PURPOSE: To compare the dose distribution of three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT) with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for post-mastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) to left chest wall. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and seven patients were randomised for PMRT in 3DCRT group (n = 64) and IMRT group (n = 43). All patients received 50 Gy in 25 fractions. Planning target volume (PTV) parameters—Dnear-max (D2), Dnear-min (D98), Dmean, V95, and V107—homogeneity index (HI), and conformity index (CI) were compared. The mean doses of lung and heart, percentage volume of ipsilateral lung receiving 5 Gy (V5), 20 Gy (V20), and 55 Gy (V55) and that of heart receiving 5 Gy (V5), 25 Gy (V25), and 45 Gy (V45) were extracted from dose-volume histograms and compared. RESULTS: PTV parameters were comparable between the two groups. CI was significantly improved with IMRT (1.127 vs. 1.254, p < 0.001) but HI was similar (0.094 vs. 0.096, p = 0.83) compared to 3DCRT. IMRT in comparison to 3DCRT significantly reduced the high-dose volumes of lung (V20, 22.09% vs. 30.16%; V55, 5.16% vs. 10.27%; p < 0.001) and heart (V25, 4.59% vs. 9.19%; V45, 1.85% vs. 7.09%; p < 0.001); mean dose of lung and heart (11.39 vs. 14.22 Gy and 4.57 vs. 8.96 Gy, respectively; p < 0.001) but not the low-dose volume (V5 lung, 61.48% vs. 51.05%; V5 heart, 31.02% vs. 23.27%; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: For left sided breast cancer, IMRT significantly improves the conformity of plan and reduce the mean dose and high-dose volumes of ipsilateral lung and heart compared to 3DCRT, but 3DCRT is superior in terms of low-dose volume.
Breast Neoplasms ; Heart ; Humans ; Lung ; Mastectomy, Modified Radical ; Radiometry ; Radiotherapy ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated ; Thoracic Wall ; Thorax ; Unilateral Breast Neoplasms

Objectives: The aim of the study was to quantify and compare craniofacial asymmetry in subjects with and without symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs). Materials and Methods: A total of 126 adult subjects were categorized into two groups (63 with a TMDs and 63 without a TMDs), based on detection of symptoms using the Temporomandibular Joint Disorder-Diagnostic Index (TMD-DI) questionnaire. Posteroanterior cephalograms of each subject were traced manually and 17 linear and angular measurements were analyzed. Craniofacial asymmetry was quantified by calculating the asymmetry index (AI) of bilateral parameters for both groups. Results: Intra- and intergroup comparisons were analyzed using independent t-test and Mann–Whitney U test, respectively, with a P<0.05 considered statistically significant. An AI for each linear and angular bilateral parameter was calculated; higher asymmetry was found in TMD-positive patients compared with TMD-negative patients. An intergroup comparison of AIs found highly significant differences for the parameters of antegonial notch to horizontal plane distance, jugular point to horizontal plane distance, antegonial notch to menton distance, antegonial notch to vertical plane distance, condylion to vertical plane distance, and angle formed by vertical plane, O point and antegonial notch. Significant deviation of the menton distance from the facial midline was also evident. Conclusion Greater facial asymmetry was seen in the TMD-positive group compared with the TMD-negative group. The mandibular region was characterized by asymmetries of greater magnitude compared with the maxilla. Patients with facial asymmetry often require management of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pathology to achieve a stable, functional, and esthetic result. Ignoring the TMJ during treatment or failing to provide proper management of the TMJ and performing only orthognathic surgery may result in worsening of TMJ-associated symptoms (jaw dysfunction and pain) and re-occurrence of asymmetry and malocclusion. Assessments of facial asymmetry should take into account TMJ disorders to improve diagnostic accuracy and treatment outcomes.

Ulnar nerve injury in closed fracture of forearm in children is uncommon.Commonly, neurapraxia is the reason for this palsy but other severe injuries or nerve entrapment has been reported in some cases. The importance of diagnosis concerning the types of the nerve injury lies in the fact that they have totally different management.We present a case of ulnar nerve deficit in a child following a closed fracture of the forearm bones. It is imperative to diagnose exact cause of palsy as it forms the basis for treatment. MRI scan can help diagnosis and accordingly guide the management. Simple nerve contusion should be treated conservatively, and exploration with fixation of the fracture should be done in lacerations and entrapments of the nerve. Surgery is not the treatment of choice in cases that could be managed conservatively.
Accidental Falls ; Child ; Diagnostic Errors ; Fractures, Closed ; complications ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Radius Fractures ; complications ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Ulna Fractures ; complications ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Ulnar Nerve ; injuries ; Ulnar Neuropathies ; diagnosis ; etiology

BACKGROUND: Brennan’s rodent paw incision model has been extensively used for understanding mechanisms underlying postoperative pain in humans. However, alterations of physiological parameters like blood pressure and heart rate, or even feeding and drinking patterns after the incision have not been documented as yet. Moreover, though eicosanoids like prostaglandins and leukotrienes contribute to inflammation, tissue levels of these inflammatory mediators have never been studied. This work further investigates the antinociceptive effect of protein C after intra-wound administration. METHODS: Separate groups of Sprague–Dawley rats were used for quantitation of cyclooxygenase (COX) activity and leukotriene B4 level by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, as well as estimation of cardiovascular parameters and feeding and drinking behavior after paw incision. In the next part, rats were subjected to incision and 10 μg of protein C was locally administered by a micropipette. Both evoked and non-evoked pain parameters were then estimated. RESULTS: COX, particularly COX-2 activity and leukotriene B4 levels increased after incision. Hemodynamic parameters were normal. Feeding and drinking were affected on days 1 and 3, and on day 1, respectively. Protein C attenuated non-evoked pain behavior alone up to day 2. CONCLUSIONS: Based upon current observations, Brennan’s rodent paw incision model appears to exhibit a prolonged period of nociception similar to that after surgery, with minimal interference of physiological parameters. Protein C, which is likely converted to activated protein C in the wound, attenuated the guarding score, which probably represents pain at rest after surgery in humans.
Animals ; Blood Pressure ; Drinking ; Drinking Behavior ; Eicosanoids ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Leukotriene B4 ; Leukotrienes ; Nociception ; Pain, Postoperative ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; Prostaglandins ; Protein C ; Rats ; Rodentia ; Wounds and Injuries

Acute traumatic aortic injuries, which have substantial lethal outcomes at the time of admission, are fatal in 80% to 90% of cases. These injuries are relatively rare and have nonspecific clinical presentations. Radiologists and emergency physicians need to identify the radiological signs of acute traumatic aortic injury and differentiate them from common imaging errors to ensure accurate diagnosis and determine appropriate management protocols. In combination with image-guided interventions, advances in cross-sectional imaging have enabled nonsurgical management of acute traumatic aortic injuries. Timely and precise diagnoses of these injuries following prompt treatment are essential as up to 90% of patients presenting at the hospital can undergo early repair.