Moving forward with combinatorial interaction testing

Combinatorial interaction testing (CIT) is an efficient and effective method of detecting failures that are caused by the interactions of various system input parameters. In this paper, we discuss CIT, point out some of the difficulties of applying it in practice, and highlight some recent advances that have improved CIT’s applicability to modern systems. We also provide a roadmap for future research and directions; one that we hope will lead to new CIT research and to higher quality testing of industrial systems

Massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding from an accessory splenic artery mimicking isolated gastric varices

Knowledge of anatomical variations of coeliac trunk and its branches is important for surgeons and interventional radiologists planning surgical and radiological interventions. We describe a case of a 42-year-old male with an accessory splenic artery (ASA) originating from the left gastric artery (LGA) running in the wall of gastric fundus and mimicking isolated gastric varices, which was observed during endoscopy. Bleeding from this artery was massive and was managed with endovascular coil embolisation. Coeliac angiography of the patient with upper gastrointestinal bleeding showed that the coeliac trunk divided into 3 arteries: the LGA, the splenic artery, and the right hepatic artery. Additionally, the variations of ASA and the left hepatic artery arising from LGA, and the left and right inferior phrenic arteries arising from ASA were identified. This case is the first to be presented in the literature with ASA originating from LGA that was situated in the gastric wall where inferior phrenic arteries arose from the ASA

VOLTAMMETRIC AND CHROMATOGRAPHIC DETERMINATION OF NAPROXEN IN DRUG FORMULATION

In this work, the electrochemical oxidation of naproxen (NAP) was studied at an ultra-trace graphite electrode (UTGE). The cyclic voltammetry (CV) technique was used to determine the optimum conditions and the effect of pH on the electrochemical oxidation of NAP. Acetate buffer (pH 4.50) was selected as the support electrolyte due to obtaining the highest electronic signal increase during oxidation of NAP at UTGE. The differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) technique was performed for electrochemical determination of NAP. In the optimum conditions, the limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were determined to be 8.6610-8 M and 2.8810-7 M. In addition, the amount of NAP was determined in drug tablets. The recovery studies of NAP from the drug tablet were completed in order to check the accuracy and precision of the applied voltammetric method. Furthermore, the determination of NAP was performed with the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. These two methods were compared in terms of accuracy, precision and recovery studies

Arteriovenous malformations of the lung: diagnosis by thin-section HRCT and Cine-MRI

We report a case in which a solitary large and multiple group of small pulmonary arteriovenous malformations were demonstrated by computed tomography and magnetic resonance images that could aid diagnosis and therapeutic planning without the need for catheter angiography

Higher Perceived Stress Increases the Subjective Reporting of ADHD: A Sample of Medical Students

This study aimed to evaluate the subjective Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms with self-reported ratings and objective neurocognitive tests among medical students. Also, we examined to identify the psychological factors that predict ADHD reporting among medical students. Medical students (N=57) completed self-report questionnaires, and neurocognitive tests were conducted for attention measures. Participants had a mean age of 20.3 years, and 69.0% were female. High levels of perceived stress, state-trait anxiety, and current and childhood ADHD symptoms were possible risk factors; however, only higher perceived stress was a risk factor for the possibility of reporting themselves as ADHD in medical school students [odds ratio [OR] =1.184, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.015; 1.381]]. Higher perceived stress levels, the more reported ADHD subjectively in medical students. Objective attention measures had no impact on reporting ADHD subjectively. Screening for perceived stress is necessary for medical students, especially those with subjective ADHD symptoms

Electroanalytical and HPLC Methods for the Determination of Oxcarbazepine in Spiked Human Urine and Tablet Dosage Form

In this study, the electrochemical reduction and determination of oxcarbazepine were easily realized in various buffer solutions in the pH range of 4.50 to 11.15 in real samples using glassy car-bon electrode (GCE) by cyclic voltammetric (CV) and differential pulse voltammetric (DPV) tech-niques. The influence of pH on the cathodic peak current and peak potential was investigated. Scan rate studies were also completed. The diffusion controlled nature of the peak was established. The best results for the quantitative determination of oxcarbazepine were obtained by DPV technique in Britton-Robinson (BR) buffer (pH 8.05). In this basic medium, one irreversible and sharp cathodic peak was observed. A linear calibration curve for DPV analysis was constructed in the oxcarbazepine concentration range of 8×10–6 to 1×10–4 M. Limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were obtained as 1.65×10–6 and 5.51×10–6 M, respectively. Repeatability, reproducibility, precision and accuracy of the developed technique were checked in spiked human urine and tablet dosage forms by recovery studies and re-sults of the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique. A reduction mechanism for the electrode reaction was proposed

The effect of suture materials with different absorption times on isthmocele: a retrospective study

Objectives: With the increasing rate of cesarean operations, the formation of niches and related early and late complications have been observed more frequently. In this study, we examined the effects of using a suture material that can be absorbed faster than conventional sutures on the formation of niches. Material and methods: This study was designed as a retrospective study and completed with a total of 101 patients. During the cesarean operation, the uterus was closed with Rapide Vicryl® in 49 patients and Vicryl® in 52 patients. The uterine niche was measured with a sonohysterogram 6 months after the operation. The primary outcome of the study was determined as uterine niche formation and the secondary outcome was the post-menstrual spotting (PMS) rate. Results: Duration of surgery, intraoperative/postoperative blood loss, and hospitalization time were similar between the two groups. Niche formation was significantly lower in the Rapide Vicryl group (22.4%) when compared to the Vicryl group (42.3%) (p = 0.046). Also, PMS was observed significantly lower in the Rapide Vicryl group (16.2% and 52.8% in Rapide Vicryl and Vicryl groups, respectively; p = 0.002). Conclusions: The formation of niches and associated PMS rates were less with suture materials that were absorbed faster

Systematic review: the diagnosis and staging of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the most prevalent cause of liver disease in Western countries. The development of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and fibrosis identifies an at-risk group with increased risk of cardiovascular and liver-related deaths. The identification and management of this at-risk group remains a clinical challenge. \ud \ud Aim: To perform a systematic review of the established and emerging strategies for the diagnosis and staging of NAFLD. \ud \ud Methods: Relevant research and review articles were identified by searching PubMed, MEDLINE and EMBASE. \ud Results: There has been a substantial development of non-invasive risk scores, biomarker panels and radiological modalities to identify at-risk patients with NAFLD without recourse to liver biopsy on a routine basis. These modalities and algorithms have improved significantly in their diagnosis and staging of fibrosis and NASH in patients with NAFLD, and will likely impact on the number of patients undergoing liver biopsy. \ud \ud Conclusions: Staging for NAFLD can now be performed by a combination of radiological and laboratory techniques, greatly reducing the requirement for invasive liver biopsy