Acute pancreatitis precedes chronic pancreatitis in the majority of patients: Results from the NAPS2 consortium.

Introduction: The mechanistic definition of chronic pancreatitis (CP) identifies acute pancreatitis (AP) as a precursor stage. We hypothesized that clinical AP frequently precedes the diagnosis of CP and is associated with patient- and disease-related factors. We describe the prevalence, temporal relationship and associations of AP in a well-defined North American cohort.

Known genetic susceptibility factors for chronic pancreatitis in patients of European ancestry are rare in patients of African ancestry.

Background: Multiple pathogenic genetic variants are associated with pancreatitis in patients of European (EA) and Asian ancestries, but studies on patients of African ancestry (AA) are lacking. We evaluated the prevalence of known genetic variations in African-American subjects in the US.

Methods: We studied prospectively enrolled controls (n = 238) and patients with chronic (CP) (n = 232) or recurrent acute pancreatitis (RAP) (n = 45) in the NAPS2 studies from 2000-2014 of self-identified AA.

Fieldable flow injection analysis system with chemiluminescence detection capable of quantifying.

We developed a highly sensitive biosensor for quantifying acetylcholine (ACh) using flow injection analysis system with 1,1'-oxalyldiimidazole chemiluminescence (ODI-CL) detection designed based on the principle of liquid core waveguide. ACh in Tris-HCl (pH 8.5) was incubated with the mixture of 1.

Get in the flow with catheter-directed thrombolysis.

When used in conjunction with standard therapies, catheter-directed thrombolysis reduces complications and yields improved patient outcomes.

Helicopter transport of pediatric versus adult trauma patients.

Objective: Conflicting reports exist regarding the appropriate utilization of helicopter transport for victims of trauma. It has been suggested that adult patients are more severely injured compared with pediatric patients when transported by helicopter. The purpose of this study was to determine whether injury severity and survival probability in pediatric trauma patients were similar to those for adults when helicopter transport was utilized at a suburban trauma center.

Learning about catheter-directed thrombolysis: an aggressive treatment that can quickly resolve deep vein thrombosis.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can lead to life altering changes or death. Aggressive thrombolytic therapy is available to treat selected patients quickly and effectively.

The role of physical therapy in improving physical functioning of renal patients.

Although not traditionally a part of the dialysis team, physical therapists can play an important role in improving the quality of life for dialysis patients. Physical therapists are trained to evaluate the presence of a functional problem such as back pain, muscle weakness, limited range of motion, balance disorder, alteration in gait, joint pain, neuropathic pain, sensory disturbance, loss of functional mobility, or alteration in posture. Many of these conditions are prevalent in the dialysis population.

Sequelae of carpal tunnel surgery: rationale for the design of a surgical approach.

The sequelae of carpal tunnel surgery were reviewed and were presumed to be associated with the linear vertical section of the transverse carpal ligament because this was the common element in the reported series. The authors adopted a modified approach, substituting a parabolic incision that left a protective flap of the ligament to cover the structures within the tunnel in the area of maximum convexity of the wrist. The results from a recent series of 100 cases were contrasted with a control series of 770 previous cases.

Familial multiple-organ arterial ectasia with massive hemoptysis.

Numerous large, thin-walled ectatic arteries up to 1 cm in diameter were encountered during operation on a 20-year-old patient. These vessels covered most of the right pleural surface. Similar symptomatic ectatic vessels were found arising from the left side and intracranially.

Surgical management of extreme lateral lumbar disc herniations: review of 138 cases.

Extreme lateral disc herniations in the authors' series account for 10% of all lumbar herniations; 80% occurred at the L3, L4 and L4, L5 interspaces. The authors review the clinical findings in 138 patients and point to the characteristic features of the clinical syndrome. They compare the accuracy of various diagnostic studies and conclude that computed tomography is highly accurate and should be used before other diagnostic studies.

Toothpick obstruction of the ureter.

We report an unusual case of ureteral obstruction from a toothpick that migrated from the cecum to the right ureter.