African Journal of Medicine and Surgery

African Journal of Medicine and Surgery ISSN 2756-3324 Vol. 9 (2), pp. 001-004, February, 2022. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Assessment of Trachoma Awareness in Southern Khorassan, Iran

Gholamhossein Yaghoobi¹, Mohammad Reza Miri¹*, Mohammad Ali Yaghoobi²

¹Birjand University of Medical Science, Iran.

²Internal Medicine Mashhad, University of Medical Science, Iran.

Accepted 08 November, 2021

Abstract

Trachoma is a keratoconjunctivitis that causes ocular infection with Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct). The chronicity and reinfection leads to increasingly severe inflammation that can damage the conjunctiva and cornea. The WHO (World Health Organization) is in alliance with the Global Elimination of Trachoma by 2020. This safe strategy includes: surgery for trichiasis, antibiotics for active trachoma, facial cleanliness, and environmental improvement. Although there is evidence which supports effectiveness of this approach, will it be eliminated by 2020? There are many old people who suffer from trachoma sequel in Southern Khorassan, Iran, thus discrepancy of clinical versus paraclinical diagnosis of active trachoma especially in a suspicious case remains unclear. Therefore, our negative result according to PCR approaches among 10 cases of clinically suspicious or definite trachoma will be an emphasis on clinical diagnosis. 

Key word: Trachoma, diagnosis, prevalence, elimination.

African Journal of Medicine and Surgery ISSN 2756-3324 Vol. 9 (1), pp. 001-006, January, 2022. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Utilizing indirect fluorescence antibody testing and western blot analysis in cystic echinococcus diagnosis and post-surgical monitoring

Aslan M¹, Celik DG¹, Yuksel P¹, Saribas S¹, Cakan H², Bahar H¹, Abdelkareem A¹, Ziver T¹, Yakar H¹ and Kocazeybek B¹*

¹Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology Department, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.

²Institute of Forensic Sciences, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.

Accepted 29 August, 2021

Abstract

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a complicated zoonotic infection with diagnosis and treatment. In this study, we aimed to determine the diagnostic performance parameters of Indirect Fluorescence Antibody (IFA) method and also the usability of Western Blot (WB) method for following up CE cases by detecting the antigenic patterns. Cases diagnosed as CE in General Surgery Department of Cerahpasa Faculty of medicine and a selected control group were included in this case-control and cross-sectional study between January 2010 and December 2010. Laboratory studies were performed in Serology/ELISA laboratory of Medical Microbiology Department. Clinically, radiologically and serologically (IHA, ELISA) diagnosed 110 patients with CE, and 80 healthy control group (HCG) individuals were included in the study. Echinococcus granulosus specific antigen IgG test was applied by IFA method in CE cases and HCG. E. granulosus specific antigen patterns were also are detected with WB method in CE cases and HCG. According to the results, performance parameters of IFA test in CE diagnosis were calculated as 100, 93, 95, 100 and 94% for sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and Kappa values, respectively. Ninety six cases were detected positive with WB method. p7 and other accompanying bands were detected in 50 out of this 96 cases and only p39 band was detected in 45 cases. In conclusion, using IFA method in the diagnosis of CE which is a complicated infection disease can be effective in the presence of an appropriate microscope and experienced expert and we also suggest the use of WB method can be useful especially in parasitic treatment or after spontaneous cyst calcification in post-operative period.

Key words: Indirect fluorescence antibody, cystic echinococcus.

African Journal of Medicine and Surgery ISSN 2756-3324 Vol. 8 (4), pp. 001-020, April, 2021. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A review of clinical trials of chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer

Hui Zhu, Xinwei Wang, Xiagang Luo, Xiang Yu and Chunzhao Yu*

Department of Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, P. R. China.

Accepted 19 October, 2020

Abstract

Chemotherapy is playing an important role in treating pancreatic cancer, either when used alone or when combined with surgery and radiotherapy. We summarized 80 eligible clinical trials published from January in 2006 to June in 2011 and discussed the future development of chemotherapy in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. All the clinical trials were divided into 5 groups: single-agent regimen (14 trials), binary combination (27 trials), triple or more combination (13 trials), neoadjuvant/preoperative chemotherapy (4 trials), and targeted therapy (22 trials). Gemcitabine used alone was confirmed effective in 5 trials, while fixed-dose-rate gemcitabine showed apparent toxicities. In 4 trials, oral S-1 seemed feasible and convenient as a second-line agent. Explorations of irinotecan and paclitaxel loaded polymeric micelle as single agents also got positive outcomes. Many trials focused on the gemcitabine-based combinations with drugs like cisplatin, S-1, oxaliplatin, glufosfamide, etc., and some got positive results. Due to the occurrences of gemcitabine-resistance or even 5-fluorouracil-resistance, second-line combinations have become important and some have shown considerable value. Apart from the binary combination, three or more drugs used together, like FOLFOX (5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin) and FOLFIRI (5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, and irinotecan) also exhibited promising activity. A new method called neoadjuvant therapy (treating patients with drugs before surgery) was investigated in 4 trials with encouraging outcomes. In addition, some sites related to tumor cell proliferation and metastasis, such as growth factor receptor, CTLA-4 (CD152), the mammalian target of rapamycin, cyclooxygenase-2, cholecystokinin-2 receptor, leukotriene B4 receptor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma and proto-oncogene, have been explored in some clinical trials and are worth further researches.

Key words: Chemotherapy, pancreatic cancer, clinical trials.

