Head injury with traumatic and postural asphyxia: a case report

An autopsy was performed on a 22-year-old tractor driver who was found on a cliff, 20 feet down from the highway, trapped between the wheel of a tractor trolley and some stones in an inverted position, after sustaining a head injury. Post mortem lividity was present above the knee joints except where the left arm was firmly adducted on the chest and where the cloth folds were compressing on the chest and abdomen all round. Sub-mucosal ecchymoses and petechial hemorrhages were present in the pharyngeal walls, and on both surfaces of the epiglottis and larynx above the vestibular folds. Such hemorrhages were first noticed along with other findings of traumatic and postural asphyxia.     

Decreased suppression of CD8+ and CD4+ T cells by peripheral regulatory T cells in generalized vitiligo due to reduced NFATC1 and FOXP3 proteins

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are involved in the suppression of activated T cells in generalized vitiligo (GV). The study was aimed to investigate Tregs functional defects in Treg:CD8⁺ and Treg:CD4⁺ T cells' co-culture systems of 55 GV patients and 45 controls. CD8⁺ and CD4⁺ T-cell proliferation was assessed by BrdU assay; production of IL-10, TGF-β and IFN-γ cytokines was assessed by ELISA; and FOXP3, CD25, NFATC1 and CD44 proteins were measured by flow cytometry. Generalized vitiligo patients showed reduced suppression of CD8⁺ and CD4⁺ T cells (P = .0384, P = .0084), increased IFN-γ (P < .0001, P = .0019), decreased IL-10 and TGF-β (P < .0001) and decreased FOXP3, CD25 and NFATC1 proteins (P < .0001). Active vitiligo (AV) patients showed reduced suppression of CD8⁺ & CD4⁺ T cells (P = .006, P = .015), increased IFN-γ (P = .036, P = .045), decreased IL-10 (P = .009, P = .021), FOXP3 (P = .0244) and NFATC1 (P = .019). Severe GV (50%-75% VASI) patients showed reduced suppression of CD8⁺ and CD4⁺ T cells (P = .0003, P = .001), increased IFN-γ (P = .0029, P < .0001), decreased IL-10 (P = .0057, P = .0017), FOXP3 (P = .002) and NFATC1 (P = .0347). VASI score was positively correlated with the suppression of CD8⁺ and CD4⁺ T cells (P = .0006, P < .0001), IL-10 (P = .0096, P = .029), FOXP3 (P = .0008) and NFATC1 (P = .043), whereas it was negatively correlated with IFN-γ (P = .0029, P = .0017). Early age of onset patients' Tregs demonstrated decreased suppression of CD8⁺ and CD4⁺ T cells (P = .0156, P = .0074), decreased TGF-β (P = .0212, P = .0083) and NFATC1 (P = .0103). NFATC1 was positively correlated with FOXP3 in Tregs (P < .0001). Our results suggest impaired Tregs suppressive function in GV patients due to decreased NFATC1, FOXP3, CD25, IL-10 and TGF-β resulting into increased CD8⁺ and CD4⁺ T-cell proliferation and IFN-γ production. For the first time, decreased NFATC1 levels were correlated with decreased FOXP3, thereby altering Treg cell function in GV patients. Additionally, decreased Treg cell function also affected onset, activity and severity of GV.     

Childhood dysfunctional voiding is differentially associated with urinary incontinence subtypes in women

Purpose  

To estimate the relationship between the history of childhood dysfunctional voiding and urinary incontinence (UI) in adult women with and without clinical UI and to estimate its relationship with stress, urge, and mixed UI.     

Association between treatment facility volume,therapy types and overall survival in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

Background

To determine the association between the number of patients with intra-hepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC) treated annually at a treatment facility (volume) and overall survival (outcome).

Female Runner With Painful Left Thigh Swelling: A Case of May-Thurner Syndrome

We discuss a case of a female runner who presented with burning left groin and thigh pain and positional swelling after a long run. The workup revealed May-Thurner syndrome. May-Thurner syndrome anatomy is a common anatomical variant present in approximately 20% of the population. Compression of the iliac vein may result in venous stasis in the lower limb with a predisposition to deep venous thrombosis. We identify 4 reported cases of May-Thurner syndrome in female runners and review the importance of diagnosis and appropriate treatment of this condition.