Evaluation of intralesional 0.2% ciprofloxacin as a treatment for cutaneous leishmaniasis

Although cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions usually heal spontaneously they cause unsightly scarring. This study evaluated a possible new therapy in 38 patients, with 70 lesions, randomly assigned to intralesional injection of ciprofloxacin [0.2%] or intralesional sodium chloride hypertonic solution [7%]. After excluding patients who defaulted on treatment, lesions assigned to sodium chloride treatment [n = 21] were completely healed [with or without scarring] in 76.2% of cases, and, when a scar remained, the scar size was reduced 66.0% compared with the original lesion. Lesions assigned to ciprofloxacin [n = 27] showed an 81.5% healing rate with an average scar size reduction of 68.6%. Intralesional 0.2% ciprofloxacin was as effective as hypertonic saline in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis infection

Plus disease: Why is it important in retinopathy of prematurity?

Retinopathy of prematurity [ROP] is one of the leading causes of preventable blindness in childhood. Early posterior pole vascular signs of severe ROP have been studied since the first description of the disease. The progressive changes that take place in the posterior pole vessels of an extremely premature baby occur in a predictable fashion soon after birth. These vascular changes are described as plus disease and are defined as abnormal dilation and tortousity of the blood vessels during ROP that may go on to total retinal detachment. The ophthalmological community now has a better understanding of the pathology and cascade of events taking place in the posterior pole of an eye with active ROP. Despite many years of scientific work on plus disease, there continue to be many challenges in defining the severity and quantification of the vascular changes. It is believed that understanding of the vascular phenomenons in patients with ROP will help in designing new treatment strategies that will help in salvaging many of the eyes with severe ROP

Demyelinating disorders in children

The study designed for early detection of demyelinating disorders in children through clinical, neuroimaging and laboratory study for proper differentiation between different types of demyelinating disorders [multiple sclerosis and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis] The present study included 15 patients with demyelinating. disorders, were selected from the pediatric neurology clinic in Al Azhar University hospitals in Cairo at the period from January, 2007 to December, 2008. All consecutive children with neurological abnormalities and evidence of demyelinating affection in brain MRI were included in this study and each one was subjected to the following detailed medical and neurological history, full general and neurological examination, brain MRI, Visual Evoked Potential, and laboratory assessment [Oligoclonal bands]. According to the clinical pictures, the most frequent clinical manifestations in demyelinating patients were motor dysfunction[93%], brain stem dysfunction[60%], altered mental status[46.5%], ataxia [46.5%], preceding illness[flu like symptoms][46.5%]. As regarding MRI findings, periventricular plaques [86.5%], brain stem plaques [73%], cortical grey matter [46.5%], subcortical white matter[46.5%], and cerebellar plaques [40%]. Visual Evoked potential was abnormal in all cases of multiple sclerosis, and normal in cases of ADEM. Oligoclonal Bands[OCB] was present in 80% of MS cases and 40% in patients with ADEM. Our results gives evidence that there are different clinical pictures for each disorder of demyelinating diseases and through the most frequent symptoms and initial presenting symptoms we can reach the diagnosis early. All the studied cases have abnormal MRI findings, thus MRI considered a high valuable tool for diagnosing both MS and ADEM. Selective laboratory assessments [e.g. OCB and VEP] are used to help and confirm the diagnosis of these different types of demyelinating disease

Seminal plasma anti-Müllerian hormone level correlates with semen parameters but does not predict success of testicular sperm extraction (TESE) / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>AIM</b>To assess seminal plasma anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) level relationships in fertile and infertile males.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty-four male cases were studied and divided into four groups: fertile normozoospermia (n = 16), oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (n = 15), obstructive azoospermia (OA) (n = 13) and non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) (n = 40). Conventional semen analysis was done for all cases. Testicular biopsy was done with histopathology and fresh tissue examination for testicular sperm extraction (TESE) in NOA cases. NOA group was subdivided according to TESE results into unsuccessful TESE (n = 19) and successful TESE (n = 21). Seminal plasma AMH was estimated by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and serum follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) was estimated in NOA cases only by radioimmunoassay (RIA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Mean seminal AMH was significantly higher in fertile group than in oligoasthenoteratozoospermia with significance (41.5 +/- 10.9 pmol/L vs. 30.5 +/- 10.3 pmol/L, P < 0.05). Seminal AMH was not detected in any OA patients. Seminal AMH was correlated positively with testicular volume (r = 0.329, P = 0.005), sperm count (r = 0.483, P = 0.007), sperm motility percent (r = 0.419, P = 0.021) and negatively with sperm abnormal forms percent (r = -0.413, P = 0.023). Nonsignificant correlation was evident with age (r = -0.155, P = 0.414) and plasma FSH (r = -0.014, P = 0.943). In NOA cases, seminal AMH was detectable in 23/40 cases, 14 of them were successful TESE (57.5%) and was undetectable in 17/40 cases, 10 of them were unsuccessful TESE (58.2%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Seminal plasma AMH is an absolute testicular marker being absent in all OA cases. However, seminal AMH has a poor predictability for successful testicular sperm retrieval in NOA cases.</p>

