Insulin infusion responses in diabetic ketoacidosis alone and with a mixed hypochloremic alkalosis.

Aims: Although diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) commonly presents as a pure diabetic ketoacidosis (PDKA), up to 30% of cases may be associated with a mixed hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis (HMA). It is unknown whether there is a difference in treatment outcomes between these two entities. We evaluated an insulin infusion protocol (IIP), previously validated for hyperglycemia management in ICU's, for the management of PDKA and HMA.

FPGA-Based Processor Acceleration for Image Processing Applications.

FPGA-based embedded image processing systems offer considerable computing resources but present programming challenges when compared to software systems. The paper describes an approach based on an FPGA-based soft processor called (IPPro) which can operate up to 337 MHz on a high-end Xilinx FPGA family and gives details of the dataflow-based programming environment. The approach is demonstrated for a -means clustering operation and a traffic sign recognition application, both of which have been prototyped on an Avnet Zedboard that has Xilinx Zynq-7000 system-on-chip (SoC).

Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Patients With Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A National Database Analysis.

Background: The goal of our study was to determine the impact of gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) on in-hospital outcomes among acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients, and subsequently determine the potential risk factors for the development of GIB.

Methods: ARDS patients with and without GIB were identified using the National Inpatient Sample (2002 - 2012). Linear regression analysis was used to assess impact of GIB on in-hospital mortality, length of stay and total charges.

Placental transmogrification of the lung associated with unilateral pleural effusion: A case report with a comprehensive review of the literature.

Placental transmogrification of the lung (PTL) is a rare benign pulmonary lesion resembling chorionic villi. With fewer than 40 cases reported in literature, associations have thus far been made with bullous emphysema, pulmonary fibrochondromatous hamartomas and adenocarcinoma of the lung. Typically presenting as unilateral solitary cystic or bullous lesion, we report the first case of PTL presenting with unilateral pleural effusion.

Development and validation of liquidchromatographic method for quantitative determination of Loxoprofen in mobilephase and in human plasma.

A Simple, sensitive and accurate high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for effective and specific analysis of Loxoprofen (LXP) in the mobilephase and human plasma was developed. Effective chromatographic separation was attained on a Mediterranean Sea C18 column (250×4.6mm, 5um) with mobilephase containing acetonitrile and 0.

A comparison of narcotic usage and length of post-operative hospital stay in open versus minimally invasive lumbar interbody fusion with percutaneous pedicle screws.

Background: Instrumented lumbar fusion can be accomplished through open or minimally invasive techniques. The focus of this study was to compare perioperative narcotic usage and length of hospital stay between patients undergoing open versus minimally invasive spinal surgery (MISS).

Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on 110 patients who underwent instrumented lumbar fusion over 2 years at our institution.

Omega-3 fatty acids for dialysis vascular access outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Background: Maintaining long-term vascular access patency is necessary for high quality haemodialysis (HD) treatment of patients with the terminal and most serious stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD) - end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Oral supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids (ω-3FA) may help to prevent blockage of the vascular access by reducing the risk of thrombosis and stenosis.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ω-3FA supplementation versus placebo or no treatment for maintaining vascular access patency in ESKD patients undergoing HD.

Comparative pharmacokinetic evaluation of extended release itopride HCl pellets with once daily tablet formulation in healthy human subjects: a two treatment, four period crossover study in fasted and fed condition.

Objective: In this study, pharmacokinetics (PKs) and bioavailability of newly developed extended release (ER) Itopride HCl 150 mg encapsulated ER pellets (test) and 150 mg Ganaton ER once-daily (OD) tablets (reference) were compared and evaluated under fasted and fed conditions.

Methods: Twelve healthy human subjects were enrolled in a single dose, randomized; two treatments, two sequences, four period crossover study. A modified and validated liquid chromatographic method was used for the estimation of Itopride HCl in plasma samples.

Parental attitudes about acquiring a dental home for preschool children: a new concept in the Arab state of Qatar.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to assess parental perceptions and acceptability of a dental home for their preschool children, a new concept in the state of Qatar.

