Complications of CT-guided percutaneous needle biopsy of the chest: prevention and management.

Objective: The objective of this article is to describe potential complications of percutaneous needle biopsy of the chest, discuss the risk factors associated with the development of complications, and explain how to prevent complications and manage complications when they occur.

Conclusion: Pneumothorax and pulmonary hemorrhage are the most common complications of percutaneous needle biopsy of the chest, whereas air embolism and tumor seeding are extremely rare. Attention to biopsy planning and technique and postprocedural care help to prevent or minimize most potential complications.

Positive contrast magnetic resonance bursography for assessment of the navicular bursa and surrounding soft tissues.

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is often performed to determine the cause of palmar heel pain. We evaluated how distension of the navicular bursa affected the MR appearance of the navicular bursa and associated structures. An MR evaluation was performed on normal cadaver limbs and cadaver limbs from horses with lameness localized to the foot.

Insights into structure and function of the active site of SoxAX cytochromes.

SoxAX cytochromes catalyze the formation of heterodisulfide bonds between inorganic sulfur compounds and a carrier protein, SoxYZ. They contain unusual His/Cys-ligated heme groups with complex spectroscopic signatures. The heme-ligating cysteine has been implicated in SoxAX catalysis, but neither the SoxAX spectroscopic properties nor its catalysis are fully understood at present.

Characterization of 2-(2,6-dichloro-benzyl)-thiazolo[5,4-d]pyrimidin-7-yl]-(4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-amine (JNJ-39729209) as a novel TRPV1 antagonist.

As an integrator of multiple nociceptive and/or inflammatory stimuli, TRPV1 is an attractive therapeutic target for the treatment of various painful disorders. Several TRPV1 antagonists have been advanced into clinical trials and the initial observations suggest that TRPV1 antagonism may be associated with mild hyperthermia and thermal insensitivity in man. However, no clinical efficacy studies have been described to date, making an assessment of risk:benefit impossible.

Kinetic characterisation of recombinant Corynebacterium glutamicum NAD+-dependent LDH over-expressed in E. coli and its rescue of an lldD- phenotype in C. glutamicum: the issue of reversibility re-examined.

The ldh gene of Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 13032 (gene symbol cg3219, encoding a 314 residue NAD+-dependent L-(+)-lactate dehydrogenase, EC 1.1.1.

Investigation of the role of computed tomography as an adjunct to autopsy in the evaluation of stillbirth.

Introduction: The number of parents agreeing to autopsy following stillbirth is declining, which has undermined clinicians' ability to assess causes of intrauterine death and can impact counselling regarding recurrence. Post-mortem radiological imaging is a potential alternative method of investigating perinatal loss. The aim of this study was to assess the role of multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) in the investigation of stillbirth.

Luteal phase support may improve pregnancy outcomes during intrauterine insemination cycles.

Objectives: To determine the impact of luteal phase support with vaginal progesterone on pregnancy outcomes in infertile couples undergoing intrauterine insemination when recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone was used for ovulation induction.

Study Design: This prospective randomized study was undertaken at the Infertility Unit, Armed Forces Hospital Southern Region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and included 71 patients with either primary or secondary infertility who met the inclusion criteria. All 71 patients underwent intrauterine insemination.

Cardiovascular effects of consumption of black versus English walnuts.

English walnuts have been shown to decrease cardiovascular disease risk; however, black walnuts do not appear to have not been studied for their cardioprotective effects. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of English versus black walnut consumption on blood lipids, body weight, fatty-acid composition of red blood cell (RBC) membranes, and endothelial function. Consumption of 30 g of English walnuts per day for 30 days, by 36 human participants, improved blood lipids; the effects of black walnuts were dependent on the participant's sex.

Recent advances in the biology and medicinal chemistry of TRPA1.

The transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily A, member 1 (TRPA1) is a nonselective cation channel that is highly expressed in small-diameter sensory neurons, where it functions as a polymodal receptor, responsible for detecting potentially harmful chemicals, mechanical forces and temperatures. TRPA1 is also activated and/or sensitized by multiple endogenous inflammatory mediators. As such, TRPA1 likely mediates the pain and neurogenic inflammation caused by exposure to reactive chemicals.

Association between preoperative magnetic resonance imaging, pain intensity and quantitative sensory testing in patients awaiting lumbar diskectomy.

Introduction: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers important information regarding the morphology, location and size of a herniated disc, which influences the decision to offer lumbar diskectomy (LD). This study aims to examine the association between clinical neurophysiologic indices including pain intensity and quantitative sensory testing (QST), and the degree of lumbar nerve root compromise depicted on magnetic resonance (MR) in patients awaiting LD.

