Objective: To investigate the clinical, laboratory and histological manifestations of patients who received illegal injections of foreign substances for cosmetic purposes. Patients and methods: We studied patients who met the following inclusion criteria: 1) history of application of foreign substances for cosmetic purposes, 2) clinical data of autoimmune disease or ...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of the polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) activity score (PMR-AS) in guiding adjustment of glucocorticoid (GC) dosage. METHODS: Rheumatologists prospectively included patients receiving GC therapy for PMR. At each visit, they assessed disease activity using a visual analog scale for physician's global assessment (VASph) and recorded whether ...

The constituents of Nigella sativa modulate the immune system. The aim of the present work was to study the effectiveness of Nigella sativa oil in RA patients. Data from 40 female RA patients diagnosed according to the 2010 ACR/EULAR were analysed and discussed. The patients took two placebo (starch filled) ...

Context: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasingly prevalent in Egypt, in parallel with increasing obesity. NAFLD can lead to liver inflammation, fibrosis and cirrhosis. NAFLD appears tightly linked with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Objective: Examine the impact of dietary fish oil on human patients with MetS and NAFLD. Materials and ...

OBJECTIVES AND BACKGROUND: Glasgow coma scale (GCS) is considered an important parameter to predict the clinical outcome in head injury; however, in some cases such as the use of sedative drugs the estimate of GCS would not be precise. Bispectral index (BIS) is an electrophysiological parameter to determine the clinical ...

To assess the patterns of dietary (DS) and herbal supplement (HS) use in MS patients, compare use between MS patients and healthy controls and to identify potential interactions with drugs used to treat MS. This study included 279 MS subjects and 161 controls from a study of risk factors in ...

An epileptic seizure is reported in a 38-year-old woman, known to be an epileptic patient. Although she was under antiepileptic treatment and had well-controlled epilepsy, she developed a typical generalised tonic-clonic seizure and remained unconscious for 45 minutes following ingestion of a number of cakes containing an unknown quantity of ...

This study aimed to test whether type 1 myotonic dystrophy (DM1) patients who have a lower sensitivity to emotional facial expressions have an abnormal olfactory threshold or recognition level. We measured DM1 patients' performances in an olfactory acuity test and respiratory responses to odor stimuli, and compared their results to ...

To evaluate a new variable stiffness duodenoscope. Variable stiffness colonoscopies have been in use for nearly a decade. We report the initial experience with a new, variable stiffness duodenoscope for use during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Retrospective, single tertiary referral academic center. Among the first 50 patients to undergo ERCP ...

Patients treated with haemodialysis are at high risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) often caused by arrhythmias. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is frequent among haemodialysis patients and is associated with increased mortality. Prolonged QTc is a risk marker of ventricular arrhythmia and is thereby associated with SCD. Studies have suggested that ...

Steroid responsive biliary strictures in patients fulfilling criteria for primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) have been reported. The clinical course and response to therapy in patients with PSC with elevated immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) levels has not been investigated previously. Patients with PSC were screened for IgG4-related biliary disease during 2006 to ...

Ascitic fluid infections (AFIs) are the frequent complications of advanced liver disease. Bacterial translocation is considered a key step in the pathogenesis of gut-derived bacterial infections; mainly spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) in cirrhotic patients. Bacterial DNA (bactDNA) in ascitic fluid and serum has been suggested as a surrogate marker for ...

This cross-sectional study describes the characteristics of patients with an abnormal Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) in the prehospital setting. We reviewed existing prehospital care reports (PCRs) in the San Mateo County, California, emergency medical services (EMS) database from January 1 to December 31, 2007. Adults age 18 or greater with ...

Background and aims: Bacterial DNA (bactDNA) has been found in serum and ascitic fluid (AF) of 30-40% of hospitalized patients with cirrhosis and non-neutrocytic ascites, but its prevalence in outpatients is unknown. The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the presence of bactDNA in AF and serum among ...

Densiron(®) 68 is a high-density liquid used to tamponade inferior retinal detachments. We present a case series of 12 patients treated with Densiron as an intraocular tamponade agent. A retrospective analysis of 12 eyes in 12 patients was carried out. The primary endpoint was anatomic reattachment of the retina following ...

PURPOSE: Peritoneal venous shunts (PVSs) are widely used for palliating symptoms of refractory malignant ascites and are recognized as one of the practical methods. However, reliable clinical data are insufficient because most previous reports have been small studies from single centers. We conducted a retrospective, multicenter study to evaluate the ...

This study aimed to determine the clinical characteristics of immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-associated sclerosing cholangitis (ISC) and provide clinical clues differentiating ISC from primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) or hilar cholangiocarcinoma (CCC). Sixteen patients with ISC manifesting as hilar/intrahepatic strictures were analyzed for clinical characteristics and compared with patients with PSC and ...

