Evidence for zoonotic transmission of species A rotavirus from goat and cattle in nomadic herds in Morocco, 2012–2014

Virus Genes - Species A rotaviruses (RVAs) are a leading cause of diarrhea in children and in the young of a large variety of mammalian and avian host species. The purpose of this study was to...     

Tc99m macroaggregated albumin cisternography for the detection of persistent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak in an animal model

The present study describes a new in vivo animal model that enables the detection of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage after dural injury. A polyethylene catheter (PE 10) was inserted into the subarachnoid space in the lumbar area by a simple surgical procedure and a radioactive isotope Tc99m Macroaggregated Albumin (Tc99m MAA) was injected into the CSF. In the experimental group, a standardised dural puncture was performed in the cervical area. The accumulation of the isotope in the gauze placed over the dural puncture and viewed by a gamma camera as a spot of concentrated radioactivity, was indicative of CSF leakage. In a second group of animals with intact cervical dura the absence of leakage was presented as a picture of sporadic background radioactivity. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the model in detection of invisible leakage, blood was applied over the cervical dural defect in another group of animals and CSF leakage was assessed by the above mentioned isotope detection method. This in vivo model may be used for evaluation of the sealing properties of various materials under physiological and metabolic processes in living tissue.     

FDG-PET imaging in Merkel cell carcinoma - value of head-to-toe scan

A 63-year-old man was diagnosed with metastatic MCC. Preliminary staging PET scan with 18F-FDG was not done at the time of diagnosis. After completion of chemo- and radiotherapy, the patient underwent a CT scan of the area from the maxilla to the ischium; no evidence of disease was noted. Clinically, the patient was considered to be in remission. The CT scan was followed by head-to-toe FDG-PET scanning which revealed foci of metastatic disease in the right mid- thigh and left proximal calf. This case demonstrates the added value of head-to-toe FDG-PET for the detection of distant metastases in MCC.     

A comparative evaluation of lymphoscintigraphy versus lymphangiography and computerized tomography scanning in diagnosis of lymph node metastases in advanced bladder cancer

The potential of lymphoscintigraphy to detect lymph node metastases compared to lymphangiography and computerized tomography scanning was evaluated in 26 patients who underwent radical cystectomy for invasive bladder cancer. Four-view images of the abdominoperineal area were taken 90 to 120 minutes after 99mtechnetium-rhenium sulfide was injected into 2 interdigital spaces in each foot. Results of lymphoscintigraphy interpretation correlated with surgical and histological findings: a correct diagnosis was made in 61.5 per cent of the patients, while 23.1 per cent had false positive and 15.4 per cent had false negative results. Although computerized tomography was the most accurate method to detect lymph node metastases (correct diagnosis in 73.1 per cent of the patients) no significant difference was found among the 3 diagnostic methods. False positive interpretation of lymphoscintigraphy was twice as common as that of the radiological studies (23 versus 11.5 per cent). The possibilities that may cause image variation interpreted as a false positive result are discussed. Because lymphoscintigraphy is an easier and less time-consuming study than lymphangiography, the former method is suggested to be an additional and sometimes (for example if short-term followup studies are required) preferred modality to evaluate the extent of lymph node involvement in cases of invasive bladder cancer.     

Mortality, complications and loss of pulmonary function after pneumonectomy vs. sleeve lobectomy in patients younger and older than 70 years

Retrospective single institution analysis of all patients undergoing sleeve lobectomy or pneumonectomy between 2000 and 2005. Seventy-eight patients underwent pneumonectomy (65 patients <70 years, 13 patients >70 years) and 69 sleeve lobectomy (50 patients <70 years, 19 patients >70 years). Pre-existing co-morbidity, surgical indication and induction therapy was similarly distributed between treatment by age-groups. In patients <70 years, pneumonectomy and sleeve lobectomy resulted in a 30-day mortality of 3% vs. 0 and an overall complication rate of 26% vs. 44%, respectively. In patients >70 years, pneumonectomy and sleeve lobectomy resulted in a 30-day mortality of 15% vs. 0 and an overall complication rate of 23% vs. 32%. In both age groups, pneumonectomy was associated with more airway complications (NS) and a significantly higher postoperative loss of FEV(1) than sleeve lobectomy (P<0.0001, P<0.03). Age per se did not influence the loss of FEV(1) and DLCO for a given type of resection. Sleeve lobectomy may have a therapeutic advantage over pneumonectomy in the postoperative course of elderly patients.