Efficacy of Preoperative Albendazole on Protoscoleces Viability in Hydatid Cyst of the Liver.

Background: Optimal duration for medical therapy of liver hydatid cysts before surgery in not certainly defined yet. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of 2 weeks preoperative albendazole in decreasing viable cysts. Methods: Patients referring to Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad, Iran with a diagnosis of hepatic hydatid cyst were randomly divided into intervention (44 patients) and control (46 patients) groups. The case group were treated with oral albendazole before surgery and the control group underwent surgery without albendazole therapy. Efficacy of albendazole on the reduction of prevalence and viability of the protoscoleces was finally evaluated. Results: A number of 90 patients were included in the final analysis. Protoscoleces were reported alive in 10 (22.7%) and 17 (36.9%) of patients in the case and control group, respectively. The decrease of live protoscoleces in case group was not statistically significant (P=0.14). Conclusion: Decrease in the viability of protoscoleces in hepatic hydatid cysts after 2 weeks administration of oral albendazole at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day preoperatively, is not significant. Optimal duration of medical treatment before surgery seems to be 4 weeks or more.

Tension pneumothorax in patient with COVID-19 infection.

Corona-virus infection that arose from China is now a global pandemic. It presents with a variety of pulmonary manifestations, most commonly in the form of ground glass pulmonary lesions and opacities. Less common manifestation such as pnuemothorax has been reported by some authors. In this study we report a 56-year-old man with Corona-virus disease presenting with tension pneumothorax, a rare and life-threatening complication of Corona-virus infection that has not been reported previously. In our case, after insertion of thoracostomy tube, the patient's symptoms improved. After about 1 year of Corona-virus pandemic, it still presents with some rare pulmonary and extrapulmonary manifestations, so, familiarity with these manifestations is important for a correct diagnosis and treatment.

Investigation of the Effect of Hypnotic Anesthesia on Nerve Conduction Velocity (NCV).

BACKGROUND: Hypnosis is a psychological method used for treatment of different types of disorders and illnesses. This technique is also used in surgical interventions. Many studies proved the efficacy of hypnosis in medical treatment. However, the mechanism of hypnosis is unclear for scientists. To find out if the peripheral nervous system has a role in hypnotic anesthesia, we aimed to investigate the effect of hypnotic anesthesia on nerve conduction velocity (NCV). METHODS: In this study, healthy volunteers with high hypnotizability entered the study. First, The NCV test was performed in both hands of participants and then they all underwent hypnosis. Hypnotic anesthesia was induced in the right hand of all subjects followed by painful stimuli in their hand by vascular clasping. Then, the NCV test was repeated in both hands again. Data were analyzed by SPSS version16. RESULTS: The group study consisted of 13 (65%) women and 7 (35%) men with their age ranging between 14 to 52 years. According to the results, the mean values of sensory latency, and NCV changed from 3.225 ms and 54.355 m/s before hypnotic anesthesia to 3.32 ms and 55.3 m/s after hypnotic anesthesia in right hand, respectively. Results showed that there was a significant difference between data before and after hypnotic induction (P < 0.001). The covariance test also indicated a significant difference between the data obtained from both hands (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to our hypothesis, the NCV test showed an increase after the hypnotic anesthesia. However, increase in NCV did not lead to experience pain after the painful stimuli. It seems that central nervous system should be involved in this process.

A Rare Large Symptomatic Paratracheal Air Cyst in a 62-Year-Old Woman.

Paratracheal air cysts are lesions adjacent to trachea. They are often asymptomatic and are found usually as an incidental finding in imaging. The pathology of these lesions is unclear and they can be congenital or acquired. Paratracheal air cysts rarely cause symptoms in patients. In this report we present a 62-year-old woman with a large paratracheal air cyst that caused interesting rare symptoms such as dysphagia, dyspnea, and hoarseness who became completely symptom-free after treatment.