Brucellosis: a retrospective evaluation

One hundred and sixty-six presumed brucellosis patients were included in the study. These patients were classified as primary (91), relapse (18) and suspected (57) cases according to their clinical presentations, and serologic and microbiologic test results. Primary and relapse cases were evaluated retrospectively according to age, sex, residence, routes of transmission, clinical and laboratory findings, treatment regimens, duration of treatment, and relapse rates. Of the 109 primary and relapse patients, 57 were male and 52 female. The ages of the patients ranged between 16-75 (mean age 40.2). The percentages of the urban and rural residence of the patients were 41.3% and 58.7%, respectively. The most common mode of transmission was consumption of unpasteurized milk and milk products (67.9%). Malaise, fever and sweating were the most frequently observed symptoms (96.3%, 95.4%, 91.7%, respectively). The most common signs were fever (97.2%), splenomegaly (59.6%), and hepatomegaly (37.6%). The liver was the most frequently involved organ (21.1%). Almost all (99.1%) patients were serologically positive. However, the positivity rate of culture was low (15.6%). The most frequently preferred antimicrobial regimen was rifampin and doxycycline combination. The relapse rate was 8.3%. Brucellosis is still prevalent in Turkey as in many other countries in the Mediterranean basin. The clinical presentation of the disease may show regional variations. Patients with a history of occupational or nutritional contact with the bacterium and with a compatible clinical picture should be examined using appropriate diagnostic techniques before any attempt to prescribe an antimicrobial.     

Circulating and local bone marrow renin-angiotensin system in leukemic hematopoiesis: preliminary evidences

Until last the decade, the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) was considered as a circulating endocrine system. It is now known that there are local RASs in many tissues. It has also recently been hypothesized that there exists a local bone marrow (BM) RAS with paracrine/autocrine pathobiological functions. The aim of this study was to detect BM and peripheral blood levels of the essential RAS components in normal and leukemic hematopoiesis. Concentrations of renin and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) were assayed in BM aspirates and in simultaneously drawn peripheral blood samples of 16 pre-chemotherapy leukemic and 10 post-treatment megaloblastic anemia patients with normal blood counts, as controls. In the leukemia group, the ACE concentration was found to be significantly higher in the BM (38+/-6.2 U/l) than in the peripheral blood (29.5+/-5.3 U/l), (p=0.029). In the leukemia group, although the BM renin concentration was higher than the peripheral blood levels (21.3+/-8.3 vs. 18.6+/-6.2 U/l), this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.196). In the control group, mean BM renin levels were insignificantly lower than in the peripheral blood (8.6+/-3 vs. 12.1+/-4.6 pg/ml) (p=0.059). In the leukemia group, serum ACE levels positively correlated with BM and peripheral blood blast percentages (p<0.05). Serum LDH level (p<0.01), BM blast (p<0.05) and peripheral blast percentages (p<0.01) were inversely correlated with serum potassium in the leukemia group.The results of this study can be considered as the preliminary evidence supporting the hypothesis of the presence of a local BM RAS. Further, molecular biologic and immunohistochemical studies are needed to shed light on this important subject. A better understanding of the interrelationships of RAS and hematopoiesis will bring new insights into the pathobiology and even novel therapies for such neoplastic diseases.     

Comparison of low-dose and standard-dose helical CT in the evaluation of pulmonary nodules

The purpose of this study was to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of low-dose helical computed tomography by comparing the number of nodules detected at low- and standard-dose CT. The prospective study included 25 patients who were referred to CT scan for the assessment of pulmonary metastases. All patients underwent CT examinations at both standard- (200 mA, 120 kV, collimation 5 mm, table feed 10 mm per rotation) and low-dose (50 mA, 120 kV, collimation 5 mm, table feed 10 mm per rotation). The number of nodules detected at each protocol was recorded. The size of the nodules was measured electronically and categorized as <3, 3–4.9, 5–6.9, 7–9.9, and ≥10 mm. Finally, the nodules detected at only standard- or low-dose CT were assessed for the underlying causes of discrepancy. In 25 patients, 533 nodules were detected at standard-dose, whereas 518 nodules were observed at low-dose CT. There were no statistically significant differences in the number of nodules detected at standard- or low-dose CT (p>0.05). Four hundred ninety-one (87.7%) nodules were detected at both standard- or low-dose CT, 42 (7.5%) nodules were observed only at standard-dose CT, and 27 (4.8%) nodules were seen only at low-dose CT. The sensitivity of low-dose CT was 92.5% for all nodules, 88.1% for nodules <5 mm, and 97.4% for nodules ≥5 mm. No significant image artifact interfering with nodule detection was observed at low-dose CT. The low-dose CT protocol used in this study provided images of adequate quality; thus, it can be used reliably in the detection or exclusion of pulmonary nodules. Electronic Publication     

Fetal transabdominal pulse oximeter studies using a hypoxic sheep model.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the validity of transabdominal pulse oximetry using a sheep fetal hypoxia model with fetal arterial hemoglobin saturation. METHODS: Four pregnant ewes were anaesthetized and cannulated through the brachial artery to measure direct arterial blood saturation, SaO(2). Next, the transabdominal pulse oximeter was used to measure indirect measurement of the arterial saturation of the fetus, SpO(2), from the maternal abdomen. Hypoxia was induced by a balloon placed in the maternal aorta. RESULTS: There is a linear relationship between SaO(2), arterial blood saturation values of the fetus, and SpO(2), the values measured by the transabdominal pulse oximetry with a slope of 0.75 (r(2)=0.76). CONCLUSION: This information can be used to calibrate the transabdominal pulse oximeter as a measurement of fetal arterial saturation. With these results, we can advance the accurate, no-risk, noninvasive transabdominal fetal pulse oximeter for human use. This research may contribute to the more accurate diagnosis of the diseases of the fetus including Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy.     

The effect of estradiol valerate and dienogest combination on serum homocysteine levels in postmenopausal women: a clinical trial.

Several studies have verified that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has protective effects on postmenopausal women's cardiovascular condition. However, highly significant recent studies have reported that women treated with HRT have more cardiovascular events than untreated women. An elevated homocysteine level is one important risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). As a good indicator of CVD risk, we examined the changes in plasma homocysteine levels of postmenopausal women treated with HRT. In our study, we administered estradiol valerate (2 mg) and dionegest (2 mg) to 34 postmenopausal women recruited randomly from our menopause clinic, and measured plasma homocysteine levels of patients at baseline and after 3 and 6 months of therapy. The changes in plasma homocysteine levels of treated patients were not statistically significant (p = 0.241). Our results indicate that 6 months of estradiol valerate and dionegest therapy does not change homocysteine levels in postmenopausal women.     

Management of scleral defect with phacocele

Subconjunctival dislocation of the crystalline lens is known as phacocele. Most cases of phacocele are associated with blunt trauma, existence of scleral rigidity, hard crystalline lens, and a history of scleral surgery. We report a case of traumatic phacocele with a scleral defect in a patient whom had been operated for trabeculectomy 5 years ago. The authors state that they do not have any significant financial interest or other relationship with any product manufacturer or provider of services discussed in this article. They also do not discuss the use of off-label products, which includes unlabeled, unapproved, or investigative products or devices.