Detection Of Pathological Changes Research Articles

Clinical assessment of the respiratory system in pregnant women on the background of nicotine addiction

Smoking is not only a modifiable risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes, it is primarily a risk factor for the development of pathology of the respiratory system, eventually turning into chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The high prevalence of tobacco smoking among pregnant women, confirmed by numerous studies, demonstrates the underestimation of the high risks of COPD development. The present study substantiates the relevance of timely detection of pathological changes in the bronchi in smokers in primary care and the formation of motivations to quit smoking. It is the desired pregnancy that can cause complete cessation of smoking, thereby reducing the risks of developing not only the pathology of the smoker's lungs, but also the pathology of the fetus.

Atypical Structure of Broca's Area in a Patient with Primary Progressive Atrophy Syndrome at the Onset of Alzheimer's Disease

This article presents a clinical case of Alzheimer’s disease with a debut as primary progressive aphasia syndrome. Insufficient use of routine magnetic resonance imaging in this case in the diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases and the advantage of such additional neuroimaging methods as positron emission tomography, functional magnetic resonance imaging with a scale assessment of atrophic changes. Additional neuroimaging techniques have been shown to significantly improve the early detection of pathological changes in brain structures and to reveal the location of functional areas involved in the neurodegenerative process.

Thoracic aortic microcalcification activity in combined positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging

IntroductionNon-invasive detection of pathological changes in thoracic aortic disease remains an unmet clinical need particularly for patients with congenital heart disease. Positron emission tomography combined with magnetic resonance imaging (PET-MRI) could provide a valuable low-radiation method of aortic surveillance in high-risk groups. Quantification of aortic microcalcification activity using sodium [18F]fluoride holds promise in the assessment of thoracic aortopathies. We sought to evaluate aortic sodium [18F]fluoride uptake in PET-MRI using three methods of attenuation correction compared to positron emission tomography computed tomography (PET-CT) in patients with bicuspid aortic valve,MethodsThirty asymptomatic patients under surveillance for bicuspid aortic valve disease underwent sodium [18F]fluoride PET-CT and PET-MRI of the ascending thoracic aorta during a single visit. PET-MRI data were reconstructed using three iterations of attenuation correction (Dixon, radial gradient recalled echo with two [RadialVIBE-2] or four [RadialVIBE-4] tissue segmentation). Images were qualitatively and quantitatively analysed for aortic sodium [18F]fluoride uptake on PET-CT and PET-MRI.ResultsAortic sodium [18F]fluoride uptake on PET-MRI was visually comparable with PET-CT using each reconstruction and total aortic standardised uptake values on PET-CT strongly correlated with each PET-MRI attenuation correction method (Dixon R = 0.70; RadialVIBE-2 R = 0.63; RadialVIBE-4 R = 0.64; p < 0.001 for all). Breathing related artefact between soft tissue and lung were detected using Dixon and RadialVIBE-4 but not RadialVIBE-2 reconstructions, with the presence of this artefact adjacent to the atria leading to variations in blood pool activity estimates. Consequently, quantitative agreements between radiotracer activity on PET-CT and PET-MRI were most consistent with RadialVIBE-2.ConclusionAscending aortic microcalcification analysis in PET-MRI is feasible with comparable findings to PET-CT. RadialVIBE-2 tissue attenuation correction correlates best with the reference standard of PET-CT and is less susceptible to artefact. There remain challenges in segmenting tissue types in PET-MRI reconstructions, and improved attenuation correction methods are required.

2022 Glenn A. Fry Award lecture: Enhancing clinical assessment for improved ophthalmic management.

Detailed clinical assessment is critical to allow sensitive evaluation of the eye and its management. As technology advances, these assessment techniques can be adapted and refined to improve the detection of pathological changes of ocular tissue and their impact on visual function. Enhancements in optical medical devices including spectacle, contact, and intraocular lenses have allowed for a better understanding of the mechanism and amelioration of presbyopia and myopia control. Advancements in imaging technology have enabled improved quantification of the tear film and ocular surface, informing diagnosis and treatment strategies. Miniaturized electronics, large processing power, and in-built sensors in smartphones and tablets capacitate more portable assessment tools for clinicians, facilitate self-monitoring and treatment compliance, and aid communication with patients. This article gives an overview of how technology has been used in many areas of eye care to improve assessments and treatment and provides a snapshot of some of my studies validating and using technology to inform better evidence-based patient management.

