Medicine

Objective: To assess the performance of a test for breast cancer utilizing synchrotron x-ray diffraction analysis of scalp hair from women undergoing diagnostic radiology assessment. Design and Setting: A double-blinded clinical trial of women who attended diagnostic radiology clinics in Australia. Patients: 1796 women referred for diagnostic radiology, with no previous history...

We present three rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients successfully treated with traditional herbal medicine (THM: Kampo). The treatment with THM resulted in a decrease in RA disease activity such as DAS28, as well as in the serum levels of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP) in 3 cases. These observations suggest that...

A 47-year-old woman demonstrated bilateral wrist joint pain during 4 weeks. Her status did not fulfill the ACR classification criteria for RA, and her symptoms had almost disappeared 4 weeks later. After about 1 year, she again complained of tenderness and swelling in the bilateral wrist joints. The laboratory data...

To assess some simple blood parameters at birth that can be used as a basis to suspect α-thalassemia minor (ATM), a prospective study involving 202 consecutive neonates with MCV of less than 95 fl or less were checked for Hb Barts by HPLC. The group was divided into two, one...

Calcified aortic valve disease is a slowly progressive disorder that ranges from mild valve thickening with no obstruction of blood flow, known as aortic sclerosis, to severe calcification with impaired leaflet motion or aortic stenosis. In the present work we describe a rapid, reproducible and effective method to carry out...

Calcified aortic valve disease is a slowly progressive disorder that ranges from mild valve thickening with no obstruction of blood flow, known as aortic sclerosis, to severe calcification with impaired leaflet motion or aortic stenosis. In the present work we describe a rapid, reproducible and effective method to carry out...

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a heterogeneous group of primary immunodeficiency disorders characterized by defective antibody production, low levels of serum immunoglobulins and increased susceptibility to infection. The patient was a 39-year-old male who was admitted to the gastroenterology department with a two week history of diarrhea, blunt abdominal pain...

Background: Pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) varies considerably in heart failure (HF) despite similar degrees of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. Bradykinin alters vascular tone and common variations in the kinin B2 receptor (BDKRB2) gene exists. We hypothesized that genetic variation in this receptor would influence PAP in HF. Methods: 131...

Objectives: Hemoptysis is an alarming symptom of underlying lung disease. Clinicians are often unsure how to deal with and follow up patients who have had a single episode of hemoptysis, especially if the cause remains unknown despite thorough examination, because a second, more severe episode of hemoptysis might occur despite...

Nicolau Syndrome, first described in the 1920’s in patients treated with bismuth salts for syphilis, is a rare adverse reaction at the site of intramuscular drug injection. It is clinically characterized by severe pain immediately after injection, and rapid development of blanched skin or livedoid reticular patches. Occlusion of peripheral...

Crossplasty is a modified O-T advancement flap. It is an alternative technique to close double surgical defects, which are arranged in a vertical line. It is useful to camouflage the scar in forehead parallel lines. Geometrically, it is an inverted T joined to a vertical linear defect. There are three...

Introduction: Thyroid hemangioma is very rare, and only a few cases have previously been reported. We encountered a patient with thyroid hemangioma diagnosed after surgery. Case Report: A 71‑year‑old woman visited our hospital with a mass in the left thyroid region. A 5‑cm, elastic mass of the thyroid was palpable in...

A new lancet with an extremely small needle (0.15 mm diameter and 0.75 mm length) mounted on a small pedestal was tested in diabetic patients for blood glucose measurement in a randomized clinical study. A total of 37 diabetic patients were enrolled for the study. A pain scale categorized from...

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of chronic complications in type 2 diabetic patients in Basrah (Southern Iraq). Methods: This was a longitudinal descriptive study for patients with diabetes registered in Al-Faiha Diabetes and Endocrine Centre in Basrah (Southern Iraq) for the period from...

The treatment for localized advance gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is far from ideal. Up to 50% of patient developed post-operative recurrence and died within 5 years. Recently, imatinib was found to significantly improve recurrence-free survival in post-operative patients. The role of adjuvant therapy in high risk GIST patients is discussed....

Metastatic tumors to the liver resulting in fulminant hepatic failure are a rare occurrence and have not been previously described in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). A 70 year-old man was referred to hospital with postprandial discomfort. On examination a 19.5 cm large epithelioid GIST of the stomach was...

Dementia is a syndrome characterized by a decline in cognitive function. Alzheimer’s disease and cerebro-vascular disease are the most common causes of dementia. Many factors (genetic, life style, vascular etc.) appear to play some role in the development of dementia. Statins significantly reduce vascular disease and could reduce cognitive impairment...

