Chemical priming for spinal cord injury: a review of the literature part II��potential therapeutics

Introduction  

Spinal cord injury is a complex cascade of reactions secondary to the initial mechanical trauma that puts into action the innate properties of the injured cells, the circulatory, inflammatory, and chemical status around them, into a non-permissive and destructive environment for neuronal function and regeneration. Priming means putting a cell, in a state of “arousal” towards better function. Priming can be mechanical as trauma is known to enhance activity in cells.     

Primary hydatid cyst of the maxillary sinus: case report

Hydatid disease (also known as hydatidosis) is a cyclozoonotic infection caused by the cestode genus Echinococcus. It occurs throughout the world and is especially common in sheep- and cattle-raising regions of Africa, Australia, New Zealand, India, the Middle East, South America, and the Mediterranean. The incidence of humans infected with hydatid disease is approximately 1.0-2.0:1,000, although it may be higher in rural areas of regions that are affected. Infection occurs via ingestion of infected meat. Primary infection of the maxillary antrum is odd and very rare. This article reviews a case report involving this rare condition.     

Nail changes in pemphigus vulgaris

Background The frequency and types of nail changes in pemphigus vulgaris (PV) are unclear. Aim To determine the frequency and types of nail changes, and their correlation with the number of skin and periungual bullae. Methods Seventy‐nine patients with PV, including 59 new patients and 20 patients in relapse, were entered into the study. Microscopic examination in potassium hydroxide and culture for fungus were performed on all clinically abnormal nails. Results Twenty‐five (31.6%) of 79 patients showed nail changes, with paronychia (n = 8) and onychomadesis (n = 6) being the most common. One patient in relapse had onychomycosis. The frequency of nail changes in fingers affected by periungual bullae was significantly higher than in other fingers (P < 0.05). The number of nail changes was higher in patients with a larger number of skin bullae and in those with a longer duration of disease (P < 0.05). Conclusions Nail changes in PV are common and related to the number of skin bullae and the presence of periungual bullae.     

Long-term Protection Against the Hepatitis B Virus Detected Through an Early Response to a Booster Dose Injection

Objective

To determine the duration of protection conferred by the hepatitis B (HB) vaccination and the necessity of a booster dose.

Methods

Immediately after the initial blood sampling, 252 youths (aged 18.8-20.5 years, 52% females) with a history of neonatal HB vaccination with one dose of the HB vaccine received a booster. Serum concentrations of antibodies against the HB surface antigen were assessed in samples collected before and 10-14 days after the booster. Seroconversion from concentrations <10 to ≥10 IU/L were defined as a positive immune response.

Results

Of the 252 participants, 131 were serosusceptible and 114 responded.

Conclusions

Nearly 90% of young people preserved their long-term protection; the results of this study do not support the use of an HB booster vaccination.

     

Primary Pulmonary Valve Leiomyosarcoma in a 35-Year-Old Woman

Primary cardiac leiomyosarcomas are rare, with a high incidence of local recurrence. Herein, we report the case of a 35-year-old woman who was admitted with right ventricular failure and suspected pulmonary embolism. Upon echocardiography, we detected a mass in the pulmonary trunk that involved the pulmonary valve and led to valvular stenosis.The optimal protocol for treating these tumors is as yet unclear. Complete resection can rarely be achieved. However, palliative surgery is usually undertaken because many patients present with mechanical obstruction, such as significant pulmonary stenosis.     

Pemphigus: analysis of 1209 cases

BACKGROUND: Pemphigus is a rare and chronic life-threatening disease. The clinical picture varies in reports from different regions of the world. OBJECTIVE: To define the clinical forms of pemphigus in a large cohort of patients. METHODS: Prospective analysis of 1209 patients diagnosed and followed at the Pemphigus Research Unit, Tehran University for Medical Sciences, from 1984 to 2003. RESULTS: The mean age at onset was 42 years with a female to male ratio of 1.5/1. The most frequent form was pemphigus vulgaris. In pemphigus vulgaris, patients' mucous membrane involvement alone was observed in 18%, skin involvement alone in 12%, and both in 70%. Pemphigus foliaceus was observed in 7% of the patients. Most complications were iatrogenic. CONCLUSION: In Iran, pemphigus vulgaris is the most frequent form of pemphigus. Females are more prone to the disease. The incidence of pemphigus in Tehran is approximately 1.6 per 100,000/year, and in Iran 1.0 per 100,000/year. The age of onset was lower than classically reported. Death occurred in 6.2% of the patients. In pemphigus vulgaris, the mucosal and skin form together had a worse prognosis than the other clinical forms.     

