Review of non‐positron emission tomography functional imaging of primary musculoskeletal tumours: Beyond the humble bone scan

Bone and soft tissue tumours are rare neoplasms. There are five major roles of imaging in the management of primary musculoskeletal tumours, that is, to differentiate between benignity and malignancy, to evaluate for local tumour extension, to screen for metastases, to judge the effect of chemotherapy, and to monitor for recurrence. To accomplish this, multiple modalities are required because no single examination is able to complete all these tasks. These modalities include plain radiography, CT, MRI, conventional nuclear medicine as well as positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. Elsewhere, PET imaging has been discussed at length, because it is likely to be superior in the assessment of bone and soft tissue tumours over conventional nuclear medicine procedures. However, conventional nuclear medicine may be of value when PET is unavailable. In this review, an overview of anatomical imaging will be given and the role of non‐PET functional imaging will be discussed in detail. A variety of illustrative cases will be presented.     

Plasma level distribution, effect and toxicity of antiepileptic drugs among Ethiopian epileptics

Plasma phenytoin and phenobarbitone levels were estimated in 123 adult Ethiopian epileptics by gas-liquid chromatography. Thirty four (38.2%) of the patients on phenytoin, and 52 (52%) of those on phenobarbitone, had plasma levels in the conventional therapeutic ranges of 10-20 micrograms/ml and 10-30 micrograms/ml respectively. Of the 89 patients who were taking phenytoin either singly or combined with phenobarbitone, motor disturbances (ataxia and nystagmus) were seen in 31 (34.8%) and dysmorphic and idiosyncratic side effects including gum hypertrophy, hirsutism, acne and skin rash in 37 (41.6%). Subnormal serum calcium levels were noted in 15 (30.6%) and high alkaline phosphatase was found in 13 (26.5%). Phenobarbitone was found to be an effective anticonvulsant (78.1% seizure control rate), with adverse effects of sedation and intellectual depression. Seizure control was achieved in 77.1% of patients on a single drug as opposed to 55.6% on combination of phenytoin and phenobarbitone (p less than 0.05). The overall seizure control rate was 66%.     

止泻散敷脐治疗婴幼儿腹泻100例

0　引言　腹泻乃小儿最常见病 ,尤以 2岁以下婴幼儿最为常见 .年龄越小 ,发病率越高 ,且多在夏、秋季发病 .小儿患病后惧怕打针 ,服药以及输液 ,给治疗带来一些困难 . 12 a来 ,我们用自拟的止泻散敷脐治疗婴幼儿泄泻 ,效果良好 .1　对象和方法1.1　对象　 1998- 0 6 / 1999- 10婴幼儿腹泻发病高峰期门诊病例 10 0 (男 6 6 ,女 34 )例 ,年龄 2月龄～ 5岁 .肠炎 5 8例 ,单纯消化不良 42例 . 6 7例曾多次治疗 ,33例初诊 .凡接受治疗之患儿 ,一律停止用其他药物 .1.2　方法　药物组成 :川椒 12 g,干姜 12 g,小茴香 12 g,白芷 2 0 g,吴茱萸 5 g,…     

In vitro and in vivo antifungal activities of the eight steroid saponins from Tribulus terrestris L. with potent activity against fluconazole-resistant fungal pathogens

