ABSTRACT
An estimated ratio (i.e., 1 in 10) babies are born too early every year. Roughly 1 million children die each year due to impediments raised pertaining to preterm birth. One such extreme preterm male baby was presented in the neonatal care unit with respiratory distress and grunting. Baby was confirmed to have ventricular septal defect along with patent ductus arteriosus and craniosynostosis which was treated with medications and surgical managements. He was also engaged with various prophylactic and empirical antibiotic therapies to cover the microbial growth. The most disturbing stage here was the appearance of liver mass sizing 5.8 cm × 1.3 cm accompanied with area of necrosis, diagnosed with hepatoblastoma which was evident with the aid of ultrasound. Hence, chemotherapy was commenced which was in accordance with Societe Internationale d Oncologie Pediatrique Epithelial Liver Tumor Study Group-3. Although the existing comorbidities haunted the baby for a long time, he finally made it successfully to get into track by fighting all the hurdles bravely, which was a sheer miracle. Along with the clinicians/surgeons, we Clinical Pharmacists worked hand in hand to ensure the baby to be receiving optimized drug regimen keeping in mind the risk-benefit ratio.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Occipital condyles are two bony elevations present on either side of foramen magnum in the baseof the skull which articulates with the superior articular facet of the atlas vertebra, connecting the skull with thevertebral column.Objectives: Morphometric analysis of occipital condyles is important for the neuro-surgeons operating for thepathology like degenerative changes of the condyles, neoplasms, and trauma. So the aim of the study wasmorphometric analysis of the occipital condyles and observe any morphological variations of it.Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 60 occipital condyles of 30 dry adult skulls. Length,breadth, height, intercondylar distance were measured. Relations of hypoglossal canal with the condyles werenoted.Results: The mean length, width and height of occipital condyle were found to be 1.99± 0.33 (right), 2.23 ± 0.33(left), 1.31± 0.28(right) 1.37±0.27 (left), 0.62± 0.17(right) and 0.62± 0.14cm (left), respectively. The mean anteriorintercondylar distance and posterior intercondylar distance were measured as 1.95± 0.34and 3.66± 0.28 cm,respectively. Variations of shape of occipital condyle were kidney like (30%), S-like (23.33%), triangular (16.67%)oval (10.0%), eight like (16.7%) and bipartite condyles (3.33%) respectively. The hypoglossal canal was presentrelated to anterior 1/3 of the occipital condyles in 73.33% case.Conclusions: The shape and morphometric values of occipital condyles are variable. So the knowledge of thesevariations may guide neurosurgeons in transcondylar approach in the management of neoplasms and otherpathology related to this region.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:Diagnostic imaging is an integral aspect of care that is often insufficient, if not altogether absent, in rural and remote regions of low to middle income countries (LMICs) such as Tanzania. The introduction of ultrasound can significantly impact treatment in these countries due to its portability, low cost, safety, and usefulness in various medical assessments. This study reviews the implementation of a four-week ultrasound course administered annually from 2013–2016 in a healthcare professional school in Mwanza, Tanzania by first-year allopathic US medical students. METHODS:Participants (n=582, over 4 years) were recruited from the Tandabui Institute of Health Sciences and Technology to take the ultrasound course. Subjects were predominantly clinical officer students, but other participants included other healthcare professional students, practicing healthcare professionals, and school employees. Data collected includes pre-course examination scores, post-course examination scores, course quiz scores, demographic surveys, and post-course feedback surveys. Data was analyzed using two-tailed t-tests and the single factor analysis of variance (ANOVA). RESULTS:For all participants who completed both the pre- and post-course examinations (n=229, 39.1％ of the total recruited), there was a significant mean improvement in their ultrasound knowledge of 42.5％, P<0.01. CONCLUSION:Our data suggests that trained first-year medical students can effectively teach a point of care ultrasound course to healthcare professional students within four weeks in Tanzania. Future investigation into the level of long-term knowledge retention, impact of ultrasound training on knowledge of human anatomy and diagnostic capabilities, and how expansion of an ultrasound curriculum has impacted access to care in rural Tanzania is warranted.