Methods: A cross-sectional prospective study was conducted at Hamad Medical Corporation, in the state of Qatar. Parents of infants and children <5 years of age were offered an interview survey.

Comparative Effects of Coenzyme Q10 or -3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Supplementation on Retinal Angiogenesis in a Rat Model of Oxygen-Induced Retinopathy.

Neonatal intermittent hypoxia (IH) or apnea afflicts 70% to 90% of all preterm infants <28 weeks gestation, and is associated with severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). We tested the hypotheses that coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) or omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (-3 PUFAs) supplementation during neonatal IH reduces the severity of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR). Newborn rats were exposed to two IH paradigms: (1) 50% O₂ with brief hypoxia (12% O₂); or (2) 21% O₂ with brief hypoxia, until postnatal day 14 (P14), during which they received daily oral CoQ10 in olive oil, -3 PUFAs in fish oil, or olive oil only and compared to room air (RA) treated groups.

Normal Correction of Sodium Leading to Central Pontine Demyelinosis: A Rare Occurrence.

Central pontine myelinolysis is a rare condition arising from the myelinolysis of white matter tracts in the pons, most commonly in response to iatrogenic hypertonic stress caused by the rapid correction of hyponatremia. Here, we present an interesting case of central pontine myelinolysis subsequent to normal saline infusion despite strict adherence to the guideline protocol.

Principal component analysis modeling of Head-and-Neck anatomy using daily Cone Beam-CT images.

Purpose: To model Head-and-Neck anatomy from daily Cone Beam-CT (CBCT) images over the course of fractionated radiotherapy using principal component analysis (PCA).

Methods And Materials: Eighteen oropharyngeal Head-and-Neck cancer patients, treated with volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), were included in this retrospective study. Normal organs, including the parotid and submandibular glands, mandible, pharyngeal constrictor muscles (PCMs), and spinal cord were contoured using daily CBCT image datasets.

Exploiting MCL1 Dependency with Combination MEK + MCL1 Inhibitors Leads to Induction of Apoptosis and Tumor Regression in -Mutant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

BH3 mimetic drugs, which inhibit prosurvival BCL2 family proteins, have limited single-agent activity in solid tumor models. The potential of BH3 mimetics for these cancers may depend on their ability to potentiate the apoptotic response to chemotherapy and targeted therapies. Using a novel class of potent and selective MCL1 inhibitors, we demonstrate that concurrent MEK + MCL1 inhibition induces apoptosis and tumor regression in -mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) models, which respond poorly to MEK inhibition alone.

Bullying experiences of dental interns working at four dental institutions of a developing country: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Bullying is an aggressive and violent behavior marked by repetitive harassment of a weaker victim, which may also occur in the workplace including healthcare settings. Although extensively studied in the west, bullying of workers in the healthcare setting is largely underexplored in the South Asian context.

Objective: The aim of our study was to explore the phenomena of workplace bullying among dental interns in selected dental institutes of Karachi, Pakistan.

Morphometrics predicts overall survival in patients with multiple myeloma spine metastasis: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Treatment strategies for spinal metastases for myeloma range from conservative measures (radiation and chemotherapy) to invasive (surgical). Identifying better predictors of overall survival (OS) would help in surgical decision making. Analytic morphometrics has been shown to predict survival in oncologic patients, and our study evaluates whether morphometrics is predictive of survival in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) spinal metastases.

Spilled Gallstones Silent for a Decade: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is associated with complications such as gallbladder perforation and spillage of gallstones. While these shortcomings are common, the occurrence of the resultant nuisances, such as intra-abdominal abscesses, is infrequent. We present the case of an individual who developed an intra-abdominal abscess following a spillage of gallstones, which occurred after a laparoscopic cholecystectomy that was performed more than a decade ago.

Predictors of serious findings on bi-directional endoscopy in young patients with anemia and GI symptoms.

