Variations in the retromandibular approach to the condyle-transparotid versus anteroparotid transmasseteric - a prospective clinical comparative study

BACKGROUND

The management of mandibular condylar fracture remains controversial many surgeons still favour the open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) which provides good result and immediate functioning as compared to closed reduction. With proven consensus for ORIF, dilemma remains in choosing the surgical approach to condyle due to proximity of complex and important anatomic structure. Various extra-oral surgical approaches are available for ORIF including preauricular, submandibular, retromandibular, transmasseteric anteroparotid etc. Variations in retromandibular approach such as transparotid, retro-parotid and anteroparotid are reported in literature. In our study we compared the retromandibular transparotid and retromandibular anteroparotid transmasseteric variations.

METHODOLOGY

Thirty condylar fracture in 26 patients, 15 in each group (group A - Retromandibular transparotid approach & group B - Retromandibular anteroparotid approach) were treated under general anaesthesia with naos-tracheal intubation and by the same surgeon having 20 years of experience in maxillofacial surgeries. We evaluated time taken for the procedure, amount of bone exposure, intra-operative haemorrhage. Postoperative presence of infection, sinus and fistula formation at the incision site, parotid fistula formation, facial nerve functioning using House-Brackman scale in immediate postoperative period, 3^rd month postoperatively and 6 month postoperatively.

RESULT

The mean average time taken for group A was 78.2minutes and mean average time taken for group B was 64.8minutes. None of the patient had haemorrhage intra-operatively in both the groups. Exposure was sufficient in both the groups with same length of the incision. None of the patient suffered from postoperative infection in both the groups. Parotid fistula formation was present in 2 patients in group A while none of the patient had parotid fistula in group B. Three patients out of 15 had the transient facial nerve weakness in group A which got resolved in 6 month while none of the patient had facial nerve weakness in group B. All patients had adequate mouth opening with no occlusal discrepancies.

CONCLUSION

Retromandibular anteroparotid approach as described in this study has proven to be an extremely useful approach provides good access, and associated with minimal complications and morbidity compare to retromandibular transparotid approach. It is hence safe to say that this approach is relatively useful for an inexperienced and novice surgeon as well.

Inferior right hepatic vein on routine contrast-enhanced CT of the abdomen: prevalence and correlation with right hepatic vein size

AIM

To determine the prevalence of the inferior right hepatic vein (IRHV) in patients undergoing routine contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) of the abdomen and to compare it with the size of the right hepatic vein (RHV).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two hundred and twenty-four consecutive patients who underwent routine CECT abdomen, with adequate venous opacification, were included in the study. The number and diameter of IRHVs and the diameter of the RHV was noted in each case.

RESULTS

A total of 214 IRHVs were detected in 126 cases (56.2%) with a mean diameter of 4.15±1.44 mm. The number of IRHVs ranged from one to four (more than one IRHV was present in 39.7% [50/126] of cases). In approximately one-third of cases (46/126), an IRHV ≥5 mm was found. A weak negative correlation was found between size of the RHV and IRHV (Pearson's correlation coefficient -0.222; p=0.01). The RHV was smaller in size in patients with an IRHV (7.34±1.88 mm) than in patients without an IRHV (8.47±1.99 mm) on CECT abdomen. A larger IRHV was associated with a smaller RHV (6.91±2.05 mm).

CONCLUSION

The presence of IRHV on routine CECT abdomen is frequent, and it is not uncommon to encounter more than one IRHV. The diameter of the IRHV has a weak negative correlation with the diameter of the RHV, and a smaller RHV is found in patients with an IRHV.

Unilateral cortical FLAIR-hyperintense Lesions in Anti-MOG-associated Encephalitis with Seizures (FLAMES): characterization of a distinct clinico-radiographic syndrome

OBJECTIVE

To characterize the clinical symptoms and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of unilateral cortical FLAIR-hyperintense Lesions in Anti-MOG-associated Encephalitis with Seizures (FLAMES).

METHODS

This is a case report and systematic review of the literature to identify cases of unilateral cortical FLAMES. Cases were reviewed to determine the frequency of clinical symptoms (seizures, headache, fever and cortical symptoms referable to FLAMES location), and to determine whether MRI abnormalities are restricted to the unilateral cortex in this syndrome.

