Open Access DOI:10.23937/2378-3656/1410031

Right Sided Approach for a Pacemaker Insertion in the presence of Persistent Left Sided Superior Vena Cava: A Pacing Challenge

Edupuganti Mohan Mallikarjuna Rao, Hakan Paydak and Jawahar Mehta

Article Type: Case Report | First Published: May 25, 2015

Persistent Left sided superior vena cava is a rare congenital anomaly that can complicate a variety of cardiac procedures. We present a patient where a persistent superior vena cava was encountered unexpectedly during routine pacemaker insertion. The condition was diagnosed on the table and greatly lengthened the operating time. Given the situation and an absence of a pre procedure diagnosis the surgeon had to be innovative and invent approaches to navigate the complex anatomy on the spot....

 Open Access DOI:10.23937/2378-3656/1410030

Symptomatic Cervical Perineural (Tarlov) Cyst: A Case Report

Zibis H. Aristeidis, Fyllos C. Apostolos and Arvanitis L Dimitris

Article Type: Case Report | First Published: May 23, 2015

Introduction: Perineural cysts, also known as Tarlov cysts, are benign cerebrospinal fluid-filled cysts of the spinal cord. They were first described by IM Tarlov in 1938. Case presentation: We describe a Tarlov cyst located in the cervical spine, a location quite rare in literature. The patient is a 44-year-old woman who presented with a 3-week history of radicular symptoms of the right C6 root. A perineural cyst was identified at the C5-6 level after Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the cervical ...

 Open Access DOI:10.23937/2378-346X/1410025

Supratentorial Anaplastic Ependymoma with Bilateral Papilledema

Meghan Berkenstock, Matthew Keisling, Jinglan Liu, Judy Mae Pascasio, Ayman Samkari, Prithvi Narayan, Melandee Brown, Erica Poletto, Christos D Katsetos and Myron Yanoff

Article Type: Case Report | First Published: June 01, 2015

Ependymomas constitute the third most common histological type of CNS tumor in children. Compared to classic cellular ependymoma (WHO grade II), anaplastic ependymoma is a more aggressive and less common subtype of ependymal neoplasm. We report a case of a supratentorial anaplastic ependymoma in a child presenting with a right sixth nerve palsy with bilateral papilledema. To our knowledge, the ophthalmic findings presented herein have not been previously reported in the context of this tumor typ...

 Open Access DOI:10.23937/2378-346X/1410024

Multimodal Imaging of Retinal Angiomatous Proliferation Showing Finger-Like Lesions of the Outer Retina

Shiraaz I Rahman, Mihai Mititelu and Rukhsana G Mirza

Article Type: Case Report | First Published: May 25, 2015

Retinal Angiomatous Proliferation (RAP) is a process that occurs in patients with Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) in which retinal capillaries proliferate and invade posteriorly into the choroid. RAP lesions have a characteristic appearance of finger like projections at the level of the outer retina which can resemble inflammatory neovascularization. This case report describes a patient with RAP who received consecutive intravitreal injections of aflibercept....

 Open Access DOI:10.23937/2469-5793/1510005

Rationing of Healthcare Services: An Economic Critique

Peter Zweifel

Article Type: Orginal Research | First Published: June 06, 2015

The starting point of this contribution is the fact that budgets imposed by health policy makers induce rationing, causing inefficiencies in the market for medical services. In addition, inefficiencies spill over into the market for health insurance. In a second step, rationing itself is explained as the outcome of supply and demand for regulation. It is shown that the mere existence of health insurance creates a demand for rationing that increases over time....

 Open Access DOI:10.23937/2469-5793/1510004

Testosterone Effects on the Prostate Gland: Review of Pathophysiology and considerations in Prostate Cancer

Cory Wilczynski and Lily Agrawal

Article Type: Review Article | First Published: May 21, 2015

Testosterone replacement therapy is currently contraindicated in men with a history of prostate cancer. Despite this, new data is emerging in multiple retrospective studies and case reports of testosterone replacement therapy use after treatment for prostate cancer with results that call into question the contraindication. The goal of this paper is to review the association between androgens and the prostate gland physiology and pathology, and analyze the data available concerning the issue of t...

 Open Access DOI:10.23937/2469-5793/1510003

Barriers to Fresh Fruit and Vegetable intake among African Americans in a Southeastern City: Preventive Implications for Cardiovascular Disease

Torrance Stephens, Adewale Troutman, Larry Johnson and Tommy Taylor

Article Type: Research Article | First Published: May 11, 2015

This study summarizes the findings of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention REACH 2010 intervention's impact on reducing risk for cardiovascular disease among racial and ethnic groups living in the Atlanta Empowerment Zone (AEZ). In Fiscal Year 1999, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funded several health efforts to develop primary prevention programs for the reduction and elimination of racial and ethnic disparities in health targeting cardiovascular disease....

 Open Access DOI:10.23937/2474-3631/1510005

Can Indian Classical Music Play a Role in Prevention of Substance Use Disorders and Rehabilitation of Persons Suffering from them?

Sravanti Sanivarapu

Article Type: Perspective | First Published: May 11, 2015

A speculation of the possible benefits of classical music from Indian sub-continent in persons prone to develop or suffering from substance use disorders, this article gives an outline of clinical promise of music as a complementary therapy for addiction and focuses on distinctive features, philosophical roots and effects of Indian classical music on emotions of the listener - raising the possibility of its efficacy in prevention of substance use disorders and rehabilitation of persons suffering...

 Open Access DOI:10.23937/2469-5777/1510003

Childhood Maltreatment Trauma: Relevance for Adult Physical and Emotional Health. A Review

Lindsay Hamilton, Valerie Micol-Foster and Maria Muzik

Article Type: Review Article | First Published: June 04, 2015

Childhood maltreatment (CM) is a widespread public health concern in the U.S. as it affects almost four million children annually. The adverse consequences of CM can be seen across development from attachment disturbances and developmental delays in infancy to an increased risk for conduct and emotional problems in later childhood and adolescence. In addition, the associations between CM and negative outcomes have been traced as far as adulthood to mental and physical wellbeing of adult survivor...

 Open Access DOI:10.23937/2469-5777/1510002

A Metabolic Stress Fracture of the Mandibular Condylar Head

Sabah Kalamchi and Trent C Clifton

Article Type: Case Report | First Published: May 02, 2015

Fractures of the mandibular condyle and neck are very common with well recognized anatomical features. This patient sustained an anatomically unusual right condylar head fracture with subluxation secondary to ictal myocontraction where there was no fall or facial trauma during or after the seizure. Investigation suggested an underlying disturbance in bone metabolism. We found one case report of mandibular stress fracture as a result of reflexive myo contraction of the temporalis and lateral pter...