Deepfake forensics: a survey of digital forensic methods for multimodal deepfake identification on social media.

The rapid advancement of deepfake technology poses an escalating threat of misinformation and fraud enabled by manipulated media. Despite the risks, a comprehensive understanding of deepfake detection techniques has not materialized. This research tackles this knowledge gap by providing an up-to-date systematic survey of the digital forensic methods used to detect deepfakes. A rigorous methodology is followed, consolidating findings from recent publications on deepfake detection innovation. Prevalent datasets that underpin new techniques are analyzed. The effectiveness and limitations of established and emerging detection approaches across modalities including image, video, text and audio are evaluated. Insights into real-world performance are shared through case studies of high-profile deepfake incidents. Current research limitations around aspects like cross-modality detection are highlighted to inform future work. This timely survey furnishes researchers, practitioners and policymakers with a holistic overview of the state-of-the-art in deepfake detection. It concludes that continuous innovation is imperative to counter the rapidly evolving technological landscape enabling deepfakes.

Congenital lung lesions: preoperative three-dimensional reconstructed CT scan as the definitive investigation and surgical management.

AIM OF STUDY: The aim of this study was to review our experience of postnatal investigations and management of congenital lung lesions. METHODS: All children with antenatal diagnosis undergoing surgical management were identified from hospital records. Antenatal diagnosis and serial antenatal ultrasound findings were noted, postnatal chest X-ray (CXR) and computed tomographic (CT) scan were reviewed. Pearson correlation coefficient (r) was used to look into relation between CT scan and per-operative findings. Surgical management and outcome of these lesions were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 38 children were identified between January 2000 and December 2011; 22 were males and 16 were females. The mean gestational age at diagnosis was 21 weeks (range 18 to 26 weeks). Five children showed complete resolution antenatally. Four children were symptomatic at birth. Postnatal CXR showed an abnormality in only 17 infants. CT scan with three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions was performed at the mean age of 7.7 months (range 1 day to 42 months). CT scan correlated well with per-operative findings and provided adequate anatomical information r = 0.98. Open thoracotomy and lobectomy/excision was performed in 23, and 15 had thoracoscopic lobectomy/excision. The mean age of operation was 18 months (range 2 days to 96 months). Twenty patients had signs of recurrent preoperative infection with pleural adhesions and hilar thickening resulting in conversion of 10 thoracoscopic cases to open surgery. Histology confirmed 26 congenital cystic adenomatoid malformations, 2 hybrid lesions, 7 sequestrations, and 3 bronchopulmonary malformations. CONCLUSIONS: Antenatal resolution and normal postnatal CXR are not reliable indicators of resolution of the lesion. Early postnatal CT scan preferably with 3D reconstruction and early surgical treatment are suggested, as delaying the operation may result in repeated infection making thoracoscopic approach more difficult.

Identification of novel genes in Hirschsprung disease pathway using whole genome expression study.

AIM: This study aims to identify new genes not described previously that may be relevant in the etiology or pathophysiology of patients with Hirschsprung disease (HD). This was done by identifying differences in gene expression between normal and abnormal segments of bowel in HD patients compared with controls. METHODS: Full-thickness colonic tissue samples were taken from HD patients, both from the diseased (Ds) and normal segment of the colon (Nr), and from controls (Ct). Samples were further dissected into mucosa (MUC) and muscle (MUS). RNA was extracted and analyzed on Affymetrix Gene Chip Human Gene 1.0 ST arrays. Statistical analyses using ANOVA with a fold change cut off of 2 was applied to detect a number of differentially expressed genes. Selected genes were revalidated by quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Thirty-four samples (18 MUS and 16 MUC) were analyzed. MUC (1.64 ± 0.46 µg/mg) and MUS (0.83 ± 0.48 µg/mg) showed good RNA extraction yield and quality. Of the 24,987 filtered on expression genes, MUS showed 220 genes with expression difference of 2-fold, out of which 120 genes were significant with P ≤ .05. Similarly, MUC demonstrated 206 genes with 2-fold changes and 9 had P ≤ .05. Some genes showing differential expression between groups and therefore subject to further analysis were RELN, GAL, GAP43, NRSN1, and GABRG2. CONCLUSION: Analyzed data showed significant differences in expression of above sets of genes with up- and down-regulation, which has not been described before in HD and could have a role in pathogenesis of this condition.

Attraction problems following magnet ingestion.

Ingestion of magnetic toys is associated with serious complications that can result in pressure necrosis and bowel perforation. We report three cases of multiple (more than two) magnet ingestion. In two patients, the symptoms did not resolve and complications of perforation and jejunocolic fistula occurred. The third patient, however, had early intervention with no resultant complication. The literature is reviewed and close observation and early surgical intervention is recommended.

Symptomatic Meckel's diverticulum in children: a 16-year review.

Meckel's diverticulum (MD) has varied presentations and often becomes a diagnostic challenge. The purpose of this study was to review the various presentations of symptomatic MD and to assess the sensitivity of the Meckel's scan as a diagnostic tool in patients with bleeding MD. The hospital records of 71 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of MD from 1990 to 2005 were retrospectively reviewed. The data was assessed for age at presentation, sex, clinical features, investigations performed, surgical intervention and histopathological findings. There were 71 patients with a diagnosis of MD (age 2 days-14 years). In eight patients, MD was an incidental finding at laparotomy. The remaining 63 patients were symptomatic and presented with various clinical features. Ten patients (15.8%) had clinical features of peritonitis; of these, six had perforated MD and four had Meckel's diverticulitis at laparotomy. Nine patients (14.2%) were diagnosed as intestinal obstruction, and at laparotomy, a Meckel's band was found to be the cause of the obstruction. Nine patients (14.2%) had a patent vitello-intestinal duct and presented with umbilical discharge. Thirty-five patients (55.5%) presented with episodes of bleeding per rectum or malaena. Ultrasound scans revealed intussusception in six patients requiring open reduction. Of the remaining 29 patients with bleeding per rectum, 27 underwent a Meckel's Tc99 scan that showed a positive tracer in 18 patients (66.6%) and negative in 9 (33.3%). All patients with a symptomatic MD underwent resection of the diverticulum. Histology revealed ectopic gastric mucosa in 43 patients (68.3%). MD has various presentations and can be easily misdiagnosed. It is necessary to maintain a high index of suspicion in the paediatric age group. The Meckel's scan has a poor positive predictive value and cannot be relied upon for a diagnosis in cases of bleeding MD if Tc99 scan is negative.