Patch testing in Iranian children with allergic contact dermatitis

Background

Allergic contact dermatitis is a common disorder in adults and children alike and appears to be on the increase. The purpose of this study was to determine the sensitization trends in Iranian children with contact dermatitis.

Methods

The result of 109 patch tests performed using the 24 allergens of the European Standard Series in patients below 18 years old from September 2007 to March 2009 were recorded and analyzed. The tests were evaluated at 48 and 72 h after performing.

Results

The study population consisted of 72 (66.1 %) females and 37 (33.9 %) males. Hands were the most commonly affected anatomic site. In the final evaluation of the tests on day three, 51 (46.8 %) individuals showed a positive reaction to at least one allergen. Females were significantly more likely to show a positive response to at least one allergen (p-value?=?0.031, odds ratio: 2.46). The most common allergens were nickel sulfate, cobalt, methylisothiazolinone, and colophony with 21 (19.3 %), 11 (10.1 %), 7 (6.4 %), and 6 (5.5 %) positive reactions, respectively. Contact allergy to nickel sulfate was more common in females than males (23.6 % vs. 10.8 %). There was no statistically significant relationship between personal or family history of atopy and a positive reaction to patch testing. The clinical and practical relevance were assessed for nickel and cobalt with a clinical current relevance in 11 (52.3 %) and 4 (36.4 %), respectively.

Conclusions

Nickel sulfate, cobalt, methylisothiazolinone, and colophony are the most common allergens responsible for induction of allergic contact dermatitis in Iranian children and adolescents. Females tended to show more positive reactions to allergens.

     

Evaluation of Different Sperm Immunization Methods in Mice

Background: Antifertility effect of naturally occuring antisperm antibody (ASA) in infertile couples and studies on experimental immunization of various animals with sperm antigens represents ASA as immunocontraceptive target. Despite extensive research on the effects of different factors on sperm immunogenecity and ASA production variable result have been reported. Objective: To study whole sperm immunization in mice. Methods: In an experimental study, whole mice sperm with different adjuvant i.e. complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA), incomplete Freund’s adjuvant (ICFA), and cholera toxin subunit- β (CTS-β) were administrated to mice intramuscularly (IM), subcutaneously (SC), intranasally (IN), intra-peritoneally (IP), intrarectally (IR), intravaginally (IVA) and orally. Control groups were inoculated with phosphate buffer saline (PBS) plus corresponding adjuvant. Immunization was carried out on days 0, 7, 14, 28 and ASA titers were detected by indirect immunofluorescence (IFA) technique in sera and vaginal washes of all groups. The IP group was further excluded from the study due to high mortality rate. The results were compared between control and experimental groups by Mann Whitney and Fisher exact tests. Results: The number of positive mice for ASA in IM, SC, IN experimental and control groups were significantly different (P = 0.01, P = 0.01, P = 0.04, respectively). However, there were no significant differences between IR, IVA, and oral experimental and control groups. No differences were observed between ASA in vaginal washing of all groups. Due to high mortality in IP group it was excluded from the study. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the whole sperm antigen can induce immune response in female mice by IM, SC, IN but not IAV, IR and oral administration routes.     

Increased Radioresistance to Lethal Doses of Gamma Rays in Mice and Rats after Exposure to Microwave Radiation Emitted by a GSM Mobile Phone Simulator

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of pre-irradiation with microwaves on the induction of radioadaptive response. In the 1^st phase of the study, 110 male mice were divided into 8 groups. The animals in these groups were exposed/sham-exposed to microwave, low dose rate gamma or both for 5 days. On day six, the animals were exposed to a lethal dose (LD). In the 2^nd phase, 30 male rats were divided into 2 groups of 15 animals. The 1^st group received microwave exposure. The 2^nd group (controls) received the same LD but there was no treatment before the LD. On day 5, all animals were whole-body irradiated with the LD. Statistically significant differences between the survival rate of the mice only exposed to lethal dose of gamma radiation before irradiation with a lethal dose of gamma radiation with those of the animals pre-exposed to either microwave (p=0.02), low dose rate gamma (p=0.001) or both of these physical adapting doses (p=0.003) were observed. Likewise, a statistically significant difference between survival rates of the rats in control and test groups was observed. Altogether, these experiments showed that exposure to microwave radiation may induce a significant survival adaptive response.