Investigations of Phlebotomus perniciosus sand flies in rural Spain reveal strongly aggregated and gender-specific spatial distributions and advocate use of light-attraction traps

The spatial and temporal distribution of Phlebotomus perniciosus (Diptera: Psychodidae) (Newstead, 1911), the sand fly vector of pathogens of public and animal health importance, was investigated in a high sand fly density rural area in Spain using light-attraction and sticky-interception traps. Traps were placed inside animal buildings and outside at increasing distance from animals. A total of 8506 sand flies were collected, 87% with light traps. Species frequency differed between trap types. The abundance of P. perniciosus decreased exponentially with increasing distance to animals and, while females were most common in the animal enclosure, males predominated in adjoining storage places. Increasing CO₂ concentration had an additional positive effect on female abundance only. Both male and female density increased with rising temperature, and there was some indication that females were more active than males at higher relative humidity. The study confirms that P. perniciosus aggregates around animal premises, although male and female distributions differ and should be analysed separately to account for biological and behavioural differences. This provides further evidence that light traps offer an accurate estimation of the relative spatial and temporal abundance of P. perniciosus, conferring an added value for the study of this species and the risk of pathogen transmission.

Is Tear Calcium An Indicator of Ocular Calcification in Patients with Chronic Renal Failure?

BACKGROUND

In patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) on regular dialysis treatment, limboconjunctival degeneration and calcifications are common. The mechanisms of ectopic conjunctival and corneal calcification remain largely speculative. The aim of the present work was to study tear calcium levels in patients with chronic renal failure, which could alter calcium excretion patterns, and to examine whether the calcium level in tear fluid is of more diagnostic importance than static calcium levels in blood.

METHODS

Tear calcium levels were measured in 25 patients with chronic renal failure, compared with 14 normal subjects. Conjunctival and corneal calcium deposits were graded by the Porter and Crombie classification.

RESULTS

While 11 of the 25 patients had no clinically apparent calcium deposits, six had Grade 1 or 2, and eight had Grade 3 and over limboconjunctival calcification. Mean tear calcium levels were 1.436 +/- 0.165 mg/dl in the patients and 1.307 +/- 0.155 mg/dl in the normal group. The difference was not significant (P = 0.572). No correlation was found between the grade of the calcium deposits and tear calcium levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Tear calcium level has no diagnostic importance for the development of ocular calcification in chronic renal failure.

Investigation of the excitation functions for the (n, 2n) reactions on the structural fusion material 58,60 – 62,64Ni

The theoretical prediction of the cross-sections in the determination of the structure materials used in the fission and fusion technology is very important in terms of reactor safety. Also, theoretical cross-sections are necessary to evaluate the performance of structure materials, especially, in the lack or absence of experimental data. Nickel base alloys are one of the wide ranges of structural materials used in fission and fusion reactors. Therefore, the excitation functions of the (n, 2n) reactions on the structure material nickel with neutrons producing via fusion reactions are investigated in this study. Thus, the excitation functions for 58,60 – 62,64Ni(n, 2n) reactions are calculated using some pre-equilibrium models which are the hybrid, the geometry depended hybrid and the two-component excitation models. The calculations are performed in the ALICE/ASH and the Talys 1.8 codes. Also, the equilibrium and pre-equilibrium effects on these reactions are investigated in this study. The obtained cross-sections are discussed and compared with the experimental data and the theoretical predicted data.

Neuroprotective effects of high-dose human albumin against traumatic spinal cord injury in rats

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Human serum albumin (HA) is a unique multifunctional protein with neuroprotective properties. We aimed to delineate the mechanisms of HA-induced neuroprotection, supresses inflammatory response and lipid peroxidation after spinal cord injury (SCI).

METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN

Adult female Wistar rats weighing 210-250 g were used for the study. The rats were randomly and blindly allocated into five groups. The one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for parametric data and Shapiro-Wilk test was used for evaluating the normal distribution of the variables. Kruskal-Wallis for nonparametric data was used to compare groups. Electron and light microscopies were used to demonstrate ultrastructural changes in spinal cord.

RESULTS

The HA group was significantly different from all the other groups (p < 0.05). Both MPSS and HA treatments decreased the MPO significantly. HA treatment decreased the lipid peroxidation. HA treatment prevented the worsening of clinical results. In the HA treatment group, the ultrastructure was protected significantly. The neuronal bodies and axonal structures were normal except for some limited edematous spaces.

CONCLUSIONS

HA improves early clinical results, protects spinal cord ultrastructure, and decreases MPO and LPO levels after spinal cord contusion injury (Tab. 3, Fig. 3, Ref. 39).

