Rapid, cost-effective, sensitive and quantitative detection of Acinetobacter baumannii from pneumonia patients

Pneumonia with Acinetobacter baumannii has a major therapeutic problem in health care settings. Decision to initiate correct antibiotic therapy requires rapid identification and quantification of organism. The aim of this study was to develop a rapid and sensitive method for direct detection of A. baumannii from respiratory specimens. A Taqman real time PCR based on the sequence of bla[oxa-51] was designed and used for direct detection of A. baumannii from 361 respiratory specimens of patients with pneumonia. All specimens were checked by conventional bacteriology in parallel. The new real time PCR could detect less than 200 cfu per ml of bacteria in specimens. There was agreement between the results of real time PCR and culture [Kappa value 1.0, p value < 0.001]. The sensitivity, specificity and predictive values of real time PCR were 100%. The prevalence of A. baumannii in pneumonia patients was 10.53% [n = 38]. Poly-microbial infections were detected in 65.71% of specimens. Acinetobacter baumannii is the third causative agent in nosocomial pneumonia after Pseudomonas aeroginosa [16%] and Staphylococcus aureus [13%] at Tehran hospitals. We recommend that 10[4] CFU be the threshold for definition of infection with A. baumannii using real time PCR

[ investigation on the prevalence of buccolingual curvature and measuring the curvature angle of the root of first maxiIIary molars among Yazd population. [research]]

The palatal root of first maxillary molars has a buccolingual curvature. That in most cases could not be seen in radiographic images resulting in complications such as root perforation and ledge during canal preparation. Due to the importance of this subject, the present study was performed to evaluate the prevalence of buccolingual curvature and measuring the curvature angle of the palatal root of first maxillary molars among Yazd population. In order to do this study, 120 extracted maxillary molars were selected, mesiobuccal radiographics were taken, than using tracing paper the curvature of the palatal roots were determined by Schneider technique. The results showed that seventy- three cases [60.83%] were curved buccally, two cases [1.67%] were curved lingually and forty - five cases [37.5%] were straight. The angle of canal curvature was ranged from 0 to 30 degrees in 90 cases [75%], 30 to 45 degrees in 27 cases [22.5%] and 45 to 60 degrees in 3 cases [2.4%]

Modified one-finger laparoscopy technique

We used the modified one finger laparoscopy technique on 100 patients, and found it to be successful in 87% of cases. No major complication occurred during or after such operations. However, we think that this technique is accompanied by three important problems: 1] The CO2 gas is lost from the subumbilical incision, 2] A secondary fascial layer is present in some patients, and 3] There is a higher rate of laparoscopic wound complications. At the present time [in the second phase of the study], by cutting superficially the secondary fascial layer, our success rate has risen to 98%. We close the fascia and skin in separate layers and believe that a similar approach can be used for the peritoneum