Systemic lupus erythematosus in a male patient in lower Assam

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is one of the numerous diseases called “the great imitators” because it frequently resembles or is misdiagnosed as other illnesses. SLE is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disorder that affects multiple systems and has a wide range of symptoms. The female to male ratio varies between 7 and 15 to 1. A number of observations point to an estrogen impact as the cause of this variance. Because sex hormonal impacts are likely to be modest in youngsters, the female to male ratio is 3:1. Renal involvement and seizures are more common in male SLE patients than photophobia and cutaneous symptoms. Males likewise appear to have a more devastating consequence. As a result, we feel that male lupus patients are uncommon, the illness’s symptoms are life-threatening, and that early discovery of the disease will result in a better outcome for these patients. Here, we report the case of SLE with an unusual presentation in a 44-year-old man from lower Assam to emphasize the importance of a high index of suspicion in such patients.

Epidemiological and clinical features of pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis: A population-based study in Isfahan, Iran, between 1997-2020

Background: Pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS) is an autoimmune demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system (CNS), affecting individuals younger than 18 years of age. We sought to characterize the epidemiological and clinical features of patients with POMS in Isfahan, Iran, from April 1997 to March 2020. Methods: The medical records of patients with POMS in the databases of Isfahan Department of Public Health and Isfahan Multiple Sclerosis Society (IMSS) were retrospectively reviewed. The 2006 and 2016 Isfahan Province population censuses were used as reference values for assessing the temporal trend of POMS. Results: From April 1997 to March 2020, 509 individuals under18 years of age were diagnosed with POMS in Isfahan. 404 of these patients (79.4%) were girls, and 105 patients (20.6%) were boys (a female to male ratio of 3.85:1). Most of the patients (83%) were monosymptomatic at onset, with optic neuritis and brainstem-cerebellar disorders being the most frequent initial presentations. Mean ± standard deviation (SD) of age at disease diagnosis was 15.8 ± 2.5 years (ranging from 3 to 18, mode = 18).From April 2019 to March 2020, the crude prevalence and the crude incidence rate of the POMS were 5.42 per 100000 and 1.86 per 100000, respectively. Poisson regression analysis revealed a 3.4% increase in the incidence rate of POMS from April 1997 to March 2020 [relative rate:1.034, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.021-1.048]. Conclusion: The female to male ratio in our cohort was significantly higher than any other studies conducted previously. The high female to male ratio and increasing incidence of the disease suggest increasing regionalization of care.

Leader or Leaderess? Consequences of Using Feminatives for the Perception of Leadership

According to the Implicit Leadership Theory, leadership roles are assigned in the process of social construction and depend upon the level of congruence with the cognitive representation of a leader. Previous studies show that this cognitive representation is much more likely to involve a leader being a male rather than a female. The article presents the results of an experiment aimed at tentatively verifying whether the use of the feminine forms could increase the cognitive availability of the representation of a woman as a leader. In the experiment, 135 teams (N = 307 respondents) were randomly assigned to one of two experimental conditions: 1) generic instruction (without the use of feminatives, “Please, draw a leader”), 2) inclusive instruction (using feminatives, “Please, draw a leader/leaderess”). The results showed a significant interaction between the experimental manipulation and the proportion of women in the team. The use of feminine forms increased the percentage of females drawn as leaders only in teams with a high female-to-male ratio.

THE STATUS OF THE UNAFFECTED EYE IS A PREDICTOR OF SHORT-TERM RECOVERY IN A CROATIAN COHORT OF PATIENTS WITH MONOCULAR OPTIC NEURITIS

Aim: To define the clinical profile of patients with unilateral optic neuritis (ON) presented to our clinic and to identify baseline clinical features and demographic data associated with one-month visual acuity (VA) outcome. Methods: Patients with suspected ON referred to our clinic were consecutively assessed for inclusion between February 2017 and November 2019. VA was measured using Snellen charts. Clinical and demographic, baseline and after one-month follow-up data were analyzed in a multivariate model. Results: Overall, 71 patients were included, of which six were considered lost to follow-up. The median age was 50 years old (interquartile range 37-57 years old) and the female to male ratio was 3:1. 14.1 % had a severe attack and 83.1 % recovered completely one month after the diagnosis. Multivariate analysis of data from 65 patients showed that baseline VA of the affected eye (P=0.011) and fellow eye (P=0.015) were factors associated with VA of the affected eye at follow up. Conclusion: Our cohort was older, had a higher female to male ratio and on average, a less severe ON clinical presentation compared to reports from other countries. Baseline VA of both the affected and fellow eye are predictors of one-month VA recovery