Regulatory role of RGMb in lung injury promoted by the combination of carbon ion irradiation and anti-PD-1 antibody through Erk1/2 and p38 MAPK pathways

The combination of carbon ion radiotherapy and anti-PD-1 antibody represents a new approach to treating thoracic tumors. However, the lung damage caused by this combination therapy may limit its use, and the potential mechanisms for this are worthy of investigation. The objective of this research was to examine the potential involvement of repulsive guidance molecule b (RGMb) in lung damage promoted by the utilization of carbon ion irradiation combined with an anti-PD-1 antibody. The C57BL/6 mice have been randomly separated into four distinct groups: control, anti-PD-1, whole thorax carbon ion irradiation, and irradiation in combination with anti-PD-1 treatment groups (combination group). Detection of pathological changes in lung tissue using HE staining. Detection of pulmonary fibrosis by Masson staining and the hydroxyproline assay. ELISA to detect TNF-α, TGF-β, IL-6, and IL-1β expression levels within lung homogenates. The expression of RGMb, p38 MAPK, and Erk1/2 pathways was detected using a fully automated digital Western blotting system WES (ProteinSimple, USA). Flow cytometry was employed to analyze tissue-resident memory T cells (TRM) within the lung. Subsequently, the siRNA gene was employed to induce the downregulation of RGMb in mice in order to validate the involvement of RGMb in radiation-immune lung injury. The present study observed a significant increase in both inflammatory and fibrotic indicators within the mice group's lung tissue that received the combination treatment. The combination group exhibited elevated levels of TGF-β, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in lung homogenates. Anti-PD-1 antibody and carbon ion irradiation, upregulated RGMb, phospho-p38 MAPK and phospho-Erk1/2. The results obtained from the flow cytometry analysis indicated that the combination group was significantly higher in the number of clonal expansion TRMs, which were predominantly characterized by the expression of CD8+CD103+CD69-TRMs. The downregulate of RGMb via siRNA in mice resulted in a decrease in phospho-p38 MAPK and phospho-Erk1/2. The combination group exhibited a reduction in TNF-α, TGF-β, IL-6, and IL-1β in their lung tissues, and the number of CD8+CD103+CD69-TRM was significantly reduced. The combination group exhibited a significant improvement in inflammatory and fibrotic indicators within the lung tissues. Anti-PD-1 antibody and carbon ion irradiation synergistically regulate RGMb, leading to strong clonal expansion of lung TRM through the p38 MAPK and Erk1/2 pathways. The present study offers valuable insights into the treatment of lung injury due to the combined administration of carbon ion radiotherapy and anti-PD-1 antibody therapy.

MORPHOLOGICAL AND IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ENDOMETRIAL LAYERS IN WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE WITH ENDOMETRIAL HYPERPLASIA WITHOUT ATYPIA

