Determine HIV-1/2, Chembio HIV-1/2 STAT-PAK and PenTest are simple/rapid tests for the detection of antibodies to HIV-1 and HIV-2 in human whole blood, serum and plasma samples. The assay is one step and the result is read visually within 15 minutes. Using 92 known HIV-1 reactive sera and 108 known HIV-1 negative sera, the 3 HIV tests correctly identified all the known HIV-1 reactive and negative samples. The results indicated that Determine HIV-1/2, Chembio HIV-1/2 STAT-PAK and PenTest HIV are as sensitive and specific (100% concordance) as Microparticle Enzyme Immunoassay. The data indicated that these 3 HIV tests are effective testing systems for diagnosis of HIV infection in a situation when the conventional Enzyme Immunoassay is not suitable.
*AIDS Serodiagnosis ; HIV Antibodies/*blood ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Time Factors

Child, Preschool ; Disease-Free Survival ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome - diagnosis ; New Guinea

We present the first case report of a Papua New Guinean family affected by Meckel-Gruber syndrome. Of six children, five of whom died, three definitely and two possibly were affected.
Encephalocele ; Facies ; Fatal Outcome ; Forehead ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Papua New Guinea ; Syndrome

Objective: To assess and compare the cytotoxic, genotoxic, apoptotic and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generating effects of naringenin (NG) and its new derived compound naringenin-oxime (NG-Ox) on MCF-7, HT-29, PC-12 cancer and L-929 normal cell lines. Methods: The cells were incubated with different doses of NG-Ox and NG (50–1 000 mmol/L) for 24 h. The cell viability was assessed based on ATP cell viability assay. Intracellular accumulation of ROS was determined using the fluorescent probes 2070-dichlorodihydrofluorescin diacetate. Genotoxic effects were evaluated by alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis assay (comet assay) and, the apoptotic effect was evaluated by acridine orange staining at below the IC50 levels.
Results: Both NG-Ox and NG exhibited cytotoxic, genotoxic and apoptotic effects and resulted in increased ROS values in a dose-dependent manner. The effects were more pronounced on cancer cell lines. The cytotoxic, genotoxic and apoptotic effects of NG-Ox were higher than that of NG in all cell lines. Significant correlations were observed be-tween cell viability, DNA damage, apoptosis and ROS, in all cell lines exposed to either NG-Ox or NG.
Conclusions: This study showed that both NG-Ox and NG possess cytotoxic, genotoxic and apoptotic activities through the production of ROS on cells, NG-Ox being the more effective one. Therefore, derived compound of NG might be used as antiproliferative agents for the treatment of cancer.

A six-month-old baby with congenital patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), bilateral microtia and canal atresia was referred for hearing assessment. The audiology assessment revealed bilateral profound hearing loss, which is atypical for a case of pure canal atresia. Imaging was performed much earlier than usual and, as suspected, the patient also had bilateral severe inner ear anomaly. It is extremely rare for a person to have both external and inner ear anomaly because of the different embryological origin. The only suitable hearing rehabilitation option for this kind of patients is brainstem implant. However, the parents had opted for sign language as a form of communication. KEY WORDS: Microtia; canal atresia; cochleovestibular nerve aplasia; inner ear anomaly
Congenital Microtia

Bilateral vocal fold immobility (BVFI) is commonly caused by injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) and leads to stridor and dyspnea of varying onsets. A retrospective study was done at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre on laser microsurgical posterior cordectomy for BVFI. The objectives were to identify the average duration of onset of stridor from the time of insult and to evaluate the outcome of laser posterior cordectomy as a surgical option. From 1997 to 2007, a total of 31 patients with BVFI were referred for surgery. Twelve patients had tracheostomy done prior to the procedure, whereas 19 patients were without tracheostomy. Ten patients were successfully decannulated, and only 4 patients had complications related to the procedure. The minimum onset of stridor was 7 months, maximum onset of stridor was 28 years, and the mean onset of stridor was 8.7 years. The commonest complication observed was posterior glottic adhesion following bilateral posterior cordectomy. Laser endolaryngeal posterior cordectomy is an excellent surgical option as it enables successful decannulation or avoidance of tracheostomy in patients with BVFI. The onset of stridor took years after the insult to the recurrent laryngeal nerves.

