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PubMed2006

Formation of polymorphic cluster phases for a class of models of purely repulsive soft spheres.

We present results from density functional theory and computer simulations that unambiguously predict the occurrence of first-order freezing transitions for a large class of ultrasoft model systems into cluster crystals. The clusters consist of fully overlapping particles and arise without the existence of attractive forces. The number of particles participating in a cluster scales linearly with density, therefore the crystals feature density-independent lattice constants. Clustering is accompanied by polymorphic bcc-fcc transitions, with fcc being the stable phase at high densities.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2005

Comparison of overweight and obesity prevalence in school-aged youth from 34 countries and their relationships with physical activity and dietary patterns.

The purposes of this systematic review were to present and compare recent estimates of the prevalence of overweight and obesity in school-aged youth from 34 countries and to examine associations between overweight and selected dietary and physical activity patterns. Data consisted of a cross-sectional survey of 137 593 youth (10-16 years) from the 34 (primarily European) participating countries of the 2001-2002 Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children Study. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was determined based on self-reported height and weight and the international child body mass index standards. Logistic regression was employed to examine associations between overweight status with selected dietary and physical activity patterns. The two countries with the highest prevalence of overweight (pre-obese + obese) and obese youth were Malta (25.4% and 7.9%) and the United States (25.1% and 6.8%) while the two countries with the lowest prevalence were Lithuania (5.1% and 0.4%) and Latvia (5.9% and 0.5%). Overweight and obesity prevalence was particularly high in countries located in North America, Great Britain, and south-western Europe. Within most countries physical activity levels were lower and television viewing times were higher in overweight compared to normal weight youth. In 91% of the countries examined, the frequency of sweets intake was lower in overweight than normal weight youth. Overweight status was not associated with the intake of fruits, vegetables, and soft drinks or time spent on the computer. In conclusion, the adolescent obesity epidemic is a global issue. Increasing physical activity participation and decreasing television viewing should be the focus of strategies aimed at preventing and treating overweight and obesity in youth.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Tropical Pyomyositis in a Patient From St. Croix.

A 70-year-old man living in St. Croix, developed persistent swelling of his right leg approximately 1 year after undergoing pelvic lymph node dissection and irradiation in the United States for locally invasive adenocarcinoma of the prostate. Approximately 1 month prior to admission, he had noticed slow, painful swelling of his right groin associated with erythema and increased warmth. He reported no history of trauma. A computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrated an intramuscular soft tissue mass in the right iliopsoas, obturator, and adductor magnus muscles. A 19-day course of corticosteroids provided symptomatic improvement; however, cessation of this medication resulted in the rapid return and distal extension of the swelling. In addition, edema and a firm, "woody" mass developed in the lateral aspect of the right thigh, although there were no constitutional symptoms. Because of the recrudescence of symptoms, the patient was again placed on corticosteroids. After noting no improvement in 48 hours, the patient sought treatment in the United States, where he was diagnosed with tropical pyomyositis. Imaging studies demonstrated copious purulent material distributed in and between the anterior femoral muscles (Fig. 1). Culture of the pus drained intraoperatively yielded Streptococcus anginosus and Bacteroides vulgaris. The patient recovered after repeated surgical drainage and treatment with intravenous penicillin and metronidazole.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1998

In-vivo monitoring of dosage forms.

The use of imaging techniques including gamma scintigraphy to follow the behaviour of drug formulations has revolutionized our knowledge of absorption and distribution in drug delivery. The development of gamma camera techniques as physiological tools to explore organ function became routine by the mid-seventies. Several research groups started to explore the applications of technique in drug delivery. Within 5 years, the utility of the technique became obvious and scintigraphy is now widely accepted as an important investigation tool in formulation research. Gamma scintigraphy is especially useful in exploring sources of inter-subject variation, especially in examining food effects in pharmacokinetic estimations and establishing windows of absorption for oral delivery. As a tool to examine drug delivery to the lung and to the eye, scintigraphy is the method of choice. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) became more generally employed in medicine two decades after the gamma camera. The superior soft-tissue contrast and resolution compared to computed X-ray tomography rapidly established MRI in clinical investigation. Recent applications in oral drug research has allowed the pharmaceutical scientist to explore new facets of delivery and ultimately combine MRI and scintigraphy in human clinical trials.

