Management of parapharyngeal space cavernous sinus haemangioma using transoral robotic surgery.

Cavernous haemangiomas are a very rare occurrence in the parapharyngeal space (PPS). Here, we present a case of a 58-year-old woman with an incidentally identified left PPS mass thought to be a pleomorphic adenoma that underwent excision by transoral robotic surgery (TORS). Intraoperative findings demonstrated no solid mass present and histological assessment of resected tissue confirmed a cavernous haemangioma.

The Oxford Finger Nail Appearance Score - a new scoring system for fingernail deformity following paediatric finger tip trauma.

Fingernail deformity is common, yet current methods used to define cosmetic appearance following trauma are mainly descriptive. In order to quantify the cosmetic appearance of the fingernail, we developed the Oxford Fingernail Appearance Score using a three stage iterative process. The score has five cosmetic components marked as binary outcomes composed of nail shape, nail adherence, eponychial appearance, nail surface appearance and presence of a split.

Ring removal: an illustrated summary of the literature.

Objectives: The inability to remove a ring from a finger is a common presentation to Emergency Departments in addition to Orthopaedic and Plastic Surgery Units. This is often complicated by factors including trauma and infection, leading to a superimposed tourniquet effect by the ring, strangulating the subcutaneous tissues. The threat of neurovascular compromise favours early removal of the ring to limit associated morbidity.

Cosmetic Tourism: a Costly Filler Within the National Health Service Budget or a Missed Financial Opportunity? A Local Cost Analysis and Examination of the Literature.

Background: Cosmetic tourism is a global commodity, but patients seeking treatment for complications of international cosmetic tourism appear to be on the rise. We calculate the financial burden to a single NHS trust and summarise the literature, reviewing the implications of cosmetic tourism and summarising available guidance to assist surgeons in this ethically challenging, but expanding, field.

Methods: Hospital episodes for patients with complications from cosmetic tourism between January 2016 and March 2017 were retrieved using the patient management system.

Differential Expression of mRNA Encoding Cytokines and Chemokines in the Reproductive Tract after Infection of Mice with .

Infection with targets epithelial cells within the genital tract which respond by secreting chemokines and cytokines. Persistent inflammation can lead to fibrosis, tubal infertility and/or ectopic pregnancy; many infections are asymptomatic. Most studies have investigated the inflammatory response in the initial stages of infection, less is known about the later stages of infection, especially with a low, potentially asymptomatic, bacterial load.

Screening for Psychological Distress in Adult Primary Brain Tumor Patients and Caregivers: Considerations for Cancer Care Coordination.

Introduction: This study aimed to assess psychological distress (PD) as scored by the Distress Thermometer (DT) in adult primary brain tumor patients and caregivers (CGs) in a clinic setting and ascertain if any high-risk subgroups for PD exist.

Material And Methods: From May 2012 to August 2013, n = 96 patients and n = 32 CG underwent DT screening at diagnosis, and a differing cohort of n = 12 patients and n = 14 CGs at first recurrence. Groups were described by diagnosis (high grade, low grade, and benign) and English versus non English speaking.

"That's your patient. There's your ventilator": exploring induction to work experiences in a group of non-UK EEA trained anaesthetists in a London hospital: a qualitative study.

Background: European health systems depend increasingly on the services of health professionals who obtained their primary medical qualification from other countries. There has been a significant increase recently in fully qualified specialist doctors arriving from the European Union to provide short term or longer-term solutions to health human resources needs in the UK National Health System. These doctors often take up senior consultant positions.

Sigmoid volvulus in an adolescent girl: staged management with emergency colonoscopic reduction and decompression followed by elective sigmoid colectomy.

A case of acute sigmoid volvulus in a 14-year-old adolescent girl presenting with acute low large bowel obstruction with a background of chronic constipation has been presented. Abdominal radiograph and CT scan helped in diagnosis. She underwent emergency colonoscopic detorsion and decompression uneventfully.

QTL and association analysis for skin and fibre pigmentation in sheep provides evidence of a major causative mutation and epistatic effects.

The pursuits of white features and white fleeces free of pigmented fibre have been important selection objectives for many sheep breeds. The cause and inheritance of non-white colour patterns in sheep has been studied since the early 19th century. Discovery of genetic causes, especially those which predispose pigmentation in white sheep, may lead to more accurate selection tools for improved apparel wool.

The carbonate ion in hydroxyapatite: recent X-ray and infrared results.

The location and orientation of the carbonate ion in the channel (A) and phosphate (B) positions of hydroxyapatite (CHAP) have been investigated by single-crystal X-ray structure and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, using crystals synthesized at high pressure. The type A carbonate ion is oriented in the apatite channel with two oxygen atoms close to the c-axis and the B carbonate ion is located near a sloping face of the substituted phosphate tetrahedron. Close comparison of FTIR and X-ray structure results shows that a Na-bearing CHAP containing approximately equal amounts of A and B carbonate ions is a realistic model for the overall crystal structure of biological apatite.