Pancreaticobiliary reflux is a pathologic phenomenon occurring in patients with gallstones. However, the occurrence of pancreaticobiliary reflux has not been studied in patients without gallstones. The objective of the present study was to measure the bile levels of amylase and lipase in patients without gallstones submitted to cholecystectomy as part ...

Study Type - Therapy (case series) Level of Evidence 4 • To investigate a new method of vas deferens radiography for ejaculatory duct obstruction (EDO). • To evaluate the effect of a procedure involving dilation of the ejaculatory duct by F9 seminal vesicoscopy. • Twenty-two patients with EDO were diagnosed using semen analysis, semen ...

To perform a retrospective evaluation of a new treatment for obstructive meibomian gland dysfunction (O-MGD) using invasive orifice penetration and intraductal probing. Office-based ophthalmology private practice. Medical charts of 25 consecutive patients with O-MGD (based on presence of lid margin or tarsal hyperemia, lid margin telangiectasia, thickening or irregularity, and ...

To study the pathophysiological significance of gallbladder volume (GBV) and ejection fraction changes in gallstone patients. The fasting GBV of gallstone patients with acute cholecystitis (n = 99), chronic cholecystitis (n = 85) and non-gallstone disease (n = 240) were measured by preoperative computed tomography. Direct saline injection measurements of ...

IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis (IgG4-SC) needs to be differentiated from primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). In this study, we performed a retrospective study to reveal cases in which liver needle biopsy was useful for differential diagnosis. Nineteen patients with IgG4-SC and 22 patients with PSC were studied. All patients underwent endoscopic retrograde ...

Access through the superior calix for percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) often breaches the diaphragm and is believed to have greater complications than access through other calices. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of a superior caliceal access in pediatric patients who were undergoing PCNL. Operative and recovery data for pediatric patients ...

PURPOSE: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) for detection of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) in patients with biochemical cholestasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two reviewers searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and other electronic databases to identify prospective studies in which MRCP was evaluated and compared with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography ...

Renal colic caused by ureteral stone is commonly encountered in the emergency department (ED). This study was designed to measure meridian electrical conductance of patients with ureteral stone in emergency settings. A cohort of patients who had ureteral calculus and acute renal colic and who had visited the ED was ...

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) has a poor prognosis and its aetiology is inadequately understood. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) of bile may provide insights into the pathogenesis of CCA and help identify novel diagnostic biomarkers. The aim of this study was to compare the chemical composition of bile from patients with CCA with ...

The aim of the present study was to determine the rate of early-onset biliary atresia (BA) and its implications, for embryonic-type BA in Taiwan, a high-prevalence area for BA. The relationship between the timing of disease onset and congenital extrahepatic anomalies was also identified. Medical records of 130 infants born ...

PURPOSE: To observe morphologic changes of meibomian glands in patients with and without perennial allergic conjunctivitis (AC) and to assess the relation between morphologic changes of the meibomian glands of both eyelids and tear film parameters. METHODS: In this study, 55 eyes of 55 patients with perennial AC and 47 ...

Pediatric urolithiasis is an endemic disease in Turkey. We evaluated the clinical, radiological and metabolic features of children with urolithiasis in Western Turkey. We retrospectively reviewed the records of 85 children with urolithiasis who were followed-up between 2004 and 2010 in Pediatric Nephrology Department of Celal Bayar University, Manisa. The ...

Primary hyperparathyroidism (HPT) is a common cause of urolithiasis. Only a few data are available on stone composition and morphology in HPT patients. We compared the composition and morphology of stones from 264 HPT patients (143 males and 121 females) and 24 567 non-HPT stone formers (16 918 males and 7649 females) ...

Endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) is a standard procedure for the removal of bile duct stones. However, additional EST may increase the risk of bleeding and perforation in patients with prior EST. Endoscopic papillary large balloon dilation (EPLBD) can be an alternative method for removing recurrent common bile duct stones with lower ...

Little information is available to guide clinicians on the optimal approach to managing obstructive jaundice in lymphoma patients. The aim of this study was to review our experience in treating lymphoma patients with obstructive jaundice in order to develop guidelines as to the best interventional approach. We reviewed the medical ...

Acute acalculous cholecystitis (ACC) can develop with or without gallstones after surgery and in critically ill or injured patients. Diabetes mellitus, malignant disease, abdominal vasculitis, congestive heart failure, cholesterol embolization, shock, and cardiac arrest also have been associated with AAC. The pathogenesis of AAC is complex and multifactorial. Ultrasound of ...

The purpose of this study was to analyze the records of patients diagnosed with essential hypertension using association rule mining (ARM). Patients with essential hypertension (ICD code, I10) were extracted from a hospital's data warehouse and a data mart constructed for analysis. Apriori modeling of the ARM method and web ...

