Physicomechanical Properties of Rice Husk/Coco Peat Reinforced Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Blend Composites.

Utilizing agro-waste material such as rice husk (RH) and coco peat (CP) reinforced with thermoplastic resin to produce low-cost green composites is a fascinating discovery. In this study, the effectiveness of these blended biocomposites was evaluated for their physical, mechanical, and thermal properties. Initially, the samples were fabricated by using a combination of melt blend internal mixer and injection molding techniques. Increasing in RH content increased the coupons density. However, it reduced the water vapor kinetics sorption of the biocomposite. Moisture absorption studies disclosed that water uptake was significantly increased with the increase of coco peat (CP) filler. It showed that the mechanical properties, including tensile modulus, flexural modulus, and impact strength of the 15% RH-5% CP reinforced acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), gave the highest value. Results also revealed that all RH/CP filled composites exhibited a brittle fracture manner. Observation on the tensile morphology surfaces by using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) affirmed the above finding to be satisfactory. Therefore, it can be concluded that blend-agriculture waste reinforced ABS biocomposite can be exploited as a biodegradable material for short life engineering application where good mechanical and thermal properties are paramount.

Anal skin tag - An unusual presenting feature of food protein-induced allergic proctocolitis in a neonate.

BACKGROUND: Anal skin tags are commonly seen with anal fissures, haemorrhoids, inflammatory bowel disease and their association have been extensively studied. However the presence of anal skin tag in food protein-induced allergic proctocolitis has rarely been reported in literature. We report a neonate with food protein-induced allergic proctocolitis who presented with blood in stool and anal skin tag. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 26-day-old baby presented with history of passing intermittent blood in stools for two days. The baby was exclusively breast-fed and was well-appearing with no failure to thrive. Two anal skin tags were present but there was no evidence of anal fissures or haemorrhoids. The biopsy of anal skin tag showed fibroepithelial polyp. Colonoscopy was suggestive of food protein-induced allergic proctocolitis. In view of poor response to elimination diet in the mother and extensively hydrolysed formula, the baby was started on amino acid formula with complete recovery. CONCLUSION: Through this case we wish to highlight that clinicians should consider food protein-induced allergic proctocolitis in their differential diagnosis in a neonate presenting with blood in stools and anal skin tag.

Detection of human parvovirus B19 in cancer patients using ELISA and real-time PCR.

PURPOSE: Parvovirus B19 (B19) is associated with a wide range of diseases in humans, whose severity depends on the immunological and haematological status of the host. OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of B19 DNA and specific IgM and IgG frequency among patients suffering from different haematological malignancies and to determine the viral load using real-time PCR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 70 patients were included in the study, in addition to a control group consisting of 20 apparently healthy volunteers. B19 DNA quantitative analysis was performed using real-time PCR while screening for IgM and IgG anti-B19 antibodies was performed using ELISA. RESULTS: B19 DNA was detected in 26 patients (36.14%) and 3 controls (15%) using real-time PCR. Anti-parvovirus B19 IgM antibodies were detected in 9 patients (12.6%) and 2 controls (10%). Anti-parvovirus B19 IgG antibodies were detected in 32 patients (45.71%) and 5 controls (25%). The difference between the patient and control groups was found to be statistically non-significant in all of the three tests (P < 0.05). The difference in B19 incidence among patients receiving multiple transfusions and non-transfused patients was also found to be statistically non-significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: We found a high incidence of B19 infection among patients diagnosed with different types of haematological malignancies. We recommend that all cases of haematological disorders should be examined for specific antibodies and tested for the presence of B19 DNA in serum by PCR technique.

Acute glomerulonephritis: an unusual manifestation of Plasmodium vivax malaria.

Long considered a benign infection, Plasmodium vivax is now increasingly recognised as a cause of severe and fatal malaria. Various atypical presentations of vivax malaria have been reported. This report highlights the occurrence of acute glomerulonephritis in a 7-year-old girl who presented with fever and vomiting. Peripheral smear examination demonstrated ring forms of P. vivax. OptiMAL test was positive for P. vivax and negative for Plasmodium falciparum. She was managed with antimalarial and antihypertensive drugs and made an uneventful recovery.

Infective endocarditis in a child masquerading as vasculitis: case report.

Since both vasculitis syndromes and infective endocarditis may present with multi-system involvement, they can pose a diagnostic dilemma. A 10-year-old boy was admitted with multi-system disease secondary to embolic complications of infective endocarditis. Echocardiography demonstrated mitral valve prolapse and moderate mitral regurgitation with vegetations on the anterior and posterior mitral leaflet. Despite supportive treatment, his general condition deteriorated and he died 3 days after admission.

