Reliability of Cord Formation in BACTEC 12B/13A Media for Presumptive Identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex in Laboratories with a High Prevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

A total of 1208 positive BACTEC vials were examined for the presence or absence of serpentine cording. A very high (92.9%) rate of laboratory prevalence was obtained for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of this test were 92.7%, 95.3%, 99.6% and 50.0%, respectively. It was concluded that testing cord formation in laboratories that have a high prevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex is an exceptionally reliable method for preliminary reporting of cording-positive cases; however, for cording-negative cases, preliminary reports based solely on cord formation are not reliable. It was also observed that the length of the incubation period has a significant effect on cord formation. Incubation periods of 4 days or less are not sufficient to determine noncording in smears prepared from positive BACTEC vials. Electronic Publication     

An algorithm for deciding alternative grafting materials used in secondary rhinoplasty.

Severe middle vault deformity with disturbed nasal form and function is one of the most challenging procedures to correct in a secondary rhinoplasty. Reconstructing the deformity with autologous septal cartilage would be the primary choice of most surgeons, if it were always available. However in certain cases the lack of a sufficient quantity of autologous cartilage has forced surgeons to explore other viable options. This paper discusses our experience with the combined use of spreader and dorsal onlay grafts from various materials in the reconstruction of severe middle vault deformity in 110 patients. In follow up, (between 6 and 42 months; mean 21 months) all patients were noted to have improved in both aesthetics and function with no major complications noted. In summary, this study proposes that any engrafting material can be used safely when the proper surgical principals and technique are employed.     

Scar endometriosis—a gynaecologic pathology often presented to the general surgeon rather than the gynaecologist: report of two cases

Introduction Scar endometriosis develops in and is adjacent to surgical scars at the site of previous abdominal operations. The most frequent clinical presentation of the disease is that of a palpable subcutaneous mass near surgical scars associated with cyclic pain and swelling during menses. Endometriosis of the surgical scar is often referred to the general surgeons because the clinical presentation suggests an incisional hernia or other conditions related to the general surgery. Cyclical symptoms such as pain and swelling, in relation to surgical scars, which worsen at the time of menstruation, are nearly pathognomonic of scar endometriosis. However, often the diagnosis of endometriosis is not suggested until after histology has been performed. Case report We present two cases of cutaneous endometriosis that has occurred on the site of previous cesarean section scar area.     

Frontal lobe epilepsy presented as ictal aggression

Abstract Aggressive behaviour is rarely observed as an ictal semiology. Ictal aggression can occur in lesions of frontal and limbic structures. In limbic structure lesions, the main mechanism of aggressive behaviour is hyperactivity; whereas frontal lesions may cause aggressive behaviour with an indirect mechanism in which the suppression on limbic system is lost. Here we present a patient with ictal aggression. In this case a right frontoparietal epileptiform focus was detected during the postictal period. Magnetic resonance imaging showed cortical dysplasia on the right inferior frontal gyrus. The seizures disappeared completely after pharmacological treatment.     

Treatment of two postoperative endophthalmitis cases due to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus flavus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scopulariopsis</Emphasis> spp. with local and systemic antifungal therapy

Background  

Endophthalmitis is the inflammatory response to invasion of the eye with bacteria or fungi. The incidence of endophthalmitis after cataract surgery varies between 0.072–0.13 percent. Treatment of endophthalmitis with fungal etiology is difficult.     

New calculation of excitation functions of proton-induced reactions in some medical isotopes of Cu, Zn and Ga.

The new calculations on the excitation functions of 61Ni(p,n)61Cu, 62Ni(p,n)62Cu, 64Ni(p,n)64Cu, 63Cu(p,2n)62Zn, 63Cu(p,n)63Zn, 65Cu(p,n)65Zn, 66Zn(p,n)66Ga, 67Zn(p,2n)66Ga, 67Zn(p,n)67Ga and 68Zn(p,n)68Ga reactions have been carried out in the 5-30 MeV proton energy range. The calculations involve the cascade exciton model, preequilibrium nuclear reaction model and exciton model. The calculated results are compared with the experimental data taken from the literature.