Sequence analysis of different domains of plasmodium vivax apical membrane antigen [PvAMA-1 gene] locus in Iran

Plasmodium vivax is responsible for approximately 80 million malaria cases in the world. Apical membrane antigen1 [AMA-1] is a type I integral membrane protein present in all Plasmodium species. AMA-1 interferes in critical steps of invasion of human hepatocytes by sporozoites and red blood cells by merozoites and is one of the most immunodominant antigens for eliciting a protective immune response in human. It is considered as a promising antigen for inclusion in a vaccine against P. vivax. Since more knowledge is needed to lighten the scope of such antigen we compared genetic variation in P. vivax AMA-1from an Iranian isolate with those reported from some of the other malarious countries so far. P. vivax genomic DNA was extracted from the whole blood of an Iranian patient with patent P. vivax infection. The nucleotide sequence for 446 amino acid [AA] residues [42-488 of PvAMA-1] was amplified by PCR and cloned in pUC19 vector for sequencing. Sequence analysis of the antigen showed a high degree of identity [99%] with strong homology to the PvAMA-1 gene of P. vivax S3 and SKO814 isolates from India and Korea [Asian isolates] respectively, and 96% similarity with P. vivax Sal-1 AMA-1 gene from El Salvador. We cloned and characterized three domains of PvAMA-1 gene from an Iranian patient. Predicted protein sequence of this gene showed some discrepancies in corresponding protein in comparing with similar genes reported from other malarious countries

Adding liver window setting to the standard abdominal CT scan protocol: is it useful?

Hepatic lesions may be missed in the routine abdominal computed tomography [CT] scan protocol using soft tissue window setting. The ability to find these lesions is very important in the assessment of metastasis and follow-up of patients. Patients and Methods: In this study, 411 patients who underwent abdominal CT for various causes were evaluated separately by two radiologists blindly. All liver images were viewed in two different window settings, soft tissue window setting: window width [WW] of 350-400 Hounsfield unit [HU], window level [WL] of 35-50 HU, and liver window setting: WW of 150 HU, WL of 50-100 HU, at the workstation. Out of 411 patients, 181 [44%] were referred for cancer follow-up and 230 [56%] for evaluation of abdominal discomfort. Soft tissue window setting revealed no lesion in 334 [81.26%] patients, single lesion in 30 [7.31%], and multiple lesions in 47 [11.43%] patients. Liver window setting revealed no lesion in 313 [76.2%] patients, single lesion in 35 [8.5%], and multiple liver lesions in 63 [15.3%] patients. Compared to liver window, soft tissue window setting revealed 77.77% of all detectable liver lesions. Liver window showed new lesions in 22 [6.6%] of patients in whom no lesion had been found in soft tissue window setting. Therefore, liver window setting brought 5.3% increase in the diagnostic yield of CT in our series, and changed the decision for treatment in 2.4% of patients studied. Liver window setting added to the standard soft tissue setting protocol of abdominal CT at the workstation can improve the diagnosis and follow-up of patients, especially for those who have known cancer. Image review with this new setting takes a few minutes and the cost is also low; there is no added radiation exposure to patients

Double mandibular foramina and canal: report of a case with interactive CT-based planning software

The identification of the mandibular canal and its anatomic variations is of great importance in many branches of dentistry, especially in implant dentistry and prior to endosteal implant insertion. This knowledge is even more demanding when the mandible has been compromised by different degrees of atrophy and bone resorption. In this study we describe a rare case of double mandibular canal identified by three-dimensional imaging techniques during the process of diagnosis. It is concluded that mandibular canals may often be undetected during the diagnosing phase of implant treatment, and tomographic imaging is the only way to identify some of these distinctive features

Diagnostic accuracy of Multi-Slice Computed Tomographic [MSCT] angiography in the detection of cerebral aneurysms

Multislice computed tomographic [MSCT] angiography is a rapid and minimally invasive method for the detection of intracranial aneurysms. The purpose of this study was to compare MSCT angiography with digital subtraction angiography [DSA] in the diagnosis of cerebral aneurysms. In this cross sectional study we evaluated 111 consecutive patients [42[37.8%] male and 69[62.2%] female], who were dmitted under clinical symptoms and signs, suggestive of harboring an intracranial aneurysm by using a four detector MSCT angiography. Then we compared results of MSCT angiography with DSA results as a gold standard method. DSA was performed by bilateral selective common carotid artery injections and either unilateral or bilateral vertebral artery injections, as necessary. MSCT angiography images were interpreted by one radiologist and DSA was performed by another radiologist who was blinded to the interpretation of the MSCT angiograms. The mean +/- SD age of the patients was 49.1 +/- 13.6 years [range: 12-84 years]. We performed MSCT in 111 and DSA in 85 patients. the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value [PPV], negative predictive value [NPV], positive and negative likelihood ratio [LR] of MSCT angiography, when compared with DSA as the gold standard, were 100%, 90%, 87.5%, 100%, 10 and 0, respectively. MSCT angiography seems to be an accurate and non-invasive imaging modality in the diagnosis of intracranial aneurysms

Radiological findings of pulmonary tuberculosis in infants and young children

Pulmonary tuberculosis [TB] is a common worldwide lung infection. It remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Radiographic manifestations of pulmonary tuberculosis are diverse and varied. This study was performed to define the various radiographic manifestations of this infection in the pediatric age group in children who were referred to Mofid Children's Hospital. We reviewed chest x-rays of 30 pulmonary TB patients admitted to our hospital to ascertain the extent of parenchymal and mediastinal involvements on chest xray. Male to female ratio was 1.7:1. The patients' age ranged from 2-163 months with a mean age of 36.9 months. Mediastinal lymphadenopathy was detected in 90% of the cases and pulmonary involvement, especially alveolar shadowing was seen in 83.3% of the cases [of which 43.3% had an air-space pattern and 40% had an interstitial pattern]. 19 of the 30 patients [66.3%] were under 36 months, in which 17 of the 19 patients [89.5%] revealed lymphadenopathy. Therefore 63% of all detected lymphadenopathies were seen in this age group. Mediastinal lymphadenopathy was more common on the right side [73.3%]. Furthermore, 60% of all alveolar infiltrations were seen on the right side. Pulmonary tuberculosis most commonly represents as a mediastinal and thereafter as a parenchymal involvement. Hilo-mediastinal lymphadenopathy is the most common presentation in infants and young children