Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Approach to Pineal Germinoma: A Case Report

Intracranial germ cell tumors (GCTs) are rare malignant tumors with a peak incidence around puberty. The pineal region is the most commonly involved area of all intracranial GCTs. Due to the heterogeneous tumor origin, subtypes, and presentation, diagnosis and management are challenging. Complicated pineal germinomas are rarely reported in the literature. Here, we report a rare case of pineal germinoma with hydrocephalus and discuss the potential treatment approach. A 20-year-old boy presented to the hospital with vomiting and a decreased level of consciousness. The brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a pineal tumor. A ventriculoperitoneal shunt was placed to relieve the increased intracranial pressure. The patient underwent a suboccipital craniotomy with excisional biopsy of the pineal region tumor due to its critical location, as imaging studies alone may not be sufficient to establish a definitive diagnosis. Although there has been a rise in reported cases of germinoma tumors, there is currently no standardized therapeutic approach for treating them. Therefore, more randomized controlled cohort studies are necessary to evaluate potential treatments and develop a therapeutic approach.

An Update on Acute Appendicitis in Lebanon: Insights From a Single-Center Retrospective Study

Background Acute appendicitis is the most common surgical emergency worldwide with scarce reports about its prevalence in the Middle East. To date, no epidemiological article has described the incidence of appendicitis in Lebanon. Our primary objective was to estimate the rate of appendicitis in a single center in Lebanon. Our secondary objectives included identifying differences between simple and complicated appendicitis regarding demographics, pre and postoperative characteristics, and symptoms and signs of appendicitis. Methodology A retrospective study was conducted at a single central university hospital in Lebanon. Patients with a clear diagnosis of acute appendicitis were included. Pregnant women, lactating women, patients with organ dysfunction, and patients younger than 18 years old or older than 80 years old were excluded. We reviewed and collected the data of patients who presented to the hospital between November 2018 and November 2019 and November 2020 and November 2021. Results A total of 95 patients were included in our study, with 35 women and 60 men. The mean body mass index of patients with simple appendicitis was 19.14 ± 9.66 kg/m² compared to 18.97 ± 10.37 kg/m² in patients with complicated appendicitis (p = 0.94). A total of 42.3% of patients who used antibiotics 24 hours after the operation had simple appendicitis, whereas 20.8% had complicated appendicitis (p = 0.004). Conclusions Antibiotic usage and the length of hospital stay were correlated with the severity of appendicitis, as reported in the literature. Further randomized studies with a larger number of patients and covering several hospitals in Lebanon are warranted.

Ab initio study of the lowest-lying electronic states of LuCl molecules

By using the CASSCF/MRCI methods, the theoretical electronic structure of the LuCl molecule has been investigated. These methods have been performed for 20 singlet and triplet electronic states in the representation (2s+1)Λ((±)). Calculated potential energy curves (PECs) are also displayed. Spectroscopic constants including the harmonic vibrational wavenumber ω(e) (cm(-1)), the relative electronic energy T(e) (cm(-1)) referred to the ground state, and the equilibrium internuclear distance R(e) (Å) have been predicted for all of the singlet and triplet electronic states situated below 43,000 cm(-1). Spin-orbit effects have also been taken into consideration and calculated for the lowest-lying electronic states in the representation Ω((±)).

[Maximal exercise in spinal cord injured subjects: effects of an antigravity suit]

Paraplegics have low aerobic capacity because of the spinal cord injury. Their functional muscle mass is reduced and usually untrained. They have to use upperbody muscles for displacements and daily activities. Sympathic nervous system injury is responsible of vasomotricity disturbances in leg vessels and possible abdominal vessels, proportionally to level injury. If cord injury level is higher than T5, then sympathic cardiac efferences may be damaged. Underbody muscles atrophy and vasomotricity disturbances contribute to phlebostasis. This stasis may decrease venous return, preload and stroke volume (Starling). To maintain appropriate cardiac output, tachycardia is necessary, especially during exercise. Low stroke volume, all the more since it is associated with cardio-acceleration disturbances, may reduce cardiac output reserve, and so constitutes a limiting factor for adaptation to exercise. The aim of this study was to verify if use of an underlesional pressure suit may increase cardiac output reserve because of lower venous stasis, and increase performance. We studied 10 able-bodied and 14 traumatic paraplegic subjects. Able-bodied subjects were 37 +/- 6 years old, wellbeing, not especially trained with upperbody muscles: there were 2 women and 8 men. Paraplegics were 27 +/- 7 years old, wellbeing except paraplegia, five of them practiced sport regularly (athletism or basket for disabled), and the others just daily propelled their wheelchair; there were 5 women and 9 men. For 8 of them, cord injury levels were located below T7, between T1 and T6 for the others. The age disability varied from 6 months to 2 years for 9 of them, it was approximately five years for 4 of them, and 20 years for one. We used a maximal triangular arm crank exercise with an electro-magnetic ergocycle Gauthier frame. After five minutes warm up, it was proceeded in one minute successive stages until maximal oxygen consumption is raised. VO2, VCO2, RER were measured by direct method with an Ergostar analyser every 30 seconds. Heart rate was registered continuously using a cardio-frequence-meter Baumann, and ECG was observed on a Cardiovit electro-cardiograph. Each subject reached maximal exercises on different days: one without any contention, and the other one with abdomen and legs contention using an antigravity suit, inflated to 45-50 mm Hg for legs and 30-40 mm Hg for abdomen. The able-bodied subjects VO2 peak was 24 +/- 5.8 mL min-1 kg-1, without any change on peak VO2 and on cardiac frequency when pressure suit was used. Results were different for paraplegics: peak VO2 was significantly higher (21.5 +/- 6.5 mL min-1 kg-1 without contention and 23.8 +/- 6.3 mL min-1 kg-1 with contention), heart rate was significantly lower at all stages of exercise with antigravity suit and comfort was better during exercise and rest. In our study, contention contributed to increase paraplegics's performances, but responses depend also on spinal cord level, injury age, spasticity. Therefore, testing paraplegics using an antigravity suit may be useful to determine if neurovegetative disturbances significantly modify their cardiac adaptation and capability. If gravity suit is efficient, contention tights might be prescribed, with respect to subject's legs measurements. But, because these tights are very difficult to put on, their efficiency has to be proved before, the motivation of the subject is essential too.