Comparison of chest CT scan findings between COVID-19 and pulmonary contusion in trauma patients based on RSNA criteria: Established novel criteria for trauma victims / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

PROPOSE@#In this study, we re-assessed the criteria defined by the radiological society of North America (RSNA) to determine novel radiological findings helping the physicians differentiating COVID-19 from pulmonary contusion.@*METHODS@#All trauma patients with blunt chest wall trauma and subsequent pulmonary contusion, COVID-19-related signs and symptoms before the trauma were enrolled in this retrospective study from February to May 2020. Included patients (Group P) were then classified into two groups based on polymerase chain reaction tests (Group Pa for positive patients and Pb for negative ones). Moreover, 44 patients from the pre-pandemic period (Group PP) were enrolled. They were matched to Group P regarding age, sex, and trauma-related scores. Two radiologists blindly reviewed the CT images of all enrolled patients according to criteria defined by the RSNA criteria. The radiological findings were compared between Group P and Group PP; statistically significant ones were re-evaluated between Group Pa and Group Pb thereafter. Finally, the sensitivity and specificity of each significant findings were calculated. The Chi-square test was used to compare the radiological findings between Group P and Group PP.@*RESULTS@#In the Group PP, 73.7% of all ground-glass opacities (GGOs) and 80% of all multiple bilateral GGOs were detected (p < 0.001 and p = 0.25, respectively). Single bilateral GGOs were only seen among the Group PP. The Chi-square tests showed that the prevalence of diffused GGOs, multiple unilateral GGOs, multiple consolidations, and multiple bilateral consolidations were significantly higher in the Group P (p = 0.001, 0.01, 0.003, and 0.003, respectively). However, GGOs with irregular borders and single consolidations were more significant among the Group PP (p = 0.01 and 0.003, respectively). Of note, reticular distortions and subpleural spares were exclusively detected in the Group PP.@*CONCLUSION@#We concluded that the criteria set by RSNA for the diagnosis of COVID-19 are not appropriate in trauma patients. The clinical signs and symptoms are not always useful either. The presence of multiple unilateral GGOs, diffused GGOs, and multiple bilateral consolidations favor COVID-19 with 88%, 97.62%, and 77.7% diagnostic accuracy.

Exposure of neonatal mice to Sevoflurane may induce male germ cell apoptosis in testicular tissue after puberty

Background: common use of sevoflurane in congenital defects during repeated surgeries may have detrimental effects on spermatogenesis after puberty

Objective: this study investigated sevoflurane effects on spermatogenesis process in male mature mice after exposure in prepubertal time

Materials and Methods: 24 neonatal NMRI male mice were randomly classified in three groups. Experimental 1 and 2 groups [exposure to 1 minimum alveolar concentration [MAC] and 2 MAC sevoflurane, respectively in 2 lit/min oxygen [O[2]] for 7 days [30 min, daily] and control. All groups were sacrificed after 2 months. Histological assessment, immunohistochemistry and apoptosis process was done. Bax and Bcl2 expression was evaluated in the testicular tissue by real time Poly Chain Reaction

Results: our results showed that the integrity of testicular tissue was preserved in both experimental groups. Count of spermatogonial cells had significant decrease in group 2 compared to others. The rate of apoptosis in spermatogonial cells was 15+/-3% and 9+/-2% in the group 2 and 1, respectively. Also, Bax/Bcl[2] ratio was 0.2615, 1.0070 and 9.3657 in control, experimental group 1 and 2, respectively. This result was significant [p

Conclusion: continuous exposure of 2 MAC sevoflurane in 2 lit/min O[2] simultaneous during prepubertal may create more testicular tissue damage in terms of cellular and molecular function compared to continuous exposure to lower level of sevoflurane by increase in ratio of Bax/Bcl[2] and apoptosis in germ cells after puberty

In vitro development of embryos from experimentally Kerack-addicted Mice

Background: Prenatal drug exposure, as a common public health concern, is associated with an increased risk of adverse effects on early embryo development

Objective: To investigate the in vitro development of - embryo from experimentally Kerack-addicted mice

Materials and Methods: Twenty-five female mice were studied in five groups: control, vehicle, and three experimental groups of Kerack-dependent mice [I, II, and III] which received different doses of Kerack for 14 days. After the establishment of addiction model [7 days], experimental groups I, II, and III were given Kerack intraperitoneally at the doses of 5, 35, and 70 mg/kg, twice a day for a period of 7 days, respectively. The vehicle group received normal saline and lemon juice whilst the control group just received water and food. Morulae were obtained through oviduct flashing. The survived embryos were cultured in T6+ 5mg/ml bovine serum albumin. The developmental rates up to hatched stage daily and embryo quality [differential staining and Tunnel staining] were also assessed

