Small intestinal angiosarcoma masquerading as an appendiceal abscess

Angiosarcomas of the small intestine are rare and present non-specifically. They usually manifest with abdominal discomfort, altered bowel habits, anaemia and gastrointestinal bleeding. Diagnosis is often challenging and occurs at an advanced tumour stage. We describe a case of a terminal ileum angiosarcoma masquerading as an appendiceal abscess, and discuss salient clinicopathological features in diagnosing and managing this disease.

Giant light extraction enhancement of medical imaging scintillation materials using biologically inspired integrated nanostructures

We have utilized biologically inspired (bio-inspired), moth-eye nanostructures and further improved this biomimetic structure to enhance the scintillator materials external quantum efficiency significantly. As a proof of concept, we have demonstrated very high light output efficiency enhancement for Lu(2)SiO(5):Ce(3+) (LSO:Ce) film in large area, the X-ray mammographic instrument was employed to demonstrate the light output enhancement of the Lu(2)SiO(5):Ce thin film with biologically inspired (bio-inspired) moth-eye-like nanophotonic structures. Our work could be extended to other thin film scintillator materials and is promising to achieve lower patient dose, higher resolution images of human organs and even smaller scale medical imaging.

Are the UK clinical guidelines for H1N1 influenza infection valid in the hospital setting?

The diagnosis of pandemic influenza is clinical. This prospective study questions the validity of the Department of Health guidelines in 77 children admitted to hospital. The positive predictive value for the guidelines was 0.39. Although H1N1 was identified in a sizeable minority of cases using the guidelines, virology testing is still required.

Higher-order optical resonance node detection of integrated disk microresonator

We have demonstrated higher-order optical resonance node detection by using an integrated disk microresonator from through port of the coupling bus waveguide. In addition to the fundamental mode, the disk resonator has higher-order whispering gallery modes. The excited second-order higher-order mode has a node at the position where the electromagnetic energy of the fundamental mode is close to a maximum. This high resolution measurement of optical resonance mode profile has a variety of applications for optical sensing and detection. The self-referencing characteristics of the two optical resonance modes have potential to achieve optical detection independent of external perturbation, such as temperature change.

Interpretations of Polar Bear (

Due to their tracking experience in pursuing Polar Bears (Ursus maritimus), Inuit hunters could provide non-invasive estimates of Polar Bear characteristics from tracks, and Polar Bear monitoring programs could benefit from Inuit input. We determined i) inter-rater reliability of estimates of the sex, age, and size of Polar Bears, and estimates of the age of tracks made by a group of nine Inuit hunters who interpreted 78 tracks; ii) we made preliminary comparisons of sex and size estimates with conventional (scientific) estimates; iii) we catalogued the Polar Bear hunting experience and track interpretation techniques of nine Inuit hunters; and iv) we explored relationships between hunting experience and the ability to interpret tracks. The group of Inuit hunters made reliable and consistent estimates of Polar Bear sex, age, and size, as well as estimates of age of track (after data from one participant was excluded). Although our comparisons are based on small samples, our findings suggest that Inuit hunters may be accurate in estimating the sex of Polar Bears (74.42% agreement with genetic determinations) and the size of Polar Bears from their tracks. Our data indicate shared tracking techniques used by hunters may explain high agreement in making specific estimates, while individual hunting experience and particular methods used to interpret tracks may lead to inter-rater reliability and accuracy in interpreting tracks.