Search

This article presents a case report of a 16-year-old girl who presented with pain and swelling in the right maxillary region. Imaging tests revealed a well-defined expansile lytic lesion with heterogeneously enhancing soft tissue in the anterior maxilla. A biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of giant cell granuloma (GCG), a rare locally invasive benign lesion. The article discusses the clinical features, histological characteristics, and treatment options for GCG. Early diagnosis and treatment are important for better outcomes in aggressive cases. [Extracted from the article]

Purpose: This is a prospective study of children with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome receiving clobazam as adjunctive therapy. This pilot study aims to examine medication effectiveness as it relates to seizure reduction, as well as improvement in parent-reported behavior and quality of life (QOL). Methods: Ten patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome aged 3-11 years were enrolled in this 6-week, 4 phase study. Seizure frequency, QOL, and Aberrant Behavior Checklist questionnaires were evaluated at 0, 2, 6, and 10 weeks during the study. Results: Patients showed improvement on indices of QOL, including physical activities (62.5%), well-being (37.5%), cognition (87.5%), social activities (37.5%), behavior (87.5%), general health (50%), and overall QOL (87.5%). The Quality of Life in Childhood Epilepsy (QOLCE) questionnaire revealed significant improvement in cognition (P =.008), social activities (P =.049), behavior (P =.038), and overall QOL (P =.018). The Aberrant Behavior Checklist exhibited a trend toward improvement in hyperactivity. Conclusion: There was improvement in all patients with documented baseline seizures (8/10), with 5 showing significant improvement (95%-100% reduction) and 3 showing minor improvement (7%-23% reduction). Statistically significant improvement in areas of cognition, social activities, behavior, and overall QOL were seen. An overall trend toward a positive well-being was seen in our patients with clobazam, as adjunct therapy for Lennox-Gastaut syndrome in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is a major debilitating late complication of diabetes, which significantly reduces the quality of life in patients. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is associated with a wide spectrum of sensory abnormalities, where in loss of sensation or hypoalgesia to applied external stimuli is paradoxically accompanied by debilitating tonic spontaneous pain. In numerous studies on animal models of diabetic peripheral neuropathy, behavioural measurements have been largely confined to analysis of evoked withdrawal to mechanical and thermal stimuli applied to dermatomes, whereas spontaneous, on-going pain has not been widely studied. In the Streptozotocin model of type 1 diabetes, we employed the Conditioned Place Preference test to assess tonic pain. Our results indicate that both phases, that is, early evoked hypersensitivity (i.e. 5-7 weeks post-Streptozotocin) as well as late stage hypoalgesia (i.e. 17-20 weeks post-Streptozotocin) are accompanied by significant tonic pain in mice with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. We also report on the temporal relation between on-going pain and neuropathological changes in the dorsal root ganglia of mice with diabetic peripheral neuropathy up to 6 months post-Streptozotocin. Neither early hypersensitivity nor late hypoalgesia were associated with markers of cellular stress in the dorsal root ganglia. Whereas significant neutrophil infiltration was observed in the dorsal root ganglia over both early and late stages post-Streptozotocin, T-cell infiltration in the dorsal root ganglia was prominent at late stages post-Streptozotocin. Thus, longitudinal analyses reveal that similar to patients with chronic diabetic peripheral neuropathy, mice show tonic pain despite sensory loss after several months in the Streptozotocin model, which is accompanied by neuroimmune interactions in the dorsal root ganglia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Our nation suffers from a shortage in surgeons. This deficiency must be addressed at the medical student level. Increasing faculty and resident interaction with junior students augments surgical interest. Our surgical interest group has recently redefined its role to address these concerns. Methods A multifocal approach has been implemented to increase interest in the surgical specialties. Each academic year, senior students recruit first and second year students to our group to establish early exposure. Members receive didactic presentations from surgical faculty, addressing various topics, on a biweekly basis. In addition, scrubbing, knot-tying, and suturing workshops address technical skills throughout the semester. Membership and match data were collated and analyzed. Results Over the past 5 years, the enrollment in the student interest group increased significantly from 112 to 150. Accordingly, we have observed a parallel increase in the number of students who have successfully matched into surgical residencies. A record number of students (37) from the class of 2013 matched into surgical specialties, representing an 85% increase over the last decade. After creating bylaws and electing societal officers, the group has been recognized by the school's Student Council and given financial support. At present, the group is fiscally solvent with support from the institution, surgery department, and faculty. Conclusion As the demand for surgeons increases so too does the need to increase student interest in surgery. Our school has been successful because of our surgical interest group, and we encourage other schools to adopt a similar approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Our nation suffers from a shortage in surgeons. This deficiency must be addressed at the medical student level. Increasing faculty and resident interaction with junior students augments surgical interest. Our surgical interest group has recently redefined its role to address these concerns. Methods. A multifocal approach has been implemented to increase interest in the surgical specialties. Each academic year, senior students recruit first and second year students to our group to establish early exposure. Members receive didactic presentations from surgical faculty, addressing various topics, on a biweekly basis. In addition, scrubbing, knot-tying, and suturing workshops address technical skills throughout the semester. Membership and match data were collated and analyzed. Results. Over the past 5 years, the enrollment in the student interest group increased significantly from 112 to 150. Accordingly, we have observed a parallel increase in the number of students who have successfully matched into surgical residencies. A record number of students (37) from the class of 2013 matched into surgical specialties, representing an 85% increase over the last decade. After creating bylaws and electing societal officers, the group has been recognized by the school’s Student Council and given financial support. At present, the group is fiscally solvent with support from the institution, surgery department, and faculty. Conclusion. As the demand