Analysis of the Application Value of X-Ray Digital Tomographic Fusion Technique in Urinary System Diseases

Objective. To explore the application value of the X-ray digital tomographic fusion technique in the diagnosis of urinary system diseases. Methods. 500 patients with suspected urinary diseases in our hospital were examined by three methods: X-ray digital tomographic fusion imaging (DTS), intravenous pyelography (IVP), and abdominal plain film (KUB), and the image quality before and after tomographic fusion was objectively evaluated. The image quality could be divided into three grades: excellent, good, and poor. Results. The image excellent rate of DTS (88%) was higher than that of IVP (27.5%). The sensitivity of DTS in the diagnosis of renal cyst and space occupying of the bladder was higher than that of IVP ( P < 0.05 ). The accuracy rate of DTS in the diagnosis of urinary calculi was 93.33%, higher than 63.3% of KUB ( P < 0.001 ). The accuracy rate of DTS in the diagnosis of ureteral stricture was 90%, higher than 65% of IVP ( P = 0.03 ). The accuracy of DTS in the diagnosis of hydronephrosis was higher than that of IVP and KUB ( P < 0.05 ). Conclusion. In the examination of urinary system-related diseases, high-definition images can be obtained by timely using sectional fusion technology. Compared with conventional IVP, space occupying lesions such as the bladder and kidney can be displayed more clearly with the help of the tomographic fusion technique, which is helpful to improve the possibility of finding lesions and is of great significance in clinical application.

Asymmetric Interfacial Intermixing Associated Magnetic Coupling in LaMnO3/LaFeO3 Heterostructures

The structural and magnetic properties of LaMnO3/LaFeO3 (LMO/LFO) heterostructures are characterized using a combination of scanning transmission electron microscopy, electron energy-loss spectroscopy, bulk magnetometry, and resonant x-ray reflectivity. Unlike the relatively abrupt interface when LMO is deposited on top of LFO, the interface with reversed growth order shows significant cation intermixing of Mn3+ and Fe3+, spreading ∼8 unit cells across the interface. The asymmetric interfacial chemical profiles result in distinct magnetic properties. The bilayer with abrupt interface shows a single magnetic hysteresis loop with strongly enhanced coercivity, as compared to the LMO plain film. However, the bilayer with intermixed interface shows a step-like hysteresis loop, associated with the separate switching of the “clean” and intermixed LMO sublayers. Our study illustrates the key role of interfacial chemical profile in determining the functional properties of oxide heterostructures.

The Role of Estrogen Receptor α in Response to Longitudinal Bone Growth in ob/ob Mice

The absence of leptin results in contrasting growth pattern of appendicular and axial bone growth in ob/ob mice. Endochondral bone formation is an important procedure of growth plate determining the bone growth, where this procedure is also regulated by estrogen and its receptor (ER) signaling pathway. The present study is undertaken to explore the roles of ERs in regulating the different growth patterns in ob/ob mice. In this study, C57BL/6 female mice were used as wild-type (WT) mice; ob/ob mice and WT mice were age-matched fed, and bone length is analyzed by X-ray plain film at the 12 weeks old. We confirm that ob/ob mice have shorter femoral length and longer spine length than WT mice (p &lt; 0.05). The contrasting expression patterns of chondrocyte proliferation proteins and hypertrophic marker proteins are also observed from the femur and spinal growth plate of ob/ob mice compared with WT mice (p &lt; 0.01). Spearman’s analysis showed that body length (axial and appendicular length) is positively related to the expression level of ERα in growth plate. Three-week-old female ob/ob mice are randomized divided into three groups: 1) ob/ob + ctrl, 2) ob/ob + ERα antagonist (MPP), and 3) ob/ob + ERβ antagonist (PHTPP). Age-matched C57BL/6 mice were also divided into three groups, same as the groups of ob/ob mice. MPP and PHTPP were administered by intraperitoneal injection for 6 weeks. However, the results of X-ray and H&amp;E staining demonstrate that leptin deficiency seems to disturb the regulating effects of ER antagonists on longitudinal bone growth. These findings suggested that region-specific expression of ERα might be associated with contrasting phenotypes of axial and appendicular bone growth in ob/ob mice. However, ER signaling on longitudinal bone growth was blunted by leptin deficiency in ob/ob mice, and the underlying association between ERs and leptin needs to be explored in future work.

