Continuous‐type splenogonadal fusion associated with an ipsilateral testicular atrophy: Sonographic findings

Splenogonadal fusion is a rare congenital anomaly in which the spleen is abnormally connected to the gonad. Two types of splenogonadal fusion have been described: continuous and discontinuous. Splenogonadal fusion is frequently associated with cryptorchidism and/or congenital orofacial/limb anomalies. We describe the ultrasound findings in a case of continuous‐type splenogonadal fusion associated with ipsilateral testicular atrophy with correlation with MRI. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 2010     

Characterization and mutant analysis of the Drosophila sema 5c gene.

Class V semaphorins are transmembrane glycoproteins characterised by the presence of thrombospondin type I (Tsp) repeats linked to their extracellular semaphorin domain. Sema 5C is the only class V semaphorin found in Drosophila. Dsema 5C RNA is maternally provided and its embryonic expression is prominent in the mesoderm and muscle attachment sites. Here, we show that DSema 5C exists in two protein isoforms as a result of alternative splicing and that both protein and RNA have similar expression patterns. Using a combination of various molecular markers, we show that the DSema 5C protein becomes enriched in mesodermal cells that would normally give rise to fat body and visceral structures. In late embryos, DSema 5C is expressed in segment boundary cells that would constitute subsets of muscle attachment sites. Both RNA and protein are excluded from the somatic precursors and the mature muscles. The expression data suggest DSema 5C localised to the epidermal component of muscle attachment sites. Mutations in Dsema 5C were isolated from a P-element excision screen and by blotting analysis. The Dsema 5C mutants are homozygous viable and show no obvious embryonic phenotypes, suggesting that the maternal and zygotic components of Dsema 5C are not essential for fly development.     

Association between Dietary Inflammatory Index and the Risk of Prostate Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

Background: Diet is a known source of pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators, and inflammatory markers have been associated with mechanisms involved in prostate cancer initiation and progression. The Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII^®) is a tool to assist researchers in determining the inflammatory potential of diet. The aim of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis to assess the association between DII and prostate cancer.

Methods: EMBASE and MEDLINE were searched from inception to February 2018, for relevant observational studies. The random effects model was used to calculate the overall relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results: Data from five case-control and one cohort study were eligible for inclusion. The adjusted pooled RR of prostate cancer for the highest (the most pro-inflammatory diet) versus lowest (the most anti-inflammatory diet) DII categories was 1.74 (95% CI: 1.24–2.43). The analysis in the DII score as a continuous variable was also performed and the results showed that the risk of prostate cancer was 9% higher for each one-point increase in the score.

Conclusion: This meta-analysis suggests that promoting diets rich in anti-inflammatory food components (i.e., whole grains, fish, green vegetables, and fruits) should help in reducing preventing prostate cancer.     

The local vasoconstriction of infant’s skin following instillation of mydriatic eye drops

Background  

Systemic absorption of eye drops is known to occur via the nasal mucosa, cornea, and conjunctiva. Diffusion of eye drops through the skin is previously unrecognized. Here, two cases are presented in which we observed skin pallor around the eyes after instillation of phenylephrine 2.5% drops. Case 1 A 32-week gestational age premature infant had mydriatic eye drops instilled as part of retinopathy of prematurity screening. Case 2 A term newborn dysmorphic infant underwent fundus examination to rule out ocular pathology. In both cases, discoloration of periorbital skin was observed 45 min following administration of drops.     

