Steinert's syndrome presenting as anal incontinence: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Myotonic dystrophy (MD) or Steinert's syndrome is a rare cause of chronic diarrhea and anal incontinence. In the presence of chronic diarrhea and fecal incontinence with muscle weakness, neuromuscular disorders such as myotonic dystrophy should be considered in the differential diagnosis.</p> <p>Case Presentation</p> <p>We present the case of a 45-year-old Turkish man with Steinert's syndrome, who was not diagnosed until the age of 45.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In clinical practice, the persistence of diarrhea and fecal incontinence with muscle weakness should suggest that the physician perform an anal manometric study and electromyography. Neuromuscular disorders such as myotonic dystrophy should be considered in the differential diagnosis.</p

Applicability of a short/rapid 13C-urea breath test for Helicobacter pylori: retrospective multicenter chart review study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Carbon labeled urea breath tests usually entail a two point sampling with a 20 to 30-minute gap. Our aim was to evaluate the duration of time needed for diagnosing <it>Helicobacter pylori </it>by the BreathID^®System.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This is a retrospective multicenter chart review study. Test location, date, delta over baseline, and duration of the entire test were recorded. Consecutively ¹³C urea breath tests results were extracted from the files over a nine year period.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of the 12,791 tests results, 35.1% were positively diagnosed and only 0.1% were inconclusive. A statistically significant difference in prevalence among the countries was found: Germany showing the lowest, 13.3%, and Israel the highest, 44.1%. Significant differences were found in time to diagnosis: a positive diagnosis had the shortest and an inconclusive result had the longest. Overall test duration averaged 15.1 minutes in Germany versus approximately 13 minutes in other countries. Diagnosis was achieved after approximately 9 minutes in Israel, Italy and Switzerland, but after 10 on average in the others. The mean delta over baseline value for a negative diagnosis was 1.03 ± 0.86, (range, 0.9 - 5), versus 20.2 ± 18.9, (range, 5.1 - 159.4) for a positive one.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The BreathID^®System used in diagnosing <it>Helicobacter pylori </it>can safely shorten test duration on average of 10-13 minutes without any loss of sensitivity or specificity and with no test lasting more than 21 minutes.</p

Ballistic- and quantum-conductor carbon nanotubes: A reference experiment put to the test

We have performed electrical transport experiments on individual carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in situ in a transmission electron microscope using the liquid-metal contact method (LMC method), which consists of immersing a CNT placed on the apex of a metallic tip into a drop of liquid mercury (Hg). In the literature, this method has been mostly employed without visualization (ex situ) to show the ballistic- and quantum-conductance properties of different kinds of CNTs. We show that on the one hand the in situ LMC method is well suited to create low-resistance contacts with the CNTs but on the other hand the ballistic and quantum conductance measured by the ex situ LMC method is likely to give false positives for three reasons: (a) the CNTs are likely to be removed from the tip surface through contact with the Hg, (b) occurring Hg-tip surface nanocontacts are likely to be mistaken for quantum-conductor CNTs, and (c) occurring Hg nanomenisci are likely to be mistaken for ballistic-conductor CNTs. These findings have strong consequences for the interpretation of previously reported works

Gastric cancer screening by combined assay for serum anti-Helicobacter pylori IgG antibody and serum pepsinogen levels — “ABC method”

The current status of screening for gastric cancer-risk (gastritis A, B, C, D) method using combined assay for serum anti-Helicobacter pylori (Hp) IgG antibody and serum pepsinogen (PG) levels, “ABC method”, was reviewed and the latest results of our ongoing trial are reported. It was performed using the following strategy: Subjects were classified into 1 of 4 risk groups based on the results of the two serologic tests, anti-Hp IgG antibody titers and the PG I and II levels: Group A [Hp(−)PG(−)], infection-free subjects; Group B [Hp(+)PG(−)], chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) free or mild; Group C [Hp(+)PG(+)], CAG; Group D [Hp(−)PG(+)]), severe CAG with extensive intestinal metaplasia. Continuous endoscopic follow-up examinations are required to detect early stages of gastric cancer. Asymptomatic Group A, which accounts for 50–80% of all the subjects may be excluded from the secondary endoscopic examination, from the viewpoint of efficiency. Hp-infected subjects should be administered eradication treatment aimed at the prevention of gastric cancer

Conducting linear chains of sulphur inside carbon nanotubes

Despite extensive research for more than 200 years, the experimental isolation of monatomic sulphur chains, which are believed to exhibit a conducting character, has eluded scientists. Here we report the synthesis of a previously unobserved composite material of elemental sulphur, consisting of monatomic chains stabilized in the constraining volume of a carbon nanotube. This one-dimensional phase is confirmed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and synchrotron X-ray diffraction. Interestingly, these one-dimensional sulphur chains exhibit long domain sizes of up to 160 nm and high thermal stability (∼800 K). Synchrotron X-ray diffraction shows a sharp structural transition of the one-dimensional sulphur occurring at ∼450-650 K. Our observations, and corresponding electronic structure and quantum transport calculations, indicate the conducting character of the one-dimensional sulphur chains under ambient pressure. This is in stark contrast to bulk sulphur that needs ultrahigh pressures exceeding ∼90 GPa to become metallic