Results: The developmental potential of embryos obtained from the addicted mother was significantly decreased in comparison with control group. There was a significant reduction in the rate of blastocyst formation in the high dose Kerack dependent group. However, in addicted mice there was reduction in the total cell number [40.92% vs. 65.08% in control] and, inner cell mass percentage [17.17% vs. 26.15% in control] while apoptotic cells numbers were increased [7.17 vs. 1.46 in control] [p<0.05]

Conclusion: The Kerack addiction during pregnancy retards preimplantation development and induces apoptosis

case report: rare communication of Ansa Cervicalis

During the past few years, researchers and practitioners have developed novel techniques, using ansa cervicalis to innervate muscles of the larynx paralyzed due to surgical procedures carried out in the chest and neck areas. During routine dissection of a middle-age male cadaver, an unusual course of the superior root of the ansa cervicalis was observed. In this case, the superior root of the ansa cervicalis fused with the vagus and ran within the carotid sheath, and then joined the inferior root forming the ansa cervicalis in the anterior wall of the carotid sheath. The study of this case will add to our current knowledge of ansa cervicalis and thus aid prevention of injury to the nerve during various surgical procedures

Clinical assessment of malnutrition in patients with gastrointestinal cancer during chemotherapy: a prospective study

Background: Malnutrition is common in patients with cancer and in many cases can result in shortened survival rate. More than 20% of cancer mortality can be attributed to the effects of malnutrition, rather than malignancy itself. Malnutrition results in poor response to treatment, increased length of hospital stay, immunodeficiency, reduced quality of life, and increased health care costs in patients with cancer

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the nutritional status of patients with gastrointestinal cancer during chemotherapy

Patients and Methods: In this study, 92 patients over the age of 18 who were referred to Valie-e-Asr hospital of Zanjan [since Apr, 2011 to Dec, 2011] were selected. Nutritional status of patients during 3 cycles of chemotherapy was assessed by a questionnaire. The obtained data were statistically analyzed by ANOVA, using SPSS 16.0

Results: There was a significant relationship between duration of treatment and the average of mid arm circumference [MAC] and body mass index [BMI]. BMI can be considered as an anthropometric index which can be used to alarm the physicians about nutrition problems of the patient

Conclusions: At the end of treatment, patients who survived had better nutritional statuses compared to the ones who passed away. During chemotherapy, malnutrition got worse in patients with metastatic esophageal cancer. Our findings show that patients with moderate or severe malnutrition are in the critical need to improve their malnutrition status

effect of melatonin on maturation, glutathione level and expression of HMGB1 gene in brilliant cresyl blue [BCB] stained immature oocyte

Nutrients and antioxidants in the medium of immature oocyte have a profound effect on maturation, fertilization and development of resulting embryos. In this study the effects of melatonin as an antioxidant agent on maturation, glutathione level and expression of high mobility group box-1 [HMGB1] gene were evaluated in immature oocytes of mice stained with brilliant cresyl blue [BCB]. In this experimental study, immature oocytes were harvested from ovaries of Naval Medical Research Institute [NMRI] mice. Oocytes were stained with 26 Micro M BCB for 90 minutes and transferred to in vitro maturation medium containing varying doses of melatonin [10[-12], 10[-9], 10[-6], 10[-3] M] and without melatonin, for 22-24 hours. Maturation was monitored using an inverted microscope. Glutathione was assessed by monochlorobimane [MCB] staining and HMGB1 expression in mature oocyte was analyzed using real-time polymerase chain reaction [PCR]. Melatonin in the concentration of 10[-6] M had the most effect on maturation and HMGB1 expression of BCB+ oocytes [p<0.05]. Meanwhile melatonin had no effects on glutathione levels. Additionally in immature BCB- oocytes, compared to the control group, melatonin did not affect cytoplasm maturation [p>0.05]. In vitro treatment with melatonin increases the maturation and HMGB1 expression in BCB+ immature oocytes and has no significant effect on glutathione levels

[ effects of hydro-alcoholic extracts of aerial components of Teucrium polium on pressure ulcer healing process and tensile strength in Wistar rats]

Wound healing represents a dynamic physiological process influenced by many factors. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of hydro-alcoholic extracts of aerial components of Teucrium polium on the tensile strength in rat. Twelve Wistar rats were randomly divided into two equal [n= 6] treatment and control groups, pressure ulcer were made over the dorsal thoracic region according to the shyn model. Animals were treated with topical hydro-alcoholic extracts of aerial components of Teucrium polium twice a day post surgery until complete healing was achieved. Tensiometry were then studied. No significant difference in biomechanical parameters was observed among the ointment containing of extract 1%, vehicle and control groups. This study shows that topical application of Teucrium polium. Aerial components of Teucrium polium did not have any effect on healing of pressure ulcer in an animal model. Further studies are requiring for assessment of other extracts by different solvents of this plant on pressure ulcer wound healing