The value of intermittent cervical traction in recent cervical radiculopathy

ObjectiveOur objective is to assess the effect of mechanical and manual intermittent cervical traction on pain, use of analgesics and disability during the recent cervical radiculopathy (CR).MethodsWe made a prospective randomized study including patients sent for rehabilitation between April 2005 and October 2006. Thirty-nine patients were divided into three groups of 13 patients each. A group (A) treated by conventional rehabilitation with manual traction, a group (B) treated with conventional rehabilitation with intermittent mechanical traction and a third group (C) treated with conventional rehabilitation alone. We evaluated cervical pain, radicular pain, disability and the use of analgesics at baseline, at the end and at 1, 3 and 6 months after treatment.ResultsAt the end of treatment improving of cervical pain, radicular pain and disability is significantly better in groups A and B compared to group C. The decrease in consumption of analgesics is comparable in the three groups. At 6 months improving of cervical and radicular pain and disability is still significant compared to baseline in both groups A and B. The gain in consumption of analgesics is significant in the three groups: A, B and C.ConclusionManual or mechanical cervical traction appears to be a major contribution in the rehabilitation of CR particularly if it is included in a multimodal approach of rehabilitation.     

Contribution of four lifelong factors of cognitive reserve on late cognition in normal aging and Parkinson’s disease

Introduction. Cognitive reserve (CR) was proposed to explain how individual differences in brain function help to cope with the effects of normal aging and neurodegenerative diseases. Education, professional solicitations, and engagement in leisure and physical activities across the lifetime are considered as major determinants of this reserve. Method. Using multiple linear regression analyses, we tested separately in healthy elderly and Parkinson’s disease (PD) populations to what extent cognitive performance in several domains was explained by (a) any of these four environmental lifespan variables; (b) demographic and clinical variables (age, gender, depression score, and, for the PD group, duration of disease and dopaminergic drugs). We also tested for an interaction, if any, between these lifespan variables and brain pathology indexed by global atrophy measured from high-resolution anatomical magnetic resonance imaging. Results. Age was negatively associated with cognitive performance in the PD group. In healthy elderly participants, we observed significant positive associations between cognitive performance and (a) education, (b) leisure activities, and (c) professional solicitation (decisional latitude). Furthermore, participants with greater brain atrophy benefited more from CR. In PD patients, education and professional solicitations contributed to cognitive performance but to a lesser extent than in controls. CR factors modulated the relationship between cognition and brain atrophy only in patients with a slight or moderate brain atrophy. Conclusions. Education is the CR factor that contributed the most to late cognitive functioning in both groups, closely followed by leisure activity in normal aging and professional solicitations in PD. Our results also provide evidence suggesting that the effects of CR does not express similarly in normal aging and PD. From a broader perspective, these results seem to indicate that CR factors the most consistently practiced across lifespan (education and professional solicitation) are those that are the more strongly associated to late cognitive efficiency.     

The Association between risk factors and low back pain among commercial vehicle drivers in peninsular Malaysia: a preliminary result

To determine the risk factors associated with complain of low back pain. A cross sectional study was done from June 2004 until August 2005. Seven hundred and sixty commercial vehicle drivers from 11 bus companies in central, northern and eastern regions in Malaysia participated in this study. Modified Nordic questionnaire was used to determine the prevalence of low back pain; Maestro human vibration meter was used to measure the personal R.M.S values of lateral, anterior-posterior and vertical axes. Modified Owas was used to assess the awkward posture of the driver torso namely, bending forward movement, leaning, sitting straight and twisting. Profile of Mood States (POMS) was used to evaluate the mood states of bus drivers with complain of low back pain. A high prevalence of low back pain (60.4%) among Malaysian commercial vehicle drivers was found. Logistic regression analysis controlling for age, income, education level and non occupational activities revealed that the following factors were related to low back pain: Tension-anxiety [1.080, 95% CI 1.041-1.121], depression dejection [1.047, 95% CI 1.023-1.072], anger-hostility [1.053, 95% CI 1.027-1.081], fatigue [1.132, 95% CI 1.089-1.177] and confusion [1.114, 95% CI 1.061-1.169] of POMS, length of employment [1.001, 95% CI 1.0-1.003], steering wheel adjustment [1.521, 95% CI 1.101-2.101], perception of exposing to vibration [1.943, 95% CI 1.389-2.719]. In conclusion, combinations of risks lead to high increase of low back pain complain among Malaysian bus drivers.