Multicenter evaluation of AYC.2.2 agar for the isolation of mycobacteria from clinical samples

PurposeThe aim of this multicenter study is to evaluate AYC.2.2 agar for the isolation of mycobacteria from clinical samples.MethodsTotally 5559 media were tested in 7 centers. AYC.2.2 agar media for the study were prepared by C1 and sent to other centers under appropriate conditions. Other media except AYC.2.2 agar were purchased commercially.The media were subjected to routine laboratory operations in the center where they were sent. After the samples received for routine processing (in all centers, samples were processed with the same method (NALC-NaOH)), they were cultivated on routine media and AYC.2.2 agar afterward.ResultsC1: Average growth time was determined as 12.74±3.74 days with MGIT 960 system; 24.42±4.75 days with LJ and 24.37±4.96 days with AYC.2.2 agar. C2: Average growth time was determined as 18.25±9.32 days with TK-Medium, 28.73±7.44 days with LJ, and 31.72±6.35 days with AYC.2.2 agar. C3: Average growth time was determined as 20.48±7.24 days with Ogawa medium, 20.74±7.12 days with LJ, and 20.26±7.43 days with AYC.2.2 agar. C4: Average growth time was determined as 15.27±6.37 days with MGIT 960 system, 22.14±9.1 days with LJ, and 22±8.45 days with AYC.2.2 agar. C5: Average growth time was determined as 13±4.24 days with MGIT 960 system, 32.16±6.23 days with LJ, and 33±5.73 days with AYC.2.2 agar. C6: Average growth time was determined as 9±3.11 days with MGIT 960 system, 18.68±5.32 days with LJ, and 18.34±4.63 days AYC.2.2 agar. C7: Average growth time was determined as 14.74±7.65 with MGIT 960 system, 26.01±8.21 days with LJ, and 26.24±7.88 days with AYC.2.2 agar.ConclusionsIn conclusion, similar results were obtained with LJ and Ogawa media and AYC.2.2 agar. Furthermore, more studies should be conducted for isolation of M. tuberculosis and performing antibiotic susceptibility tests using AYC.2.2 agar before it can be used as a routine media in the laboratories.     

Assessment of cardiac parameters in evaluation of cardiac functions in patients with thalassemia major

The aim of the study was to evaluate cardiac function and early cardiac dysfunction of patients followed as thalassemia major. In this study, the authors compared 100 patients, diagnosed as thalassemia major with mean age 11.84 ± 4.35, with 60 healthy control subjects at the same age between 2008 and 2011. Early diagnosis of iron overload that may occur after repeated transfusions is important in this patient group. To detect early iron accumulation, the authors compared ferritin with the echo findings, the 24-hour Holter, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2* values in the patients of same age and sex, treated with chelators, without heart failure, nonsplenectomized, and do not differ in the presence of hepatitis C. Ferritin levels, left ventricular systolic functions (ejection fraction [EF], shortening fraction [SF]), left ventricular measurements, left ventricular diastolic functions, T2* image on cardiac magnetic resonance, heart rate variables in 24 hours, and Holter rhythm were evaluated to show the early failure of cardiac functions. In this study the authors confirmed that iron-related cardiac toxicity damages electrical activity earlier than myocardial contractility. Left ventricular diastolic diameter (LVDd), left ventricular mass (LVM), and LV systolic diameter (LVDs) levels were significantly higher in the patient group with ectopia. Patients with ectopia are the ones in whom LVM and LVDd are increased. In thalassemia major patients with ectopia, LF/HF ratio was markedly increased, QTc dispersion was clearly found higher in patients with ectopia rather than nonectopic patients. The standard deviation all normal RR interval series (SDNN) was found clearly lower in thalassemia major group with ectopia than control group because it is assumed that increase in cardiac sympathetic neuronal activity is related to exposure to chronic diastolic and systolic failure.     

Bisphosphonate treatment at spondylo-ocular syndrome due to a novel compound heterozygote variant in XYLT2 and review of the literature

Spondylo-ocular syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by generalized osteoporosis, hearing loss, visual impairment due to cataract, and platyspondyly. Previous studies have revealed that the syndrome is caused by pathogenic variants in the XYLT2 gene. A patient with spondylo-ocular syndrome and two heterozygous pathogenic variant in the XYLT2 gene in compound state are described here. The patient presented with osteoporosis, platyspondyly, ocular findings, hearing loss, kyphosis, scoliosis, facial findings, intellectual disability, and undescended testicles. Previous reports of bisphosphonate treatment response were variable, whereas a long-term follow-up with bisphosphonate treatment in this case resulted in normalization of vertebral structures. Reporting such cases helps to determine the appropriate genotype–phenotype correlation in patients with XYLT2-related pathogenesis.     

