Increased number of substitutions in the D-loop of mitochondrial DNA in the sudden infant death syndrome

The purpose of the present study was to investigate substitutions in the D-loop of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and controls, since several observations indicate the involvement of mtDNA mutations in SIDS. These include elevated levels of vitreous humour hypoxanthine in SIDS victims, familial clustering without mendelian traits, and observations of increased sleepiness and a lower activity score in infants who later succumbed to SIDS. Eighty-two cases of SIDS and 133 controls were investigated and the D-loop sequences were recorded in the base-pair range 16 055-16 500 in the mtDNA sequence. The sequencing was carried out using the Applied Biosystems Sequenase dye terminator method and a ABD373A sequencer. The recorded D-loop sequences were compared with the Cambridge sequence and differences were recorded as substitutions. The SIDS cases had a tendency towards a higher substitution rate in the D-loop than the controls ( p = 0.088). This observation makes it interesting to search for deleterious mutations in other locations in the mtDNA.     

Infection of Anisakids Larvae in Long Tail Tuna (Thunnus tonggol) In North Persian Gulf

Background

The aim of this paper was to study the prevalence and intensity of Anisakids larvae in the long tail tuna fish captured from Iranian shores of Persian Gulf.

Methods

Different organs including skin, abdominal cavity, stomach and intestinal contents, stomach sub serous tissues, liver, spleen, gonads and 20 grams of muscles of 100 long tail tuna fish (Thannus tonggol) caught from waters of the north parts of Persian Gulf were searched for anisakid nematodes larvae. Twenty grams of around the body cavity muscles were digested in artificial gastric juice. Different organs and digested muscles were examined with naked eyes for the presence of anisakids larvae. The collected larvae were preserved in 70% alcohol containing 5% glycerin, and cleared in lactophenol for identification.

Results

Our findings revealed that 89% of fish harbored 3^rd stage larvae of Anisakis sp. of which 2% were infected with both Anisakis and Raphidascaris. All inspected organs except that of skin were found to be infected, while stomach sub serous tissues were the most infected organ (80%) followed by abdominal cavity (10%), liver (4%), testicle (3%), stomach contents and spleen (2%) and intestinal contents (1%). Intestine and abdominal cavity were the organs harbored Raphidascaris sp. Digested muscles were free of parasite. Mean intensity was low for both species and ranged between 1.5 for Raphidascaris sp. and 3.67 for Anisaki sp.

Conclusion

Anisakids larvae especially Anisakis are very prevalent in some fish including tunas of Persian Gulf, and consumption of infected fish if it is not properly cooked may lead to human anisakiasis.     

Recurrent hemoptysis with Penicillium marneffei and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia in Job’s syndrome

Pulmonary infection caused by the opportunistic organisms Penicillium marneffei and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia in patients with Job’s syndrome is rare and not well documented. The case of a 30-year-old man with Job’s syndrome who developed recurrent pneumonia and lung abscesses caused by P marneffei and S maltophilia, complicated by massive hemoptysis, is described. Bronchial artery embolization was successful in controlling the hemoptysis; however, the infection proved fatal despite appropriate antimicrobial therapy. A brief review of the literature on Job’s syndrome and its associated infective pulmonary manifestations is also presented.     

Image-directed percutaneous biopsies with a biopsy gun

Core tissue for histologic study is believed by many pathologists to be more diagnostic than material from needle aspiration. Recently, a biopsy "gun" has been introduced, which simplifies core biopsies. With this device, 182 biopsies of multiple anatomic sites were performed with ultrasonic, computed tomographic, and fluoroscopic guidance and 18-gauge needles. High-quality histopathologic specimens were obtained in 177 of the biopsies, and diagnostic target tissue was obtained in 167. Only three significant complications occurred: one bleeding complication that required transfusion and two cases of pneumothorax that necessitated placement of chest tubes. The biopsy gun eliminated the disjointed movements of conventional "skinny" needle biopsies, and none of the samples demonstrated significant "crush" artifact or obscuring blood, problems that are commonly associated with manual biopsy techniques. Patient discomfort was decreased with this system compared with that of manual biopsies, and the total procedure time was reduced. Because of these distinct advantages, the authors now use the biopsy gun exclusively for all percutaneous biopsies and recommend that other institutions consider the use of this biopsy method.     

Mental Well‐Being Mediates the Relationship between Perceived Stress and Perceived Health

The association between stress and health has been well researched in the past; however, comparatively few mediators have been tested to understand the underlying mechanism. With increasing awareness on mental well‐being, this study evaluated the relationship between perceived stress and perceived health and examined mental well‐being as a mediator. Two‐hundred undergraduates aged 21 to 26 years completed the English Perceived Stress Scale, Health Status Questionnaire and Asian Mental Well‐Being Scale that assess perceived stress, perceived health and mental well‐being, respectively. Factor analysis and structural equation modelling on the Perceived Stress Scale replicated the reported two‐factor structure after excluding an insignificant item. Linear multiple regression analyses indicated that perceived stress was negatively associated with perceived health. Results showed that mental well‐being partially mediated the relationship between perceived stress and perceived health, although it is acknowledged that this association could be bidirectional. Findings from the present study suggest that future research could focus on reducing stress and improving mental well‐being to alleviate the effect of stress on health. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

股骨近端锁定加压钢板治疗股骨转子间骨折

目的 探讨股骨近端锁定加压钢板（LCP）内固定治疗股骨转子间骨折的临床疗效.方法 采用股骨近端LCP治疗23例股骨转子间骨折的患者.随访观察骨折愈合时间,按Harris评分标准评价疗效.结果 23例均获随访,时间6~12（9±1.4）个月.骨折愈合时间14~20（17±1.7）周.髋关节Harris评分：优13例,良9例,一般1例.结论 股骨近端LCP内固定治疗股骨转子间骨折创伤小、出血少、对骨膜影响小,符合解剖形态,临床疗效满意.     

The leftward deletion alpha-thal-2 haplotype in a black subject with hemoglobin SS

We have identified a black individual with homozygous sickle cell anemia who is the silent carrier of alpha-thalassemia (genotype - alpha/alpha alpha) due to heterozygosity for the leftward deletion alpha-thal-2 haplotype. This deletion has not been described previously in a black subject and is the only leftward deletion that we have found among 255 alpha-thal-2 chromosomes from sickle cell subjects. Its effects on the clinical, hematologic, biosynthetic, and cellular pathology of sickle cell anemia resemble those reported for the common alpha-thalassemia genotypes of the black population.