Methods: With institutional ethical approval, 16 patients (American Society of Anaesthesiologists Grades I-II, 18-65 years) with radicular pain for greater than 3 months undergoing elective LD were studied.

Child pedestrian casualties and deprivation.

The existence of an association between child pedestrian accidents and socio-economic deprivation in Great Britain is well established. The factors driving this association are complex and difficult to isolate. This study uses accident prediction models to investigate the links between child pedestrian casualties and a range of environmental and socio-economic factors commonly linked to deprived areas and people.

Detection of NASBA amplified bacterial tmRNA molecules on SLICSel designed microarray probes.

Background: We present a comprehensive technological solution for bacterial diagnostics using tmRNA as a marker molecule. A robust probe design algorithm for microbial detection microarray is implemented. The probes were evaluated for specificity and, combined with NASBA (Nucleic Acid Sequence Based Amplification) amplification, for sensitivity.

Patient adherence predicts outcome from cognitive behavioral therapy in obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Objective: To examine the effects of patient adherence on outcome from exposure and response prevention (EX/RP) therapy in adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Method: Thirty adults with OCD were randomized to EX/RP (n = 15) or EX/RP augmented by motivational interviewing strategies (n = 15). Both treatments included 3 introductory sessions and 15 exposure sessions.

Minimization of radiation exposure due to computed tomography in inflammatory bowel disease.

Exposure to ionising radiation as a result of diagnostic imaging is increasing among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), primarily due to the more widespread use of computed tomography (CT). The potentially harmful effects of ionising radiation are a major cause for concern and radiologists, technologists and referring physicians who have a responsibility to the patient to ensure judicious use of those imaging modalities which result in exposure to ionising radiation and, when imaging is necessary, to ensure that a diagnostic quality imaging examination is acquired with lowest possible radiation exposure. This can be achieved by limiting the use of those imaging studies which involve ionising radiation to clinical situations where they are likely to change management, by implementing advances in low-dose CT technology, and, where feasible, by using alternative imaging modalities, such as ultrasonography or magnetic resonance imaging, which avoid radiation exposure.

[Solitary fibrous tumor of the orbit: report of two cases and review of literature].

Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a rare mesenchymal neoplasm that most frequently arises in the pleura and uncommonly involves the orbit. There are 54 cases of SFT of the orbit available in the literature. The authors report tow cases of an orbital SFT and discuss the clinical, radiological, pathological features and differential diagnosis.

Blood flow in microvascular networks: a study in nonlinear biology.

Plasma skimming and the Fahraeus-Lindqvist effect are well-known phenomena in blood rheology. By combining these peculiarities of blood flow in the microcirculation with simple topological models of microvascular networks, we have uncovered interesting nonlinear behavior regarding blood flow in networks. Nonlinearity manifests itself in the existence of multiple steady states.

Novel multiplex real-time PCR diagnostic assay for identification and differentiation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium canettii, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex strains.

Tuberculosis (TB) in humans is caused by members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC). Rapid detection of the MTC is necessary for the timely initiation of antibiotic treatment, while differentiation between members of the complex may be important to guide the appropriate antibiotic treatment and provide epidemiological information. In this study, a multiplex real-time PCR diagnostics assay using novel molecular targets was designed to identify the MTC while simultaneously differentiating between M.

Metastatic meningioma: positron emission tomography CT imaging findings.

The imaging findings of a case of metastasing meningioma are described. The case illustrates a number of rare and interesting features. The patient presented with haemoptysis 22 years after the initial resection of an intracranial meningioma.

Legislative and regulatory modernization for therapeutic products.

This presentation is intended to show how the work coming from scientists, physicians, and other healthcare professionals is incorporated into the regulatory assessment of therapeutic products in Canada. One of the primary objectives within the regulatory environment is to provide information back to healthcare professionals and patients in order to help them make informed decisions. The current regulatory system for health products in Canada and why it needs modernization is addressed; a "lifecycle approach" to the regulation of health products is presented; the Food and Consumer Safety Action Plan and Bill C-51, a bill to amend the Food and Drugs Act is reviewed; and the challenges and opportunities for Canada and its fellow regulators are examined.

Emergence of a unique penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae serogroup 35 strain.

We analyzed seven Streptococcus pneumoniae serogroup 35 isolates by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of the genome and pbp2b gene nucleotide sequences. Three penicillin-susceptible strains and one penicillin-intermediate-resistant strain exhibited 100% identity to prototype R6. Two resistant strains and one other intermediate strain differed from them and contained a unique sequence.