RESULTS

We identified 20 cases of unilateral cortical FLAMES for review. Among them, 17/20 (85%) had seizures, 14/20 (70%) had headache, 13/20 (65%) had fever, 11/20 (55%) reported cortical symptoms referable to the FLAMES location, and 19/20 (95%) reported at least two of these four findings. On MRI 4/20 (20%) had some contralateral hemispheric cortical signal abnormality, and 6/20 (30%) had MRI findings concerning for meningeal inflammation.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with unilateral cortical FLAMES, the clinical symptoms of seizures, headache, fever and cortical symptoms referable to the FLAMES location are frequent. Although initially described as a unilateral cortical encephalitis, bilateral cortical involvement and possible meningeal inflammation could indicate a broader disease spectrum. Recognition of this distinct clinico-radiographic syndrome may facilitate prompt diagnosis and treatment.

Composts of poultry litter or dairy manure differentially affect survival of enteric bacteria in fields with spinach

AIMS

The aim was to determine the survival and persistence of Escherichia coli in soil amended with compost from different manure sources.

METHOD AND RESULTS

Complex interactions of abiotic and biotic factors on E. coli survival were characterized in field experiment plots receiving randomly assigned compost treatments: dairy windrow, dairy vermicompost, poultry windrow or no compost. Biomass, activity and function of indigenous microbial communities in the composts and soils were measured concurrently to determine whether mechanisms of compost were driven by biotic or abiotic properties. E. coli persisted in compost containing poultry amendments but not in composts containing dairy or no amendments. Poultry compost contained more NH₄ -N and a distinct microbial community compared to dairy and no compost treatments. A laboratory experiment performed on compost extracts suggested that E. coli survived better in extracts devoid of indigenous microbes as long as bioavailable nutrients were plentiful.

CONCLUSIONS

Dairy-based composts are less likely to support E. coli survival than poultry-based composts.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Results aid in risk assessment of the use of different types of manure-based compost and soil amendments in fruit and vegetable production by elucidating the roles of nutrient and microbial community composition on survival of E. coli in amended field soils.

Azimuthal Anisotropy of Heavy-Flavor Decay Electrons in p-Pb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02 TeV

Angular correlations between heavy-flavor decay electrons and charged particles at midrapidity (|η|<0.8) are measured in p-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV. The analysis is carried out for the 0%-20% (high) and 60%-100% (low) multiplicity ranges. The jet contribution in the correlation distribution from high-multiplicity events is removed by subtracting the distribution from low-multiplicity events. An azimuthal modulation remains after removing the jet contribution, similar to previous observations in two-particle angular correlation measurements for light-flavor hadrons. A Fourier decomposition of the modulation results in a positive second-order coefficient (v_{2}) for heavy-flavor decay electrons in the transverse momentum interval 1.5<p_{T}<4  GeV/c in high-multiplicity events, with a significance larger than 5σ. The results are compared with those of charged particles at midrapidity and those of inclusive muons at forward rapidity. The v_{2} measurement of open heavy-flavor particles at midrapidity in small collision systems could provide crucial information to help interpret the anisotropies observed in such systems.

Thrombocytopenia in Septic Shock Patients—A Prospective Observational Study of Incidence, Risk Factors and Correlation with Clinical Outcome

The objectives of the study were to study the incidence of various degrees of severity of thrombocytopenia in septic shock, the risk factors for its development and the correlation with clinical outcome. Complete blood counts, chemistry panel, arterial lactate, serum cortisol, APACHE II score, logistic organ dysfunction score and SOFA score were determined in 69 septic shock patients within 24 hours of admission or onset of septic shock. We followed the patients until they died or for six months to determine the mortality rate. The incidence of thrombocytopenia in our study group was 55%. Patients with thrombocytopenia had significantly higher serum creatinine, SOFA score, vasopressor requirement, lower PaO2/FiO2 ratio and higher mortality than those without thrombocytopenia (P <0.05). Higher SOFA score, low PaO2/FiO2 ratio and high vasopressor dose were independent risk factors for development of thrombocytopenia. The presence of thrombocytopenia had significant correlation with SOFA score (P=0.008). On receiver-operator characteristic curve analysis, platelet count was found to be predictive of increased mortality (area under curve=0.56). Thrombocytopenic patients had 1.4 times the risk of mortality and lower survival probability at six months (log rank test P=0.03). In conclusion, thrombocytopenia is common in septic shock and is associated with worse clinical outcome. Higher SOFA score, low PaO2/FiO2 ratio and high vasopressor dose are independent risk factors for development of thrombocytopenia in septic shock.

High-resolution melting curve analysis of heat shock protein 65 for identification of mycobacterial isolates

Infections caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) often escape detection on traditional diagnostics. We evaluated the ability of heat shock protein 65 (hsp65) polymerase chain reaction and high-resolution melting curve (HRMC) analysis to identify and differentiate Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) from NTM in 150 clinical mycobacterial isolates from extra-pulmonary sites. A hundred MTC and 50 NTM isolates were identified. We were able to simultaneously differentiate between seven mycobacterial species using HRMC analysis; a concordance of 100% between hsp65 HRMC analysis, polymerase chain reaction + restriction analysis and hsp65 sequencing was observed.

