Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are categorized as one of the large and diverse groups of environmental organisms which are abundant in water and soil. NTM cause a variety of diseases in humans that mainly affect the lung. A predisposition to pulmonary NTM is evident in patients with parenchymal structural diseases including bronchiectasis, emphysema, tuberculosis (TB), cystic fibrosis (CF), rheumatologic lung diseases and other chronic diseases with pulmonary manifestations. Lung infections are not the only consequences of being infected by NTM as they can also infect skin and soft tissue and may also cause lymphadenitis (predominantly in young children) and disseminated disease in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients or those with severely compromised immune system. NTM are also found in many subjects without any known risk factors. Although the recent advances in imaging and microbiologic techniques including gene sequencing have provided a better view of the problems caused by NTM and has enhanced our understanding of the disease, many uncertainties regarding the immunologic response to NTM still exist. There is also limited data on the immunogenetics of NTM infection. Here, the authors reviewed the main immunogenetic defects as well as other immunological conditions which are associated with an increased the risk of NTM infections.

Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) like in vitro fertilization have enabled many infertile couples to achieve pregnancy. Although ART pregnancies have long been known to be characterized by increased rates for certain maternal complications, these complications are predictable based on the mother’s more advanced age - increased medical complications like hypertension or diabetes mellitus. Increased pregnancy loss also occurs, mostly reflecting the increased fetal aneuploidy again associated with advanced maternal age.Neonatal outcome complications include low birth weight, which is predictable in the context of multiple gestations. However, low birth weight also occurs in singleton pregnancies, suggesting inherent differences in offspring of ART pregnancies versus non-ART pregnancies. Frequency of congenital anomalies in offspring of ART pregnancies is 25-30 % higher (odds ratio 1.25-1.3) than in offspring of pregnancies in the general population. There is no increase in any particular anomaly, excepting hypospadias in offspring of ICSI pregnancies. Of relevance, women who become pregnant without ART but whose time to pregnancy exceeds 12 months also show increased odds ratio for birth defects. Thus, the factors that cause infertility must predispose to birth defects as well. The increase in birth defects seems less likely to be due to the ART procedure per se than to the underlying problem that necessitated ART.The magnitude of the increase is not enough to deter couples wishing to achieve pregnancy, but it becomes necessary to provide adequate counseling to couples undergoing ART.

Objective: Osseous defects arounddental implants are often seen when implants are placed in areas with inadequate alveolar bone, or around failing implants. Bone regenera-tion in these areas using bone grafts or its substitutes may improve dental implants prog-nosis. The aim of this study was to prepare and characterize the bioactive glass nanopow-der and development of its coating for treatment of oral bone defects. Materials and Methods: Bioactive bioglass coating was made on stainless steel plates by sol-gel technique. The powder shape and size was evaluated by transmission electron mi-cropscopy, and thermal properties studied using differential thermal analysis (DTA). Structural characterization techniques (XRD) were used to analyze and study the structure and phase present in the prepared bioactive glass nanopowder. This nanopowder was immersed in the simulated body fluid (SBF) solution. Fourier transform infrared spec-troscopy (FTIR) was utilized to recognize and confirm the formation of apatite layer on prepared bioactive glass nanopowder. Results: The bioglass powder size was less than 100 nanometers which was necessary for better bioactivity, and preparing a homogeneous coating. The formation of apatite layer confirmed the bioactivity of the bioglass nanopowder. Crack-free and homogeneous bioglass coatings were achieved with no observable defects. Conclusion: It was concluded that the prepared bioactive glass nanopowder could be more effective as a bone replacement material than conventional bioactive glass to pro-mote bone formation in osseous defects. The prepared bioactive glass nanopowder could be more useful for treatment of oral bone defects compare to conventional hydroxyapatite or bioactive glass.

Backgraound: Presently, there is no apparent agreement on the effects of pregnancy on the durability of bioprosthetic valves (BPV). The study aim was firstly to assess the influence of pregnancy on survival of BPV; secondly, maternal and fetal outcomes of pregnancy with BPV.Methods: Between 1981-2008, of the total patients selected, 31 were assigned to the bioprosthetic valve replacement group who became pregnant (39 pregnancy) after surgery [PAS (+)]; a group of 26 bioprosthetic valve replacement patients were also included whom did not experience pregnancy till the time of study [PAS (-)].We obtained information on type of repaired valves, outcome of pregnancies and valve surgery related complications survey of the patients by reviewing the follow up files of centers.Results: The mean age of PAS (+) and PAS (+) subjects was 32.19 ± 4.42 (max=45, min=24) years and 33.93 ± 6.58 (max=43, min=23) respectively (p>0.05). Gehan test shown that there wasn’t significant relation between valves durability in two groups (P= 0.22 ،df = 1 ،χ 2 =1.49, diagram 1). Reoperation rate, mortality rate between case PAS (+) and PAS (-) was not significantly different (p>0.05). Live births were recorded in 30 (76.9%) of pregnancies (1 fetal death). The average of newborns weight was 2200.32 ± 1116.6 gr. Upon our findings 21(70.0%) of newborns were term and 10(30.0%) were preterm.Conclusion: Although pregnancy does not have a significant influence on structural depreciation of bioprosthetic valves survival and maternal mortality, bioprosthetic valves might be associated with birth defects.