Immunohistochemical staining may be useful for the differential diagnosis of endometrial hyperplasia (EH) without/with atypia and carcinoma. Several immunohistochemical biomarkers have already been investigated for use as diagnostic adjuncts in the diagnosis and classification of EH and may also predict progression from EH to carcinoma. However, the optimal molecular biomarker would be one that could reliably distinguish between hyperplastic benign with/without risk of recurrence, precancerous (hyperplastic atypical) and malignant endometrium, and indicate/predict transition between these three groups. To date, no candidate has been found to fully fill this role, so the search is ongoing.&#x0D; Aim. To study the morphological and immunohistochemically features of the structure of all layers of the endometrium, divided into functional and non-functional zones, which may have an impact on the development of endometrial hyperplasia&#x0D; Materials and methods. The study was performed on endometrial morphological material obtained by diagnostic biopsy from 21 women with abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) in the gynecological department of the Dnipro Clinical Hospital No. 9 in Dnipro during 2022-2023. The study investigated the expression of the biomarkers ER, PgR, Ki67, CK7, and CK8 in women with endometrial hyperplasia without atypia and secretory endometrium.&#x0D; Results. In women with EH without atypia, the expression of ER in the stroma spontaneously increases, while epithelial cells do not show sensitivity to estrogen. The expression of PgR in the glands spontaneously increases, while the expression of PgR in the stroma is low. This may indicate that stromal cells may be less sensitive to progesterone. High expression of Ki67 in endometrial hyperplasia causes active processes of cell proliferation, while low expression of Ki67 in normal endometrium indicates its physiological state. These data can be useful for diagnosis and detection of pathological changes of the endometrium. SK7 is expressed in epithelial cells, even with increased numbers. Normally, during functional observations of the endometrium, the expression of SK7 in epithelial cells is also observed. The functional zone is a layer of the endometrium that undergoes cyclical changes depending on the menstrual cycle of a woman. In this case, there is a regular renewal of cells expressing CK7, which remains one of the typical markers of epithelial cells. The analysis of SK7 expression allows us to detect differences in the processes of cell proliferation and differentiation between endometrial hyperplasia without atypia and normal endometrium. These data coincide with the findings of other authors, are important for a deeper identification of pathophysiological mechanisms associated with endometrial hyperplasia, and also include additional markers for the diagnosis and prognosis of this condition.&#x0D; Conclusion The study results suggest that the expression of ER, PgR, Ki67, CK7, and CK8 may be associated with the development of EH without atypia. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and to investigate the role of other biomarkers in the pathogenesis and diagnosis of EH.

Biomarkers in aortic dissection: Diagnostic and prognostic value from clinical research.

Aortic dissection is a life-threatening condition for which diagnosis mainly relies on imaging examinations, while reliable biomarkers to detect or monitor are still under investigation. Recent advances in technologies provide an unprecedented opportunity to yield the identification of clinically valuable biomarkers, including proteins, ribonucleic acids (RNAs), and deoxyribonucleic acids (DNAs), for early detection of pathological changes in susceptible patients, rapid diagnosis at the bedside after onset, and a superior therapeutic regimen primarily within the concept of personalized and tailored endovascular therapy for aortic dissection.

Myocardial deformation parameters assessed by CMR feature tracking in chronic heart failure: the influence of an optimal medical therapy on myocardial remodelling

Background Myocardial deformation parameters have been shown to yield early detection of pathological changes in chronic heart failure (CHF). Aim of our study was to evaluate myocardial deformation changes under optimal medical therapy (OMT) in CHF patients. Methods CHF patients were examined longitudinally with two cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) examinations at a median time interval of 140 days. Left and right ventricular volumes were quantified, and deformation analysis was performed using feature tracking, respectively. Results 57 patients were included into the study. There was a high rate of OMT with a prescription of beta blockers in 98.2% and ACE-inhibitors/Angiotensin receptor blockers in 93.0%. In the total cohort, there were indications of positive remodelling with a significant improvement in left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (38.9% ± 11.6 vs. 43.0% ± 12.7, p = 0.009), LV enddiastolic volume indexed (92.1 ml/m2 ± 23.5 vs. 87.2 ml/m2 ± 21.2, p = 0.007), LV mass (140.3 g ± 35.7 vs. 128.0 g ± 34.4, p = 0.001) and right ventricular global longitudinal strain (RV GLS) (−18.1% ± 5.1 vs. −20.3% ± 4.5, p < 0.001) during follow-up. Discussion Patients with CHF and OMT show positive reverse remodelling with improvement of LV volumes and function and RV GLS. This has a potential impact on the surveillance of this patient group, which should be further investigated in larger prospective studies.

