Comparison of fine-needle aspiration with fine-needle capillary cytology in thyroid nodules.

INTRODUCTION: High false-negative results have been reported for fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology in thyroid nodules. Fine-needle capillary (FNC) cytology is an alternative technique that prevents aspiration, reducing tissue damage. This study aimed to compare FNA and FNC in assessing thyroid nodules and in terms of their predictive role in the appropriate diagnosis of malignancy. METHODS: This is a comparative prospective study conducted on 486 patients. FNA was performed in 235 patients during 2016 and 2017 and FNC in 251 patients during 2018 and 2019. The quality of cytological specimens was compared and then correlated with the final histopathological findings of 39 patients who underwent thyroidectomy. RESULTS: Both groups were statistically similar regarding age and sex distribution. The FNA technique yielded significantly higher adequate specimens compared with FNC (p<0.001). Abundant blood in the background was found more frequently in the FNA technique (p<0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of FNA for malignancy diagnosis were both 100%, compared with 83.3% and 57.7% for FNC, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The two methods, FNA and FNC, did not differ in terms of overall quality. FNA was superior regarding consistency with the histopathological results and the ability to diagnose malignancy.

Seroprevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Akabane Virus Infection in Sheep and Goats in Fars Province, Iran.

Akabane disease is an arthropod-borne viral disease that affects ruminants. This teratogenic pathogen causes severe economic losses in ruminants worldwide and in Iran; however, it has not received enough attention in Fars province, Iran. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the influence of age, gender, climate, farming system, and history of abortions on the seroprevalence of the Akabane disease in sheep and goats in Fars province. In the present study, Fars province was divided into three climates, and three cities were randomly selected from each climatic region. In each city, two epidemiologic units were selected, and all sheep and goats in each unit were sampled. Overall, 540 serum samples (391 sheep and 149 goats) were collected and examined with the commercial ELISA kit. The results showed that 83 out of 540 (15.4%) samples were seropositive and had antibodies against the Akabane virus (AKAV). The effect of gender and age on the rate of the AKAV was not significant. Animals in warm climates were 4.218 times more likely to have antibodies against the AKAV than animals in cold climates. Females were 1.32 times more likely to exhibit seropositivity. The odds of AKAV infection were higher in animals with an abortion history than in healthy animals. The findings of the present study indicated that the prevalence of the AKAV was high in small ruminants in Fars province. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct more studies to control the risk factors involved in the spread of this virus.

DFT investigations of AgMC7H10N2 (M = Cl, Br, and I) metal organic molecules: NMR, optoelectronic, and transport properties.

The full-potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method was used for the calculation of the structural, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), optoelectronic, and thermoelectric properties of AgMC7H10N2 (M = Cl, Br, and I) compounds. The calculated wide band gap of AgMC7H10N2 (M = Cl, Br, and I) metal organic molecules with the density of states approach were 3.32, 3.29, and 3.10 eV, respectively. The NMR parameters are calculated for the Ag, Cl, Br, I, C, N, O, and H elements. It is found that by decreasing bandgap, the isotropic NMR chemical shielding values of Cl, Br, and I elements increase. The strong hybridization of Ag-4d, Cl-3p, Br-4p, and I-5p states are observed at the top of the valence band. The birefringence and anisotropic properties are observed in the optical spectra with high plasmon energies, and the figure of merit, ZT, of 0.98 for AgCl(C7H10N2) compound is found at 300 K. Hence, these compounds are attractive flexible metal organic molecules for optoelectronic and transport applications.

Comparative studies of C7H10N2 pyridine and C7H10N2S pyrrole for optoelectronic applications by mBJ approach.

The modified Becke-Johnson exchange (mBJ) potential plus the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) correlation are used for the calculation of the optoelectronic properties of the C7H10N2 pyridine and C7H10N2S pyrrole. Electronic band gaps of C7H10N2 pyridine and C7H10N2S pyrrole have been determined to be 4.65 eV and 3.41 eV by band structure spectra, respectively. According to the Penn model, there is an inverse relationship between the band gap value and static dielectric constant along the x-direction. The density of states spectra shows that the p state of S atoms plays a key role in the optical spectra. In the refractive index spectra, the nature of materials changes from linear to nonlinear with superluminal nature in a narrow energy range of 3.9-4.7 eV for C7H10N2S and 5-7.7 eV for C7H10N2. Cauchy parameters are calculated and predicted values are extended in the UV (ultraviolet) and visible regions. Obtained plasmon energies are in close agreement with suitable optical materials such as α-Al2O3 making the material more effective to use in new optical devices.

A retrospective survey of human hydatidosis based on hospital records during the period of 10 years.

Hydatid cyst is a parasitic infection that is widely seen endemically in the Middle East countries. We studied hydatid cyst pattern in hospitalized adult patients in our hospital from 2000 to 2010. In this study 89 patients, 50 females and 39 males who were diagnosed to have hydatid cyst were evaluated. The mean age of the patients was 37.3 and the mean hospital stay was 10.1 days. The main complaint was abdominal pain (66.2%). The most common localization of cysts was the liver and the most radiological method to diagnose the disease was ultrasonography followed by CT scan. Our recurrence rate was more than average. We had no mortality and did not find any serious postoperative complication. Safe surgery is a role for hydatid cysts.

Changes in arginase, aminotransferases and rhodanese in sera of domestic animals with experimentally induced liver necrosis.

Changes in the serum concentrations of aspartic aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), rhodanese and arginase were measured in dogs, sheep and cattle with hepatic necrosis induced by the oral administration of carbon tetrachloride. A new method for arginase assay was based on the determination of remaining arginine (after its conversion to urea and ornithine) by its reaction with p-nitrophenyl glyoxal (PNPG). In all species studied the serum arginase increased 6-12 h after liver damage, reached a peak value in 48 h and returned to normal thereafter. Rhodanese activity did not change in dogs but rose significantly in sheep and, to a lesser extent, in cattle. AST increased strikingly in sheep as compared with dogs and cattle and remained high for > 5 days. In dogs ALT rose sharply and remained elevated for > 10 days. No change in ALT was seen in sheep or cattle. The determination of arginase by a simple procedure such as the PNPG method, in conjunction with AST or ALT assay, may be of value in assessing the stage of liver necrosis.