Simultaneous mycobacterial infection of tonsil and cervical lymph node: Evidence to portal of entry

Mycobacterial infections are the group of disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and atypical mycobacterium. Tuberculosis is a systemic disease, which causes common cervical lymphadenitis as extrapulmonary symptoms. Differential diagnosis of atypical mycobacterial infection and tuberculosis by scanning techniques/radiographing imaging, histopathological evaluation and culturing is important due to their different treatments. Most of this systemic disease is curable with antituberculosis therapy. Atypical mycobacteria generally cause local cervical infections. These microorganisms are resistant to the medical therapy, treated by surgical management.In this article, 12-year-old boy admitted with tonsil hypertrophy and unknown bilateral jugulodigastric mass presented. Histopathologic examination of tonsillectomy material was reported as granulomatous inflammation considered primarily tuberculosis and nontuberculosis mycobacterium (NTM). Atypical mycobacteria were isolated from fine needle aspiration biopsy of cervical lymph node. Although antituberculosis regimen had been given to the patient for 18 months, there was no regression in lymphadenopathies. So bilateral selective cervical lymph node dissection was performed and all lymph nodes at this region were excised. There is no recurrence during 3-year follow-up period. The present case showed us, NTM can infect oral cavity and mucosa and spread to cervical area.     

Spinal intradural-intramedullary cavernous malformation. Case report and literature review

Cavernous angiomas or cavernomas are uncommon vascular malformations of the central nervous system and spinal involvement is much rarer especially in pediatric patients. We report a case of spinal intradural-intramedullary cavernous angioma in a 14-year-old male child. The cavernoma was located at the level of C6-C7 at the dorsal part of the spinal cord. The diagnosis was made with MRI and the patient underwent surgical treatment. The cavernoma was totally removed with laminotomy and microsurgical techniques. Somatosensory evoked potential monitoring was also used peroperatively. The clinical, radiological and surgical features of this rare case were presented and discussed with reference to the literature.     

Micromelic dwarfism--humerus, femur and tibia type

We report a baby with severe micromelic dwarfism characterized by severe shortening of the humeri, femora and tibiae with hypoplastic radii, ulnae and fibulae which are of normal shape. We suggest that this case is similar to the case reported by Baxova et al [(1993), Paediatr Radiol 23:446-449] confirming the identity of this new bone dysplasia.     

The Role of Pregnancy Awareness on Female Sexual Function in Early Gestation

IntroductionFemale sexual function is negatively influenced by pregnancy due to the physical and emotional changes. Although the most significant effect is seen in the third trimester of pregnancy, a considerable decrease in the frequency of intercourse and sexual desire in the first trimester has also been shown.AimTo investigate the factors that affect sexuality in early pregnancy and the impact of awareness of pregnancy on female sexual function in the first trimester of pregnancy using two self‐reported questionnaires.MethodsIn this cross‐sectional study, 130 healthy, married pregnant women who were admitted to the Gynecology Clinic between the 4th and 10th week of gestation were asked to complete a self‐administered questionnaire and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI).Main Outcome MeasuresThe factors associated with FSFI score and monthly sexual activity frequency in the first trimester, as well as the differences in sexual activity frequency and FSFI scores between the women who were previously aware of their pregnancy and those who were yet unaware of their pregnancy.ResultsWomen who were unaware of their pregnancy had significantly higher coitus frequency in comparison with the aware group (P = 0.002). Total FSFI score was 21.99 ± 8.13 in the aware group and 24.66 ± 3.76 in the unaware group (P = 0.02). None of the obstetric and sociodemographic variables had an influence on desire and pain scores. Arousal, lubrication, and satisfaction scores were adversely affected by awareness of pregnancy. Orgasm scores were influenced negatively by awareness and positively by love marriage; however, in multivariate linear regression analysis none of these were defined as independent factor for orgasm scores. Overall FSFI scores and monthly frequency of sexual activity were only affected by awareness.ConclusionThe results of this study suggest that in early gestation, awareness of pregnancy is associated with lower female sexual function. Furthermore, obstetric and sociodemographic factors seem to be ineffective on sexual function in early pregnancy. Corbacioglu A, Bakir VL, Akbayir O, Cilesiz Goksedef BP, and Akca A. The role of pregnancy awareness on female sexual function in early gestation. J Sex Med 2012;9:1914–1920.     

Detection of IgM antibodies against cytomegalovirus: comparison of two radioimmunoassays, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunofluorescent antibody test

The sensitivity and specificity of direct antibody radioimmunoassay (RIA), M-antibody capture RIA (MACRIA), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) test for the detection of CMV-specific IgM was compared using 40 sera selected from different groups of patients. RIA, MACRIA, and ELISA gave concordant results with thirty-two sera but discordant results with eight sera, of which three were cord sera from congenitally infected babies, three were from immunocompromised patients with recurrent CMV infections, and two were from patients with lymphadenopathy and Paul-Bunnell-positive mononucleosis, respectively. RIA, MACRIA, and ELISA were of similar sensitivity with sera from adult patients, but ELISA was apparently less sensitive than RIA and MACRIA for the detection of CMV IgM in cord serum. By comparison IFA was significantly less sensitive than the other three tests. Rheumatoid factor is reactive in RIA, ELISA, and IFA but can efficiently be removed by absorption with latex-IgG beads or cross-linked human IgG.     

Association between cigarette smoking and depressive symptoms among military medical students in Turkey

An association has been documented between two important health concerns, smoking and depression. A cross-sectional study was carried out to explore whether this relationship exists in a sample of Turkish military medical undergraduates. Of a total of 779 military medical undergraduates, 690 agreed to participate in the study. The students completed a self-administered questionnaire including the Turkish adaptation of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and gave a smoking history. It was determined that the smokers among medical students were 2.2 times more likely to have depressive symptoms than nonsmokers. This result extends the significant association between smoking and depressive symptoms in the literature to a sample of Turkish military medical undergraduates.     

Antiviral and antimicrobial activities of new nitrobutane derivatives

It is known that some addition products of beta-nitrostyrenes exhibit potent antimicrobial activity. In order to investigate the effects of structural modifications on the biological properties, some new Michael type addition products of beta-ethyl-beta-nitrostyrenes were synthesized. In this study, eight new 1-[(2-aminophenyl)thio]-1-phenyl-2-nitrobutane (2) derivatives were synthesized by addition of 2-aminothiophenol to the double bond of beta-ethyl-beta-nitrostyrenes (1). The chemical structures were proved by IR and 1H-NMR data and by elemental analysis. Antimicrobial activities of the synthesized compound were investigated against Escherichia coil, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans by the microdilution method. In addition, the newly synthesized compounds were studied for antiviral activities. All of them were found to be almost 100 fold more active than the standard compound aciclovir (CAS 59277-89-3).     

Opacification of a silicone intraocular lens caused by calcium deposits on the optic

We describe opacification of a plate-haptic silicone intraocular lens (IOL) caused by calcification in a diabetic patient with asteroid hyalosis. The IOL was explanted 48 months after uneventful phacoemulsification because opacification of the posterior surface was causing significant visual disturbance. Light and scanning electron microscopy and x-ray spectrometry of the explanted IOL showed the opacification consisted mainly of calcium and phosphate, presumably hydroxyapatite, in the form of precipitations on the posterior surface of the optic.