Multiple cephalic vein aneurysms with calcification in a patient undergoing hemodialysis: An unusual entity

Peripheral venous aneurysms are a known complication following autogenous arteriovenous fistula (AVF) for hemodialysis. We present a case of aneurysms involving the cephalic vein associated with calcification, a condition that, to the best of our knowledge, has not been reported earlier in the literature

Case series: Diffusion weighted MRI appearance in prostatic abscess

Diffusion: weighted MRI (DWI) is a novel technique that analyzes the diffusion of water molecules in vivo. DWI has been used extensively in the central nervous system. Its use in body imaging is on the rise. In the prostate, it has been used in the evaluation of prostatic carcinoma. We present DWI findings in two patients of prostatic abscess

Pleuropulmonary blastoma in adolescence: A rare tumor beyond first decade of life

Pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB) is a unique dysontogenetic and a primitive neoplasm occuring almost exclusively in the first decade of life, as a pulmonary- and/or pleural-based tumor with cystic, solid, or combined cystic and solid features. It is characterized histologically by a primitive, variably mixed blastematous and sarcomatous tissues. These tumors are usually associated with a poor prognosis. However, with a multimodality treatment approach, the survival of the patient can be prolonged. We herein report two cases of PPB in adolescence, a rare presentation beyond first decade of life with a short review of literature

Epidemiological trends of pediatric trauma: A single-center study of 791 patients

Aim: To assess the various epidemiological parameters that influence the causation of trauma as well as the consequent morbidity and mortality in the pediatric age group. Materials and Methods: A prospective study of 791 patients of less than 12 years age, was carried out over a period of 1 year (August 2009 to July 2010), and pediatric trauma trends, with regards to the following parameters were assessed: Age group, sex, mode of trauma, type of injury, place where the trauma occurred and the overall mortality as well as mortality. Results: Overall trauma was most common in the school-going age group (6-12 years), with male children outnumbering females in the ratio of 1.9:1. It was observed that orthopedic injuries were the most frequent (37.8%) type of injuries, whereas fall from height (39.4%), road traffic accident (27.8%) and burns (15.2%) were the next most common modes of trauma. Home was found out to be the place where maximum trauma occurred (51.8%). Maximum injuries happened unintentionally (98.4%). Overall mortality was found out to be 6.4% (n = 51). Conclusions: By knowing the epidemiology of pediatric trauma, we conclude that majority of pediatric injuries are preventable and pediatric epidemiological trends differ from those in adults. Therefore, preventive strategies should be made in pediatric patients on the basis of these epidemiological trends

Non-bronchial causes of haemoptysis : imaging and interventions

Purpose: To describe non-bronchial causes of haemoptysis on imaging and the role of interventional radiology in their management from cases of haemoptysis archived from our database at a tertiary care, federally funded institution. Material and methods: Retrospective analysis of cases that presented with haemoptysis in our institution from 2008 to 2013 was done, and details of cases in which the bleeding was from a non-bronchial source were archived and details of imaging and treatment were recorded. Results: Retrospective analysis of patients presenting with haemoptysis yielded 24 (n = 24) patients having haemoptysis from non-bronchial sources. Causes of haemoptysis were: Rasmussen aneurysms (n = 12/24), costocervical trunk pseudoaneurysm (n = 1/24), left internal mammillary artery pseudoaneurysm (n = 1/24), left ventricular aneurysms (n = 3/24), pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) (n = 5/24), and proximal interruption of pulmonary artery (n = 2/24). Imaging and interventional radiology management are described in detail. Conclusions: Haemoptysis can be from non-bronchial sources, which may be either from systemic or pulmonary arteries or cardio-pulmonary fistulas. Bronchial computed tomography angiography (CTBA), if feasible, must always be considered before bronchial artery embolisation because it precisely identifies the source of haemorrhage and vascular anatomy that helps the interventional radiologist in pre-procedural planning. This circumvents chances of re-bleed if standard bronchial artery embolisation is done without CTBA

Effect of Arsenic on Fluoride Tolerance in <i>Microbacterium paraoxydans</i> Strain IR-1

Fluoride (F) and arsenic (As) are two major contaminants of water and soil systems around the globe, causing potential toxicity to humans, plants, animals, and microbes. These contaminated soil systems can be restored by microorganisms that can tolerate toxic stress and provide rapid mineralization of soil, organic matter, and contaminants, using various tolerance mechanisms. Thus, the present study was undertaken with the arsenic hyper-tolerant bacterium Microbacterium paraoxydans strain IR-1 to determine its tolerance and toxicity to increasing doses of fluoride, either individually or in combination with arsenic, in terms of growth inhibition using a toxicity unit model. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)and half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values for fluoride increased, from 9 g/L to 11 g/L and from 5.91 ± 0.1 g/L to 6.32 ± 0.028 g/L, respectively, in the combination (F + As) group. The statistical comparison of observed and expected additive toxicities, with respect to toxicity unit (TU difference), using Student’s t-test, was found to be highly significant (p < 0.001). This suggests the antagonistic effect of arsenic on fluoride toxicity to the strain IR-1. The unique stress tolerance of IR-1 ensures its survival as well as preponderance in fluoride and arsenic co-contaminated sites, thus paving the way for its possible application in the natural or artificial remediation of toxicant-exposed degraded soil systems