Nodularity-like appearance in the cardia: novel endoscopic findings for Helicobacter pylori infection

Background and study aims Helicobacter pylori-associated nodular gastritis, which is associated with follicular lymphoid hyperplasia, is mainly recognized in the antrum. However, we have also observed nodularity-like appearance in the cardia. This study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of cardiac nodularity-like appearance in H. pylori-associated gastritis. Patients and methods Patients who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy and were evaluated for H. pylori infection for the first time were enrolled. A nodularity-like appearance in the cardia was defined as a miliary nodular appearance or scattered appearances of small circular whitish coloration. H. pylori infection was diagnosed according to serum anti-H. pylori antibody and the urea breath test or histology. Accuracy of the H. pylori infection diagnoses based on nodularity-like appearance were assessed. Results Among 265 patients, 42 patients (15.8 %) were diagnosed as positive for H. pylori. Cardiac nodularity-like appearance and antral nodularity were recognized in 25 and 15 patients, respectively. In accuracy of predicting H. pylori by cardiac nodularity-like appearance, specificity was 0.996, sensitivity was 0.571, positive predictive value was 0.960, negative predictive value was 0.925, and accuracy was 0.928. The sensitivity of cardiac nodularity-like appearance was significantly higher than that of antral nodularity (P = 0.0284). Conclusions Cardiac nodularity-like appearance had a high accuracy rate for H. pylori infection diagnosis. Cardiac nodularity-like appearance was found more frequently than antral nodularity.

Effect of dry needling on submaximal strength and pain in patients with active myofascial trigger points in the rectus femoris: A case series

A myofascial trigger point (MTrP) is a hyperirritable area of a skeletal muscle, of nodular appearance on palpation and located in a taut band. One of the techniques for the treatment of MTrP is dry needling (DN). The aim of the present work was to determine whether treatment with DN is effective in terms of pain relief and improvement of muscle weakness. For this purpose, differences in the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the Brzycki Test were observed before and after treatment of an active MTrP of the rectus femoris. In total, 5 patients received the treatment, of which 80% showed an improvement in pain and an increase in submaximal strength. Although it is not possible to establish a causal relationship, the results appear consistent with our hypothesis that DN is able to generally improve the symptoms of pain and weakness that appeared in patients.

Bovine pancreatolithiasis: case report and review of the literature

An 8-y-old lactating Holstein cow was presented to the herd veterinarian with a history of acute ataxia, and because of poor prognosis, the animal was euthanized and submitted for postmortem examination. A lumbar vertebra was incompletely fractured and had an adjacent subdural hematoma. The pancreas had a hard texture with exaggerated nodular appearance, and on cut surface, the pancreatic ducts appeared fibrotic and contained scores of round-to-faceted pancreatoliths of 0.5–2.0 mm diameter. These calculi extended from the major ducts to the pancreatic duct, sphincter, and into the duodenal lumen. Microscopically, the pancreas had severe acinar atrophy and dissecting glandular fibrosis. The major pancreatic ducts were ulcerated with fibrosis and inflammation. In humans, chronic pancreatitis has been linked to osteoporosis and increased risk of bone fractures. Manual evaluation of ribs at the time of autopsy did not reveal abnormalities in bone pliability or fragility in our cow.

Cutaneous leiomyosarcoma with osteoid metaplasia in a budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus): a case report

Cutaneous leiomyosarcoma with osteoid metaplasia was diagnosed at the base of the right wing in a five-year-old female budgerigar. Grossly, the tumour mass was well circumscribed and solitary, and had a nodular appearance on section. On histological examination, the mass was composed of randomly arranged bundles of spindle-shaped cells that included mitotic, multi-nucleated and bizarre cells. In addition, within and between tumour areas, there were osteoid metaplasia foci. The bony trabeculae were usually localised in the areas around the haemorrhage, and exhibited focal mineralisation. Tumour cells were stained red using Masson’s trichrome staining method. In addition, tumour cells were intensively positive for smooth muscle actin and focally positive for desmin and vimentin, but were negative for CD68 and S100 by immunohistochemical staining. The tumour reported here was defined as a cutaneous leiomyosarcoma with osteoid metaplasia by histopathological and immunohistochemical findings. Our findings may indicate that osteoid metaplasia should be considered in leiomyosarcoma in budgerigars.

Study on Influence of Zwitterionic Surfactant on the Surface Finish and Surface Morphology of Electroless Ni-B Coatings on Al 7075-T6 Alloy

The influence of Zwitterionic - propanesulfonate surfactant on the surface properties such as surface roughness, surface morphology and microhardness of Ni-B coatings using electroless alkaline bath was reported in this paper. Ni-B deposits obtained from nickel chloride as the source of nickel and borohydride as the reducing agent at a pH of 11 and 12 and temperature 85 ± 2 OC. This study reveals that the Ni – B coatings were clearly influenced by the addition of surfactant propanesulfonate on surface roughness and surface morphology. Electroless nickel (EN) - B coatings with addition of surfactant has changed the surface morphology from non-smooth nodular appearance to a smooth surface with average roughness value 1.4μm, which is less than the Ra value of without surfactant 1.98μm. The hardness of the deposit increased with lesser concentration of the surfactant when compared to without surfactant addition. Surface morphology and composition of the Ni–B coatings was analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD).

To bead or not to bead? Lens-specific intermediate filaments revisited

For nearly three decades cytoplasmic intermediate filaments (IFs) have been described as 10 nm thick, unbranched ropes radiating from the cell nucleus and extending to the plasma membrane. This stereotype is now being challenged by the discovery and molecular characterization of the beaded filaments (BFs), a novel class of IFs composed of the lens-specific proteins filensin and phakinin. In contrast to ‘mainstream’ IFs, BFs have a distinctly nodular appearance and form a meshwork underneath the plasma membrane of the lens fiber cells. In vitro assembly studies, expression of filensin and phakinin in cultured cells, and analysis of the corresponding genes reveal that these proteins have evolved from two different subfamilies of IF proteins, thus yielding a unique structure. The new information provides a basis for understanding how the various forms of tissue-specific IF proteins might have developed adopting to the constraints of a specialized environment.

Relative Attenuation Measurements of Ultrasound in the Liver Using the Zerocrossing Method

The zerocrossing method for measurement of the frequency dependence of ultrasound attenuation was used to study the livers of 10 healthy subjects and 9 patients. Increased attenuation in vivo was observed in 5 patients who were seen to have a ‘bright liver’ during B-scanning. Normal attenuation was seen in 3 patients who had pathologic liver biopsies, but normal B-scan images. Increased attenuation was seen in one patient who had a nodular appearance of the liver during B-scanning

Fungal parasites of rotifers: a new Tolypocladium with underwater conidiation

A new species, Tolypocladium parasiticum, is described as endoparasitic on the rotifer host Adineta. Unlike most other known Hyphomycetes parasitic on rotifers, conidia are produced underwater. Infection is initiated by conidia lodging in the lower gullet near the mastax of the host. Conidiogenous cells (phialides) arise either directly from the host body or in clusters from short, simple conidiophores. This species produces solitary terminal resting spores with an unusual nodular appearance.