Loop-mediated isothermal amplification [RT-LAMP]: a new approach for the detection of foot-and-mouth disease virus and its sero-types in Pakistan

Successful disease management requires a rapid and sensitive diagnosis method that can recognize early infection even before the manifestation of its clinical signs. The only available field diagnostic tests for foot-and-mouth disease [FMD] are lateral flow devices, commonly known as chromatographic strips. Low sensitivity and inability to detect FMD virus [FMDV] at the serotype level are limitations of lateral flow devices. Therefore, a reverse transcriptase loop-mediated isothermal amplification [RT-LAMP] was standardized using universal and sero-type specific genes in a single tube. This test does not require sophisticated equipment and can detect FMDV at serotype level in about 60 min. In addition, the sensitivity and specificity of this test is comparable to conventional reverse transcriptase PCR and real time PCR [rRT-PCR]

Curative effect of parenteral nutrition and glutamine on post-surgical patients

To evaluate the influence of parenteral nutrition and glutamine on nutritional status and prognosis of surgical critically ill patients. 32 cases were treated by parenteral nutrition plus alanyl-glutamine injection. The differences in liver function, weight and nutritional status were compared between, before and after medication. Patients were either cured or relieved, and no complication including infection appeared. Total protein. Albumin, ferrohemoglobin and weight increased after medication, respectively. The use of parenteral nutrition plus glutamine is beneficial for ameliorating malnutrition and negative nitrogen balance caused by hypermetabolism, inhibiting bacterial translocation, preventing the complication, and increasing healing rate of disease

Immune-changes in sepsis

Sepsis is one of the most frequent complications in the surgical patient and one of the leading causes of mortality in intensive care units. Recent studies have shown that sepsis is a bimodal entity. The first phase is characterized by the systemic release of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha, IL-1 and IL-8 and by activation of the complement and coagulation cascades. In the second phase, anti-inflammatory mediators such as TGF-beta, IL-10, Prostaglanding E[2] may be released in an effort to counteract ongoing inflammation. Depending whether pro or anti-inflammatory responses predominates, some people referred to a systemic inflammatory response syndrome [SIRS] and a compensatory anti-inflammatory response syndrome [CARS]. This work aimed to study selected immune markers [which represent both innate and adaptive immune systems] on the surface of white blood cells of critically ill patients who are expected to stay for a relatively long period in the ICU to identify a marker that can predict the development of nosocomial sepsis in the ICU [NICUS] patients while their stay in the ICU, a marker that can predict the development of mortality among ICU patients and a marker that can separate septic from non septic patients immediately alter admission to the ICU. Several markers which are expressed on the surface of different categories of white blood cells were measured CD 14 and HLA. DR for monocytes, CD16b CD11b and CD64 for PMNS and CD69, HLA. DR. CD57 and CD28 for lymphocytes. A total of 105 patients were admitted to the ICU department and differentiated into two groups 36 septic patients and 69 control [without sepsis]; with time observation of second group, 25 patients develop sepsis in the ICU [Nosco-mial ICU sepsis] consider as third group. A moderate prediction of noscomial sepsis can he expressed by CD 14 lower than 1602 molecule of CD64 pie cell of neutrophil is a good indicator of noscomial sepsis in critically ill patients. The absolute number of CD64 per cell of neutrophil [high than 1727 molecule/cell] identify septic patients on admission of ICU, while the positive lymphocytes higher than 31% can moderately identify septic patients early on ICU admission. The absolute number of CD64 on PMNs with a lower level than 2222 molecule/cell in first day of ICU admission showed a very good ability to predict 28[th] day mortality. Surface markers present on leukocytes could be used to diagnose early sepsis and predict hospital outcome. Measurement of mCD14 in patients in the ICU could be informative about the development of sepsis