African Journal of Medicine and Surgery ISSN 2756-3324 Vol. 8 (3), pp. 001-003, March, 2021. © International Scholars Journals

Short  Communication

Comparative analysis of parotid gland surgery techniques for pleomorphic adenomas

Salim Yuce¹, Ismail Onder Uysal¹, Mansur Dogan¹, Canan Filiz Karaku², Kerem Polat², Suphi Muderris³

¹Assistant Professor, Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey

²M.D, Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey

³Professor, Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey

Accepted 12 June, 2020

Abstract

Pleomorphic adenoma is the most common neoplasm of the parotid gland This study was carried out to evaluate tumor recurrence following extracapsular dissection of pleomorphic adenomas of the parotid gland. Previous studies have shown that extracapsular dissection (ECD) is an alternative approach to superficial parotidectomy (SP) for pleomorphic adenoma parotid tumours, associated with low recurrence rates equal to those following SP, but with significantly reduced morbidity. We conducted a retrospective evaluation and clinical follow-up of the patients who underwent extracapsular dissection of a pleomorphic adenoma as primary surgery in the otolaryngologic department of the Cumhuriyet University Clinics during the period from 2004 to 2012. 25 (89.3%) of 28 patients in the study were applied SP technique and 3 (10.7%) of them were applied ECD technique and no recurrence was detected. This study demonstrates that Extracapsular dissection is a viable alternative to superficial parotidectomy for the majority of parotid pleomorphic adenomas, associated with reduced morbidity.

Keywords: Parotid gland,extracapsular dissection, pleomorphic adenoma,recurrence

African Journal of Medicine and Surgery ISSN 2756-3324 Vol. 8 (2), pp. 001-006, February, 2021. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Surgical management of familial adenomatous polyposis in pediatric patients through ileoneorectal anastomosis

Pedro Luiz Toledo de Arruda Lourenção*, Amanda André Monteiro, Marcos Curcio Angelini, Rozemeire Garcia Marques, Antônio Marcos Rodrigues and Erika V. Paiva Ortolan

Discipline of Pediatric Surgery, Surgery Department, Botucatu Medical School, UNESP Univ Estadual Paulista.

Accepted 26 April, 2020

Abstract

Van Laarhoven et al. proposed restorative proctocolectomy with ileoneorectal anastomosis (INRA) to treat familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). Although it is considered a reproducible surgical technique with low complication rates, there have been few reports of its use in the literature, with no reports addressing pediatric patients. Our pediatric surgery group has been using this technique since 2005. The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical and functional results obtained from the use of this technique to treat children with FAP. Clinical data were retrieved from the children’s medical records. The patients were interviewed regarding their medical conditions, and they received a physical examination to assess their clinical condition, defecation patterns and aspects related to quality of life. Eight patients with a diagnosis of FAP underwent surgical treatment with INRA. The average age was 12.25 (± 2.9) years. The median operative time was 465 minutes, and times ranged from 240 minutes to 600 minutes. There were no intraoperative complications. Three patients required reoperation (2 by flanges and 1 by twisting of the protective ileostomy). The median follow-up time was 36 months (5–120 months). Most patients (57%) presented with regular bowel movements, soft stools and a stool frequency of up to 5 times per day. Two patients had soiling (1 case with daily losses and 1 case with weekly losses). Total proctocolectomy with INRA proved to be a safe and effective technique for the treatment of children with FAP, and it offered satisfactory clinical results.

Keywords: familial adenomatous polyposis; children; surgery; restorative proctocolectomy; ileoneorectal anastomosis.

African Journal of Medicine and Surgery ISSN 2756-3324 Vol. 8 (1), pp. 001-005, January, 2021. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Strategies to minimize missed appointments in general surgical out-patient clinics

Awe J.A.A¹* and Saimeh H²

¹Associate Professor of Surgery and Consultant General Surgeon, Department of Surgery; College of Health Sciences,

Igbinedion University; Okada; Edo State. Nigeria.

²Senior Surgical Registrar, Northern Area Armed Forces Hospital, King Khalid Military City, Hafr Al-Batin 31991, Saudi Arabia.

Accepted 25 September, 2020

Abstract

Non-compliant with outpatient appointments are a drain on resources. It is a common source of inefficiency in any health service, wasting time and resources and potentially lengthening waiting lists unnecessarily. Studies examining characteristics of non-attendance at hospital outpatients have given inconsistent results. Given the current economic climate, methods needed to be employed to reduce non-attendance. The commonest reasons for non-attendance given include patient at work 250 cases (25%); forgot the appointment 200 cases (20%); no transport 125 cases (12.5%) living outside Military barrack 200 cases (20.0%); fear of having an operation 100 cases (10.0%); lost appointment 50 cases (5%) and no reason 30 cases (3.0%). We undertook this prospective study asking non-attenders at the surgical outpatient clinics of two Consultant Surgeons for a period of one year from 1st April 2007 to 31st March 2008 why they missed their appointments in view of the above findings. Reduction in the incidence of non-attendance could be achieved through institutional factors of giving correct appointment details, communication between hospital and patients should be checked meticulously and found to be correct before appointments are handed over to the patients. There should be adequate counseling by medical social workers in allaying fears of patients regarding the phobia of undergoing operations. Also significant improvement in the proportion of patients attending outpatient’s appointments can be made by simple reminder telephone calls one to three days before the actual appointment date; and short message service (SMS) text messages to patient’s mobile telephones.

Keywords: Incidence, Non-Attendance, Surgical Outpatient, Clinic.