Clinical manifestations of dengue and leptospirosis in children in Mumbai: an observational study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the causes of acute febrile illness in children presenting to our hospital following an extremely heavy rainfall event in the city of Mumbai in 2005. The clinical and laboratory manifestations of leptospirosis and dengue together with their outcomes are also described. METHODS: This was an observational study conducted from 26 July to 30 November 2005. The diagnosis of leptospirosis was confirmed by a positive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test. The diagnosis of dengue was confirmed by a positive immunoglobulin (IgM) antibody capture ELISA test. Clinical features of patients with and without leptospirosis, respectively, and with and without dengue, respectively, were analysed. RESULTS: A total of 602 patients (age range 1 month to 12 years) admitted to our hospital for acute febrile illness with no obvious focus of infection were enrolled in the study. Of these, 30 had malaria, 11 had enteric fever and seven had mixed infections. Twenty-seven patients had leptospirosis. Three clinical features were significantly associated with leptospirosis: flood water contact, myalgia and conjunctival suffusion. Eighty-one children had dengue. All patients responded well to the treatment and were released to go home. Four clinical features were significantly associated with dengue, namely, giddiness, abdominal pain, rash and bleeding manifestations. CONCLUSIONS: Based on this review of the clinical and laboratory features of dengue fever and leptospirosis, we conclude that following the heavy rainfall event on 26 July 2005, there was a concurrent outbreak of leptospirosis and dengue among children presenting to our hospital.

Transient quadriparesis after electric shock in a child: case report.

Electric shock injuries are commonly encountered by emergency physicians. Various systemic complications owing to electric shock injury have been described. It is important to maintain raised awareness of these different complications to ensure that they are recognised and treated early. We describe a rare case of transient quadriparesis following electric shock in a 10-year-old boy.

Staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome presenting as acute respiratory distress and cor pulmonale.

We describe a 7-year-old boy with staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome who presented with acute respiratory distress and cor pulmonale. We wish to highlight this unusual presentation as the diagnosis of toxic shock syndrome depends chiefly on a high degree of clinical suspicion. Early diagnosis and prompt institution of appropriate therapy will significantly reduce morbidity and mortality.

Methaemoglobinaemia during Holi festival.

We report eight children who developed methaemoglobinaemia after exposure to contaminated colours used during Holi, a traditional festival celebrated in India. Methaemoglobinaemia can be life-threatening, but outcome is good if treated in time with intravenous methylene blue. Physicians might encounter such cases after exposure to Holi colours and hence should be aware of this life-threatening but easily treatable complication.

Cellular immune response in acute hepatitis B leading to chronic carrier state

Immunological studies among jaundiced patients revealed significant changes in T-helper and T-suppressor cells among chronic HBV cases from the acute and control groups. The chronic cases revealed a highly significant decrease in interleukin-2R expression but their low interferon-gamma values were statistically nonsignificant from the control group. The acute cases recorded the highest interleukin-2R and interferon-gamma values. Lymphocyte blastogenesis assay in response to different mitogens and antigens produced two groups: responders [acute cases] and nonresponders [chronic cases]. The responders revealed more intact specific and nonspecific cellular immune responses. Neither group differed with regard to their proliferative response to HBsAg, but vigorous response to HBcAg was a significant feature of the responders

Hepatitis E antibodies in Egyptian adolescent females: their prevalence and possible relevance.

Hepatitis E virus has been implicated as a frequent cause of acute sporadic hepatitis among Egyptian children. Moreover, an extraordinarily high seroprevalence rate was previously reported in a semiurban Nile Delta population. A conspicuous feature of hepatitis E is the high morbidity and mortality it can cause among infected pregnant women. We therefore evaluated the prevalence of HEV antibodies in adolescent females using a solid-phase enzyme linked immunoassay based on two recombinant hepatitis E virus antigens. A high prevalence rate (38.9%) was found in 95 apparently healthy adolescent females. The mean age of the study subjects was 21.81 +/- 2.5 (SD) range 16-25 years. Eighty (84.2%) subjects resided in Alexandria, while 15 (15.8%) came from semiurban villages of Alexandria Governorate. An increased prevalence was noted with age, as anti-HEV antibodies were detected in 32.1% and 41.8% of study participants in the second and third decades of life, respectively. Similarly, those illiterate or having received less than primary education exhibited a higher HEV prevalence than those with higher education (46.3% vs 29.3%). The majority of subjects having serological evidence of HEV infection denied previous history of jaundice which shows that HEV infection was subclinical in those cases. Ten (55.6%) pregnant females participating in the study, as well as 48 (62.3%) non pregnant females lacked serological evidence of HEV infection; i.e., 60.01% (10 + 48 out of 95) of women in the childbearing age may be susceptible to infection. This report suggests that HEV is endemic in Alexandria, Egypt; the epidemiologic risk factors associated with HEV infection need further exploration.

