Legumes diversity in the south bank of Nahr Ibrahim river in Lebanon

The target of studying biodiversity in the south bank of Nahr-Ibrahim valley was to study models for the rehabilitation of degraded areas, with an emphasis on the diversity of wild legumes. In an altitudinal transect, the rock substrate was limestone mostly, with a few sites on basalt. Habitats were found to be mostly oak dominated open forests. All sites on limestone were highly diverse, with Shannon index reaching 3.691. The high level of heterogeneity characterizes the relatively undisturbed sites of native vegetation. Vegetation on basalt was less diverse than on limestone. Thirty species of legumes belonging to 15 genera were identified, 23 species were annual and 7 perennial. Most dominant legume species were herbaceous, except for Calicotome villosa an abundant shrub. Legumes diversity was positively linked to the number of species, the Shannon index and the coverage by the herbaceous layer. A significant association was found between Tamus, Hordeum, Dactylocteneum, Trifolium spp, Calicotome villosa, Styrax officinalis and Quercus calliprinos. This could serve as a model for future combination of potentially useful plant species

study of some genetic ameliorating factors in beta thalassemia

There are over 150 mutations affecting the beta globin gene that can lead to an altered expression of the gene and a decrease [beta [0]] or an absence [beta [+]] of beta globin production. The genes can be inherited in a homozygous or a heterozygous fashion. The result of inheritance of these genes can be diverse, ranging from beta thalassemia trait with no hematological disease to thalassemia major requiring repeated blood transfusions. There are co-inherited variables that can also influence the expression of this inheritance. Alpha gene deletion or the inheritance of the G gamma Xmn-1 gene sequence [C-T variation] at position -158 upstream of the G [gamma]-globin gene which is detectable by the restriction enzyme XmnI, are among these variables. The aim of this study is to clarify the effect of the above two variables as ameliorating factors in homozy-gous/double heterozygous beta thalassemia among a group of Egyptian thalassemic children. Thirty two cases of beta thalassemia were screened for common Mediterranean mutations [IVS1-110, 1-6,1-1, 11-745, codon 39, -87] alpha-gene deletions, and presence of G gamma Xmn-1 polymorphic site. As regards allele frequency, IVSI-6 showed the highest incidence [40.6%] followed by IVSI-110 [18.75%], IVSII-745 [12.5%], -87[9.37%], IVSI-1[3.12%] and codon 39 [0%]. 7 cases [21.87%] were uncharacterized as regards to the 6 screened mutations. The co-inheritance of a-thalassemia was found in 5 cases out of 32 cases [15.63%] and DNA polymorphism at -158 [C-T] of the gamma globin gene was demonstrated in 2/32 cases [6.25%]. Both variables ameliorated the severity of the disease either in the form of decreased frequency of blood transfusion or delay in age of presentation or an amelioration of clinical severity of a known severe allele

Monocytes expressing tissue factor as a diagnostic marker for neonatal sepsis

In neonatal sepsis, several clinical and laboratory parameters have been proposed for its diagnosis, however, with variable sensitivity and specificity. The bacterial products in sepsis including endotoxin induce the production of proinflammatory cytokines that evoke the expression of tissue factor [TF] on monocytes and endothelial cells. To estimate the percentage of monocytes expressing tissue factor [TF%] by flowcytometry in patients with neonatal sepsis and to delineate its significance to diagnose neonatal sepsis. Twenty-seven neonates with neonatal sepsis and positive blood culture were recruited and evaluated clinically for their risk factors. Laboratory investigations including complete blood picture, C-reactive protein [CRP] and estimation of the monocytes TF expression by flowcytometry were done. Twenty-four normal newborns were included as a control for the laboratory data. The monocytes expressing TF% of the studied patients was significantly higher than that of the controls, p-value = 0.0001. The level of TF% was significantly influenced positively by premature rupture of membrane [PROM], Multiplicity, WBC count, staff/segment ratio, CRP and negatively by gestalional age, body weight, and platelet count. The sensitivity and overall accuracy of the TF% were higher than those of the staff/segment ratio and the WBC count for diagnosing neonatal sepsis. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC] of TF%, staff/segment ratio and WBC count were 0.84, 0.79 and 0.60 respectively, 95% confidence interval]. The monocytes expressing TF% is a promising diagnostic and prognostic marker of infection in neonatal sepsis with high sensitivity and overall accuracy. Adding the estimation of monocytes expressing TF% to the sepsis screen may improve the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis

possible role of helicobacter like species in the aetiology of chronic cholecystitis in patients with positive gastric helicobacter infection

