Revacept: Collagen GP VI receptor inhibitor, a new & a formidable target for antiplatelet action

Antiplatelet drugs play an important role in the prevention as well as treatment of cardiovascular diseases like coronary artery disease and stroke. Many of the currently available antiplatelet drugs face limitations due to safety and efficacy issues. A new antiplatelet drug, revacept i.e. a collagen receptor antagonist, has been shown to reduce platelet adhesion by blocking GP VI-dependent pathways without increasing the risk of bleeding complications and without affecting the general hemostasis

Obstructive jaundice: Its etiological spectrum and radiological evaluation by magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography

Background: Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) has reached a level of resolution and reliability where it may replace diagnostic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. We studied the role of MRCP in adult patients with obstructive biliopathy to analyze its etiological spectrum and radiological findings. Materials and Methods: Total fifty patients referred for mrcp with a clinical diagnosis of obstructive jaundice were included in our study. Imaging findings were correlated with the final diagnosis made by histopathological or cytological findings and with the therapeutic outcome. Aim: To evaluate the role of MRCP in the determination of the etiological spectrum, to evaluate level and degree of biliary obstruction in cases of obstructive jaundice and to correlate findings on mrcp with surgical findings where possible. Results: Of fifty patients, 29 were benign lesions and 21 were malignant lesions. Among the benign lesions, 12 had choledocholithiasis and 16 had benign strictures. One case was of a choledochal cyst. Among the malignant lesions, 12 were gallbladder carcinoma, six were cholangiocarcinoma, two were periampullary carcinoma, and one was a case of metastatic deposit. The overall sensitivity of MRCP was 96.5%, specificity was 95.2%, and with an accuracy of 96% for benign lesions. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of MRCP in the diagnosis of benign strictures was 92%, 93.7%, and 91.2%, for choledocholithiasis was 92%, 75%, and 97.3%, and for malignant lesions was 95.2, 96.5%, and 96%, respectively. Conclusion: MRCP is a relatively quick, accurate, and noninvasive imaging modality for the assessment of obstructive jaundice, in ruling out potentially correctable underlying cause

Dyke–Davidoff–Masson syndrome: Classical imaging findings

A 15-year-old female presented with seizures, right-sided hemiparesis, hemiatrophy of the right side of the body and mental retardation. MRI brain revealed characteristic features diagnostic of congenital type of cerebral hemiatrophy or Dyke–Davidoff–Masson syndrome

Bilateral optic nerve infarction in rhino-cerebral mucormycosis: A rare magnetic resonance imaging finding

Mucormycosis is an emerging disease in diabetes and immunocompromised patients. Rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis is one of the common forms of the disease. Mucormycosis leading to ischemic optic neuropathy is a rare complication. The role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of ischemic optic neuropathy is limited and uncommonly reported. We report an unusual case of mucormycosis in which MRI revealed bilateral optic nerve infarction, in addition to perineural extension of the fungus along the trigeminal nerve, another uncommon imaging finding

Parent Attitudes Regarding Orthodontists’ Role as Potential Administrators of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Vaccines

OBJECTIVE: To assess parent attitudes regarding orthodontists' role as potential administrators of human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 275 parents of adolescents, aged 11–17, who attended the orthodontic clinic at an American university for orthodontic adjustment visits and met inclusion criteria were given information about HPV and HPV vaccines. A paper questionnaire was administered to assess comfort level with orthodontists as HPV vaccinators. Demographic and other potential explanatory characteristics were collected. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate ordinal logistic regression analyses were performed with SPSS statistical software v25. RESULTS: The majority of participants were between 31 and 40 years old, with 79.6% identifying as female. 54.3% of the subjects' children identified as female. Although 71.3% of participants identified as Hispanic, 55.3% of the total participants chose to respond to the questionnaire in Spanish. 66.7% of the participants reported education level as high school degree or less. Overall, 52.4% of parents responded that they would be comfortable with orthodontists administering HPV vaccines to their children. Bivariate analysis suggested a significant association (p < 0.05) of parents taking the survey in Spanish and parents' educational attainment with HPV vaccine administration comfort level. Multivariate ordinal logistic regression indicates that parents taking survey in Spanish (adjusted OR: 2.42, 95% CI: 1.24–4.72; p < .01) and parents of male children (adjusted OR: 1.66, 95% CI: 1.01–2.73; p < 047) were comfortable with orthodontists administering the HPV vaccine. CONCLUSIONS: The language of the survey influenced parents' comfort level with orthodontists as HPV vaccinators, with Spanish having a positive correlation to comfort level. Parents of male children were more comfortable with orthodontists as HPV vaccinator