Dosage Forms↗

PubMed1986

Elastofibroma: chest wall pseudotumor.

A 68-year-old man had a painless, nontender lump in the right infrascapular region. An unenhanced computed tomography (CT) scan showed a soft-tissue mass attached to the scapula, causing muscular displacement. A similar, smaller mass was found on the left side. The appearance of the masses on CT scans was suggestive of infiltrating malignancy, but pathologic examination disclosed findings typical of elastofibroma. Biopsy is recommended in similar cases to exclude sarcoma.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A method for studying the effects of neurochemicals on long-term compensation in unilaterally labyrinthectomized rats.

A new method has been developed to study the influence of drugs and toxicants on long-term recovery of dynamics in the horizontal vestibulo-ocular reflex of the rat after hemilabyrinthectomy (HL). HL was performed by injecting sodium arsanilate into the middle ear. The lesion was confirmed by histology. Eye movements elicited by sinusoidal vestibular stimulation, in both light and darkness, were recorded by a search-coil technique and then analyzed by a computer program created with virtual instrument soft-ware, which calculated the gain of the slow-phase velocity (SPV) and the saccades para-meters (frequency, amplitude, and peak velocity) to the lesioned side and to the intact side separately. During the 2-10 week period after HL, repeated analysis of the spontaneous long-term recovery of such parameters revealed a slight but significant reduction of the post-HL asymmetry between SPV gain to the lesioned side and to the intact side. During the follow-up period, a post-HL increase of the phase lead remained unchanged. The reduced number of saccades/min was not completely restored. To test the usefulness of the experimental model for neurochemical investigation of such adaptation, we administered baclofen and toluene to rats 8-12 wk after hemilabyrinthectomy. Baclofen, a specific GABAB agonist, immediately restored the symmetry of SPV gain. By contrast, toluene, which has some effects on the central vestibular system that are related to GABAB transmission, aggravated the asymmetry in both the SPV gain and the number of saccades. We suggest that the experimental model would be useful for studying neurochemical mechanisms in vestibular adaptation processes.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed2006

An unusual cause of haemoptysis in a young male.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumours are reported to occur in a variety of sites, including the head and neck, abdominal organs, central nervous system and urinary tract. They only rarely occur in the lung. We report a case of a 25-year-old male admitted with haemoptysis. His chest radiograph showed a peripheral right lung opacity and computed tomography revealed a right lower lobe soft tissue density mass. Bronchoscopy and fine needle aspiration were unhelpful. a diagnosis of pulmonary carcinoma was made, and the patient underwent a right lower lobectomy. On pathology, the tumor was found to be an inflammatory pseudotumor. These lesion are extremely rare, constituting less than 1% of pulmonary malignancies, but are known to occur in young patients. We believe clinicians need to retain an index of suspicion for the presence of this disease in young patients, which can masquerade as more common malignancies.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2005

A cavernous haemangioma of the thyroid gland.

Haemangioma of the thyroid gland is extremely rare. We report a case of a cavernous haemangioma of the neck that was located both inside and outside the thyroid gland of a 21-year-old man. Ultrasonography of the neck revealed numerous calcified nodules. Computed tomography (CT) showed a large calcified soft tissue mass in the right lobe of the thyroid. Based on the imaging findings a papillary thyroid carcinoma was suspected, but examination of the surgical specimen revealed a huge cavernous haemangioma containing numerous phleboliths.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma with sebaceous differentiation in the mandibular salivary gland of a dog.

A carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma was diagnosed in the left mandibular salivary gland of an 8-year-old female spayed dog. The animal presented with a large nonpainful swelling in the left submandibular region. A computed tomography scan detected an irregularly enhancing soft tissue mass that was closely associated with the left external ear canal and extended to the left wing of the atlas. On surgical exploration, the mass was intimately associated with the left mandibular salivary gland. Both the mass and the adjacent gland were removed, and the diagnosis was determined by histopathology. The tumor was comprised of basaloid and low columnar epithelial cells, many glandular units formed by well-differentiated sebocytes, and multifocal regions of necrosis, mineralization, and hemorrhage. Salivary gland tumors with sebaceous differentiation are very rare in animals, with one previously reported case in a cat.

Adenoma, Pleomorphic↗

PubMed1992

An overview of common soccer injuries. Management and prevention.

The most common injuries in soccer involve the ankle and knee joints, and the muscles and ligaments of the thigh and calf. Rehabilitation to restore strength and endurance after healing is extremely important to prevent a recurrence of the injury, which is much more severe and disabling than the initial injury. Sprains and strains of the hamstring and quadriceps, and injuries to the external and internal structures of the knee joints are frequent and relatively more disabling. Recent progress in the technical aspect of investigative medicine, such as magnetic resonance (MRI) imaging/quantitative only computer tomography (CT) scanning, ultrasonic imaging of soft tissues and isokinetic measurement of muscle characteristics, lead to better diagnosis and management of soccer injuries. Appropriate nutritional and physiological preparation, maintaining fluid and electrolytes during the game and restoration of the reserves following completion of exhaustive activities will help to minimise injuries.

Craniocerebral Trauma↗

PubMed1994

Retroperitoneal fibrosis leading to extrahepatic portal vein obstruction.

A very rare case of highly probable retroperitoneal fibrosis leading to extrahepatic portal obstruction is described. The patient was a 44-year-old woman with right pleural effusion and splenomegaly. Computed tomography indicated a large accumulation of soft tissues in the retroperitoneum, and abdominal angiography showed extensive portal obstruction. A twenty-year-long abuse of analgesics is suspected to have caused the retroperitoneal fibrosis.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Magnetic resonance imaging. Application to family practice.

OBJECTIVE: To review indications, contraindications, and risks of using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in order to help primary care physicians refer patients appropriately for MRI, screen for contraindications to using MRI, and educate patients about MRI. QUALITY OF EVIDENCE: Recommendations are based on classic textbooks, the policies of our MRI group, and a literature search using MEDLINE with the MeSH headings magnetic resonance imaging, brain, musculoskeletal, and spine. The search was limited to human, English-language, and review articles. Evidence in favour of using MRI for imaging the head, spine, and joints is well established. For cardiac, abdominal, and pelvic conditions, MRI has been shown useful for certain indications, usually to complement other modalities. MAIN MESSAGE: For demonstrating soft tissue conditions, MRI is better than computed tomography (CT), but CT shows bone and acute bleeding better. Therefore, patients with trauma or suspected intracranial bleeding should have CT. Tumours, congenital abnormalities, vascular structures, and the cervical or thoracic spine show better on MRI. Either modality can be used for lower back pain. Cardiac, abdominal, and pelvic abnormalities should be imaged with ultrasound or CT before MRI. Contraindications for MRI are mainly metallic implants or shrapnel, severe claustrophobia, or obesity. CONCLUSIONS: With the increasing availability of MRI scanners in Canada, better understanding of the indications, contraindications, and risks will be helpful for family physicians and their patients.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Congenital rhabdomyosarcoma--a case report.

A term female newborn was noted to have a tumor mass in the oral cavity soon after birth. Oral computer tomography revealed a well-enhanced soft tissue mass about 4 x 4 x 3 cm in size in the left buccal area. Group III embryonal type congenital rhabdomyosarcoma was diagnosed after biopsy (gross removal was not feasible). Respiratory distress exacerbated due to rapid tumor growth compressing airway with the result that endotracheal tube had to be intubated. Chemotherapy was done and complicated by two episodes of neutropenic fever and sepsis. Radiotherapy was suggested but refused by the family. Tumor size was slightly reduced and endotracheal tube could be removed four months later. She was taken home under regular chemotherapy. Radiotherapy, was, however, clearly indicated.

