A Rare Case of Recurrent Arterial Thrombosis Secondary to Iron Deficiency Anemia.

Iron deficiency anemia is the leading cause of anemia all over the world. Iron deficiency is known to cause reactive thrombocytosis. However, arterial thrombosis secondary to reactive thrombocytosis is a rare entity. In this article, we present a case of a 37-year-old female with recurrent arterial thrombosis due to severe thrombocytosis caused by iron deficiency anemia. The patient developed spleen and kidney infractions, as well as abdominal aortic thrombosis. She was subsequently treated with iron and aspirin with an improvement of the anemia and thrombocytosis, with no further thrombotic complications. Arterial thrombosis is a very serious condition as the thrombus can embolize to carotid arteries leading to stroke or to peripheral blood vessels causing peripheral ischemia and gangrene. Iron deficiency anemia is a reversible cause of thrombocytosis that can be treated very easily to avoid thrombotic complications.

Production of a broad spectrum streptothricin like antibiotic from halotolerant Streptomyces fimbriatus isolate G1 associated with marine sediments.

Streptomyces have been reported as a remarkable source for bioactive secondary metabolites with complex structural and functional diversity. In this study, 35 isolates of genus Streptomyces were purified from rhizospheric and marine soils collected from previously unexplored habitats and screened for antimicrobial activities. One of these isolates, G1, when tested in vitro, was found highly active against wide range of microbes including Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria, and different fungal pathogens. It was identified as mesophilic, alkaliphilic, and moderately halotolerant as it showed optimum growth at temperature 30 °C, pH 8.0 in casein-starch-peptone-yeast extract-malt extract medium supplemented with 5% NaCl. Sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene indicated 100% identity of this isolate to Streptomyces fimbriatus. Moreover, maximum antimicrobial activity was achieved in starch nitrate medium supplemented with 1% glycerol as carbon and 0.03% soy meal as nitrogen source. The antimicrobial compounds produced by this isolate were extracted in methanol. Bioassay-guided fractionation through thin layer chromatography of methanolic extract resulted in the separation of a most active fraction with an Rf value of 0.46. This active fraction was characterized by FTIR and LCMS analysis and found similar to streptothricin D like antibiotic with m/z 758.42.

Molecular Identification and Genetic Characterization of Macrophomina phaseolina Strains Causing Pathogenicity on Sunflower and Chickpea.

Macrophomina phaseolina is the most devastating pathogen which causes charcoal rot and root rot diseases in various economically important crops. Three strains M. phaseolina 1156, M. phaseolina 1160, and M. phaseolina PCMC/F1 were tested for their virulence on sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) and chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). The strains showed high virulence on both hosts with a disease score of 2 on chickpea and sunflower. The strains also increased the hydrogen per oxide (H2O2) content by 1.4- to 1.6-fold in root as well as shoot of chickpea and sunflower. A significant increase in antioxidant enzymes was observed in fungal infected plants which indicated prevalence of oxidative stress during pathogen propagation. The M. phaseolina strains also produced hydrolytic enzymes such as lipase, amylase, and protease with solubilization zone of 5-43 mm, 5-45 mm, and 12-35 mm, respectively. The M. phaseolina strains were identified by 18S rRNA and analyzed for genetic diversity by using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. The findings based on RAPD markers and 18S rRNA sequence analysis clearly indicate genetic variation among the strains collected from different hosts. The genetically diverse strains were found to be pathogenic to sunflower and chickpea.

Image perception and interpretation of abnormalities; can we believe our eyes? Can we do something about it?

The radiologist's visual impression of images is transmitted, via non-visual means (the report), to the clinician. There are several complex steps from the perception of the images by the radiologist to the understanding of the impression by the clinician. With a process as complex as this, it is no wonder that errors in perception, cognition, interpretation, transmission and understanding are very common. This paper reviews the processes of perception and error generation and possible strategies for minimising them.

Ultrasound diagnosis of dicephalic conjoined twins at 24 weeks of gestation.

We report the case of dicephalic conjoined twins discovered incidentally on a routine ultrasound at 24 weeks of gestation. There were 2 heads and a neck that fused with 1 thorax, but the spines continued all the way to the coccyx. The spines were connected medially by a fused rib, and laterally, there were ribs that went around the thorax in a more normal fashion. Antenatal ultrasound images are supplemented by postnatal photographs and x-rays.

Pseudohepatic tumour associated with secondary syphilis in an HIV-positive male.

Inflammatory pseudohepatic tumours are unusual tumour-like conditions which can easily be mistaken for malignant lesions or liver abscesses. Patients usually present with fever, abdominal pain and loss of weight. The aetiology is unclear but the predominant inflammatory pattern of pathology and the associated systemic reactions suggest an underlying infectious agent. In the majority, microorganisms are not detected. As even routine imaging procedures usually fail to distinguish hepatic pseudotumours from liver neoplasms, biopsy is the definitive means of diagnosis. Until now, no case of pseudohepatic tumour has been reported as being associated with secondary syphilis. We believe secondary syphilis is the cause of this pseudohepatic tumour in our HIV-positive male.