Association of abdominal aortic calcium with coronary artery calcium and obstructive coronary artery disease: a pilot study.

This study sought to determine the association of abdominal aortic calcium (AAC) with coronary artery calcium (CAC) and obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). We included 58 patients (mean age 54.4 years, 40% males) without known CAD who underwent a non-contrast abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan and 64-slice coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) within 2 years.

Maxillary aneurysmal bone cyst: report of a rare case.

Everyone likes to see, hear, and know about rare things. An aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) is an uncommon non-neoplastic lesion of the bone, mostly affecting long bones and spine. This rare jaw lesion usually affects the mandible but origin from the maxillary anterior region is even rarer.

Internet-enhanced management of fibromyalgia: a randomized controlled trial.

Both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions have demonstrated efficacy in the management of fibromyalgia (FM). Non-pharmacological interventions however are far less likely to be used in clinical settings, in part due to limited access. This manuscript presents the findings of a randomized controlled trail of an Internet-based exercise and behavioral self-management program for FM designed for use in the context of a routine clinical care.

Capsule endoscopy performed across the pediatric age range: indications, incomplete studies, and utility in management of inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Capsule endoscopy (CE) is used increasingly to evaluate the small bowel in children. An upper GI series is recommended before CE to evaluate the risk of obstruction. Despite normal findings on an upper GI series, CE may still be incomplete.

Aspirin and clopidogrel use in the early postoperative period following on-pump and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.

Objective: Preoperative use of clopidogrel increases the risk of bleeding, but its postoperative use has not been studied. We studied early postoperative clopidogrel use in on-pump and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.

Methods: Data were obtained from the University HealthSystem Consortium database.

Lumbar plexus block via a femoral approach for total hip arthroplasty dislocation reduction: a report of 2 cases.

The incidence of hip dislocation can vary based on factors including age and patient co-morbidities. Prosthetic hip dislocations present a particularly difficult challenge. Although many cases are treated in the emergency setting using procedural sedation for reduction, some may require general anesthesia.

Protein-energy malnutrition among preschool children in Oman: results of a national survey.

We assessed the prevalence of underweight, wasting and stunting among preschool children in Oman from March to December 1999. Within each region, samples of males and females in the age groups 0-5, 6-11, 12-23, 24-35, 36-47 and 48-60 months were drawn from the registers of health institutions and the weight and height/length of the children were measured. The total sample comprised 19,440 children; 9911 males and 9529 females.

Expression of type 1 and 2A protein phosphatase subunits in the rat corpus luteum across pregnancy.

This study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that the reduction in protein phosphatase activity that had been observed at mid-pregnancy in the rat corpus luteum (CL) was due to a decrease in expression of one of the catalytic subunits or an increase in one of the B regulatory subunits of the type 2A protein phosphatase (PP2A). Ovaries were collected from rats on days (d) 1, 3, 7, 14, 20, and 21 of pregnancy, and on day 21 after progesterone treatment on day 20 (n = 6). Real-time RT-PCR was used to analyze the expression of the alpha and beta isoforms of the catalytic subunit, the structural A subunit, and three B regulatory subunits of PP2A, as well as the catalytic subunit of PP1.

Treatment of acute salmonella epiphyseal osteomyelitis using computed tomography-guided drainage in a child without sickle cell disease.

Salmonella osteomyelitis occurs infrequently in children without sickle cell disease. Similarly, acute osteomyelitis of the epiphysis has been rarely reported. We present a case of primary epiphyseal osteomyelitis caused by Salmonella in the distal femur of an otherwise healthy 17-month-old child.

The changing face of postoperative atrial fibrillation prevention: a review of current medical therapy.

Atrial fibrillation is the most common postoperative arrhythmia with significant consequences on patient health. Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) complicates up to 8% of all noncardiac surgeries, between 3% and 30% of noncardiac thoracic surgeries, and between 16% and 46% of cardiac surgeries. POAF has been associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and longer, more costly hospital stays.

Complementary foods associated diarrhea.

The World Health Organization regards illness due to contaminated food as one of the most widespread health problems in the contemporary world. Food safety especially in the weaning groups is one of the major concerns that have posed a threat to health of the children. Millions of children in the world die each year from diarrheal diseases; hundreds of millions suffer from frequent episodes of diarrhea and consequent impairment of nutritional status.

Comparative potency of formulations of mometasone furoate in terms of inhibition of 'PIRHR' in the forearm skin of normal human subjects measured with laser doppler velocimetry.

Background And Aims: Topical glucocorticoid formulations are widely used for effective treatment and control of a variety of dermatoses. Mometasone furoate is a newer corticoid that has high potency but low systemic toxicity. Pharmaceutical factors are known to significantly influence potency and systemic absorption of topically applied glucocorticoids.

Von hippel-lindau disease associated with thymoma and myasthenia gravis.

Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease is an autosomal-dominant disorder characterized by central nervous system hemangioblastomas, retinal angioma, and renal cell carcinoma. Thymoma and autoimmune neurologic disorders have not been reported in association with VHL disease. We report a unique concurrence of antibody-positive myasthenia gravis and thymoma in a patient with VHL disease.

