Presentation of Dyke-Davidoff-Masson Syndrome in a 32-Year-Old Female: Report of a Rare Case With a Literature Review

Dyke-Davidoff-Masson syndrome (DDMS) is a rare congenital or acquired neurological disorder that most commonly affects the pediatric population but is also rarely reported in adults. DDMS results from brain injury in the intrauterine or early years of life. It is characterized by prominent cortical sulci, hyperpneumatization of the frontal sinus, unilateral cerebral hemiatrophy with ventricular dilation, and associated bony thickness of the cranial vault. Seizures and asymmetric hemiparesis are the most consistent findings in DDMS with facial asymmetry and mental retardation widely reported. Herein, we report a case of a 32-year-old female patient with DDMS presenting with a history of seizure and right-sided hemiparesis. Neuroimaging findings showed asymmetric cerebral encephalomalacia and gliosis with ex vacuo ventricular dilatation and calvarial diploic space widening. Our case report is unique in the sense that our patient presented with DDMS in adulthood with no signs of mental retardation or history of seizures during childhood and well-controlled seizures on monotherapy. Given the adult presentation of DDMS is unusual and rarely reported in the medical literature, our case report will help physicians to keep DDMS high on differential diagnoses in such cases. Awareness of the clinical features of DDMS on imaging can facilitate a timely and accurate diagnosis, thereby enabling appropriate and prompt management.

Acute Upper Respiratory Infection in a Pediatric Patient During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Report

Upper respiratory infections (URIs) are a frequent presentation of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has had a major detrimental impact on the pediatric population. In this case report, we detail the pandemic-related treatment of a five-year-old patient who had an acute upper respiratory illness. The case report begins with an overview of the COVID-19 pandemic, then discusses the difficulties in identifying and treating pediatric patients with respiratory illnesses in the current setting. In this report, we describe the case of a five-year-old child who originally displayed signs and symptoms of a viral URI that, with further investigation, proved unrelated to COVID-19. Treatment for the patient included symptom control, monitoring, and ultimately recovery. This study stresses the necessity for adequate diagnostic testing, individualized treatment plans, and ongoing surveillance for respiratory infections in pediatric patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Supportive management of patients with pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma undergoing noninvasive treatment

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Many publications review perioperative management of pheochromocytomas/paragangliomas (PPGLs); however, a large population, including 10-20% of metastatic PPGL patients, have inoperable disease. This has necessitated the development of noninvasive treatments (e.g., radio/chemotherapy), which, in affording disease-modification, have led to an ever-growing population of surviving patients with inoperable PPGL. These patients experience debilitating symptoms arising from discomforts related to the masses themselves (e.g., pain from osseous metastasis) and symptoms from tumoral catecholamine production and release. Unfortunately, management of these conditions is not yet well-defined. Adding further insult-to-injury, these noninvasive treatments can trigger catecholamine release, worsening catecholamine-induced symptoms. Herein, we detail these ailments and their management, especially while patients receive these noninvasive treatments.

RECENT FINDINGS

Improved diagnostic evaluations have allowed for earlier detection of PPGL, prolonging survival in patients with inoperable PPGLs. Accordingly, noninvasive treatment strategies have rapidly evolved alongside state-of- the-art theranostics and genetic testing, which inform ongoing management and therapeutic response.

SUMMARY

While treatments afford improved survival, there must be a corresponding attention to quality-of-life. This is ensured by employing supportive management, which mitigates debilitating symptoms. This is best accomplished with a multidisciplinary approach and familiarity with genetic and biochemical determinants which guide patient education and management.

Cluster analysis for symptomatic management of Neisseria gonorrhoea and Chlamydia trachomatis in sexually transmitted infections related clinics in China

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to perform a cluster analysis of symptoms linked with Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and to identify which cluster of symptoms was associated with a higher risk of NG and CT.

STUDY DESIGN

From 15 April to 16 May 2018, a cross-sectional study was conducted, and patients attending sexually transmitted infections (STI) related clinics were recruited from 22 medical institutions in six districts of Shenzhen city.

METHODS

A structured questionnaire was used to collect social-demographic information as well as STI symptoms, and urine samples were collected for nucleic acid detection. Cluster analysis and logistic regression were applied.