The term ‘frailty’ has often been used—by clinicians and researchers alike—to characterize the most vulnerable and weak amongst the elderly. The treatment and care of this subgroup of older individuals presents the most challenge to clinicians and other health care professionals. Although there is no clear consensus on the issue...

Objective: To evaluate adjuvant chemotherapy use for Stage III colon cancer. Methods: This analysis included 973 patients with surgically treated stage III colon cancer. Socioeconomic information from the 2000 census was linked to patients’ residential census tracts. Vital status through 12/31/02 was obtained from medical records and linkage to state vital...

Adenomatoid tumors are responsible for 30% of all paratesticular masses. These are usually asymptomatic, slow growing masses. They are benign tumors comprising of cords and tubules of cuboidal to columnar cells with vacuolated cytoplasm and fibrous stroma. They are considered to be of mesothelial origin supported by histochemical studies and...

Background: Infants with neonatal hydronephrosis and a normal voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) are presumed to have ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO). There is little current information about the natural history of children with hydronephrosis or clinical factors that predict resolution of the radiological abnormality. Objective: To determine the time course until spontaneous resolution...

Background: Indians are suspected to have higher body fat percent at a given body mass index (BMI) than their western counterparts. Objective: To estimate percent body fat in apparently healthy Indian children and adolescents by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and explore linkages of BMI with body fat percent for better health...

Stress-related diseases have been predicted to become major contributors to the Global Disease Burden within the next 20 years. Of these, depression is one of the principal identifiable sources of concern for public mental health, and has been hypothesized to be an outcome of prolonged stress. Examination of the hyper-responsiveness...

Background and Methods: Anthroposophic treatment for anxiety disorders includes special artistic and physical therapies and special medications. We conducted a prospective cohort study of 64 consecutive adult outpatients starting anthroposophic treatment for anxiety disorders under routine conditions. Main outcomes were Anxiety Severity (physician and patient ratings 0–10), Self-rating Anxiety Scale...

The gonadal arteries normally arise from the abdominal aorta. There are reports about the variant origin of these arteries. In the present study, we investigated the origin and course of the gonadal arteries and clinical implications of variant gonadal arteries are discussed. Out of 60 dissections, in 55 cases the...

Objective: To explore the relationship between coping mechanisms and suicidal ideations among women who experience symptoms of postpartum depression. Design: This exploratory descriptive study used secondary data from a study of women who experienced symptoms of postpartum depression. Participants: Convenience and purposive sampling were used to obtain the community sample of...

Dalbavancin is an intravenous semisynthetic lipoglycopeptide which has demonstrated potent in vitro activity again most clinically significant Gram-positive pathogens such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus, and some vancomycin-resistant Enterococci. The long half-life of dalbavancin allows for once weekly dosing. In published clinical trials, a dose on day 1...

Morphine or other strong opioids (fentanyl, oxycodone, hydromorphone, buprenorphine) are usually administered in patients with severe cancer and chronic non-malignant pain. However, when these analgesics are ineffective in terms of analgesia or induce intractable adverse effects, a switch to methadone might prove beneficial. Consequently methadone is used in opioid rotation...

Background: There is controversy about the appropriate treatment for severely displaced and unstable comminuted fracture of distal radius (type C of AO or OTA classification). Recently, there has been an increase in the number of predilection for surgical management of this fracture. Aim: To determine the radiographic outcome in type C...

Objective: To identify significant risk factors associated with repeat emergency department (ED). Visits for violent injuries in youth fi rearm victims. Methods: The study subjects of this retrospective cohort study were fi rearm victims aged 18 and younger presenting to a Pediatric Emergency Department/Trauma Center at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin...

Background: Ureteral catheters are valuable indispensable devices may readily acquire biofilms on the inner or outer surfaces. This study evaluated the efficacies of ureteral catheters impregnated with ciprofloxacin, N-acetylcysteine each alone and in combination on microbial adherence. Methods: Antimicrobial durability of ureteral catheters coated, through instant dip method, with ciprofloxacin were...

Modern medicine has brought us many miracle cures. In the 21st century, especially, we are blessed with increasingly powerful disease combating tools, such as functional genomics, proteomics and stem cells. Decades of medical and pharmaceutical research have produced thousands of medicines that allow us to treat and prevent diseases better...

The causes of chronic vulvar pain are many and when not accompanied by obvious physical signs they are difficult to unravel. Many common vulvar dermatoses can manifest without obvious erythema or mucocutaneous lesions, as can some less common disorders of both infectious and allergic origin. In addition localized and generalized...

Inadequate patient handoffs have been an area of focus for patient safety improvement. Insufficient communication and risks or “shortcuts” taken by staff members during handoffs could negatively affect the safety of patients in a department of obstetrics and gynecology. Other factors that contribute to inadequate handoffs are the caregiver feeling...

