A case report of cornelia de lange syndrome in Northern Iran; a clinical and diagnostic study

As a rare multisystem congenital anomaly disorder, Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) is featured by delayed growth and development, distinct facial dimorphism, limb malformations and multiple organ defects. CdLS is a genetic syndrome affecting 1/10000-1/60000 neonates with unknown genetic basis. Delayed growth and development, hirsute, structural anomalies of the limbs and distinct facial dimorphism are considered as its main clinical characteristics. Introducing CdLS cases of different ethnic backgrounds could add distinctions to the phenotypic picture of the syndrome and be useful in diagnosis. Early diagnosis and decreased death rates are achievable through enhanced awareness on this syndrome. We present here a 45-day-old girl, as the first case of Cornelia in Golestan (Northern Iran), referred to our hospital with the symptoms as mentioned above. © 2016, Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. All rights reserved

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Dogs in Tehran, Iran

Background: Toxoplasma gondii infects a wide range of animals; felines are definitive hosts and other animals including the dogs are intermediate hosts. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in dogs in Tehran, capital of Iran and to investigate possi­ble associated risk factors.Methods: Three hundreds ninety six serum samples were collected during 2007-8 from the dogs. Col­lected samples were tested using an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) in dilutions of 1:16 and more. All procedures were carried out in Shahrekord University, Iran. All the data were analyzed using SPSS software, qui square test with confidence interval of 0.95.Results: From evaluated samples, 89 (22.47%) were positive in titers of at least 1:16. further evalua­tions in other dilutions showed positive results in dilutions of maximum 1:16 , 1:32, 1:64, 1:128 and 1:256 in 38, 29, 15, 2 and 5 dogs respectively. Investigation of the role of risk factors showed no sex predisposition while infection rate was significantly higher in dogs older than one year old. Living places were of significant importance; infection rate was significantly higher in stray or guard dogs in compare with household dogs (P<0.05). Conclusion: Relatively high seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in dogs in Tehran shows high environmental contamination. It is recommended that the dogs with suspected clinical signs be tested for T. gondii infection

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora spp. Infections in Arab Horses, Southwest of Iran

Background: Because of the economic importance of the Arab race horses and also the role of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora spp. in abortion and reproductive failure of these animals, we decided to perform this study. Objectives: We designed this study to investigate the seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii and anti-Neospora spp. antibodies in Arab horses from 12 cities of Khuzestan province in southwest of Iran. Materials and Methods: From October 2009 to March 2011, a total of 235 blood samples were collected from jugular veins of Arab horses of different ages and genders from 12 cities of Khuzestan province. All the sera were tested for anti-Toxoplasma antibodies using the modified agglutination test (MAT) and the existence of anti-Neospora antibodies were tested using N-MAT for Neospora spp. Results: According to the MAT results, antibodies to T. gondii were found in 114 (48.5%) of 235 sera with titers of 1:20 in 84, 1:40 in 19, 1:80 in four, 1:160 in four, and 1:320 in three horses. According to the N-MAT results, antibodies to Neospora spp. were found in 47 (20%) of 235 sera with titers of 1:40 in 39, 1:80 in five, and 1:160 in three horses. We did not observe any statistically significant differences regarding age groups and genders between seropositive and seronegative horses for Neospora spp. using chi-square (chi(2)) test, but it seemed that anti-Toxoplasma antibodies were more prevalent in older horses ( >= 10 years old). Conclusions: The results indicated that Arab horses are exposed to these parasites in southwest of Iran. Further research is required to determine the genomic structures of these parasites in Arab horses in southwest of Iran

Analysis of Clonal Type-Specific Antibody Reactions in Toxoplasma gondii Seropositive Humans from Germany by Peptide-Microarray

BACKGROUND: Different clonal types of Toxoplasma gondii are thought to be associated with distinct clinical manifestations of infections. Serotyping is a novel technique which may allow to determine the clonal type of T. gondii humans are infected with and to extend typing studies to larger populations which include infected but non-diseased individuals. METHODOLOGY: A peptide-microarray test for T. gondii serotyping was established with 54 previously published synthetic peptides, which mimic clonal type-specific epitopes. The test was applied to human sera (n = 174) collected from individuals with an acute T. gondii infection (n = 21), a latent T. gondii infection (n = 53) and from T. gondii-seropositive forest workers (n = 100). FINDINGS: The majority (n = 124; 71%) of all T. gondii seropositive human sera showed reactions against synthetic peptides with sequences specific for clonal type II (type II peptides). Type I and type III peptides were recognized by 42% (n = 73) or 16% (n = 28) of the human sera, respectively, while type II-III, type I-III or type I-II peptides were recognized by 49% (n = 85), 36% (n = 62) or 14% (n = 25) of the sera, respectively. Highest reaction intensities were observed with synthetic peptides mimicking type II-specific epitopes. A proportion of the sera (n = 22; 13%) showed no reaction with type-specific peptides. Individuals with acute toxoplasmosis reacted with a statistically significantly higher number of peptides as compared to individuals with latent T. gondii infection or seropositive forest workers. CONCLUSIONS: Type II-specific reactions were overrepresented and higher in intensity in the study population, which was in accord with genotyping studies on T. gondii oocysts previously conducted in the same area. There were also individuals with type I- or type III-specific reactions. Well-characterized reference sera and further specific peptide markers are needed to establish and to perform future serotyping approaches with higher resolution

Cosmology intertwined: A review of the particle physics, astrophysics, and cosmology associated with the cosmological tensions and anomalies