Effect of nanoscale curvature sign and bundle structure on supercritical H2 and CH4 adsorptivity of single wall carbon nanotube

The adsorptivities of supercritical CH(4) and H(2) of the external and internal tube walls of single wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) were determined. The internal tube wall of the negative curvature showed the higher adsorptivities for supercritical CH(4) and H(2) than the external tube wall of the positive curvature due to their interaction potential difference. Fine SWCNT bundles were prepared by the capillary force-aided drying treatment using toluene or methanol in order to produce the interstitial pore spaces having the strongest interaction potential for CH(4) or H(2); the bundled SWCNT showed the highest adsorptivity for supercritical CH(4) and H(2). It was clearly shown that these nanostructures of SWCNTs are crucial for supercritical gas adsorptivity.ArticleADSORPTION-JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ADSORPTION SOCIETY. 17(3):643-651 (2011)journal articl

Acute Liver Dysfunction in the Course of Norovirus Gastroenteritis

A 48-year-old female with abdominal pain and malaise who showed delayed symptom of acute gastroenteritis came to see us. Her illness was diagnosed as norovirus infection, but liver dysfunction accompanied this gastroenteritis. We investigated the pathogenesis of this hepatitis for all causes including drugs, but we could not detect norovirus infection. The liver damage improved shortly in course of the gastroenteritis. She recovered completely within 2 weeks without any damage left. Norovirus-induced liver dysfunction is not known, and there is no report in the literature. We report, for the first time, the case of liver dysfunction with norovirus gastroenteritis

Anti-inflammatory and osteoprotective effects of cannabinoid-2 receptor agonist HU-308 in a rat model of lipopolysaccharide-induced periodontitis

Background: Anti-inflammatory and immunologic properties of cannabinoids have been reported in several tissues. Expression of cannabinoid receptor Type 2 was reported in osteoblasts and osteoclasts, suggesting a key role in bone metabolism. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of treatment with cannabinoid-2 receptor agonist HU-308 in the oral health of rats subjected to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced periodontitis. Methods: Twenty-four rats were distributed in four groups (six rats per group): 1) control rats; 2) sham rats; 3) rats submitted to experimental periodontitis (LPS); and 4) rats submitted to experimental periodontitis and treated with HU-308 (LPS+HU). In groups LPS and LPS+HU, periodontitis was induced by LPS (1 mg/mL) injected into the gingival tissue (GT) of maxillary and mandibular first molars and into the interdental space between the first and second molars, 3 days per week for 6 weeks. In group LPS+HU, HU-308 (500 ng/mL) was applied topically to the GT daily. Results: Alveolar bone loss resulting from LPS-induced periodontitis was significantly attenuated with HU-308 treatment (LPS+HU), measured by macroscopic and histologic examination. Treatment also reduced gingival production of inflammatory mediators augmented in LPS-injected rats, such as: 1) inducible nitric oxide (iNOS) activity (LPS: 90.18 - 36.51 pmol/minute/mg protein versus LPS+HU: 16.37 - 4.73 pmol/minute/mg protein; P<0.05); 2) tumor necrosis factor alpha (LPS: 185.70 - 25.63 pg/mg protein versus LPS+HU: 95.89 - 17.47 pg/mg protein; P <0.05); and 3) prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) (LPS: 159.20 - 38.70 pg/mg wet weight versus LPS+HU: 71.25 - 17.75 pg/mg wet weight; P<0.05). Additionally, HU-308 treatment prevented the inhibitory effect of LPS-induced periodontitis on the salivary secretory response to pilocarpine. Moreover, iNOS activity and PGE2 content, which were increased by LPS-induced periodontitis in the submandibular gland, returned to control values after HU-308 treatment. Conclusion: This study demonstrates anti-inflammatory, osteoprotective, and prohomeostatic effects of HU-308 in oral tissues of rats with LPS-induced periodontitis.Fil: Ossola, Cesar Angel. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Odontología. Cátedra de Fisiología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Surkin, Pablo Nicolas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Odontología. Cátedra de Fisiología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Mohn, Claudia Ester. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Odontología. Cátedra de Fisiología; ArgentinaFil: Elverdín, Juan Carlos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Odontología. Cátedra de Fisiología; ArgentinaFil: Fernández Solari, José Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Odontología. Cátedra de Fisiología; Argentin