Objective: To review the efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids in the treatment of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Data Sources: Literature was accessed via MEDLINE (1950–February 2009) and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (1960–2009) using the medical subject heading terms omega-3 fatty acids and attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity. Additional references were found by...

Introduction: Levels of utilization of health services vary socially and geographically. Differences in the rates of usage are also associated with geographical aspects of health care systems. The purpose of this study was to capture spatial variations in hospital health services utilization in the elderly population in Hong Kong, a...

Introductory Editorial by Dr David Simar, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney NSW 2052, Australia.

Today’s medicine is in the midst of an undeniable crisis. Calls to reform healthcare are in the forefront of economic and political discussions worldwide. Economic pressures reduce the amount of time physicians can spend with patients contributing to burnout among medical staff and endangering the patient iatrogenically. Politicians are getting...

Christine Patterson1 and Heather Arthur21School of Nursing Faculty of Health Sciences McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. 2Cardiovascular Nursing Research Faculty of Health Sciences School of Nursing McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.AbstractLimited information exists on how adolescents decide to use complementary/alternative medicine (CAM). There are also no instruments specific to CAM,...

Introductory Editorial by Dr David A. Fishbain, Professor of Psychiatry and Adjunct Professor Neurological Surgery and Anesthesiology, Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami.

Rita K. Upmacis Center of Vascular Biology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065. Abstract Atherosclerosis, a disease characterized by plaque formation in the arterial wall that can lead to heart attack and stroke, is a principal...

Ida C. Elle, Louise C.B. Olsen, Mai-Britt Mosbech, Steven V. Rødkær, Dennis Pultz, Sanne G. Boelt, Julius Fredens, Pernille Sørensen and Nils Joakim Færgeman Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark. Abstract Regulation and coordination of lipid metabolism involve...

The Nokia Wrist–Attached Sensor Platform (NWSP) was developed at the Nokia Research Center during the NUADU project to facilitate research and demonstrations of use cases of wearable wireless sensors. A wrist–worn pedometer application was implemented as one of the demonstrations of the capabilities of the platform. In this paper the...

Single port transumbilical laparoscopic surgery (LESS, SILS, ENOTES) is a technique which has recently emerged with a view to improving the cosmesis following minimal access surgery, aiming to achieve ‘scarless’ surgery. This rapidly progressing technique is facilitated by developments in port and instrument technology, allowing surgeons to perform a wider...

Aim: To assess serum Cu/Zn SOD (Superoxide Dismutase) concentration in autistic children and evaluate its possible relationship to GI Symptoms. Subjects and Methods: Serum from 50 autistic children (31 with chronic digestive disease (most with ileo-colonic lymphoid nodular hyperplasia (LNH) and inflammation of the colorectum, small bowel and/or stomach) and 19...

Background/Aims: We have previously isolated a novel lysosomal cysteine protease, cathepsin Y, which produces a kinin-potenciating octapeptide from rat plasma. The present study aimed to elucidate the influence of protein-restriction on cathepsin Y mRNA expression in tissues of growing rat. Methods: Weaning rats were fed either 20% casein (normal-protein, NP)...

Familial hypercholesterolemia is a genetic disorder caused by a mutation in the low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor gene. The homozygous type of the disease is rare and causes tendon xanthomas and coronary artery disease during the early years of life. Premature coronary artery occlusive disease in familial homozygous hypercholesterolemia might...

We experienced a successful surgical Williams’s syndrome case of extended aortoplasty by means of Doty’s method (two sinus reconstructions) for congenital supravalvular aortic stenosis. Case was 29-year-old woman, who had no complaint except heart murmur and dyspnea. The retrograde aortography and Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) demonstrated localized stenosis just above...

Cystoid macular edema (CME) is an important cause of visual loss after cataract surgery. Treatment is usually with topical anti-inflammatory agents, with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents and steroids used intravitreally in resistant cases. Even though time-domain Stratus OCT can quantify the macular thickness, it cannot prognosticate visual outcomes due...

Currently about 25% of Americans die in nursing homes, many with poorly controlled pain and other symptoms, with minimal provisions for psychosocial support. New models are necessary to lessen structural and process barriers to give effective end-of-life care in nursing homes. Objectives: 1) To extend hospital-based Bioethics Consultation Services (BCS) and...

Mr. Smith is an 85-year-old nursing home patient who has suffered from dementia for the past eight years. He has been bed bound and uncommunicative for the last six months. He was admitted with aspiration pneumonia three times in the past year. Over the last few months he has lost...