Female↗

PubMed2001

[Isolated purulent arthritis of lumbar facet joint].

We present the case of a 51-year-old woman suffering from septic arthritis of a lumbar facet joint, which was probably caused by an infected central venous catheter. Increased uptake on the bone scintigraphy was an early finding. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine contributed to the diagnosis by showing lesions of the facet joint and involvement of the surrounding soft tissues. Percutaneous needle aspiration guided by computed tomography established a bacteriological diagnosis. The positive response to antibiotic therapy was confirmed by MRI.

Arthritis, Infectious↗

PubMed2002

Metastatic breast cancer to 4 eyelids: a clinicopathologic report.

A 47-year-old woman presented complaining of progressive, painless swelling of all 4 eyelids for 6 weeks. Her medical history was significant for breast cancer 14 months prior. Examination results showed a diffuse, firm thickening of all 4 eyelids with mild erythema of the overlying skin. Orbital computer tomography revealed extensive preseptal infiltration of soft tissue of all 4 eyelids, which enhanced with contrast. Results of a bilateral biopsy of the upper eyelids demonstrated extensive infiltration of the orbicularis muscle. Histologic features were consistent with metastatic breast cancer. Results of both the primary breast cancer biopsy taken 14 months previously and the eyelid biopsies were the same histologic type. Presentation of metastatic breast cancer to the eyelids is rare, but a recurrence must be considered in any patient with a history of breast cancer, despite the length of tumor-free survival. Bilateral involvement should not exclude metastases from diagnostic consideration, but rather, the diagnosis requires a high degree of clinical suspicion and recognition of the various cutaneous forms.

Breast Neoplasms↗

PubMed2003

Balance platform: mathematical modeling for clinical evaluation.

This study describes from a technological and mathematical point of view a systematic method for daily patient equilibrium evaluation during clinical work. We present the hardware commonly used for center-of-gravity determination and the basic tasks of the soft ware that runs in a personal computer, including an original procedure for rehabilitation measure. Using a simple approach, the method allows quantification of amelioration of the patient's condition and provides very useful (and, in practice, effective) distribution percent ages for visual, somatosensory, and vestibular contributions to stability or sensory equilibrium organization.

Gravitation↗

PubMed2004

[Primary malignant lymphoma of the ureter: a case report].

A 58-year-old man who had right hydronephrosis pointed out by medical checkup visited our hospital. Computed tomography and retrograde pyelography revealed a soft tissue mass in the middle portion of the right ureter. Urine cytology specimen from the right ureter suggested transitional cell carcinoma. Under the diagnosis of right ureteral cancer, we performed right total nephro-ureterectomy, partial cystectomy. The histopathological examination showed non-Hodgkin lymphoma (large B-cell type) of the ureter. Our diagnosis was Clinical Stage IE of the Ann Arbor Classification. The patient received only the first course of systemic chemotherapy (THP-cop), because he suffered severe thrombocytopenia in the course of the chemotherapy. No recurrence was found for 15 months after operation, and at present he is disease-free.

Humans↗

PubMed1989

Radiographic evaluation of osteomyelitis using magnetic resonance imaging.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the newest evaluation procedure to be applied to the identification and study of osteomyelitis. MRI offers the sensitivity of scintigraphy but with far greater resolution. The differentiation of cellulitis from osteomyelitis can be made with greater accuracy than with scintigrams and MRI allows the identification of abscesses, sinus tracts, sequestra, and soft tissue abscesses with the reliability of computed tomography. Areas adjacent to metallic fixation devices show some signal loss but the distortion is less than with computed tomography. There is no risk to the patient caused by imaging with the fixation devices in place. The major problem in MRI use today is its relatively high cost, although it is less expensive than the combination of nuclear medicine studies often employed for the study of osteomyelitis.

Humans↗