The aim of this study was to correlate between the helicobacter species identified in gall bladder specimens and those in upper GI biopsies. In this study, out of 60 gastric biopsies, 32 were +ve for H. pylori. The H. pylori like organisms were detected in 5 gall bladder specimens. The 5 positive gall bladder specimens were only found among the 32 cases with gastric biopsies +ve for H. pylori. This study suggested that there was no apparent association between colonization of the gall bladder with Hp in relation to chronic calcular cholecystitis. However, wider scale studies with multicentre-controlled investigations may help to establish a more consistent role of helicobacter species in the aetiology of cholecystitis

Radiotoxicity of gamma rays and radioprotection of antioxidant vitamins against sperm head malformation in irradiated mice

In this study, 140 Swiss albino mice [Mus muscularis] aged 7 weeks and weight 15-20 gm. were used. The animals were sorted into groups, one of them was irradiated with two concentration of gamma rays 300 and 900 rad, other groups were treated with aqueous vitamin C solution; vitamin E solution dissolved in olive oil and both of them together [C and E] at two concentrations, 100 and 500 mg/kg/day for one month, then radiated in two doses 300 and 900 rad. Sperm head abnormalities in non irradiated; irradiated and pretreated with vitamins groups then irradiated were recorded. The irradiation with 300 and 900 rad caused an increase in the sperm head abnormalities compared to the control. On the other hand, animals pretreated with vitamins each alone and combination of the two together showed a decrease in the percentage of abnormalities caused by irradiation. So, vitamin C and vitamin E [antioxidant] were considered as radioprotection

Normalization of ventricular late potentials by captopril in survivors of myocardial infraction with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction

This study included 32 MI [myocardial infarction] survivors aged 37-67 years [52 +/- 1.5] [mean +/- SEM] with EF <45% [echocardiographic, biplane area length method] whose signal-averaged electrocardiogram [SAEKG] [standard criteria, time domain analysis] was abnormal 33 +/- 3.3 D after MI. Eighteen patients received captopril [35 mg tid for eight weeks] [active group] while 13 received no ACEI [control]. No patients had bundle branch block, syncope, antiarrhythmic drugs or underwent revascularization procedure. Active and control groups were comparable regarding age, gender, thrombolytic therapy, prevalence of hypertension, time after MI, percentage of anterior MR, FF and prevalence of angina. SAEKG was repeated after eight weeks for both groups. Data of 1st and 2nd recordings showed favorable alteration of all parameters. Out of 13 patients without captopril, only one normalized his SAEKG, whereas 17 of 19 patients on captopril normalized at the same period. Shortening of QRS correlated to EF rise

One stage lumbar spinal osteotomy in ankylosing spondylitis with immediate correction and fixation with two narrow dynamic compression plates and pedicular screws

Six patients with flexion deformity of the spine due to ankylosing spondylitis were treated with a one stage spinal osteotomy through the lumbar spine. All patients were males. The average age was 25.33 +/- 2.16 years. The average pre-operative degree of deformity was 38 +/- 3.58 degrees. The deformity was corrected at the time of the surgery and the osteotomy was fixed internally with two dynamic compression platesand pedicular screws. The average correction angle was 32.83 +/- 2.32 degrees and the average time to union was 4.17 +/- 1.17. No neurological deterioration or aortic rupture occurred in any of the patients

Assessment of patellar alignment in normal subject

Patellar malalignment problems have long been recognized as a cause of dysfunction at the knee. The patellar malalignment syndrome is a condition that presents with clinical symptoms such as popping, giving way, effusion, buckling, weakness, patellar subluxation, and pain with certain activities. Realignment of the patella through conservative technique has become the main emphasis of treatment. Due to this emphasis on patellar realignment, a need for a quantitative measurement of patellar orientation has developed. The purpose of this study is to assess the normal patellar position by measuring the Q-angle, patellar height and patellofemoral congruence, using an X-ray techniques which was implemented for this purpose, and to compare these parameters in patients with patellofemoral joint dysfunction

Malaria as a cause of prolonged fever among children in Mansoura fever hospital

Prolonged fever represents a diagnostic dilemma in small age group. Little attention was given as regard to parasitic infections and prolonged fever. The objective of this study was to throw some light upon the role of malaria infection as a cause of prolonged fever. The study revealed malaria by blood film in 5 out of 129 children by IFA test, 8 patients were seropositive. Intermittent fever was the main symptom of presentation

Study of the effects of L-dopa on some chemical transmitters in CNS in normal and liver diseased animals

The influence of intraperitoneal administration of L-dopa on brain chemical transmitters and liver function tests was investigated in rats with paracitamol induced hepatic necrosis. It was found that L-dopa produced a significant increase in the level of norepinephrine and a significant decrease in the level of epinephrine and serotonin. On the other hand, L-dopa did not improve the histopathological picture of the liver and the liver function tests of the diseased animals. These data indicate that the improvement in the clinical picture of hepatic coma by injection of levodopa could be explained by its effect on the neuro-hormonal transmitters and not due to direct action on the liver

