Effect of terracing on rainwater harvesting and growth of Juniperus procera Hochst. ex Endlicher

The present study was conducted in two forests in Abha [Capital of Asir Region] and two forests in Al Namas [130 kim north of Abha], south western Saudi Arabia [Asir region] to investigate the effect of terraces on rainwater harvesting and growth of Juniperus procera Hochst. ex Endlicher. Farmers grow their crops within Juniper forests and woodlots by constructing terraces from soil and stones to harvest rainwater. Juniper forests and woodlots present important watersheds and sources for water. Study plots were established in our forests, two of which contained maintained terraces and the other two have been covered by abandoned and damaged terraces. The results showed that maintained terraces served as important means for rainwater harvesting, whereas abandoning of terraces resulted in increased soil loss, surface runoff, bulk density and reduced infiltration rates. Significant correlations and regression between soil loss, total runoff, soil bulk density and infiltration rate were provided. Diameter at breast height, total height, basal area, volume, number of trees, crown coverage and regeneration/ha of J. procera were significantly [P < 0.0001] higher in forests with maintained terraces compared with abandoned terraces Finally, maintained terraces improved rainwater harvesting and growth performance of J. procera

Comparative study of oral misoprostol versus vaginal misoprostol for induction of second trimesteric abortion

The aim of this work was to compare the safety and efficacy of oral misoprostol with that of vaginal misoprostol for termination of second trimester pregnancy. one hundred twenty women requiring second trimester pregnancy termination were randomly allocated to receive either oral or vaginal misoprostol 400 ug/8 hours, this dose was used for 24 hours after which the attending physician was allowed to either increase dose, decrease frequency of dosing, change route of misoprostol use or use oxytocin, the two groups were comparable with respect to maternal age, parity, indication of abortion and gestational age. Compared with women receiving oral misoprostol, a greater percentage of women receiving vaginal misoprostol aborted within 24 hours [88.33% versus 66.66%]. The induction-abortion interval was significantly shorter in vaginal group [18 +/- 15.5 hours versus 32 + 18 hours, P < 0.001]. Complications namely nausea, vomiting, fever and severe pain were significantly higher in oral misoprostol group. 7 cases [11.66%] in group 1 [Oral misoprostol] shift to vaginal misoprostol after failure to abort within 24 hours from the start of induction. The need for oxytocin augmentation was significantly higher in-group 1[oral misoprostol]. Compared with oral misoprostol, vaginal misoprostol resulted in shorter induction to abortion interval, shorter duration of hospital stay and less side effects from misoprostol

comparative study of abdominal and endoscopically guided vaginal procedures in the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence

The purpose of this study was to compare the results of abdominal and endoscopically guided vaginal procedures used for treatment of stress urinary incontinence[SUI] and evaluation of long term results of each procedure. In a prospective study, a total of 57 patients with type I and II SUI were treated with bladder neck suspension. They were classified into 2 groups. Group I: [20 Patients]: Were subjected to abdominal bladder neck suspension [Burch and Marshal Marchetti procedures]. Group II: [37 patients]: Were subjected to endoscopically guided vaginal bladder neck suspension procedures [Raz and Gitte's]. Associated pelvic relaxation [cystocoele, rectocoele] were treated as well. All patients were subjected to full history, physical examination and investigations to evaluate and classify the types of SUI and associated conditions. After a mean of 27 months, the success rate was 85% [17 of 20 patients] of group I, and 84% [31 of 37 patients] of group II. In addition, 57% of patients in group I and 64% of patients in group II had resolution of urgency symptoms. Concerning pelvic relaxation in group II, cystocoele was cured in 82%, cystocoele and rectocoele were cured in 100% of patients. There is no statistically significant difference between abdominal and endoscopically guided vaginal procedures used in bladder neck suspension in cases of SUI, but vaginal approach gives a chance for concomitant repair of pelvic relaxation

Laboratory method predicting the maximal effective NSAID's in management of rheumatoid arthritis

Macrophages were isolated from 32 patients with acute rheumatoid arthritis [RA]. Macrophages of each patient were separately treated in-vitro with different NSAID's in the presence of immune complex [IC]. Cells inhibition was determined by measuring intracellular enzymes and number of FC receptors before and after treating the cell with NSAID's. Drug that caused maximal inhibition of FC receptors of the macrophages in-vitro was given to the patient for two weeks. Clinical assessment was done for each patient before and after treatment. The same previous procedures were followed for another 15 patients with acute RA as a control group. That group of patients were treated for two weeks by the drug that showed minimal FC receptors inhibition, It was found that the percentage of FC receptors inhibition is proportional to the clinical improvement of the disease parameters. Accordingly, this method can be used to predict the optimal effective NSAIDs for each patient before starting treatment

