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LATE DIAGNOSIS OF POST-PARTUM COLORECTAL CANCER IN A YOUNG KAZAKH WOMAN
Full text linkIntroduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is generally expected among population above 60 years of age and rarely occurs in younger age groups. Its occurrence in young individuals is sporadic and has poor prognosis.Presentation of the case: A 24-year old woman, previously healthy, delivered her first child and subsequently developed pelvic problems. Despite multiple surgeries and diagnostic work-up, which included cross-sectional imaging, the patient’s diagnosis remained unknown. At the time of diagnosis with a colonoscopic evaluation, the patient was in the late stage of disease and died few months later.Conclusion: CRC should be in the differentials list in all patient cases, when suggestive symptoms present, regardless of age and other factors. Its association with pregnancy may obscure symptoms and delay the diagnosis
Bioaccumulation of heavy metals concentration in some selected cereals grown near illegal mine Sites at Poyentanga in Wa of the Upper West Region, Ghana
Full text linkThe contamination of cereals by heavy metals due to illegal mining activities in most farming communities has been a major challenge to food production in Ghana. The research is thus to examine bio-accumulation of heavy metals (Cadmium (Cd), Arsenic (As), Iron (Fe), Lead (Pd) and Zinc (Zn)) concentration in Maize and Millet grown near illegal mining sites at Poyentanga. The study area was divided into five farming zones (farm 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) and soil and crop samples were taken from each of the zones to the laboratory for analysis using the Atomic Absorption Spectrometer and the results compared to World Health Organization (WHO) permissible limits. The results indicate presence of the selected heavy metals in the cereals and soils sampled from the community. Cd, Pb and Fe concentrations in the cereals were found to be above the WHO permissible limits whereas As and Zn concentrations were below. The soil concentrations of all the five heavy metals were extremely below the WHO permissible limits. It was also observed that farms near the mining sites have higher concentrations with the concentration in the maize being lower than that of Millet. The contamination levels in both cereals are as follows: Zn As Fe Pb Cd. The bioaccumulation ratio indicated that Cd, As and Pb levels were higher in Millet whereas Fe and Zn were highest in the Maize. These results therefore show that the consumption of these cereals for a very long time could have adverse health effect on the community and an indication that activities of illegal mining could thus affect the quality and safety of food produced in many farming communities. The research was concluded with recommendations to improve agricultural activities in such communities
Rapidly Progressive Malignant Rhabdoid Tumor of the Omentum in an Adult. A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Full text linkIntroduction: Malignant Rhabdoid Tumors (MRT) are exceedingly rare neoplasms that characteristically occur in infants and children and sparsely develop in adults. Primary MRTs of the omentum are particularly rare.Presentation of Case: A previously healthy 24-year-old male who presented with progressive abdominal distention and nausea. Further investigations revealed ascites with multifocal omental-based tumors. Biopsy with immunohistochemistry demonstrated dually positive cells for cytokeratin and vimentin and loss of Integrase Interactor 1 (INI1), and Next generation sequencing showed a copy number loss of SMARCB1 which established the diagnosis of malignant rhabdoid tumor. The patient’s clinical course was characterized by rapid local and metastatic progression with subsequent clinical deterioration, and he expired within three weeks of his initial presentation.Conclusion: Herein we describe the clinical course, difficulty with diagnosis, and paucity of treatment options for a rare and very aggressive malignant tumor. The ideal treatment regimen for MRTs has yet to be elucidated and additional studies are required to discern therapies that offer benefit
Extra-skeletal Ewing’s Sarcoma of Caecum Causing Intussusception: First such Reported Case
Full text linkIntroduction: Ewing’s sarcoma is a tumor of primitive cells which primarily affects long bones. Extra-skeletal Ewing’s sarcoma has been rarely reported in small bowel. Its presentation can be varied but it is an extremely unlikely cause of an Ileo-Colic Intussusception as seen in present case.Case Presentation: A 32 years old male patient presented with symptoms suggestive of bowel obstruction. CT scan was suggestive of Ileo-colic intussusception. Patient underwent diagnostic laparoscopy and right hemicolectomy. Histopathology examination of specimen revealed Ewing sarcoma of colon.Conclusion: Extra-skeletal Ewing’s sarcoma is a rare entity. To the best of our knowledge this is the first reported case in English literature, of a Caecal Ewing’s sarcoma causing Intussusception. Further study of such cases may help in better understanding and establishing treatment protocol for this condition
Engineered Polymer and Nanodiamond
Full text linkNanodiamond possess several outstanding properties such as hardness, strength, Young’s modulus, heat stability, and thermal conductivity. Nanodiamond is stable and may offer a biocompatible interface. Due to high strength to weight ratio and low friction coefficient, these nanocomposites find applications in structural, tribological, engineering, and other sectors. Nanodiamond has large specific surface area to develop polymer-nanofiller interactions. Interphase has been developed in the vicinity of nanodiamond surface and polymer. The interphase holds great potential for obtaining high performance engineered nanocomposites. Polymer/nanodiamond nanocomposites have also been used to form multifunctional tissue scaffolds
