Cytologic features of “dry-type” cutaneous leishmaniasis

Exfoliative cytology smears from the lesions of 179 patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania tropica were studied with specific reference to cellular reactions and their effect on the parasite. Aggregates of the parasite (so-called Leishman Donovan bodies) were present within macrophages and in some fibroblasts. The nature of the inflammatory reaction to the disease was studied by performing differential counts of the inflammatory cells present in the smears. These were correlated with the number of Leishman Donovan bodies. There was an inverse relationship between the number of Leishman Donovan bodies and the percentage of small lymphocytes, neutrophils, and type I macrophages. It is postulated that aggregates of activated macrophages (designated types II and III) and the Leishmanian milieu (sticky matrix) protect the amastigote Leishmania parasites from being eradicated by the inflammatory and immune reaction. The cytoplasmic blebbing of the parasitophorous vacuoles and cell to cell connection of the activated histiocytes could be shown by the CD-68 immunostaining of the tissue biopsy. Diagn. Cytopathol. 1998;19:182–185. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Fabrication of a novel magnetic metal–organic framework functionalized with 2-aminothiophenol for preconcentration of trace silver amounts in water and wastewater

Herein, a novel magnetic metal–organic framework functionalized (MMOF) with 2-aminothiophenol (2-ATP) was fabricated and employed for separation/preconcentration of trace silver amounts. At first magnetite nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄ NPs) were synthesized and then coated with SiO₂. Thereafter, the Fe₃O₄@SiO₂ nanoparticles were modified with 2-ATP. Finally, the functionalized MMOF was prepared by the fabrication of MIL-101(Cr) in the presence of Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@2-ATP NPs. MIL-101(Cr)/Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@2-ATP nanocomposite was characterized with FT-IR, SEM, elemental analysis, XRD and VSM and then utilized in the separation/determination of silver ions in various real samples. The effects of diverse experimental variables such as pH, uptake time, adsorbent amount, desorption time, eluent concentration and volume were studied comprehensively employing experimental design methodology. After optimization, LOD and linearity were 0.05 ng mL⁻¹ and 0.2–200 ng mL⁻¹, respectively. Repeatability of the new method was determined based on RSD value for 5, 50, 150 ng mL⁻¹ (n = 5) concentrations which was 9.3%, 6.8% and 4.5%, respectively. Ultimately, the outlined method was utilized in the separation/determination of silver ions in various water and wastewater samples satisfactorily.

A scheme for the synthesis of MIL-101/Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@2-ATP nanocomposite.     

Amelioration of cardio-respiratory perturbations following Mesobuthus eupeus envenomation in anesthetized rabbits with commercial polyvalent F(ab′)2 antivenom

Immunotherapy is the only specific treatment for scorpion sting. In the present study, protective effects of polyvalent antivenom against hemodynamic disturbances, biomarkers (troponin T, creatinine kinase isoenzyme MB, Lactate dehydrogenase) changes, electrocardiogram abnormalities and histopathological complications in heart and lung induced by Mesobuthus eupeus scorpion venom was investigated in anesthetized rabbits. Twenty four rabbits were randomized into four equal groups: six rabbits in control group received 1 ml ultra-pure water subcutaneously (group 1). Group two received LD50 of venom (4.5 mg/kg). In the third and fourth groups, 5 ml of scorpion antivenom was administrated intravenously simultaneous with venom injection and 60 min following envenomation, respectively. Results of the present study indicate significant decrease in hemodynamic parameters following envenomation in the second group of animals. Venom injection caused edema, myocytolysis, coagulation necrosis, hemorrhage in heart as well as edema, hemorrhage and vascular thrombus in lungs. Although envenomed rabbits presented rises in LDH and TnT but no alteration in CK-MB was observed. Electrocardiogram monitoring of rabbits showed ST elevation and inverted T waves. Simultaneous administration of antivenom and venom prevented entirely the clinical signs, hemodynamic disturbances, markers changes, ECG abnormalities and histopathological damages. Delayed immunotherapy gradually ameliorated clinical signs, hemodynamic disturbances and markers changes related to envenomation. Histopathological evaluation showed slight alterations such as mild myocytolysis in heart and mild edema in lung following delayed immunotherapy. In conclusion, scorpion antivenom administration has preventive, neutralizing and curative properties for M. eupeus scorpion envenomation, if it would be applied at optimum time, dose and route.     

