METHODS: Tests for LA include dilute Russell's viper venom time (dRVVT) and Kaolin clotting time (KCT). Patients with LA ratio (dRVVT screen ratio/dRVVT confirm ratio) of ≥1.2 were considered as LA positive irrespective of KCT results. KCT was considered positive if there was a prolongation in KCT screening test which was not corrected on mixing with normal plasma.
RESULTS: Of 577 patients' results, 295 were normal, 178 were KCT positive with negative dRVVT and 104 were LA positive. Incidences of thrombosis, connective tissue disease (CTD) and bad obstetric events were noted in 13%, 16% and 44% of normal patients, 9%, 22% and 49% of KCT+ patients and 23%, 37% and 17% of LA+ patients respectively. On further evaluation of dRVVT screen ratios, 431 had a ratio of <1.1, 59 had a ratio between 1.1 and 1.2 and 87 had a ratio of >1.2. Positive LA results were found in 3%, 29% and 87% of patients with dRVVT screen ratios of <1.1, 1.1 - 1.2 and >1.2 respectively.
CONCLUSION: LA+ patients had higher incidences of thrombosis and CTD as compared to normal and KCT only positive patients. There was no significant difference in clinical characteristics between normal and KCT+ patients which suggests the presence of a high rate of false-positive KCT results. Since confirmatory testing for KCT is not widely used, the option of using another LA screening test method should be considered. In regard to dRVVT testing, confirmatory test should only be performed in patients with prolonged dRVVT screening result which was not corrected upon mixing with normal plasma as required by the International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis guidelines on LA testing. This practice will not only result in significant cost reduction but also avoid diagnostic confusion.
METHODS: A total of 345 wound swab samples were tested for bacterial pathogens. Acinetobacter baumannii was identified by culture and biochemical tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility pattern was determined by the disc diffusion method according to CLSI standards. Extended spectrum beta-lactamases were screened using the double disc synergy technique. Gene encoding AdeB efflux pump and NDM-1 were detected by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).
RESULTS: A total 22 (6.37%) Acinetobacter baumannii were identified from 345 wound swab samples and 20 (91%) of them were multidrug resistant. High resistance rates to some antibiotics were seen namely, cefotaxime (95%), amoxyclavulanic acid (90%) and ceftriaxone (82%). All the identified Acinetobacter baumannii were sensitive to colistin and 82% to imipenem. Two (9%) ESBL producing Acinetobacter baumannii strains were detected. adeB gene was detected in 16 (80%) out of 20 multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. 4 (18%) of 22 Acinetobacter baumannii were imipenem resistant. NDM-1 gene was detected in 2 (50%) of the imipenem resistant strains of Acinetobacter baumannii.
CONCLUSION: The results of this study provide insight into the role of adeB gene as a potential regulator of drug resistance in Acinetobacter baumanni in Bangladesh. NDM-1 gene also contributes in developing such resistance for Acinetobacter baumannii.
MATERIALS & METHODS: This is a case-control study consisting of 47 MDD patients and 47 healthy controls. MDD patients were treated with antidepressant drugs according to their physician's choice. The severity of MDD was assessed using Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) at the time of recruitment. Healthy controls completed the Depression Anxiety Scoring System (DASS21) questionnaire to ensure they were in good mental health without history of MDD. The percentage and absolute count of CD4+ CD25+ Tregs and CD4+ CD25+ FOXP3+ Tregs were identified by multiparameter flow cytometry.
RESULTS: The percentage and absolute count of CD4+ CD25+ Treg cells were significantly higher in MDD patients than in healthy controls (P<0.001, in both cases). Likewise, the percentage and absolute count of CD4+ CD25+ FOXP3+ Treg cells were also significantly higher in MDD patients compared to healthy controls (P=0.003 and P=0.002, respectively). However, there was no significant correlation between the percentage and absolute count of CD4+ CD25+ Treg and CD4+ CD25+ FOXP3+ Treg cells with BDI or MADRS score.
CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that antidepressant treatments contributed to an upregulation of Tregs in MDD patients.
CASE REPORT: We report a rare case of primary uterine angiosarcoma with unusual rhabdoid morphology in a 41-year-old female, who underwent radical hysterectomy and died of disease after 4 months of treatment.
