Failure of cesarean section to prevent intracranial hemorrhage in siblings with isoimmune neonatal thrombocytopenia

Two siblings with isoimmune neonatal thrombocytopenia developed severe neurological sequelae secondary to intracranial hemorrhage despite delivery by cesarean section. These cases demonstrate that cesarean section alone will not prevent intracranial hemorrhage, in utero or postnatally, in isoimmune neonatal thrombocytopenia.     

Ribosomal RNA gene organization in Cryptosporidium parvum

The cytoplasmic ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes of the Apicomplexan protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium parvum have been analyzed with respect to size, copy number, organization and structure. The small and large subunit rRNAs are 1.7 and 3.6 kb, respectively. A 151 bp putative 5.8S rRNA gene was identified. The rDNA unit is 5′ small subunit rRNA–internal transcribed spacer 1–5.8S rRNA–internal transcribed spacer 2–large subunit rRNA 3′. There are five copies of the rDNA unit per haploid genome and they are not organized in a conventional head to tail tandem array with a conserved external transcribed spacer. The rDNA units are dispersed through the genome to at least three chromosomes. At least two of the rDNA units are single unlinked copies on different chromosomes. There are two structurally distinct types of rDNA unit, Type A and B, with marked differences in the internal transcribed spacer regions. There are four copies of the Type A rDNA unit and one copy of the Type B rDNA unit.     

Therapeutic effects of walnut oil on the animal model of multiple sclerosis

Objectives: Therapeutic approaches for multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS), are accompanied by various undesirable side effects. Owing to the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of walnut, we investigated its effects on the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mouse model of MS.

Methods: After EAE induction in mice, the treated group was gavaged daily with walnut oil. The weights and clinical symptoms were monitored daily for 21 days following the onset of symptoms. The spleens and brains of the mouse were removed and used for ELISA and histological studies.

Results: The average disease severity and plaque formation in the brains of the walnut oil-treated group were significantly lower (P?<?0.05) than those of the untreated group. Stimulated splenocytes of the treated group expressed significantly less INF-γ and interleukin (IL)-17 than the untreated group with no significant differences in IL-10 or IL-5 production. In serum from the treated group, IL-17 expression was also significantly less than in the untreated group, while IL-10 was greater (P?<?0.05).

Conclusion: Walnut oil significantly reduced disease severity, inhibited plaque formation, and altered cytokine production. More studies are required to identify the mechanism of action of walnut oil as a valuable supplement in the treatment of MS.     

Transscleral vs transpupillary diode laser photocoagulation for the treatment of zone II type 1 retinopathy of prematurity: Anatomical and refractive outcomes

Purpose:To compare the anatomical and refractive outcomes of transscleral diode versus transpupillary laser photocoagulation for the treatment of zone II type 1 retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).Methods:In this prospective comparative interventional case series, infants with type 1 ROP in zone II were assigned to either transpupillary or transscleral laser based on the surgeons’ expertise area. The rate of regression, need for retreatment, and structural and biometric outcomes at month 6 were evaluated and compared between the two treatment groups.Results:In total, 209 eyes were enrolled; 145 eyes of 77 infants and 64 eyes of 33 infants and were in transscleral and transpupillary groups, respectively. There was no significant difference in baseline characteristics between the groups. There was no significant difference in retreatment rates (1.6% vs. 3.4%; P = 0.669) and progression to stage 4 (1.6% vs. 2.8%; P = 0.999) between the transpupillary and transscleral groups, respectively. At month 6, the mean spherical equivalent was 0.31 ± 3.57 and 0.44 ± 2.85 diopters, and the axial length was 18.28 ± 6.22 and 18.36 ± 6.87 mm in the transpupillary and transscleral groups, respectively, without a significant difference between groups. There was no significant difference in the rate of myopia (43.8% vs. 33.8%; P = 0.169) and high myopia (4.7% vs. 4.8%; P = 0.965) in transpupillary and transscleral groups at month 6.Conclusion:The transpupillary and transscleral laser photocoagulation routes are both effective in the treatment of zone II type 1 ROP and show no significant differences in anatomical or refractive outcomes in relation to the route chosen.     

Orthopedic effects of splint high-pull headgear—A cephalometric appraisal

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to investigate the orthopedic effect of maxillary splint high-pull head gear appliance on maxillary complex.DesignRetrospective study.SettingsPatients under treatment in the Department of Orthodontics, Azad University, during one year period from November 2003 to March 2004.SubjectsLateral cephalometric radiograph of 26 patients (11 boys and 15 girls, with a mean age of 11.3 years) treated with splint high-pull headgear appliance was compared with a similar control group of 26 individuals (11 boys and 15 girls with a mean age of 12.6 years).Main outcome measuresThe result of the present study showed that the treated group more closely approximated Class I cephalometric values after treatment, whereas the control group with a Class II skeletal pattern did not necessarily become “less Class II” due to growth.ResultsPoint A was held efficiently in the treated group (S–A = 0.4 mm) whereas in the control group it had relocated downward and forward 2.00 mm along sella–point A (S–A) line. Also, the relocation of the point A in the horizontal (X-axis) and vertical (Y-axis) planes confirmed these findings. No rotational changes of palatal plane were recorded in the treated group. Mandibular skeletal changes were similar to the control group. Maxillary dentition was relocated more posteriorly.ConclusionsIt was concluded that the maxillary splint with high-pull headgear in the present study held the maxilla in position without any rotational changes of the palatal plane. Therefore, a normal skeletal relationship was achieved in the treated group through a combination of maxillary basal bone and dentoalveolar growth inhibition and a normal expression of mandibular growth.     

Maternal perception of fetal movement type: the effect of gestational age and maternal factors

Objective: To assess maternal perception of fetal movement types and its association with maternal factors in normal pregnancies with good pregnancy outcome.

Methods: This study was conducted on 729 normotensive singleton pregnant women with good pregnancy outcome who had referred for prenatal visit. After completing a questionnaire, the participants were asked to count fetal movements for 1?h/3 times/day. They were also asked to identify the type of fetal movement: general body movement (GBM) (rolling and stretching/strong), isolated limb movement (ILM; simple flutter or kicks/weak), trunk movement (TM) (strong jab, startle/strong), or hiccup movement (HM) (high frequency and rapid/weak). All the participants were followed till delivery to exclude pregnant women with preterm birth and/or small for gestational age from the study.

Results: 90.8% of participants perceived GBM, which was independently associated with maternal unemployment (OR?=?2.28, 95% CI?=?1.18–4.4). 74.2% of participants perceived TM, which was associated with multiparity (OR?=?1.69, 95% CI?=?1.18–2.4). 86.3% perceived ILM, which was independently associated with maternal unemployment (OR?=?2.67, 95% CI?=?1.53–4.68), lower gestational age (OR?=?2.17, 95% CI?=?1.28–3.67), perception of fetal movements at night (OR?=?2.05, 95% CI?=?1.27–3.32), and multiparity (OR?=?1.68, 95% CI?=?1.04–2.72). 36.6% perceived HM, which was independently associated with higher gestational age (OR?=?1.71, 95% CI?=?1.2–2.44).

Conclusions: Most pregnant women could discriminate changes in fetal movement type that follow a general pattern through the third gestational trimester, however this can be affected by maternal employment, parity and time of perception.     

Dynamic characterization of indocyanine green–assisted dental caries ablation with continuous diode laser using thermal imaging and fluorescence spectroscopy

Lasers in Medical Science - We describe the time-resolved thermal changes in indocyanine green (ICG)–assisted diode laser ablation of dental caries as a potential technique for painless...