Small Bowel Obstruction Due to Enterolith in a Patient with Diffuse Jejuno-Ileal Diverticulosis

We report an unusual case of small bowel obstruction caused by a large enterolith released from small bowel diverticulitis in a 81-year-old patient with occult massive Diffuse Jejuno-Ileal Diverticulosis (DJID). DJID is a rare condition whose symptoms are usually absent or non-specific. In most cases, the diagnosis of DJID is incidentally made or consecutive to secondary complications comprising obstruction, haemorrhage, diverticulitis and perforation. We shortly review the clinical and imaging features and complications of DJID

Ileocecal herniation through the foramen of Winslow : MDCT diagnosis.

We report a rare case of small bowel obstruction of a 45-year-old female which was caused by internal hernia of the terminal ileum and cecum through the foramen of Winslow. The patient presented to the emergency department with acute abdominal pain, distention, and nausea, suggesting an intestinal obstruction. The complete unambiguous preoperative diagnosis was achieved by a 64-row multi-detector computed tomography. This report enlightens the utility and performances of high-quality computed tomography multiplanar reconstructions combined with vascular volume rendering analysis for the diagnosis of internal hernia

Magnetic resonance imaging of the axial skeleton enables objective measurement of tumor response on prostate cancer bone metastases.

BACKGROUND: There is currently no technique to image quantitatively bone metastases. Here, we assessed the value of MRI of the axial skeleton (AS-MRI) as a single step technique to quantify bone metastases and measure tumor response. METHODS: AS-MRI was performed in 38 patients before receiving chemotherapy for metastatic HRPCa, in addition to PSA, computed tomography of the thorax, abdomen, and pelvis [CT-TAP]; and Tc-99m bone scintigraphy. A second AS-MRI was performed in 20 patients who completed 6 months of chemotherapy. Evaluation of tumor response was performed using RECIST. RESULTS: Only 11 patients (29%) had RECIST measurable metastases in soft-tissues or lymph nodes on baseline CT-TAP. AS-MRI identified a diffuse infiltration of the bone marrow in 8 patients and focal measurable metastatic lesions in 25 patients (65%), therefore, doubling the proportion of patients with measurable lesions. Transposing RECIST on AS-MRI in 20 patients who completed 6 months of treatment, allows the accurate estimation of complete response (n = 2), partial response (n = 2), stable disease (n = 5), or tumor progression (n = 11), as it is done using CT-TAP in soft tissue solid metastases. CONCLUSIONS: MRI of axial skeleton enables precise measurement and follow-up of bone metastases as it is for other soft-tissue metastasis

RELIABILITY OF BARR, LEECH, AND BLETHYN SCORE IN USING OF PLAIN RADIOGRAPHY IN DETERMINING FECAL IMPACTION IN CHILDREN WITH AND WITHOUT CONSTIPATION

ABSTRACT Background - Several scoring was developed for evaluation of children with fecal retention using plain radiograph. There are controversies about specificity and sensitivity of these scoring system. Objectives - The aim of this study was to evaluate Barr, Blethyn, and Leech score in evaluation of fecal load in plain radiograph. Methods - This case control study was conducted on children aged 2-14 years old with abdominal pain who visited Abuzar children's Hospital of Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences. This study was conducted in fall season. Children with history of previous abdominal surgery, any systemic illness including sickle cell anemia were excluded. Children with constipation were placed in case group. Subjects without constipation were placed in control group. Subjects without exclusion criteria were examined by physician who is blind to aim of the study. Careful history and physical examination was done. Demographic features, history of gastrointestinal problem, duration of abdominal pain, defecation habit, stool consistency (loose, hard), and results of physical examination were recorded. Rome III criteria was used for definition of constipation. Abdominal x-ray was ordered for each patients. Abdominal radiography was reviewed by radiologist. Barr, Leach, and Blethyn scores were calculated for each case. Results - In this study 102 children with functional constipation and 102 children without constipation as a control were included. Mean ±SD for case and control group was 68.39±34.88 and 69.46±32.60 (P=0.82).Leech score (mean ±SD) was 11.05±2.177 and 5.67±3.228 for case and control group respectively (P<0.0001). Barr score (mean ±SD) was 14.86±3.54 and 7.16±5.59 for case and control group respectively (P=<0.0001). Blethyn (mean ±SD) score was 1.97±0.667 and 1.04±0.900 for case and control group respectively (P=0.000). Sensitivity and specificity of Barr score was 83% and 79% respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of Leech score was 92% and 80% respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of Blethyn score was 79% and 92% respectively. Conclusion - Barr, Blethyn and Leech scores were significantly higher in children with abdominal pain and constipation in contrast to children with abdominal pain and without constipation. Sensitivity of Leech score was more than Barr and Blethyn scoring systems. Specificity of Blethyn score was more than Barr and Leech score

