Singap Med J
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Anaerobic organisms are a rare cause of spondylodiscitis. Eggerthella lenta is an organism that is not commonly associated with spondylodiscitis. We describe a case of spondylodiscitis due to Eggerthella lenta in an 82-year-old Chinese woman presenting with back pain. The organism was isolated from tissue cultures obtained via radiology-guided biopsy.
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We report a rare case of spontaneous "idiopathic" rupture of the urinary bladder in a 38-year-old previously-fit and -well woman, who presented with symptoms of severe lower abdominal pain. Computed tomography of the abdomen and pelvis indicated the preliminary findings, but the final diagnosis was confirmed only at laparoscopy. The bladder was repaired. The postoperative cystogram showed excellent healing of the bladder, with no further intra-abdominal urinary leakage.
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The correlation between clinical and histopathology findings in appendicitis has been highlighted by many studies. However, the impact of this correlation on the surgical decision to remove a normal-looking appendix is still vague, with no clear definition of positive appendicitis. The aim of this study was to correlate the histological, operative and clinical diagnoses of acute appendicitis (AA). ⋯ The correlation of the clinical, microscopical and macroscopical findings in AA is important in order to understand the natural history of appendicitis, and this may help to formulate a sound surgical decision. These findings are supportive of justifying appendectomy for normal-looking appendices, if no other pathology is found.
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The concept of editorial freedom or independence is examined in the light of the editor-owner relationship. Like individual and national freedom or independence, it is a rhetorical concept whose realisation flows from internal achievement as much as it depends on external validation. This freedom entails roles and responsibilities embodied in specific codes of practice for editors, such as the guidelines espoused by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors and the World Association of Medical Editors. ⋯ The absence of clear contracts defining editorial independence and the lack of established mechanisms governing the editor-owner relationship affect many small- to medium-sized journals in developing countries. Even large journals in developed and democratic nations or totalitarian states and societies are not spared. At the end of the day, editorial freedom exists only insofar as it is tolerated, or until editors cross the line.