Chlamydial serology among patients with tubal factor infertility and ectopic pregnancy in Alexandria, Egypt.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Little is known about the role of Chlamydia trachomatis in the etiology of tubal factor infertility and ectopic pregnancy in Egypt. GOAL OF THIS STUDY: To assess the association between past chlamydial infection, tubal factor infertility, and ectopic pregnancy in an Egyptian population. STUDY DESIGN: This report consists of two concurrent case-control studies. First, 51 patients with tubal factor infertility were compared with 48 healthy subjects who did not have tubal factor infertility and 53 pregnant subject subjects. Second, 66 patients with ectopic pregnancy were compared with 51 pregnant control subjects. RESULTS: Geometric mean titers for Chlamydia trachomatis were higher among patients with tubal factor infertility and ectopic pregnancy, and they were more likely to have high antichlamydial titers (> or = 1:128 immunoglobulin G). Serum titer was significantly correlated with histologic evidence of salpingitis among the patients with an ectopic pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Our findings, similar to those from Western societies, suggest that among Egyptian women, prior chlamydial infection is associated with an increased risk of tubal factor infertility and possibly ectopic pregnancy.

PIP: This paper reports findings from a study which explored the association between past chlamydial infection, tubal factor infertility, and ectopic pregnancy in an Egyptian population. Conclusions are based upon findings from two concurrent case-control studies. In the first study, 51 patients with tubal factor infertility were compared with 48 healthy subjects who did not have tubal factor infertility and 53 pregnant subjects. In the second study, 66 patients with ectopic pregnancy were compared with 51 pregnant control subjects. Women who participated in the studies were patients of mean age approximately 29 years who presented for obstetrics and gynecology services at Shatby Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt, during 1989. The hospital serves a low- to lower-middle-class population. Geometric mean titers for Chlamydia trachomatis were higher among patients with tubal factor infertility and ectopic pregnancy, and they were more likely to have high antichlamydial titers. Further, serum titer was significantly correlated with histologic evidence of salpingitis among the patients with an ectopic pregnancy. These findings suggest that among Egyptian women, prior chlamydial infection is associated with an increased risk of tubal factor infertility and possibly ectopic pregnancy.

Supraclavicular subclavian vein catheterization: modified landmarks for needle insertion.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Identification of reliable landmarks for supraclavicular subclavian vein catheterization that requires no patient manipulation and is easily located. PATIENT POPULATION: Thirty-five fresh human cadavers. DESIGN AND METHODS: Descriptive study of percutaneous guide wire placement into the subclavian vein using as a new landmark the junction of middle and medial thirds of the clavicle. The position of the guide wire was confirmed by palpation of the wire in the subclavian vein during autopsy. RESULTS: Successful placement of a guide wire into the subclavian vein occurred in 33 of 35 cadavers (94%) using the new landmark. CONCLUSION: The new landmark for supraclavicular subclavian vein catheterization is reliable, requires no patient manipulation, and is as successful as the standard landmarks.

Rupture of a cardiac diverticulum resulting in sudden death.

Cardiac diverticula have been documented in approximately 80 patients. In over 70% of cases, this lesion is associated with midline thoracoabdominal defects or other congenital malformations of the heart. The diverticulum is thought to occur early in embryogenesis from an outpouching of the endomyocardium through a weak region in the left ventricular wall, but its exact etiology is uncertain. The case of a 6-year-old white boy who died suddenly while playing is presented. Autopsy revealed a ruptured diverticulum of the left ventricular apex with massive hemopericardium and cardiac tamponade. No other abnormalities were found. The pertinent literature is reviewed.

Gunshot wound with asphalt related pseudo-soot, pseudo-tattooing, and pseudo-scorching.

Artifacts which mimic the tattooing and soot deposition of close range gunshot wounds have been described as "pseudo-soot" and "pseudo-tattooing." The origin of such findings includes glass, intermediate targets, insect bites, medical manipulation, graphite, and sutures. The authors present a case of pseudo-soot and pseudo-tattooing as a result of asphalt pavement, and describe the associated entity of pseudo-scorching.