A case of Covid-19-associated invasive pulmonary mucormycosis in a pediatric patient with a newly diagnosed diabetes.

Mucormycosis is a rare, potentially life-threatening disease that is growing during the Covid-19 pandemic. This study reports a case of an 11-year-old patient with fatal Covid-19-related pulmonary mucormicosis and diabetes mellitus with ketoacidosis. The diagnosis was set post mortem. It was based on histochemical detection of the causative agent. Massive hemoptysis due to erosion of a large pulmonary vessel caused mechanical asphyxia and lethal outcome. Pulmonary mucormycosis may be highly suspected in patients with long-term Covid-19, poorly controlled diabetes mellitus with ketoacidosis, and corticosteroid therapy. Early diagnosis and treatment with Amphotericin B are potentially curative options for this invasive fungal infection and can led to better outcome.

Recurrent meningitis caused by Salmonella enterica Paratyphi B var. Java in a 3-month-old infant complicated by dilation of subarachnoid spaces, subdural effusion and right-sided hemiparesis.

A 3-month-old female infant with meningo-encephalitis caused by Salmonella enterica Paratyphi B var. Java is described. The aetiological agent was confirmed in six CSF samples; however, none of the blood or faecal samples was positive for the same pathogen. The presence of the bacteria was confirmed in the CSF by culture, serology and Multiplex PCR assay. The infant developed dilated subarachnoid spaces and right-sided hemiparesis associated with the persistent bacterial meningo-encephalitis. She was re-admitted 2 weeks after recovery and initial discharge from hospital owing to recurrence of S. enterica Paratyphi B bacteria in the CSF and the development of large bilateral subdural effusions in the brain. Computed tomography and the clinical course confirmed dynamically progressive meningo-encephalitis. Following further parenteral antibiotics and symptomatic treatment, the child's condition improved. After a total of 24 days in the PICU, she was sufficiently improved to be discharged with a residual right-sided hemiparesis. However, sadly she died a week after discharge.Abbreviation: ALT: alanine aminotransferase; API: analytical profile index 20 E-test; AST: aspartate aminotransferase; CRP: C-reactive protein; CSF: cerebrospinal fluid; CT: computed tomography; EUCAST: European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing; MDCT: multi-detector computed tomography; PCR: polymerase chain reaction; PICU: paediatric intensive care unit; RBC: red blood cells; VITEK: automated instrument for identification/antimicrobial susceptibility testing; WBC: white blood cells.

A rare case of an HIV-seronegative patient with Toxoplasma gondii meningoencephalitis.

Cerebral toxoplasmosis is a common opportunistic infection that causes expansive brain lesions in people living with HIV/AIDS. But it is extremely rarely associated with HIV negative patients. This study presents a case of a 23-year-old male with non HIV-relative cerebral toxoplasmosis. There was an acute onset of the disease. The first symptoms included fever and signs of meningoradicular irritation. Neurological abnormalities progressed in cranial nerves disorders and pyramidal syndrome. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) changes were consistent with those of viral meningoencephalitis. CT and MRI showed multiple ring-enhancing lesions with high-intensity signals in cerebrum brain stem and cerebellum. The tests for HIV (ELISA and Western blot) were negative. Serological detection of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) IgM and IgG antibodies in the CSF confirmed the diagnosis. Parasitic, bacterial, viral encephalitis and meningoencephalitis, as well as neoplastic metastatic process and other neurological diseases were discussed in the differential diagnosis. The intensity of the disease activity fluctuated during the hospital stay regardless of the adequate therapy.

Investigation on F/M material aspects of IRT-Sofia NCT channel.

The filter/moderator area of IRT-Sofia BNCT channel was investigated in this study in order to find a higher radiation resistant material as a suitable substitution for the Teflon(®). Two options - Al2O3 and graphite - were investigated. The results show, that both graphite and the Al2O3 can be successfully used as a filter/moderator material at IRT-Sofia. Initial evaluation of the in-phantom performance of the IRT-Sofia BNCT channel was made and merits similar to the best existing ones were found.

IRT-Sofia BNCT beam tube optimization study.

An optimization study of IRT-Sofia BNCT beam tube is presented. In the study we used the MIT/FCB experience. The enlarging of filter/moderator cross section dimensions and the decreasing of collimator length within the limits of the IRT-Sofia reactor design were analyzed. The influence of beam and reactor core axes non-coincidence on the beam properties was also evaluated. The irradiation resistance of polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon(®)) was also evaluated. The results provide information for making decisions on the IRT-Sofia BNCT beam construction.

Building of scientific information system for sustainable development of BNCT in Bulgaria.

Building a boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) facility is foreseen within the reconstruction of the Research Reactor IRT (IRT) of the Institute for Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy of the Bulgaria Academy of Sciences (INRNE). The development of BNCT at IRT plays a very significant role in the plan for sustainable application of the reactor. A centralized scientific information system on BNCT is being built at the INRNE with the purpose to collect and sort new information as knowledge accumulated during more than thirty years history of BNCT. This BNCT information system will help the creation and consolidation of a well informed and interconnected interdisciplinary team of physicists, chemists, biologists, and radio-oncologists for establishing BNCT cancer treatment in Bulgaria. It will strengthen more intensive development of the national network as well as its enlargement to the Balkan region countries. Furthermore, to acquaint the public at large with the opportunity for BNCT cancer treatment will be addressed. Human, social, and economics results due to BNCT for many patients from Balkan region are expected.

[Etiology and epizootiology of helminthiases on commercial sheep raising farm complexes]. / Vurkhu etiologiiata i epizootologiiata na khelmintozite v promishlenite ovtsevudni kompleksi.

Studies were carried out on the etiology of the helminth infections at three industrial sheep complexes typical of this country. The mixed gastrointestinal infection, having an urgent epizootiologic and economic importance, proved that of H. contortus, O. circumcincta, O. trifurcata, M. marshalli, T. colubriformis, T. axei, N. spathiger, N. fillicollis, C. oncophora, B. Trigonochephalum, S. papillosus, T. ovis, Ch. ovina, and O. venulosum. The seasonal and age dynamics of the general Strongylus infection was followed up. Well established were the postpartum phase in ewes and the spring phase in weaned lambs so far as ova excretion was concerned. In goat mulleriosis there was a typically runnung postpartum and spring phase in larvae excretion. Currently dangerous for replacement animals at the complexes was spring moniesiosis, caused by M. expansa, and the autumn one, caused by M. benedeni. High percent of infection and heavy parasite burdens were shown with the infection of S. papillosus during the warm months of the year, the course of which ran without clinical symptoms. Potentially dangerous were infections of D. filaria, Protostrongylus species, M. capillaris, D. lanceatum and F. hepatica. A scheme is suggested for chemoprophylactic treatments against the urgently dangerous infections.