion is a relatively new treatment option for advanced Parkinson's disease. We aimed to describe and analyze the characteristics of de novo levodopa-entacapone-carbidopa intestinal gel therapy in 20 consecutive patients with advanced Parkinson's disease. We assessed the profile of motor complications by evaluating the following: motor fluctuations, dyskinesias, and the freezing phenomenon at baseline (before the testing period) and before discharge. The treatment significantly reduced the duration of daily hours spent in off time compared with baseline pre-treatment values from a mean of 4.8 ± 0.9 h/day to a mean of 1.4 ± 0.5 h per day (p < 0.001). The duration and severity of peak-dose dyskinesia were also significantly reduced compared with baseline values. Out of the 10 patients who reported freezing, 8 did not present this complication at the pre-discharge assessment. Significant improvements were observed in Hoehn and Yahr scale scores in both the on and off states. The levodopa-entacapone-carbidopa intestinal gel therapy was well tolerated during the follow-up period immediately after initiation. Despite a relatively severe stage of the disease, all patients experienced a significant improvement in motor fluctuations, dyskinesias, and the freezing phenomenon.

The Management of COVID-19-Related Coagulopathy: A Focus on the Challenges of Metabolic and Vascular Diseases

The course of COVID-19 is highly dependent on the associated cardiometabolic comorbidities of the patient, which worsen the prognosis of coronavirus infection, mainly due to systemic inflammation, endothelium dysfunction, and thrombosis. A search on the recent medical literature was performed in five languages, using the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Google Scholar databases, for the review of data regarding the management of patients with a high risk for severe COVID-19, focusing on the associated coagulopathy. Special features of COVID-19 management are presented, based on the underlying conditions (obesity, diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular diseases), emphasizing the necessity of a modern, holistic approach to thromboembolic states. The latest findings regarding the most efficient therapeutic approaches are included in the article, offering guidance for medical professionals in severe, complicated cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection. We can conclude that severe COVID-19 is closely related to vascular inflammation and intense cytokine release leading to hemostasis disorders. Overweight, hyperglycemia, cardiovascular diseases, and old age are important risk factors for severe outcomes of coronavirus infection, involving a hypercoagulable state. Early diagnosis and proper therapy in complicated SARS-CoV-2-infected cases could reduce mortality and the need for intensive care during hospitalization in patients with cardiometabolic comorbidities.

Pathways of Coagulopathy and Inflammatory Response in SARS-CoV-2 Infection among Type 2 Diabetic Patients

Chronic inflammation and endothelium dysfunction are present in diabetic patients. COVID-19 has a high mortality rate in association with diabetes, partially due to the development of thromboembolic events in the context of coronavirus infection. The purpose of this review is to present the most important underlying pathomechanisms in the development of COVID-19-related coagulopathy in diabetic patients. The methodology consisted of data collection and synthesis from the recent scientific literature by accessing different databases (Cochrane, PubMed, Embase). The main results are the comprehensive and detailed presentation of the very complex interrelations between different factors and pathways involved in the development of arteriopathy and thrombosis in COVID-19-infected diabetic patients. Several genetic and metabolic factors influence the course of COVID-19 within the background of diabetes mellitus. Extensive knowledge of the underlying pathomechanisms of SARS-CoV-2-related vasculopathy and coagulopathy in diabetic subjects contributes to a better understanding of the manifestations in this highly vulnerable group of patients; thus, they can benefit from a modern, more efficient approach regarding diagnostic and therapeutic management.

[Application of computed tomography and abdominal pressure measurement in the treatment of giant incisional hernias]

Introduction: Giant abdominal wall defects represent a major challenge for surgeons. CT scan can determine the ratio between the volume of the hernia sac and the abdominal cavity, determining the extent of the disproportion, which is related to the postoperative abdominal pressure value. Aim: Confirmation of the significance of CT examination in postoperative giant abdominal wall defects, effectiveness analysis of the reconstruction method by abdominal pressure measurement. Method: A prospective study is conducted on patients with giant incisional hernias, with preoperatively performed abdominal CT scan. Tension-free abdominal wall reconstruction is realized with retromuscular Prolene mesh and hernial sac. Abdominal pressure is measured during and after surgery. Patients' follow-up is performed through phone after 2-4-6 months. Results: We present our results through three cases. First case: 48-year-old woman presented a giant recurrent incisional hernia and multiple comorbidities. Maximum defect diameter was: 155 mm, hernia volume: 1536.63 cm³, BMI = 43.6. The patient was discharged after seven days. Second case: 51-year-old male patient presented with multilocular giant incisional hernia, BMI = 26,85. Maximum diameter of the two wall defects were 123 mm and 105 mm, their total volume: 406.41cm³. The patient was discharged after five days. Third case: A 67-year-old male patient presented with giant incisional hernia. The abdominal defect size was 100/100 mm (LL/CC), volume: 258.10 cm³, BMI = 23.7. The patient was discharged after four days. Conclusion: The proper surgical technique can be established based on the preoperative CT scan. Abdominal wall reconstruction with retromuscular Prolene mesh and hernial sac provides a cheap, reliable, tension-free technique. The technique's short-term efficacy can be determined by abdominal pressure measuring through the bladder. Orv Hetil. 2020; 161(9): 347-353.