Screening for microscopic hematuria in school-age children of the Gorgan city

Screening for hematuria was carried out in 3000 school-age children (6 to14 years old) in Gorgan, Iran, using a fresh morning urine sample. At the initial step, 208 (6.8%) had positive dipstick tests for blood, which decreased to 35 (1.2%) at the second step. Of the 35 children with hematuria, 27 (77.1%) were girls and 8 (22.9%) were boys. Twenty-six children were further evaluated of whom 5 had normal findings, and 7 had hypercalciuria, 13 had nephrolithiasis, and in 1 had a large cystic lesion on ultrasonography, ultimately diagnosed as oncocystoma

RE-IGNITION OF MULTI-SPECIES SOOT CLOUDS IN BUILDING FIRES

The re-ignition potential of multi-species soot clouds in building fires were investigated based on their extinction characteristics. The investigation was carried out theoretically using an adaptation of Semenov’s thermal explosion theory. The critical sizes of soot particles in the cloud were found to be strongly affected by the particle temperature, shape, and reactivity, as well as the mass fraction of each species, and ambient conditions. The cloud shape, cloud particle number density, fuel mass fraction, and soot reactivity were identified as the major parameters impacting upon the cloud extinction potential. Our analysis indicate that blending of a base soot with a less reactive soot generally increases the extinction potential of the cloud (i.e. likelihood of extinction) while addition of a more reactive secondary soot to the base one minimises the probability of cloud extinction

EFFECTS OF POROSITY ON RE-IGNITION CHARACTERISTICS OF A SURROGATE MATERIAL

This study is part of a larger project which aims at studying the re-ignition behaviour of charring solid fuels under fire conditions. The main objective of this part of the work was to investigate the role of material porosity on the re-ignition characteristics of the fuel. For this purpose, experiments were carried out on a set of surrogate ceramic samples to de-couple the pyrolysis and combustion processes from those associated with heat transfer. The surrogate samples were made out of magnesia silica ceramic with porosity levels of 72.9%, 53.5%, and 35%. Experiments were conducted in a modified cone calorimeter over a range of heat fluxes between 40 to 60 kW/m2. The re-ignition delay was found to be significantly affected by the material porosity. The higher the porosity, the longer the re-ignition delay time. For samples having the same porosity level, the re-ignition delay time was primarily a function of sample thickness and the external heat flux. Thicker samples generally showed shorter reignition delays. The results of this study will be used in future work to quantify the impact of porosity on the re-ignition behaviour of real samples

Effect of Porosity on Re-ignition Characteristics of a Surrogate

ABSTRACT This study is part of a larger project which aims at studying the re-ignition behaviour of charring solid fuels under fire conditions. The main objective of this part of the work was to investigate the role of material porosity on the re-ignition characteristics of the fuel. For this purpose, experiments were carried out on a set of surrogate ceramic samples to de-couple the pyrolysis and combustion processes from those associated with heat transfer. The surrogate samples were made out of magnesia silica ceramic with porosity levels of 72.9%, 53.5%, and 35%. Experiments were conducted in a modified cone calorimeter over a range of heat fluxes between 40 to 60 kW/m 2 . The re-ignition delay was found to be significantly affected by the material porosity. The higher the porosity, the longer the re-ignition delay time. For samples having the same porosity level, the re-ignition delay time was primarily a function of sample thickness and the external heat flux. Thicker samples generally showed shorter reignition delays. The results of this study will be used in future work to quantify the impact of porosity on the re-ignition behaviour of real samples

Pneumococcal sepsis presenting as acute compartment syndrome of the lower limbs: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Acute compartment syndrome is a surgical emergency requiring immediate fasciotomy. Spontaneous onset of acute compartment syndrome of the lower limbs is rare. We present a very rare case of pneumococcal sepsis leading to spontaneous acute compartment syndrome.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 40-year-old Caucasian man presented as an emergency with spontaneous onset of pain in both legs and signs of compartment syndrome. This was confirmed on fasciotomy. Blood culture grew <it>Streptococcus pneumoniae</it>.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Sepsis should be strongly suspected in bilateral acute compartment syndrome of spontaneous onset.</p

Subclinical Inflammation and Diabetic Polyneuropathy: MONICA/KORA Survey F3 (Augsburg, Germany)

Subclinical inflammation represents a risk factor of type 2 diabetes and several diabetes complications, but data on diabetic neuropathies are scarce. Therefore, we investigated whether circulating concentrations of acute-phase proteins, cytokines, and chemokines differ among diabetic patients with or without diabetic polyneuropathy. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - We measured 10 markers of subclinical inflammation in 227 type 2 diabetic patients with diabetic polyneuropathy who participated in the population-based MONICA/KORA Survey F3 (2004-2005; Augsburg, Germany). Diabetic polyneuropathy was diagnosed using the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI). RESULTS - After adjustment for multiple confounders, high levels of C-reactive protein and interleukin (IL)-6 were most consistently associated with diabetic polyneuropathy, high MNSI score, and specific neuropathic deficits, whereas some inverse associations were seen for IL-18. CONCLUSIONS - This study shows that subclinical inflammation is associated with diabetic polyneuropathy and neuropathic impairments. This association appears rather specific because only certain immune mediators and impairments are involved