Multiparametric magnetic resonance imagingfor detection of pathological changes in the central nervous system of a mouse model of multiple sclerosis in vivo.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease involving demyelination and axonal damage in the central nervous system (CNS). In this study, we investigated pathological changes in the lumbar spinal cord of C57BL/6 mice induced with progressive experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) disease using 9.4-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Multiparametric MRI measurements including MR spectroscopy, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and volumetric analyses were applied to detect metabolic changes in the CNS of EAE mice. Compared with healthy mice, EAE mice showed a significant reduction in N-acetyl aspartate and increases in choline, glycine, taurine and lactate. DTI revealed a significant reduction in fractional anisotropy and axial diffusivity and an increase in radial diffusivity in the lumbar spinal cord white matter (WM), while in the grey matter (GM), fractional anisotropy increased. High-resolution structural imaging also revealed lumbar spinal cord WM hypertrophy and GM atrophy. Importantly, these MRI changes were strongly correlated with EAE disease scoring and pathological changes in the lumbar (L2-L6), particularly WM demyelination lesions and aggregation of immune cells (microglia/macrophages and astrocytes) in this region. This study identified changes in MRI biomarker signatures that can be useful for evaluating the efficacy of novel drugs using EAE models in vivo.

Modern Aspects of Exercise Tolerance Assessment in Children with Post-COVID Syndrome, Pneumonia, and Obesity

An important and understudied problem is the state of health of children and adolescents who have experienced acute respiratory diseases or suffer from chronic diseases. Suffering from COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 syndrome, pneumonia are complex pathological conditions that significantly affect the functional capabilities of the child’s body and quality of life. Obesity, which is also an important medical and social problem, has no less impact on health. The purpose of the work is to summarize the data from the literature about the value of exercise tests in children with postcovid syndrome, after pneumonia of various etiologies, and obesity; modern aspects for assessing exercise tolerance. It is worth noting that nowadays screening programs for examining the health of children, aimed at prevention and early detection of pathological changes, play an important role. One of these methods of diagnosis, which makes it possible to determine and comprehensively analyze the body’s functional capabilities, is the assessment of exercise tolerance. The diagnostic value of analyzing the tolerance level lies in assessing the impact of various pathological conditions on the child’s health, and quality of life. The obtained results can be used to develop rehabilitation measures to eliminate the symptoms of acute diseases and improve the quality ofi fle. Tests with dosed physical exertion are used to assess exercise tolerance. The «gold standard» of the technique is cardiopulmonary exercise testing. However, world tolerance assessment guidelines include the use of other types of tests, such as office and field tests. The «gold standard» for assessing tolerance is the determination of the maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max), which characterizes the maximum amount of oxygen that is absorbed and used by the body during intense physical exertion involving a large possible part of the muscles. Also, during exercise tests, heart rate, blood pressure, and electrocardiogram recording are monitored, which creates significant diagnostic search opportunities for the pediatrician.

Rapid single-cell physical phenotyping of mechanically dissociated tissue biopsies

During surgery, rapid and accurate histopathological diagnosis is essential for clinical decision making. Yet the prevalent method of intra-operative consultation pathology is intensive in time, labour and costs, and requires the expertise of trained pathologists. Here we show that biopsy samples can be analysed within 30 min by sequentially assessing the physical phenotypes of singularized suspended cells dissociated from the tissues. The diagnostic method combines the enzyme-free mechanical dissociation of tissues, real-time deformability cytometry at rates of 100–1,000 cells s−1 and data analysis by unsupervised dimensionality reduction and logistic regression. Physical phenotype parameters extracted from brightfield images of single cells distinguished cell subpopulations in various tissues, enhancing or even substituting measurements of molecular markers. We used the method to quantify the degree of colon inflammation and to accurately discriminate healthy and tumorous tissue in biopsy samples of mouse and human colons. This fast and label-free approach may aid the intra-operative detection of pathological changes in solid biopsies.

Multi-Network Fusion Technology for Online Health Care

This research presents a multifunctional remote medical care structure based on multi-network fusion. The structure facilitates various processes, including entity registration, authentication, electronic medical record establishment, data acquisition, remote diagnosis, and information feedback. The user terminal consists of a smart phone and a medical sensor, while the structure server includes modules such as server communication, information management, safety, disease diagnosis, information feedback, and authentication center. The structure offers rapid response, timely detection of pathological changes, convenience, and rapidness. Additionally, it allows for easy functional expansion and significant upgrading capabilities.

