Basketing a basket: A novel emergency rescue technique

Fracture of the central lead wire of an impacted basket during a mechanical lithotripsy for large common bile duct(CBD) stones poses a special challenge.Different maneuvers have been described to resolve this problem.Most techniques require equipment or facilities which may not be readily available in small community hospitals.We present here a similar situation in a patient with a large stone at the level of the cystic duct.Through the duodenoscope,a smaller Dormia basket was introduced into the CBD along the side of the impacted broken basket.The tip of the impacted basket was grasped and,by pulling downwards,the basket was disengaged from the stone.The two baskets were then removed successfully.We suggest this simple technique should be tried initially,before resorting to more advanced procedures.     

A comprehensive Y-STR portrait of Yousafzai’s population

In the current study, 17 Y-Chromosomal short tandem repeats (Y-STRs) included in theAmpFlSTR Y-Filer amplification kit (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, USA) were investigated in 146 unrelated Yousafzai males residing in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan. A total of 94 (89.52%) unique haplotypes were observed. Discrimination capacity was 71.92%. Haplotype diversity ranged from 0.354 (DYS456) to 0.663 (DYS458). Both Rst pairwise analysis and multidimensional scaling plot showed that the genetic structure of the Yousafzais is significantly different from neighbouring populations.

     

A Digital Communication Analysis of Gene Expression of Proteins in Biological Systems: A Layered Network Model View

Background/Introduction

Biological communication is a core component of biological systems, mainly presented in the form of evolution, transmitting information from a generation to the next. Unfortunately, biological systems also include other components and functionalities that would cause unwanted information processing and/or communication problems that manifest as diseases.

Methods

On the other hand, general communication systems, e.g. digital communications, have been well developed and analysed to yield accuracy, high performance, and efficiency. Therefore, we extend the theories of digital communication systems to analyse biological communications. However, in order to accurately model biological communication as digital ones, an analysis of the analogies between both systems is essential. In this work, we propose a novel stacked-layer network model that presents gene expression (i.e. the process by which the information carried by deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA is transformed into the appropriate proteins) and the role of the Golgi apparatus in transmitting these proteins to a target organ. This is analogous to the transmit process in digital communications where a transmitting device in some network would send digital information to a destination/receiver device in another network through a router.

Results

The proposed stacked-layer network model exploits key networks’ theories and applies them into the broad field genomic analysis, which in turn can impact our understanding and use of medical methods. For example, it would be useful in detecting a target site (e.g. tumour cells) for drug therapy, improving the targeting accuracy (addressing), and reducing side effects in patients from health and socio-economic perspectives.

Conclusions

Besides improving our understanding of biological communication systems, the proposed model unleashes the true duality between digital and biological communication systems. Therefore, it could be deployed into leveraging the advantages and efficiencies of biological systems into digital communication systems as well and to further develop efficient models that would overcome the disadvantages of either system.

     

Greater tuberosity sclerosis: Does it correlate with tear size?

Introduction

Radiographic findings of the shoulder joint have been reported in patients with rotator cuff tear, greater tuberosity changes are among the most reported.The aim of this work is to assess the greater tuberosity sclerosis as a radiographic sign of rotator cuff tear and its relation to the tear size.

The diagnostic value of sonoelastographic strain ratio in discriminating malignant from benign solid breast masses

Objective

To detect the diagnostic efficiency of sono elastographic strain ratio in discriminating malignant from benign solid breast masses and compare it with the sono elastographic elasticity score method.

Minimally invasive local ablative therapies in combination with radioiodine therapy in benign thyroid disease: preparation,feasibility and efficiency – preliminary results

Abstract

Purpose: Initial studies of combinations of radioiodine therapy (RIT) and local ablative procedures for the treatment of thyroid nodules have shown promising results. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of RIT combined with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in patients with goitres and to determine which ablative procedure is the most suitable for a combined therapy.

Methods: Thirty patients with goitres were divided into two subgroups. A test group of 15 patients received combined therapy (RIT?+?RFA) and a control group of 15 patients received RIT mono therapy. All patients underwent assessments including ultrasound, laboratory evaluation (T3, T4, TSH, TG, TPOAb, TgAbTRAb) and scintigraphic imaging with Tc-99m-Pertechnetate. The 3-month volume reduction was used to evaluate therapy effectiveness.

Results: Combined therapy (subgroup 1) resulted in a significant (p?<?0.05) thyroid volume reduction (22.3?±?54?ml/32.2?±?58.2%) with better performance (p?>?0.05) than the control group (20.2?±?32.2?ml/29.6?±?42.1%). All patients became euthyroid after treatment. No major discomfort or complications occurred. A review of the literature investigating combinations of other local ablative procedures with RIT was performed to determine the most promising combination.

Conclusions: The present study confirms the positive experiences with the combined therapy of RIT and local ablative procedures shown in the current literature and approves this approach for the treatment of goitres with RFA?+?RIT. These findings, when confirmed by further studies, should expand the indication of combined therapy as a minimally invasive alternative to surgery.     

From Molecular Pathology of COVID-19 to Nigella Sativum as a Treatment Option:Scientific Based Evidence of Its Myth or Reality

COVID-19 virus is a causative agent of viral pandemic in human beings which specifically targets respiratory system of humans and causes viral pneumonia.This un...