OBJECTIVES: To  test  a  soft  gel  capsule  with  barium  sulfate  as  a  medium  for  modified  barium esophagogram in detecting esophageal foreign body.
METHODS:
Design: Preliminary Diagnostic Test Assessment; Consecutive Convenience Sample
Setting: Tertiary Government Hospital
Patient: Soft gel capsule with barium sulfate was pilot tested on patients with a history and diagnosis of radiolucent foreign body ingestion between June 1 and November 30, 2014.
RESULTS: Seven  patients  (6  males,  1  female;  aged  26  -  61  years)  underwent  the  procedure.  In all seven, the enhanced capsule immediately stopped above the level  of  the  esophageal foreign body, easily identifying the exact location of the obstruction. Foreign bodies included 1 embryonated  duck-egg  white "balut",  5  chunks  of  pork  meat  and  1  claspless  denture. All  were successfully  marked  by  the  capsule  on  fluoroscopy  and  documented  on  X-ray.  Esophagoscopy under general anesthesia was successfully performed after fluoroscopy in all patients.
CONCLUSION: We   were   able   to   improvise   a   new   medium   for   use   in   modified   barium esophagograms  that  was  easy  to  prepare  and  that  rendered  good  radiographic  imaging  and localization of radiolucent foreign bodies. A randomized trial in comparison to the prevailing test  may  confirm  our  findings  further.  Meanwhile,  we  recommend  exploring  the  procedure in  other  hospitals  as  an  alternative  to  barium-soaked  cotton  in  the  diagnosis  of  radiolucent esophageal foreign bodies

Human ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Swine ; Esophagoscopy ; Barium Sulfate ; Barium ; X-rays ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Esophagus ; Fluoroscopy ; Foreign Bodies ; Dentures ; Anesthesia, General

Objective: To determine the antimycotic activity of the four medicinal plant extracts, kalachuchi bark (Plumeria acuminata Ait.), atsuete bark (Bixa orellana Linn.), akapulko leaves (Cassia alata Linn.), and neem leaves (Azadirachta indica Adr. Juss), when compared to the standard clotrimazole in the treatment of otomycosis.Study Design: Experimental StudyMethods: Taxonomically identified plants, kalachuchi, atsuete, akapulko, and neem tree were collected and deposited in an herbarium. Extracts of these plants and the standard clotrimazole were tested against isolates of Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, and Candida albicans taken from patients with otomycosis. Three trials were made for each extract using different solvents and results subjected to statistical analysis.Result: Of the four medicinal plant extracts studied, only kalachuchi bark extract exhibited antifungal activity against Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger using methylethylketone as solvent when compared to the standard clotrimazole. It was equally effective in inhibiting the growth of A. flavus and A. niger. However, all plantextracts using all types of solvents were equally ineffective in inhibiting the growth of Candida albicans.Conclusion: This in vitro study suggested that kalachuchi (Plumeria acuminata Linn.) bark extract inhibits the growth of Aspergillus species and was comparable to the standard clotrimazole. Following appropriate further studies and clinical trials, it may be a potential alternative treatment option for otomycosis caused by Aspergillus species.
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