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Purpose: Percutaneous abscess drainage (PAD) is the first-line approach for abscess in Crohn’s disease (CD) since it procrastinates or avoids surgery especially in postoperative abscesses [within 30 days post-operative (p.o.)]. We retrospectively evaluated the effectiveness, complications and outcome after PAD in postoperative and spontaneous abscesses and factors influencing the outcomes. Methods: We performed PAD in 91 abscesses, 45 (49,5%) postoperative and 46 (50,5%) spontaneous. We defined the overall success (OS) as clinical (CS) and technical success (TS) when imaging documented the resolution of the abscess with no surgery within 30 days. Conversely, patients without abscess at the time of surgery, were considered as TS but clinical failure (CF). We also analyzed the overall failure (OF) defined as CF with or without technical failure (TF). Overall technical success (OTS) was OS plus TS. Complications were classified as major and minor according to the Interventional Radiology Criteria. Results: In postoperative abscesses we found 91% OS, 9% OF, no TF and 100% OTS. In spontaneous abscesses we found 33% OS, 67% OF, 6.4% TF, 95,6% OTS. A total abscess resolution was achieved in 97,8% of patients. No major complication occurred; only 1 case of minor complication. Factors statistically influencing the outcome were postoperative vs spontaneous collections (OF: 9% vs. 67%, p < 0.0001), multiloculated vs uniloculated collections (OF: 38% vs. 1%, p < 0.0001) and upper abdominal vs lower location (OF: 13% vs. 25%, p <0.05). Conclusion: Our data confirms the safety and effectiveness of PAD even in cases needing surgery within 30 days; most remarkable, PAD allows avoidance of early reoperation in almost all the patients with postoperative abscess.

Background and objectives: New AKI biomarkers (on the top of it NGAL biomarker) have demonstrated better performance for prediction of AKI in critically ill patients with heterogeneous illness. Renal angina index was recently reported to enhance prediction of severe AKI at the time of intensive care unit admission. This study tested the hypothesis that incorporation of uNGAL in patients with renal angina improves the prediction of severe AKI. Design, setting, participants & measurements: In our study 53critically ill children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit in Zagazig university hospital, Measurement of urine neutrophil gelatinase– associated lipocalin (uNGAL) was determined individually by ELISA kit and in combination with the RAI which is calculated in each critically ill child for severe AKI. Statistical analysis was done for these data. Results: Individual uNGAL demonstrated marginal discrimination for severe AKI (area under curve [AUC]: NGAL, 0.877), little higher than prediction by RAI (AUC=0.847). Incorporation of uNGAL significantly added to the renal angina index AKI prediction (AUC=0.847, increased to 0.893). Conclusion: This study shows that incorporation of uNGAL into the RAI improves detection ability of severe AKI in critically ill children.

Our study showed Fusarium spp. can be the most important fungal pathogen of maize causing severe yield losses and producing fumonisins that concern human and animal damages. Actually, other mycotoxins such as aflatoxin contamination have become regular in maize but the appearance of fumonisins was more frequent. However, the fluctuation between years and regions can affect the severity of the infection and then fumonisin production level. This mycotoxin was defined as fumonisin B1, fumonisin B2 and fumonisin B3 with diverse actions. The level of production, concentrations, and damages of fumonisins were found in different locations of maize fields in Iran. However, the fumonisin contents of the isolated samples were more diverse than in other locations. Toxin composition and maximum values differ significantly throughout the climate conditions and maize cultivars. The resistance cultivar of maize against the Fusarium pathogen can be helpful in controlling fumonisin production on the field effectively.