for surgeons increases so too does the need to increase student interest in surgery. Our school has been successful because of our surgical interest group, and we encourage other schools to adopt a similar approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess and compare the readability of type 2 diabetes online patient education materials from academic institutions in the northeast USA and the American Diabetes Association. Many US residents utilise the Internet to obtain health information. Studies have shown that online patient education materials are often written above the recommended fifth grade reading level, and this may pertain to diabetes health information as well. As diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the USA and glycaemic control is related to health literacy, the readability of diabetic health information is pertinent. Methods: Many academic institutions provide type 2 diabetes online health information. A readability analysis was conducted of materials on the websites of academic institutions or affiliate hospitals with endocrinology fellowships in the northeast USA, and from the American Diabetes Association, using 10 quantitative scales: the Flesch Reading Ease Score, the Flesch–Kincaid Grade Level, the Simple Measure of Gobbledygook, the Gunning Frequency of Gobbledygook, the New Dale–Chall Test, the Coleman–Liau Index, the New Fog Count, the Raygor Readability Estimate, the FORCAST test and the Fry Graph. Results: On average, northeast US academic institutions prepared their online diabetes patient education materials at above a 10th grade reading level. Conclusion: The readability of type 2 diabetes patient health information from academic websites is too difficult. It may benefit people with diabetes for future patient education materials to be prepared at lower reading grade levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Importance: Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is an ophthalmologic emergency due to the sudden cessation of circulation to the inner retinal layer. Without immediate treatment, permanent blindness may ensue. Several treatment options exist, ranging from noninvasive medical management to thrombolysis. Nonetheless, ongoing debate exists regarding the best therapeutic strategy. Case Presentation: The authors present the case of a 78-year-old woman with a medical history of hypercholesterolemia and rheumatoid arthritis who experienced complete loss of vision in her left eye. Following ophthalmologic evaluation demonstrating left CRAO, anterior chamber paracentesis was performed. Endovascular intervention was performed via local intra-arterial fibrinolysis with alteplase. Her vision returned to 20/20 following the procedure. In general, conventional therapies have not significantly improved patient outcomes. Conclusion: Several management options exist for CRAO. In general, conservative measures have not been reported to yield better patient outcomes as compared to the natural history of this medical emergency. Endovascular approaches are another option as observed with this case reported. In cases of CRAO, therapeutic strategies such as intra-arterial fibrinolysis utilize a local infusion of reactive tissue plasminogen activator directly at the site of occlusion via catheterization of the ophthalmic artery. Although several case series do show promising results after treating CRAO with intra-arterial fibrinolysis, further studies are required given the reports of complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the developed nations, temporary ileostomies are usually made in order to protect a distal anastomosis after cancer surgery. However, in India and the neighbouring countries ileal perforation is the most common indication for creating a temporary ileostomy after emergency laparotomy. It seems logical to perform a contrast study when a stoma that was made to protect a bowel anastomosis is being reversed in order to check for anastomosis healing, leak or stenosis. Although we do not know precisely when and why we started this practice, it is customary at our institute to do a contrast study before reversal of a temporary ileostomy. At some institutes a routine contrast study is never done. The utility of this practice has not previously been studied at our institute. This study tries to correlate the surgeon’s clinical and operative findings with the contrast study report in order to see if it may be reasonable to reverse the stoma without a routine contrast study in selected patients where the surgeon has clearly documented absence of any gross disease in the distal bowel and who have had an uneventful post-operative period. To our knowledge this appears to be the first such attempt from our country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Slit ventricle syndrome is a rare condition whereby brain compliance is reduced and can be associated with intermittent intracranial hypertension. A 19-year-old male with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt for congenital hydrocephalus presented with a 1-day history of headache and drowsiness-symptoms from which he suffered in many recurrent episodes over the past 5 years. The improvement of headaches without surgical intervention led to the diagnosis of migraine. During this hospitalization, episodes of intermittent intracranial hypertension were documented along with the remission and relapse of the symptoms. While the patient’s intracranial pressure was within normal range in over 90% of his monitoring period, which postponed shunting, replacement of his ventriculoperitoneal shut eventually resolved his symptoms. Slit ventricle syndrome with reduced ventricular compliances should be considered in patients with clinical evidence of intermittent intracranial hypertension and small ventricular size. The authors advocate shunt replacement as an appropriate treatment for this condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Placement of a drain following abdominal surgery is common despite a lack of convincing evidence in the current literature to support this practice.The use of intra-abdominal drain is associated withmany potential and serious complications.We report a drain site evisceration of the right fallopian tube after the removal of an intra-abdominal drain.The drainwas placed in the right iliac fossa in a patient who underwent a lower segment Caesarean section (LSCS) for meconium liquor with fetal distress.The Pfannenstiel incision made for LSCS was reopened and the protruding inflamed fimbrial end of the right fallopian tube was excised. The patient made an uneventful recovery. Routine intra-abdominal prophylactic drain following an abdominal surgery including LSCS should be discouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case report of a male baby weighing 2900 grams who was born to a diabetic mother at 35 weeks of gestation by cesarean section. The infant had features suggestive of Proteus syndrome, a sporadic congenital polymalformation syndrome named for its highly variable manifestations. The patient needs to be monitored for the development of features such as varicose veins, more vascular/lymphatic malformations, exostoses, cystic lesions in lungs, and subcutaneous tumors and associated complications.