Posterior Chamber Lens Implantation Techniques in Posterior Capsular Rupture

Purpose

To evaluate posterior chamber lens implantation techniques and their results in patients in whom posterior capsular rupture and zonular dialysis arose during cataract operation.

METHODS

Forty-three cataractous eyes of 43 consecutive patients with complicated cataract operations such as posterior capsular rupture or zonular dialysis were accepted into this prospective study between November 1999 and January 2001. Intraocular lens implantation to ciliary sulcus was achieved without sutures in 19 cases (Group 1), with one suture from 12 o'clock quadrant in 14 cases (Group 2), and with two sutures from 3 to 9 o'clock quadrants in 10 cases (Group 3). Patients were followed up for 3 months after operation and evaluated for best-corrected visual acuity, refractive astigmatism, corneal edema, anterior chamber depth and inflammation, synechia at angle, intraocular pressure, lens tilt and decentration, intraocular hemorrhage, cystoid macular edema, and retinal detachment.

Results

There was no difference among groups in best-corrected visual acuity, refractive astigmatism, corneal edema, anterior chamber depth and inflammation, intraocular pressure, lens tilt and decentration, cystoid macular edema, or retinal detachment. Anterior chamber and vitreous hemorrhage and peripheral anterior synechia were significantly higher in Group 3 when compared with Group 1 (p=0.009, p=0.009, and p=0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

In all cases with posterior capsular rupture and zonular dialysis, different posterior chamber lens implantation techniques could be performed, beginning with the least invasive procedure suitable for the conditions with the least complications.

Computerized Tomography-Guided Stereotactic Biopsy of Intracranial Lesions: Report of 500 Consecutive Cases

AIM

Computed tomography (CT)-guided stereotactic brain biopsy has been performed in our clinic since March 1998. In this prospective study, we examined the patient data undergoing stereotactic biopsy and the results of biopsies in 500 consecutive patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Between the dates of March 1998 and January 2015, CT-guided stereotactic biopsies were performed by using the Leksell stereotactic frame system (Elekta Instruments EU, Sweden) in 500 patients. A total of 512 procedures were performed in patients consisting of 184 females (36.8%) and 316 males (63.2%), ages ranging from 3 to 81 years (mean 50.40±16.67).

RESULTS

Conclusive histopathological diagnosis was not achieved in 17(3.3%) of 512 procedures. Of the others, 173 (33.8%) were high-grade gliomas, 103 (20.1%) were low-grade gliomas, 36 (7%) were malignant lymphomas, 34 (6.6%) were other types of brain tumors, 82 (16%) were metastasis and 67 (13.1%) were non-tumoral lesions. Complications were occurred in ten cases: 3 tumoral bleedings, 2 hypertensive cerebral hematomas, 2 peroperative convulsions, 1 epidural hematoma, 1 myocardial infarction and 1 brain edema. The patients who developed myocardial infarction and hypertensive thalamic hematoma died. The mortality was 0.4% and morbidity was 1.6% in 512 procedures.

CONCLUSION

CT-guided stereotactic biopsy is a reliable and a safe procedure in cases with intracranial lesions when histopathological diagnosis is required for the appropriate treatment.

The role of pegaptanib sodium in the suppression of epidural fibrosis in a postlaminectomy rat model

OBJECTIVE

Spinal epidural fibrosis is a clinical condition that develops after laminectomy and can compress the spine. Many agents have been tried for the treatment, but none has entered clinical use at present. Pegaptanib sodium is an antiangiogenetic drug that prevents the development of new vessels and thus adhesion by inhibiting the effect of VEGF.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

20 Wistar rats were used in this study. The rats were divided into 2 different groups as the control and pegaptanib sodium group. Three levels of laminectomy were performed. Only laminectomy was performed in the control group. A cotton ball soaked with 3 mg/kg Pegaptanib sodium diluted 1: 10 with 0.9 % NaCl was topically applied to the dura in the surgical field for 5 minutes in the pegaptanib sodium group. The rats were sacrificed 3 weeks later and histopathologically examined. The epidural fibrosis was graded.

RESULTS

The epidural fibrosis grade in the pegaptanib sodium was significantly lower than in the control group c2 = 11,65; (p = 0.004)CONCLUSION: Pegaptanib sodium blocked the VEGF through its anti-VEGF effect and decreased spinal epidural fibrosis in rats that had undergone laminectomy (Tab. 2, Fig. 3, Ref. 53).