Аналіз ступенів ризику наявності новоутворів у молочних залозах жінок зрілого і літнього віку за даними скринінгової мамографії

The purpose of the study was to find out the frequency of manifestation of pathological changes in the mammary glands during screening mammographic examination in a randomized sample of mature and elderly women. Materials and methods. According to the results of the processing of a randomized sample of archival anonymized mammograms of 100 women (50 – mature and 50 – elderly) who underwent a screening or preventive examination, the state of breast condition was assessed according to the BI-RADS scale in accordance with the degree of risk of the presence of mammary gland neoplasms, using the following assessment categories: 0 – incomplete study (additional examination is required); 1 – negative (no neoplasm detected); 2 – benign changes. Results and discussion. It was established that among mature and elderly women undergoing screening or preventive mammographic examinations, in 19% only age changes in the mammary gland were verified. Benign changes in the form of calcifications, calcified vessels, axillary or intramammary lymph nodes without metastatic signs of degeneration, which correspond to category 2 on the BI-RADS scale, were found in one mammary gland or bilaterally in 72% of the examined individuals. 28% of examined mature and elderly women need additional examination to verify the diagnosis. It was established that among mature and elderly women, according to mammography data, categories 1 and 2 on the BI-RADS scale are more often manifested on the right, category 0 – on the left, and the frequency of manifestation of changes corresponding to category 0 on the BI-RADS scale among the elderly increases comparing to mature. Studying the frequency of detection of pathological changes in mammary gland during screening examinations in randomized samples can become a theoretical basis for forecasting the dynamics of mammary gland incidence in women of different age groups, identifying risk groups and developing preventive measures for mammary gland pathology of various genesis and methods of its early diagnosis. Conclusion. Among mature and elderly women undergoing screening or preventive mammographic examinations, only age-related changes were verified in the mammary glands in only 19%, and changes which are verified as benign or require additional examination were detected in 81%. According to the results of mammography, 28% of examined mature and elderly women need additional examination to verify the diagnosis. Among mature and elderly women in a randomized sample, according to mammography data, categories 1 and 2 on the BI-RADS scale are more often manifested on the right, category 0 – on the left. The frequency of manifestation of changes corresponding to category 0 on the BI-RADS scale among the elderly increases compared to the mature

The effect of gestataional hypertension on the ultrastructural structure of the placenta

The objective: to study pathological changes and compensatory-adaptive reactions in the structural and ultrastructural components of the placental barrier in pregnant women with gestational arterial hypertension, who received magnesium preparations. Materials and methods. 100 patients with gestational hypertension were examined. The presence of magnesium deficiency in these women was determined by the results of our questionnaires.Pathomorphological and electronic microscopic examination of 32 placentas of patients with gestational hypertension was carried out. 12 placentas of them were from pregnant women who received the proposed management of pregnancy, which included magnesium drugs (I group), and 11 placentas – from patients with risk of preeclampsia, who were observed with the use of standard approaches of pregnancy for women with the risk of preeclampsia (II group). Control group included the results of pathomorphological and electronic microscopic study of 9 placentas from healthy women.Results. Placental of women with gestational hypertension have structural features, which is manifested by the mosaic change of placental barrier in the form of uneven circulatory disorders with hemorrhages and stasis (at the ultrastructural level) in the fetal microvessels of the villi, reducing the placental functional area (rapprochement of the villi), presence of stromal sclerosis villi, foci of pathological immaturity, increase in calcium salts (mineral dystrophy) on the background of compensatory reactions. Electronic microscopic study of the placentas in the I group revealed an increase in the compensatory-adaptive reactions of the placenta – thinning of the placental barrier, activation of cytotrophoblast cells in the placental barrier, increase the number of syncytiocapillary membranes in terminal villi with syncytiotrophoblast organic activation, increase in the number of ribosomes, the appearance of orthodox configuration of mitochondria, increasing the number of capillary membranes and thinning of syncytia, reducing the number of sludge phenomena in microvessels, which leads to an increase in the possibility of nutrient transfer from mother to fetus, etc.Conclusions. The use of the proposed therapy, which involves magnesium, diosmin and others substances, leads to a significant decrease in the frequency of detection of pathological changes in structural and ultrastructural components of the placental barrier and increased compensatory-adaptive reactions which can be considered the result of the positive impact of the proposed therapy on the placental ultrastructural elements in women with risk of preeclampsia.