Primary antibody deficiency in a tertiary referral hospital: A 30-year experiment

Background: Primary antibody deficiency (PAD) is the most common group of primary immunodeficiency disorders (PID), with a broad spectrum of clinical features ranging from severe and recurrent infections to asymptomatic disease. Objectives: The current study was performed to evaluate and compare demographic and clinical data in the most common types of PAD. Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective review of the medical records of all PAD patients with a confirmed diagnosis of common variable immunodeficiency (CVID), hyper IgM syndrome (HIgM), selective IgA deficiency (SIgAD), and X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) who were diagnosed during the last 30 years at the Children�s Medical Center, Tehran, Iran. Results: A total number of 280 cases of PAD (125 CVID, 32 HIgM, 63 SIgAD, and 60 XLA) were enrolled in the study. The median (range) age at the onset of disease in CVID, HIgM, SIgAD, and XLA was 2 (0-46), 0.91 (0-9), 1 (0-26), and 1 (0-10) years, respectively. Gastrointestinal infections were more prevalent in CVID patients, as were central nervous system infections in XLA patients. Autoimmune complications were more prevalent in HIgM patients, malignancies in CVID patients, and allergies in SIgAD patients. The mortality rate for CVID, HIgM, and XLA was 27.2, 28.1, and 25, respectively. No deaths were reported in SIgAD patients. Conclusions: SIgAD patients had the best prognosis. While all PAD patients should be monitored for infectious complications, special attention should be paid to the finding of malignancy and autoimmune disorders in CVID and HIgM patients, respectively. © 2015 Esmon Publicidad

Primary immunodeficiency disorders in Iran: Update and new insights from the third report of the national registry

Background: Primary immunodeficiency disorders (PID) are a group of heterogeneous disorders mainly characterized by severe and recurrent infections and increased susceptibility to malignancies, lymphoproliferative and autoimmune conditions. National registries of PID disorders provide epidemiological data and increase the awareness of medical personnel as well as health care providers. Methods: This study presents the demographic data and clinical manifestations of Iranian PID patients who were diagnosed from March 2006 till the March of 2013 and were registered in Iranian PID Registry (IPIDR) after its second report of 2006. Results: A total number of 731 new PID patients (455 male and 276 female) from 14 medical centers were enrolled in the current study. Predominantly antibody deficiencies were the most common subcategory of PID (32.3 %) and were followed by combined immunodeficiencies (22.3 %), congenital defects of phagocyte number, function, or both (17.4 %), well-defined syndromes with immunodeficiency (17.2 %), autoinflammatory disorders (5.2 %), diseases of immune dysregulation (2.6 %), defects in innate immunity (1.6 %), and complement deficiencies (1.4 %). Severe combined immunodeficiency was the most common disorder (21.1 %). Other prevalent disorders were common variable immunodeficiency (14.9 %), hyper IgE syndrome (7.7 %), and selective IgA deficiency (7.5 %). Conclusions: Registration of Iranian PID patients increased the awareness of medical community of Iran and developed diagnostic and therapeutic techniques across more parts of the country. Further efforts must be taken by increasing the coverage of IPIDR via electronically registration and gradual referral system in order to provide better estimation of PID in Iran and reduce the number of undiagnosed cases. © 2014 Springer Science+Business Media

Tuberculous meningitis in Denmark: a review of 50 cases

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Tuberculous meningitis is the most severe manifestation of extrapulmonary tuberculosis with a high mortality rate and a high rate of sequelae among survivors. The aim of this study is to assess the current epidemiology, clinical features, diagnostic procedures, treatment and outcome in patients with tuberculous meningitis in Denmark, a country with a low tuberculosis incidence.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A nationwide retrospective study was conducted, comprising all patients notified with tuberculous meningitis (TBM) in Denmark from 2000-2008. Medical records were reviewed using a standardised protocol.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Fifty patients, including 12 paediatric patients, were identified. 78% of the patients were immigrants from countries of high tuberculosis endemicity. 64% of all patients had a pre-existing immunosuppressive condition; 10% were HIV positive, 48% were HIV seronegative and 42% had an unknown HIV status. Median symptom duration before admission was 14 days in the Danish patient population and 20 days in the immigrant group. Biochemical analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples revealed pleocytosis in 90% with lymphocyte predominance in 66%. Protein levels were elevated in 86%. The most common findings on neuro-radiological imaging were basal meningeal enhancement, tuberculomas and hydrocephalus. Lumbar puncture was performed on 42 patients; 31 of these specimens (74%) had a positive CSF culture for mycobacteria and 9.5% were smear positive for acid-fast bacilli. The overall mortality rate was 19% and 48% of the remaining patients had neurological sequelae of varying degree.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>TBM is a rare but severe manifestation of extrapulmonary TB in Denmark. The clinician must be prepared to treat empirically if the suspicion of TBM has arisen to improve treatment outcome.</p