How the Global Burden of Animal Diseases links to the Global Burden of Crop Loss: a food systems perspective.

Food systems comprise interconnected webs of processes that together transform inputs (land, labour, water, nutrients and genetics, to mention just a few) into outputs such as nutrition and revenue for human societies. Perfect systems do not exist; rather, global food systems operate in the presence of hazards, biotic and abiotic alike, and under the constraint of limited resources to mitigate these hazards. There are, therefore, inefficiencies in these systems, which lead to losses in terms of monetary, nutritional, health and environmental values and create additional negative externalities in the health, social and environmental spaces.

Selective activation induced cleavage of the NR2B subunit by calpain.

Although activation of calcium-activated neutral protease (calpain) by the NMDA receptor has been suggested to play critical roles in synaptic modulation and neurologic disease, the nature of its substrates has not been completely defined. In this study, we examined the ability of calpain to cleave the NMDA receptor in cultured hippocampal neurons. Activation of the NMDA receptor by agonist application led to rapid calpain-specific proteolysis of spectrin and decreased levels of NR2A/2B subunits.

Urinary retention and intravesical hemorrhage following urethral collagen injections in women using warfarin.

Two women on warfarin anticoagulation experienced urinary retention following urethral collagen bulk injections. Both women developed implant site hematomas, with urinary retention and intravesical hemorrhage. One woman was supratherapeutic and the other was therapeutic on warfarin therapy.

Proteolysis of the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor by calpain in situ.

N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are calcium-permeable glutamate receptors that play putative roles in learning, memory, and excitotoxicity. NMDA receptor-mediated calcium entry can activate the calcium-dependent protease calpain, leading to substrate degradation. The major NMDA receptor 2 (NR2) subunits of the receptor are in vitro substrates for calpain at selected sites in the C-terminal region.

Is it worth doing barium enemas on patients with unexplained iron deficiency anaemia?

The incidence on double contrast barium enema (DCBE) of carcinomas and polyps > 1 cm in size was compared in 92 patients with iron deficiency anaemia and a group of randomly obtained non-anaemic controls. In the anaemic group there were eight carcinomas and four polyps, and in the control group two carcinomas and no polyps. The incidence of neoplasms in the anaemic group (13.

Case report: pericolic abscess secondary to torsion of an appendix epiploica.

Torsion of the appendices epiploicae is a rare condition which may present with acute abdominal pain and mimic appendicitis. Untreated, peritonitis or intestinal obstruction may result. We present a case in which torsion of an appendix epiploica led to the development of a pericolic abscess communicating between the colon and lesser sac.

Is the appendix where you think it is--and if not does it matter?

For over 100 years the recognized surface marking for the appendix has been McBurney's point (the junction of the lateral and middle thirds of a line joining the umbilicus with the right anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS)). In order to test its validity, the relationship between McBurney's point and the appendix was determined on 275 double contrast barium enemas (DCBE). A wide spread of distribution of the site of the appendix base was seen.

Aspiration of high-density barium contrast medium causing acute pulmonary inflammation--report of two fatal cases in elderly women with disordered swallowing.

Two cases are reported in which accidental inhalation of barium contrast medium occurred owing to disordered swallowing in elderly women. In each case there was a pulmonary inflammatory reaction followed within a few hours by death. Experimental and clinical reports of barium inhalation are reviewed and the hazard of aspiration of high density barium preparations in elderly and debilitated patients with dysphagia is emphasised.

Annual oration 1989: bring out your barium.

A critical review of the use of barium examinations of the gastrointestinal tract compared with endoscopy provides evidence of a valid role for barium studies in contemporary radiology. It is concluded that there is no clinical, scientific, or economic justification for the wholesale replacement of barium radiology by endoscopy.

The role of transabdominal ultrasound in the preoperative evaluation of patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy.

We evaluated 59 consecutive patients for obstructive voiding symptoms with physical examination, excretory urography, urethrocystoscopy, post-voiding residual volumes, uroflowmetry and transabdominal ultrasound of the prostate. Of the patients 53 underwent transurethral resection of the prostate and 6 underwent open prostatectomy. Followup uroflowmetry was done 4 weeks postoperatively.

New method for the dynamic assessment of anorectal function in constipation.

A new dynamic technique for the investigation of anorectal function has been developed. This involves radiological visualization of the rectum during voiding of a semisolid radio-opaque contrast medium, and simultaneous measurement of the intrarectal pressure and electrical activity of the external anal sphincter. The method has been used to study patients (n = 16) with profound difficulty passing formed stool.

The barium enema appearances in solitary rectal ulcer syndrome.

Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome is a benign condition of unknown aetiology, usually found in young adults. The main clinical complaint is of rectal bleeding, often with change in bowel habit. The radiological findings in 17 patients with histologically proven solitary rectal ulcer syndrome, seen at the General Infirmary at Leeds over an 8-year period, are presented.

Abdominal actinomycosis: a report of three cases.

Abdominal actinomycosis is a rare condition which is difficult to diagnose because of its close resemblance to other, more common conditions. The clinical and radiological features of three cases are described and illustrated. The diagnosis is suggested by the rapid development of a fixed mass with fistulae.

Do plain films of the chest and abdomen have a role in the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis?

Radiographs taken on the day of admission on 52 patients with acute pancreatitis have been compared with similar radiographs of 30 patients with acute cholecystitis and 22 patients with perforated duodenal ulcer. Two radiologists, who were unaware of the clinical features, looked specifically for the presence of 30 radiological signs. The only abdominal signs seen more frequently in acute pancreatitis were fluid levels in the stomach and duodenum, usually associated with dilatation.

A comparison of barium sulphate preparations used for the double contrast barium meal.

Radiologists' opinions of the properties of six barium suspensions with their recommended gas-producing agents designed for upper gastrointestinal use were assessed, using a linear analogue scale. Five radiologists independently assessed mucosal coating of stomach and duodenum, areae gastricae, gaseous distension and bubble formation in a total of 258 patient examinations. Preparation 1 (EZHD) was judged to give best overall results, coating stomach and duodenum particularly well.

The barium enema diagnosis of paracolic abscess.

The barium enema diagnosis of 38 cases of paracolic abscess is discussed. The importance of an appreciation of the anatomy of the peritoneum and of the paracolic region is emphasized. Five features of paracolic abscess that can be recognised on double contrast barium enema examination are analysed.

Experience with the Russian model 249 suture gun for anastomosis of the rectum.

The Russian Model 249 circular suturing device used for rectal anastomoses in 62 patients undergoing high or low anterior resection or colectomy and ileorectal anastomosis was technically easy to use. The 38 high anastomoses were all shown to be intact by a Gastrografin, meglucomine diatrigoate, enema study 14 days after the operation. Of the 24 low anastomoses, six demonstrated small, 5 to 10 millimeters, dehiscences, two of the latter being evident also upon clinical examination.

Assessment of the double contrast barium meal: method and application.

A method of assessing and comparing double contrast barium meals has been devised. The use of the linear analogue scale has been found to be a consistent method of recording and measuring radiological impression of mucosal coating and gaseous distension. By this means the effectiveness of various currently available barium and gas preparations has been assessed in 125 patients.