Bacteremia after interventional cardiac catheters

The study showed no bacteremia in the precatheterization samples, wereas post-catheterization samples showed no difference in incidence of bacteremia in interventional compared with diagnostic cases [36.7% vs. 33.3% respectively. The most commonly isolated organisms were gram negative aerobic and facultative bacilli in interventional and diagnostic cases [72% and 100% respectively], especially Pseudomonas aeruginosa [54.5% vs. 40% respectively], followed by staphylococci. The results showed that bacteremia is common after both types of catheterization and neither correlated to factors related to the patients [age, sex, etiological diagnosis], nor to factors related to technique [type and duration of the procedure, and the number of catheters used]. However, the high rate of bacteremia calls for a serious revision of the procedures of resterilization of disposable equipment

Serum prostacyclin levels in unstable coronary heart disease

To examine the diagnostic value of abnormal serum Prostacyclin [PG12] level as a marker of instability of coronary heart disease, 30 patients [[12 with unstable angina [UA], 8 with acute myocardial infarction [AMI], and 10 with stable effort angina [EA]], and 10 normal adults were studied. Clinical evaluation, as well as estimation of plasma 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha have been carried out for all subjects. Statistical analysis of the results showed the wide dispersion of the prostacyclin values. Median, 25th, and 75th percentiles were adopted for measuring central and dispersion tendencies. The median together with the 25th and 75th percentiles of the 3 ischemic groups were clearly lower than those of the control group. No significant differences in prostacyclin values were present between different subsets of patients with coronary heart disease [CHD]. In spite of the limited number of patients, this study points to a limited diagnostic value for this test in patients with CHD

Atrial natriuretic factor in bilharzial hepatic fibrosis and posthepatitic cirrhosis

Elevated levels of plasma atrial natriuretic factor [ANF] were found in cirrhotic patients. Some investigators reported basal levels, while other reported low levels of ANF. This lead us to investigate the effect of bilaharzial periportal fibrosis [BPD] and bilharzial liver cirrhosis and posthepatic cirrhosis on plasma ANF. 27 patients were selected and divided into three groups. The first group comprized nine patients of bilharzial periportal fibrosis. The second group comprized 9 patients of mixed ANF was measured by radioimmunoassay. Abdominal and cardiac ultrasonography was used for measurement of liver size and echogenicity together with diameter of portal vein, splenic view and cardiac chambers. The results showed that ANF was induced in all group of patient except those developing ascites, they showed levels slightly more than the control group

Clinical correlates of coronary collaterals in Egyptians with isolated lesions of LAD coronary artery

We analysed the clinical and angiography features of 40 males with isolated significant lesions of the anterior descending coronary artery [LAD]. Collaterals [C] graded according to their caliber diameter and the rate of retrograde filling of the LAD into poor. 25 patients had moderate or rich C [Group A] and 15 patients had into or poor C [Group B]. Both groups were compared in relation to age, smoking, hypercholesterolaemia, family history of coronary disease, diabetes, BP, pulse pressure, presence of angina pectoris [AP], incidence of myocardial infarction [M.I.], severity of LAI lesion and left ventricular ejection fraction. Group A patients had a significantly wider pulse pressure [48.4 +/- 11.7 versus 34.6 +/- 10.7 P< 0.01], lower incidence of AP [60% versus 87%, P< 0.01] and M.I. [64% versus 80%, P< 0.05]. There was no significant difference in relation to the other variables analysed. These features conform with previously reported obervations except for the observed wider pulse pressure in patients with significant inficant C to the LAD

Altered prostaglandin metabolism as a cause of pre-eclampsia: an implication on therapy

In a trial to declare the possible role of altered prostaglandin metabolism in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia, the plasma levels of 2 major antagonistic compounds have been estimated using enzyme immunoassay method; namely thromboxane A2 and prostacyclin, along with estimations of platelet count and ADP induced platelet aggregation. The study comprised 10 normal pregnant and 10 pre eclamptic females of comparable parity and gestational periods, as well as 10 normal age matched non-pregnant females for comparision. Mean platelet count was significantly lower in pre-eclamptic cases as compared to both normal pregnant and control groups, with no significant difference between the later 2 groups. Mean platelet aggregation percent was only significantly higher in normal pregnant females as compared to both pre-eclamptic and non-pregnant controls, using either low or usual doses of ADP. A significantly higher mean plasma thromboxane-B2 and a significantly lower mean plasma prostacyclin levels were observed in both normal pregnant and pre-eclamptic groups as compared to controls, with no significant difference in the level of either compound between the former 2 groups. A significant positive correlation between TXB2 level and each of systolic and diabolic blood pressures was observed in pre-eclamptic patients. A significant positive correlation was similarly observed between TXB2 level and ADP induced aggregation percent using both low and usual doses, only in non-pergnant controls. Moreover the levels of both TXB2 and PCI2 showed a direct significant correlation in both pregnant groups. The ratio of thromboxane B2/prostacyclin was however, significantly highrt in both pregnant groups as compared to controls as well as in pre-eclamptic patients as compared to normal pregnant females. A disturbed prostaglandin metabolism, with unchecked thrombogenic effect of thromboxane A2 was suggested as a potential mechanism for pre-eclampsia. The therapeutic use of low dose asprin as a selective cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor might be of help in prevention of the microcirculatory complications observed in this condition