Significance of Platelet Count in Esophageal Carcinomas

Background/Aim:

Thrombocytosis is found to be associated with unfavorable prognosis in esophageal carcinoma. Platelets produce thymidine phosphorylase which is a platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor with angiogenic activity. Increased platelet count may be translated into enhanced tumor growth. We examined the relation between platelet count and several prognostic variables in patients with esophageal cancer.

Patients and Methods:

Three hundred and eighty-one cases with esophageal cancer that underwent esophagectomy in a referral cancer institute during a 5-year period were studied retrospectively. The relation between preoperative platelet count and patient age, gender, site of tumor, presence of multiple cancers and clinicopathological characteristics including histological type, tumor size, depth of penetration (T), lymph node involvement (N), distant metastasis (M), degree of differentiation, presence of vascular, lymphatic and perineural invasion was examined.

Results:

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) constituted 93% and adenocarcinoma 7% of cases. Most of patients were in stage III, followed by stage II. The mean platelet count was 245±76 (× 10⁹ /L). There was no statistically significant correlation between platelet counts with prognostic factors except a weak linear correlation between platelet count and and tumor size (P= 0.03, Pearson correlation coefficient: 0.16). Patients with adenocarcinoma had a higher platelet count than those with SCC (P= 0.003).

Conclusion:

Platelet count does not correlate with prognostic factors in esophageal cancer. However, it is significantly different between SCC and adenocarcinoma of esophagus.     

Intraosseous verrucous carcinoma originating from an odontogenic cyst: a case report

Carcinoma originating in bone is uncommon; most of them apparently arise in odontogenic cysts. In this paper, we report an extremely rare case in which, verrucous carcinoma originated from an odontogenic cyst. This lesion was firm and non-tender on palpation and had a white-pink appearance. It was encased in the anterior aspect of the maxilla and exhibited microscopic features of verrucous carcinoma of the oral mucosa. After surgical enucleation, no recurrence or metastasis has been observed up to now. It is mandatory to correlate the clinical and histopathologic findings to establish a true diagnosis.     

Epidemiology and sociodemographic aspects of ocular traumatic injuries in Iran

Although the incidence of ocular trauma has been clearly described in developed countries, few published data are available on the epidemiology and the effects of parameters that can influence the incidence and severity of ocular injuries in Iran. The present study tried to determine epidemiological aspects of ocular traumatic injuries and evaluate their effects on different types of ocular injury. The case series included 1950 consecutive patients with acute ophthalmic trauma presented to the emergency ward of Farabi Hospital in Tehran. Information was collected by interviewing patients and having them fill in a questionnaire. The final diagnosis was made by a medical resident. If there was a difficulty or doubt in diagnosis or classification, confirmation of diagnosis was made by senior faculty. Ocular injuries were classified into globe and non-globe injuries according to the site of injury. Mechanical globe injuries were classified according to Birmingham Eye Trauma Terminology (BETT) into closed and open injuries. The mean age of patients was 28.8 ± 12.8 years; 87.6% were male. The most common causes of injury were work-related (49.0%) and chance events (42.0%). The most frequent ocular injury was globe injury (95.6%), including mechanical (77.6% closed and 5.9% open), chemical (7.6%), photic (2.3%) and thermal (2.2%) injuries. Non-globe injury also occurred in 10.8% of patients; both globe and non-globe injuries occurred in 6.5% of patients. The hospitalization rate in all patients was 8.8%. Previous history of eye trauma was significantly more common in the group with isolated globe injuries (P < 0.001). History of eye trauma is a risk factor for globe injuries and female gender is a risk factor only for non-globe injuries. These two factors may predict future eye injury and increase its risk by 5.2 and 1.6 times, respectively.