Corrigendum to “Reducing Cardiac Steatosis: Interventions to Improve Diastolic Function: A Narrative Review”. [Current Problems in Cardiology volume 48 (2023) 1–2]

The authors regret the name of one of the authors of this paper (Razieh Ziaei MD) has been removed from the original paper. The authors would like to apologize for any inconvenience caused

Reducing Cardiac Steatosis: Interventions to Improve Diastolic Function: A Narrative Review

Heart failure is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality around the globe. Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction is primarily caused by diastolic dysfunction. Adipose tissue deposition in the heart has been previously explained in the pathogenesis of diastolic dysfunction. In this article, we aim to discuss the potential interventions that can reduce the risk of diastolic dysfunction by reducing cardiac adipose tissue. A healthy diet with reduced dietary fat content can reduce visceral adiposity and improve diastolic function. Aerobic and resistance exercises also reduce visceral and epicardial fat and ameliorate diastolic dysfunction. Some medications, include metformin, glucagon-like peptide-1 analogues, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, thiazolidinediones, sodium-glucose co-transporter-2, inhibitors, statins, ACE-Is, and ARBs, have shown different degrees of effectiveness in improving cardiac steatosis and diastolic function. Bariatric surgery has also shown promising results in this field

Effect of Processed Honey and Royal Jelly on Cancer-Related Fatigue: A Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is experienced by 50% to 90% of cancer patients and can severely affect their quality of life and functional capacity. Several randomized trials have recommended various ways to alleviate the symptoms of CRF with or without recourse to medications. Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of processed honey and royal jelly on the symptoms of CRF in cancer patients who are undergoing hormone therapy, chemotherapy, chemo-radiation, or radiotherapy. Methods: Fifty-two participants from the patients who visited the oncology clinic of Shohada-e-Tajrish hospital in Tehran (Iran) between May 2013 and August 2014 were selected and divided into two groups. The study group (26 patients) received processed honey and royal jelly, while the control group received pure honey. Both groups were instructed to consume their 5mL supplement twice daily for 4 weeks. Both groups were assessed at the beginning of the study, after 2 weeks, and then at the end of 4 weeks of treatment. Fatigue was measured using a visual analogue fatigue scale (VAFS) and fatigue severity scale (FSS). The results were compared between the two arms of study, and equality of probability distributions was assessed using a Kolmogorov–Smirnov test. Results: The mean age of the 52 patients was 54.84. After two and four weeks of treatment with processed honey and royal jelly, VAFS and FSS due to treatment was better in the study group than in the control group, and the http://www.ephysician.ir Page 2476 differences were statistically significant (p<0.001, p<0.001, respectively). Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, our study provided support for the use of processed honey and royal jelly to ameliorate CRF. The positive results of this study warrant further studies in this field. Clinical Trial Registration: The study was registered in the Iranian Clinical Trial Registry Center (http://www.irct.ir) with the registration code: IRCT2015081423426N1. Funding: The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article