Can miRNA712_3p be a promising biomarker for early diagnosis of toxoplasmosis?

Objective: To assess the role of miRNA712_3p as a specific biomarker in early detection of toxoplasmosis in plasma of mice acutely infected with Toxoplasma gondii. Methods: Real-time PCR was used to measure the level of miRNA712_3p in plasma of infected mice. Immune-competent and immune-suppressed mice were examined, three and five days post-infection. Results: Results revealed significant up-regulation of plasma miRNA712_3p in both immune-competent and immune-compromised groups in comparison to the control non-infected group. Additionally, an increase in the level of miRNA712_3p was noticed correspondently in the parasite density detected in liver impression smears. Conclusions: miRNA712_3p can be used as a novel biomarker for the detection of Toxoplasma gondii infection in both immune-competent and immune-compromised host.

Common ear, nose and throat problems in the under- five Sudanese children

The health problems of children and especially the under-5 years are of great concern and impact on both medical and surgical practice. No wonder they attract political and administrative concern. This study aims to identify the common Ear, Nose and Throat [ENT] problems of under-5 Sudanese children and to study the frequency, admissions, available beds and operations and to compare this work load with the rest of the ENT wards. Furthermore, to outline what is needed to improve the services for this age group. This is a retrospective hospital-based study including all patients [n=21384] who presented to the ENT department, Wad-Medani Hospital, Gezira, Sudan, during a period of two years from the first of January 2010 to the thirty first of December 2011. The total number of the under-5 children was 2330; which contributed to 41.32% of total paediatric age group, up to 16 years, [n=:5639] and 10.90% of the total number of ENT patients who presented to the ENT department at Wad-Medani Hospital. The total number of admissions of under-5 children accounted for 32.72% of all paediatric patients and 20.66% of all ENT patients. Their commonest problems found in this study were; adenoiditis and tonsillitis [37.68%], otitis media [27.25%], Upper respiratory tract infections [URTIs] and allergy [12.31%], foreign body related [12.23%], otitis externa [5.45%], others [3.43%], epistaxis [0.75%], hearing and speech disorders [0.90%]. The total number of children under-5 requiring surgical operations constituted 55.46% of all paediatric patients and 33.98% of the total number of all ENT patients who were operated on. Of these operations 57.01% were elective and 42.99% were emergency operations. The main indications in 94.77% of the elective operations were adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy, while most of the surgical emergencies 91.32% were due to foreign body related problems. The ENT problems of the under-5 children in Wad-Medani General Hospital constitute an obvious high proportion of the work load. More attention is to be paid to this age group in terms of facilities, staff training and special requirements needed in settings and equipments. Thus, better handling and outcomes could be achieved for this important and delicate age group

Daily living activities of physically disabled children in ismailia city

The present study is descriptive study that aiming to assess daily living activities of physically disabled children. The study was conducted at the available established settings in Ismailia city including Handicapped Comprehensive Rehabilitation Center, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Unit in Suez Canal University Hospitals and Physiotherapy Unit in Health Insurance Hospitals. The sample included 76 physically disabled children and their accompanying mothers. Data were obtained through an interview with the studied children and their accompanying mothers using three tools, structured interview questionnaire, physical assessment sheet to assess the physically disabled children's daily living activities and rating scale to assess the psychological aspects of the studied children. The results of the study revealed that the studied children were partially dependent in relation to eating and drinking, personal hygiene, toileting and studying their lessons, while they were independent in relation to their motor activities and using both telephone and money. Physical disability has negative physical, financial, social and psychological impact on the studied children's families as found in 65.8%, 59.2%, 46.1% and 75% respectively. Slightly more than three quarters of the studied mothers had unsatisfactory knowledge regarding the physical disability of their children [76.3%]. The study recommends applying an educational program to enable the physically disabled children to achieve their daily living activities independently. Further researches should be done aiming to increase the knowledge of mothers of the physically disabled children through experimental programs and assigning pamphlets on different types of disabilities

Pleuropulmonary manifestations in juvenile onset systemic lupus erythematosus: assessment by pulmonary function tests and multidetector computed tomography

