Ultrastructure of a late-stage bacterial endocarditis valve vegetation

Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis - Infective endocarditis (IE) remains a severe illness with high mortality rate, despite advances in antibiotic therapy and cardiac surgery. If infectious...     

Assessment and Investigation on the Fate of Organochlorine Pesticides in Water and Sediments of International Amir-kalaye Wetland in North of Iran

A total of 48 water samples and 24 sediment samples were collected at four sampling stations along the wetland during four seasons from 2009 to 2010 and analyzed by gas chromatograph–electron capture detector (GC–ECD). In water the total concentration of OCPs was 0.33, 0.01, 0.1 and 0.07 mg/L in summer, autumn, winter and spring, respectively. The most frequent OCP compounds detected were endrin and chlordane (0.08 and 0.07 mg/L), heaxachlorobenzene and chlordane (0.06, 0.02 mg/L), and chlordane (0.07 mg/L) in summer, winter and spring, respectively. The maximum concentration of ΣOCPs was found in samples collected from station 1 in summer (0.26 mg/L). In sediments the total concentrations of OCPs were 15.84 and 2.62 mg/g-dry weight (dw) in summer and winter, respectively. Chlordane was the most frequently found OCP compound, followed by lindane, 9.92 and 2.47 mg/g-dry weight (dw), respectively, in summer. While, lindane (2.52 mg/g-dw) and endosulfan I (0.1 mg/g-dw) were the highest OCP compounds detected in winter. The results obtained in this study show that there still exist a variety of organochlorine pesticide residues in the water and sediments from the Amir-kalaye wetland in Iran.     

Herpes zoster ophthalmicus

Herpes zoster ophthalmicus occurs worldwide, usually in healthy adults, but, increasingly in patients who are immunocompromised. After primary varicella infection (chickenpox), the virus lies dormant in the sensory ganglion until it becomes reactivated as zoster. Involvement of the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve is characterized early by corneal dysesthesia and dendritiform keratopathy, and these are self-limited. However, smoldering disease may cause pathological changes in the ocular structures through direct invasion of virus, secondary inflammation, and alterations of autoimmune mechanisms. Antiviral agents have demonstrated some success in resolving early signs and symptoms, but their role in preventing and treating late complications remains to be fully studied. Until a definitive antiviral agent is established, the benefits of steroid use in certain acute inflammatory processes outweigh its risk of reducing host immunity. Corneal complications of herpes zoster ophthalmicus sometimes require surgical intervention.     

Assessment of the knowledge of living unrelated donors of the complications of kidney donation in Iran

Living unrelated donors (LURDs) constitute the major source of renal allograft in Iran. LURD transplantation (Tx) is performed in a controlled program, supervised by university Tx teams, and assisted by the Dialysis and Transplant Patient’s Association (DATPA). This study evaluated the knowledge of donors about possible short- and long-term complications of kidney donation and the need for regular follow-up. We interviewed 100 consecutive living donors/donation candidates (all called donors), 35 in the postoperative period in the renal Tx ward, and 65 after completion of preoperative assessment in the office of the DATPA, to assess their knowledge about complications of nephrectomy and their intention to participate in the postoperative follow-up. Seventy-nine donors were men and 21 women. Mean age was 27 ± 4.4 years. Ninety-seven donors were unrelated to the recipient and three were related (LRD). The motivation for donation was altruistic in nine (three LRD and six LURD) and financial in 89. Eighty donors were not aware of the possible short- or long-term complications of nephrectomy. Six donors mentioned the possibility of potential intraoperative complications, and 16 mentioned the risk of renal failure. Only 44 donors knew that they should visit doctors regularly after donation, most of them (61%) from the postoperative group. We conclude that most donors do not have enough knowledge about possible in-hospital and long-term complications of kidney donation and may not participate in regular follow-up after operation. Considering the young age of our renal Tx donors, we suggest that they should receive more preoperative orientation (both verbal and written) about possible complications and the need for regular postoperative medical follow-up.