A randomised controlled trial of excision versus invagination in the management of indirect inguinal hernial sac

INTRODUCTION

Lichtenstein tension-free mesh hernioplasty of primary inguinal hernia is currently considered as the preferred method for the plastic reconstruction of inguinal hernia by the majority of surgeons. Several studies have examined the best way to manage the hernial sac in this surgery, but no consensus has been reached. This study was designed to compare the effects of excision of sac and invagination of sac on post-operative outcomes.

METHODS AND METHODS

This prospective randomised study included a total of 70 patients with primary unilateral uncomplicated indirect inguinal hernia. Group A (35 patients) underwent high dissection and invagination of the hernial sac and group B (35 patients) underwent high ligation and excision of the hernial sac. The repair of the posterior wall of the inguinal canal was done according to Lichtenstein tension-free technique. The primary outcome of this study was postoperative pain and secondary outcomes were wound infection, chronic sepsis, sinus formation, persistent pain, testicular atrophy and recurrence during the one-year follow-up period.

RESULTS

There was a significant difference (P < 0.01) in pain experienced by the patients in the immediate post-operative period between the two groups; group A experienced less postoperative pain than group B. There was no significant difference in incidence of infection between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Invagination of the sac results in less postoperative pain compared with excision, with no significant difference in other postoperative outcomes.

Morphology-Specific Discrimination between MS White Matter Lesions and Benign White Matter Hyperintensities Using Ultra-High-Field MRI

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Recently published North American Imaging in Multiple Sclerosis guidelines call for derivation of a specific radiologic definition of MS WM lesions and mimics. The purpose of this study was to use SWI and magnetization-prepared FLAIR images for sensitive differentiation of MS from benign WM lesions using the morphologic characteristics of WM lesions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Seventeen patients with relapsing-remitting MS and 18 healthy control subjects were enrolled retrospectively. For each subject, FLAIR and multiecho gradient-echo images were acquired using 7T MR imaging. Optimized postprocessing was used to generate single-slice SWI of cerebral veins. SWI/FLAIR images were registered, and 3 trained readers performed lesion assessment. Morphology, location of lesions, and the time required for assessment were recorded. Analyses were performed on 3 different pools: 1) lesions of >3 mm, 2) nonconfluent lesions of >3 mm, and 3) nonconfluent lesions of >3 mm with no or a single central vein.

RESULTS

The SWI/FLAIR acquisition and processing protocol enabled effective assessment of central veins and hypointense rims in WM lesions. Assessment of nonconfluent lesions with ≥1 central vein enabled the most specific and sensitive differentiation of patients with MS from controls. A threshold of 67% perivenous WM lesions separated patients with MS from controls with a sensitivity of 94% and specificity of 100%. Lesion assessment took an average of 12 minutes 10 seconds and 4 minutes 33 seconds for patients with MS and control subjects, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Nonconfluent lesions of >3 mm with ≥1 central vein were the most sensitive and specific differentiators between patients with MS and control subjects.

A new multi-line cusp magnetic field plasma device (MPD) with variable magnetic field

A new multi-line cusp magnetic field plasma device consisting of electromagnets with core material has been constructed with a capability to experimentally control the relative volume fractions of magnetized to unmagnetized plasma volume as well as accurate control on the gradient length scales of mean density and temperature profiles. Argon plasma has been produced using a hot tungsten cathode over a wide range of pressures 5 × 10^-5 -1 × 10^-3 mbar, achieving plasma densities ranging from 10⁹ to 10¹¹ cm^-3 and the electron temperature in the range 1-8 eV. The radial profiles of plasma parameters measured along the non-cusp region (in between two consecutive magnets) show a finite region with uniform and quiescent plasma, where the magnetic field is very low such that the ions are unmagnetized. Beyond that region, both plasma species are magnetized and the profiles show gradients both in temperature and density. The electrostatic fluctuation measured using a Langmuir probe radially along the non-cusp region shows less than 1% (δI_isat/I_isat < 1%). The plasma thus produced will be used to study new and hitherto unexplored physics parameter space relevant to both laboratory multi-scale plasmas and astrophysical plasmas.