Background And Objective: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) has been cited as the most common cause of anemia globally. Gastrointestinal (GI) lesions are amongst the common cause of IDA. Endoscopic evaluation is the most effective way to investigate the IDA.

Actinomyces viscosus causing disseminated disease in a patient on methotrexate.

Actinomycosis is an uncommon infectious disease caused predominantly by Actinomyces israelii. Actinomycosis usually involves the cervicofacial, thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic region, dissemination is uncommon. Actinomyces viscosus are commensal organisms that make up the normal flora of the oropharynx of humans and has rarely been reported to cause disease.

Paraneoplastic Mononeuritis Multiplex: A Unique Presentation of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.

Mononeuritis multiplex (MM) is a common variant of a peripheral neuropathy which is characterized by neurological discrepancies that afflict two noncontiguous nerve systems. It is mostly associated with systemic illnesses such as diabetes mellitus, vasculitis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), viral infections including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and paraneoplastic syndromes. Lymphoma is a common antecedent to paraneoplastic syndromes that cause peripheral neuropathies but a specific presentation of MM is a rare predicament per our literature analysis.

Antiproliferative Activity and Characterization of Metabolites of : An Endophytic Fungus from Linn. Against Three Human Cancer Cell Lines.

Background: Endophytic fungi are receiving attention as sources of structurally novel bioactive secondary metabolites towards drug discovery from natural products. This study reports the isolation and characterization of secondary metabolites from an endophytic fungus Aspergillus nidulans, associated with Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn., a plant which has a traditional use to cure many ailments including cancer.

Prevalence of Rheumatic Diseases in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Karachi.

Background: Rheumatic diseases are referred to as conditions affecting joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and bones. According to a report by World Health Organization, rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases were labeled as the second most reported cause of disability around the globe. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of rheumatic diseases in a tertiary care hospital of Karachi; additionally, associations with age groups, gender and comorbidities were obtained as well.

Strategies for Accurate Diagnosis of Fetal Aortic Arch Anomalies: Benefits of Three-Dimensional Sonography With Spatiotemporal Image Correlation and a Novel Algorithm for Volume Analysis.

Background: Obtaining an accurate diagnosis of fetal aortic arch anomalies is often difficult with traditional two-dimensional (2D) sonography. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the value of three-dimensional (3D) sonography with spatiotemporal image correlation for diagnosing fetal aortic arch anomalies using a novel algorithm for 3D volume analysis.

Methods: Two-dimensional and 3D echocardiographic image data from 300 normal fetuses and 30 fetuses with aortic arch anomalies were retrospectively reviewed.

Skull Metastasis Extending to the Superior Sagittal Sinus: An Unfamiliar Presentation of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine cancer in the world, with a rising global incidence over the last three decades. Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is the most common type of thyroid neoplasia, accounting for 74%-80% of all cases. Skull metastasis from a differentiated thyroid malignancy is a rare occurrence, while a subsequent dural involvement is even more inimitable.

Antimicrobial Effect of an Experimental Glass lonomer Cement against Pathogens associated with Deep Carious Lesions.

Aim: To study the antimicrobial effect of chlorhexidine diacetate (CHX-D)-modified type II glass ionomer cement (GIC) against the two predominant deep caries microorganisms, namely Lactobacillus casei and Actinomyces viscosus.

Materials And Methods: An experimental GIC (ex-GIC) was prepared by mixing CHX-D powder with the powder of type II GIC to obtain 1% (w/w) concentration of CHX-D in the GIC. Antibacterial activity of this ex-GIC was tested against L.

Physical Activity in a Randomized Culturally Adapted Lifestyle Intervention.

Introduction: Middle Eastern immigrants exhibit high levels of physical inactivity and are at an increased risk for Type 2 diabetes. The primary aim of this study was to examine the changes in objectively assessed physical activity levels following a culturally adapted lifestyle intervention program. The secondary aim was to examine the association between objectively assessed physical activity and insulin sensitivity.