Blood Vessel Prosthesis ; Humans ; Stents

Although isolated cranial nerve palsies are common in diabetic patients, multiple, simultaneous cranial neuropathies are rare. We describe the second case of a complete superior orbital fissure syndrome including the optic nerve in a middle-aged Papuan man with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus. The differential diagnosis included septic cavernous sinus thrombosis and Tolosa Hunt syndrome, and management was initially directed at excluding these serious, treatable conditions.
Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis - diagnosis ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - complications ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - diagnosis ; New Guinea ; Oculomotor Nerve Diseases - diagnosis ; Oculomotor Nerve Diseases - etiology ; Tolosa-Hunt Syndrome - diagnosis

Introduction: In Malaysia, late stage presentation of breast cancer (stage III or IV) has been a healthcare problem that varies geographically throughout the country. This study aims to understand the factors influencing late stage of breast cancer at presentation among Malaysian women in Segamat Hospital, Johor, which is a district hospital. Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted on secondary data of all newly diagnosed breast cancer women from 1st August 2011 to 28th February 2014. Secondary data includes age, ethnicity, marital status, family history, education level, occupation, presenting symptom, duration of symptom, tumour size, tumour pathology, tumour grading, oestrogen, progesterone and HER-2 receptor status were collected and analysed using SPSS version 20.0.0. Result: In total, data from 52 women was analysed and two women were excluded for incompleteness as these women defaulted. Late stage at presentation was 59.6% of all new cases (17.3%, stage III and 42.3%, stage IV). The commonest age group of all women diagnosed with breast cancer was in the 5th decade. Majority of them were Malay, married and housewives with no family history of breast cancer. The statistically significant factors associated with late stage at presentation include Malay ethnicity (p=0.019), presenting symptoms other than breast lump (p=0.047), and duration of breast lump more than 3 months (p=0.009). Discussion/Conclusion: The study demonstrated presentation at late stage of breast cancer is a major health concern among Malaysian women in district hospital. This may be attributed to different sociocultural beliefs, strong belief in complementary and alternative medicine, lack of awareness, and difficult accessibility to healthcare services.
Breast Neoplasms

INTRODUCTIONThis study retrospectively evaluated CT-guided thoracic biopsies for diagnostic yield, accuracy and complications.

MATERIALS AND METHODSA retrospective analysis of 384 patients (mean age 62.7 years; male/female = 251/133) who underwent 399 CT-guided thoracic biopsies were performed for evaluating diagnostic yield, accuracy and complications. Correlations between patients age, procedure factors (biopsy-needle size, number of passes, lesion-size, lesion-depth and traversed lung-length) and complications such as pneumothorax, haemothorax and haemoptysis were evaluated. A comparison between fine needle aspiration (FNA) group and core ± FNA group for diagnostic yield and complications was also performed.

RESULTSFNA was performed in 349 patients and core ± FNA in 50 patients. The biopsy samples were adequate in 91.9% and the diagnostic accuracy for malignant lesions was 96.8% with 95.7% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Pneumothorax (detected on CT) occurred in 139 cases (34.8%) and only 12 (3.0%) required insertion of an intercostals drain. Mild haemoptysis occurred in 13 patients (3.2%) and small haemothoraces in 2 patients. Pneumothorax occurrence was significantly associated with the traversed lung-length (>3mm), lesion-size (≤33 mm) and lesion-depth (≥60mm) (P <0.05). Haemoptysis occurrence was also significantly associated with traversed lunglength (>3mm) and lesion-size (≤33 mm) (P <0.05). There was no significant difference between diagnostic yield and complication rate between FNA and core ± FNA groups.

CONCLUSIONCT-guided thoracic biopsy is a safe procedure with high diagnostic yield and low risk of significant complications. Traversed lung-length and smaller lesion size are associated with occurrence of pneumothorax and haemoptysis.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Image-Guided Biopsy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; Reproducibility of Results ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

No abstract available.
Electrodes*

Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; Blindness ; rehabilitation ; Bonding, Human-Pet ; Culture ; Dogs ; Humans ; Locomotion ; Singapore

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux ; diagnosis ; therapy

INTRODUCTIONThe aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of intraocular injections of bevacizumab for neovascularisation of the iris and neovascular glaucoma.

CLINICAL PICTUREThree patients with neovascularisation of the iris due to various causes were recruited.

TREATMENTPatients were treated with intraocular bevacizumab.

