CHINESE STRING OF PEARLS POLICY AND INDIA'S SECURITY IMPLICATIONS

String of Pearls refers to the Chinese intention to establish a network in India Ocean Region (IOR) surrounding India. Each Pearl represents some form of permanent Chinese military installation in a series of locations along a String. Recent development of ports around India, in Gwadar, Hambantota, Sittwe on the Bay of Bengal Coast in Myanmar etc. are seen as part of a string of pearls. Although these are commercial ports, the fear is that these could be easily converted to Naval facilities in case of a conflict in India

Signo radiológico: las valiosas perlas del intestino delgado / The valuable pearls of the small intestine

The string of pearls sign can be seen in simple abdominal radiography and computed tomography as well. It consists of a row of small air bubbles longitudinally oriented in the abdomen. They represent small amounts of air trapped between valvulae conniventes along the non dependent wall of predominantly fluid-filled, dilated small bowel loops. This sign is considered virtually diagnostic of small bowel obstruction, which occurs whenever there is an intrinsic or extrinsic blockage of the normal flow of bowel contentand manifests as abdominal pain, distention, vomiting, and increased high-pitched bowel sounds. It is a potentially life threatening disease that requires urgent treatment. Duration of obstruction, vomiting frequency and gastric or enteric suction may affect radiographic appearance. It continues being hard to diagnose only based on simple radiography. Despite its low frequency, the string of pearls sign could be very valuable for radiologist, clinical physician and patient.

El signo del collar de perlas puede ser visto en radiografía simple de abdomen y en tomografía computada. Consiste en un conjunto de pequeñas burbujas dispuestas en forma longitudinal. Representan pequeños acúmulos de gas atrapados entre las válvulas conniventes de asas de intestino delgado dilatadas y predominantemente rellenas de líquido a lo largo de su pared no dependiente(1). Es considerado virtualmente diagnóstico de obstrucción intestinal, que ocurre cuando existe un bloqueo intrínseco o extrínseco al flujo normal del contenido intestinal que se manifiesta con dolor abdominal, distensión, vómitos, borborigmos y bazuqueo. Es una enfermedad potencialmente letal que requiere ser resuelta en forma urgente. La duración de la obstrucción, la frecuencia de los vómitos, y la aspiración del contenido gástrico o enteral pueden afectar la apariencia radiográfica. Continúa siendo difícil de diagnosticar solamente con radiografía simple de abdomen. Aunque es poco frecuente, el signo del collar de perlas es muy valioso para el radiólogo, el clínico y el paciente.