Trials for preparation of bivalent inactivated oil vaccine against egg drop syndrome and infectious coryza diseases in laying hens

Twelve inactivated oil adjuvanted vaccines [4 for EDS virus, 4 for Haemophilus paragallinarum and 4 for bivalent vaccines] were prepared by using different ratios of Tween 80, span 80. Hydrophile-lipophile Balance [HLB] was derermined for all vaccines. It was found that combined vaccine protected chicken against infectious coryza and egg drop syndrome [EDS] disease with no interference between them in immune response of chicken. The vaccines that have HLB of 4.98 resulted in higher antibody titers more than those having 5.4, 6.01 and 6.58 HLB respectively

Botiulinum toxin injection in treating lateral rectus paresis in diabetic patients

This work aimed to evaluate the efficacy of botulinum toxin type-A guided by EMG in the treatment of lateral rectus muscle paresis in diabetic patients. Eleven diabetic patients [six males and five females ranging in age between 35-53 years, with an average age of 42.5 years] received botulinum toxin type-A injection into the ipsilateral antagonist medial rectus muscle to achieve orthophoria and to treat diplopia. Eight cases gave satisfactory correction, two cases gave fair correction, whereas only one case gave unsatisfactory correction, which required further BTX-A re-injection

Arthroscopic subacromial decompression for impingement with an intact rotator cuff

Between October 2000 and June 2002,30 patients with impingement syndrome and an intact rotator cuff were treated by arthroscopic subacromial decompression at El-Zahra and El-Helal Hospitals. The mean age of patients was 42 years. All patients had a minimum of six months of nonoperative therapy. The final diagnosis of the impingement with an intact rotator cuff was based on the finding at arthroscopy, clinical examination and on plain radiographs. The average of follow-up period was 13 months [range, 9 months to 20 months]. Patients were evaluated using the University of California at Los Anglos [UCLA] shoulder rating scale [Olsewski and Depew, 1994]. At time of follow-up, 25 patients [83%] achieved a satisfactory result. In 5 patients [17%], the result was a failure; and two of the five had a re-operation that relieved the symptoms. There were no complications. With the right indications, and with appropriate skill, the results of arthroscopic subacrormial decompression are equal to or better than the results of open acromioplasty. Patients recover faster and have less risk of deltoid muscle complications

Some chemical additives to increase the activity spectrum of bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki [dipel 2x] against the rice moth corcyra cephalonica

Some chemical additives have been adopted to increase the potency of D-endotoxin of Bacillus thuringiensis var. Kurstaki [Dipel 2x] against the rice moth Corcyra cephalonica. Procedures were based on the incorporation of some selected essentially non toxic and low cost compounds with different modes of action with the endotoxin to increase its activity. Among the compounds tested were some inorganic salts, nitrogenous compounds, protein solubilizing agents, sugars, some plant powders and some plant extracts

Management of resistant herpetic corneal ulcer

Thirty-five patients with resistant herpetic corneal ulcers were managed by either one of cauterization and debridement, soft contact lenses and conjunctival hood flap. The results were encouraging

