突发恶性眼周肿瘤调查研究

目的：：研究约旦皇家医疗服务医院中突发恶性眼周肿瘤的发病率、流行病学及临床特征。方法：回顾性研究。回顾分析我院在2004~2015年收治的327例诊断为恶性眼周肿瘤患者的病历资料。研究参数包括年龄、性别、患者所在城市、现病史(非肿瘤引起或与肿瘤相关的)、临床与病理诊断、肿瘤大小、位置及手术方式等。结果：在327例患者中,46例(14.1%)患者诊断出患有突发恶性眼周肿瘤。男性与女性的患病比例为2：1。平均年龄为66.39±10.59(22-83)岁。最常见的临床疾病或症状为白内障致视觉模糊(44%),其次为白内障合并其他相关症状类似泪溢症等(21.7%)。初步临床诊断联合病理诊断95.7%为皮肤癌。平均病变大小为1.04×0.85(0.2×0.2~3.0×3.0) mm2。肿瘤的最大直径和患者年龄无明显关系( P=0.105)。最常见的肿瘤位于下眼睑(30.4%),其次为内眦处(26.1%)。随访时间6mo至3a (平均9.3mo)。结论：突发恶性眼周肿瘤在本研究中较为常见,任何可疑病灶须尽快切除。一些患者忽视这些病变的原因需要进一步的前瞻性研究分析。     

Main pulmonary artery enlargement predicts 90-day readmissions in Chinese COPD patients

BackgroundNumerous studies have shown pulmonary artery enlargement when measured by chest computed tomography (CT) could predict a worse outcome in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Herein, we studied the prognostic implication of main pulmonary artery diameter (MPAD) in Chinese COPD patients.MethodsThis is an observational case-control study. Patients with 90-day readmissions are case group and those without 90-day readmission are control group. The study comprised of 417 COPD patients who underwent chest CT in their initial admission due to acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD). We analyzed their clinical characteristics such as MPAD, arterial blood gas (ABG) results, other chest CT findings and comorbidities to identify the cause of readmission within 90 days.ResultsMedian age of our study population is 75 years old, and 79.6% of them are male. The median MPAD is 2.8 cm and 80.6% were also diagnosed with community acquired pneumonia (CAP) in their first admission. The median MPAD in patients with 90-day readmission was 3.1 cm while patients without 90-day readmission had median MPAD of 2.8 cm. Through multivariate logistic regression analysis CAP (P=0.019, OR: 3.105, 95% CI: 1.203–8.019) and MPAD (P<0.001, OR: 2.898, 95% CI: 1.824–4.605) were statistically significant. In the second stage of analysis, subgroup of patients diagnosed with CAP and AECOPD (pAECOPD) were analyzed, MPAD remained statistically significant (P<0.001, OR: 3.490, 95% CI: 1.929–6.316) and receiver operative characteristic (ROC) curve for pAECOPD patients; area under the curve (AUC) was 0.704 (95% CI: 0.631–0.778) with a MPAD cut off value of 2.9 cm (sensitivity 72%, specificity 53%).ConclusionsEnlarged MPAD and pAECOPD in initial admission are independent risk factors for 90-day readmission. In our pAECOPD patient population, MPAD >2.9 cm are at increased risk of 90-day readmission.     

Use of High Performance Polymers as Dental Implant Abutments and Frameworks: A Case Series Report

Dental implant abutments can be made of different materials including titanium, gold, zirconia, alumina, and polymeric materials. Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a high performance thermoplastic polymer that can be used as a dental implant abutment material. It has an elastic modulus comparable to bone and can reduce stress shielding. PEEK is a radiolucent material that can allow better radiographic imaging of peri‐implant tissues and can be veneered with composite materials or bonded to ceramics. PEEK is widely used in orthopedic and spinal surgeries, and it possesses mechanical and biological characteristics that encourage its use as dental implant abutments. This article will review the use of PEEK in dentistry and in particular as a dental implant abutment and over implant framework. Clinical reports will be presented to suggest some uses of PEEK materials in implant dentistry.     

Association of patterns of care,prognostic factors,and use of radiotherapy–temozolomide therapy with survival in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma: a French national population-based study

Journal of Neuro-Oncology - Glioblastoma is the most frequent primary malignant brain tumor. In daily practice and at whole country level, oncological care management for glioblastoma patients is...     

Is metformin poised for a second career as an antimicrobial?

Metformin, a widely used antihyperglycaemic, has a good safety profile, reasonably manageable side‐effects, is inexpensive, and causes a desirable amount of weight loss. In 4 studies of patients with tuberculosis (1 prospective and 3 retrospective), metformin administration resulted in better outcomes. In mice with several models of endotoxemia, metformin diminished levels of proinflammatory cytokines and improved survival. Laboratory studies showed effectiveness of the drug on multiple pathogens, including Trichinella spiralis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and human immunodeficiency virus. Metformin administration in humans and mice produced major changes in the composition of the gut microbiota. These recently discovered microbe‐modulating properties of the drug have led investigators to predict wide therapeutic utility for metformin. The recent easing in United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines regarding administration of metformin to patients with kidney disease, and reduced anxiety about patient safety in terms of lactic acidosis, increase the probability of broadening of metformin's usage as a treatment of infectious agents. In this text we review articles pertinent to metformin's effects on microorganisms, both pathogens and commensals. We highlight the possible role of metformin in a wide range of infectious diseases and a possible expansion of its therapeutic profile in this field. A systematic review was done of PubMed indexed articles that examined the effects of metformin on a wide range of pathogens. Metformin was found to have efficacy as an antimicrobial agent in patients with tuberculosis. Mice infected with Trypanosomiasis cruzi had higher survival when also treated with metformin. The drug in vitro was active against T. spiralis, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, and hepatitis B virus. In addition there is emerging literature on its role in sepsis. We conclude that metformin may have a potential role in the therapy for multiple infectious diseases. Metformin, in addition to its traditional effects on glucose metabolism, provides anti‐microbial benefits in patients with tuberculosis and in a very wide range of other infections encounters in vitro and in vivo.     

