Morphology and growth of the fetal stomach.

To assess the development of the fetal stomach, we performed 162 esophageal injections of contrast media into spontaneously aborted normal fetuses from 7.5 to 26 weeks of gestation. The length of esophagus and trunk, greater and lesser curvature, and vertical and oblique axis of stomach were measured, and the means and standard deviations at each gestational age were calculated. The most frequently encountered patterns of stomach shape were: the standard shape, 90%; steerhorn, 3%; and horizontal stomach, 2%. The final shape of the stomach is not assumed at least until the the age of 22 weeks. Regarding the growth of stomach, with age, the greater curvature grew at a much faster rate than the lesser curvature, and the distance between skin and outer border of the stomach increased. The oblique axis of the stomach did not rotate after eight weeks; gastric surface area showed the fastest growth after 14 weeks. The gastroesophageal junction cephalad relative to the trunk ascended through week 25, due to the differential growth of the trunk and esophagus.     

Complications Post Abdominoplasty After Surgical Versus Non-surgical Massive Weight Loss: a Comparative Study

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the rate of short- and long-term complications as well as the need for operative revisions after abdominoplasty for patients following surgical versus non-surgical weight loss methods.

Methods

This is a retrospective chart review that enrolled consecutive patients undergoing abdominoplasty across a 5-year period, aged 18 years and above, opting for abdominoplasty after weight loss achieved through bariatric surgery or diet and exercise alone.

Results

A total of 364 patients lost weight through bariatric surgery and 106 by diet and exercise alone. There were no significant differences in comorbidity status, but past body mass index (BMI) was higher for the surgical weight loss (SW) group (47.6 ± 10.2 and 40.4 ± 8.6, respectively; p value < 0.0001). Percent excess weight loss (EWL) was 68 ± 14.5 for the SW group and 55.7 ± 19.4 for the NSW group, p value < 0.0001. Pre- and postoperative blood hemoglobin levels were significantly lower in the SW group (p < 0.05). Neither short-term complications (thromboembolic events, wound complications, or infections) nor long-term complications (umbilical deformity, delayed wound healing, or infection) and operative revisions were significantly different across both groups (p > .05).

Conclusion

Bariatric surgery does not increase the risk of short- or long-term complications or the need for operative revision after abdominoplasty.

Graphical abstract

     

The problem of grandmultiparity in current obstetric practice

A retrospective analysis of 646 Arab grandmultiparas who booked for hospital confinement between 1983 and 1985 was carried out. The results were compared with that of non-grandmultiparas during the same period. In the grandmultiparas, the incidences of gestational diabetes, hypertension rheumatic heart disease, antepartum, postpartum hemorrhage and macrosomic infants were increased. However, contrary to some previous reports the incidences of anemia, cesarean sections, induced labor, dysmaturity and perinatal deaths were decreased. This is thought to be due to the provision of modern specialist perinatal care and improved socioeconomic standards.     

DDQ as a versatile and easily recyclable oxidant: a systematic review

2,3-Dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ) is the most widely used quinone with a high reduction potential, and it commonly mediates hydride transfer reactions and shows three accessible oxidation states: quinone (oxidized), semiquinone (one-electron-reduced), and hydroquinone (two-electron-reduced). DDQ has found broad utility as a stoichiometric oxidant in the functionalization of activated C–H bonds and the dehydrogenation of saturated C–C, C–O, and C–N bonds. The cost and toxicity of DDQ triggered recent efforts to develop methods that employ catalytic quantities of DDQ in combination with alternative stoichiometric oxidants. The aerobic catalytic approach was established for the selective oxidation of non-sterically hindered electron-rich benzyl methyl ethers and benzylic alcohols, and effectively extended to the oxidative deprotection of p-methoxybenzyl ethers to generate the alcohols in high selectivity. A combination of DDQ and protic acid is known to oxidize several aromatic donors to the corresponding cation radicals. The excited-state DDQ converts benzyls, heteroarenes, fluoroarenes, benzene, and olefins into their radical cation forms as well as chloride and other anions into their respective radicals. These reactive intermediates have been employed for the generation of C–C and C–X (N, O, or Cl) bonds in the synthesis of valuable natural products and organic compounds. To the best of our knowledge, however, there is still no review article exclusively describing the applications of DDQ in organic synthesis. Therefore, in the present review, we provide an overview of DDQ-induced organic transformations with their scope, limitations and the proposed reaction mechanisms.

DDQ is the most widely used quinone with a high reduction potential and it mediates hydride transfer reactions and shows three accessible oxidation states: quinone (oxidized), semiquinone (one-electron-reduced) and hydroquinone (two-electron-reduced).     

Comparative Study of Hamstring and Quadriceps Strengthening Treatments in the Management of Knee Osteoarthritis

[Purpose] Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is the most common form of joint disease. It is one of the major causes of impaired function that reduces quality of life (QOL) worldwide. The purpose of this study was to compare exercise treatments for hamstring and quadriceps strength in the management of knee osteoarthritis. [Subjects and Methods] Forty patients with OA knee, aged 50–65 years were divided into 2 groups. The first group (57.65±4.78 years) received hot packs and performed strengthening exercises for the quadriceps and hamstring, and stretching exercises for the hamstring. The second group (58.15±5.11 years) received hot packs and performed strengthening exercises for only the quadriceps, and stretching exercise for the hamstring. Outcome measures were the WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities OA index questionnaire), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) assessment of pain, the Fifty-Foot Walk Test (FWS), and Handheld dynamometry. [Results] There was a significant difference between the groups. The first group showed a more significant result than the second group. [Conclusion] Strengthening of the hamstrings in addition to strengthening of the quadriceps was shown to be beneficial for improving subjective knee pain, range of motion and decreasing the limitation of functional performance of patients with knee osteoarthritis.Key words: Strengthening, Stretching, Pain