Experimental autoimmune meningitis: a novel neurological disease in CD28-deficient mice

C57BL/6 mice develop T-cell-mediated experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) after immunization with the neuroantigen myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein. (MOG). We immunized CD28-deficient C57BL/6 mice to determine the role of T cell costimulation in the immune response to MOG. CD28-/- mice developed experimental autoimmune meningitis (EAM). EAM is a fatal, acute disease characterized by simultaneous weakness in all limbs, photophobia, irritability, and spatial disorientation. Histologically, EAM consisted of an infiltrate of myeloid, monocytic, and lymphocytic leukocytes within the leptomeninges. In contrast, the brain parenchyma was unaffected. EAM was mediated by CD4+ T cells since CD4 depletion prevented the disease. Upon rechallenge, mice in which EAM was prevented by CD4+ cell depletion developed EAE not EAM. Therefore, the presence or absence of CD28 determines the initial phenotype of the immune response to MOG. EAM, which develops in the absence of CD28, is a unique experimental model for immune-mediated aseptic meningitis.     

Association between community-acquired pneumonia and platelet indices: A case-control study

Objective: To examine whether the platelet index would be applicable for the diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).Methods: In this study, 64 CAP patients (the case group) and 68 healthy children (the control group) were included from 2017 to 2018. Baseline variables were recorded including total white blood cells, neutrophils, lymphocytes, red blood cells, platelet, mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein, and compared between the case group and the control group. The cutoff value, sensitivity, and specificity of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and platelet larger cell ratio were calculated by receiver-operating characteristic curves. Results: The median platelet count of the case group and the control group were (411.09±67.40) mm3 and (334.48±78.15) mm3, respectively (P=0.000). The median neutrophil count of the case group was higher than that of the control group, while the lymphocyte level of the case group was lower. Differences in other variables including the mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width, C-reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were not statistically significant between the two groups. Conclusions: Due to the different levels of platelet, neutrophil and lymphocyte indices in the case and the control group, these indices can be used simultaneously for the diagnosis of CAP.     

Spatio-temporal Distribution of Suicide Risk in Iran: A Bayesian Hierarchical Analysis of Repeated Cross-sectional Data

ObjectivesWe aimed to estimate the space-time distribution of the risk of suicide mortality in Iran from 2006 to 2016.MethodsIn this repeated cross-sectional study, the age-standardized risk of suicide mortality from 2006 to 2016 was determined. To estimate the cumulative and temporal risk, the Besag, York, and Mollié and Bernardinelli models were used.ResultsThe relative risk of suicide mortality was greater than 1 in 43.0% of Iran’s provinces (posterior probability >0.8; range, 0.46 to 3.93). The spatio-temporal model indicated a high risk of suicide in 36.7% of Iran’s provinces. In addition, significant upward temporal trends in suicide risk were observed in the provinces of Tehran, Fars, Kermanshah, and Gilan. A significantly decreasing pattern of risk was observed for men (β, −0.013; 95% credible interval [CrI], −0.010 to −0.007), and a stable pattern of risk was observed for women (β, −0.001; 95% CrI, −0.010 to 0.007). A decreasing pattern of suicide risk was observed for those aged 15–29 years (β, −0.006; 95% CrI, −0.010 to −0.0001) and 30–49 years (β, −0.001; 95% CrI, −0.018 to −0.002). The risk was stable for those aged >50 years.ConclusionsThe highest risk of suicide mortality was observed in Iran’s northwestern provinces and among Kurdish women. Although a low risk of suicide mortality was observed in the provinces of Tehran, Fars, and Gilan, the risk in these provinces is increasing rapidly compared to other regions.     

Lack of stage-specific proteins in coccoid Helicobacter pylori cells

Helicobacter pylori exists in two distinct forms, rod shaped or coccoid, in stomachs of infected patients. Based on in vitro proteome comparisons, there are no detectable coccoid-specific proteins, which argues against the specific adaptation of coccoid Helicobacter to distinct biological functions, such as enhanced persistence or transmission to other hosts.     

Anévrisme veineux juxta-anastomotique d’une fistule au niveau de la tabatière anatomique : une localisation atypique

Native arteriovenous fistula is the best available vascular access for hemodialysis in end-stage renal failure. It is characterized by higher patency rates and lower rates of morbidity, mortality and complication compared to prosthetic bypass grafts and central venous catheters. Aneurysmal complications remain the main complications of these access with a high risk of rupture and fatal hemorrhage. Their management varies from case to another and several methods are reported in the literature. We describe a case of an atypical localization of a juxta-anastomotic venous aneurysm in the anatomical snuffbox, treated by resection with proximal reimplantation of the cephalic vein at the wrist.     

Erectile dysfunction among hemodialysis patients

Objective  

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a distressing problem in hemodialysis patients. A combination of organic and psychological factors has been reported to take part in the pathophysiology of this condition. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of sexual dysfunction among hemodialysis patients.