Tropical pulmonary eosinophilia misdiagnosed as miliary tuberculosis: a case report and literature review

Tropical pulmonary eosinophilia is prevalent in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. It is an occult form of human filariasis and results from an exaggerated immune response to filarial parasites Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia malayi. Tuberculosis is prevalent in our country and may mimic almost any pulmonary disease on chest skiagram. Here we describe a patient with acute chest symptoms and micro-nodular opacity over chest roentogenogram, diagnosed as miliary tuberculosis and treated accordingly. Actually he was suffering from tropical pulmonary eosinophilia and showed response to combined diethylcarbamazine and corticosteroid therapy. This case serves as a reminder that tropical pulmonary eosinophilia may be wrongly diagnosed as miliary tuberculosis if one rely solely on a chest X-ray with micronodular opacities. We also stress on early diagnosis and treatment of this condition to avoid unfavorable outcomes.     

Toxocariasis in Cuba: a literature review

Human toxocariasis (HT) is a zoonotic disease caused by infection with the larval stage of Toxocara canis, the intestinal roundworm of dogs. Infection can be associated with a wide clinical spectrum varying from asymptomatic to severe organ injury. While the incidence of symptomatic human toxocariasis appears to be low, infection of the human population is widespread. In Cuba, a clear overview on the status of the disease is lacking. Here, we review the available information on toxocariasis in Cuba as a first step to estimate the importance of the disease in the country. Findings are discussed and put in a broader perspective. Data gaps are identified and suggestions on how to address these are presented. The available country data suggest that Toxocara infection of the definitive dog host and environmental contamination with Toxocara spp. eggs is substantial, but information on HT is less conclusive. The availability of adequate diagnostic tools in the country should be guaranteed. Dedicated studies are needed for a reliable assessment of the impact of toxocariasis in Cuba and the design of prevention or control strategies.     

镰刀菌所致皮肤感染的文献回顾

镰刀菌主要为植物致病菌,但也可引起严重人类感染。镰刀菌病临床表现形式多样,本文主要综述相关的皮肤感染,分为局限性皮肤感染及播散性感染,诊断多较困难。由于该属真菌对抗真菌药物存在天然耐药,播散性镰刀菌病死亡率可达80%-90%。本文对Medline和中文文献数据库中的相关文献进行了系统查阅和分析,综合归纳了镰刀菌所致皮肤感染的致病种、地域分布、危险因子、临床表现形式、药物敏感性及其诊疗方案等,该综述对全面了解镰刀菌病的特征及对临床医师对本病的诊断具有重要的意义。     

短梗霉感染文献回顾

短梗霉是一种在自然界广泛存在的暗色真菌,偶可引起人类感染,致病种有出芽短梗霉、黑色短梗霉、产酶短梗霉和曼氏短梗霉。临床表现多种多样,如真菌血症、腹膜炎、皮肤感染、脑膜炎、脾脓肿、肺炎、巩膜炎、角膜炎、淋巴结炎及甲真菌病等。短梗霉感染诊断较为困难,容易误诊。本文对Medline和中文文献数据库中的相关文献进行了系统查阅和分析,全面总结了短梗霉感染的地域分布、危险因子、临床表现形式、菌种类别、药物敏感性及其诊疗。     

Urogenital tuberculosis: update and review of 8961 cases from the world literature

The AIDS epidemic caused unexpected worldwide levels of tuberculosis, even in developed countries where the incidence used to be low. Patients with urogenital tuberculosis in developed countries have fewer specific symptoms and lower rates of delayed diagnoses compared with patients from other countries. As a result, the disease tends to be less serious, with more patients presenting without significant lesions of the upper urinary tract on diagnosis. These data point to a correlation of the timing of diagnosis with the severity of urogenital tuberculosis. A systematic search for urogenital tuberculosis, regardless of symptoms, is warranted for early detection.     

木霉病的研究现状

木霉在自然界广泛分布,绝大多数对人类无害,但有些种类能够感染人类造成木霉病,其引起的人类感染表现形式多样,容易误诊。本文对Medline和中文文献数据库中的相关文献进行了系统查阅和分析,综合归纳了木霉病的致病种、地域分布、危险因子、临床表现形式、药物敏感性及其诊疗方案等,该综述对全面了解木霉病的特征及其临床医师的诊断具有重要的意义。     

Sheep model in orthopedic research: a literature review

The aim of the study reported here was to provide some basic and general information on the suitability of an experimental sheep model for conducting in vivo orthopedic studies. The authors have classified the fundamental aspects that should be carefully evaluated when using sheep as an experimental model in orthopedic research: factors strictly related to bone anatomy and formation; and factors strictly affecting bone physiology, such as gastrointestinal mineral and vitamin absorption, and reproductive cycle. Future investigations should address all of the aspects highlighted, since there is no animal with the same anatomic, biochemical, physiologic, and biological characteristics as those of human beings. Moreover, useful data for treating orthopedic patients are based not only on good planning and study design, but also on perfect knowledge of the animal used and the differences between the model and the human being. The authors hope that this report will contribute to extrapolation of reliable data for use of sheep in the orthopedics field.     

