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Oesophageal biopsy from a patient with
diagnosis of eosinophilic oesophagitis. The mucosa has greater than 20
eosinophis /hpf. H & E stain, 400× magnification
Microsporum
gallinae
Cryptococcus neoformans
Asperillus fumigatus
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interesting medical information
MEDICAL
ADVANCES
The sperm fertility index (SFI) The sperm fertility index (SFI) is a term used for assessing the
ability of semen to fertilize. For the numerical calculation of SFI has been designed software that
takes into account various parameters typically identified in semen analysis
(sperm count, morphology and motility, biochemical tests, presence of
antisperm antibodies). According to this classification completely normal semen has a SFI
larger than 160 AU. SFI values
between 80 and 160 AU indicate moderate quality semen. Finally SFI values less than 80 AU have
been found in problematic semen with extremely low capacity for
fertilization. Eosinophilic oesophagitis in patients with asthma Asthma is a common
disease that affects 8-10% of adults. On the other hand eosinophilic
oesophagitis is a relatively “new” disease, which occurs in up to 0.4% of the
population. The epidemiological finding
linking the two diseases is the fact that approximately 50% of patients with
eosinophilic oesophagitis simultaneously suffer from asthma. Thus some patients with
asthma will experience sometime eosinophilic oesophagitis. The question is
whether oesophagitis is
due to asthma or
cause of asthma or treatment for asthma. A research study
conducted in 2013 at the Mayo Clinic by pulmonologists and
gastroenterologists concluded that allergic asthma, allergic rhinitis and peripheral
eosinophilia (especially active eosinophils) are associated with the
appearance of eosinophilic oesophagitis.
Steroid inhalers appear to have a protective
effect against eosinophilic oesophagitis. The results of this
research show that eosinophilic oesophagitis should be viewed as part of a
generalized allergic disease rather than isolated oesophageal disease. Medically significant
fungi and superficial mycoses Fungi are eukaryotic microorganisms.
Only about 15 genera and 100 species of the thousands of species are
involved in human disease. Most of
the medically important fungi are ubiquitous in nature. Superficial mycoses involve the keratin-containing structures of the
body (epidermis, hair, nails). The
infections generally are considered cosmetic problems and are not life
threatening. The disease processes
very rarely spread to other tissues and, then, only in extremely
immunocompromised individuals.
Children are more susceptible than adults, and infections are more
common in warm, moist climates. The major causes of superficial mycoses are Trichophyton species,
Microsporum species, and a single species of Epidermophyton,
which collectively are referred to as dermatophytes. Other fungi involved in superficial
mycoses include Pityrosporum species and Candida species. Clinical manifestations
may include scaling of skin, hair loss, pruritus, and erythema or other
discoloration. The symptomatology is
characteristic, but it is not diagnostic, so an accurate diagnosis relies on
laboratory tests. [The microscopic images of the fungi on the left are taken
from the book by U. Spyrakou: Basic Medical Mycology, 2nd ed., Athens, 2000]. UMMA test: A superior assay for the detection of
vitamin B12 deficiency Vitamin B12 is important in DNA synthesis, erythropoiesis, and
development and maintenance of the myelin sheath of nerves. Deficiency of the vitamin B12 can cause
pernicious anaemia, neurological damage, e.g. spinal cord degeneration and
mental changes. If left untreated, it
is estimated that 80 - 90% of deficient individuals will develop disorders of
the nervous system such as fatigue, muscle aches, decreased visual acuity,
depression, confusion, loss of memory or dementia similar to Alzheimer’s
disease and leg paralysis. Similarly,
recent research indicates that B12deficiency can be a cause of heart attack
or stroke. Different laboratory methods have been used to screen selected
individuals such as serum vitamin B12 measurement, Schilling test and plasma
homocysteine, but all these tests often give falsely positive and falsely
negative results. Elevated urinary methylmalonic acid (UMMA) levels indicate
tissue/cellular B12 deficiency since they are directly related to a B12
dependent pathway: Coenzyme B12 Methylmalonic acid ———————→Succinic acid Vitamin B12 deficiency impedes this pathway causing urine excretion of
methylmalonic acid to increase. Normal UMMA is less than 3,8 μg / mg creatinine. Many researchers have showed that UMMA assay is much more reliable
than all other tests in early diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency as well as
in monitoring improvement after therapy. IAST® : A valuable test for respiratory allergy Two out of
ten are allergic. Allergy often presents
with an unclear, confusing picture, making the correct diagnosis
difficult. Allergy is therefore to a
large extent an underdiagnosed condition. A recent
solution to this situation is IAST® (Inhalation Allergy Screen Test). IAST is a simple blood test, which
confirms or excludes atopic allergy in patients with symptoms of the eyes,
ears and the upper and lower respiratory tract. IAST® is a laboratory
test based on the immunoenzymatic principle.
A blood sample of 0,50 ml is sufficient to perform the assay. The results are reported in AU/L (Allergy
Units). Normal value is 0-35 AU/L. Clinical studies
performed in IDEA Medical Labs show over 95% agreement with the more complex
and expensive conventional diagnostic methods.
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