A Systematic Literature Review on Waste-to-Resource Potential of Palm Oil Clinker for Sustainable Engineering and Environmental Applications

Several agro-waste materials have been utilized for sustainable engineering and environmental application over the past decades, showing different degrees of effectiveness. However, information concerning the wider use of palm oil clinker (POC) and its performance is still lacking. Therefore, as a solid waste byproduct produced in one of the oil palm processing stages, generating a huge quantity of waste mostly dumped into the landfill, the waste-to-resource potential of POC should be thoroughly discussed in a review. Thus, this paper provides a systematic review of the current research articles on the several advances made from 2005 to 2021 regarding palm oil clinker physical properties and performances, with a particular emphasis on their commitments to cost savings during environmental and engineering applications. The review begins by identifying the potential of POC application in conventional and geopolymer structural elements such as beams, slabs, and columns made of concrete, mortar, or paste for coarse aggregates, sand, and cement replacement. Aspects such as performance of POC in wastewater treatment processes, fine aggregate and cement replacement in asphaltic and bituminous mixtures during highway construction, a bio-filler in coatings for steel manufacturing processes, and a catalyst during energy generation are also discussed. This review further describes the effectiveness of POC in soil stabilization and the effect of POC pretreatment for performance enhancement. The present review can inspire researchers to find research gaps that will aid the sustainable use of agroindustry wastes. The fundamental knowledge contained in this review can also serve as a wake-up call for researchers that will motivate them to explore the high potential of utilizing POC for greater environmental benefits associated with less cost when compared with conventional materials.     

Effect of Tinospora crispa on thioacetamide-induced liver cirrhosis in rats

Objectives:

This study was conducted to determine the effect of ethanolic extract of the dried stems of Tinospora crispa in a male rat model of hepatic fibrosis caused by the hepatotoxin, thioacetamide.

Materials and Methods:

The extract was gavaged daily to the rats, at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg along with thioacetamide at a dose of 200 mg/kg twice weekly. To assess the effectivity of extract, against thioacetamide, the activity of aminotransferases (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase), alkaline phosphatase (AP); and bilirubin were measured, together with morphological and histopathological indices in the liver of healthy and thioacetamide-treated rats.

Results:

A significant increase in the activity of liver enzymes, bilirubin and G-glutamyl transferase and gross and histopathological changes were determined. Although previous in vitro study established that this extract had strong antioxidant activity, this in vivo study establishes that this extract contains hepatotoxins whose identity may be quite different from those compounds with antioxidant properties.

Conclusion:

The study confirms that complete reliance on data obtained using in vitro methodologies may lead to erroneous conclusions pertaining to the safety of phytopharmaceuticals.     

Effects of chlorpromazine on the onset of puberty and follicular development in immature female rats

Effect of chlorpromazine (dopamine receptor antagonist) on pre-pubertal ovarian follicular development and onset of puberty were studied. Fifteen days old female rats were administered chlorpromazine (2.5 mg/kg body weight) daily for 21 days and appropriate controls were maintained. The onset of puberty in immature female rats was delayed following chlorpromazine treatment. There were significant increases in the body weight, ovary weight and diameter of the ovary of controls and treated group over the initial controls. Ovary of the initial controls consisted of primordial (type 2), primary (type 3a, 3b), pre-antral (type 4, 5a, 5b) and antral (type 6) follicles whereas, antral (type 7) and pre-ovulatory follicles (type 8) were not developed. Controls and treated group consisted of all types of follicles i.e. primordial to pre-ovulatory follicles. Primordial follicles were reduced in number significantly in the ovary of the controls and treated group when compared with the initial controls whereas there was no significant variation among the controls and the treated group. The mean number of primary, pre-antral and antral (type 6) follicles in the control and treated group increased significantly over the initial controls. However, there was a significant reduction in the mean number of these follicles in the treated group when compared to controls. The mean number of type 7 (antral) and type 8 (pre-ovulatory) follicles were reduced in the treated group when compared with controls. The number of atretic follicles of the primary, pre-antral and antral (type 6) follicles significantly increased in controls and treated group over the initial controls. When compared to controls the mean number of atretic follicles belonging to primary, pre-antral, antral (type 6 and 7) and pre-ovulatory category were significantly higher in treated group and the number of corpora lutea was significantly lower. The results indicate that chlorpromazine effect results in loss of follicles by atresia and delay the onset of puberty in immature female rats.