Beneficial Effect of Etanercept on Hyperoxic Lung Injury Model in Neonatal Rats

Purpose: To determine whether prophylaxis with etanercept, an anti-inflammatory drug, would decrease the severity of lung injury in a neonatal rat model of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD); Materials and Methods: Rat pups were divided into three groups: pups exposed to room air (group 1; n = 10), to hyperoxia + placebo (group 2; n = 9), and to hyperoxia + etanercept (group 3; n = 8). Lung morphology was assessed by alveolar surface area percentage, which is a measure of alveolar size. The severities of lung inflammation and antioxidant capacity were assessed by quantifying tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), malondialdehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) from lung homogenate; Results: The percentage of alveolar surface areas were significantly higher in group 3 compared to group 2 (p = .004) and similar in both group 1 and group 3 (p = .21). The mean level of lung MDA was significantly higher in group 2 compared to group 1 and group 3 (p < .05 for both). Lung homogenate SOD activities in group 3 was significantly higher than group 2 (p < .001). Furthermore, group 3 pups had lower levels of TNF-α and TGF-β in lung homogenate than that in group 2 (p < .05 for both) but similar in both group 1 and group 3; Conclusion: Etanercept has favorable effects on alveolarization as well as inflammation and oxidative stress markers in a neonatal rat model of BPD.     

Cirsoid aneurysms of the scalp

This study reviewed the surgical management of cirsoid aneurysms of the scalp, which are rarely encountered in the neurosurgical practice, and compares the results with embolization. 21 patients with cirsoid aneurysm underwent surgery. There were 1 female and 20 male patients. Trauma was present in four patients. Selective internal and external carotid artery angiograms and cranial magnetic resonance imaging studies were performed on all patients. All angiograms were staged according to published procedures. There were 15 (71.4%) Stage 1a, 4 (19.1%) Stage 1b, and 2 (9.5%) Stage 3 patients.Total excision of the lesion was achieved in 19 patients (90.5%). We operated on only one patient for a second time, because of a residual lesion, and we resected the lesion totally. Only two patients developed necrosis of the scalp (button hole). Both scalp necroses were on the frontal area. Other patients all had good cosmetic results. Surgical resection of cirsoid aneurysms seems to be the most effective treatment with good results. There may be a tendency for the occurrence of necrosis on the frontal area. Staging of the scalp aneurysms has no effect on surgical outcome.     

Testicular adrenal rests in a patient with congenital adrenal hyperplasia: US and MRI features

We present ultrasonographic and magnetic resonance imaging findings of intratesticular adrenal rests in a 16-year-old patient with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Scrotal ultrasonography showed bilateral well-delineated homogenous hypoechoic lesions located around the mediastinum testis, which were highly vascularized on power Doppler ultrasonography. Relative to normal testicular parenchyma the lesions were iso- or hyperintense on T1-weighted and hypointense on T2-weighted images. T2-weighted images also showed a target-like appearance caused by a more hypointense peripheral halo around the lesions. The lesions enhanced remarkably on post-contrast images. This case suggests that radiological evaluation of testes, even in the presence of normal physical examination findings, should be included in periodical follow-up of patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is useful in demonstrating the lesions, because the contrast resolution better than with ultrasonography.     

Kidney biopsy in the elderly: diagnostic adequacy and yield

International Urology and Nephrology - The number of kidney biopsies (KB) performed in elderly patients has been increasing. Safety and usefulness of elderly KB have been well established, whereas...     

Urinary MMP-9/NGAL complex in children with acute cystitis

The matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL) are shown to increase in an inflammatory situation. Based on our previous reports that NGAL can be detected in the urine of children with urinary tract infection (UTI), we also asked whether MMP-9/NGAL complex could be detected in the urine of children with UTI. This multicenter, prospective study was conducted between October 2009 and October 2010. Seventy-one patients with symptomatic culture proven UTI, 37 asymptomatic children with contaminated urine and 37 healthy children were recruited. Mean uMMP-9/NGAL/Cr levels were significantly higher in the UTI group than in the control group (p < 0.0001). According to ROC analysis, the optimal cut-off level was 0.08 ng/mg to predict UTI. Using a cut-off value, sensitivity and specificity were 98.6 and 97.3%, respectively. The mean levels of uMMP-9/NGAL/cr in the UTI group were also significantly higher than those in the contamination group (p < 0.0001). There was no statistically significant difference between contamination group and the control group (p = 0.21). The mean uMMP-9/NGAL/Cr in the UTI group were significantly higher before treatment than after treatment (p < 0.0001). The area under the curve was 0.997 (SE: 0.002, 95% CI: 0.993 to 1.001) for uMMP-9/NGAL/Cr. Urinary MMP-9/NGAL/Cr level was also correlated with positive urine nitrite test, positive urine leukocyte esterase reaction and renal scarring (p = 0.0001, p = 0.0001, p = 0.04, respectively) whereas was not correlated to leukocytosis and positive CRP level in serum. Urine MMP-9/NGAL/cr can be used as a diagnostic biomarker for UTI in children. Identification of NGAL-MMP-9/cr levels in the urine of suspected UTI patients may also be useful to differentiate between contamination and infection and for monitoring of treatment response in children.     

Primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy

In this article a family with five members suffering from primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (PHO) is reported. Our cases are characterized by swollen and painful joints and clubbing of distal phalanges of hands and feet. The diagnosis made upon radiological and clinical findings.