Antifungal activity of natural products is being studied widely. Saponins are known to be antifungal and antibacterial. We have isolated eight steroid saponins from Tribulus terrestris L. , namely TTS-8, TTS-9, TTS-10, TTS-11, TTS-12, TTS-13, TTS-14 and TTS-15. TTS-12 and TTS-15 were identified as tigogenin-3-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl（1→ 2）-[-β-D-xylopyranosyl（ 1 → 3 ） 3-β- D-glucopyranosyl （ 1 → 4 ）- 1- α-L-rhamnopyranosyl （ 1 → 2 ） 3-β-D-galactopyranoside and tigogenin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranpyranosyl（1→2）-[-β-D-xylopyranosyl（1→ 3）3-β-D-glucopyranosyl（1→4）-β-D-galactopyranoside, respectively. The in vitro antifungal activities of the eight saponins against six fluconazole-resistant yeasts, Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida para psilosis , Candida tropicalis , Candida krusei , and Cryptococcus neo f ormans were studied using microbroth dilution assay. The results showed that TTS-12 and TTS-15 were very effective against several pathogenic candidal species and C. neoformans in vitro. It is noteworthy that TTS-12 and TTS-15 were very active against fluconazole-resistant C. albicans （MIC80 = 4.4, 9.4 mg/ml）, C. neoformans （MIC80 =10.7, 18.7 mg/ml） and inherently resistant C. krusei （MIC80 =8.8, 18.4 mg/ml）. So in vivo activity of TTS-12 in a vaginal infection model with fluconazole-resistant C. albicans was studied in particular. Our studies revealed TTS-12 also showed in vivo activities against fluconazole-resistant yeasts. In conclusion, steroid saponins TTS-12 and TTS-15 from Tribulus terrestris L. have significant in vitro antifungal activity against fluconazole-resistant fungi, especially TTS-12 also showed in vivo activity against fluconazole-resistant C. albicans.     

Predictors of a positive baseline bone scan in breast cancer

The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the predictors of a positive bone scan in female patients with breast carcinoma. The participants were 126 females with newly diagnosed breast carcinoma and a baseline bone scan. Patients who had started treatment before their bone scan were excluded. Bone scans were assessed as ‘no metastases’ or ‘definite skeletal metastases’ without knowledge of the patient's predictor variables. Those with ‘possible metastases’ were correlated with other available imaging and clinical information, and recategorized as ‘no metastases’ or ‘definite skeletal metastases’. Results were compared with predictor variables. Significant predictors were increasing age, a higher histopathological grading and positive progesterone receptor status following a forward-stepwise logistic regression analysis. Axillary nodal status, tumour size and oestrogen receptor status did not correlate with a positive bone scan. Not every patient needs a staging bone scan. This study is important because it predicts the need for baseline scintigraphy for specific patients in whom skeletal metastases are more likely to be present or to develop. The findings are particularly valuable in times of worldwide resource scarcity and evolving surgical practice.     

Prevalence of Disability and Associated Factors among Registered Leprosy Patients in All Africa Tb and Leprosy Rehabilitation and Training Centre (ALERT), Addis Ababa,Ethiopia

Background

Delay in leprosy diagnosis and treatment causes disabilities due to nerve damage, immunological reactions and bacillary infiltration. Leprosy disability leads not only to physical dysfunction and activity limitation but also disrupts social interaction of affected individuals by creating stigma and discrimination. This study was aimed at assessing leprosy disability status in patients registered at All African TB and Leprosy Rehabilitation and Training Centre.

Methods

Medical records of leprosy patients registered from September 11, 2010 to September 10, 2013 G.C were reviewed. Prevalence of disability calculated, bivariate and multiple logistic regressions were used to determine crude and adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence interval.

Results

The overall prevalence of disability was found to be 65.9% from all categories of patients (40.2% Grade I and 25.7% Grade II). The Prevalence among the new category was 62.8% (39.1% Grade 1 and 23.7% Grade 2). Those ageed above 30 years, with duration of symptoms 6–12 months and above 24 months, with sensory loss, nerve damage and reversal reaction were more likely to develop disability.

Conclusion

In this study the prevalence of disability, both Grade I and II, is very high. Disability was associated with age, duration of symptom, sensory loss, signs of nerve damage and reversal reaction. These risk factors indicate the existence of delay in diagnosis and treatment of leprosy cases. Therefore, the national leprosy control program should investigate leprosy case detection and diagnosis system in the country and work on improving early case detection and prevention of disability.