Fatal granulomatous amebic encephalitis initially presenting with a cutaneous lesion.

We present a case of a 66-year-old man with a cutaneous Balamuthia mandrillaris lesion that progressed to fatal granulomatous amoebic encephalitis. We provide a summary of Australian cases and describe the clinical features and approach to diagnosing this rare but devastating condition, including the importance of PCR for diagnosis.

Pharmacological perturbation of thiamine metabolism sensitizes Pseudomonas aeruginosa to multiple antibacterial agents.

New therapeutic concepts are critically needed for carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an opportunistic pathogen particularly recalcitrant to antibiotics. The screening of around 230,000 small molecules yielded a very low hit rate of 0.002% after triaging for known antibiotics.

Workplace influenza vaccination in private hospital setting: a cost-benefit analysis.

Background: Influenza illness causes several disruptions to the workforce. The absenteeism that often ensues has economic implications for employers. This study aimed to estimate the cost-benefit of influenza vaccination in a healthcare setting from the employer's perspective.

Correlation of Dengue Warning Signs during Febrile Phase with Rotational Thromboelastometry, Cortisol and Feritin.

Dengue mortality remains high despite monitoring against warning signs (WS). The associations of WS at febrile phase (FP) and hemorrhage at defervescence with the levels and kinetics of ROTEM, platelet count, cortisol, and ferritin were analyzed. Patients with confirmed dengue serology and WS in two centers were screened ( = 275) and 62 eligible patients were recruited prospectively over 9 months.

COVID-19 in adult patients with pre-existing chronic cardiac, respiratory and metabolic disease: a critical literature review with clinical recommendations.

Background: A high burden of severe disease and death from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been consistently observed in older patients, especially those with pre-existing medical co-morbidities. The global pandemic lockdown has isolated many patients with chronic illnesses from their routine medical care. This narrative review article analyses the multitude of issues faced by individuals with underlying medical conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

When shot-noise-limited photodetectors disobey Poisson statistics.

Photodetectors with internal gain are of great interest for imaging applications, since internal gain reduces the effective noise of readout electronics. High-gain photodetectors have been demonstrated, but only individually rather than as a full array in a camera. Consequently, there has been little investigation of the interaction between camera complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) electronics and the slow response time that high-gain photodetectors often exhibit.

Investigation of Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) in MoS- and WS-Protected Titanium Side-Polished Optical Fiber as a Humidity Sensor.

In this paper, we report the effects of a side-polished fiber (SPF) coated with titanium (Ti) films in different thicknesses, namely 5 nm, 13 nm, and 36 nm, protected by a thin layer of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) such as molybdenum disulfide (MoS) and tungsten disulfide (WS), which provide ultra-sensitive sensor-based surface plasmon resonance (SPR) covering from the visible to mid-infrared region. The SPF deposited with Ti exhibits strong evanescent field interaction with the MoS and WS, and good optical absorption, hence resulting in high-sensitivity performance. Incremental increases in the thickness of the Ti layer contribute to the enhancement of the intensity of transmission with redshift and broad spectra.

An Amperometric Biosensor for the Determination of Bacterial Sepsis Biomarker, Secretory Phospholipase Group 2-IIA Using a Tri-Enzyme System.

A tri-enzyme system consisting of choline kinase/choline oxidase/horseradish peroxidase was used in the rapid and specific determination of the biomarker for bacterial sepsis infection, secretory phospholipase Group 2-IIA (sPLA2-IIA). These enzymes were individually immobilized onto the acrylic microspheres via succinimide groups for the preparation of an electrochemical biosensor. The reaction of sPLA2-IIA with its substrate initiated a cascading enzymatic reaction in the tri-enzyme system that led to the final production of hydrogen peroxide, which presence was indicated by the redox characteristics of potassium ferricyanide, K₃Fe(CN)₆.

Percutaneous Interspinous Spacer vs Decompression in Patients with Neurogenic Claudication: An Alternative in Selected Patients?

Background: Standalone interspinous process devices (IPDs) to treat degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis with neurogenic intermittent claudication (NIC) have shown ambiguous results in the literature.

Objective: To show that a minimally invasive percutaneous IPD is safe and noninferior to standalone decompressive surgery (SDS) for patients with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis with NIC.

Methods: A multicenter, international, randomized, controlled trial (RCT) was con- ducted.

Rare Primary Pleomorphic Adenoma in Posterior Fossa.

Background: Pleomorphic adenoma is a benign neoplastic tumor of the salivary gland. Salivary gland tumors in the intracranial cavity are generally restricted to the pituitary gland and sellar region. To our knowledge, there has been only 1 previous case report of a primary central nervous system pleomorphic adenoma outside of the sellar region.

Evaluation of a Colorectal Carcinoma Screening Program in Kota Setar and Kuala Muda Districts, Malaysia.

Background: A colorectal cancer screening program was piloted in two districts of Kedah in 2013. There is scarcity of information on colorectal cancer screening in Malaysia.

Objective: Thus, this research was conducted to evaluate the colorectal cancer screening program in the districts to provide insights intop its efficacy.

Role of trigeminal microvascular decompression in the treatment of SUNCT and SUNA.

Short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache with conjunctival injection and tearing (SUNCT) and short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with cranial autonomic symptoms (SUNA) are primary headache disorders. Evidence suggests that SUNCT/SUNA have similar pathophysiology to the trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias and involves the trigeminal autonomic reflex. This review provides an overview of microvascular decompression of the trigeminal nerve and other surgical therapeutic options for SUNCT/SUNA.

Management of blunt traumatic thoracic aorta injuries with endovascular stent-grafts in a tertiary hospital in an urban Asian city.

Background: Thoracic aortic injury from blunt trauma is a life-threatening condition with significant mortality and morbidity with open surgical repair. Endovascular means of treatment is emerging as an attractive and less invasive option. We report our experience with endovascular stent-graft repair for blunt traumatic thoracic aorta injury.

Microvascular decompression of the trigeminal nerve in the treatment of SUNCT and SUNA.

Background: Medical management of short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache with conjunctival injection and tearing (SUNCT) syndrome and short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with cranial autonomic symptoms (SUNA) is often unsatisfactory.

Methods: The authors report nine cases of SUNCT/SUNA that failed medical treatment and had an aberrant arterial loop either in contact with or compressing the appropriate trigeminal nerve demonstrated on MRI. All underwent microvascular decompression of the ipsilateral trigeminal nerve for intractable pain.

Intraparenchymal tension pneumatocele complicating frontal sinus osteoma: case report.

Objective And Importance: A relatively rare condition of intraparenchymal tension pneumatocele secondary to a frontal sinus osteoma eroding posteriorly and breaching dura mater is described. The scanty body of literature on this subject is briefly summarized, and the importance of this condition as a result of its life-threatening but readily treatable intracranial mass effect is outlined.

Clinical Presentation: The patient presented with acute deterioration in conscious state and lateralizing signs from the mass effect of gas under tension.