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We report a case involving infection with Strongyloides stercoralis found in the sputum of a 66-year-old male patient who had a medical history of nephrotic syndrome and was treated with methylprednisolone and monthly intravenous cyclophosphamide therapy 3 months previously. This patient presented with stubborn pulmonary symptoms and signs, which was the mechanical destruction caused by larval migration. We found strongyloides in his sputum that provided diagnostic proof.

The blood and drainage cultures are suggested for early diagnosis of bloodstream infection (BSI), which are time consuming and laborious. Nasal colonization of bacteria is one of the modalities, occasionally can predict BSI. We hypothesized that nasal culture, as an accessible fluid may be helpful to predict future BSI in hemodialysis patients. The present prospective study evaluated 63 patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis at the Pars hospital dialysis center, Tehran, Iran, from November 2015 until February 2016. Nasal fluid of patients were collected from the 1–cm internal anterior part of both nostrils of patients by a sterile swab and cultured in Trypticase soy agar. All patients were followed for three months for BSI. The results of first nasal fluid sample revealed that 33.3% in first sampling and 27.0% in sampling had positive nasal fluid culture. The type of bacteria in all positive cases was Staphylococcus aureus. The rate of BSI infection in the patients with positive and negative first nasal fluid culture was 9.5% and 2.4% respectively with no significant difference. We found also no significant association between BSI positivity and nasal culture results so that positive BSI was revealed in 5.9% of patients with positive nasal fluid culture and 4.3% in those with negative nasal fluid culture with no meaningful difference. None of the baseline variables including age and gender, underlying risk factor, access, or duration of dialysis was associated with BSI positivity. In hemodialysis patients, BSI may not be predicted by nasal fluid culture positivity.

Objective Study: Whether the narrow-band CE-Chirp ASSR test in the sound field is an objective evaluation method for the hearing aid compensation effect, and whether there is a difference in children with different hearing loss levels. Methods: 39 children (67 ears) wearing full digital hearing aids with good rehabilitation effect and ability to cooperate with behavioral audiometry were selected. The narrow-band CE-Chirp ASSR test group in the sound field was set as the experimental group, and the sound field behavioral audiometry after hearing aid was set as the control group. According to the degree of hearing loss, it was divided into moderate hearing loss group, severe hearing loss group and extremely severe hearing loss group. The difference between test results of experimental group and control group was compared. Results: There were no significant differences between the experimental group and the control group in the moderate hearing loss group and the extremely severe hearing loss group at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4kHz (P > 0.05). The results of the experimental group and the control group in the severe hearing loss group, There was no significant difference at 0.5, 1, 2kHz (P > 0.05), there was a significant difference at 4kHz (P < 0.05), and the mean difference was - 6.4dB HL. When the degree of hearing loss was not grouped, there was no significant difference between the experimental group and the control group at 0.5, 1, 2kHz (P > 0.05), 4kHz was significantly different (P < 0.05), and the mean difference was -3.2dB HL. Conclusion: It is clinically feasible to evaluate the hearing aid compensation effect of the narrow-band CE-Chirp ASSR in the hearing-impaired children. The grouping according to the degree of hearing loss can be more accurate in evaluating the hearing aid compensation effect. The narrow-band CE-Chirp in the sound field of children with moderate and very severe hearing loss ASSR results can be directly used to assess the hearing aid compensation effect, while children with severe hearing loss need to apply correction values at 4kHz.

Obesity has become a worldwide Epidemic affecting more than 300 million people. Overweight is defined as BMI (Body Mass Index) of 25-29.9 kg/m2. Obesity is defined as BMI greater than 30 kg/m2, and Morbid Obesity is a BMI of > than 35 kg/m2 [1]. 

Introduction: Disabling hearing loss refers to hearing thresholds superior than 40 dB in the better ear in the adults. The main cause of hearing loss in the elderly is the age-related hearing loss, also called presbycusis. This type of hearing impairment occurs as individuals grow older and is usually sensorineural hearing disorder greater for high-pitched sounds and affects both ears equally. It is estimated that 466 million people worldwide have disabling hearing loss, one third of which are over 65 years old. Objective: To analyze the prevalence of disabling hearing loss in the elderly of Juiz de Fora. Methods: Cross-sectional study with 122 patients. Pure tone audiometry was performed after meticulous physical examination of the external ear. Results: Out of 122 older adults, 85 (69,6%) presented disabling hearing loss. Conclusion: Hearing loss, specially disabling hearing loss, is a frequent condition in the elderly and has a big impact on their quality of life. For that it should be promptly diagnosed so treatment can be initiated.

In this study, ceramic pot filters are made from clay and burn-out materials (sawdust) that give pore sizes capable of capturing contaminants. Manufacturing specifications were selected to achieve some results. Clay and sawdust are mixed in a 50% volume ratio each and sawdust was subjected to hot water extraction to give a treated sample. Filters produced comprised of untreated, treated, and a mixture of treated and untreated sawdust samples, some of which were dipped in a solution of silver nanoparticles while others were not dipped (treated undipped, treated dipped, mixed dipped, mixed undipped, untreated undipped, untreated dipped). The effectiveness of the produced filters for the removal of contaminants such as dissolved solids, turbidity, and metals was tested using water collected from the Ikeji Arakeji River in Osun, Nigeria. The results showed the filter with treated sawdust undipped in a solution of silver nano gave the best result in the removal of the contaminants. Also, the filter with the mixtures of treated and untreated sawdust gave a better result compared to the standard. While the standard gave a better result than the untreated undipped ceramic filter pot. In conclusion, with proper cleaning and maintenance of the filters, they can effectively provide treated water suitable for drinking to rural people affected by polluted water sources.

