The age-associated changes in basal and stimulated microvascular blood flow and tcPO2 could be attributed in part to altered neuronal function. Measuring tcPO2 at 39 degrees C showed a trend toward an increase with age. In contrast, a decrease with age was observed when tcPO2 was measured at 44 degrees C, a temperature sufficient to activate sensory nerve endings. The results may reflect a decline in sensory nerve function with age rather than a decrease in oxygen delivery for vascular reasons. This is supported by the complementary data showing a significant age-related decrease in stimulated blood flow in response to capsaicin, with no change in the response to the sensory-independent vasodilator acetylcholine. Thus, for clinical purposes, data obtained using the tcPO2 monitor should be interpreted with full knowledge of the conditions under which the measurements were made. Furthermore, for scientific purposes, the tcPO2 monitor could be used to assess sensory nerve function when sensors are heated to 44 degrees C.

A new therapy using sensory nerve stimulation [International Patent Application Number PCT/AU2004/001079: "nerve function and tissue healing" (Khalil, Z)] has been developed in our vascular physiology laboratory. This treatment has been found to improve the deficient sensory nerve function and associated deficient wound healing of older persons to levels seen in young people. An 82-year-old man with a small but persistent venous leg ulcer for 18 months, despite apparently appropriate wound dressings and compression therapy, was seen in a specialist wound management service. The patient's sensory and microvascular function was assessed in great detail using the vascular physiology laboratory techniques, and he was provided the sensory nerve stimulation therapy in addition to conventional therapy. His wound healed after 4 weeks. We report the case here. Prior to nerve stimulation therapy, cutaneous sensation, microvascular blood flow and oxygen tension were found to be reduced near the ulcer when compared with the opposite, non ulcerated leg. After therapy, oxygen tension and microvascular blood flow had improved. This case provides further evidence that sensory nerve stimulation therapy at the stipulated parameters improves wound healing. The observation that sensory nerve function improved provides support for the notion that improvement in healing is mediated by improved nerve function.

Background: Intestinal infections are frequently occur among children with cancer who receive chemotherapy. On the other hand, diarrhea is especially common and severe among cancer patients that develop neutropenia, either due to the disease itself or due to the intensive chemotherapy. There are many causes of diarrhea among those patients, but intestinal infections still an important etiology among them. Objectives: to study the frequency of diarrhea among neutropenic children, with its infectious etiologies, especially the bacterial, fungal and parasitic causes. Type of the study:Cross-sectional study. Methods: the study was done in the Oncology Department of Nanakali Hospital for Haematological diseases and malignanciesin Erbil City, on pediatric age group. One hundred six children with cancer were followed up during the period between January – May 2017, of them only 50 patients who full fill the criteria of being (neutropenic, diarrheic, and age < 14 years), and those were regarded as the study group, compared to 20 patients who had the same criteria (diarrheic, and age < 14 years) but notneutropenic.They were investigated for the infectious causes of diarrhea especially bacterial, parasitic, and fungal agents. Data were analyzed statistically using SPSS program and Correlation test was also used. The results were regarded significant with p < 0.05. Results: A total of 70 diarrheal episodes in 106 cancer children were detected, 50 of them were neutropenic while 20 were not. Intestinal infections were detected in 62% of the 1st group and in 45% of the 2nd one, while the causes in the remaining cases of diarrhea (38%) cannot be identified. Bacterial pathogens were the main agents that causes diarrhea followed by fungi then parasites with an infectious rates of (28%, 20%, and 14% respectively). Conclusions: Diarrhea commonly developed among cancer children with neutropenia. Bacteria are the most incriminated pathogens followed by Candida and parasites. This study noticed the presence of other etiologies for diarrhea beside infectious causes that should be considered and investigated in the future researches and during management of diarrhea in those patients.

Background: Blastocystis spp. distributes world widely and the genus Blastocystis include many subtypes that are isolated from human intestinal tract. It is considered the most common parasite detected in human being. Objectives: To evaluate the incidence of Blastocystis spp. among leukemic children, to find out its association with the presence of symptoms (diarrhea and abdominal pain), and to assess the efficacy of different staining methods in detection of Blastocystis spp.  Type of the study: cross-sectional study. Method: 103 children were enrolled in this study, 53 leukemic patients and 50 healthy controls. The study was performed during the period between January and June 2014, in Oncology department of Ibn Al-Atheer teaching hospital in Mosul city. Three consecutive samples were taken from each child and a thorough history was taken from them. The samples then treated with 3 stains, iodine, iron hematoxylin, and trichrome.The data was analyzed using minitab version 17, Fischer’s exact test, Two-proportions test, and Correlation test. The results were considered statistically significant with P-value <0.05. Results: Blastocystis spp. was detected in 18.87% of leukemic children and in 10% of healthy group. All specimens were stained by iodine, iron hematoxylin, and trichrome stains. Infection rates among patients were (9.4%, 11.3%, and 18.87% respectively) while among healthy children they were (4%, 6%, and 10% respectively). However, these differences were statistically nonsignificant. A higher infection rate was detected in the preschool children (33.3%) than school age group (6.9%). Furthermore, there was a significant association between Blastocystisspp. infection and intestinal symptoms (abdominal pain and diarrhea). Conclusion: Our study reveals a higher rate of infection with Blastocystis spp. among leukemic children than normal controls and a significant association was seen between incidence ofBlastocystisspp. infection and symptomatic children.    Those results draw attention for the significance of Blastocystis spp. infection in immunosuppressed patients and lighten the way for further studies on its pathogenicity and diagnostic methods.