Differences in clinical and imaging presentation of maxillary sinus fungus ball with and without intralesional hyperdensity

Maxillary sinus fungal balls (MSFBs) mostly occur in older individuals and demonstrate female predominance. Early diagnosis is important to avoid treatment delays. Intralesional hyperdensity (IH) indicates the presence of heavy metal deposition within fungal hyphae and has been the most specific characteristic of MSFB on computed tomography (CT). For those without IH on CT, the diagnosis of MSFB remains challenging. This study aimed to characterize clinical presentation of MSFB with and without IH and to study factors contributing to MSFB with no IH formation. We retrospectively identified 588 patients with MSFB. The clinical characteristics and CT findings were reviewed. Patients with unilateral MSFB had a mean age of 57.4 years and demonstrated female predominance (64.63%). The female-to-male ratio was highest at 51–60 years (2.02) and rose to 2.60 in MSFB with IH only. Compared to those with IH, MSFB without IH was significantly more common in males (OR = 2.49), in those with diabetes mellitus (DM) (OR = 1.87), adjacent maxillary odontogenic pathology (OR = 1.75). Complete opacification on CT was less common in MSFB without IH (OR = 0.60). Patients with MSFB without IH were more likely to have DM, no female predominance, adjacent maxillary odontogenic pathology, and partial opacification of the sinus, compared to those with IH. These may be helpful in better understanding of the formation of MSFBs without IH, early identification of them and prevention of post-operative recurrence.

Short-term storage of semen samples in acidic extender increases the proportion of females in pigs

Background Sex preselection is a desired goal of the animal industry to improve production efficiency, depending on industry demand. In the porcine industry, there is a general preference for pork from female and surgically castrated male pigs. Therefore, the birth of more females than males in a litter leads to economic benefits and improved animal welfare in the pig production industry. Our previous study suggested that the porcine semen extender (BTS) adjusted to pH 6.2 maximises the differences in viability between X-chromosome-bearing (X) spermatozoa and Y-chromosome-bearing (Y) spermatozoa without affecting sperm’s functional parameters. In this study we aimed to evaluate whether the pH 6.2 extender is applicable at the farm level for increasing the number of female piglets without a decline in spermatozoa fertility. Artificial insemination (AI) was carried out with spermatozoa stored at pH 6.2 and pH 7.2 (original BTS) at day 1 and day 2 of storage. Next, the functional parameters of the spermatozoa, litter size, farrowing rate, and female-to-male ratio of offspring were determined. Results Although sperm motility decreased significantly after 2 d of storage, the viability of spermatozoa was preserved at pH 6.2 for 3 d. There was no significant difference in the farrowing rate and average litter size between the group inseminated with the spermatozoa stored in (pH 7.2) and that inseminated with spermatozoa stored in acidic BTS. The percentage of female piglets was approximately 1.5-fold higher in sows inseminated on day 1 in the pH 6.2 than in the pH 7.2 group. Furthermore, although there was no significant difference in the female-to-male ratio, the percentage of female piglets born was slightly higher in the pH 6.2 group than in the pH 7.2 group on day 2. Conclusions The method optimised in our study is simple, economical, and may enhance the number of female births without any decline in spermatozoa fertility.

Characteristics and main risk factors correlated to nausea and vomiting after painless digestive endoscopy

Background Nausea and vomiting is relatively frequent after painless digestive endoscopy. It not only occurs after surgery, but may also occur after painless digestive endoscopy. Here we study the characteristics and main risk factors associated with nausea and vomiting after painless digestive endoscopy. Methods A retrospective analysis of 1336 patients who had undergone painless digestive endoscopy in our hospital from January 2020 to May 2020 was performed. The incidence and timing of nausea and vomiting was examined, and the risk factors of nausea and vomiting of painless digestive endoscopy were analyzed. Results 57 cases had nausea or vomiting (4.3% of 1336 cases, female to male ratio 3.38:1, average age 49.49 ± 13.30 years). 55 cases had nausea (4.1%) and 39 cases had vomiting (2.9%). Nausea and vomiting mostly occur within 6 hours after painless digestive endoscopy. In one-way analysis of variance, female, weight less than 60kg, diazoxide dose exceeding 2.5 mg, history of motion sickness, and history of smoke had significant correlation with nausea and vomiting, while female (OR=3.640, P=0.001), weight less than 60kg (OR 0.942, P=0.001), diazoxide dose exceeding 2.5 mg (OR=2.074, P=0.000) were independent risk factors of nausea and vomiting after painless digestive endoscopy by logistic regression analysis. Conclusions In our patients, female, weight less than 60kg and the dosage of diazoxide more than 2.5mg are the main risk factors of nausea and vomiting after painless digestive endoscopy. This study suggests that the dose of diazoxide no more than 2.5mg may reduce the occurrence of nausea and vomiting after painless digestive endoscopy.