Factors that Affect Postoperative Hydrocephalus Development in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Clinical Study

AIM

Factors affecting the development of postoperative hydrocephalus patients who underwent surgery after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage were retrospectively assessed.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

201 cases, who underwent aneurysm surgery in our clinic after subarachnoid hemorrhage between 2008 and 2013, were retrospectively assessed. Twenty-one cases with hydrocephalus development were retrospectively examined according to their age, gender, history (hypertension, alcohol, and smoking), blood type, the number and size of aneurysms, aneurysm localization, the presence of ventricular hemorrhage, baseline-final neurological diagnosis, Fisher grading system, history of vasospasm and meningitis. The initial neurological course and Hunt-Hess, and also final neurological course of the patients were evaluated according to World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) Grading Scale.

RESULTS

Age, history of hypertension, aneurysm localization, Hunt-Hess grading, vasospasm, meningitis and Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) are determinative factors in hydrocephalus development due to subarachnoid hemorrhage. It was detected that gender, alcohol and tobacco use, blood group, the size and the number of aneurysm, the presence of intraventricular hemorrhage and Fisher grading were not the determinative factors in the patients.

CONCLUSION

In patients who underwent surgery for subarachnoid hemorrhage, risk factors for postoperative hydrocephalus should be determined and the patients with these risk factors should be closely monitored.

Chronic subdural hematoma associated with arachnoid cyst of the middle fossa : Surgical treatment and mid-term results in fifteen patients

AIM

We report the neurological and radiological features, surgical management and Mid-term outcome in a series of patients with chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) and associated ipsilateral arachnoid cyst (AC) of the middle fossa.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Between August 2004 and August 2012, 453 patients were treated with diagnosis of CSDH in our clinic. Of those, 15 patients had ipsilateral arachnoid cyst in the middle fossa. A single burr hole craniostomy was performed to drain the hematoma and the AC left intact at first in 14 patients, one patient had no surgical intervention. Follow-up period ranged from 13 months to 88 months (mean 43.07 ± 23.23 months).

RESULTS

The patients having CSDH with AC were found to be younger than the patients with CSDH alone, the mean age was 13.93 ±12.37 years Eleven patients had head trauma 21 to 50 days before admission. Hematoma evacuation through a single burr hole and closed system subdural drainage 2 to 4 days after surgery improved the symptoms in all patients. Two patients developed subdural fluid collection which is treated by subduroperitoneal shunt placement.

CONCLUSION

Greater prevalence of ACs in patients with CSDHs has been reported in the literature. We recommend the drainage of the hematoma via a single craniostomy and to leave the AC intact as the first choice of treatment if the associated AC is a Galassi type I or II. Additional subduroperitoneal shunting may be performed in patients with Galassi type III cyst.

Assessing cervical intraepithelial neoplasia as an indicator disease for HIV in a low endemic setting: a population-based register study

OBJECTIVES

To analyse whether the prevalence of undiagnosed HIV among (1) all women in Sweden and (2) migrant women, diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or worse CIN2⁺ reaches the threshold of 0.1%, which has been suggested to be cost-effective for HIV testing.

DESIGN

Population-based register study.

SETTING

Counties of Stockholm and Gothenburg, Sweden, 1990-2014.

POPULATION

All women, born between 1940 and 1990, with at least one cervical cytology or histology registered in the Swedish National Cervical Screening Register (NKCx).

METHODS

Data were collected from the NKCx and the Swedish National HIV register. The proportion of women with undiagnosed HIV among women with CIN2⁺ compared with women with a normal/mildly abnormal cytology/histology was assessed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Proportion of women with undiagnosed HIV.

RESULTS

The proportion of undiagnosed HIV was higher among all women with CIN2⁺ than among those without CIN2⁺ : 0.06% (95% CI 0.04-0.08) versus 0.04% (95% CI 0.04-0.04); P = 0.017). Among migrant women, the proportion of undiagnosed HIV was higher among those with CIN2⁺ than among those without [0.30% (95% CI 0.20-0.43) versus 0.08% (95% CI 0.07-0.10); P < 0.001] and exceeded 0.1%, suggesting the cost-effectiveness of HIV testing. Women with undiagnosed HIV at the time of CIN2⁺ had a significantly lower nadir CD4⁺ T-cell count, as a measure of immunosuppression, compared with women without CIN2⁺ before HIV diagnosis (median nadir CD4, 95 cells/mm³ versus 210 cells/mm³ ; P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

HIV testing should be performed in migrant women with unknown HIV status diagnosed with CIN2⁺ .

TWEETABLE ABSTRACT

HIV testing should be performed in migrant women with unknown HIV status diagnosed with CIN2⁺ .