Heighten Science Publications Inc., USA
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Nephrotic syndrome in children during the COVID-19 pandemic
No full textThe COVID-19 pandemic resulted in public health measures and fewer viral infections, which trigger the nephrotic syndrome. Our objectives were to characterize the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on children with nephrotic syndrome. This single-center retrospective chart review compared children with nephrotic syndrome one year before the pandemic with the first wave of the pandemic. Epidemiologic events, clinical characteristics, and health care utilization were compared using paired t-tests, Fisher’s exact tests and Wilcoxon Rank Sum tests. Among 96 children the mean age was 10.7 ± 5.28 years. The distribution was minimal change disease (16.7%), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (12.5%), membranous nephropathy (1%) and not biopsied (69.8%). Medication responsiveness was steroid-sensitive (25%), frequently relapsed (54%) and steroid-resistant (20.8%). There were 14 new diagnoses of nephrotic syndrome pre-pandemic and 18 during the pandemic. Fewer relapses during the pandemic were likely due to fewer viral illnesses from public health measures during the pandemic
SARS-CoV-2 Omicron and centaurus variants induced lymphocytopenia: A multicenter clinical investigation on 118,561 cases across Pakistan during 2021-2022
No full textThe SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is still ongoing. Previously, several studies have been conducted to investigate laboratory markers as a tool for severity assessment during COVID-19 infections. Biological markers such as Platelet count, D-dimer and IL-6, Lymphocytopenia and others have been used for assessment of severity in COVID-19 disease patients (infected by SARS-CoV-2 Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon, and other variants). We observed a significant drop in lymphocyte count among suspected SARS-CoV-2 clinical patients with symptoms of fever, running nose, breathing discomfort, cough, and others during Omicron and Centaurus variants spread in Pakistan. A multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted from Jan 2021 to Aug 2022, on 118,561 subjects to evaluate hematological abnormalities among suspected patients. Of note, significantly decreased lymphocyte levels (lymphocytopenia) were observed among 43.05% of infected patients. Also, the levels of NA (39.03%), HGB (28.27%), MCV (22.62%), PLT (8.17%), and ALB (4.30%) were also reduced among infected patients. This suggests that lymphopenia can be used as an alternative, cost-effective, early diagnostic biomarker for clinical COVID-19 patients, even before the diagnosis via real-time PCR. In resource-limited countries, the current study is critical for policy-making strategic organizations for prioritizing lymphocytopenia-based screening (as an alternative, cost-effective diagnostic test) in clinical COVID-19 patients, before real-time PCR-based diagnosis
A surgical procedure for re-implanting a tooth that has been rendered hopeless because of periodontitis: a case report
No full textAim and methodology: This article describes a periodontally compromised, hopeless incisor tooth that was purposefully replanted, along with the results after six months. This entails the deliberate removal of the tooth and its subsequent correct manipulation and endodontic restoration before reinserting it into the socket.Results: Hopeless lower incisors with periodontal involvement were transplanted utilizing an implant surgical drilling approach after receiving root canal therapy and tetracycline-HCI conditioning. Bone graft material was added and the procedure was monitored for six months. The tooth was observed to be asymptomatic, functioning normally, and showing no pathologic radiological changes. With minimal bleeding during probing and no growth of pathological pockets, the periodontal condition was within normal limits. Alveolar bone support was seen to be adequate. The results may suggest that, in some circumstances, purposeful replantation is a viable strategy of treatment for maintaining native dentition.Conclusion: Intentional tooth reimplantation can be an alternative treatment option for periodontally involved teeth with poor or hopeless prognoses
Incidental discovery of a pancreatic lipoma: a case report
No full textPancreatic lipoma is a benign, mesenchymal-derived tumor. It is an uncommon entity that is rarely reported. The diagnosis is usually made on a CT scan or MRI. We present a case of a pancreatic lipoma incidentally discovered on imaging in a 53-years old patient presenting for acute cholecystitis
An update on the approaches of avoidance of propagation of chronic kidney disease resulting in reversal or possible need or avoidance of kidney transplantation - a systematic review
No full textChronic Kidney Disease (CKD) by definition is a disease characterized by irreversible elimination of renal function, which keeps propagating as corroborated by an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of < 60 ml/min/1.73m2, the constant existence of presentation which pointed to Kidney injury (proteinuria, active sediments of urine, histological injury, structural aberrations or prior history with regards to Kidney transplantation) or both that are persistent for greaterthan 3 mths [1]
Idiopathic ascites following caesarean section: A case report
