Comparison of coronary calcifications detections by angiogram versus intravascular ultrasound

The presence, extent and location of calcium in coronary artery lesions are important determinants of the success of per cutaneous coronary intervention [PCI]. Although coronarography remains the gold standard for coronary disease detection, Intravascular ultrasound [IVUS] is proposed as a superior technique for identifying patients with coronary artery calcification .To define sensibility and specificity of coronary angiography in detecting calcifications considering the IVUS as gold standard. Target lesion calcification was assessed in 40 patients [35 men; mean age 57.4 +/- 10 years] by angiography and intravascular ultrasound. Ultrasound detected calcium in 51 of 85 target lesion [60%], whereas angiography showed calcifications in only 16 lesion [19% p<0.001 compared with IVUS]. Coronary angiography detected 8% of 0-45[degree sign] arc calcium category, 7% of 45-90[degree sign] calcium category, 58% of 90-180[degree sign] calcium category, and 80% of more than 180[degree sign] calcium category. The overall sensitivity of angiography in identifying calcium was 31% and increased with an increasing arc of lesion associated calcium. The overall specificity of the angiographic detection of target lesion calcium was 100%. Intra coronary ultrasound analysis shows that target lesion calcification is much more widespread in coronary artery disease than what angiography reveals. The sensitivity of angiography was poor, with although a very high specificity

Sequence analysis of three citrus viroids infecting a single Tunisian citrus tree (Citrus, reticulata, Clementine)

We report the nucleotide sequences of three citrus viroids belonging to three different genera: Citrus exocortis viroid (CEVd), Hop stunt viroid (HSVd) and Citrus viroid-III (CVd-III) isolated from a single natural infected Citrus reticulata var. Clementine tree growing in a tree nursery in Manouba (near Tunis Capital). We describe the sequence variability of these viroids from their natural host without using an alternative passage by an indicator host or an artificial inoculation. This work confirms that naturally occurring viroid infections contain a mixture of sequence variants. These are the first sequences of citrus viroids from Africa.