Febrile seizures: etiology, prevalence, and geographical variation

OBJECTIVE: Febrile seizures (FSs) are the most common neurological disorder observed in the pediatric age group. The present study provides information about epidemiological and clinical characteristics as well as risk factors associated with FS among Iranian children. MATERIALS & METHODS: On the computerized literature valid databases, the FS prevalence and 95 confidence intervals were calculated using a random effects model. A metaregression analysis was introduced to explore heterogeneity between studies. Data manipulation and statistical analyses were performed using Stata10. RESULTS: The important viral or bacterial infection causes of FSs were; recent upper respiratory infection 42.3 (95 CI: 37.2-47.4), gastroenteritis21.5 (95 CI: 13.6-29.4), and otitis media nfections15.2 (95 CI: 9.8- 20.7) respectively. The pooled prevalence rate of FS among other childhood convulsions was 47.9 (95 CI: 38.8-59.9). The meta-regression analysis showed that the sample size does not significantly affect heterogeneity for the factor 'prevalence FS'. CONCLUSION: Almost half of all childhood convulsions among Iranian children are associated with Febrile seizure

Pleural Tuberculosis in Patients with Early HIV Infection Is Associated with Increased TNF-Alpha Expression and Necrosis in Granulomas

Although granulomas may be an essential host response against persistent antigens, they are also associated with immunopathology. We investigated whether HIV co-infection affects histopathological appearance and cytokine profiles of pleural granulomas in patients with active pleural tuberculosis (TB). Granulomas were investigated in pleural biopsies from HIV positive and negative TB pleuritis patients. Granulomas were characterised as necrotic or non-necrotic, graded histologically and investigated for the mRNA expression of IL-12, IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-4 by in situ hybridisation. In all TB patients a mixed Th1/Th2 profile was noted. Necrotic granulomas were more evident in HIV positive patients with a clear association between TNF-α and necrosis. This study demonstrates immune dysregulation which may include TNF-α-mediated immunopathology at the site of disease in HIV infected pleural TB patients

Tumor-associated neoexpression of the pS2 peptide and MUC5AC mucin in primary adenocarcinomas and signet ring cell carcinomas of the urinary bladder

To gain more detailed insight into the histogenesis of primary nonurachal adenocarcinomas and signet ring cell carcinomas of the urinary bladder, we analyzed by immunohistochemistry the expression of a broad panel of proteins, associated with cell differentiation (pS2 peptide, MUC5AC, MUC6, spasmolytic polypeptide, cyclooxygenases-1 and -2, caveolin-1), and of various novel known or candidate tumor suppressors (14-3-3 sigma, SYK, PTEN, maspin). Included were 12 adenocarcinomas admixed to urothelial carcinomas, 10 pure adenocarcinomas and 5 signet ring cell carcinomas. As the most important finding, the majority of signet ring cell carcinomas and three quarters of the adenocarcinomas (72.7%) expressed the pS2 peptide, and nearly half of the adenocarcinomas (45.5%) as well as most of the signet ring cell carcinomas were observed to secrete the MUC5AC apomucin. Since expression of both proteins was absent in the normal nonneoplastic urothelium, their tumor-associated appearance is regarded as a neoexpression or reexpression, respectively, of normally cryptic antigenic determinants, and is assumed to be involved in the phenotypical formation of vesical adenocarcinomas, including signet ring cell carcinomas. The expression of both pS2 and MUC5AC in variants of urothelial carcinomas with a glandular differentiation and an extracellular mucus production support the concept that adenocarcinomas may histogenetically develop from preexistent TCC. Adenocarcinomas which secrete the pS2 peptide and the MUC5AC glycoprotein are proposed to be subclassified as adenocarcinomas of the intestinal type, as distinguished from those of the common type lacking an expression. The tumor suppressor genes showed a loss of protein expression in adenocarcinomas, ranging from 54.5% (14-3-3 sigma), to 31.8 (PTEN), 27.3% (SYK) and 18.2% (maspin). Similar expression profiles in the coexistent urothelial carcinomas argue against a specific involvement of these genes during the morphogenesis of adenocarcinomas

Nanofibrous scaffolds from chitosan and poly(caprolactone) for excision wound healing application in canine model

Poly (caprolactone)-Chitosan- Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PCL: Cs: PVA) nanofibrous blend scaffolds were fabricated in an optimum mass ratio of 2:1:1.5 using electrospinning technique. In this study the scaffolds were examined in excisional cutting wounds healing on dorsum skin of canine models (n=5). Macroscopic results showed good aspect healing effect of scaffolds in compared with control wounds especially after 21 days post operating. Pathological studies showed that the healing rate was more rapid (about 50 faster) in the test group compare to control ones. Overall, the results indicated that the produced nanofibrous scaffold could be considered as promising materials for wounds healing. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd