123-Iodine MIBG in the Assessment of Sympathetic Denervation in Ogilvie's Syndrome.

123-Iodine metaiodobenzylguanidine (I-123 MIBG) imaging is frequently used in the assessment of sympathetic innervation and autonomic dysfunction in patients with cardiac failure, neurodegenerative Parkinson's syndrome, multiple system atrophy, myotonic dystrophy, and diabetic mellitus. The etiology of pseudo-obstruction remains unknown with likely imbalance between sympathetic and parasympathetic innervation proposed as a hypothesis. We present a case demonstrating the utility of I-123 MIBG scintigraphy for evaluating a case of pseudo-obstruction requiring frequent hospitalization due to progressive complex autoimmune neurological disorder.

Crossed Cerebellar Diaschisis in Thalamic Lymphoma on F-FDG PET/CT.

Primary central nervous system lymphomas (PCNSLs) are extranodal variant forms of non-Hodgkin lymphoma arising within the brain parenchyma, leptomeninges, or spinal cord. PCNSL can present with varied neurological symptoms and imaging findings, making diagnosis without biopsy difficult. PCNSLs are highly aggressive, causing rapid deterioration, but are responsive to chemotherapy and radiotherapy making early diagnosis important.

TNF-α‒Mediated Keratinocyte Expression and Release of Matrix Metalloproteinase 9: Putative Mechanism of Pathogenesis in Stevens‒Johnson Syndrome/Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis.

Stevens‒Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis (SJS/TEN) are severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions characterized by widespread keratinocyte cell death and epidermal detachment. At present, there is little understanding of how the detachment occurs or how it is abrogated by the TNF-α inhibitor etanercept, an effective SJS/TEN treatment. RNA sequencing was used to identify upregulated transcripts in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded SJS/TEN skin biopsies.

Characterisation of the immune microenvironment of primary breast cancer and brain metastasis reveals depleted T-cell response associated to ARG2 expression.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibition is an established treatment in programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1)-positive metastatic triple-negative (TN) breast cancer (BC). However, the immune landscape of breast cancer brain metastasis (BCBM) remains poorly defined.

Materials And Methods: The tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and the messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of 770 immune-related genes (NanoString™, nCounter™ Immuno-oncology IO360) were assessed in primary BCs and BCBMs.

Endoscopy-assisted vitrectomy vs. vitrectomy alone: comparative study in complex retinal detachment with proliferative vitreoretinopathy.

Background: Recurrent retinal detachment (RD) is still a widespread event despite the therapeutic options available. Proliferative vitreoretinopoathy (PVR) is one of the main causes of redetachment. Little is known about the use of endoscopy-assisted vitrectomy (E-PPV) in complex recurrent RD with PVR.

Global and mitosis-specific interobserver variation in mitotic count scoring and implications for malignant melanoma staging.

Aims: Staging is the gold standard for predicting malignant melanoma outcome but changes in its criteria over time indicate ongoing evolution. One notable recent change from the 8th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging manual was removal of mitotic count. We explore the extent to which this feature is limited by interobserver error in order to find ways to improve its fitness for use should it be revisited in future staging versions.

Focused Assessment with Sonography for Urinary Schistosomiasis (FASUS)-pilot evaluation of a simple point-of-care ultrasound protocol and short training program for detecting urinary tract morbidity in highly endemic settings.

Background: Urogenital schistosomiasis (UGS) causes inflammation and fibrosis of the urinary tract. In resource-limited settings, affordable tools for morbidity assessment in clinical care are needed. Point-of-care ultrasound has not yet been validated for UGS-related pathology.

Preventing, identifying and treating hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus that, if left untreated, can result in significant liver damage and cancer. Most individuals are unaware that they have been infected with the hepatitis C virus and remain asymptomatic, which makes early diagnosis challenging. While the virus will spontaneously clear in some individuals, the majority will develop chronic hepatitis C.

Etiology and Risk Factors for Mortality in an Adult Community-acquired Pneumonia Cohort in Malawi.

In the context of rapid antiretroviral therapy rollout and an increasing burden of noncommunicable diseases, there are few contemporary data describing the etiology and outcome of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in sub-Saharan Africa. To describe the current etiology of CAP in Malawi and identify risk factors for mortality. We conducted a prospective observational study of adults hospitalized with CAP to a teaching hospital in Blantyre, Malawi.