DISCUSSION: We described the differential diagnosis of primary angiosarcoma of the uterus that can pose a diagnostic challenge.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present study, the exosomes from the cell culture supernatants of an invasive colon cancer cell line SW480-7 were characterised. The effect on tube formation and expression of angiogenic genes in a microvascular endothelial cell, telomerase-immortalised microvascular endothelial cell (TIME) was examined after co-cultured with exosomes secreted from SW480-7.
RESULTS: Zetasizer result showed average diameter of exosomes derived from SW480-7 was 246.2 nm and morphological analysis showed the size of majority of exosomes were less than 200 nm. Results showed that exosomes derived from SW480-7 increased tube formation and up-regulated FGFR3 mRNA expression in TIME.
CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that exosomes derived from SW480-7 increased tube formation and up-regulated expression of FGFR3 mRNA in TIME.
CASE REPORT: We present a rare case of metastatic alveolar RMS from a nasal primary to cervical lymph nodes (LNs) in an elderly patient, diagnosed on the fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy. Smears showed malignant round cells featuring focal rhabdoid appearance, with rhabdomyoblastic differentiation further supported by immunocytochemical stains. Diagnosis of alveolar RMS was confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) identifying FOXO1 gene involvement with dual colour break-apart probes at locus 13q14.
DISCUSSION: The differential diagnosis for a small round blue cell tumour in the elderly generally includes metastatic small cell carcinoma, lymphoma, malignant melanoma, RMS, desmoplastic small round cell tumour and Ewing's sarcoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumour. Subtle morphological analysis and expression pattern of immunostaining for skeletal muscle differentiation led to the diagnosis of RMS. Cytogenetic testing on the FOXO1 gene rearrangement helps definite subtyping of alveolar RMS.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six control and five DM Wistar rats were evaluated. DM was induced at 11 weeks of age using streptozotocin (STZ; 60 mg/kg, intraperitoneal). Animals were monitored up to 38 weeks of age, when plasma glucose, lipid profile, and markers specific for systemic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and oxidative stress were measured. The amount of fat within the aortic wall was assessed semiquantitatively using Oil Red O staining.
RESULTS: Diabetic rats presented significantly higher plasma glucose (p < 0.001), total cholesterol and triglycerides (both p = 0.02), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (p = 0.01), and vascular endothelial growth factor (p = 0.04) levels, and significantly lower interleukin-10 (p = 0.04), superoxide dismutase (p < 0.01), and glutathione peroxidase (p = 0.01) levels than the control rats. Mild (grade 1) atherosclerotic lesions were observed in the aortic wall of 80% of the diabetic rats and in none of the control rats.
CONCLUSIONS: This study presents a STZ-induced type 1 DM rat model with one of the longest follow-ups in the literature. In this model, long-term DM created a highly pro-atherogenic environment characterised by hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, systemic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and oxidative stress that resulted in the development of early aortic atherosclerotic lesions.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a descriptive, retrospective study of odontogenic tumours diagnosed from January 2007 to December 2014 at this centre. The odontogenic tumours were classified using the 2005 World Health Organization classification system.
RESULTS: Among 2,733 biopsy specimens, 173 cases were diagnosed as odontogenic tumours (6.3%), of which 171 (98.8%) are benign and 2 (1.2%) are malignant. The most frequently encountered tumour was ameloblastoma (n=96, 55.5%), followed by keratocystic odontogenic tumour (KCOT) (n=38, 22.0%) and odontomas (n=16, 9.2%). Malignant tumours accounted for 1.2% of the tumours. Most ameloblastomas and KCOTs affected the mandible preferentially. The mean age was 33.5 (± 17.8) years and 64.7% of patients were in the age group of 10 to 39. Odontogenic tumours were slightly more common in males, with a male to female ratio of 1.4:1.
CONCLUSION: The findings of this study are similar to the other studies in Asia in which the most common tumour encountered is the ameloblastoma, followed by KCOT. The most common signs and symptoms are pain and swelling, while paraesthesia and root resorption are less frequently reported. Such clinical and radiographic features should alert the clinician of a possible odontogenic tumour and though rare, malignant tumours should also be included in the differential diagnoses.