Mechanism of brain swelling in cases of brain evisceration due to catastrophic craniocerebral injury – an autopsy study

Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology - Some previously reported cases of brain evisceration in catastrophic craniocerebral injuries showed the presence of brain swelling. The aim of this study...     

Predictive validity of the Braden Scale,Norton Scale,and Waterlow Scale in the Czech Republic

The aim of this study was to determine the predictive validity of the Braden, Norton, and Waterlow scales in 2 long‐term care departments in the Czech Republic. Assessing the risk for developing pressure ulcers is the first step in their prevention. At present, many scales are used in clinical practice, but most of them have not been properly validated yet (for example, the Modified Norton Scale in the Czech Republic). In the Czech Republic, only the Braden Scale has been validated so far. This is a prospective comparative instrument testing study. A random sample of 123 patients was recruited. The predictive validity of the pressure ulcer risk assessment scales was evaluated based on sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. The data were collected from April to August 2014. In the present study, the best predictive validity values were observed for the Norton Scale, followed by the Braden Scale and the Waterlow Scale, in that order. We recommended that the above 3 pressure ulcer risk assessment scales continue to be evaluated in the Czech clinical setting.     

Parahippocampal corpora amylacea and neuronal lipofuscin in human aging

The aim of this research was to quantify the number of corpora amylacea and lipofuscin-bearing neurons in the parahippocampal region of the brain. Right parahippocampal gyrus specimens of 30 cadavers were used as material for histological and morphometric analyses. A combined Alcian Blue and Periodic Acid-Schiff technique was used for identification and quantification of corpora amylacea and lipofuscin-bearing neurons. Immunohistochemistry was performed using S100 polyclonal, neuron-specific enolase and glial fibrillary acidic protein monoclonal antibodies for differentiation of corpora amylacea and other spherical inclusions of the aging brain. Cluster analysis of obtained data showed the presence of three age groups (median age: I = 41.5, II = 68, III = 71.5). The second group was characterized by a significantly higher numerical density of subcortical corpora amylacea and number of lipofuscin-bearing neurons than other two groups. Values of the latter cited parameters in the third group were insignificantly higher than the first younger group. Linear regression showed that number of parahippocampal lipofuscin-bearing neurons significantly predicts numerical density of subcortical corpora amylacea. The above results suggest that more numerous parahippocampal region corpora amylacea and lipofuscin-bearing neurons in some older cases might represent signs of its’ neurons quantitatively-altered metabolism.     

Genetic factors and fetal growth sex constitution and birthweight in twins

Fetal growth is considered a multifactorially-influenced characteristic. Genetic factors were found to play the main role in fetal growth determination, and it is the polygenic inheritance. The paper reviews the birthweights of 360 unlike-sexed two-egg twins, born at the Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine in Beograd, from January 1, 1970 through June 30, 1984. The mean birthweight differences between the male (2954.94 +/- 704.28 g) and female (2313.19 +/- 651.32 g) fetuses, amounted to 141.75 g. The difference is highly significant (P less than 0.01); variation coefficient shows that the examined groups were homogenous (VC was below 30%). The results were discussed from the genetic point of view, and particularly from the point of view of sex constitution, with special respect to the effect of Y chromosome on fetal growth. It has been known that human somatic development, body weight, bone maturation and teeth development are influenced by variety of factors. In addition to nutritional and other factors of the external environment, genetic and humoral factors are leading. The fact that fetuses with XY male constitution are heavier at birth than female fetuses with XX constitution, made us consider the correlation between genotype-phenotype, and the mentioned characteristics. This study was aimed at finding out the role of genetic factors in fetal growth, with respect to sex constitution, particularly to chromosome effect on fetal growth in unlike-sexed two-egg twins.     

Emergency video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for intrathoracic foreign bodies

The aim of this retrospective study is to highlight the advantages of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) in the assessment of thoracic trauma. In the past 4 years 3 patients had intrapleural or intrapulmonary Kirschner needles which penetrated from the site of a previous humeroscapular osteosynthesis and one patient with a gunshot projectile and haemothorax in the left thorax. They were treated by VATS removal of intrathoracic foreign bodies. No complications developed postoperatively, the chest wall pain was minimal, the duration of hospital stay (3-5 days) and recovery was short. The widespread use of minimal invasive VATS procedure is an alternative approach that provides safe and less invasive operation for acute chest trauma patients. We believe that its extended use for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes even in some special circumstances is justified today.     

In vitro interactions between aged garlic extract and drugs used for the treatment of cardiovascular and diabetic patients

Background  

Disease preventing effects gained by garlic consumption have been recognized since early period of history, making commercially available garlic supplements attractive to the general public. Possible pharmacokinetic interactions which could occur between applied drugs and aged garlic extract (AGE) are unknown.