OUTCOMENeovascularisation of the iris was noted to have completely regressed as early as 3 days after the injection and in all the patients (100%) within 8 days after injection. They were followed up for at least 1 month with no clinical evidence of recurrence. Visual acuity remained stable or improved, and the intraocular pressure was controlled in all the 3 patients' eyes. Vitreous haemorrhage also cleared. No signs of inflammation or complications were observed.

CONCLUSIONIntraocular injection of bevacizumab is effective and safe for patients with neovascularisation of the iris and neovascular glaucoma with or without vitreous haemorrhage.

Adult ; Aged ; Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; Bevacizumab ; Glaucoma, Neovascular ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Iris ; blood supply ; Male

Background/Aims: High-resolution extracellular mapping has improved our understanding of bioelectric slow-wave and spike-burst activity in the small intestine. The spatiotemporal correlation of electrophysiology and motility patterns is of critical interest to intestinal function but remains incompletely defined. Methods: Intestinal jejunum segments from in vivo pigs and rabbits were exteriorized, and simultaneous high-resolution extracellular recordings and video recordings were performed. Contractions were quantified with strain fields, and the frequencies and velocities of motility patterns were calculated. The amplitudes, frequencies, and velocities of slow-wave propagation patterns and spike-bursts were quantified and visualized. In addition, the duration, size and energy of spike-burst patches were quantified. Results: Slow-wave associated spike-bursts activated periodically at 10.8 ± 4.0 cycles per minute (cpm) in pigs and 10.2 ± 3.2 cpm in rabbits, while independent spike-bursts activated at a frequency of 3.2 ± 1.8 cpm. Independent spike-bursts had higher amplitude and longer duration than slow-wave associated spike-bursts (1.4 ± 0.8 mV vs 0.1 ± 0.1 mV, P < 0.001; 1.8 ± 1.4 seconds vs 0.8 ± 0.3 seconds, P < 0.001 in pigs). Spike-bursts that activated as longitudinal or circumferential patches were associated with contractions in the respective directions. Spontaneous peristaltic contractions were elicited by independent spike-bursts and travelled slower than slow-wave velocity (3.7 ± 0.5 mm/sec vs 10.1 ± 4.7 mm/sec, P = 0.007). Cyclic peristaltic contractions were driven by slow-wave associated spike-bursts and were coupled to slow-wave velocity and frequency in rabbit (14.2 ± 2.3 mm/sec vs 11.5 ± 4.6 mm/sec,P = 0.162; 11.0 ± 0.6 cpm vs 10.8 ± 0.6 cpm, P= 0.970). Conclusions Motility patterns were dictated by patterns of spike-burst patches. When spike-bursts were coupled to slow-waves, periodic motility patterns were observed, while when spike-bursts were not coupled to slow-waves, spontaneous aperiodic motility patterns were captured.

OBJECTIVETo examine electrocardiogram (ECG) change of workers after leaving occupational noise exposure.

METHODSIn the first phase of the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study, 10413 Guangzhou residents aged 50 years or more received a face-to face interview including noise exposure history, a full medical check-up and laboratory tests in 2003 - 4. ECG examination was carried out using 12-lead MAC-CS ECG machine made in HP Ltd, Shanghai, China. ECG of every subject was independently diagnosed by two doctors who had obtained ECG diagnosis qualification.

RESULTS(1) Among 10413 subjects, 70% were female, and more than half were aged 60-69 years. The mean age and education level in males were higher than those in females. (2) 2119 subjects (21.0%) were previously exposed to noise and were retired now. (3) The prevalence of ECG abnormality was respectively 82.4% and 79.1% in females and males. Rate of ECG abnormality increased with age in both females and males (P = 0.000), and was lower in females with higher education level (P = 0.000). There was not significant difference in ECG abnormality between workers previously exposed or unexposed to noise in both females and males (P > 0.05). 4 Comparing workers previously exposed to those unexposed to noise in both females and males, after adjusting for age, educational level and smoking status, the rates of arrhythmia, axes deviation, atria and ventricle hypertrophy, ST-T change and coronary artery syndrome were not significantly different (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONOur study showed that the prevalence of ECG abnormality was not significantly increased in workers previously exposed to noise and had left exposure now compared to those never exposed to noise. Because our study was cross section and occupational history was obtained from a questionnaire but was not confirmed by the companies, further study is needed.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; Cohort Studies ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Noise, Occupational ; Occupational Exposure