Pentalogy of Cantrell with Left Ventricular Diverticulum: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Pentalogy of Cantrell is a rare congenital anomaly involving deficiency of the following structures: anterior diaphragm, supraumbilical abdominal wall, diaphragmatic pericardium, lower sternum, and associated congenital intracardiac abnormality. We describe a 3-month-old child with this syndrome having left ventricular diverticulum along with omphalocele who presented to us with a pulsating mass in the epigastrium. The defect was evaluated and defined by computed tomography scan. A team of pediatric, cardiac, and plastic surgeons successfully repaired the defects. This case report discusses the review of literature along with management options and concludes that there must be an emphasis on early repair of left ventricular diverticulum to prevent complications. Antenatal ultrasound can also detect the anomaly, and early postnatal diagnosis of the syndrome, followed by immediate surgical repair, can prevent lethal complications.     

Detection of canine echinococcosis by coproantigen ELISA

ObjectiveTo study the canine echinococcosis by coproantigen ELISA method.MethodsDuring the present investigation experimental infection was established using evaginated worms of Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus). To check cross reactivity two pups were infected with Taenia hydatigena (T. hydatigena). In order to detect the presence of antigen, hyperimmune sera were raised against excretory-secretory products of adult worms E. chinococcus granulosus. Faecal sample collected either from experimentally infected pups or from other sources were heated at 70 °C to detect heat stable soluble antigen.ResultsPups harbouring less than 104 worms showed negative results. Samples collected from 14 days onwards from experimentally infected animals harbouring more than 104 worms showed positive value. The maximum positive samples were detected in samples collected from in and around slaughter house and the least number of samples were detected positive maintained by dog squad.ConclusionsThe affinity purified IgG exhibited promising results for detection of canine echinococcosis by indirect ELISA.     

The presence of peptidoglycan O-acetyltransferase in various staphylococcal species correlates with lysozyme resistance and pathogenicity

Human-pathogenic bacteria that are able to cause persistent infections must have developed mechanisms to resist the immune defense system. Lysozyme, a cell wall-lytic enzyme, is one of the first defense compounds induced in serum and tissues after the onset of infection. Recently, we showed that Staphylococcus aureus is resistant to lysozyme by O acetylating its peptidoglycan (PG) by O-acetyltransferase (OatA). We asked the question of which staphylococcal species PG is O acetylated. We applied various methods, such as genome analysis, PCR, Southern blotting, lysozyme sensitivity assay, and verification of O acetylation of PG by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. PCR analysis using S. aureus-derived oatA primers and Southern blotting did not yield reliable results with other staphylococcal species. Therefore, we used the HPLC-based assay to directly detect PG O acetylation. Our studies revealed that the muramic acid was O acetylated only in pathogenic, lysozyme-resistant staphylococci (e.g., S. aureus, S. epidermidis, S. lugdunensis, and others). All nonpathogenic species were lysozyme sensitive. They can be divided into sensitive species (e.g., S. carnosus, S. gallinarum, and S. xylosus) and hypersensitive species (e.g., S. equorum, S. lentus, and S. arlettae). In all lysozyme-sensitive species, the analyzed PG was de-O-acetylated. When we transformed the oatA gene from lysozyme-resistant S. aureus into S. carnosus, the corresponding transformants also became lysozyme resistant.     

Comparison of Tru-Cut Biopsy and Incisional Biopsy in Achieving Prompt Diagnosis of Maxillofacial Pathology

Tru-cut (core needle) biopsy has many advantages over open biopsy. It is quick and easy to perform, may be carried out in the outpatient department, avoids incision through previously irradiated skin and has few complications. The purpose of this study is to compare the two available biopsy techniques that are Tru-cut biopsy and incisional biopsy in achieving prompt diagnosis of maxillofacial pathology. A prospective study was conducted in 25 patients reported to our department. The Tru-cut biopsy was performed by using 14 gauge disposable Tru-cut biopsy needles (Baxter, made in the USA) by means of two successive insertions with different angulations of the needle into the core of the lesion followed by incisional biopsy. The diagnostic criteria which were evaluated include: sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and accuracy. Tru-cut biopsy had sensitivity of 68.42%; specificity of 83.33%; PPV of 92.86%; NPV of 45.45% with accuracy rate of 72%. The Tru-cut biopsy method was evaluated as a very helpful method for prompt diagnosis of maxillofacial pathology since it is practical to perform, causes minimum trauma to the tissue, decreases the metastatic risk of malignant lesions during the procedure and relatively free from complications.     

Rhabdomyosarcoma of nose, nasopharynx and paranasal sinuses

Rhabdomyosarcoma is an aggressive malignant soft tissue tumor that arises from primitive striated muscle cells called rhabdomyoblasts. It is the most common soft tissue malignant tumor in children and accounts for about 7–8% of childhood cancers. It can arise from almost anywhere in the body but it is most common in the head and neck region. This article presents six cases of rhabdomyosarcoma involving the nose, nasopharynx and the paranasal sinuses four of which were treated with a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy and two were treated with medial maxillectomy combined with chemotherapy and radiotherapy.