Dorsolumbar parasitic twin associated with lipomyelomeningocele: a case report from a tertiary teaching hospital,Ethiopia, East Africa

A parasitic or heteropagus twin is a grossly defective fetus (or fetus part) attached externally, with or without internal connections and is dependent on the cardiovascular system of the other twin (autosite) for survival. The estimated incidence is approximately 1 per 1 million live births. To date according to the authors’ knowledge; there are a few case reports published in the literature. Here we present a case of dorsolumbar parasitic twin with associated lipomyelomeningocele.     

Decentration of flexible loop posterior chamber intraocular lenses in a series of 222 postmortem eyes

Two hundred twenty-two postmortem eyes containing posterior chamber intraocular lenses (IOLs) were analyzed for optic decentration in relationship to lens style, implant duration, and loop fixation site. Decentration values were not affected significantly by either lens style or implant duration. In 33.3% of specimens, both loops were situated within the lens capsular sac, 18.0% had both loops fixated in the ciliary sulcus, and in 48.7% one loop was fixated in the lens capsular sac and the opposite loop in the ciliary sulcus or zonular region. There was a statistically significant difference in the amount of decentration in the three fixation groups studied. Capsular fixation provides the best and most consistent centration compared with fixation of both loops in the ciliary sulcus or asymmetrical fixation with only one loop in the capsular sac.     

ACE and MTHFR gene polymorphisms in unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss

AIM: To assess the association between polymorphisms in angiotensin converting enzyme and methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase genes and recurrent pregnancy loss by a case-control study in South Indian women. METHODS: DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes of 104 women with Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (RPL) and 120 controls. Genotyping of ACE Insertion Deletion and MTHFR C677T polymorphism were carried out by PCR and PCR-RFLP, respectively. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was observed in the distribution of genotypes between cases and controls for ACE and MTHFR polymorphisms. Further, the combination of MTHFR and ACE genotypes failed to reveal an association. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the present study reveals lack of association of MTHFR C677T and ACE I/D polymorphisms in RPL in South Indian women. However, we cannot exclude the possibility that other polymorphisms of ACE and MTHFR genes could be associated with the disease and might be clinically useful as a marker to assess risk for RPL.     

The 2001 Bethesda System: terminology for reporting results of cervical cytology

Diane Solomon, MD; Diane Davey, MD; Robert Kurman, MD; Ann Moriarty, MD; Dennis O'Connor, MD; Marianne Prey, MD; Stephen Raab, MD; Mark Sherman, MD; David Wilbur, MD; Thomas Wright, Jr, MD; Nancy Young, MD; for the Forum Group Members and the Bethesda 2001 Workshop

JAMA. 2002;287:2114-2119.

Objectives  The Bethesda 2001 Workshop was convened to evaluate and update the 1991 Bethesda System terminology for reporting the results of cervical cytology. A primary objective was to develop a new approach to broaden participation in the consensus process.

Participants  Forum groups composed of 6 to 10 individuals were responsible for developing recommendations for discussion at the workshop. Each forum group included at least 1 cytopathologist, cytotechnologist, clinician, and international representative to ensure a broad range of views and interests. More than 400 cytopathologists, cytotechnologists, histopathologists, family practitioners, gynecologists, public health physicians, epidemiologists, patient advocates, and attorneys participated in the workshop, which was convened by the National Cancer Institute and cosponsored by 44 professional societies. More than 20 countries were represented.

Evidence  Literature review, expert opinion, and input from an Internet bulletin board were all considered in developing recommendations. The strength of evidence of the scientific data was considered of paramount importance.

Consensus Process  Bethesda 2001 was a year-long iterative review process. An Internet bulletin board was used for discussion of issues and drafts of recommendations. More than 1000 comments were posted to the bulletin board over the course of 6 months. The Bethesda Workshop, held April 30-May 2, 2001, was open to the public. Postworkshop recommendations were posted on the bulletin board for a last round of critical review prior to finalizing the terminology.

Conclusions  Bethesda 2001 was developed with broad participation in the consensus process. The 2001 Bethesda System terminology reflects important advances in biological understanding of cervical neoplasia and cervical screening technology.

     

Microstructure Evolution and Deformation Mechanisms of As-Cast Antibacterial Ti6Al4V-5Cu Alloy for Isothermal Forging Process

The hot workability behavior of antibacterial Ti6Al4V-5Cu alloy was investigated using a hot compression experiment in the temperature range of 790–1040 °C and strain rate of 10⁻³–10 s⁻¹ with a strain of 0.4. The deformation behavior of the alloy was characterized by Gleeble 3800 compression experiment, and the relationship among deformed microstructures and deformation parameters was established. The deformations of Ti6Al4V-5Cu alloy were temperature and strain rate-dependent. Higher temperature and lower strain rate made power dissipation efficiency (η) increase and reach 89%. The activation energies (Q) in the dual-phase (α + β) and single β phase regions were calculated as 175.43 and 159.03 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively. In the dual (α + β) phase region, with an increase in strain rate, flow-softening behavior was dominated, however in the single β phase region such as processing at 940 °C. Flow stress increased slightly in which work-hardening behavior was dominated (especially between strain rates of 10⁻³–1 s⁻¹). The deformation at various conditions exhibited different stress-strain profiles, providing an insight that work hardening and flow softening coexisted in Ti6Al4V-5Cu alloy. The relative intensity of oscillatory change in flow stress profile decreased as the strain rate decreased. The hot workability of Ti6Al4V-5Cu alloy was also accessed from the viewpoint of the sub-grain structure.     

The Lead Content of Teeth

? Teeth were collected from populations differing in their degree of industrialization and from prehistoric populations. Lead analysis of dentine revealed that in contemporary teeth the lead level was related to the degree of industrialization and that in prehistoric teeth very low concentrations of lead were present. Because tooth lead reflects the body burden of lead this result suggested that the prehistoric populations and modern nonindustrial populations were exposed to environments low in lead. Teeth from a contemporary population of nonindustrialized Indians of the Lacandon forest in Mexico contain lead in concentrations comparable with those of the prehistoric populations. Comparison of the Indian teeth with teeth from a modern industrial population reveals a 45-fold difference in median tooth lead level. This finding lends support to the hypothesis that high levels of urban lead pollution result in elevated body burdens of lead.     

Stramonium Poisoning

Stramonium poisoning, caused by the ingestion or infusion of parts of the plant Datura stramonium, has a wide geographical distribution and a long history. It first appeared in this country in 1676 and since has occurred sporadically. The author reviews three cases of stramonium poisoning in children. Treatment consisted of gastric lavage and administration of small doses of phenobarbital and 5 per cent glucose in saline.