Isolation and Identification of Campylobacter spp. from Poultry and Poultry By-Products in Tunisia by Conventional Culture Method and Multiplex Real-Time PCR

Thermophilic Campylobacter spp. are one of the primary causes of bacterial human diarrhea. The consumption of poultry meats, by-products, or both is suspected to be a major cause of human campylobacteriosis. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of thermophilic Campylobacter spp. in fresh poultry meat and poultry by-products by conventional culture methods and to confirm Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli isolates by using the multiplex PCR assay. Two hundred fifty fresh poultry samples were collected from a variety of supermarkets and slaughterhouses located in Sfax, Tunisia, including chicken (n =149) and turkey (n =101). The samples were analyzed using conventional microbiological examinations according to the 2006 International Organization for Standardization method (ISO 10272-1) for Campylobacter spp. Concurrently, a real-time PCR was used for identification of C. jejuni and C. coli . Of the 250 samples of poultry meat and poultry by-products, 25.6% (n = 64) were contaminated with Campylobacter spp. The highest prevalence of Campylobacter spp. was found in chicken meat (26.8%) followed by turkey meat (23.7%). Among the different products, poultry breasts showed the highest contamination (36.6%) followed by poultry by-products (30%), poultry wings (28%) and poultry legs (26%) showed the lowest contamination, and no contamination was found on neck skin. Of the 64 thermophilic Campylobacter isolates, C. jejuni (59.7%) was the most frequently isolated species and 10.9% of the isolates were identified as C. coli . All of the 64 Campylobacter isolates identified by the conventional culture methods were further confirmed by PCR. The seasonal peak of Campylobacter spp. contamination was in the warm seasons (spring and summer). The study concluded that high proportions of poultry meat and poultry by-products marketed in Tunisia are contaminated by Campylobacter spp. Furthermore, to ensure food safety, poultry meats must be properly cooked before consuming.

Chvostek's sign and hypocalcaemia in children with seizures

Chvostek's sign (CS) was investigated in 154 patients with seizures (epilepsy, n = 91; non-epileptic event, n = 41; febrile convulsion, n = 19; hypocalcaemic seizure, n = 3). Patients with febrile convulsions or non-epileptic seizures had either negative or mild CS. Marked CS was only found among those with the diagnosis of epilepsy or hypocalcaemia. Normocalcaemic patients had no other signs of neuromuscular hyperexcitability (NMH) while those with hypocalcaemia manifested positive Trousseau's sign (TS) and other signs of NMH. There was no significant correlation between CS and seizure control, epilepsy classification and EEG findings.

Phosphorus trichloride toxicity. Preliminary report

A railroad accident in Somerville, Massachusetts, led to spillage of phosphorus trichloride liquid. Attempted clean-up with water led to the liberation of phosphorus trichloride, phosphoric acid, hydrochloric acid, and phosphorus oxides. Seventeen people exposed to this mixture were studied. Patients experienced eye irritation, lacrimination, nausea, vomiting, and dyspnea. Six patients had transient elevation of lactic dehydrogenase. Although all patients had normal chest roentgenographic findings, pulmonary function tests showed statistically significant decreases in vital capacity (p = 0.02), maximal breathing capacity (p = 0.02), forced expiratory volume in one second (p = 0.02), and maximal expiratory flow rate at 25 percent of vital capacity (p = 0.05) in those closest to the accident site. Further, patients exposed for less than one and a half hours had significantly greater maximal expiratory flow rates at 25 percent of vital capacity when compared with patients who had been exposed longer (p = 0.02). In seven patients, repeated pulmonary function tests one month later showed improvement, suggesting strongly that the acute effects may have been due to phosphorus trichloride toxicity.

Predictors of intrauterine insemination success

Intrauterine insemination (IUI) remains a therapeutic option within means of the majority of infertile couples in Malaysia. Therefore additional information on predictors of IUI success in the local context would provide a more concrete basis for counseling patients on expectations and treatment options. A retrospective analysis of 297 couples who underwent 445 IUI cycles from Jan 2005-Mar 2006 was undertaken. Four fifths were Malay with a mean paternal and maternal age of 35.53 +/- 5.82 (range 24-59) and 33.02 +/- 4.69 (range 21-46) years respectively. Causes of infertility were idiopathic (50%), endometriosis (17%) and anovulation/polycystic ovarian syndrome (15%). Almost 10% were oligoastenoteratozoospermic with another 23% oligozoospermic or astenozoospermic. Combined male and female factors occurred in 26%. A pregnancy rate (PR) of 9.4% per cycle; 14.1% per couple with a cumulative PR of 36.7% per 4 cycles was achieved. Those who became pregnant were significantly younger (31.29 +/- 4.43 vs. 33.21 +/- 4.68 years, p = 0.011) and had more follicles (13.95 +/- 9.72 vs. 11.43 +/- 6.67, p = 0.029) at the time of insemination. PR depreciated with maternal age and semen quality. Maternal and paternal age was inversely correlated to the number of follicles recruited (r = -0.30, p < 0.0005) and progressive sperm motility (r = -0.125, p = 0.013) respectively.

Application of Anatomically Designed 2-Dimensional V Plate in Management of Mandible Fracture: A Pilot Study

Background

Mandible is the only mobile facial jaw bone and it aides in various functions such as phonation and mastication. Therefore, management of mandible fracture becomes inevitable due to its functional and anatomical importance. Fracture fixation methods and techniques have steadily evolved with various osteosynthesis systems. In this article, we discuss the management of mandible fracture using a newly designed two-dimensional (2D) hybrid V-shaped plate.

Purpose

In this paper, we have evaluated the efficacy of the newly developed 2D V-shaped locking plate in the management of mandibular fractures.

Method

We have assessed 12 cases of different mandibular fractures ranging from symphysis, parasymphysis, angle and subcondylar region. Treatment outcome was assessed both clinically and radiologically at regular intervals with various intraoperative and postoperative parameters.

Result

Results of this study suggest that fixation of mandible fracture with the 2D hybrid V-shaped plate facilitates anatomic reduction and functional stability and carries a low morbidity and infection rate.

Conclusion

The 2D anatomic hybrid V-shaped plate can be a suitable alternative to conventional miniplate and 3D plates as it offers satisfactory anatomic reduction and functional stability. Positioning the plate in relation to the mental nerve and plate adaptation along the angle region are much easier.