Intestinal parasitic infections in Bekasi district,West Java,Indonesia and a comparison of the infection rates determined by different techniques for fecal examination

This study was undertaken to determine the current status of intestinal parasitic infections among schoolchildren in West Java, Indonesia, and to compare the infection rates obtained by three different methods of fecal examination. A total of 285 fecal samples were collected from 131 males and 154 females at a junior high school. Samples were brought to the Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, and were examined for parasites by the Kato-Katz thick smear method (K-K). The residual samples were suspended in more than five volumes of 2% potassium dichromate solution and brought to the Department of Parasitology, Kobe University School of Medicine, Japan, where they were examined for parasites by the Army Medical School method (AMS III) and by the Sucrose Centrifugal Flotation method (SFL). The K-K revealed a total of two helminths with a prevalence of 10% (29/285). In contrast, nine species of parasites, 31% (89/285) positive, were obtained by AMS III, while 10 species, 22% (62/285) were found by SFL. Overall, 12 species of parasites were detected by the three methods: four species of nematoda (Trichuris trichiura, Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm, and Enterobius vermicularis); five species of protozoa (Giardia intestinalis, Entamoeba histolytica-like cyst, E. coli, Cyclospora sp, Blastocystis hominis); two unidentified species of nematode eggs; and one unidentified species of mite egg.     

Successful orthotopic liver transplantation for treatment of a hepatic yolk sac tumor

Yolk sac tumors (YSTs) represent 3% of malignancies in childhood and most commonly arise in the gonads. Hepatic YSTs are rare and previous reported cases were treated with resection and/or chemotherapy with mixed results. We present the first case of an unresectable hepatic YST in a 2-year-old boy treated successfully with liver transplantation.     

An evaluation of information dissemination during the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak among selected rural communities in Kuala Kangsar

To assess the level of knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) on SARS and its preventive measures among the rural population of Kuala Kangsar district. This KAP study was also done to identify the expectation and preference of rural population upon obtaining health information. This is a cross-sectional study of 201 households from four villages in Kuala Kangsar. Face-to-face interview was done regarding knowledge, attitude and practice on SARS and its preventive measures. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS (Version 10.0). A scoring system was used to assess the level of knowledge, attitude and practice towards SARS. Ninety one percent of the study population was aware of SARS. Majority of them have good attitude towards SARS based on the formulated scoring system. Television was found to be the first hand information about SARS and most preferred source of information by the rural population. Knowledge and attitude of respondents concerning SARS were good. Television was found to be the preference among the rural population in obtaining health information.     

New technique for fixation of Broviac catheters

Broviac catheters are in common use for administration of parenteral nutrition, cancer chemotherapy, and antibiotic therapy within the paediatric population. Inadvertent dislodgement of these catheters is common during the initial weeks before the Dacron cuff is anchored by the ingrowth of fibrous tissue. The authors describe a technique in which an internal fixation suture is placed to prevent dislodgement or migration. J Pediatr Surg 38:51-52.     

Protective effects of curcumin and photo-irradiated curcumin on circulatory lipids and lipid peroxidation products in alcohol and polyunsaturated fatty acid-induced toxicity

Alcohol is a neurotoxin associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Ethanol is found to induce a dose dependent increase in lipid peroxidation (LPO). The elevation in lipid peroxidative products and the loss of antioxidant defense potential are enhanced when alcohol is taken along with polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) or heated PUFA. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of curcumin and photo-irradiated curcumin on alcohol and PUFA induced LPO and lipid pro fi les in plasma. The levels of vitamin C and E were decreased significantly in alcohol + raw as well as heated PUFA groups. The treatment with curcumin and photo-irradiated curcumin (IC) increased their levels significantly. The increase was more significant in the IC group than the curcumin group. The levels of cholesterol, phospholipids (PL), triglycerides (TG), free fatty acids (FFA), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and hydroperoxides (HP) were increased significantly in alcohol + raw as well as heated PUFA groups and the treatment with curcumin and IC, brought back the levels. But the IC reduced the levels more significantly than curcumin. Thus, our results indicate that IC is a more potent antioxidant than curcumin.     

Small animal simultaneous PET/MRI: initial experiences in a 9.4 T microMRI

We developed a non-magnetic positron-emission tomography (PET) device based on the rat conscious animal PET that operates in a small-animal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner, thereby enabling us to carry out simultaneous PET/MRI studies. The PET detector comprises 12 detector blocks, each being a 4 × 8 array of lutetium oxyorthosilicate crystals (2.22 × 2.22 × 5 mm(3)) coupled to a matching non-magnetic avalanche photodiode array. The detector blocks, housed in a plastic case, form a 38 mm inner diameter ring with an 18 mm axial extent. Custom-built MRI coils fit inside the positron-emission tomography (PET) device, operating in transceiver mode. The PET insert is integrated with a Bruker 9.4 T 210 mm clear-bore diameter MRI scanner. We acquired simultaneous PET/MR images of phantoms, of in vivo rat brain, and of cardiac-gated mouse heart using [(11)C]raclopride and 2-deoxy-2-[(18)F]fluoro-D-glucose PET radiotracers. There was minor interference between the PET electronics and the MRI during simultaneous operation, and small effects on the signal-to-noise ratio in the MR images in the presence of the PET, but no noticeable visual artifacts. Gradient echo and high-duty-cycle spin echo radio frequency (RF) pulses resulted in a 7% and a 28% loss in PET counts, respectively, due to high PET counts during the RF pulses that had to be gated out. The calibration of the activity concentration of PET data during MR pulsing is reproducible within less than 6%. Our initial results demonstrate the feasibility of performing simultaneous PET and MRI studies in adult rats and mice using the same PET insert in a small-bore 9.4 T MRI.     

Venous sinus stenting for the treatment of isolated pulsatile tinnitus: Results of a prospective trial

ObjectivesThis prospective study evaluates the effectiveness and safety of venous sinus stenting for patients with isolated pulsatile tinnitus and lateral sinus stenosis.MethodsPatients with isolated pulsatile tinnitus and lateral sinus stenosis with a minimum trans stenotic gradient of 4 mm Hg were treated with stenting. Pulsatile tinnitus before and after treatment was assessed with the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI). Periprocedural adverse events, neurological complications, clinical and radiographic follow-up were also recorded.ResultsA total of 42 patients (41 females and 1 male) were included in the study (median age of 37.5 years). Thirty patients had post-stenotic fusiform and 12 had post-stenotic saccular venous sinus aneurysm. In addition to stenting, coils were used to treat the patients with saccular venous aneurysms. The median follow-up was 5 months (range 1 to 34 months). Most patients had complete (39/42) or near-complete (2/42) resolution of their pulsatile tinnitus post-procedure. There were no serious adverse events.ConclusionStenting of the lateral venous sinus is a safe and effective treatment for patients with isolated pulsatile tinnitus due to venous sinus stenosis.