Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide and Migraine: Implications for Therapy

It is clearly evident from the literature that headache has troubled mankind from the dawn of civilization (Rapoport & Edmeads, 2000). A variety of methods have been used throughout the ages in an attempt to alleviate or cure this pain; these may have been the most appropriate at that time, and were probably seen as “cutting edge”. Today they seem at best amusing, and at worst cruel and barbaric. The earliest concepts in migraine were those of the supernatural, with migraine believed to be due to malevolent beings within the head; treatment based on this idea included incantations and application to the head of substances intended to drive out the demons and spirits (Edmeads, 1991). These were also driven out physically, as in the Neolithic period (8500-7000 BC). The people living in this time used the method of trepanation, a kind of neurosurgery, which involved removing circular chunks of skull so that the spirits causing the headache could escape. Over 50% of the trepanned skulls have shown evidence of healing, indicating a high survival rate for this operation. Although the scientific rationale behind trepanation is not understood, it is surprising that this procedure was performed as a treatment for migraine as late as the mid 17th century (Edmeads, 1991; Rapoport & Edmeads, 2000)

Medical image of the week: sarcoidosis

No abstract available. Article truncated after 150 words. We present a 58-year-old African American man with a complicated medical history including long-standing sarcoidosis that has caused him chronic, unrelenting pain for two decades. He initially underwent placement of an intrathecal morphine pump, but recently began complaining of increasing pain. Consequently, he was seen at our hospital for interrogation of his pain pump by the interventional radiologist, and was incidentally noted to have bilateral calcified hilar lymphadenopathy on fluoroscopic imaging. A dedicated chest x-ray confirmed the abnormality, which was consistent with his known diagnosis of sarcoidosis. Sarcoidosis is a complex disease process characterized by noncaseous granulomas that can affect various organ systems, with pulmonary involvement in up to 90% of cases (1). Though sarcoidosis is a diagnosis of exclusion, clinicians should recognize that bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy is highly concerning for the underlying noncaseating granulomatous disease (2). The most common pattern of lymphadenopathy is well-defined, bilateral, symmetric hilar and right ..

Medical image of the week: phytobezoar

No abstract available. Article truncated after 150 words. A 10-year-old boy with a history of non-verbal autism presented to the hospital with symptoms of chronic malnourishment. He was recently started on a specific carbohydrate rich diet, as outlined by a popular mainstream nutrition book, with hopes of improvement in adverse behavior. Prior to the start of this new diet, he consistently demonstrated an increased craving for food and was described to have an insatiable appetite. Though he was relatively non-verbal at baseline, he intermittently voiced his hunger and associated abdominal pain. A supine abdominal radiograph obtained immediately after admission showed a moderate gastric distension with a significant stool burden. Follow-up radiographs of the abdomen were obtained after two days of medical attempts to clear out the gastrointestinal system. The supine frontal radiograph at this time showed a massively distended stomach with a mottled appearance and considerable mass effect on the transverse colon (Figure 1). The interpreting pediatric radiologist ..

Managing neonatal bowel obstruction: clinical perspectives

Sarah M Desoky,1 Ranjit I Kylat,2 Unni Udayasankar,1 Dorothy Gilbertson-Dahdal1 1Department of Medical Imaging, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, USA; 2Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, USA Abstract: Neonatal intestinal obstruction is a common surgical emergency and occurs in approximately 1 in 2,000 live births. The causes of obstruction are diverse with varied embryological origins, and some underlying etiologies are not yet well described. Some findings of neonatal bowel obstruction can be detected prenatally on ultrasound imaging. The obstruction is classified as “high” when the level of obstruction is proximal to the ileum, and “low” when the level of obstruction is at the ileum or colon. Early diagnosis of the type of intestinal obstruction and localization of the obstructive bowel segment guides timely and appropriate management of the underlying pathologic entity. Neonatal bowel obstructions are ideally managed at specialized centers with a large volume of neonatal surgery and dedicated pediatric surgical and anesthesia expertise. Although surgical intervention is necessary in most cases, initial management strategies often target underlying metabolic, cardiac, or respiratory abnormalities. Imaging plays a key role in early and accurate diagnosis of the abnormalities. When bowel obstruction is suspected clinically, initial imaging workup usually involves abdominal radiography, which may direct further evaluation with fluoroscopic examination such as upper gastrointestinal (UGI) contrast study or contrast enema. This article provides a comprehensive review of clinical and radiological features of common and less common causes of intestinal obstruction in the neonatal age group, including esophageal atresia, enteric duplication cysts, gastric volvulus, congenital microgastria, hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, duodenal atresia, intestinal malrotation, intussusception, intestinal atresia, meconium ileus, functional immaturity of the colon, Hirschsprung disease, and anorectal malformation. The embryology, epidemiology, clinical presentation, and brief medical and surgical management of each is described. Keywords: neonatal, bowel, intestinal, obstructio

Automated MRI Volumetric Analysis in Patients with Rasmussen Syndrome

Abstract The LIS educators need adequate and accurate knowledge of information to enhance effectiveness as well as productiveness of their teaching profession, most especially as a result of the emergence of ICT in library and information studies. In line with this, knowledge sharing practice for knowledge retention and growth was investigated among the LIS educators in Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic Ebonyi State. A simple random sampling technique was used to select 32 respondents who represented the sample size for the study. Data was obtained through the use of a structured questionnaire. Frequency counts, percentages, means, standard deviations and PPMC were used for data analysis. Findings revealed that 68.8% of the respondents were male and 31.3% female, 59.4% were Senior Lecturers and 65.6% were between ages 40 to 49 years. Majority (87.5%) of the respondents shared professional knowledge and exchange research knowledge and out-put, while 78.2% shared knowledge for career development. On the other hand, 100%, 90.6%, and 59.4% were not sharing knowledge relating to family issues, experiences, methods of teaching and ICT related issues. However, 100% of the respondents realised the importance of knowledge sharing in their department as they shared knowledge during departmental meetings, seminars, workshops, interpersonal interaction and also encouraged their students to share knowledge among themselves. Sharing knowledge with colleagues improved knowledge retention of the respondents (93.8%), and Knowledge sharing built their assimilation skills (78.2%). Furthermore, 87.5% of the respondents were able to apply the knowledge gained from interaction with their colleagues to their professional routine. This built the growth of their information acquisition, confidence and ability to withstand educational related activities, including the respondents’ productivities in teaching and research output (68.7%). Disinterest to get engaged in debate sessions about the specialized fields of Library and Information Science (68.8%) and lacked of cooperation among the faculty members, dissimilarity of the level of knowledge and experience between the faculty members (62.5%) is affecting their knowledge-sharing practice. PPMC revealed that knowledge sharing significantly (

The Effect of R&D Intensity on Corporate Social Responsibility

competitive advantage, corporate social responsibility, industry, research and development, resource-based view theory,