Extracolonic findings in an asymptomatic screening population undergoing intravenous contrast-enhanced computed tomography colonography

Background and Aim:  The purpose of this study was to evaluate extracolonic findings that could be encountered with computed tomography colonography (CTC) using intravenous (IV) contrast material in an asymptomatic screening population.
Methods:  Intravenous contrast medium-enhanced CTC was performed in 2230 asymptomatic adults (mean age, 57.5 years). Axial images were prospectively examined for extracolonic lesions. These findings were classified into three categories: potentially important findings, likely unimportant findings, and clinically unimportant findings. Potentially important extracolonic findings were defined as those which required immediate further diagnostic studies and treatment. Clinical and radiologic follow up, missed lesions and clinical outcomes were assessed using medical records (mean duration of follow up, 1.6 years).
Results:  A total of 115 new potentially important findings in 5.2% of subjects (115/2230) were found. Subsequent medical or surgical intervention was performed in 2.0% (45/2230). New extracolonic cancer was detected in 0.5% (12/2230), and the majority of them (83.3%) were not metastasized. Computed tomography colonography missed eight potentially important extracolonic findings in eight subjects (0.4%, 8/2230): 0.8-cm early-stage prostatic cancer, six adrenal mass and one intraductal papillary mucinous tumor. There were no severe life-threatening complications related to contrast medium.
Conclusion:  Intravenous contrast-enhanced CTC could safely detect asymptomatic early-stage extracolonic malignant diseases without an unreasonable number of additional work-ups, thus reducing their morbidity or mortality.     

The prevalence of allergic diseases and atopy in Ankara, Turkey: a two-step population-based epidemiological study.

To assess the prevalence of allergic diseases and atopy in adults, a two-step population-based epidemiological study was undertaken in Ankara, the capital city of Turkey. In step 1, a screening questionnaire adapted from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) was applied in a cross-sectional manner. In step 2, a nested case-controlled design study was conducted and subjects were evaluated in the clinical setting for history, physical examination, skin prick tests (SPTs), and serum total IgE and phadiotop measurements. According to the results, self-reported current asthma prevalence in step 1 was lower compared with that in step 2 (3% vs. 7%, p < 0.05). The prevalences of food and drug allergy were 6.2% and 3.9%, respectively, in step 1, but were not demonstrated in any of the subjects in step 2. The overall prevalence of atopy was 25% after step 2 evaluation. In conclusion, allergic disorders are not uncommon in our adult population; however, sole application of a screening questionnaire appeared to be ineffective in revealing the accurate figures of asthma, and food or drug allergy.     

Corneal iron ring associated with orthokeratology lens wear.

A healthy 27-year-old female with a history of daily wear soft contact lenses requested orthokeratology (ortho-k) treatment and was fitted with a pair of reverse geometry lenses. Two weeks later, a faint brown pigmented arc, with fuzzy margins, extending from four to eight o'clock at the inferior midperipheral part of the corneal surface was observed in both corneas. The patient was asymptomatic and happy with the results of the ortho-k treatment, and topographical maps showed a sharp and slightly decentered bull's eye pattern that indicated a clinically acceptable ortho-k effect for both eyes. The rings extended to a near-complete ring in both eyes and became denser and more significant as lens wear continued. The rings were similar in appearance to Fleischer's rings seen in keratoconic eyes and coincided with the margin of the bull's eye observed in the topographical maps. The patient continued to be asymptomatic with unaided visual acuity of 20/20(+1) (OD) and 20/25(-1) (OS). Apart from the presence of the iron rings bilaterally, the corneal integrity and topography were stable and clinically unremarkable; the patient was allowed to continue wearing the lenses with regular aftercare scheduled on a 3-month basis. Possible etiologies of the formation of iron rings are discussed.     

Changes in histamine and prostaglandins in acute inflammatory air pouch in mice

The changes in histamine and prostaglandins (PGE2 and PGF) in carrageenan-induced acute inflammation were studied in 6 day old air pouches in mice. A significant elevation of exudate histamine was found 1 hour after the carrageenan injection. Highest vascular permeability at the site of inflammation was also found at 1 hour. Both PGE2 and PGF showed steady increases in the pouch exudate and reached significantly higher levels at 24 hours. The present findings thus suggest that histamine is involved in the early phase of carrageenan-induced inflammation by enhancing vascular permeability. The increases in PGE2 and PGF appear to be closely correlated with the increased exudate cell accumulation. This leads us to suggest that they are likely to be involved in the exudate cell activity rather than in enhancing the vascular permeability which was found to decrease at 4 hours after the carrageenan injection.     

Cystic fibrosis epithelial cells are primed for apoptosis as a result of increased Fas (CD95)

Background

Previous work suggests that apoptosis is dysfunctional in cystic fibrosis (CF) airways with conflicting results. We evaluated the relationship between dysfunctional cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) and apoptosis in CF airway epithelial cells.

Novel mutations within the embB gene in ethambutol-susceptible clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Genetic analysis of the embB gene revealed mutations in 17 (68%) of 25 ethambutol (EMB) resistant isolates (M306I, M306V, M306L, Q497R) but also in 4 (20%) of 20 EMB-susceptible isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, namely, an ATG-->ATM substitution resulting in M306I, G406N, and the novel alterations M423I and A659T.