An extremely rare case of classic complete caudal duplication: Dipygus.

Dipygus is a complete caudal duplication deformity in its severest form. The structures derived from the embryonic cloaca and notochords are duplicated to various extent. We report a male baby who presented to us with complete somatic and visceral duplication below the umbilical level associated with gastroschisis and imperforated anus. Staged surgical corrections were suggested and three out of the four stages were performed successfully.

A new lung cancer biomarker--a preliminary report.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate a unique biomarker from the blood plasma and sputum of lung cancer patients based on native fluorescence analysis of body fluids. BACKGROUND: Conventionally, biomarkers indicative of malignancy are identified by biochemical or biophysical processes. Most of the cancer biomarkers, often useful in monitoring disease progression, have sensitivity and specificity in the range of 60%. METHODS: We employed synchronous fluorescence excitation spectroscopy (SFXS) and fluorescence emission spectroscopy for the native fluorescence analysis of blood plasma of 32 normal controls, 32 patients with lung cancer, and 32 patients with other types of cancer. RESULTS: Based on the native fluorescence analysis of blood plasma and sputum, we found that the structural protein elastin, with an excitation peak at 327 nm and an emission peak at 405 nm, is an exclusive biomarker for lung carcinoma with 77% sensitivity and 83% specificity from plasma alone, 92.3% sensitivity and 100% specificity from plasma acetone extract alone, and 66% sensitivity and 100% specificity from sputum alone. CONCLUSION: In this preliminary report with a limited number of lung cancer patients, we have used SFXS of plasma and sputa as the basis for a new technique identifying elastin as an exclusive lung cancer biomarker. This technique has the potential to become a new protocol for rapid and cost-effective screening and diagnosis of lung cancer.

Pneumomediastinum, pneumothorax, and subcutaneous emphysema due to duodenal ulcer.

The presence of pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, or cervical subcutaneous emphysema due to perforated duodenal ulcer is a rare presentation. We report a 23-year-man who showed bilateral cervical subcutaneous emphysema, pneumomediastinum, and pneumothorax with no respiratory abnormality. He was found to have active duodenal ulcers, but no detectable pneumoperitoneum or duodenal leak. A sealed perforation from the duodenal ulcers was suspected, and he fully improved after conservative management.