No abstract

Chronic hepatitis B is a severe and frequently progressive disease. We assessed the safety and efficacy of thymosin fraction 5 and thymosin-alpha 1 in a prospective, placebo-controlled trial in 12 patients with chronic hepatitis B. All patients had histological and biochemical evidence of active liver disease for at least 6 mo before treatment and were positive for serum hepatitis B virus DNA and HBsAg. Seven patients received thymosin fraction 5 or thymosin-alpha 1 and five patients received placebo twice weekly for 6 mo. By the conclusion of the study (1 yr), serum aminotransferase levels had improved significantly in thymosin-treated patients, but not in the placebo group. Six (86%) of the thymosin treated patients and one (20%) patient given placebo cleared hepatitis B virus DNA from serum (p less than 0.04, Fisher's exact test). After treatment, replicative forms of hepatitis B virus DNA were present in the liver specimens of four of five placebo-treated patients but in only one of seven thymosin-treated patients (p less than 0.04, Fisher's exact test). Response to thymosin therapy was associated with significant improvements in peripheral blood lymphocyte and CD3 and CD4 counts and in in vitro production of interferon-gamma over initial values. No significant side effects were observed in patients given thymosin or in placebo-treated patients. Clinical, biochemical and serological improvement in patients responding to thymosin were sustained during 26 +/- 3 mo of follow-up. The results of this pilot trial suggest that thymosin therapy promotes disease remission and cessation of hepatitis B virus replication in patients with chronic viral infection.

ObjectivesLung tissue choristoma is a very rare disorder where mature lung tissues develop in the site not normal to the lung.Case presentationWe hereby report a first case of fetal pulmonary choristoma in a 23–24 weeks fetus where antenatal ultrasound showed a mass in posterior fossa with severe ventriculomegaly. The mass extended inferiorly in cervical spinal column and thereafter extended in the skin over the back of fetus. Fetal autopsy confirmed these findings. Pathologic findings showed mature lung tissues with bronchi, bronchioles, and alveoli. Clinical exome sequencing showed normal results.ConclusionsWe describe the antenatal ultrasound, fetal autopsy and pathologic findings of an intracranial and cutaneous pulmonary choristoma.

No abstract

BackgroundThis study aimed to compare and evaluate the outcomes of intralesional steroid injections (ultrasoundguided) versus extracorporeal shockwave therapy in the treatment of plantar fasciitis. MethodologyBetween January 2021 and March 2022, 120 (84 male, 36 female) patients with a confirmed diagnosis of plantar fasciitis were identified. Subjective assessment was done using Mayo Clinical Score, and objective evaluation was done by measuring plantar fascia thickness using ultrasonography. For this study, two groups were made, wherein group A was administered a high dose of extracorporeal shockwave therapy, and group B was administered ultrasound-guided intralesional or local steroid injections. ResultsPlantar fascia thickness was considerably reduced after therapy in both groups; however, the difference in thickness reduction was not statistically significant between both groups. Mayo Clinic Scores showed statistically significant improvement in pain; however, the difference in pain reduction was not statistically significant between both groups. ConclusionsA considerable clinical and radiological improvement was noted in both groups; however, we did not record statistically significant and superior results in either group. Intralesional steroid injections provided faster clinical improvement and better patient compliance.