RESULTS

Among 8,207 participants, the prevalence of CT and NG infection was 9.04% (742/8,207) and 2.36% (194/8,207), respectively. Among male outpatients, four clusters with distinct symptomatic patterns were identified. Unmarried, having casual sexual partners in the past 6 months, cluster 2 (OR = 6.70, 95% CI = 3.36-13.35) and cluster 4 (OR = 24.53, 95% CI = 12.96-46.44) were risk factors associated with NG infection. Unmarried, cluster 2 (OR = 2.54, 95% CI = 1.83-3.53) and cluster 4 (OR = 3.31, 95% CI = 2.37-4.61) were risk factors associated with CT infection. Among female outpatients, five clusters with distinct symptomatic patterns were identified. Aged 24 years or below and cluster 3 (OR = 3.68, 95% CI = 1.61-8.39) were risk factors associated with NG infection. Aged 24 years or below, unmarried, having a high school/secondary technical school education, and having junior high school or below education were risk factors associated with CT infection.

CONCLUSION

The cluster of symptoms integrated into risk assessment for CT and NG infections suggests a new strategy of symptomatic management. Healthcare providers in STI clinics and resource-limited places may use this strategy to identify more potential patients and deliver adequate, acceptable, and equitable STI care for outpatients with a high risk of STI.

Therapeutic strategies for C9orf72 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

An intronic G4C2 expansion mutation in C9orf72 is the most common genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia (C9-ALS/FTD). Although there are currently no treatments for this insidious, fatal disease, intense research has led to promising therapeutic strategies, which will be discussed here.

RECENT FINDINGS

Therapeutic strategies for C9-ALS/FTD have primarily focused on reducing the toxic effects of mutant expansion RNAs or the dipeptide repeat proteins (DPRs). The pathogenic effects of G4C2 expansion transcripts have been targeted using approaches aimed at promoting their degradation, inhibiting nuclear export or silencing transcription. Other promising strategies include immunotherapy to reduce the DPRs themselves, reducing RAN translation, removing the repeats using DNA or RNA editing and manipulation of downstream disease-altered stress granule pathways. Finally, understanding the molecular triggers that lead to pheno-conversion may lead to opportunities that can delay symptomatic disease onset.

SUMMARY

A large body of evidence implicates RAN-translated DPRs as a main driver of C9-ALS/FTD. Promising therapeutic strategies for these devastating diseases are being rapidly developed with several approaches already in or approaching clinical trials.

Improving symptom management for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

INTRODUCTION

Symptomatic management is the main focus of ALS clinical care. We aim to report the prevalence of ALS-related symptoms and characterize self-reported symptomatic management.

METHODS

A symptom management survey developed by the Muscular Dystrophy Association Clinical Research Network was completed by ALS registrants. Logistic regression identified potential predictors of symptom prevalence, severity, and treatment.

RESULTS

A total of 567 ALS participants reported fatigue (90%), muscle stiffness (84%), and muscle cramps (74%) as most prevalent symptoms. Fatigue (18%), muscle stiffness (14%), and shortness of breath (12%) were most bothersome. Although fatigue was the most prevalent symptom, it was also least treated (10%). Neither location of care nor disease duration was associated with symptom prevalence, severity, or probability of receiving treatment.

DISCUSSION

This large patient-reported symptom survey suggests that fatigue is the most prevalent, bothersome, and undertreated ALS symptom. Improving ALS symptom management is an unmet medical need and clinical trials of symptomatic treatments are needed. Muscle Nerve 57: 20-24, 2018.

Patient care and management of frontotemporal lobar degeneration

Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is a neurodegenerative disease that affects frontal and temporal regions of the brain. Two proteins indicated in the pathology are tau and the recently discovered TDP-43. Major manifestations include progressive aphasia and a disorder of social comportment. The diagnosis of a patient includes a detailed cognitive exam, clinical testing, and neuroimaging techniques. The current goal of therapy for FTLD is symptomatic management with medications borrowed from other conditions. Nonpharmacologic management such as behavioral interventions and environmental engineering are also efficacious in optimizing quality of life.