Radiotherapy induced hip joint avascular necrosis—Two cases report

Background

Avascular necrosis (AVN) refers to the death of osteocytes and osteoblasts. Sites such as the femoral head, the head of the humerus and the mandibula with restricted access to local blood supply are particularly vulnerable to osteonecrosis.A combination of several factors is responsible for ischaemia and is associated with AVN: corticosteroids, alcohol abuse, Cushing''s syndrome, SLE, systemic vasculitis, RA, scleroderma, haemoglobinopathies, radiotherapy. Management is based on proper diagnosis and treatment – conservative, pharmacological or surgical.Radiotherapy has become an integral part of the therapeutic programme of cancer patients. However, early and late after-effects of irradiation still constitute a significant issue in clinical practice.

Aim

The aim of this report is to present two cases of acetabular protrusion and femoral head deformities after a therapeutic pelvic irradiation and draw physicians’ attention to that clinical problem which continues to be underestimated.

Materials and methods

This report documents two cases of acetabular protrusion and femoral head deformities after a therapeutic pelvic radiation.

Results

Avascular necrosis (AVN) constitutes a severe and challenging long-term complication in radiation oncology.

Conclusion

It is necessary to take into account bone structures among organ at risk (OAR) involved in irradiation fields. The detailed analysis of the dose distribution and the use of collimators allow to decrease the total dose to OAR.An adequate management, early diagnosis and prompt, proper treatment may protect patients from long-term morbidities.     

Occurrence of ochratoxin A in herbal drugs of Indian origin — a report

This paper contains a report of occurrence of ochratoxin A in some common herbal medicines collected from different store-houses and shop-keepers of Bihar, India. Of 129 samples of 9 plants, 55 were found to be contaminated with various levels of ochratoxin A. The level of ochratoxin A was found maximal in barks ofHolarrhena antidysenterica (1.14 – 2.34 μg/g) whereas it was minimal in rhizomes ofTacca aspera (0.3 – 0.74 μg/g).Aspergillus ochraceus, A sulphureus and Penicillium viridicatum isolates obtained from drug samples were also examined for their toxigenic potentials. 19 isolates ofA ochraceus, 13 ofA sulphureus and 37 isolates ofP viridicatum were found to be toxigenic out of 67, 33, and 107 isolates, respectively. The ochratoxin A produced by Aochraceus was in the range of 0.09 to 2.44 μg/mL, byA sulphureus 0.1 to 1.76 μg/mL, and byP viridicatum 0.14 to 2.78 μg/mL of the culture filtrate.     

Demonstration of β-glucan receptors in the skin of aquatic mammals—a preliminary report

Using immunohistochemistry, the study clearly demonstrates three important β-glucan receptors (Ficolin/P35, MBL, Dectin-1; members of the lectin-complement pathway of innate immunity) in the integument of six marine and freshwater aquatic mammals (Northern fur seal, Common seal, Walrus, Coypu, Capybara, Otter), but only weakly in two dolphin species. Most of the non-dolphin mammals exhibited strong reactions, especially with regard to the skin glands (tubular apocrine glands, sebaceous glands), for L-Ficolin/P35 and MBL. Distinct reaction staining could also be observed in the epidermis and the outer epithelial sheath of primary hair follicles. Positive Dectin-1 staining was limited to secretory cells of the apocrine tubular glands, and to peripheral and central cells of sebaceous glands of the seals. The Capybara was the only animal to show a clear Dectin reaction in the epidermis (stratum granulosum). The findings are discussed with regard to the constant and high microbial challenge of the skin in the aquatic medium, and variations in hair density of the animals.     

Rational-emotive therapy in psychogeriatrics: a new application? Case report of a patient in daycare

Literature indicates that the use of psychotherapeutic techniques in affective problems in patients with cognitive impairment is scarce and often considered to be ineffective. The feasibility of an individual treatment with Rational Emotive Therapy of a psychogeriatric patient was explored. The patient was diagnosed with moderate cognitive impairment, a depressive episode and generalised anxiety disorder. Simplification of the RET principles and integration in an interdisciplinary system were introduced as adjustments in the method. The treatment resulted in a reduction of depressive and anxiety complaints. Treatment limitations and patient variables which seemed to have contributed to the treatment success and which may have predictive value are discussed.     

Torreites milovanovici Grubić, 1979, the first report of the Torreites genus in Iran

Late Cretaceous Torreites milovanovici, pertaining to Hippuritids (rudists) as marine heterodont bivalves, from SW Iran (northern Shiraz), is the centerpiece of this study. It is the first specimen of the Torreites genus recorded in Iran. More than 25 Torreites specimens were collected from the medium-bedded carbonate layer of the Upper Cretaceous succession of the study area. As well as in Iran, T. milovanovici specimens are recorded from Oman, and United Arab Emirates (UAE), although other species are found in Cuba, Jamaica, and Mexico. The Torreites-bearing bed is attributed to the clastic lower unit of the Tarbur Formation in Zagros Basin which is overlain by the carbonate upper unit of this Formation. Referring to field and laboratory observations as well as different previous references the Torreites-bearing carbonate layer in the study section can be ascribed to the Campanian. T. milovanovici specimens in Iran are compared with those recorded in Oman and UAE, using some determinative parameters. They show similarities in angles and size. Finding the species in a new area can be inspiring for future studies. It enhances the paleobiogeographical distribution of Family Torreitidae in the world and matching them chronologically can reveal some new evolutionary trends.     

