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Aseptic meningitis is the most common type of meningitis and is characterized by meningeal inflammation that is not linked to identifiable bacterial pathogens in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of aseptic meningitis caused by herpesviruses, namely herpes simplex types I and II (HSV-1, HSV-2), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV). A total of 196 CSF samples were collected from patients with suspected meningitis. All samples were smear- and culture-negative for bacterial pathogens. The biochemical and cytological findings of CSF samples were also recorded. DNA was extracted from samples and PCR with specific primers was carried out to detect viruses. The 196 samples derived from 100 (52%) men and 96 (48%) women ranging in age from one day to 86 years with an average age of 32.3 ± 25.3 years. Of them, 8 (4.08%) samples yielded positive results, including 5 (2.55%) cases of VZV infection and 3 (1.53%) cases of HSV-1 infection. No cases of HSV-2, CMV or EBV infection were detected. CSF protein and glucose levels among positive cases were all in the normal range. The results indicate a considerable rate of herpesvirus infection in patients with aseptic meningitis, and that VZV is the most common herpesvirus to cause infection followed by HSV-1. Our results also showed that a moderate increase in the WBC count and predominance of lymphocytes can be valuable clues in diagnosing viral meningitis. Given the different approaches of drug therapy in bacterial and viral meningitis, use of molecular methods is necessary in hospitals to rapidly discriminate between them.

The activating KIT marker plays a central role in the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and targeted treatment of systemic mastocytosis (SM). Recent studies have identified the KIT (CD117) as a marker that distinguishes nonneoplastic from neoplastic mast cells in human systemic mastocytosis. In this study, we conclude that immunohistopathology assays for KIT staining pattern are useful complimentary tools for diagnosis and evaluation of prognosis in uterus mast cell tumor (MCT) metastasis to the liver in 10 patients. Uterine and hepatic cytology revealed mast cell neoplasia, which was confirmed as visceral mast cell tumor on postmortem examination. Histological changes of densely packed, poorly differentiated neoplastic mast cells, sheets of neoplastic round to pleomorphic cells that formed nonencapsulated nodules, high mitotic figures, necrosis, and fibrosis were found. In addition, eosinophils were scattered among the mast cells at the periphery of the nodules. These findings indicate tumors of high-grade malignancy with infiltrative cells resembling the uterus MCT in the intraparenchymal and periparenchymal areas of the liver. Immunohistochemically, tumors were positive for KIT. The histopathologic features coupled with the KIT immunoreactivity led to diagnosis of high-grade uterus MCTs. Taken together, these findings suggest that CD117 may play a critical role in early uterus MCT development and may be a stimulatory factor in grade 3 MCT. Therefore, the result has supported our hypothesis that there was an increased opportunity to observe a higher CD117 staining pattern in high-grade MCTs.

The activating KIT marker plays a central role in the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and targeted treatment of systemic mastocytosis (SM). Recent studies have identified the KIT (CD117) as a marker that distinguishes nonneoplastic from neoplastic mast cells in human systemic mastocytosis. In this study, we conclude that immunohistopathology assays for KIT staining pattern are useful complimentary tools for diagnosis and evaluation of prognosis in uterus mast cell tumor (MCT) metastasis to the liver in 10 patients. Uterine and hepatic cytology revealed mast cell neoplasia, which was confirmed as visceral mast cell tumor on postmortem examination. Histological changes of densely packed, poorly differentiated neoplastic mast cells, sheets of neoplastic round to pleomorphic cells that formed nonencapsulated nodules, high mitotic figures, necrosis, and fibrosis were found. In addition, eosinophils were scattered among the mast cells at the periphery of the nodules. These findings indicate tumors of high-grade malignancy with infiltrative cells resembling the uterus MCT in the intraparenchymal and periparenchymal areas of the liver. Immunohistochemically, tumors were positive for KIT. The histopathologic features coupled with the KIT immunoreactivity led to diagnosis of high-grade uterus MCTs. Taken together, these findings suggest that CD117 may play a critical role in early uterus MCT development and may be a stimulatory factor in grade 3 MCT. Therefore, the result has supported our hypothesis that there was an increased opportunity to observe a higher CD117 staining pattern in high-grade MCTs.

The online version of the original article can be found under doi:10.1186/s13048-014-0105-3.

