8 research outputs found
Surfing the spectrum - what is on the horizon?
Diagnostic imaging techniques have evolved with technological advancements - but how far? The objective of this article was to explore the electromagnetic spectrum to find imaging techniques which may deliver diagnostic information of equal, or improved, standing to conventional radiographs and to explore any developments within radiography which may yield improved diagnostic data. A comprehensive literature search was performed using Medline, Web of Knowledge, Science Direct and PubMed Databases. Boolean Operators were used and key-terms included (not exclusively): terahertz, X-ray, ultraviolet, visible, infra-red, magnetic resonance, dental, diagnostic, caries and periodontal. Radiographic techniques are primarily used for diagnostic imaging in dentistry, and continued developments in X-ray imaging include: phase contrast, darkfield and spectral imaging. Other modalities have potential application, for example, terahertz, laser doppler and optical techniques, but require further development. In particular, infra-red imaging has regenerated interest with caries detection in vitro, due to improved quality and accessibility of cameras. Non-ionising imaging techniques, for example, infra-red, are becoming more commensurate with traditional radiographic techniques for caries detection. Nevertheless, X-rays continue to be the leading diagnostic image for dentists, with improved diagnostic potential for lower radiation dose becoming a reality
Glycophosphopeptical as adjuvant treatment of diabetic foot injury: A pilot study [Glycophosphopeptical como adyuvante en el tratamiento de lesiones del pie diab�tico: estudio piloto]
Background: Due to the complexity of the diabetic foot, its high frequency of amputations and accompanying immunosuppression, treatment is difficult. We tested the usefulness of glycophosphopetical immunoregulator as adjuvant herapy for diabetic foot injury. Methods: We carried out a prospective double-blind randomized controlled study with 19 patients per group with diabetic foot injury III and IV (Wagner injury classification). The study group was treated orally with glycophosphopeptical (1 g/every 8 h for 4 weeks). Control group was treated with placebo. Both groups received conventional treatment: wound debridement, antibiotic therapy and metabolic control. Area and depth of injury was measured at the beginning of the study and after 2 months. Patients who were healed or showed improvement were quantified as well with serum levels of TNF-?, interferonand IL-1?, 15 days after treatment initiation. Results: The study group was comprised of 13 males and six females (mean age 61.6 � 14.9 years) and the control group was comprised of five females and 14 males (mean age 56.7 � 14.6 years). At the end of the study, the area and depth of the lesions were significantly lower in the study group (p <0.05). There were 13 amputations in the study group vs. 17 in the control group. In the group treated with glycophosphopeptical, there were 15 patient who were healed or improved and four failures vs. seven patients in the control group who were healed or improved and 12 failures. There were only four failures in the study group vs. seven in the control group with 12 failures (p = 0.03). TNF-? was lower in the study group than in the control group (p <0.02). Conclusion: Glycophosphopeptical is useful as adjuvant therapy in diabetic foot injuries
Excitotoxicity Triggered by Neonatal Monosodium Glutamate Treatment and Blood–Brain Barrier Function
Relationship between method of anastomosis and anastomotic failure after right hemicolectomy and ileo-caecal resection: an international snapshot audit
Aim The anastomosis technique used following right-sided colonic
resection is widely variable and may affect patient outcome. This study
aimed to assess the association between leak and anastomosis technique
(stapled vs handsewn).
Method This was a prospective, multicentre, international audit
including patients undergoing elective or emergency right hemicolectomy
or ileo-caecal resection operations over a 2-month period in early 2015.
The primary outcome measure was the presence of anastomotic leak within
30 days of surgery, determined using a prespecified definition. Mixed
effects logistic regression models were used to assess the association
between leak and anastomosis method, adjusting for patient, disease and
operative cofactors, with centre included as a random-effect variable.
Results This study included 3208 patients, of whom 78.4\% (n = 2515)
underwent surgery for malignancy and 11.7\% (n = 375) underwent surgery
for Crohn's disease. An anastomosis was performed in 94.8\% (n = 3041)
of patients, which was handsewn in 38.9\% (n = 1183) and stapled in
61.1\% (n = 1858). Patients undergoing hand-sewn anastomosis were more
likely to be emergency admissions (20.5\% handsewn vs 12.9\% stapled)
and to undergo open surgery (54.7\% handsewn vs 36.6\% stapled). The
overall anastomotic leak rate was 8.1\% (245/3041), which was similar
following handsewn (7.4\%) and stapled (8.5\%) techniques (P = 0.3).
After adjustment for cofactors, the odds of a leak were higher for
stapled anastomosis (adjusted OR = 1.43; 95\% CI: 1.04-1.95; P = 0.03).
Conclusion Despite being used in lower-risk patients, stapled
anastomosis was associated with an increased anastomotic leak rate in
this observational study. Further research is needed to define patient
groups in whom a stapled anastomosis is safe