Pulmonary involvement is a common finding in adults with systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE] also it is one of the most important systems that can be affected in Juvenile onset SLE [JOSLE]. Early detection and evaluation of the extent and severity of pulmonary involvement are quite critical for disease prognosis and patients management. To determine the frequency and type of pleuropulmonary involvement in JOSLE using pulmonary function tests [PFTs] and multidetector CT [MDCT]. Twenty five patients with JOSLE were evaluated for the detection of pleuropulmonary affection in them. The evaluation included clinical, functional and radiological examination using MDCT as a recent and accurate modality for chest imaging. Based on clinical evaluation, patients were divided into two groups; group A [No = 16] and group B [No = 9], consisting of those asymptomatic and symptomatic as regard pleuropulmonary symptoms, respectively. This study revealed that PFT abnormalities were detected in 60% of all studied JOSLE patients while MDCT abnormalities were detected in 52% of them. 37.5% of the asymptomatic patients had abnormal PFTs and 31.25% of them had abnormal findings on MDCT. There was statistically significant difference between patients groups regarding SLEDAI, percentages of abnormal PFTs, abnormalities in plain X-ray and MDCT. With the exception of forced expiratory flow at 25-75% of forced vital capacity [FEF[25-75%]], the study revealed statistically significant lower values of mean +/- SD of all measured PFTs in group B compared to group A. The most frequent MDCT findings in all studied patients were pleural effusion and pleural thickening in 16% of all findings, also ground glass opacities found in 16% of all abnormalities suggesting early interstitial lung disease. Clinical assessment and PFTs revealed a significant percentage of pleuropulmonary involvement in JOSLE patients. MDCT can be helpful in diagnosing the pulmonary involvement in asymptomatic JOSLE patients with normal chest X-ray and uncertain PFT

high dose cytarabine with dexamethasone and cisplatin [DHAP] solve the problem of patients with relapsed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma?

Between 2001 and 2002, 56 patients with refractory or relapsing non-Hodgkin lymphoma after prior anthracycline based chemotherapy were treated with DHAP [dexamethasone, high dose cytarabine and cisplatin]. After 6 cycles, 28.8% of patients [16/56] achieved complete response, while 58.9% [33/56] attained partial response. The overall survival at 2 years was 25%. Myelosuppression was the major toxicity; 24 patients [42.85%] had grade IV neutropenia and 39 patients [69.64%] had grade III-IV thrombocytopenia, but there was no treatment-related death. DHAP regimen is an effective salvage therapy for the patients with relapsed and refractory NHL, but the response duration time is short and long-term prognosis remains poor; high dose chemotherapy with autologous bone marrow transplantation is necessary for improvement in long-term survival

role of gemcitabine and cisplatin as first line therapy in patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma

This study included 40 patients with histopathologically proved advanced stages III and IV ovarian carcinoma according to 1998 criteria of International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics [FIGO] staging system. Patients were divided into two groups: Group I: a prospectively studied group of 20 previously untreated patients, seen during the period from December 1999 to December 2000, who received cisplatin [100mg/m[2]] day I and gemcitabine [1250mg/m[2]] day and day 8 and the cycle was repeated every 21 days. Group II: a retrospectively 20 patients, fulfilling the same eligibility criteria, who received cisplatin [100mg/m[2]] and cyclophosphamide [750mg/m[2]], both in day I and the cycle was repeated every 21 days. All patients in both groups received a total of six courses of treatment and the response was determined by clinical examination as well as pelvi-abdominal ultrasound, and pelvi-abdominal computed tomography. Complete response was achieved in 35% of cases in group I vs 15% in group II, while partial response was obtained in 35% in both groups. There were no statistical significant difference between overall response rate [O.R.R] in both groups [X2 = 3.86, P 0.277]. Patients who received gemcitabine/ cisplatin combination chemotherapy showed less anemia and less renal toxicity with better tolerance than the cyclophosphamide / cisplatin arm. There were no statistical significant difference between overall survival [O.S] in both arms, however the progression free survival [P.F.S] was better in group I and reached the level of significance compared to group II [P=0.03]