Serum haptoglobins in experimental coccidioidomycosis — A preliminary report

Summary The level of haptoglobin was determined in control rats and in rats infected withC. immitis. The haptoglobin levels in the infected group were significantly higher than in those in the control group. The possibility that serial determinations may be of value in following the course of this disease is currently being investigated.This study was supported in part by USPHS Grants A1-06048-01, 5 T1 A1 52–06 and the Dermatologic Research Foundation of California, Inc.     

Constrictive pericarditis in a post–renal transplant patient: a case report

Introduction

Glomangiomas are rare soft tissue tumors originating from the perivascular tissue. The most common localization is in the dermis of the extremities, with a few reports of respiratory tract involvement.

Case presentation

We present the case of a 48-year-old Caucasian female patient with a glomangioma in her left lung. It was diagnosed incidentally as a coin lesion in a chest X-ray performed during preoperative work-up for a gastric Roux-en-Y bypass for alimentary obesity. A computed tomography scan of her chest revealed a lesion in her upper left lung lobe 31mm in diameter. After resection, a histopathological examination presented typical signs of a glomangioma, originating from the pulmonary parenchyma.

Conclusion

Glomangiomas of the lung are extremely rare. However, whenever incidental lesions in the lung parenchyma are found, glomangioma should be taken into diagnostic consideration. To the best of our knowledge, signs of malignancy have not previously been reported in the literature. In fact, this tumor entity shows benign behavior, with a low potential for recurrence after complete resection.     

Meeting report of the OECD conference on “Genome Editing: Applications in Agriculture—Implications for Health,Environment and Regulation”

Transgenic Research - The “OECD Conference on Genome Editing: Applications in Agriculture—Implications for Health, Environment and Regulation” was held on the 28–29 June...     

Does cerclage improve neonatal outcomes in a molar pregnancy and a coexistent fetus? a case report

Background

Complete hydatiform mole and coexistent viable fetus is very rare. The use of a cervical cerclage for cervical indications in the presence of this condition has never been reported. Although the diagnosis was made postnatal, the objective is to present a case with good neonatal outcome.

Case presentation

A patient presented with vaginal spotting around 23 weeks. She has a history of four preterm deliveries. Her cervix was dilated and a cerclage was placed. She presented again with PPROM around 25 weeks. She went into spontaneous preterm labor and delivered a viable fetus that is a healthy girl today. Eventually the pathology of the placenta showed a complete hydatidiform mole.

Conclusion

It is necessary to inform patients about the potential risks and poor outcomes of this condition. For those who desire all potential interventions, cerclage placement could be considered.     

The first protein ever synthesized in vitro—a personal reminiscence of the total synthesis of crystalline insulin

<正>The total synthesis of crystalline bovine insulin started in 1958 was fully accomplished in 1965. This formidable task was a collaboration of the Institute of Biochemistry in Shanghai,     

Pollen-landscape relationships in modern analogues of ancient cultural landscapes in southern Sweden — a first step towards quantification of vegetation openness in the past

This study aims to analyse how vegetation, and in particular the degree of openness of the landscape, is reflected in pollen assemblages from surface sediment in lakes. Modern analogues of ancient cultural landscapes in southern Sweden were selected. Surface sediments from 22 small lakes (0.5–20 ha) located mainly in the forest region of southern Sweden were collected and analysed for pollen in order to enlarge and complement an earlier data set of 13 lakes collected in the open, agricultural region of southernmost Sweden. The composition of the landscape surrounding the lakes was mapped within 1000-m and 500-m radii around the lakes using Colour InfraRed (CIR) aerial photographs. The pollen and landscape data were analysed using numerical ordination techniques. The results show that, despite the large variation of landscape openness, the variation in non-arboreal pollen (NAP) is low between the sites which was not the case for the 13 lakes of the previous study. It is hypothesised that this may be due to differences in the major characteristics of the two regions in which the sites were selected, i.e. mainly treeless and intensively farmed in the previous study and mainly forested in the present investigation. The difference in background pollen appears to play a decisive role on the relative representation of NAP. This implies that the background pollen should be estimated before NAP percentages can be used for quantitative reconstruction of past landscape openness. In the 22 lakes studied, Gramineae, Cerealia (excludingSecale),Filipendula andSalix are positively correlated to cultivated land within both radii, and with open land (tree cover not exceeding 20%) within the 1000-m radius.Quercus andFagus have some positive correlation with deciduous orest within 1000-m radius. We conclude that the landscape units cultivated land, open land and deciduous forest within 1000-m radius are reasonably well reflected in the pollen assemblages and could be predicted within this area.     

Successful eradication of methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus (MRSA) intestinal carrier status in a healthcare worker — Case report

We describe bacteriophage therapy in the case of a healthcare worker whose gastrointestinal tract was colonized by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) with subsequent urinary tract infection caused by the same pathogen. Oral treatment with anti-MRSA phages resulted in eradication of the carrier status.     

Pasteurella canis infection in a non-human primate black-tailed marmoset (Mico melanurus)—A case report

This study reports the pathological and microbiological findings of pneumonia in a Mico melanurus caused by Pasteurella canis, confirmed for molecular analyses. It demonstrated the importance that wild species represent in the epidemiology of pasteurellosis in anthropic environments, when inserted into urban areas.