D-Meson Azimuthal Anisotropy in Midcentral Pb-Pb Collisions at sqrt[s]_{NN}=5.02 TeV

The azimuthal anisotropy coefficient v_{2} of prompt D^{0}, D^{+}, D^{*+}, and D_{s}^{+} mesons was measured in midcentral (30%-50% centrality class) Pb-Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV, with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The D mesons were reconstructed via their hadronic decays at midrapidity, |y|<0.8, in the transverse momentum interval 1<p_{T}<24  GeV/c. The measured D-meson v_{2} has similar values as that of charged pions. The D_{s}^{+} v_{2}, measured for the first time, is found to be compatible with that of nonstrange D mesons. The measurements are compared with theoretical calculations of charm-quark transport in a hydrodynamically expanding medium and have the potential to constrain medium parameters.

Secondary lymphedema after head and neck cancer therapy: A review

Secondary head and neck lymphedema (SHNL) is a chronic condition affecting patients who have undergone treatment for head and neck cancers. It results from the disruption of normal lymphatic flow by surgery and/or radiation. The incidence of secondary head and neck lymphedema varies anywhere between 12 and 54% of all patients treated for head and neck cancer, but it is still commonly under-diagnosed in routine clinical practice. In spite of awareness of this condition, treatment has been difficult as definitive staging, diagnostic, and assessment tools are still under development. This review article is aimed at looking at the evidence, standards of management, and deficiencies in current literature related to SHNL to optimize management of these patients and improve their quality of life.

J/ψ Elliptic Flow in Pb-Pb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02 TeV

We report a precise measurement of the J/ψ elliptic flow in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The J/ψ mesons are reconstructed at midrapidity (|y|<0.9) in the dielectron decay channel and at forward rapidity (2.5<y<4.0) in the dimuon channel, both down to zero transverse momentum. At forward rapidity, the elliptic flow v_{2} of the J/ψ is studied as a function of the transverse momentum and centrality. A positive v_{2} is observed in the transverse momentum range 2<p_{T}<8  GeV/c in the three centrality classes studied and confirms with higher statistics our earlier results at sqrt[s_{NN}]=2.76  TeV in semicentral collisions. At midrapidity, the J/ψ  v_{2} is investigated as a function of the transverse momentum in semicentral collisions and found to be in agreement with the measurements at forward rapidity. These results are compared to transport model calculations. The comparison supports the idea that at low p_{T} the elliptic flow of the J/ψ originates from the thermalization of charm quarks in the deconfined medium but suggests that additional mechanisms might be missing in the models.

Evaluation of 4-methyl-2-[(2-methylbenzyl) amino]-1,3-thiazole-5-carboxylic acid against hyperglycemia, insulin sensitivity, and oxidative stress-induced inflammatory responses and β-cell damage in the pancreas of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

4-Methyl-2-[(2-methylbenzyl) amino]-1,3-thiazole-5-carboxylic acid (bioactive compound (BAC)), a novel thiazole derivative, is a xanthine oxidase inhibitor and free radical scavenging agent. Effects of BAC on hyperglycemia, insulin sensitivity, oxidative stress, and inflammatory mediators were evaluated in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced neonatal models of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) rats where NIDDM was induced in neonatal pups with single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (100 mg/kg). The effect of BAC (10 and 20 mg/kg, p.o.) for 3 weeks was evaluated by the determination of blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), HbA1c level, insulin level, insulin sensitivity, and insulin resistance (IR). Furthermore, inflammatory mediators (tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6) and oxidative stress were estimated in serum and pancreatic tissue, respectively. Significant alteration in the level of blood glucose, OGTT, HbA1c, insulin level, insulin sensitivity, in addition variation in the antioxidant status and inflammatory mediators, and alteration in histoarchitecture of pancreatic tissue confirmed the potential of BAC in STZ-induced neonatal models of NIDDM rats. Pretreatment with BAC restored the level of glucose by decreasing the IR and increasing the insulin sensitivity. Furthermore, BAC balanced the antioxidant status and preserved the inflammatory mediators. Histological studies of pancreatic tissues showed normal architecture after BAC administration to diabetic rats. Altogether, our results suggest that BAC successfully reduces the blood glucose level and possesses antioxidant as well as anti-inflammatory activities. This leads to decreased histological damage in diabetic pancreatic tissues, suggesting the possibility of future diabetes treatments.

Role of crizotinib in c-mesenchymal-epidermal transition-positive nonsmall cell lung cancer patients

The increasing cases of NSCLC and improved understanding of its molecular biology has lead to identification of its varied driver mutations. cMET amplification has an important role as resistance mechanism for EGFR TKIs. Crizotinib is a drug which shows its anti-tumoral effect in cMET positive cases. Here we present a case series of three such patients who achieved were cMET amplified and showed partial response on Crizotinib.