Causes of epistaxis in inpatients in the Kingdom of Bahrain

Epistaxis is a common symptom for patients to present with to the emergency and routine Ear, Nose and Throat [ENT] clinic, actually it is well known condition in the old literature described by Hippocrates in the fifth century BC[1]. The aim of this paper is to describe the causes of Epistaxis in inpatients presented to Salmaniya Medical Complex [SMC] from 1997-2001, and the different modalities of treatment. This is a retrospective study, in which 96 inpatients charts were reviewed during the above-mentioned period, the age of the patients, mode of presentation, associated symptoms; causes of Epistaxis and modality of treatment were reviewed and analyzed. The main causing factors of Epistaxis were found to be idiopathic in 23 patients [23.9%], hypertension was associated in 23 patients [23.9%], other causes like inflammatory diseases in 17 patients [17.7%], deviated nasal septum [DNS] in 14 patients [14.5], nasal trauma in 9 patients [9.3%], vascular causes in 6 patients [6.2%], and other causes in 4 patients [4.1%]. Patients who had Epistaxis with hypertension were not known hypertensive; half of them discovered to have hypertension after the attacks of Epistaxis and needed regular anti hypertensive treatment. From this study, the different causes of Epistaxis in Bahrain were identified, out of which a significant number of patients were found to have hypertension for the first time during the attack of Epistaxis, so screening patients for hypertension may help to detect hypertensive patients and treat them before they get attacks of severe Epistaxis in which they may need blood transfusion

Powered endoscopic inferior turbinoplasty versus conventional partial inferior turbinectomy for hypertrophic inferior turbinate

Chronic nasal obstruction due to hypertrophic inferior turbinates is a common disorder. A variety of surgical procedures are performed for treatment of hypertrophic inferior turbinates. We evaluated objectively [by postoperative endoseopy] and subjectively [by questionnaire] 60 patients who underwent one of two procedures; Conventional partial inferior turbinectomy [Conventional PIT] and Powered Endoscopic partial inferior turbinoplasty [Powered Endoscopic PIT]. The CPIT and PEPIT showed good functional results for long term effectiveness [80% and 86.7% respectively]. Long term follow up revealed high level of satisfaction of both techniques. Less morbidity [less bleeding, synaechae, crusts and fewer days of hospital stay] was recorded with PEPIT. Thus powered endoscopic inferior partial turbinoplasty offers an excellent method of correction of turbinate hypertrophy with minimal intraoperative and postoperative complications and significant long term improvement

Study of the presence of Hcv-rna in semen of patients with hepatitis C

Hepatitis C virus is a worldwide problem. in Egypt, HCV infection is hyper-endemic, with sero-prevalence rates of 15-20% among volunteer blood donors, and even higher rates reported among segments of the general population. Although the parentral mode of HCV transmission is well established, there remains a high proportion of patients without an identifiable source of infection. The importance of sexual transmission in the epidemiology of HCV infection is still controversial. Better understanding ofroutes of transmission will help to combat the spread of disease. Thus there is a need for studies to define the routes of HCV transmission other than the parentral exposure. The aim of the present study is to investigate the role of sexual transmission in the transmission of HCV infection, and to investigate whether or not the detection of actively replicating HCV in serum coincides with the presence of HCV-RNA in seminal fluid, in an attempt to define one of the main possible routes of HCV infection transmission other than the parentral route. A group of 40 male married patients infected with hepatitis C virus were included in this study and HCV-RNA detection in their semen by nested RT-PCR test was done. We tested for the presence of inhibitors in the seminal plasma by the repetition of negative HCV-RNA seminal plasma samples with an internal control. Fractionation of the semen of five virospermic patients was done on percol gradient into seminal plasma, round cell and motile spermatozoa fractions, and HCV-RNA detection was repeated on each fraction in an attempt to understand which fraction could serve as a reservoir for the virus. The wives of the patients with detectable HCV-RNA in their semen were subjected to serum HCV-RNA detection. Of the forty male patients with HCV-RNA positive sera, ten patients [25%] had detectable HCV-RNA in semen. The test for PCR inhibitors revealed the presence of Taq inhibitors in seminal plasma of 16/30 patients [53.33%] who were considered to be false negative. HCV-blood viral load was significantly higher in virospermic patients, which supports the hypothesis that HCV is "leaked out" from the peripheral circulation. We identified HCV-RNA in serum of four out often wives of virospermic patients. The duration of marriage among HCV infected wives in this study was significantly higher than among the non-infected wives which suggests that a cumulative effect may be required for the sexual transmission of HCV. In the semen could be infectious and the role of sexual transmission in the spread of HCV infection should not be underestimated. Laboratory capability to accurately detect HCV positive semen is an important step in establishing the risk of sexual transmission and in identifing strategies for protecting uninfected partners

