IgG Against Dengue Virus in Healthy Blood Donors,Zanzibar, Tanzania

We conducted a seroprevalence survey among 500 healthy adult donors at Zanzibar National Blood Transfusion Services. Dengue virus IgG seroprevalence was 50.6% and independently associated with age and urban residence. These data will aid in building a surveillance, preparedness, and response plan for dengue virus infections in the Zanzibar Archipelago.Key words: dengue, seroprevalence, Zanzibar, viruses, vector-borne infections     

Correction to: Features of intracranial hemorrhage in cerebral venous thrombosis

Journal of Neurology - The original version of this article unfortunately contained mistakes. The correct information is given below.     

Pulp revascularization for immature replanted teeth: a case report

Immature avulsed teeth are not usually treated with pulp revascularization because of the possibility of complications. However, this therapy has shown success in the treatment of immature teeth with periapical lesions. This report describes the case of an immature replanted tooth that was successfully treated by pulp revascularization. An 8‐year‐old boy suffered avulsion on his maxillary left lateral incisor. The tooth showed incomplete root development and was replanted after 30 minutes. After diagnosis, revascularization therapy was performed by irrigating the root canal and applying a calcium hydroxide paste and 2% chlorhexidine gel for 21 days. In the second session, the intracanal dressing was removed and a blood clot was stimulated up to the cervical third of the root canal. Mineral trioxide aggregate was placed as a cervical barrier at the entrance of the root canal and the crown was restored. During the follow‐up period, periapical repair, apical closure and calcification in the apical 4 mm of the root canal was observed. An avulsed immature tooth replanted after a brief extra‐alveolar period and maintained in a viable storage medium may be treated with revascularization.     

Effect of cold storage on the haemostatic cascade systems

This study dealt with the effect of citrate phosphate dextrose adenine (CPDA) whole blood stored at 4 degrees C for 5 weeks and fresh frozen plasma at -30 degrees C for 12 months on coagulation, fibrinolytic and kallikrein system activation. Stored whole blood showed a significant decrease in ATIII activity by the second week with a significant decrease in thrombin-antithrombin complex by the fourth week. alpha 2-antiplasmin and plasminogen decreased significantly by the first and second week, respectively, accompanied by a significant increase in D-dimer level by the fourth week. A significant decrease in C1-inhibitor activity occurred by the first week associated with a significant increase in kallikrein activity by the third week. However, all measured parameters were minimally affected in fresh frozen plasma. Therefore, fresh frozen plasma supplemented with packed RBCs are preferred to whole blood stored over 3 weeks especially in patients with proteolytic enzyme system activation.     

The Role of Smoking in Breast Cancer Development: An Analysis of a Mayo Clinic Cohort

Abstract:  The purpose of this study was to assess the predictive value of smoking history on breast cancer diagnosis in a referral clinic population. We conducted a case–control study using clinical data collected on 8,097 female patients (1,225 breast cancer cases and 6,872 controls) seen in the Mayo Clinic Breast Clinic between August 1, 1993 and November 31, 2003. Breast cancer patients and noncancer patients significantly differed with respect to age at time of the index visit (p < 0.001), number of pregnancies (p = 0.006), number of live births (p = 0.002), vital status at last known follow-up (p < 0.001), current menstruation (p < 0.001), age at menopause (p < 0.001), history of hysterectomy (p < 0.001), use of oral contraception (p = 0.05), duration of oral contraception use (p = 0.001), use of other exogenous hormones (p < 0.001), duration of exogenous hormone use (p = 0.05), breast pain at time of index visit (p = 0.002), smoking status (p < 0.001), and use of five or more alcoholic beverages per week (p = 0.002). After adjustment for these baseline characteristics, having a personal history of smoking was found to be predictive of breast cancer diagnosis (odds ratios [OR] = 1.25, p = 0.004). Other positive predictors for breast cancer diagnosis were: age (OR = 1.02, p < 0.001), history of hysterectomy (OR = 0.66, p < 0.001), prior use of oral contraception for more than 11 years (OR = 2.10, p < 0.001), and prior use of other exogenous hormones/estrogen (OR = 1.81, p < 0.001). In this referral practice having a personal history of smoking is predictive of breast cancer diagnosis. Further studies are needed to further explore this relationship.     

Biological Effects of Pyrimethinal on Aquatic Worms (Tubifex tubifex) Under Laboratory Conditions

Laboratory studies were conducted to determine the effects of different concentrations of pyrimethinal on protein contents, and some oxidative stress in Tubifex tubifex after an exposure of 2, 4, and 7 days. Residues of the fungicide were followed in water and in the worms. In water, pyrimethinal concentration decreased slowly (maximum ?6.4 % ± 0.8 % after 2 days for 25 mg L^?1). In the worms, it increased after 4 days and decreased thereafter. LC₅₀ values were between 49.2 ± 0.58 and 39.5 ± 0.95 mg L^?1 depending on exposure time. The activity of catalase increased in response to the fungicide after 2 days of exposure to 25 mg L^?1 of pyrimethinal (+90 %). The highest decrease of glutathione-S-transferase activity (?29.7 %) was found after 7 days in the presence of 25 mg L^?1.     

Spontaneous abortion following mid-trimester amniocentesis. Clinical significance of placental perforation and blood-stained amniotic fluid

Summary. The clinical significance of placental perforation and bloodstained amniotic fluid was studied in a group of 7238 Danish women undergoing mid-trimester amniocentesis for prenatal diagnosis under ultrasound guidance. The risk of spontaneous abortion was significantly increased both in pregnancies where the placenta was perforated and in those with blood-stained amniotic fluid. The risk estimate nearly doubled after placental perforation and more than doubled with a bloody tap. It is concluded that for women at relatively low risk of a fetal genetic abnormality, the indication of the amniocentesis should be reconsidered if a placental perforation is unavoidable.     

Childhood-onset chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy with cranial nerve involvement

A 17-year-old male presented with chronic diplopia and generalized motor weakness. He was previously diagnosed with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis in childhood. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a rarely reported finding of thickening and enhancement of multiple cranial nerves. Nerve conduction studies and electromyography showed peripheral nerve demyelination with axonal involvement. There was improvement in the clinical examination, MRI, and electrophysiologic studies after combined corticosteroid and plasma exchange therapy. We review the clinical presentation, course, and response to therapy among children with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, with specific emphasis on the frequency and pattern of cranial nerve involvement.