Abstract Objective: Cardiac surgical operations involving extracorporeal circulation may develop severe inflammatory response. This severe inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) is usually associated with poor outcome with no predictive marker. Red cell distribution width (RDW) is a routine hematological marker with a role in inflammation. We aim to determine the relationship between RDW and SIRS through our study. Methods: A total of 1250 patients who underwent cardiac surgery with extracorporeal circulation were retrospectively analyzed out of which 26 fell into the SIRS criteria and 26 consecutive control patients were taken. RDW, preoperative clinical data, operative time and postoperative data were compared between SIRS and control groups. Results: The demographic profile of the patients was similar. RDW was significantly higher in the SIRS versus control group (15.5±2.0 vs. 13.03±1.90), respectively with P value <0.0001. There was significant mortality in the SIRS group, 20 (76.92%) as compared to 2 (7.6%) in control group with a P value of <0.005. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that there was significant association with high RDW and development of SIRS after extracorporeal circulation (OR for RDW levels exceeding 13.5%; 95% CI 1.0-1.2; P<0.05). Conclusion: Increased RDW was significantly associated with increased risk of SIRS after extracorporeal circulation. Thus, RDW can act as a useful tool to predict SIRS in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with extracorporeal circulation. Hence, more aggressive measures can be taken in patients with high RDW to prevent postoperative morbidity and mortality.

Abstract Cardiac hydatid cyst is an uncommon but potentially fatal disease. In cystic Echinococcus humans are an accidental host. Liver and lungs are the most frequently involved organs. Herein a unique case of intramyocardial hydatid cyst of left ventricle along with pulmonary hydatid cyst in a 38-year-old lady is reported. Surgical removal of the cardiac hydatid cyst was done with the aid of cardiopulmonary bypass followed by removal of pulmonary hydatid cyst.

Genetic diversity within populations of Fusarium pseudograminearum isolated from wheat grains from the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan was investigated. Three restriction enzymes (EcoRI, HaeIII, and PstI) were used to carry out restriction analysis of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) intergenic spacer region (IGS region) and eight primers were used to generate inter-simple sequence-repeat (ISSR) molecular markers. Our study indicated substantially high genetic diversity within these two populations, but low genetic differentiation and frequent gene flow among populations. The IGS data showed no genetic distinction between the two Alberta populations and only minor genetic differentiation between the Saskatchewan and Alberta populations. Analysis of molecular variance indicated that most genetic variability resulted from differences among isolates within populations. Multilocus linkage disequilibrium analysis suggested a panmictic population genetic structure and the occurrence of significant recombination in F. pseudograminearum. Regular gene flow and random mating between isolates from different populations could result in novel genotypes with both improved pathological and biological traits.

Foi averiguada a diversidade genética em populações de Fusarium pseudograminearum isoladas de sementes de trigo das províncias candenses de Alberta e Saskatchewan. Foram utilizadas três enzimas de restrição (EcoRI, HaeIII, and PstI) para analisar os marcadores moleculares das regiões espaçadoras intergênicas (IGS) do DNA ribossômico nuclear (nrDNA) e dos fragmentos gerados entre repetições de seqüências simples (fragmentos ISSR). Nosso estudou revelou uma grande diversidade genética em ambas populações, mas pouca diferenciação genética e um fluxo genético freqüente entre as populações. Os dados relativos às IGS no mostraram diferenças genéticas entre as duas populações de Alberta estudadas e apenas uma leve diferenciação entre as populações de Alberta e de Saskatchewan. A análise da variânza molecular indicou que a variabilidade genética correspondia em sua maioria a diferenças entre isolados de uma mesma população. A análise do desequilíbrio de ligação gênica sugeriu uma estrutura genética da população de tipo panmítico e a existência de uma recombinação significativa em F. pseudograminearum. Um fluxo gênico regular e o apareamiento ao acaso de isolamentos de populações diferentes poderia produzir novos genotipos com características biológicas melhores ou patológicas.

Se investigó la diversidad genética en poblaciones de Fusarium pseudograminearum aisladas de semillas de trigo de las provincias canadienses de Alberta y Saskatchewan. Se usaron tres enzimas de restricción (EcoRI, HaeIII, and PstI) para analizar los marcadores moleculares de las regiones espaciadoras intergénicas (IGS) del DNA ribosómico del núcleo (nrDNA) y de los fragmentos generados entre repeticiones de secuencias sencillas (fragmentos ISSR). Nuestro estudió reveló una gran diversidad genética en ambas poblaciones, pero poca diferenciación genética y un flujo genético frecuente entre las poblaciones. Los datos relativos a las IGS no mostraron diferencias genéticas entre las dos poblaciones de Alberta estudiadas y sólo una ligera diferenciación entre las poblaciones de Alberta y de Saskatchewan. El análisis de la varianza molecular indicó que la variabilidad genética respondía en su mayor parte a diferencias entre aislamientos dentro de las poblaciones. El análisis del desequilibrio en el ligamiento genético sugería una estructura genética de la población de tipo panmíctico y la existencia de una recombinación significativa en F. pseudograminearum. Un flujo genético regular y el apareamiento al azar de aislamientos de poblaciones distintas podría producir nuevos genotipos con características biológicas mejores o patológicas.