This is a retrospective study examining the outcome of paediatric patients with subglottic stenosis who underwent partial cricotracheal resection (PCTR) as a primary open procedure from 2004 to 2012. There were 5 patients identified aged from 3 to 18 years old. All the subglottic stenosis were acquired type. All of them were secondary to prolonged intubation. Three patients were classified as Myer-Cotton grade III and the other two were Myer-Cotton grade IV. Two of the patients had concomitant bilateral vocal cord immobility. All patients underwent two staged PCTR . All patients underwent two staged PCTR, and one patient underwent posterior cordectomy apart from partial CTR at different setting. All patients were successfully decannulated at various durations postoperatively. Although this is an early experience in our institution, PCTR has shown to be effective and safe procedure in patients with subglottic stenosis especially those with Myer-Cotton grade III and IV.

We describe a case of non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection of the larynx in a previously well, immunocompetent young woman. Laryngeal mycobacterial infection is rare and currently accounts for less than 1% of all cases. A diagnostic dilemma often occurs because it may mimic laryngeal carcinoma, chronic laryngitis, or laryngeal candidiasis. This case highlights the importance of considering non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection in the differential diagnosis of laryngeal lesions.
Candidiasis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Hypopharynx* ; Laryngitis ; Larynx ; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria ; Pharynx ; Ulcer*

OBJECTIVE: To determine the value of gray-scale and power Doppler ultrasonography in the evaluation of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Median nerves at the carpal tunnel were evaluated by using gray-scale and power Doppler ultrasonography and by using accepted and new criteria in 42 patients with CTS (62 wrists) confirmed by electromyogram and 33 control subjects. We evaluated the cross-sectional area of the nerve just proximal to the tunnel inlet (CSAa), and at mid level (CSAb). We then calculated the percentage area increase of CSAb, and area difference (CSAb-CSAa). We measured two dimensions of the nerve at the distal level to calculate the flattening ratio. The power Doppler ultrasonography was used to assess the number of vessels, which proceeded to give a score according to the vessel number, and lastly evaluated the statistical significance by comparing the means of patients with control subjects by the Student t test for independent samples. Sensitivities and specificities were determined for sonographic characteristics mentioned above. We obtained the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve to assess the optimal cut-off values for the diagnosis of CTS. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference was found between patients and the control group for mean CSAb, area difference, percentage area increase, and flattening ratio (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.05, respectively). From the ROC curve we obtained optimal cut-off values of 11 mm2 for CSAb, 3.65 for area difference, 50% for the percentage of area increase, and 2.6 for the flattening ratio. The mean number of vessels obtained by power Doppler ultrasonography from the median nerve was 1.2. We could not detect vessels from healthy volunteers. Mean CSAbs related to vascularity intensity scores were as follows: score 0: 12.3 +/- 2.8 mm2, score 1: 12.3 +/- 3.1 mm2, score 2: 14.95 +/- 3.5 mm2, score 3: 19.3 +/- 3.8 mm2. The mean PI value in vessels of the median nerve was 4.1 +/- 1. CONCLUSION: Gray-scale and power Doppler ultrasonography are useful in the evaluation of CTS.
Adult ; Aged ; Carpal Tunnel Syndrome/*ultrasonography ; Case-Control Studies ; Electromyography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Median Nerve/*ultrasonography ; Middle Aged ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; *Ultrasonography, Doppler

A pneumocele is an abnormal dilatation of a paranasal sinus, most commonly affecting the frontal sinus. Although the etiology of pneumocele is not entirely known, several causative factors have been suggested including trauma, surgery, tumor and infection. We report here a case of post-traumatic pneumocele of the frontal sinus following a head trauma.
Craniocerebral Trauma/*complications ; Emphysema/*etiology/radiography ; *Frontal Sinus ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed