A Datie | PubMed Health

PubMed2006

[Capacity and performance: ambulatory monitoring under controlled and real-life conditions].

OBJECTIVES: To determine the value of ambulatory monitoring in assessing human gait. To describe the sensors, the parameters and the ambulatory devices. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Literature review and practical experience about techniques, principles, objectives and limits. RESULTS: Accelerometry is the main technique for ambulatory monitoring because of its reliability, pertinence of signals and software developed for interpretation. Simultaneous monitoring of heart rate response is clinically relevant. Pedometers and actimeters can answer precise clinical questions about amount of walking activity. CONCLUSION: Ambulatory monitoring during long periods (one day or more) is important, especially for rehabilitation medicine because it measures the actual patient activity performed and participation. The simultaneous monitoring of environmental conditions of activity should improve the interpretation of the data collected.

Humans↗

PubMed1993

[Pituitary abscess, treated by medication].

Pituitary abscesses are rare. The case reported here concerns a 28-year old African. Gradual development of diplopia over 6 months was the first clinical manifestation. Three months later this development had reached a more severe and infectious context, with complete right ophthalmoplegia, meningitis and coma (GCS = 9). CT scan showed an image in favour of a pituitary abscess with suprasellar extension, associated with thrombophlebitis of the cavernous sinus. An antibiotic therapy consisting of cefotaxime and metronidazole administered for 1 month, and netilmicin for 15 days succeeded in controlling the infectious syndrome. This resulted in cure of visual disorders, reduction in size of the CT scan image and reconstruction of the pituitary sella which had been destroyed. The diagnosis of pituitary abscess should be made when confronted with an infectious syndrome (unexplained fever, repeated meningitis). CT does not recognize the nature of the hypophyseal mass it shows: necrosis of a pituitary adenoma, giant aneurysm or craniopharyngioma may mimic local infection. Surgery confirms the diagnosis and is regarded as the best treatment. The patient's life is threatened when meningitis is present, and the functional prognosis is poor when recovery from visual disorders is compromised due to late diagnosis. In this paper a comparative analysis of the clinical course of the disease and therapeutic data in our patient is presented and compared with other reported cases.

Abscess↗