The standard Cold Dark Matter (CDM) cosmological model provides a good description of a wide range of astrophysical and cosmological data. However, there are a few big open questions that make the standard model look like an approximation to a more realistic scenario yet to be found. In this paper, we list a few important goals that need to be addressed in the next decade, taking into account the current discordances between the different cosmological probes, such as the disagreement in the value of the Hubble constant H0, the σ8–S8 tension, and other less statistically significant anomalies. While these discordances can still be in part the result of systematic errors, their persistence after several years of accurate analysis strongly hints at cracks in the standard cosmological scenario and the necessity for new physics or generalisations beyond the standard model. In this paper, we focus on the 5.0 σ tension between the Planck CMB estimate of the Hubble constant H0 and the SH0ES collaboration measurements. After showing the H0 evaluations made from different teams using different methods and geometric calibrations, we list a few interesting new physics models that could alleviate this tension and discuss how the next decade’s experiments will be crucial. Moreover, we focus on the tension of the Planck CMB data with weak lensing measurements and redshift surveys, about the value of the matter energy density m, and the amplitude or rate of the growth of structure (σ8, f σ8). We list a few interesting models proposed for alleviating this tension, and we discuss the importance of trying to fit a full array of data with a single model and not just one parameter at a time. Additionally, we present a wide range of other less discussed anomalies at a statistical significance level lower than the H0–S8 tensions which may also constitute hints towards new physics, and we discuss possible generic theoretical approaches that can collectively explain the non-standard nature of these signals. Finally, we give an overview of upgraded experiments and next-generation space missions and facilities on Earth that will be of crucial importance to address all these open questions

Assessment of disability levels in patients with low back pain based on the type of lumbar spinal disorder

BACKGROUND: Low back pain (LBP) is a common health condition and the leading cause of activity limitation and absenteeism in most parts of the world. One-fifth of patients with LBP develop chronic pain disability. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the disability levels in patients with different types of lumbar spinal disorders. METHODS: A total of 528 patients visiting spine clinics between June 2017 and February 2018 were enrolled in this study. A demographic checklist, the patients' medical records, the Oswestry Disability Questionnaire, and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) were used to collect the data. RESULTS: Non-specific LBP (29.5) and discopathy (27) were the most common final diagnoses. The obtained Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) was significantly higher in older patients, those with higher body mass index, more work experience, and smokers. Lower ODI was found in individuals with a history of regular exercise. Most individuals in all diagnostic groups were categorized into the high ODI group (p⩽ 0.001). CONCLUSION: In patients with lumbar spine lesions, ODI is significantly correlated with age, BMI, work experience, smoking, and the type of disorder (discopathy, spondylolysis, and spondylolisthesis). Regular exercise is associated with lower levels of disability

Correlation of short knee and full-length X-rays in evaluating coronal plane alignment in total knee arthroplasty

Background: Coronal alignment after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) would influence the implant survival. Coronal alignment could be measured on short and full-length X-rays. The goal of the current study was to assess the correlation of short and full-length X-rays to accurate prediction of the true Hip-Knee-Ankle alignment after TKA in the Iranian population. Methods: Lateral distal femoral and medial proximal tibial angles, FTA, HKA, in 180 Iranian patients (243 knees without extra-articular deformities) were measured and compared on short and full-length standing X-rays of primary TKA pre/postoperatively. Results: The correlation between the preoperative FTA-short and FTA-long, FTA-short and HKA, and FTA-long and HKA values in degrees were fair, good and good (r = 0.64) (r = 0.73), (r = 0.76), respectively. This correlation for postoperative aMPTA and mMPTA (r = 0.73), and FTA-short and HKA (r = 0.76) values were good and significant (P = 0.001). Also, assessing coronal alignment based on short and full-length measurements would result in varying pre/postoperative alignments (varus, neutral and valgus). Conclusion: Full length X-rays could not be replaced by short knee X-rays to asses true coronal alignment in TKA; considerable portion of our cases were missorted as varus, neutral or valgus based on the FTA versus the HKA. Intraoperative fixed 5° valgus angle cut of distal femur did not result in postoperative favorable neutral alignment in all cases. Level of evidence: IV. © 2022, The Author(s)

Outcomes of Repair and Reconstruction of the Acute Posterolateral Corner Injuries of the Knee Combined with Cruciate Ligaments Injuries

Background: This study aimed to report objective and subjective knee stability scores for patients who underwent acute repair of avulsed posterolateral corner (PLC) structures or acute reconstruction of midsubstance tears combined with delayed reconstruction of cruciate ligaments. Methods: A total of 48 sport and vehicle accident traumatic patients were enrolled in a three-year follow-up study. The patients were investigated by clinical exams, subjective and objective International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score, Tegner score, Lysholm score, and stress imaging. All scores were compared between the reconstruction and repair groups. Results: Subjective IKDC scores were obtained at 83.3±9.6 and 88.3±4.39 for the reconstruction and repair groups, respectively. Only two patients in the reconstruction group had abnormal objective IKDC scores. Based on the Tegner score, 15 out of 18 patients in the repair group and 20 out of 24 patients in the reconstruction group regained their pre-injury functional level. Mean Lysholm scores for the reconstruction and repair groups were estimated at 83.4±8.2 and 88.2±4.1, respectively. Mean lateral joint opening differences between two knees in the reconstruction and repair groups were -0.2±0.1mm and 0.5±0.1mm, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between groups outcomes. We had no failure of treatment at the final follow-up. Conclusion: Acute intervention within 3 weeks after PLC injuries combined with delayed cruciate ligaments reconstructions showed favorable outcomes. Both repair and reconstruction are effective when deciding based on the type of injury (i.e., avulsion and midsubstance tear). © 2022 Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved