MALDI-TOF MS for identification of Tsukamurella species: Tsukamurella tyrosinosolvens as the predominant species associated with ocular infections.

Although Tsukamurella infections have been increasingly reported in Europe, Asia, America, and Africa, indicating that diseases caused by this group of bacteria are emerging in a global scale, species identification within this genus is difficult in most clinical microbiology laboratories. Recently, we showed that groEL gene sequencing is useful for identification of all existing Tsukamurella species. Nevertheless, PCR sequencing is still considered expensive, time-consuming, and technically demanding, and therefore is yet to be incorporated as a routine identification method in clinical laboratories.

Novel selective medium for the isolation of from heavily colonised clinical specimens.

Aims: Granulomatous mastitis due to is an increasingly recognised cause of an indolent and distressing mastitis in non-lactating females. This slow-growing lipophilic organism is not reliably isolated using routine culture methods. A novel selective culture medium (CKSM) is designed to optimise the isolation of this organism from clinical specimens.

Rapid Differentiation of Haemophilus influenzae and Haemophilus haemolyticus by Use of Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry with ClinProTools Mass Spectrum Analysis.

is associated with severe invasive disease, while is considered part of the commensal flora in the human respiratory tract. Although the addition of a custom mass spectrum library into the matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) system could improve identification of these two species, the establishment of such a custom database is technically complicated and requires a large amount of resources, which most clinical laboratories cannot afford. In this study, we developed a mass spectrum analysis model with 7 mass peak biomarkers for the identification of and using the ClinProTools software.

Coronary artery calcification across ethnic groups in Singapore.

Introduction: In Singapore, the age-standardised event rates of myocardial infarction (MI) are 2- and 3-fold higher for Malays and Indians respectively compared to the Chinese. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence and quantity of coronary artery calcification (CAC) and non-calcified plaques across these 3 ethnic groups.

Materials And Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive study.

Acute myocardial infarction: Clinical features and outcomes in young adults in Singapore.

Aim: To investigate the clinical features and in-hospital outcomes of young adults with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in Singapore.

Methods: Between January 2005 to September 2010, 333 consecutive patients aged ≤ 45 years old were diagnosed to have AMI at our institution. As Singapore is a multi-ethnic society, we also analysed whether ethnic differences exist between the three dominant ethnic groups, Malay, Chinese and Indian with regards to the clinical features.

Rheolytic thrombectomy in patients with massive pulmonary embolism: a report of two cases and review of literature.

We present two cases of massive pulmonary embolism with persistent systolic hypotension but both have contraindications for thrombolysis. Therefore, rheolytic thrombectomy using AngioJet was performed and immediate haemodynamic improvement was achieved including blood pressure and symptoms. According to guidelines, catheter embolectomy or fragmentation may be considered as alternative to surgical treatment in massive pulmonary embolism patients when thrombolysis is absolutely contraindicated or has failed.

Intravascular ultrasound virtual histology imaging in acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction: A useful clinical tool during primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

We described the novel use of intravascular ultrasound-virtual histology (IVUS-VH) imaging in two young adult male patients who presented with acute inferior ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and we highlight the usefulness of this new invasive coronary imaging technique. Both patients had thrombotic occlusion of the right coronary arteries but the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms leading to acute thrombosis were different. The in vivo information obtained by IVUS-VH imaging was invaluable in pinpointing the likely etiology of STEMI and thus, guided our primary percutaneous coronary intervention strategy appropriately.

Good visibility of TITAN-2 coronary stents demonstrable on cardiac computer tomographic angiography: a report of 2 cases.

Numerous studies have sought to assess stent patency by cardiac computer tomographic angiography (CCTA) in comparison with invasive coronary angiography in patients who had undergone percutaneous coronary stenting. Even with newer generation scanners, CCTA has been of limited value in the assessment of the revascularized patient. The main reason being blooming artifact from metallic stents often obscures stent luminal dimension, making the stented segment unassessable.

Human antiquitin: structural and functional studies.

Antiquitin (ALDH7) is a member of the aldehyde dehydrogenase superfamily which oxidizes various aldehydes to form the corresponding carboxylic acids. Human antiquitin (ALDH7A1) is believed to play a role in detoxification, osmoregulation and more specifically, in lysine metabolism in which alpha-aminoadipic semialdehyde is identified as the specific, physiological substrate of the enzyme. In the present study, the structural basis for the substrate specificity was studied by site-directed mutagenesis.

Clinical implications of precordial ST-segment elevation in acute inferoposterior myocardial infarction caused by proximal right coronary artery occlusion.

Background: The clinical significance of inferior wall acute myocardial infarction (MI) with combined ST-segment elevation in both anterior and inferior leads, compared with inferior leads alone, is unknown.

Hypothesis: Despite having more leads with precordial ST-segment elevation, these patients may have a better outcome due to less posterior involvement, which tends to drag down the precordial ST-segment.

Methods: A total of 158 postinferior MI patients with documented proximal right coronary artery occlusion were retrospectively studied.

Zopiclone withdrawal: an unusual cause of delirium in the elderly.

We report a case of an elderly lady who was admitted for congestive heart failure. She developed delirium during the course of her hospital stay. Multiple investigations were performed but were unremarkable.