Tuning the Band Gap Energy of Reduced Graphene Oxide Using Biopolymer Chitosan for High Power and Frequency Device Applications
Full text linkThere has been continued research to realize the potential of wide-bandgap (WBG) semiconductors for power switching applications since larger band gap allows higher power and temperature operation and the generation of more energetic (i.e. blue) photons. As compared to other semiconductor materials, reduced graphene oxide (rGO) has a low bandgap energy, which limits its application for high power semiconductors. Blending rGO with chitosan bio-polymer widens its bandgap, which can be tuned by controlling the amount of chitosan. In this study, the interplay between the resultant structure and opto-electronic properties of rGO obtained from coconut husks via thermal pyrolysis blended with chitosan from squid gladii have been systematically studied. We thus report that the optical band gap of rGO can be systematically controlled by careful addition of chitosan in their blend. This can give it a new application as high power semiconductors
The Role of Solvents’ Dielectric Constants in the Delicate Interplay between Microstructure and Optical Properties of Poly (3-Hexylthiophene) Thin Films
Full text linkIn order to gain a deeper understanding of the interplay between microstructure and functional properties of conducting polymers such as their optical behaviors, precise control of the structure formation methods of such polymers is of great importance. This work concerns the study of the role of solvents on the formation of different structures and how the resultant structural features affect the functional optical properties of a model Poly (3-hexylthiophene) conjugated system. Thin films of P3HT have been formed from solvents of different polarities and the structural features of the resultant films studied using optical microscopy and XRD technique. The photo-physical characteristics have been studied using UV-Vis spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. We report that the nature of polymer structure and thus the resultant optical properties greatly depend on the solvent polarity and their dielectric constants rather than their solubility power. We have asserted that the solvent polarities have their fingerprints in the resultant film crystallinities, grain sizes, optical photoluminescence and the optical band gaps and by extension on the opto-electronic device applications
Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposite: Toxicology Impact
Full text linkCarbon nanotube is an important new type of technological material with numerous advantageous properties. Carbon nanotube nanocomposites have found success in several material science applications. This review actually focused toxicological effects and standards for the use of carbon nanotube nanocomposites. Assessments of toxicological properties of inhaled nanomaterials, skin contacted, and ingested materials have mentioned their toxicity and safe use is warranted. Investigations have shown that the uncertainty of nature, mechanism, and exposure response of carbon nanotube nanocomposites may cause adverse effects. Functionalization and modification of nanoparticles must be concentrated for advance applications and may prevent oxidative stress and inflammation of organs
Anatomical Assessment of the Inferior Alveolar Canal and Anterior Loop and Measuring its Distance to Mental Foramen in Patients Referred to Radiology Clinics of Shiraz in 2017
Full text linkKnowledge about inferior alveolar canal (IAC) position is very important in dental surgical procedures of the mandible. It has a close relation to mandibular molar teeth. Anatomic imaging of the mandibular canal prior to surgical procedures, such as implant placement and sagittal split osteotomy, is essential for the best result and minimal complications.Purpose: The aim of this study is to determine normal variations of the mandibular canal and mental foramen in a selected population.Material and methods: A total of 668 high qualities CBCT images of edentulous and dentate patients aged from 15 to 75 were evaluated. CBCT projections were analyzed in different planes (tangential, cross-sectional, and axial). Bifid mandibular canal, presence of anterior loop, the level of cortication and mental foramen variations were identified in cross-sectional and axial views.Result: 668 images, 238 males and 430 females, were evaluated. Statistical analysis did not show a significant correlation between prevalence of bifid mandibular canal, anterior loop and mental foramen in both sides with age and sex (p0.05). A significant relationship was seen between right mandibular canal cortication and age (p=0.003). Anterior loop was detected in 90.5% of cases, and its length was 3.34 while accessory mandibular canal was observed in 4.6% of patients only.Conclusion: This study showed that there are numerous anatomical variations of the mandibular canal, mental foramen and anterior loop. Dentists should be familiar with these variations in order to prevent treatment complications and success of mandibular related dental procedures
A Rare Case of Metastatic Urachal Carcinoma
Full text linkUrachal carcinoma is a rare tumor, it represents about 0.5-1% of all bladder malignancies. In the majority of cases it is an adenocarcinoma. For the treatment it is recommended for resectable tumors, a partial cystectomy with resection of the urachal ligament, the bladder dome and umbilicus. There is no standard neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment, and the combinations of 5-fluoruracil with cisplatin are active in metastatic stage. A higher risk of relapse after surgery has been observed in some situations: positive margins, lymph node involvement, involvement of the peritoneal surface, or in the case of the umbilicus was not resected en-bloc