PURPOSE: We aim to evaluate the outcome of flexible ureterorenoscopy (F-URS) with a holmium laser in managing stone-bearing caliceal diverticula as a minimally invasive option. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 38 patients who underwent F-URS using a holmium laser from 2003 to 2009 for symptomatic stone-bearing ...

The aims of this study were to investigate the predictive value of an elevated level of alanine transaminase (ALT) for biliary acute pancreatitis (AP) and to reconsider the role of abdominal ultrasound (AUS). All patients admitted to Christchurch Public Hospital with AP between July 2005 and December 2008 were identified ...

Establish the prevalence of Helicobacter spp in chronic cholecystitis and its correlation with the gallbladder's histological findings. 100 patients were operated for chronic cholecystitis with cholecystolithiasis. In pathological examination of the gallbladder, were evaluated the presence of metaplasia, dysplasia, lymphoid follicles, anaplasia and tumors that might be related to the ...

BACKGROUND: As many patients with gallstone disease do not benefit from cholecystectomy, preoperative recognition of such high-risk patients is important. The aim of the study is to identify predictors of persisting symptoms at 6 months after cholecystectomy for patients with different preoperative symptomatology. METHOD: Participants in this prospective study were ...

Controversy remains over the imaging method of choice for evaluating acute pyelonephritis (APN) in the emergency department (ED). The aim of the study was to determine the efficacy of ultrasound in the diagnosis and management of patients presented to the ED with APN. This was a retrospective study of prospectively ...

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical/pathological outcomes of patients that underwent surgery for gallbladder adenomyomatosis, to clarify the characteristics of the type and pathogenesis of adenomyomatosis. METHODOLOGY: From May 1997 to March 2008, 4704 consecutive patients underwent cholecystectomy at Ajou University Medical Center. Among them, ...

Acute calculous cholecystitis is a condition in which the gallbladder becomes inflamed due to cholelithiasis. Early diagnosis reduces both mortality and morbidity. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the diagnostic value of the Tokyo guidelines in patients with acute cholecystitis. The medical records of patients admitted for ...

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter bilis is considered to be a causative factor in the pathogenesis of biliary cancer. This study investigated the prevalence of H. bilis colonization of the biliary system of patients with pancreaticobiliary maljunction (PBM). METHODS: Bile juice and biliary tissue samples were collected from 17 patients with PBM and ...

Bile acid malabsorption (BAM) is never life threatening but can cause chronic symptoms. A survey of senior British gastroenterologists was conducted to examine their approach to patients with potential BAM. Of the 706 gastroenterologists contacted, 62% replied. Gastroenterologists see on average 500 new patients in clinic annually; 34% have chronic ...

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The knowledge of natural history is essential for disease management. We evaluated the natural history (e.g. frequency and characteristics of symptoms and clinical outcome) of gallstones (GS) in a population-based cohort study. METHODS: A total of 11 229 subjects (6610 men, 4619 women, age-range: 29-69 years, mean ...

HISTORY: Three unrelated patients presented within three months at the Central Hospital of Augsburg, Southern Germany, with jaundice of initially unknown etiology. Patient (Pt.) 1, a 51-year old man was admitted with a history of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice and anuria. Pt. 2 was a 58-year-old man who had fever ...

The purpose of this study was to determine transit times for excretion of Gd-EOB-DTPA into different segments of the hepatobiliary system in patients with normal liver function. This retrospective study was IRB approved with a waiver of consent granted. 61 patients (39 female, 22 male, mean age 52.5 years) with ...

BACKGROUND: Sonographic demonstration of extramural and intrapancreatic junction of the pancreatic and bile ducts, pathognomonic for pancreatico-biliary maljunction (PBM), is not easy in pediatric patients. We measured sonographic thickness of the gallbladder (GB) and retrospectively examined correlation of it with PBM. METHODS: Twenty-seven children with PBM were examined with conventional ...

BACKGROUND: Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is an inflammatory disease of the bile ducts with an unknown etiology. A number of autoantigens have been proposed, but an early diagnostic marker is still lacking. Our aim was to identify such an autoantigen. METHODS: Immunostaining was performed on normal human bile duct with ...

PURPOSE: To revisit and reintroduce sialography as an important tool for the assessment and diagnosis of salivary gland obstruction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A sample of 30 consecutive patients undergoing sialography was selected. Parotid sialography was performed in 22 patients (12 females and 10 males). The patients undergoing parotid sialography presented ...

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine if the degree of hydronephrosis on focused emergency renal ultrasound correlates with kidney stone size on computed tomography. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed on all adult patients in the emergency department who had a focused emergency renal ultrasound and ureterolithiasis ...