Anti-Fc-receptors and macrophage function in patients with brucellosis

Chronicity and arthritis are the main complications of brucellosis. To clarify the causes of these complications, 80 patients with brucellosis, acute and chronic with or without arthritis and 20 normal control subjects were studied. The mean value of rheumatoid factor [RF], alpha-1 - antitrypsin [alpha 1-AT], C3, C4 and fibrinogen did not show significant changes between different groups of patients and normal control, while anti-Fc-receptor antibodies showed significant increased levels in all groups of patients. This increase was more significant in patients with chronic brucellosis who had arthritis. The absence of acute reactive phase proteins with the presence of anti-receptor peptide could be attributed to the disease chronicity. Immune complexes [ICs] also showed significant increased levels in the all groups of patients compared with normal control. Evidence of activation of C3 and C4 was observed in patients who had increased IC levels and who had arthritis. Arthritis did not develop in some patients with high IC levels probably due to decreased level of anti-Fc-R antibodies. Also there was no evidence of complement activation in this group of patients

profile of Fc-receptor and rheumatic marker after tonsillectomy

Pharyngitis in the most common site to bacterial infection of Streptococcus hemolyticus and subsequently rheumatic activity. Tonsillectomy is one of the prophylactic lines to manage rheumatic fever. The immunological differences after tonsillectomy were the aim of this work. Rheumatic marker on B-lymphocyte and Fc-receptor on blood monocytes are estimated before and after tonsillectomy. The results are compared with normal subjects and to patients with acute active disease of rheumatic fever. The rheumatic marker is significantly increased in active rheumatic patients compared to the normal control group. Meanwhile, the Fc-receptor is significantly decreased compared with normal subjects. The rheumatic marker is significantly negative correlated to the Fc-receptor in active diseased patients. The rheumatic marker after tonsillectomy is completely eradicated and closed to the value of normal control subjects. On the other hand, the Fc-receptor is significantly increased after tonsillectomy but still significantly lower than normal control subjects

Effect of serum factors regulating the pathology of rhinoscleroma

In rhinoscleroma patients, there are a complexity of reaction either pathological or immunological. Both humeral and cellular responses in relation to disease were clarified by many authors. However, the relation between humeral and cellular immune response is aim of the work. Patients sera were tested against normal monocytes and neutrophil. Fc-Y receptors, NBT and myeloperoxidase were used as markers for the studies. These markers were significantly decreased in patients with granulomatus group. On the other hand, myeloperoxidase were significantly decreased in catarral and fibrotic groups

Monocytes and peritoneal macrophage functions in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis

Complement C2 and lysozyme produced by cultured peritoneal macrophages from 17 patients undergoing chronic ambulatory peritoneal dilaysis in the presence of dialysis fluid showed progressively less increase with culture time indicating the presence of a macrophage's inhibitory factor in patient's dialysis fluid. There was a significant reduction of C2 production by cultured patient's moncytes in day six of culture compared with normal subjects monocytes. The addition of dialysis fluid caused more reduction of C2 levels in monocytes culture from patients and normal control subjects. Lysozyme levels produced by cultured patients monocytes showed progressively reduced levels compared with normal subjects. The addition of different concentrations of dialysis fluid or patient's serum to normal monocyte culture did not change C2 or lysozyme production

Fungal background of asthmagenesis in Egyptian patients

To evaluate the role of fungi in the genesis of bronchial asthma in Egyptian patients, 44 asthmatics and 10 healthy normal control subjects were examined clinically and by laboratory means for routine urine, stool and blood count examination and skin prick test with extract of nine airborne fungi. Sputum culture for fungi as well as serologic examination were done consuming precipitin test with fungal extracts and immune complex detection. Skin tests for the nine fungi were also applied. These parameters indicated high degree of positivity among our asthmatic patients compared to controls, indicating considerable role of fungi in asthmagenesis, though, immune complexes were + ve in all cases indicating that type III allergic reaction has no outstanding role in asthma production. This study also showed that detection of fungus in the sputum, blood eosinophilia, positive skin reaction to fungus allergen and precipitin test, all are useful markers in diagnosis of fungal allergic bronchopulmonary disease

Macrophage stimulation by precipitating and soluble immune complexes at different antigen or antibody excess

Precipitating immune complexes were prepared, in vitro, by using different concentrations of antigen excess or a fixed concentration of antibody excess or equivalent antigen-antibody concentrations. Maximal macrophages' stimulation were noted at an antigen-antibody concentration of 1/16 to 1 when challenged with different total immune complexes. This was measured by determination of complement c[2] culture levels. However, soluble immune complexes at different antigen-antibody excess preparations obtained by centrifugation of total immune complexes did not show a stimulatory effect on macrophages in the culture media