Variants of tetralogy of Fallot and associated anomalies, a study of 125 patients

Associated cardiac anomalies and variants of tetralogy of Fallot are common findings. They may be identified by echocardigraphy or during cardiac catheterization and angiography. In 125 patients [ps] studied, associated anomalies were present in 70. Right sided aortic arch was the most common anomaly [34 pts], left to right atrial communication in 64 pts [58 pts had a patent foramen ovale, 5 pts a secondum defect and I had a primum defect]. Miscellaneous anomalies like patent ductus arteriosus, persistent left superior vena cava, anomalies of big arteries and abnormal coronary arteries were present in 16 pts. Variation of the tetralogy were present in the form of associated valvular pulmonary stenosis and or pulmonary supravalvular narrowing or obstruction. Selective pulmonary arteriography or right ventricular outflao tract injection was performed in 98 patients [group A], and only apical right ventriculogram in 27 patients [group B] with this anomaly. Forty seven patients [48%] of the first group [group A] had other obstructions more than infundibular narrowing, of these 42 pts had Valvular stenosls, 38 pts had a hypoplastic pulmonary artery, l9pts had right or left branch stenosis and 2 had an absent pulmonary artery branch. Valvular pulmonary stenosis was only seen on left lateral right ventricular angiogram in group-B, while other pulmonary supravalvular narrowings were not well visualized. In conclusion, associated anomalies are common with tetralogy of Fallot and they can be discovered by echocardiography. Their presence and extent should be confirmed by cardiac catheterization. Multiple levels of right ventricular outflow obstruction can not be asssessed except by the outlow right ventriculogram or by pulmonary arteriography which was safe and important for the correct diagnosis of pulmonary arterial anatomy. The correct diagnosis of tetralogy of Fallot with its variants and associated anomalies is of help in planning surgical approach

Dilated cardiomyopathy in Egyptian children: prevalence, clinical, echocardiographic and doppler profile

The prevalence and clinical profile of dilated cardiomyopathy [DC] in children seen at 2 large medical centers in Cairo were studied. Incidence was estimated from a retrospective analysis of 1 year data. A 4-year prospective study included 71 children with DC and aimed at defining the clinical profile, echocardiographic and hemodynamic characteristics, and prognosis. Doppler studies were done in 12 patients and cardiac catheterization in 14. An incidence of 33 per 100,000 children per year was obtained. From follow-up and mean age at presentation, a poor prognosis could be confirmed. Four-year mortaility was 82%. Left-sided failure was present in all children, while right-sided failure was seen in one half. Echocardiographic features included severe left ventricular [LV] dilatation, and decreased ejection fraction [mostly moderate-to-severe] in all children. Right ventricular [RV] dilatation was detected in 39.4%. Doppler evaluation in 12 cases showed mitral regurgitation in 66.6% and pulmonary hypertension in 75%. Cardiac catheterisation in 14 cases revealed elevated LV end-diastolic pressure in all children studied. Pulmonary artery and RV pressure were elevated in 93%

Histopathological study of rectal mucosa in acute diarrhoea

Acute diarrhea is a major public health problem, however the related aetiology is controversial. This study was done upon 25 patients complaining of acute diarrhea, their age ranges from 20-55 years, all were males. All patients were subjected to clinical microbiological and sigmoidoscopic study Rectal biopsy was taken from every patient and subjected to histopathological examination. The most important change was the vascular lesion which occur in all patient with +ve and -ve stool culture

Therapeutic drug-induced liver injury in liver biopsies

35 patients admitted to Mansoura University Hospital with the clinical picture of hepatitis were selected for the present investigation after being asked carefully for history of drug intake and examined clinically. Stool examinations were negative for Bilharzia and other parasites. Serological tests were negative for hepatitis surface antigen. Ture cut needle biopsy for liver was done for all of these patients and stained with various stains. These were one patient with history of halothain intake, 10 with history of intake of oral contraceptive, 2 with history of chlorpromazine and 20 with history of phenyl-butazone and 20 with history of isoniazid. Histologically a spectrum of lesions was recognized as a result of liver injury by these drugs. The produced lesions were categorized as follows: 1-lesion resembling viral hepatitis. 2-Cholestasis with inflammation and liver cell damage. 3-Pure cholestasis. The drugs causing each of these lesions and their differential diagnosis specially from viral hepatitis were discussed