Background: Postoperative Pulmonary Complications (PPCs) escalate mortality, hospitalization, and costs. This study aimed to predict PPCs after curative digestive cancer surgery using thickness fraction (TFdi) determined by ultrasonography. Methods: A prospective study was conducted over a period of 9 months. Diaphragmatic ultrasound was performed pre-surgery and repeated postoperatively (within 24 hours of ICU admission, then day 3). Right and left hemidiaphragm thickness at end-expiration (TEE) and peak-inspiration (TPI) were measured using ultrasonography. The maximal diaphragm thickening fraction during inspiration (TFdi,max) was calculated: TFdi,max = (TPI–TEE)/TEE. Patients were classified into No-PPCs and PPCs groups. Results: 159 patients participated, 55 (34.6%) developed PPCs. ICU stay was longer in PPCs patients with more deaths. TFdi,max decreased postoperatively and remained lower in PPCs patients [44.83% ± 11.07 vs. 31.54% ± 8.45; p < 0.001]. The receiver operating characteristic curve yielded an area under the curve of 0.83 [95% IC: 0.754 – 0.887]. TFdi,max < 37% had 72.7% sensitivity (95% IC: 59.0% – 83.8%) and 80.8% specificity (95% IC: 71.8% – 87.8%), Positive and negative Likelihood Ratios were 3.7 (95% IC: 2.4 – 5.7) and 0.3 (95% IC:0.2 – 0.5), respectively. In multiple logistic regression, preoperative risk factors for PPCs included TFdi,max < 37% [OR: 7.10; 95% CI: 1.71 – 18.60; p < 0.001] and supramesocolic surgery [OR: 9.94; 95% CI: 3.62 – 27.29; p < 0.001]. Epidural administration was protective [OR: 0.21; 95% CI: 0.052 – 0.87; p = 0.031]. Conclusion: A low preoperative TFdi,max identifies high-risk PPCs patients after digestive cancer surgery, aiding targeted preventive strategies like inspiratory muscle preoperative training.

The history of the origin of the medical uses of Radioiodine (RAI) has been compromised by false narratives as recently as June 2023 in the “Thyroid “article “Radioactive Iodine: A Living History”. Primary sources document Dr. Saul Hertz (1905 - 1950) as solely conceiving of the medical uses of RAI, being the first and foremost to develop the experimental data, bringing RAI from bench to bedside, and extending the use of radionuclides to diagnose and/or treat cancer and other conditions. Dr Hertz predicted and worked toward conquering cancer with other radionuclides. Saul Hertz overcame the racism of his time, a world war interrupting his first clinical study, a strong pushback from the surgeons, and unethical medical publishing practices. Today, Nuclear Medicine, Radiopharmacy, Medical Physics, and other specialties are collaborating and actively building on Saul Hertz’s enduring foundational work. 

The rise in all-cause and cardiovascular mortality and hospitalization rates among the hemodialysis (HD) patients after the long weekly inter-dialysis interval is very impressive. In fact, there is an additional long-term morbidity risk besides this acute rise in mortality and hospitalizations that can be expected from the weakly exaggerated pre-dialysis peaks of the less risky hemodynamic and biochemical parameters. An approach for eliminating these long weekend inter-dialysis intervals is through the provision of the hemodialysis sessions on every other day (EOD) basis, regardless of the week days. This is likely to be both practical and cost-effective. Such EOD schedule can be introduced easily beside the ongoing thrice weekly HD schedule without disturbance of the HD unit work. The availability of EOD schedule would provide a healthier and cost-effective alternative schedule for those patients who can’t tolerate the weekend intervals and for those looking for maintaining their long-term health on the option of hemodialysis. In fact, with available data, medical staff is expected to encourage all patients to shift their HD to the EOD schedule.

Introduction: The phimosis condition is characterized by the inability to retract the foreskin on the glans, making it impossible to expose them. Surgical treatment, although effective, has been questioned by the risk to which the patient is exposed. Therefore, we have opted for the use of topical corticosteroids to resolve this pathology. Goals: To compare the effectiveness of Dexamethasone and Hyaluronidase + Betamethasone Valerate associated with preputial massage in the treatment of infantile phimosis, the degree of regression of phimosis, the time needed to achieve complete efficacy, possible adverse reactions, long-term outcome and parental adherence to treatment in children attending a specialized service in Blumenau, Santa Catarina. Materials and methods: Controlled clinical trial, quantitative, non-blind, prospective and randomized sample analysis through the analysis of 523 patients. Results: After 1 month of treatment, 435 patients presented some degree of regression and 63 children were referred to surgery. The success rate in this period was 45.8% in boys who were taking Hyaluronidase + Betamethasone Valerate and 49.8% in those who used Dexamethasone. In the late evaluation, 398 children reached grade 0, and 213 used Hyaluronidase + Betamethasone Valerate and 185, Dexamethasone; 39 patients were referred to the postectomy. Adherence to treatment was similar in both groups. The average time for degree 0 to be reached similar in both. Conclusion: Both topical corticosteroids were effective in the resolution of phimosis. However, in the evaluation after the first month and in the regression, Dexamethasone proved to be more effective. The time to resolution of the condition was similar for both. The surgical procedure was taken when there was no clinical improvement. No adverse effects were reported in both groups.