Quality assurance of imported frozen fishes in Egypt

Twenty-five imported frozen fish samples each of Horse mackerel, mackerel, mugel and tilapia, were tested for determination of moisture content, pH value, rancidity and total volatile basic nitrogen. Aerobic mesophilic bacterial count, coliforms, Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus aureus counts, as well as isolation of Clostridium perfringens, E. coli, Pseudomonas, Salmonellae, and vibrio-parahemolyticus were investigated. The results indicated that moisture percentage was 68.96%, 68.97%, 72.62% and 74.2%, pH value 6.13, 6.08, 6.14 and 6.21, rancidity quantitatively 0.069, 0.069, 0.066 and 0.061, total volatile basic nitrogen 21.52, 21.04, 21.36 and 20.92. Aerobic mesophilic bacterial counts were 3 x 10 4, 4.4 x 10 4, 1.9 x 10 4 and 2 x 10 6, Coliform count: 20.4, 10 2, 50.4 and 24.7, Pseudomonas count: 1.1 x 10 3, 1.8 x 10 3 and 5.5 x 10 3, Staphylococcus aureus count: 8.5 x 10 2, 1.8 x 10 4, 4.8 x 10 2 and 1 x 10 3, Clostridium perfringens in 8 isolates [32%], 6 [24%], 3 [12%] and 7 [28%], E. coli 9 [36%], 12 [48%], 6 [24%] and 14 [56%]. A total of 41 E. coli isolates, 12 [29.3%] were identified as E. coli biovan I and 29 [70.7%] biovan II, Pseudomonas: 13 [52%], 13 [52%], 15 [60%] and 17 [68%]. A total of 58 Pseudomonas isolates, 9 isolates were Ps. aeruqinosa [15.51%], 11 isolates each of Ps. alcaligens, Ps. flourescens flava [18.96%] of each and Ps. cepacia and Ps. putida [8 isolates 13.79% of each]. Staph. aureus 2 [8%], 3 [12%], 0 and 3 [12%]. None of the examined samples yield neither salmonella nor vibrio-parahemolyticus

efficacy of smaller dose of hepatitis B vaccine

The efficacy of two different doses [2.5 and 5meg] of Hepatitis B [Recombinant DNA] vaccine was tested in 20 healthy full term infants born to HBs Ag negative mothers. They were vaccinated at 0, 1 and 6 months. HBs antibody levels were measured using ELISA. technique in sera of mothers and, their corresponding infant prior to vaccination and repeated in infants 2 months after the last dose. The vaccine was well tolerated in either doses without local or systemic adverse reactions. The antibody response was comparable both in i:nmune infants born to HBs Ab positive mothers and non-immune ones born to HBs Ab negative mothers. HBs Ab level was 92.5 mlu/ml when the reduced dose [2.5 mcg] of the vaccine was given compared to 88.3 mlu/ml with 5 meg dose [P > 0.05] indicating comparable antibody response. We concluded that smaller doses of 2.5 meg could be used safely in mass vaccination of infants against hepatitis B infection

Relationship between blood pressure and body size in Egyptian school children

This study was done in 1989. It included 349 students aged 7 to 12 years. For each student a clinical examination, anthropometric and blood pressure measurements were done. A strong correlation was found between blood pressure and the indices of body size. Close association between obesity and blood pressure was observed, although not every obese individual becomes hypertensive. Body weight and height must be considered during evaluation of juvenile hypertension. Attention to minimizing weight gain in childhood might have long term beneficial effects in preventing subsequent hypertension or excess blood pressure increase with aging

Salivary progesterone, A good indication to assess the biologically active progesterone in pubertal girls

A sensitive, specific and accurate radioimmunoassay of progesterone in human serum and saliva is described. The study included 50 girls in the age range 8-16 years. Each girl was subjected to clinical examination, measurement of weight and height. Body mass index was calculated and pubertal assessment was also done. Correlation of salivary and serum progesterone levels was highly significant [r = 0.9186, P < 0.001]. Salivary progesterone is thought to reflect the unbound fraction of serum progesterone and this non-invasive technique can be used instead of serum progesterone for serial investigations in which frequent blood samplings are required

Immunological aspects of infertility in cows and buffaloes in Egypt

The present investigation revealed that the immunological reaction between the cervical mucus of repeat breeder cow and washedl spermatozoa gave a higher titre. On the other hand the reaction of the cervical mucus of normal cow and buffalo-cow with the seminal plasma gave a low agglutinating titre. The influence of the cervical mucus of repeat breeder cow- and buffalo-cow on the homologus bull semen gave a higher reaction than that with the heterologous bull semen. The results were attributed to the presence of agglutinating and immobilizing antibodies against the semen in the cervical mucus of the repeat breeder cows and buffalo-cows

Serum total protein and protein electrophoretic pattern of buffalo fetus during development

Changes in serum total protein and protein fractionation of buffalo fetus were studied from 5[th] to 10[th] months of gestational age. The total protein concentration increased progressively with a prominent increase in albumin near term. The data obtained revealed five serum peotein fractions in buffalo fetus. These fractions were prealbumin, albumin, alphafeto-protein, transferring and gamma globulin. The gamma globulin started to apprar in the fetal serum at 6[th] month of gestational age