No full textMs X is a 40-year-old gravida 12, para 2+9 woman, who was admitted for an elective caesarean section at 38 weeks gestation following the previous two caesarean sections. Ms X had abdominal distension and generalised abdominal tenderness in the postoperative period. On investigation, she was found to have an elevated white cell count (WCC), C - Reactive Protein (CRP) and creatinine with free fluid in the abdomen on imaging but there was no evidence of perforation of any visceral organ. Ms X was treated conservatively for sepsis, an Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) and post-operative ileus and her symptoms gradually resolved. This is a case of idiopathic ascites post caesarean delivery with no clear cause
Feasibility study of magnetic sensing for detecting single-neuron action potentials
No full textUnderstanding the magnitude of the local magnetic fields generated by neurons is critical to assessing the feasibility of novel magnetic field sensors to record in vivo neuronal activities at cellular resolution. However, the strength of the magnetic fields induced by individual neurons and neuronal networks has not been systematically studied. This step is critical for evaluating and benchmarking the ability of different magnetic field sensors to record neuronal activities with far better spatial and temporal resolution. Herein, FEM exemplary models and open-source computational libraries are used to calculate the magnetic fields generated by individual neurons and neuronal networks at micrometer distances. Our theoretical results show that the magnetic field generated by a single-neuron action potential can be detected by ultra-high sensitivity sub-pT magnetic field sensors, which opens the door to future in vivo decoding of neuronal activities through custom neural networks. We anticipate that the identification of single-neuron signals with high-sensitivity magnetic devices will allow the interface of nanoscale devices to interpret biological signals supported by machine-learning techniques capable of monitoring and predicting the localized activities underlying brain computations
Alcohol drinking and driving habit particularly in Nigeria and the role forensic science could play
No full textAlcohol drinking habit is a serious epidemic that afflicts people worldwide regardless of socioeconomic class and the country’s development or civilization. The purpose of this systematic review was to summarize research findings on drinking and driving, its implications for Nigerian society, and the role forensic science can play in drunk driving. Nigeria, in particular has seen a lot of fatal accidents attributed to alcohol but due to a lack of forensic sobriety and toxicology drug tests at the crash scene that is not yet in place in the country, the offenders are not punished for this crime. The only two African countries that have legislation on Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) are South Africa and Zimbabwe. Nigeria has no such legislation and does not conduct such tests in injury and fatal accident cases. The prevalence of drinking habits among Nigerians and in particular the drivers cannot be ignored. This study examined global drinking habits including its prevalence in Nigeria and more importantly understudied the need for forensic science interplay in a criminal investigation against drunk driving in the country. Drunk driving in Nigeria is a serious problem. Establishing and enforcing drunken driving laws as a criminal offense would assist the country in the reduction of road accidents, injuries, and fatalities relating to road accidents. Forensic science is a unique field that is equipped with skills and knowledge that could be useful for criminal investigation in the country including accident cases. Forensic scientists have outstanding technical skills to identify, detect, and even assist the country’s prosecutors in the administration of justice in crime investigations. Nigeria as a country will be well served if forensic scientists work in partnership with the government. Drinking and driving in addition to other crimes has become a matter of concern. The country’s police force and courts still rely mostly on eyewitness circumstantial evidence, testimonies, and suspects’ confessions. Based on this, I personally believe that the advent of Forensic science in the country’s system will assist a great deal in solving crimes and reducing fatal accidents due to drunk driving
A survey of concussion diagnosis and documentation
No full textConcussion diagnosis is a clinical categorization that often rests primarily on symptom reporting. However, diagnostic criteria require certain signs and symptoms to be either ruled in or ruled out. 
Atypic subacute sclerosing panensefalitis in a six-year-old male
No full textSubacute sclerosing panencephalitis is a rare, slow, and insidious neurodegenerative disease caused by measles. This disease mostly has a classic course. However, sometimes it can be presented with atypical manifestations. In this paper, we aim to present a six years old male patient that was hospitalized due to seizures and ataxia. Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging was normal on the first day of admission, but within a few days, the patient started to be apathetic. On the seventh day, magnetic resonance imaging showed hyperintense lesions in the thalamic, brainstem, and periventricular areas. Periodic epileptiform discharges were detected in the repeated electroencephalogram. Investigations from the cerebrospinal fluid showed markedly elevated measles virus IgG at 230U/ml consistent with the diagnosis of SSPE which should always be ruled out when a patient comes in with uncontrollable seizures, ataxia and apathy