A right colonic volvulus requiring extensive colectomy in an infant with trisomy 13

AbstractColonic volvulus is a rare surgical emergency condition in children. Only approximately 40 children with cecal volvulus have been reported in English literature in the past 50 years. Among these, a right colonic volvulus involving the long segment from the ileal end to the transverse colon, as in our case, is limited to a few reports. Neurodevelopmental delay and a history of chronic constipation have been reported as common associated disorders. This is the first report about a case of right colonic volvulus in an infant with trisomy 13 who required extensive colectomy during an emergency laparotomy

Between Okinawa and Ryukyu: the consequences of double colonialism

Currently known for its polemics regarding military bases, the Japanese province of Okinawa remained under the domain of the United States for 27 years after the end of the Second World War. The territory, however, was already familiar with invasions: formerly called Uchinaa, it was colonized and annexed by Japan in 1879. Through a critical review of the history of the province, this work aims to elucidate that the American domination of the Okinawa islands was made possible because of the Japanese colonization, and went far beyond only military occupation; it has economic, sociocultural and psychological dimensions. Despite the reversal of the trusteeship having taken place in 1972, the domination did not actually ended: its implications are reverberated to the present day.Pesquisa sem auxílio de agências de fomentoTrabalho de Conclusão de Curso (Graduação)Atualmente conhecida por suas polêmicas com bases militares, após o fim da Segunda Guerra Mundial a província japonesa de Okinawa permaneceu 27 anos sob o domínio dos Estados Unidos. O território, no entanto, já era familiarizado com invasões: anteriormente chamado Uchinaa, foi colonizado e anexado pelo Japão em 1879. Através de uma revisão crítica da história da atual província, este trabalho visa elucidar que a dominação estadunidense nas ilhas de Okinawa foi possibilitada pela colonização japonesa e foi muito além de uma ocupação apenas militar; ela tem dimensões econômicas, socioculturais e psicológicas. Apesar da reversão da tutela ter ocorrido em 1972, a dominação não acabou de fato: suas implicações são reverberadas até os dias atuais

Physiological basis and image processing in functional magnetic resonance imaging: Neuronal and motor activity in brain

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is recently developing as imaging modality used for mapping hemodynamics of neuronal and motor event related tissue blood oxygen level dependence (BOLD) in terms of brain activation. Image processing is performed by segmentation and registration methods. Segmentation algorithms provide brain surface-based analysis, automated anatomical labeling of cortical fields in magnetic resonance data sets based on oxygen metabolic state. Registration algorithms provide geometric features using two or more imaging modalities to assure clinically useful neuronal and motor information of brain activation. This review article summarizes the physiological basis of fMRI signal, its origin, contrast enhancement, physical factors, anatomical labeling by segmentation, registration approaches with examples of visual and motor activity in brain. Latest developments are reviewed for clinical applications of fMRI along with other different neurophysiological and imaging modalities

Deterioration of autoimmune condition associated with repeated injection of dextranomer/hyaluronic acid copolymer: A case report

A 6-year-old girl underwent ureterocystoneostomy (UCN) because of left flank pain due to delayed onset of ureteral stenosis one and a half years after endoscopic dextranomer/hyaluronic acid copolymer (Deflux) injection for the treatment of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). Histopathological examination indicated chronic inflammation with abundant eosinophils characteristic of a reaction to Deflux. Several autoimmune diseases developed during the treatment for ureteral stenosis. First, 2 weeks prior to the onset of left flank pain, she was diagnosed as having systemic lupus erythematosus. Finally, she died of pulmonary hemorrhage due to thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura 4 months after UCN. The fatal outcome in this case was suspected to be caused by autoimmune syndrome induced by adjuvants, which in this case was the hyaluronic acid polymer injected into the ureteric orifice for the treatment of VUR

Carbon budget and methane and nitrous oxide emissions over the growing season in a Miscanthus sinensis grassland in Tomakomai, Hokkaido, Japan

Species in the Miscanthus genus have been proposed as biofuel crops that have potential to mitigate elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels and nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) emissions. Miscanthus sinensis is widespread throughout Japan and has been used for biomass production for centuries. We assessed the carbon (C) budget and N2O and CH4 emissions over the growing season for 2 years in a M. sinensis-dominated grassland that was naturally established around 1972 in Tomakomai, Hokkaido, Japan, which is near the northern limit for M. sinensis grassland establishment on Andisols. Average C budget was −0.31 Mg C ha−1, which indicates C was released from the grassland ecosystem to the atmosphere. Dominant components in the C budget appeared to be aboveground net primary production of plants (1.94–2.80 Mg C ha−1) and heterotrophic respiration (2.27–3.11 Mg C ha−1). The measurement of belowground net primary production (BNPP) of plants in the M. sinensis grassland was extremely variable, thus only an approximate value could be calculated. Mean C budget calculated with the approximated BNPP value was 1.47 and −0.23 Mg C ha−1 for 2008 and 2009, respectively. Given belowground biomass (9.46–9.86 Mg C ha−1) was 3.1–6.5 times higher than that of aboveground biomass may provide additional evidence suggesting this grassland represents a C sink. Average CH4 emissions across years of −1.34 kg C ha−1 would indicate this grassland acts as an atmospheric CH4 sink. Furthermore, average N2O emissions across years were 0.22 kg N ha−1. While the site may contribute N2O to the atmosphere, this value is lower compared with other grassland types. Global warming potential calculated with the approximated BNPP value was −5.40 and 0.95 Mg CO2 Eq ha−1 for 2008 and 2009, respectively, and indicates this grassland could contribute to mitigation of global warming

Laryngo fiberscopy-guided suspension procedure for an ectopic lingual thyroid obstructing airway

Abstract Background Currently, there is no consensus regarding the optimal therapeutic strategy for the management of an ectopic lingual thyroid. A surgical approach is suggested when airway obstructive symptoms cannot be tolerated at all, or when bleeding or malignancy occurs. However, for patients in whom ectopic thyroid is the only functioning thyroid tissue, complete surgical excision needs to be followed by lifelong hormone replacement therapy. We report the case of an infant with ectopic lingual thyroid obstructing the airway that was treated using our novel surgical procedure. Case presentation A 10-day-old male infant presented with symptoms of airway obstruction and subclinical hypothyroidism. Imaging tests revealed an ectopic lingual thyroid and the absence of a normal pretracheal thyroid gland. We administered oral levothyroxine to lower his thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level and reduce the volume of the lingual mass; however, his airway symptoms did not improve. Subsequently, we performed a surgical intervention when he was 2 months old. We split the hyoid bone, and then suspended the lingual thyroid by suturing it to the hyoid bone to elevate the epiglottis. We confirmed the degree of suspension using intraoperative laryngo fiberscopy. After the surgery, the symptoms of airway obstruction were resolved and the patient was clinically euthyroid on low-dose oral levothyroxine. Conclusions Our laryngo fiberscopy-guided suspension procedure can be an effective surgical procedure for the treatment of ectopic thyroid. This relatively simple surgical procedure could completely preserve the patient’s thyroid tissue and resolve airway obstruction