Mast cells are one of the characteristic factors in angiogenesis, growth, and metastatic spread of tumors. Further studies are suggested to determine the type of these cells which might be useful in the assessment of biological nature of the tumor and its future treatment modality. Few studies have evaluated mast cell infiltration in visceral tumors, especially uterine tumors. In this study, age, sex, death rate, and histologic patterns were in agreement with those of previous reports on canine mast cell tumors. Cytopathology assays are widely used to prognosticate canine uterine mast cell tumors (MCT). There is limited information about these prognostic assays used on MCT that arise in the uterine. The anisocytosis and anisocytosis and giant cells were present in the tumor. Furthermore, the tumor had nuclear atypia with scattered multinucleated cells and prominent nucleoli and tumor were classified as poorly granulated. Under microscopic examination, we observed diffuse infiltration and proliferation of tumor cells from the uterine different area and the infiltrative characteristics and distribution patterns of neoplastic cells were observed. This tumor consisted of sheets and cords of uniform round cells with discrete cytoplasmic margins. Microscopically, the neoplastic masses were poorly-demarcated and lacked capsules and tumor cell usually showed a distinct cell boundary. Nevertheless, the neoplastic cells were located between collagen bundles forming small clusters and sheets and had large, centrally located, round to ovoid nuclei. In addition, eosinophils were scattered among the mast cells at the periphery of the masses. The presence of eosinophils and the observation, at high magnification, of cells with cytoplasmic metachromatic granules. Based on these findings, a diagnosis of poorly-differentiated mast cell tumor was made and data histologic grading was available for tumor. Neoplasm was poorly differentiated or gradeIII.

Background Mast cells are one of the characteristic factors in angiogenesis, growth, and metastatic spread of tumors. Further studies are suggested to determine the type of these cells which might be useful in the assessment of biological nature of the tumor and its future treatment modality. Few studies have evaluated mast cell infiltration in visceral tumors, especially uterine tumors. Case presentation In this study, age, sex, death rate, and histologic patterns were in agreement with those of previous reports on canine mast cell tumors. Cytopathology assays are widely used to prognosticate canine uterine mast cell tumors (MCT). There is limited information about these prognostic assays used on MCT that arise in the uterine. The anisocytosis and anisocytosis and giant cells were present in the tumor. Furthermore, the tumor had nuclear atypia with scattered multinucleated cells and prominent nucleoli and tumor were classified as poorly granulated. Under microscopic examination, we observed diffuse infiltration and proliferation of tumor cells from the uterine different area and the infiltrative characteristics and distribution patterns of neoplastic cells were observed. This tumor consisted of sheets and cords of uniform round cells with discrete cytoplasmic margins. Microscopically, the neoplastic masses were poorly-demarcated and lacked capsules and tumor cell usually showed a distinct cell boundary. Nevertheless, the neoplastic cells were located between collagen bundles forming small clusters and sheets and had large, centrally located, round to ovoid nuclei. In addition, eosinophils were scattered among the mast cells at the periphery of the masses. The presence of eosinophils and the observation, at high magnification, of cells with cytoplasmic metachromatic granules. Conclusion Based on these findings, a diagnosis of poorly-differentiated mast cell tumor was made and data histologic grading was available for tumor. Neoplasm was poorly differentiated or gradeIII.

Monitoring degradation in arid and semi-arid areas is one of the main concerns for governments, given the growing degradation trend. Meanwhile, detecting the areas subjected to degradation requiring management in the shortest time and at the lowest cost is a necessity, especially in border areas such as Hamoun Wetland, located between Iran and Afghanistan. Albedo and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) were calculated using remote sensing technology to monitor the degradation intensity in different periods (August 1999, 2009, 2015, and 2020). Change vector analysis in brightness and greenness indices for 1999 and 2020 was used to determine the changes in intensity. Linear regression was run between albedo and NDVI. Finally, degradation intensity (DI) map was developed to monitor degradation intensity. A confusion matrix was created between the change vector analysis (CVA) and the albedo–NDVI model to evaluate the accuracy of the map obtained from this model for 1,476 pixels of different classes. The linear regression between NDVI and albedo showed a negative correlation between indices (R = −0.849). The results showed an increase for the regions with null, low, and medium degradation intensity, while an expansion was observed for the regions with severe and extreme degradation. The confusion matrix results indicated the high accuracy (0.705) of the degradation intensity model for the study area. These changes were about 52.01% from 1999 to 2009, 7.07% from 2009 to 2015, 56.26% from 1999 to 2015, and 55.15% from 2015 to 2020. Additionally, the average rate of changes in degradation intensity between 1999 and 2020 was 13.11%.