Communication in and clinician satisfaction with multidisciplinary team meetings in neuro-oncology.

Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) meetings are critical in the management of complex cancer cases. There are limited data regarding the effectiveness of neuro-oncology MDT meetings and the impact of documenting and disseminating the recommended patient management. We established a weekly neuro-oncology MDT meeting and developed a standard electronic communication process.

Delayed presentation of a vertebral arterio-venous fistula secondary to penetrating cervical trauma: endovascular management using coil embolisation - a case report.

Vertebro-vertebral arteriovenous fistulae occur infrequently. We report on such a case with delayed presentation following penetrating neck injury. This was successfully treated via coil embolisation.

Infrared spectra of carbonate apatites: v2-Region bands.

The proportions of A and B carbonate ions in a selection of AB carbonate apatites, including hydroxyapatite (CHAP), chlorapatite (CCLAP) and fluorapatite (CFAP), have been obtained using the out-of-plane bend (nu(2)) bands of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra. Band area ratios (B/A) are in very good agreement with site occupancies from single-crystal X-ray structure refinement; the correlation is linear (1:1) for B/A values ranging up to three. Most compositions have nu(2) spectra with one band for A carbonate (at 878-880 cm(-1)) and one for B (at 870-872 cm(-1)).

Protein catabolism in advanced renal disease: role of cytokines.

Background: Protein energy wasting is a maladaptive metabolic state often associated with inflammation, which is common in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods: A literature search was performed using MEDLINE and the reference lists of relevant review articles. The following key words were used in the MEDLINE search: "cytokines", "inflammation", "protein metabolism", "acute-phase protein", "cachexia", "chronic kidney disease", "end-stage renal disease" and "hemodialysis".

Cigarette smoke inhibits macrophage sensing of Gram-negative bacteria and lipopolysaccharide: relative roles of nicotine and oxidant stress.

Background And Purpose: Smoking cigarettes is a major risk factor for the development of cardiovascular and respiratory disease. Moreover, smokers are more prone to infections. This has been associated with a suppression of the immune system by smoke.

Synthesis of palladium nanoparticles by reaction of filamentous cyanobacterial biomass with a palladium(II) chloride complex.

The interaction of cyanobacterial biomass (Plectonema boryanum UTEX 485) with aqueous palladium(II) chloride (PdCl2 degrees ) has been investigated at 25-100 degrees C for up to 28 days. We report that the release of organic materials from the cyanobacteria promoted the precipitation of Pd(0) as crystalline spherical and elongate nanoparticles (< or =30 nm), both in solution and as dispersed and encrusted nanoparticles on cyanobacterial cells. In contrast, under abiotic conditions at 100 degrees C, palladium hydride (PdHx) was the principal palladium phase precipitated, with only minor amounts of palladium metal.

Pseudoaneurysms occurring as a result of fractures giving rise to the appearance of pseudotumors: a short series.

Pseudoaneurysms are focal enlargements of the vascular lumen due to partial or complete disruption of the arterial wall. These are an uncommon complication of fractures. The presence of a pseudoaneurysm adjacent to a fracture fragment can cause a pressure effect.

Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles by filamentous cyanobacteria from a silver(I) nitrate complex.

The biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles has been successfully conducted using Plectonema boryanum UTEX 485, a filamentous cyanobacterium, reacted with aqueous AgNO3 solutions (approximately 560 mg/L Ag) at 25-100 degrees C for up to 28 days. The interaction of cyanobacteria with aqueous AgNO3 promoted the precipitation of spherical silver nanoparticles and octahedral (111) silver platelets (of up to 200 nm) in solutions. The mechanisms of silver nanoparticles via cyanobacteria could involve metabolic processes from the utilization of nitrate at 25 degrees C and also organics released from the dead cyanobacteria at 25-100 degrees C.

Retinoic acid inhibits HIV-1-induced podocyte proliferation through the cAMP pathway.

HIV-associated nephropathy is characterized by renal podocyte proliferation and dedifferentiation. This study found that all-trans retinoic acid (atRA) reverses the effects of HIV-1 infection in podocytes. Treatment with atRA reduced cell proliferation rate by causing G1 arrest and restored the expression of the differentiation markers (synaptopodin, nephrin, podocin, and WT-1) in HIV-1-infected podocytes.

Coupled substitution of type A and B carbonate in sodium-bearing apatite.

A suite of Na-bearing type A-B carbonate hydroxyapatites {Ca(10-y)Na(y)[(PO4)(6-y)(CO3)y][(OH)(2-2x)(CO3)x], x approximately = y} has been synthesized at 1200 degrees C and 0.5-1.0 GPa, and investigated by single-crystal X-ray structure and FTIR spectroscopy.

Mechanisms of gold bioaccumulation by filamentous cyanobacteria from gold(III)-chloride complex.

The mechanisms of gold bioaccumulation by cyanobacteria (Plectonema boryanum UTEX 485) from gold(III)-chloride solutions have been studied at three gold concentrations (0.8,1.7, and 7.