Chlorinative stress in age-related diseases: a literature review

Aging is an agglomerate of biological long-lasting processes that result being inevitable. Main actors in this scenario are both long-term inflammation and oxidative stress. It has been proved that oxidative stress induce alteration in proteins and this fact itself is critically important in the pathophysiological mechanisms leading to diseases typical of aging. Among reactive species, chlorine ones such as hypochlorous acid (HOCl) are cytotoxic oxidants produced by activated neutrophils during chronic inflammation processes. HOCl can also cause damages by reacting with biological molecules. HOCl is generated by myeloperoxidase (MPO) and augmented serum levels of MPO have been described in acute and chronic inflammatory conditions in cardiovascular patients and has been implicated in many inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis, neurodegenerative conditions, and some cancers. Due to these data, we decided to conduct an up-to-date review evaluating chlorinative stress effects on every age-related disease linked; potential anti-oxidant countermeasures were also assessed. Results obtained associated HOCl generation to the aging processes and confirmed its connection with diseases like neurodegenerative and cardiovascular pathologies, atherosclerosis and cancer; chlorination was mainly linked to diseases where molecular (protein) alteration constitute the major suspected cause: i.e. inflammation, tissue lesions, DNA damages, apoptosis and oxidative stress itself. According data collected, a healthy lifestyle together with some dietary suggestion and/or the administration of nutracetical antioxidant integrators could balance the effects of chlorinative stress and, in some cases, slow down or prevent the onset of age-releated diseases.     

Electrodes in external electrohysterography: a systematic literature review

BackgroundIn low-income countries, pregnant women do not have easy access to health care, especially in rural and peri-urban areas. In this context, they can be surprised by the uterine contractions that precede childbirth and sometimes find themselves giving birth at home or on the way to the nearest health facility (located miles away from their home). In view of the development of an external uterine electrohysterogram acquisition system for labour prediction, a review of the literature on electrodes and their characteristics is necessary.MethodsA comprehensive literature review was conducted to collate information on the use of electrodes in external EHG recording and their characteristics.ResultsWet electrodes based on Ag/AgCl redox chemistry are the most common type of electrodes for EHG, employed in different configurations on the pregnant woman’s abdomen. All positioning configurations are around the vertical median axis if they are not placed directly on it. Positioning below the navel seems to be the most efficient. The number of source, reference, and ground electrodes used varies from one author to another, as does the distance between the electrodes.ConclusionTwo well-positioned source electrodes on the vertical median axis, with ground electrode on the right side of the hip and reference one on the left side, are able to generate a good external EHG recording signal. The minimum allowed inter-electrode distance is approximately 17.5 to 25mm.     

Modelling as a tool to redesign livestock farming systems: a literature review

Livestock farming has recently come under close scrutiny, in response especially to environmental issues. Farmers are encouraged to redesign their livestock farming systems in depth to improve their sustainability. Assuming that modelling can be a relevant tool to address such systemic changes, we sought to answer the following question: ‘How can livestock farming systems be modelled to help farmers redesign their whole farming systems?’ To this end, we made a literature review of the models of livestock farming systems published from 2000 to mid-2009 (n = 79). We used an analysis grid based on three considerations: (i) system definition, (ii) the intended use of the model and (iii) the way in which farmers’ decision-making processes were represented and how agricultural experts and farmers were involved in the modelling processes. Consistent rationales in approaches to supporting changes in livestock farming were identified in three different groups of models, covering 83% of the whole set. These could be defined according to (i) the way in which farmers’ decisions were represented and (ii) the model's type of contribution to supporting changes. The first type gathered models that dynamically simulated the system according to different management options; the farmers’ decision-making processes are assumed to consist in choosing certain values for management factors. Such models allow long-term simulations and endorse different disciplinary viewpoints, but the farmers are weakly involved in their design. Models of the second type can indicate the best combination of farm activities under given constraints, provided the farmers’ objectives are profit maximisation. However, when used to support redesigning processes, they address neither how to implement the optimal solution nor its long-term consequences. Models of the third type enable users to dynamically simulate different options for the farming system, the management of which is assumed to be planned according to the farmers’ general objectives. Although more comprehensive, these models do not easily integrate different disciplinary viewpoints and different subsystems, which limits their usefulness as support tools for redesigning processes. Finally, we concluded about what specific requirements should be for modelling approaches if farmers were to be supported in redesigning their whole livestock farming systems using models.     

