Sero-diagnostic efficacy of antigens prepared from B. abortus and B.melitensis used for agglutination tests and IELISA

In this study, 120 bovine and ovine serum samples were collected and tested for brucellosis with Rose Bengal test [RBT], modified Rose Bengal test [mRBT], buffered acidified plate test [BAPT] using conventional Rose Bengal antigen [RBA] and buffered acidified plate antigen [BAPA] and antigens prepared from B. melitensis [the main cause of brucellosis in Egypt] strain 16-M. Indirect ELISA was used for testing the same serum samples using 4 different coating antigens which were S-LPS and OMP antigens prepared from 16-M strain and S-LPS and OMP prepared from S19 strain. There were some differences between the results of conventional Rose Bengal and BAPA antigens prepared from B. melitensis 16-M strain. In the same time, there were no characteristic differences in results of Indirect ELISA

Study of some humoral and haemodynamic changes in systolic hypertension in old age

Plasma renin activity, plasma volume as well as estimation of stroke, volume cardiac output, peak aortic flow velocity, acceleration time and systemic peripheral resistance were done using Doppler echocardiography in 36 individuals divided into three groups. The study revealed a statistically significant decrease in plasma renin activity in old hypertensive group 1 as compared to the old normal group 2 and young group 3. Plasma volume showed a slight significant decrease in group 1 as compared to group 2 while the echocardiographic study showed a significant decrease in stroke volume, cardiac output and cardiac index in old hypertensive subjects as compared to the other two groups which may be explained by low heart rate, or reduced vigor of left ventricular contractility in old hypertensive subjects. On the other hand, the peak aortic flow velocity and acceleration time did not show significant variation in the three studied groups. The study revealed a significant increase in systemic peripheral resistance in group 1 when compared to the other two groups which is multifactorial

Assessment of bone mass in diabetes mellitus

The present study aimed to assess bone mass in diabetic patients. Three groups of subjects were included in the study: Group I [GI] consisted of 15 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus [IDDM], group II [GII] comprised 15 patients with non- insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus [NIDDM] on oral hypoglycemic drugs and group III [GIII] represented the control group and was subdivided into two groups [A and B], each comprised five subjects with matched age in GI and GII, respectively. The study included radiodensitometric measurement of the optical density of the proximal interphalangeal joints of both h and s [as index of trabecular bone density [TBD]] and the distal end of both radii [as an index of cortical bone density [CBD]] as well as the measurement of fasting urinary hydroxyproline/creatinine ratio as an index of collagen turnover and bone loss. Trabecular bone density was significantly reduced in both types of diabetes relative to the control group, but was manifested in both radii in IDDM and only in the left radius in NIDDM. On the other h and, CBD was significantly reduced only in GII patients. Trabecular bone density was positively correlated with the duration of insulin intake in patients with IDDM, while it was negatively correlated with the duration of oral hypoglycemics in patients with NIDDM. Fasting urinary hydroxyproline/creatinine ratio was significantly increased in both types of diabetes and GI patients had a higher hydroxyproline excretion than GII. subjects

Exercise capacity in the elderly

The pulmonary and cardiovascular response to exercise was studied in 20 healthy male subjects above 60 years of age and 10 young healthy controls. No significant variations could be detected in the breathing patterns before and after exercises between both groups. Oxygen consumption at the maximum tolerated exercise level was decreased with advancing age. Oxygen delivery, oxygen pulse and cardiac output did not show significant changes between both groups after exercise, systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure showed significant increase in old age at rest in relation to young group, with a significant rise after exercise. Heart rate at rest did not show significant variation between both groups, the rise in heart rate response after exercise was significantly lowered in the elderly, which may be explained by a diminished responsiveness of the target organs in the cardiovascular system to catecholamine stimulation or a defective vagal mechanism in the elderly