Annular pancreas: Beneath the intestinal obstruction-A case report.

Annular pancreas is an uncommon congenital anomaly which is a rare cause of congenital duodenal obstruction. It is normally identified during the neonatal period, but may also be identified in adolescence or adulthood. This diagnosis is often overlooked in adult patients who present with symptoms suggestive of duodenal obstruction. We present a case of AP detected in a 23-year-old man, with complaints of continuous vomiting and abdominal discomfort over the last 6 months. An upper gastrointestinal study revealed a constricted second part of the duodenum. A computed tomography scan revealed a complete ring of pancreatic tissue around the second part of the duodenum. Diagnostic and therapeutic surgery decompresses the external obstruction. The patient had an early post-operative activation. No specific guidelines and protocols exist about the management of such cases. Given the rarity of this congenital anomaly, presenting with chronic partial duodenal obstruction, and its successful surgical treatment, have prompted us to report the case along with a brief review of literature about the subject.

Exacerbation of Pre-existing Neurological Symptoms With COVID-19 in Patients With Chronic Neurological Diseases: An Updated Systematic Review.

The neurotropism of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can potentially explain the worsening of symptoms in patients with a history of neurological conditions such as stroke, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's, and epilepsy. Several studies have reported that these pre-existing conditions may worsen with a higher frequency of flare-ups, thus resulting in a more significant risk of patient mortality. In this review, we sought to provide an overview of the relationship between pre-existing neurological disorders and COVID-19, focusing on whether the initial infection directly influenced the severity of symptoms. We systematically searched the electronic database PubMed (MEDLINE) and used specific keywords related to our aims from January 2020 to July 2022. All articles published on COVID-19 with keywords pertaining to pre-existing neurological diseases were retrieved and subsequently analyzed. After independent review, the data from 107 articles were selected and evaluated. After analyzing the data from selected articles reviewing the effect of COVID-19 on neurological conditions, we have documented the relationship between said pre-existing neurological diseases, showing an increased risk of hospitalization, admission length, worsening of symptoms, and even mortality in COVID-19 patients.

Biliary cystadenoma: Case report with MRI findings and surgical confirmation.

Biliary cystadenoma is a very uncommon benign cystic neoplasm involving the liver and the biliary tract. Most common presentations include right upper quadrant pain, nausea, vomiting, obstructive jaundice, and enlarging liver size. It can mimic many more commonly occurring diseases such as hepatic cyst, hepatic abscess, hydatid disease of the liver, and hepatic tuberculosis. Hence it becomes very challenging for physicians to correctly diagnose it due to its rarity and similarity with other conditions. Furthermore, very few pieces of literature guide physicians in correctly identifying the disease. Based on his physical examination and detailed investigation, we present a case report of a 72-year-old female diagnosed with biliary cystadenoma. We hope that this case report will significantly add to the existing literature on this subject.

The Relationship Between Exacerbation of Pachymeningitis and Chemotherapy: A Case Report.

Pachymeningitis is a rare disorder that involves the dura mater of the cranial and spinal nerves. It can lead to localized or diffuse thickening of the dura mater as an inflammatory reaction. Very little is known about this uncommon disease, and even less is known about its exacerbating factors and relationship with chemotherapy. In this report, we present a case of an 86-year-old man with metastatic bladder carcinoma on chemotherapy who experienced worsening pachymeningitis with symptoms such as headache, aphasia, weakness, and seizures. The patient responded well to steroids, and his symptoms improved. This association between exacerbation of pachymeningitis and chemotherapy is rarely encountered, and its mechanism of action is poorly understood. We hope this case report will add to the existing literature on this uncommon phenomenon and its exacerbating factors.

A Case Report of Baclofen- and Clozapine-Induced Dyskinesia: A Movement Disorder.

Movement disorder is a broad term comprising multiple disorders which result in either an excess or a paucity of voluntary and involuntary movements. There are numerous pieces of literature on drug-induced dyskinesia, although the exact mechanism underlying this phenomenon is yet to be understood. Drug-induced movement disorder is a complex and often neglected clinical presentation. There are various interactions of drugs with the dopaminergic, GABAergic, and serotonergic pathways in the body that seem to be the foundation, leading to these movement disorders. Further research and clinical trials are required to understand this clinical entity. Here we present a case report of GABAergic baclofen and an anti-dopaminergic clozapine-induced atypical case of dyskinesia, a severe form of movement disorder in a 69-year-old-male with a past medical history of physiologic tremor and neuropathic pain.

Rapid Detection of Gram-Positive and -Negative Bacteria in Water Samples Using Mannan-Binding Lectin-Based Visual Biosensor.

Waterborne bacterial infection is a health threat worldwide, making accurate and timely bacteria detection crucial to prevent waterborne disease outbreaks. Inspired by the intrinsic capability of mannan-binding lectin (MBL) in recognizing the pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), a visual biosensor is developed here for the on-site detection of both Gram-positive and -negative bacteria. The biosensor was synthesized by immobilization of the MBL protein onto the blue carboxyl-functionalized polystyrene microparticles (PSM), which is then used in a two-step assay to detect bacterial cells in water samples. The first step involved a 20 min incubation following the MBL-PSM and calcium chloride solution addition to the samples. The second step was to add ethanol to the resultant blue mixture and observe the color change with the naked eye after 15 min. The biosensor had a binary (all-or-none) response, which in the presence of bacterial cells kept its blue color, while in their absence the color changed from blue to colorless. Testing the water samples spiked with four Gram-negative bacteria including Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and two Gram-positive bacteria of Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus showed that the biosensor could detect all tested bacteria with a concentration as low as 101.5 CFU/ml. The performance of biosensor using the water samples from a water treatment plant also confirmed its capability to detect the pathogens in real-life water samples without the need for instrumentation.

Engineering laminated paper for SARS-CoV-2 medical gowns.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for diversity in the market and alternative materials for personal protective equipment (PPE). Paper has high coatability for tunable barrier performance, and an agile production process, making it a potential substitute for polyolefin-derived PPE materials. Bleached and newsprint papers were laminated with polyethylene (PE) coatings of different thicknesses, and characterised for their potential use as medical gowns for healthcare workers and COVID-19 patients. Thicker PE lamination improved coating homogeneity and water vapour resistance. 49 GSM bleached paper with 16 GSM PE coating showed high tensile and seam strength, and low water vapour transmission rate (WVTR). Phi-X174 bacteriophage testing revealed that paper laminated with 15 GSM coating hinders virus penetration. This research demonstrates that PE laminated paper is a promising material for low cost viral protective gowns.