Extra credit for disruption: trend of disruption in radiology academic journals.

AIM: To identify the most disruptive publications, which are those that are cited more frequently than their own references, in academic radiology journals and their characteristics, such as the number of authors and relative time to publication. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was undertaken to identify the 100 most disruptive publications in the field of radiology. Subsequently, statistical analysis was applied to establish the distribution of disruptive scores of the isolated publications using a non-parametric probability density function. The relation between disruptive scores and citation counts was then determined, with the aid of a correlation coefficient. Finally, data regarding any significant connection between disruption scores and time of publication, number of authors, and study design were examined. RESULTS: Analysing the top 100 papers in increments of 10-year periods showed no significant difference in the distribution of disruption scores over time. No correlation between an article's citation count and disruption score was established. Additionally, no significant relation between the number of authors/study design and disruption scores was identified. CONCLUSION: The disruption score highlights significant impact elements not entirely accounted for by citation count. Its potential benefit in assessing scientific impact should be contemplated.

Comparative Analysis of Prescription Drug Prices in South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Countries.

OBJECTIVES: The SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) is a geopolitical organization composed of 8 neighboring countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The objective of this study was to compare the prices of some selected drugs in SAARC countries. METHODS: A list of 24 drugs was prepared based on certain inclusion and exclusion criteria. The retail prices of the drugs were determined from different sources and verified manually in the open market. The prices obtained in local currencies were converted into US dollars for comparison purposes. In another analysis, the gross domestic product (GDP) of each country was factored for comparative analysis. RESULTS: Out of the 23 drugs, 17 comparisons across countries were statistically different at P < .05. These analyses revealed large differences in drug prices among SAARC countries. The GDP-adjusted median drug prices revealed a more polarized picture, with Nepal generally having the highest prices (19 out of 24 drugs) and Sri Lanka having the lowest (19 out of 24 drugs). For example, the widely used antipsychotic drug risperidone was 7 times more expensive in Pakistan ($0.316) compared with Sri Lanka ($0.045). Adjusting for GDP made risperidone more than 18 times more expensive ($21.90 and $1.20) across the same 2 countries. CONCLUSION: Prices of selected drugs varied markedly in SAARC countries. After adjusting for GDP, drug prices became more polarized across countries, with Nepal featuring the highest prices. In determining drug prices, the country's GDP and the population's purchasing power need to be taken into account.

Acquired pharyngoesophageal diverticulum in childhood.

Pharyngoesophageal diverticula are rare in the paediatric population. Most reported cases in children are congenital in nature. We present a unique acquired case of diverticulum in childhood, together with radiographic evidence of this pathology.

Prevention of postpartum hemorrhage, safety and efficacy.

OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to describe the safety and efficacy of intramuscular syntometrine (oxytocin plus ergometrine) compared to intravenous oxytocin for prevention of postpartum hemorrhage, and the difference between administration at the end of the 2nd stage of labor compared with that after delivery of the placenta. METHODS: A prospective study was carried out at Prince Zaid Ben Al-Hussein Hospital, Tafilah, Jordan. Two thousand one hundred and sixty one women delivering singletons during 12 consecutive months were included in our study. Women received either intramuscular syntometrine (oxytocin plus ergometrine) or oxytocin alone. The drugs were used either before or after the 3rd stage of labor, in order to compare their safety and efficacy in prevention of postpartum hemorrhage. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the rate of postpartum hemorrhage for syntometrine compared with oxytocin, when used at the end of the 2nd stage of labor (odds ratio 1.08, 95% confidence interval 0.72-1.63) or after the 3rd stage (odds ratio 0.93, 95% confidence interval 0.65-1.34). The patients receiving oxytocics at the end of the 2nd stage of labor had significantly lower rates of postpartum hemorrhage, for both syntometrine (odds ratio 0.86, 95% confidence interval 0.59-0.1.12) and Oxytocin (odds ratio 0.59, 95% confidence interval 0.39-0.88), compared with those treated after the 3rd stage. CONCLUSION: Oxytocin alone is as effective as the use of syntometrine (ergometrine plus oxytocin) in the prevention of postpartum hemorrhage, but associated with significantly fewer maternal side effects. Oxytocics administered after the 2nd stage of labor compared with after the 3rd stage of labor (placental expulsion) are associated with a significantly fewer rate of postpartum bleeding.