Diarrhea prevention through food safety education.

Objective: Food safety education (FSE) was imparted in order to reduce the prevalence of diarrhea in children and improving the knowledge, attitude and practices of mothers regarding safe feeding practices.

Methods: The study was conducted on mothers (n=200) of underprivileged children (6-24 months) through Anganwadi workers (AWW). The food safety education package incorporated three messages: washing hands with soap and water, avoid feeding leftover food and keep surrounding clean.

Isolated relative afferent pupillary defect secondary to contralateral midbrain compression.

Background: Relative afferent pupillary defects are typically related to ipsilateral lesions within the anterior visual pathways.

Objective: To describe a patient who had a workup for headache and was found to have an isolated left relative afferent pupillary defect without any other neurological findings.

Design: We review the neuroanatomy of the pupillary light reflex pathway and emphasize the nasotemporal bias of decussating fiber projections, which accounts for the relative afferent pupillary defect contralateral to the described lesion.

CT detection of acute myocardial infarction.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of contrast-enhanced CT to detect acute myocardial infarction (MI), which has not been systematically assessed. On contrast-enhanced helical chest CT, we retrospectively identified 18 patients (10 women, eight men; mean age, 66 years) with an initial MI. Each patient underwent contrast-enhanced single-detector helical chest CT within 1 month after the MI between March 2001 and June 2002.

Prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time in pregnancy: a brief report.

Background: Limited data are available regarding causes of prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) in otherwise normal pregnancies. We retrospectively evaluated clinical data of pregnant women in whom an elevated aPTT was noted on routine prenatal testing. Our intent was to identify various causes of prolonged aPTT and to evaluate whether the pregnancies were adversely affected.

Effect of low-dose warfarin on D-dimer levels during sickle cell vaso-occlusive crisis: a brief report.

Objective: To evaluate the activation of clotting systems in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) by measuring the plasma D-dimer level and to determine the effect of low-dose warfarin on D-dimer level during vaso-occlusive crisis.

Methods: Plasma D-dimer level was measured in 65 blood samples of 37 adult patients with SCD who were hospitalized for vaso-occlusive painful crisis. D-dimer level of patients who were on low-dose warfarin was compared with those patients who were not on any anticoagulation treatment.

Baseline echocardiographic values for adult male rats.

Background: Because of safety, repeatability, and portability, clinical echocardiography is well established as a standard for cardiac anatomy, cardiac function, and hemodynamics. Similarly, application of echocardiography in commonly used rat experimental models would be worthwhile. The use of noninvasive ultrasound imaging in the rat is a potential replacement for more invasive terminal techniques.

GRS1, a yeast tRNA synthetase with a role in mRNA 3' end formation.

Transcription termination and 3' end formation are essential processes necessary for gene expression. However, the specific mechanisms responsible for these events remain elusive. A screen designed to identify trans-acting factors involved in these mechanisms in Saccharomyces cerevisiae identified a temperature-sensitive mutant that displayed phenotypes consistent with a role in transcription termination.

Utility of the Mayo End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score in assessing prognosis of patients with alcoholic hepatitis.

Background: Alcoholic hepatitis is characterized by acute, or acute-on-chronic hepatic failure and associated with a high mortality. Specific therapies should be considered for those at high risk of mortality. The Mayo End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score is a marker of disease severity and mortality in persons with chronic alcoholic liver disease.

Hazard analysis and critical control points of weaning foods.

Hazards and critical control points were identified during the preparation, feeding and storage of weaning foods fed to the children (6-24 months) belonging to low income group (LIG) families using survey methods, spot and indepth observations and microbial analysis. High microbial counts were obtained for the weaning food samples procured from the families that were rated as poor for both personal hygiene and environmental sanitation. Food samples that were held at ambient temperature (25-35 degrees C) showed high counts of coliforms, AMCC, yeast and mold, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus.

Double-shot magnetic resonance imaging of cerebral lesions: fast spin-echo versus echo planar sequences.

The authors compared two new rapid MRI techniques: double-shot echo-planar imaging (DS-EPI) versus double-shot fast spin-echo (DS-FSE) in the evaluation of cerebral lesions. The authors examined 35 patients with 37 lesions, which were hyperintense on long TR images. Patients were scanned with both DS-EPI and DS-FSE with a time of repetition (TR) of 10,000 milliseconds and an echo time (TE) of 80 milliseconds.

Effect of tense ascites on esophageal body motility and lower esophageal sphincter pressure.

Background: Esophageal motility and lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure change with rapid changes in intraabdominal pressure (IAP); the response of these to slow change in IAP is not known.

Aims: To study esophageal body motility and LES pressures in patients with cirrhosis with tense ascites in the basal state and after paracentesis.

Methods: Twenty four patients with cirrhosis of liver and tense ascites and 13 with cirrhosis without ascites (controls) were studied.

Early changes in esophageal motility after endoscopic variceal sclerotherapy or ligation.

Introduction: Endoscopic variceal sclerotherapy (EVS) and ligation (EVL) are reported to be associated with altered esophageal motility. Most studies have been in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis and ascites.

Aims: To study the early effect of EVS and EVL in patients with portal hypertension without ascites.