A direct comparison of decision rules for early discharge of suspected acute coronary syndromes in the era of high sensitivity troponin.

Background: We tested the hypothesis that a single high sensitivity troponin at limits of detection (LOD HSTnT) (<5 ng/l) combined with a presentation non-ischaemic electrocardiogram is superior to low-risk Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) (<75), Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) (≤1) and History, ECG, Age, Risk factors and Troponin (HEART) score (≤3) as an aid to early, safe discharge for suspected acute coronary syndrome.

Methods: In a prospective cohort study, risk scores were computed in consecutive patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome presenting to the Emergency Room of a large English hospital. Adjudication of myocardial infarction, as per third universal definition, involved a two-physician, blinded, independent review of all biomarker positive chest pain re-presentations to any national hospital.

Chai-Qin-Cheng-Qi Decoction and Carbachol Improve Intestinal Motility by Regulating Protein Kinase C-Mediated Ca Release in Colonic Smooth Muscle Cells in Rats with Acute Necrotising Pancreatitis.

Chai-Qin-Cheng-Qi decoction (CQCQD) improves intestinal motility in acute pancreatitis (AP), but the mechanism(s) require elucidation. We investigated the effects of CQCQD and carbachol, a prokinetic agent, on colonic smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in L-arginine-induced necrotising AP model in rats. In treatment groups, intragastric CQCQD (20 g/kg, 2 hourly × 3 doses) or intraperitoneal carbachol (60 g/kg) was given 24 hours after induction of AP.

Radiologist variability in assessing the position of the cavoatrial junction on chest radiographs.

Objective: To assess the variability in identifying the cavoatrial junction (CAJ) on chest X-rays (CXRs) amongst radiologists.

Methods: 23 radiologists (13 consultants and 10 trainees) assessed 25 posteroanterior erect CXRs (including 8 duplicates) and marked the positions of the CAJ. Differences in the CAJ position both within and between observers were evaluated and reported as limits of agreement (LOA), repeatability coefficients (RCs) and intraclass correlation coefficients and were displayed graphically with Bland-Altman plots.

Outcomes From Minimal Access Retroperitoneal and Open Pancreatic Necrosectomy in 394 Patients With Necrotizing Pancreatitis.

Objective: To examine the outcomes from minimal access retroperitoneal pancreatic necrosectomy (MARPN) and open pancreatic necrosectomy (OPN) for severe necrotizing pancreatitis in a single center.

Background: The optimal management of severe pancreatic necrosis is evolving with a few large center single series.

Methods: Between 1997 and 2013, patients with necrotizing pancreatitis at the Liverpool Pancreas Center were reviewed.

Patch variability following carotid endarterectomy: a survey of Great Britain and Ireland.

Introduction: Evidence suggests a clinical benefit with patch angioplasty after carotid endarterectomy (CEA). The UK National Vascular Database has demonstrated variation in practice but does not record technical details. This study was intended to define indications and technique of patching after CEA.

Prone positioning in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a serious and complex condition. Despite technological advances in treatment, it is associated with a high mortality rate, and the cost to the NHS of treating patients with ARDS is substantial. The condition also presents nurses with many challenges.

Apical node metastasis independently predicts poor survival in Dukes C colorectal cancer.

Aim: The prognostic significance of apical node metastasis in node-positive colorectal cancer (CRC) is disregarded by the Fourth American Joint Committee on Cancer and the International Union Against Cancer (AJCC/UICC) TNM classification system. The influence of apical node metastases on overall 5-year survival among patients with Dukes stage C CRC was examined.

Method: Patients who underwent operative resection for CRC between 1999 and 2003 were reviewed.

Retinal vein thrombosis associated with a herbal phytoestrogen preparation in a susceptible patient.

A 55 year old woman, known to have systemic lupus erythematosus and protein S deficiency, presented with sudden onset of visual loss in the left eye. Three days previously, she took a herbal phytoestrogen preparation for relief of her menopausal symptoms. Ophthalmological assessment showed a left inferior hemiretinal vein thrombosis.