A Comparative Study to Determine the Outcome of Supracondylar Fracture of Humerus in Children Treated with Percutaneous Cross Pinning Versus Two Lateral Pinning

Objective: Analysis and assessment of anatomical refurbishment with the use of percutaneous cross pinning versus two lateral pinning and to determine the functional consequences of these procedures, to evaluate the hurdles faced in these treatment methodologies, and the comparison between the patient acceptances in both methods. Methods: This research was a comparative cross-sectional analysis which was conducted at Orthopedics department of Ayub Teaching Hospital Abbottabad for duration of six months i.e from March 2021 to August 2021. The sample size for the research was 50 patients who were admitted both at the (outpatient department) OPD and in the emergency ward. All the patients were clinically examined carefully and thoroughly, and all of their details were recorded. Base line investigations and X-rays were performed of every patient. Results: Percutaneous cross pinning or two lateral pinning methods were used to treat 50 patients suffering from supra-condylar fracture of humerus. Two groups were formed, each had 25 patients. Group A consisted of patients were treated from PCP, while group B patients were treated from TLP. Among the patients of Group, A, 20(80%) were male, 5(20%) were female, with a female: male ratio of 1:5, while in group B patients, 22(88%) were male, 3(8%) were female, with a female: male ratio of 1:8. The average age of both the groups was 7.30+3.30 years. The most prominent reason of fracture in the designed study was fall during playing (54%), 24% patients reported falling from bicycle, while only 22% patients had fallen from trees, the height of which was around 5-7 feet. Postero-medial displacement was observed in 66% patients, while Postero-lateral displacement was observed in 34% patients. Among the list of complications, in TLP, 8% patients suffered from superficial pin tract infection, 12% patients suffered from non-union, and 4% patients had K-wire migration and 4% had Cubitus varus. On the other hand, in PCP group patients, one patient developed superficial pin tract infection, 8% patients had nonunion, and 4% patients had K-wire migration. When the results were analyzed using the Flynn criteria, they were excellent (48% group A patients versus 36% patients of group B), 32% patients in group A had good results and 28% in group B, 20% patients of group B versus 12% patients of group A were regarded as fair, and 8% patients of group A versus 16% patients of group B were considered as poor. The patients who carried angle loss were 12% of group A versus 24% of group B, and who complained about loss of motion were 15% patients of group A versus 25% patients of group B were classified according to Flynn criteria Conclusion: Percutaneous cross pinning is concluded as the better, and more predictable treatment method in terms of management, as compared to two lateral pinning method to treat the Supra-condylar fractures. Key Words: Percutaneous cross pinning, two lateral pinning, supra-condylar fracture, humerus

Clinicopathological and metastasis status of follicular thyroid cancer

This study aims to evaluate the clinicopathological and metastasis status of follicular thyroid cancer at K Hospital. We conducted a retrospective combined with prospective cohort study of 48 follicular thyroid carcinoma patients treated by surgery at K hospital from January 2016 to July 2020. The mean age was 44±16.1 and the female/male ratio was 4.3/1. Most patients presented with an asymptomatic and had a unilateral tumor with mean diameter was 21.7±12 mm. 72.9% of tumors were classified as TIRADS 4 on ultrasound, and FNA did not play a big role in the diagnosis of follicular thyroid carcinoma with undetermined significance result in 48.9% of cases. Distant metastasis in 18.8%, the most common metastatic sites were bone, followed by the lungs. The overall rate of nodal metastasis was 31.3%. Cancer in both thyroid lobes had significantly associated with nodal metastasis (p<0.05)

Oesophageal cancer in Bahrain

Datafrom all 148 cases of oesophageal cancer in Bahrain during 1952-99 were analysed according to patient sex and age and site and histological pattern of tumour, and compared with other Gulf countries. In Bahrain, oesophageal cancer accounted for 2.6% of malignant neoplasms. The female: male ratio was 1.8: 1, and the majority of patients were >/=51 years and </=70 years of age. The lower and upper third of the oesophagus were the most and least frequently involved sites, respectively. Squamous carcinoma [males] and adenocarcinoma [females] were the main histological types. There is varying consistency between these data and those of other Gulf countries having similar anthropological and demographic profiles. A prospective study may help to better underst and the aetiology of the disease and inform preventive policies