Detection of acute childhood meningitis by PCR, culture and agglutination tests in Tabriz, Iran

Meningitis is one of the hazardous and life threatening infections and is associated with mortality and morbidity. The aim of this study was to determine etiological agents of childhood bacterial meningitis. The culture, Gram staining, agglutination and PCR assays were used to examine CSF specimens from 277 patients with presumed bacterial meningitis for the occurrence of 4 most common infectious agents consist of N. meningitis, H. influnsae, S. pneumoniae and S. agalactiae between 2008 and 2009 at different wards of the Children Hospital of Tabriz. The mean age of patients was 35 +/- 2 [Mean +/- SEM] month, [minimum 11 days maximum14 years], of all cases 59.6% male and 40.4% female. Overall the diagnosis was confirmed with a CSF culture in 11/277 [3.97%], by agglutination test in 14/277 [5.05%]. The isolated bacteria included S. pneumoniae 5 cases, H. influnsae 2 cases, N. meningitis 3 cases and P. aeroginusae 1 case. A positive PCR assay allowed us to diagnose bacterial meningitis in 19 patients [6.8%]. In the present study, we found PCR to be a useful and sensitive method for the detection of bacterial DNA in the CSF samples from suspected meningitis patients. Furthermore, to maximize management of meningitis cases, a combination of culture and PCR is necessary

Tissue doppler imaging and doppler studies in patients with transmural and non-transmural myocardial infarction

Myocardial longitudinal shortening play an important role in cardiac contraction [1,2]. Tissue velocity imaging [TVI] is an ultrasonographic technique that measure myocardial motion and providing a quantitative agreement of left ventricular regional myocardial function in different modalities [3]. The present review discusses the most recent development in the application of TDI in coronary artery disease. Seventy patients with myocardial infarction [transmural and nontransmural] were included in the study. These subjects were diagnosed with recent myocardial infarction wall [septal side of mitral annulus] and basal segment of base of RV free wall were examined for tissue Doppler study with complete transthoracic echocardiography study. Mean age in group of inferior MI, anterior MI and non Q wave MI are as follows: 61.87 +/- 10.7, 57.04 +/- 10.7, 58.45 +/- 9.2. Sm was significantly reduced in anterior MI groups than non Q wave MI [PV=0.01]. In patients with inferior myocardial infarction 88% of patients had left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF]>45% and in patients with anterior MI 18.2% patients had EF>45%. In non Q wave MI groups 60% patients had LVEF>45%. Except for Sm, other TDI parameters had no significant difference between two groups [transmural and nontransmural infarction] but it has significant changes in reduced left ventricle function and could be of determinants for prognosis