Analysis of the manifestation frequency of different variants of calcifications in the mammary glands in women of mature and old age according to screening mammography data

The relevance of the problem of early diagnosis of pathological changes in the mammary glands (MG) of women of different ages is due to the fact that in the world rankings of neoplasms localization, both benign and malignant, the MG occupies a leading position today. According to multiple information sources, more than 80% of women of reproductive age are diagnosed with various MG diseases. For the purpose of early detection of pathological changes developing in MG today, mammography is widely used, which allows easy visualization of calcifications, MG and obtaining their complete characteristics.The purpose of our study was to determine the frequency of detection and to study the age-related dynamics of different types of calcifications in the mammary glands of mature and elderly women according to the mammography results.Material and methods. In the course of the research, a randomized sample of archival anonymized mammograms of 100 women (50 mature and 50 elderly) who underwent screening or preventive examination was processed. Examinations were performed on the Fujifilm Amulet Innovality device (Japan) in direct (SS) and medial-lateral oblique (MLO) projections. Calcifications were assessed by shape, number, and size.Research results. It was determined that in a randomized sample of examined women, only 34% of adults and 28% of elderly people did not have calcifications in the mammary glands. In 24% of adults and 48% of elderly people, calcifications were detected in the mammary glands bilaterally, in another 42% of adults and 24% of elderly people - in only one of the the mammary glands. Among women of mature age, the largest specific share in the examined sample belongs to persons without calcifications in the mammary glands; among the elderly, the largest share is women with calcifications in both mammary glands. According to the results of the conducted research in a randomized sample of mature and elderly women, the following was found: isolated scattered punctate calcifications (35% of the examined); single punctate/round calcifications (23% of the examined); annular calcifications (11% of the examined); multiple calcifications (19% of the examined); calcifications larger than 1 mm (14% of the examined); calcified vessels (4% of the examined).Conclusions. Digital mammography is a highly informative method of examining the mammary glands, which allows us to visualize calcifications and differentiate them by size, shape and number. According to the results of the analysis of a randomized examination sample of 100 mature and elderly women, various variants of calcifications were found as single, diffuse, punctate; single punctate/round; annular; multiple; greater than 1 mm; as well as calcified vessels. With age, the frequency of mammary gland calcifications increases.

The course of COVID-19 in newborns

Clinical Infectious Diseases Hospital. S.P. Botkin has been providing assistance to pregnant women and newborns suffering from COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic. In the period from April 2020 to April 2022, 550 newborns born to mothers suffering from COVID-19 of varying severity were observed in the hospital, of which 52 children had a registered diagnosis of COVID-19 (the SARS-CoV-2 virus was identified in a swab from the nasopharynx of a newborn using PCR). In this paper, an analysis of the pathological changes identified in this category of newborns was carried out, the issues of the influence of the covid status of the mother and the duration of stay with her on the child’s condition were studied. Analysis of the results of the work revealed a relationship between the duration of the period of stay of a newborn with a mother with an active form of COVID-19 and the severity of the disease in newborns. According to our clinical observations, the vertical route of transmission of the virus seems highly probable. Newborns who have had COVID-19 or have perinatal contact with SARS-CoV-2 are subject to dynamic observation. It is necessary to determine the order, timing and scope of dispensary observation for the timely detection of pathological changes in this category of children.

The Role and Place of Thanatoradiological Studies in the Pathological Examination of Fetuses and Newborns.

