Open Access DOI:10.23937/2572-3243.1510009

Radiographic Follow-up of Transforaminal Lumbar Fusion with Silicon Nitride Spacers: A case Report of Two Patients

Jim A Youssef, Sue Lynn Myhre and B. Sonny Bal

Article Type: Original Article | First Published: March 28, 2016

When non operative actions for degenerative spinal disorders fall flat, surgical intervention frequently becomes the popular choice of treatment. Although the class of pathology matters, the surgical operation will generally include an arthrodesis procedure. The gravity of a successful initial fusion surgery is intensified not only by the growing number of arthrodesis procedures, but also by the rising costs for revisal operations. Additionally, fusion success appears to have an impact on patien...

 Open Access DOI:10.23937/2474-3631/1510017

Pneumomediastinum and Pneumothorax: A Rare Presentation of Synthetic Cannabinoids Toxicity

Marvin Louis Roy Lu, Sana Mazher, Andres Mora Carpio and Anita Govil

Article Type: Case Report | First Published: April 07, 2016

Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) are chemically produced analogs of natural cannabinoids and are blended with herbs to appear as a natural product. They are typically marketed as "Cloud 9", "k2", "spice", "chill X", and "crazy monkey" among many others depending on their herbal blend....

 Open Access DOI:10.23937/2469-5726/1510034

HLA-DR Frequency in Individuals with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lung Affection

Maria do Socorro Teixeira Moreira Almeida, Joao Vicente Moreira Almeida, Manoel Barros Bertolo, Catarina Fernandes Pires and Viriato Campelo

Article Type: Research Article | First Published: April 01, 2016

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease whose etiology is unknown, while its immunopathogenesis involves the participation of both genetic and environmental factors. Human leukocyte antigen DR4 (HLA-DR4) exhibits a strong association with RA in various populations and ethnic groups; in addition, a heightened frequency of HLA-DR1 among individuals with RA has been found in some populations....

 Open Access DOI:10.23937/2469-5726/1510033

Novel Application of Behavioral Assays Allows Dissociation of Joint Pathology from Systemic Extra-Articular Alterations Induced by Inflammatory Arthritis

Ann K Harvey, Mariah J Lelos, Claire J Greenhill, Ashley T Jones, Susanne P Clinch, Michael J Newton, Stephen B Dunnett, Sean L Wyatt, Anwen S Williams and Simon A Jones

Article Type: Research Article | First Published: April 01, 2016

Although rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disease of articular joints, patients often suffer from co-morbid neuropsychiatric changes, such as anxiety, that may reflect links between heightened systemic inflammation and abnormal regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Here, we apply behavioral neuroscience methods to assess the impact of antigen-induced arthritis (AIA) on behavioral performance in wild type (WT) and interleukin-10 deficient (Il10-/-) mice. Our aim was to identi...

 Open Access DOI:10.23937/2378-3648/1410022

Microevolutionary History of Helicobacter Pylori During Infection: A Review

Mendoza-Elizalde S, Olivares-Cervantes AL, Zuniga G, Valencia-Mayoral P, Vigueras-Galindo JC and Velazquez-Guadarrama N

Article Type: Review Article | First Published: April 13, 2016

Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium that has evolved with humans, is transmitted from person to person and persistently colonizes the stomach. During its long coexistence with humans, H. Pylori has developed complex strategies to limit the degree and extent of inflammation and damage to the gastric mucosa. It is capable of altering the physiology and immune response of the host, thereby allowing it to persist throughout life. Infection with H. pylori has been linked to such diseases as severe gas...

 Open Access DOI:10.23937/2469-5793/1510029

Prognosis of the Midlife-Elderly from ECG Testing to Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Coronary Artery Disease

Stephanie B Mohammed, Andanappa Gadad, B Shivananda Nayak and Vishi Beharry

Article Type: Original Research | First Published: April 01, 2016

We investigated midlife-elderly patients enrolled for echocardiography and the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and coronary artery disease (CAD). This was a cross sectional study. Patients (n = 236) enrolled for echocardiography (ECG) over the age of 30 were selected regardless of their chief complaint and those presented with chest pain were a key feature in this study. Patients free from known disease of age below 30 were excluded from the study. We investigated consented ...

 Open Access DOI:10.23937/2469-5793/1510028

Cervicofacial Actinomycosis

Martin Cabrejas BM, Gargantilla Madera P and Pintor Holguin E

Article Type: Short Review | First Published: March 25, 2016

Actinomycosis is an infectious disease with a world-wide distribution caused by anaerobic and microaerophilic bacteria residing in the oral cavity. Actinomycosis is often difficult to diagnose as it can mimic numerous infectious and noninfectious diseases. It is nowadays uncommon in Europe and the possibility that we may face a patient with actinomycosis is therefore underestimated....

 Open Access DOI:10.23937/2469-584X/1510019

Helicobacter Pylori: A Review of Epidemiology, Treatment, and Management

Yana Thaker, Andrew Moon and Anita Afzali

Article Type: Review Article | First Published: April 09, 2016

Helicobacter pylori, a gram-negative, helical bacilli that live in the gastric epithelium was first isolated in 1983. It was discovered by Marshall and Warren who cultured Campylobacter pyloridis, which was later reclassified as Helicobacter pylori. It is transmitted via the fecal-oral, gastro-oral, or oral-oral routes....

 Open Access DOI:10.23937/2469-584X/1510018

Use of Ultrasound in Pediatric Patients with Suspected Acute Appendicitis in a General Hospital: Analysis of 3.5 Years

Guillermo Padron Arredondo

Article Type: Research Article | First Published: March 31, 2016

Acute appendicitis is the most common cause of abdominal pain in the pediatric population and requires surgery. Its diagnosis is suspected on the basis of clinical findings widely known. However, the classic signs are not always present and symptoms may be nonspecific and overlap with other causes of abdominal pain. The clinical presentation is also complicated in the pediatric population for their limited communication skills....

 Open Access DOI:10.23937/2469-567X/1510018

Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor (NRTI) Associated Macrocytosis

Wesley D. Kufel, Cory M. Hale, Eric F. Sidman, Cesar E. Orellana and Christopher D. Miller

Article Type: Short Review | First Published: March 31, 2016

Macrocytosis has been associated with several disease states, vitamin deficiencies, and medications, with nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) being a less commonly identified cause. NRTIs are frequently utilized as the two-drug backbone for the treatment of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Amongst the NRTI drug class, zidovudine (AZT) and stavudine (d4T) are the most widely reported cause of macrocytosis. Fortunately, AZT and d4T have become less commonly used therapies, as ne...