Inadvertent left ventricular pacing due to lead malpositioning, incidentally discovered seventeen years later

Inadvertent lead malpositioning into the left ventricle (LV) is an uncommon complication of pacemaker lead implantation. It can have implications on clinical outcome due to ventricular dyssynchrony, and result in further complications such as thrombus formation with subsequent embolisation. This case study reports the clinical, electrocardiographic, plain film and echocardiographic findings of an 82-year-old male in whom the intravenous lead of a dual chamber pacemaker was unintentionally passed into the LV via an atrial septal defect. Inadvertent placement was discovered incidentally following the onset of atrial fibrillation (AF) 17 years later.

Improved Bioavailability of Ebastine through Development of Transfersomal Oral Films

The main objective of this research work was the development and evaluation of transfersomes integrated oral films for the bioavailability enhancement of Ebastine (EBT) to treat allergic rhinitis. The flexible transfersomes, consisting of drug (EBT), lipid (Phosphatidylcholine) and edge activator (EA) Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate or Sorbitan monolaurate, were prepared with the conventional thin film hydration method. The developed transfersomes were further integrated into oral films using the solvent casting method. Transfersomes were evaluated for their size distribution, surface charge, entrapment efficiency (EE%) and relative deformability, whereas the formulated oral films were characterized for weight, thickness, pH, folding endurance, tensile strength, % of elongation, degree of crystallinity, water content, content uniformity, in vitro drug release and ex vivo permeation, as well as in vivo pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics profile. The mean hydrodynamic diameter of transfersomes was detected to be 75.87 ± 0.55 nm with an average PDI and zeta potential of 0.089 ± 0.01 and 33.5 ± 0.39 mV, respectively. The highest deformability of transfersomes of 18.52 mg/s was observed in the VS-3 formulation. The average entrapment efficiency of the transfersomes was about 95.15 ± 1.4%. Transfersomal oral films were found smooth with an average weight, thickness and tensile strength of 174.72 ± 2.3 mg, 0.313 ± 0.03 mm and 36.4 ± 1.1 MPa, respectively. The folding endurance, pH and elongation were found 132 ± 1, 6.8 ± 0.2 and 10.03 ± 0.4%, respectively. The ex vivo permeability of EBT from formulation ETF-5 was found to be approximately 2.86 folds higher than the pure drug and 1.81 folds higher than plain film (i.e., without loaded transfersomes). The relative oral bioavailability of ETF-5 was 2.95- and 1.7-fold higher than that of EBT-suspension and plain film, respectively. In addition, ETF-5 suppressed the wheal and flare completely within 24 h. Based on the physicochemical considerations, as well as in vitro and in vivo characterizations, it is concluded that the highly flexible transfersomal oral films (TOFs) effectively improved the bioavailability and antihistamine activity of EBT.

The diagnostic value of orthopantomograms in detecting resorption of lateral incisors associated with ectopic canines: a CBCT study

