Neurogenic appendicopathy: A rare differential diagnosis of acute appendicitis.

AIM OF THE STUDY: In histologically non-inflamed but clinically suspect appendices, changes described as neurogenic appendicopathy with fibrous or fibrolipomatous obliterations can be observed. The purpose of this study was to analyse the incidence of these entities of the appendix in a longitudinal patient cohort. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective single-centre study of 457 patients undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy from 2017 to 2020 due to suspected acute appendicitis. RESULTS: In 72 patients (15.8%) with clinically suspected acute appendicitis, the appendix showed no distinct signs of acute inflammation during the procedure. In 43 patients, histological analysis revealed neurogenic appendicopathy or fibrous and fibrolipomatous obliteration. Female gender (P=0.088), younger age (P<0.0001), longer pain duration (P<0.0001) and repetitive pain episodes were more frequent in these patients than in those with acute appendicitis. Inflammation markers were also decreased in the group of patients with neurogenic appendicopathy (leukocytes 9.8±3.5 vs. 13.0±4.5 G/L and C-reactive protein 38.7±60.7 vs. 59.4±70.5mg/L). CONCLUSION: Neurogenic appendicopathy with fibrous/fibrolipomatous obliteration is a differential diagnosis of acute appendicitis that can only be confirmed by pathology. Female gender, young age, prolonged duration with repetitive episodes of pain, and relatively low inflammatory markers are evocative of this diagnosis.

CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite single crystals: surface photophysics and their interaction with the environment.

Here we identify structural inhomogeneity on a micrometer scale across the surface of a CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite single crystal. At the crystal edge a local distortion of the crystal lattice is responsible for a widening of the optical bandgap and faster photo-carrier recombination. These effects are inherently present at the edge of the crystal, and further enhanced upon water intercalation, as a preliminary step in the hydration of the perovskite material.

Influence of dietary fat and cholesterol on milk lipids and on cholesterol metabolism in the rat.

The experimental basis for a hypothesis of Reiser and Sidelman (J. Nutr. 102: 1009, 1972) that cholesterol intake early in life is inversely related to an animal's subsequent hypercholesterolemic response to dietary cholesterol was tested. Female rats (seven per group) were fed either a stock diet (group 1), a semisynthetic diet with 15% lard (group 2) or the semisynthetic diet with 15% lard and 1.5% cholesterol (group 3) from day 18 of gestation and during lactation. Plasma cholesterol concentration during lactation was significantly higher in group 3 dams, but there were no significant effects of maternal diet on milk cholesterol or triglyceride concentration. Pups had access to the dams' diet until weaning at 30 days of age. Plasma and liver cholesterol concentrations at weaning were significantly higher in pups from group 3 dams than in those from the other groups. All pups were fed a semisynthetic diet containing 10% lard and 0.5% cholesterol from 60 to 161 days of age. Plasma cholesterol concentration during this time was significantly lower in male pups from group 1 dams than in those from other dams. Plasma cholesterol concentration in female pups showed a similar trend and was, on the average, significantly higher in females than males. Pup liver cholesterol concentration after weaning was not significantly influenced by maternal diet. Thus, these data do not support the hypothesis that cholesterol intake in early life is inversely correlated with subsequent response to dietary induced hypercholesterolemia.