Role of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection in Egyptian asthmatic patients

The role of respiratory infections in asthma is poorly understood. Chlamydia pneumoniae [C.pneumoniae] infection is claimed to be of importance for the development of asthma. This study was designed to investigate the role of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection in asthmatic patients in an attempt to understand its role in respiratory tract allergy. Forty adults and forty children with acute attack of asthma were included in our study in addition to ten healthy adults and ten healthy children as control group. Nasopharyngeal aspirates were taken from patients and controls and tested for the presence of Chlamydia pneumoniae by tissue culture and PCR. Six [15%] adult patients were positive by culture as well as PCR while two [5%] patients were positive by culture alone, in children, four [10%] patients were positive by both culture and PCR, only one [2.5%] patient was positive by culture alone. None of the control group gave positive result with culture or PCR. Taking chlamydia tissue culture as the reference method, the PCR sensitivity in adult group was 75% and in children 80% while the specificity in both groups was 100%. There is no statistically significant difference regarding the chlamydia positivity by culture and PCR between the patient group and the control group suggesting that C.pneumoniae may not play a significant role in the pathogenesis of asthma

Electrophoretic analysis of acid phosphatase in Biomphalaria alexandrina and its relation to susceptibility to Schistosoma mansoni infection

Enzyme electrophoresis of extracts prepared from snails collected from five different localities in Egypt and their progenies through the successive generations, were stained for acid phosphatase [ACP], exhibited mainly three electrophoresis patterns. The first which presented with three bands [R[f] 33+/1, 27 +/- and 23+/1], the second with two bands [R[f]33+/1 and 23+/1] and the third with one band [R[f] 23+/1]. In order to examine the relation of ACP henotypes with susceptibility or refractory characters to Schistosoma mansoni infection in B. alexandrina, the percentage of these phenotypes were calculated and compared among susceptible and non-susceptible snails. There was no correlation between ACP henotypes and the susceptibility of snails from different populations, and the percentage of the pattern two of ACP [exapressign resistance to schistosome infection] was approximately the same in susceptible and non-susceptible snails. Polymorphism of ACP patterns observed in the field snails and their first generation began to decrease through generations in both susceptible and non-susceptible snails and the one-banded pattern became predominant

Simple effective regional technique for eye surgery

The study included 50 elderly cooperative unpremedicated patients undergoing peribulbar block for elective cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation [ASA physical status I, II or 111]. The patients were assigned to one of the two groups according to the technique of peribulbar block used [n=25 per group] by random selection. Group I received local anesthetic mixture through a single transconjunctival infrotemporal approach. Group II received the block through a single transconjunctival medial approach. The injected anesthetic mixture was composed of equal volumes [5 ml each] of plain lignocaine 2% and plain bupivacaine 0.75% supplemented by 15 U/m1 hyaluronidase and 0.05 ml of 8.4% sodium bicarbonate that makes pH of the mixture around 6.5. Up to 10 ml of this solution was injected initially. This study assessed the injective volume [initial, supplementary and total volume used]. Motor block scoring system was done after initial and supplementary injections. Eye tension was reported after initial and supplementary injections and the overall quality assessment of the block by the surgeon, as well as patient satisfaction, together with any complication were reported. On conclusion, the ideal local anesthetic mixture for peribulbar block is that made from equal volumes of lignocaine and bupivacaine supplemented with 15 U/ml hyaluronidase and 0 05 ml of 8.4% sodium bicarbonate. The medial transconjunctival approach is easy to be performing by non-ophthalmologist, more comfortable to the patient and with minor complications

Eye diseases in the new valley: senile cataract

The survey was carried out to asses the prevalence of senile cataract among New Valley's Inhabitants. The following data were obtained. Out of 487 persons above the age of 40 years, 123 persons were suffered from senile cataract, a total prevalence of 25.5%.The prevalence in females was less than males except in the old age where it was higher than males. The prevalence was high as compared with the Nile Valley and with other studies in different locations. The excessive exposure to sun light was suggested to be responsible for the higher prevalence of cataract in this study