Bahraini school teacher knowledge of the effects of smoking

Tobacco smoking is one of the important health problems among school-age children. Wrong perceptions promoted by tobacco industry sponsorship increase smoking initiation amongst adolescents despite awareness of the risks involved. School teachers' awareness of the hazards of smoking and school educational programs and curricula on control and prevention of diseases caused by smoking help in discouraging students from smoking. We assessed school teachers' knowledge of the effects of smoking and attitudes towards smoking. Of the 152 schools in the Kingdom of Bahrain with a total of 3360 teachers, a random sample of 49 schools was selected. A questionnaire was distributed to all teachers working in these schools to collect information about their smoking habits and their knowledge of smoking-related health issues. The prevalence of smoking amongst Bahraini school teachers is low [7%]. The majority of smokers were males [94%]. Only 3.07% of the sample population were ex-smokers. In general the teachers had good knowledge of the effects of smoking on health, but some 9.5% had wrong concepts, believing that smoking does not have any harmful effect. School teachers are a main source of health information for students. Therefore, any anti-smoking campaign should involve continuous teacher training to increase their awareness of the hazards of smoking

Effect of curcumin on cadmium- induced hepatic toxicity in rats

The protective effect of spice principle, curcumin on cadmium [Cd] induced hepatotoxicity in rats were studied. Male albino rats injected i.v. with 4 mg CdCl[2]/Kg showed hepatic damage as measured by an increase in liver lipid peroxide product as malondialdehyde [MDA], glutathione peroxidase [GProx] and glutathione reductase [GRed]. On the other hand, hepatic superoxide dismutase [SOD] and reduced glutathione [GSH] content decreased significantly. The increase in liver MDA concomitant with elevated serum enzymes, alanine aminotransferase [ALAT], aspartate aminotransferase [ASAT] and lactate dehydrogenase [LDH]. Pre-administration of curcumin [30 mg/kg body wt.] for 7 days succeeded to ameliorate hepatic MDA. SOD and GSH in Cd-injected rats. The levels of GProx and GRed being normalized. Curcumin also lowered significantly serum ALAT, ASAT and LDH levels. These results elucidate the potent antioxidant protective action of curcumin against cadmium-induced hepatic damage as monitered by lipid peroxide and antioxidant enzymes

Studies of oil, sugars and amino acids of cardiospermum halicacabum L seeds

The fixed oil derived from the seeds of Cardiospermum halicacabum L. contains the following fatty acids.: capric 5.11%, lauric 1.85%, Myristic 2.75%, palmitic 1.95%, palmitoleic 1.75%, stearic 6.05%, oleic 2.21%, linoleic 1.98%, linolenic 3.85%, archidic 26.40%, 11-Ecosenoic 37.87%, boheric 3.40%, lignoceric 4.75%. Sugars namely sucrose 55.54%, fructose 17.3%, maltose 15.08%, rafinose 7.96% and glucose 4.07% were present and amino acids, ornithine 14.65%, histidine 10.87%, argentine 10.66%, DL-dopa 15.14%, threonine 22.05%, alanine 8.50%, tyrosine 3.29% valine 0.47%, tryptophane 7.77%, iso-leucine 2.79% and leucine 3.81% along with proline are reported in the seed

Cholecystectomy without drainage: a controlled clinical trial

Based on retrospective analysis of 212 cases diagnosed and at the king khalid University Hospital in Riyadh over a period of 5 years, this study is the fist attempt to provide preliminary data on intracranial space-occupying lesions in Saudi Arabia. There were 184[87%] neoplasm and 28 [13%] nonrealistic tumors, mostly inflammatory masses. Age and sex distribution was comparable with that reported from other studies. Neuroepithelial tumors comprised 39.7% of all intracranial neoplasms, followed by meningiomas [22.8], pituitary adenomas [16.8%], metastatic tumors [8.2%], malformative tumors [4.3%], and neurinomas [3.8%]. Males were generally more affected than females. Tuberculomas constituted about 5% of all intracranial space-occupying lesions and, therefore, should always be considered in the differential diagnosis