The effects of Leech Salivary Extract (LSE) on some haematological, immunological and organ weight parameters in rats, during a twenty eight days oral administration of 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight doses, was investigated. LD50 and sub chronic toxicity was determined using standard methods. The oral LD50 was above 5000mg/kgbw. Oral administration of LSE (25mg/kgbw, 50mg/kgbw, 100mg/kgbw) for 28days had no significant (p>0.05) effect on the differential white blood cells (lymphocytes, monocytes, basophils, neutrophils, eosinophils), red blood cell indices (RBC count, PCV, HB, platelets, MCHC and MCH), feed intake, body weight gain and relative organ weight of lung, heart, liver, kidney, spleen and stomach of rats. However, the LSE evoked a significant (p>0.05) increase in the level of MCV in treated rats compared to the control. These results, indicating low toxicity and no negative significant effects of LSE on haemato-immunological indices in rats, suggest that the extract is safe for development and use as therapeutic for managing clinical conditions.

A literature-based review was made to assess available information on bovine hemoparasites related to their epidemiology, distribution, and economic importance in Ethiopia. Babesiosis, anaplasmosis, cowdriosis, theileriosis, and trypanosomosis are the major hemo-parasitic disease of bovine in Ethiopia. Their adverse effects on the health of the animals can decrease production and productivity. Hemoparasites generally cause fever, anemia, jaundice, anorexia, weight loss, milk drop, malaise, swelling of lymph nodes, dyspnoea, diarrhea, nervous disorders, and death by affecting blood vessels and/or lymphatic system of the animal. Reports from different parts of the country displayed there is a high distribution of bovine hemoparastic disease throughout the country. Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis (redwater), Ehlichiosis (Heartwater), Theileriosis, and Trypanosomosis are the major hemoparasitic diseases with heavy economic losses. Their mode of transmission was by arthropod vectors ticks and flies. Applying effective vector control and using vaccines drugs are the two most important control methods for hemoparasites diseases. Also having knowledge of parasite life cycles, their biological vector, and the immune response of bovines to vectors and parasites were also used in the successful application of control strategies. Creating awareness of the mode of transmission, method of control, and prevention of hemoparastic disease of bovine to livestock owners were warranted to decrease the effect of the disease.

A 61-year-old Brazilian black woman consulted with a nephrologist due to proteinuria identified on a routine urine test. She has a personal history of thymoma resection five years ago, followed by multiple episodes of pulmonary infections including mycobacteriosis, recurrent mucocutaneous candidiasis, and paraneoplastic pemphigus. Physical examination showed no edema or hypertension and laboratory tests identified proteinuria of 2.43 g/day without hematuria, serum creatinine of 0.69 mg/dl, urea 34 mg/dl, serum albumin of 2.4 g/dl, hemoglobin 10.9 g/dl, platelets 292,000/mm3, leukocytes 4950/mm3, lymphocytes 594/mm3 and neutrophils 3910/mm3. The hemolysis tests were negative and serum iron was low. Analysis of glicemia and serum lipids levels were normal as well as serum complement and imunoglobulins, except for an IgM level of 283 mg/dl (normal values 40 to 230 mg/dl) and undetectable IgE. Serologies for Syphilis, HIV, hepatitis B, C and antibodies for autoimmune diseases were negative. 

Chronic infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is estimated to affect 58 million people worldwide and around 700,000 individuals in Brazil. Various non-invasive markers of hepatic fibrosis have been proposed, such as transient hepatic elastography (THE) using FibroScan®. However, the reliability of the performance, by operators in the training phase is undetermined, which hinders its applicability in clinical practice. Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of training an inexperienced operator to perform the examinations using FibroScan® in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Specifically, the frequency of unreliable results throughout the training was assessed. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with retrospective data collection including compensated chronic hepatitis C patients who underwent the examinations using FibroScan® between March 2014 and December 2016, performed by two researchers. Included patients were divided into two groups based on the operator's experience in the examination: the Experienced Examiner (EE) group and the Examiner in Training (ET) group, with the latter divided into two phases: phase 1, consisting of the first 100 examinations, and phase 2, comprising subsequent examinations. For the reliability analysis, parameters such as success rate (SR), interquartile range (IQR) to median (Md) ratio (IQR/Md), and reliability criteria of Castéra, et al. and Boursier, et al. were used. Results: Between March 2014 and December 2016, 771 adult HCV-infected individuals were evaluated and divided into EE group (n = 161), ET phase 1 (n = 100), and ET phase 2 (n = 158), showing similar demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics. SR and IQR/Md ratios were similar among EE, ET phase 1, and ET phase 2 groups. The proportion of reliable results was comparable in all three groups, using Castéra, et al. reliability criteria (92.5%, 92.0%, and 97.5%, respectively) and Boursier, et al. criteria (96.9%, 95.0%, and 98.1%, respectively). Conclusion: A short training period (up to 100 examinations) seems to be sufficient for them to have good clinical applicability in the hands of an operator with initial experience in the method