Analysis of published data on the possibilities of using postmortem radiation studies in perinatology is carried out and the results of own thanatoradiological studies of the bodies of dead fetuses and newborns are presented. The possibilities of postmortem radiation studies for differential diagnosis of stillborn and deceased newborns, evaluation of the severity of maceration and the time of intrauterine fetal death, detection of pathological changes in the brain and spinal cord, respiratory and digestive organs, in the cardiovascular and urinary systems were demonstrated. It is concluded that postmortem CT has a high diagnostic efficiency in the study of the bone skeleton, free fluid accumulations in serous cavities and gas in the vessels and tissues of dead fetuses and deceased newborns. The advantage of postmortem MRI is more effective visualization of internal organs and soft tissues, which allows assessing their topography and size, as well as identifying a wide range of pathological changes. For a comprehensive objective analysis of the bodies of stillborn and deceased newborns, combined use of both imaging methods (CT and MRI) is required. At the same time, thanatoradiology should be used as a part of a comprehensive pathological study, but not as a substitute for traditional autopsy.

Eye as a window to the brain: Review of retinal changes in Alzheimer’s dementia

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease causing significant morbidity and mortality in the elderly, affecting million worldwide. Diagnosis of AD is mainly by clinical symptoms, use of tests to detect loss of higher mental functions, and confirmed by neuroimaging studies such as magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography. Current research in AD aims at early detection of pathological changes in the brain and development of disease-modifying drugs. Testing the effectiveness of these drugs requires the development of a noninvasive and cost-effective screening tool. Retinal changes in patients with AD mirror those found in the brain and offers a window for early detection of AD before cognitive changes set it. This article reviews the pathological correlation between retinal changes and AD and the current advances in retinal imaging to detect AD.

Artificial Intelligence in Forensic Medicine and Toxicology: The Future of Forensic Medicine.

The predominance of artificial intelligence (AI) will be the next Industrial Revolution. All the fields of industry will be reshaped with AI. Forensic medicine and toxicology is an important branch for investigations of crimes and this branch has tremendous scope of development with the help of AI. Any science or process cannot stay away long from newer techniques. The traditional way of doing an autopsy and framing an opinion has a lot of limitations and these limitations can be overcome with AI. Various procedures of forensic medicine like analysis of toxins, collection of the various samples of medicolegal importance from body cavity, detection of pathological changes in various organs of the body, detection of various stains on the body, detection of a weapon used in crime, time since death calculations, etc. are the areas where AI will play a key role in framing the various opinions of medicolegal importance. AI can also be integrated into existing testing and analysis processes to make the whole procedure rapid and more accurate. In the future, AI might become a key part of forensic medicine and toxicology practice.

C-arm Fluoroscopy-Guided Percutaneous Needle Biopsy for the Diagnosis of Spinal Infection: A Study of 203 Consecutive Patients.

C-arm fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous needle biopsy (PNB) is a commonly used biopsy method, which shows similar diagnostic outcomes to CT-guided biopsy. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of C-arm fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous needle biopsy (PNB) for spinal infection. A total of 30 male and 73 female patients with suspected spinal infection were enrolled. Among enrolled patients, the spinal lesion was mainly located in the thoracic (T3-T12, 48.28%) and lumbar vertebra (L1-L5, 46.80%), and T12 was the most frequently involved site. C-arm fluoroscopy-guided PNB was performed for the isolation of biopsy samples in these patients. The overall detection rate of pathological changes in bone tissues was 94.1% (191/203), including 92 granulomata with caseous necrosis, 81 inflammatory tissues, 18 tumor tissues, and 12 bone tissues without visible pathological changes. After excluding the tumors, the detection rate of pathogenic microorganisms in liquid tissues was 50.27% (93/185), including 68 Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and 25 other microorganisms. Spinal tuberculosis was diagnosed in 118 (58%) cases, and nonspecific spinal infection with microorganisms other than Mycobacterium tuberculosis was diagnosed in 25 (12.7%) cases. Definite diagnosis was not determined in the left 42 (20.5%) patients with neither positive pathological nor pathogenic results. C-arm fluoroscopy-guided PNB is effective in the detection of pathological changes and pathogenic microorganisms, which is a practical approach for the diagnosis of spinal infection with high accuracy.