Objective: To examine the diagnostic value of orthopantomograms (OPG) in the identification of root resorption of lateral incisors, secondary to an impacted canine, as confirmed by a cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan. Design: Retrospective observational cohort study. Setting: South Wales secondary care setting: Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport and Nevill Hall Hospital, Abergavenny. Methods: A total of 40 consecutive patients with impacted canines between January 2018 and December 2019 were selected. For each patient, one consultant orthodontist examined the OPG in isolation to detect the presence and extent of resorption of lateral incisors. The CBCT report was then studied to confirm the presence and extent of pathology. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive values and negative predictive values were calculated. Results: In total, 19 maxillary right canines, 18 maxillary left canines, one mandibular right canine and two mandibular left canines were examined. Impactions were more prevalent in the maxilla (92.5%) with higher predilection towards female patients (65%). There was higher prevalence of root resorption in the maxillary right quadrant (57.1%), in concordance with other studies. OPGs were found to have a sensitivity of 81.0% and a specificity of 10.5%, with an accuracy value of 47.5%. Positive and negative predictive values were found to be 50.0% and 33.3%, respectively. The extent of root resorption was incorrectly estimated from the OPG in 84% of cases. Correct estimation occurred in 16% of cases, with overestimation and underestimation occurring in equal proportion (42%). Conclusion: This study demonstrates the limitations of plain film radiographs and the merits of using CBCT in the accurate diagnosis of resorption of lateral incisors with an associated impacted canine. It also gives an indication into the location prevalence of resorption in a small cohort of patients. This preliminary study establishes the basis for future, larger-scale studies where outcomes can be generalisable at a population level.

Multiple foreign bodies in the gastrointestinal tract of a 13-year-old child

Introduction. Foreign bodies in the gastrointestinal tract are various objects of organic and inorganic origin, which are swallowed - not as food - either accidentally or intentionally. The article describes a clinical case of a 13-year-old child with multiple foreign bodies in his gastrointestinal tract which could cause serious complications, such as: perforation of hollow organs, peritonitis, intestinal obstruction, internal bleeding. By statistics, every fourth patient of the conscious age with foreign bodies in the gastrointestinal tract can potentially have problems in the neuropsychic sphere.Material and methods. A 13-year-old boy was admitted to the Clinical and Research Institute of Emergency Pediatric Surgery and Trauma (CRIEPST) with nausea, repeated vomiting after each meal and water drinking. The careful anamnesis revealed that before the boy’s state deteriorated, he had swallowed a large number of magnets and metal objects within a short period of time. X-rays examination found multiple foreign bodies in his gastrointestinal tract. They were removed during esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGDS) and surgical intervention.Results. The plain-film X-ray examination of the abdomen in the projection of the stomach revealed a radiopaque group of foreign bodies of a rounded shape as a conglomerate. At FEGDS, 54 objects were removed: 4 metal balls up to 0.5 cm in diameter, 47 round magnets up to 1.5 cm in diameter, a metal chain and two screws. During laparotomy and gastrotomy 99 foreign bodies were removed: 82 magnet balls 0.5 cm in size, 16 metal balls 1.5 cm in size, 1 bolt. The postoperative period was uneventful. The child was discharged on the 12 th day after surgery in the satisfactory state.Conclusion. Due to timely diagnostics and proper curative tactics, multiple foreign bodies were revealed and removed from the child’s stomach endoscopically and surgically within a short period of time. A correctly chosen curative tactics resulted in a complete recovery of the patient without complications on the 12th hospitalization day.

Effect of needle type on plane block spread in a cadaveric porcine model

IntroductionPlane blocks are an increasingly common type of regional anaesthesia technique in the perioperative period. Increased spread of local anaesthesia during plane blocks is thought to be related to an increased area of pain coverage. This study sought to assess differences in injectate spread comparing Tuohy needles with standard insulated stimulating block needles.Methods10 Yorkshire-Cross porcine cadavers were used in this study. Immediately following euthanasia, the cadavers underwent bilateral ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block injection with radiopaque contrast dye, with one side placed with a 20 g Tuohy needle, and the other side with a 20 g insulated stimulating block needle. Injectate spread was assessed using plain film X-ray and area of spread was measured to compare differences.ResultsAll 10 animals underwent successful ultrasound-guided TAP block placement. In all 10 animals, the area of contrast spread was greater with the Tuohy than stimulating needle. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to analyse the difference between the groups. The average difference between the two sides was 33.02% (p=0.002).ConclusionsThis is the first study to demonstrate differences in injectate spread with different needle types. This suggests enhanced spread with Tuohy needle compared with standard block needle, and may encourage its use during plane blocks.