Options to avoid the second surgical site: a review of literature

As esthetics gain importance, periodontal plastic surgical procedures involving soft tissue grafts are becoming commoner both around natural teeth as well as around implants. Periodontal soft tissue grafts are primarily used for the purpose of root coverage and in pre-prosthetic surgery to thicken a gingival site or to improve the crestal volume. Soft tissue grafts are usually harvested from the palate. Periodontal plastic surgical procedures involving soft tissue grafts harvested from the palate have two surgical sites; a recipient site and another donor site. Many patients are apprehensive about the soft tissue graft procedures, especially the creation of the second/donor surgical site in the palate. In the past decade, newer techniques and products have emerged which provide an option for the periodontist/patient to avoid the second surgical site. MucoMatrixX, Alloderm^®, Platelet rich fibrin, Puros^® Dermis and Mucograft^® are the various options available to the practicing periodontist to avoid the second surgical site. Use of these soft tissue allografts in an apprehensive patient would decrease patient morbidity and increase patient’s acceptance towards periodontal plastic surgical procedures.     

Bryophytes and heavy metals: a literature review

The literature on heavy metals in bryophytes is reviewed, including mechanisms of metal uptake, retention, toxicity and tolerance. Interspecies differences in particular are discussed, including the development of extreme tolerance encountered in certain taxa. The use of bryophytes in monitoring heavy metal deposition is considered and comparisons are made with direct deposition measurements.     

Advances in application of machine learning to life cycle assessment: a literature review

Purpose

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is the process of systematically assessing impacts when there is an interaction between the environment and human activity. Machine learning (ML) with LCA methods can help contribute greatly to reducing impacts. The sheer number of input parameters and their uncertainties that contribute to the full life cycle make a broader application of ML complex and difficult to achieve. Hence a systems engineering approach should be taken to apply ML in isolation to aspects of the LCA. This study addresses the challenge of leveraging ML methods to deliver LCA solutions. The overarching hypothesis is that: LCA underpinned by ML methods and informed by dynamic data paves the way to more accurate LCA while supporting life cycle decision making.

Methods

In this study, previous research on ML for LCA were considered, and a literature review was undertaken.

Results

The results showed that ML can be a useful tool in certain aspects of the LCA. ML methods were shown to be applied efficiently in optimization scenarios in LCA. Finally, ML methods were integrated as part of existing inventory databases to streamline the LCA across many use cases.

Conclusions

The conclusions of this article summarise the characteristics of existing literature and provide suggestions for future work in limitations and gaps which were found in the literature.

     

Genomic damage in children accidentally exposed to ionizing radiation: a review of the literature

During the last decade, our knowledge of the mechanisms by which children respond to exposures to physical and chemical agents present in the environment, has significantly increased. Results of recent projects and programmes focused on children's health underline a specific vulnerability of children to environmental genotoxicants. Environmental research on children predominantly investigates the health effects of air pollution while effects from radiation exposure deserve more attention. The main sources of knowledge on genome damage of children exposed to radiation are studies performed after the Chernobyl nuclear plant accident in 1986. The present review presents and discusses data collected from papers analyzing genome damage in children environmentally exposed to ionizing radiation. Overall, the evidence from the studies conducted following the Chernobyl accident, nuclear tests, environmental radiation pollution and indoor accidental contamination reveals consistently increased chromosome aberration and micronuclei frequency in exposed than in referent children. Future research in this area should be focused on studies providing information on: (a) effects on children caused by low doses of radiation; (b) effects on children from combined exposure to low doses of radiation and chemical agents from food, water and air; and (c) specific effects from exposure during early childhood (radioisotopes from water, radon in homes). Special consideration should also be given to a possible impact of a radiochemical environment to the development of an adaptive response for genomic damage. Interactive databases should be developed to provide integration of cytogenetic data, childhood cancer registry data and information on environmental contamination. The overall aim is to introduce timely and efficient preventive measures, by means of a better knowledge of the early and delayed health effects in children resulting from radiation exposure.