Determining the minimum inhibitory concentration of Tetraclean against Candida albicans.

The purpose of the present study was to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations of Tetraclean, chlorhexidine, hydrogen peroxide, and sodium hypochlorite against Candida albicans.Amphotericin B was used as positive control and RPMI plus 1 ml Candida suspension was used as negative control. Serial dilution method was used to determine MIC of the irrigants. Findings showed that all positive controls demonstrated complete inhibition of C. albicans at concentration of 0.78 microg mL(-1). On the other hand, all negative controls were positive for fungal growth which confirms the methodology of the study. Findings showed that the MIC of CHX was significantly lesser than other tested irrigants (p < 0.05). The MICs of other groups in an ascending order were as follows: Tetraclean, NaOCl, and H2O2. However, the difference betweenTetraclean and NaOCI was not significant (p > 0.05). It can be concluded that MIC of CHX was significantly lower than other irrigations solutions which confirms its strong antifungal activity.

An investigation of the tylosis with oesophageal cancer (TOC) locus in Iranian patients with oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Oesophageal cancer is one of the ten leading causes of cancer mortality worldwide. Earlier loss of heterozygosity (or allelic imbalance) studies have implicated regions on chromosomes 3p, 5q, 9p, 13q, 17p, 17q, and 18q in the development of sporadic oesophageal cancer and recent data have linked the familial tylosis with oesophageal cancer (TOC) gene-containing region on chromosome 17q25 with this cancer. We have studied allelic imbalance (AI) at microsatellite markers both closely linked to and distant from the TOC gene locus in 60 sporadic squamous cell oesophageal cancers from Iran and have investigated the most likely candidate gene by mutation analysis in these tumours. Forty-four out of these 60 samples (73%) show allelic imbalance at one or more loci within or adjacent to the TOC minimal region, while the highest incidence of AI was observed at the D17S2244 and D17S2246 loci (almost 70% AI in informative cases), correlating with the TOC minimal region. Analysis of the coding regions of a candidate gene in these tumours failed to show an equivalently high incidence of mutation, although two mutations and one polymorphism were observed. These data support and extend previous observations that the TOC region of chromosome 17q25 may be involved in the aetiology of the sporadic form of oesophageal cancer from a number of different geographical populations and suggest that the causative gene may be epigenetically silenced rather than mutated.

Single- versus double-lung transplantation for pulmonary hypertension.

OBJECTIVES: Uncertainty persists as to the best lung transplant operation for patients with pulmonary hypertension. To quantify short- and long-term outcomes after single- and double-lung transplantation for pulmonary hypertension, we reviewed our clinical experience. METHODS: A retrospective review of 58 lung transplants at a single institution between 1989 and 1996 was performed. Recipients had primary (n = 19) or secondary (n = 39) pulmonary hypertension. RESULTS: Thirty-seven double- and 21 single-lung transplants were performed. The groups were well matched with regard to preoperative characteristics. Cardiopulmonary bypass time was longer (151 vs 250 minutes) in the double-lung group. Excluding 10 patients surviving less than 30 days (6 double- and 4 single-lung transplants), median duration of intubation (7.5 vs 10 days), length of stay in the intensive care unit (10 vs 16 days), and hospital stay (32 vs 52 days) were not significantly different for the single- and double-lung groups, respectively. Actuarial survival was nearly identical, with 81% and 84% 1-month survivals for the single- and double-lung groups, and identical 1-year (67%) and 4-year (57%) survivals for both groups. Late functional status was similar for recipients of single- and double-lung grafts. During the period of this study, 58 patients with pulmonary hypertension died on our center's waiting list before coming to transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that lung transplant recipients with pulmonary hypertension have similar outcomes after single- or double-lung transplantation. These results support cautious preferential application of single-lung transplantation for pulmonary hypertension.

Mini-sternotomy for aortic valve replacement reduces the length of stay in the cardiac intensive care unit: meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

Background Mini-sternotomy for isolated aortic valve replacement aims to reduce operative trauma hastening recovery and improving the cosmetic outcome of cardiac surgery. The short-term clinical benefits from the mini-sternotomy are presumed to arise because the incision is less extensive and the lower half of the chest cage remains intact. The basic conduct of virtually all other aspects of the aortic valve replacement procedure remains the same. Therefore, similar long-term outcomes are to be expected. Objectives To conduct a meta-analysis of the only available randomised controlled trials (RCT) in the published English literature. Data sources Electronic search for relevant publications in MEDLINE, EMBASE and CENTRAL databases were performed. Four studies met the criteria. Study eligibility criteria RCT comparing minimally invasive (inverted C or L (J)-shaped) hemi-sternotomy versus conventional sternotomy for adults undergoing isolated aortic valve replacement using standard cardiopulmonary bypass technique. Methods Outcome measures were the length of positive pressure ventilation, blood loss, intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stay. Results The length of ICU stay was significantly shorter by 0.57 days in favour of the mini-sternotomy group (CI -0.95 to -0.2; p=0.003). There was no advantage in terms of duration of ventilation (CI -3.48 to 0.36; p=0.11). However, there was some evidence to suggest a reduction in blood loss and the length of stay in hospital in the mini-sternotomy group. This did not prove to be statistically significant (154.17 ml reduction (CI -324.51 to 16.17; p=0.08) and 2.03 days less (CI -4.12 to 0.05; p=0.06), respectively). Limitations This study includes a relatively small number of subjects (n=220) and outcome variables. The risk of bias was not assessed during this meta-analysis. Conclusion Mini-sternotomy for isolated aortic valve replacement significantly reduces the length of stay in the cardiac ICU. Other short-term benefits may include a reduction in blood loss or the length of hospital stay.