The authors are searchers in psychopathology and communicate here about the dead wishes in relation to euthanasia. In Europe, the question comes regularly up to know if the law should be changed concerning the prohibition of euthanasia. The health system obeys progressively a modern idea of comfort and the “good life”. The authors are psychotherapists and their methodology is based mainly on phenomenological psychology, psychoanalysis, and psychopathology. Statistics of the French Ministry of Health will support their statements. Different clinical experiences with young patients, aging patients, or near-to-death patients are crossed and compared to those marked by heavy experiences like rape or amputation. The unbearable nature of their suffering makes them ask frequently to stop the pain. They would prefer being dead. This contribution examinates this kind of demand to find a helpful position for the caregiver and the patient. We should consider that near-death patients may often be at the climax of anxiety and depression is likely to switch over to dementia. In asking to finish with life, this purpose may change one day to another – sometimes it just highlights the wish to see things changed. The position of society and the medical staff has a high influence as well. Asking for euthanasia shows the variety of the same words that have different meanings from a medical, psychological, or psychopathological viewpoint. The purpose is to consider these aspects with the patient’s demand.

Internal jugular vein catheters (IJC) is recommended as the central venous access of choice in haemodialysis patients. However it is associated with complications of variable severity. Objectives: To study the complications associated with internal jugular vein catheters in haemodialysis patients in southern part of Nigeria. Methodology: The clinical details of patients who had IJC insertion at the kidney house, Hilton clinics Port Harcourt from 1st October 2011 to 30th September 2016 were documented. Complications from the IJC developed by the patients during the study period were also documented. The data obtained was analyzed using SPSS version 22. P value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: A total of 129 patients had 150 internal jugular catheter insertions. The mean age was 51.4±15.2 years with male to female ratio of 1.5:1. All the patients had chronic kidney disease; about 80% had tunneled IJC and 96.9% of the catheters were inserted in the right internal jugular vein. Immediate complications were recorded in 10% and late complications in 34.9% of the procedures. The immediate complications were kinking of guide wire (2%), arterial puncture (1.3%) and difficulty in locating the internal jugular vein (1.3%) or tunneling (1.3%). The late complications were infection (12.8%), poor blood flow (9.2%), bleeding (5.5%) and spontaneous removal of the catheter (5.5%). There was no statistical significant difference in both immediate and late complication with age and sex. The ultrasound examination at discharge had a sensitivity of 31% and specificity of 87% to detect future symptomatic lymphoceles. The positive predictive value was only 10%. The second ultrasound test had the best test variables to detect symptomatic lymphoceles with a sensitivity of 93% and a specificity of 87% and a predictive value of 28%. Conclusion: Internal jugular catheter is froth with immediate and late complications in haemodialysis patients.

Chronic foot and heel pain is a clinical dilemma that Pain Physicians often encounter in their daily practice. In the younger active patients, this is often attributed to plantar fasciitis but other rarer etiologies should also be considered. In patients who present with pain over the medial calcaneus, entrapment neuropathy of the inferior calcaneal nerve, the first branch of the lateral plantar nerve (FBLPN), also known as “Baxter’s nerve” must be considered [1,2]. Initially described in 1984 by Baxter and Thigpen, it is often overlooked as a cause of medial heel pain, particularly in athletes, where it may coexist with plantar fasciitis [3]. The nerve has a tortuous course in the foot and can be entrapped as it passes through the fascia of the abductor hallucis, travels in close proximity to a plantar spur or the medial calcaneal tuberosity, or gets enmeshed in scar tissue from prior surgery [1,3].