Role of BAL cellularity in assessment of severity of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Study the role of BAL cellularity in assessment of the degree of severity of IPF. Forty IPF patients underwent, history taking, clinical examination, HRCT chest, ABGs, 6MWT, spirometry, echocardiography, FOB and BAL. Neutrophils were present in 28 patients, mean value 57.25 and SD +/- 31.27. The second predominant cell was Alveolar Macrophages with mean value 24.25 and SD +/- 27.828.HRCT pattern and BAL cellularity, showed the most predominant cell neutrophils in the ground glass and Honey combing on HRCT. There was no statistical significance between the sex and the BAL cellularity, the most predominant cell was neutrophils in both sexes. Corticosteroids did not have an effect on BAL cellularity and the predominant cell was neutrophils in IPF patients using steroids and those not. BAL cellularity in relation to treatment by azathioprine and/or acetlycysteine showed no statistical significance between patients using those drugs and those not, the most predominant cell was neutrophils in both groups.Correlation between BAL cellularity and age, showed no statistical significance but there was a negative correlation between age to neutrophils and lymphocytes. There was a negative correlation between neutrophils and PaCO2, PaO2, SO2, FVC%, FEV1 and 6MWT with no statistical significance but with significance to FEF25-75%.Macrophages showed a positive correlation with age, PaO2, 6MWT, FVC%, FEV1% with no statistical significance but with significance to SO2 and FEF25-75% and a negative correlation with PaCO2 and PASP. There was a positive correlation between neutrophils and severity of the disease and a negative correlation between Macrophages and severity of the disease. Most commonly used drugs did not show any effect on BAL cellularity

Agave angustifolia: a potential source of control agents against Schistosomiasis mansoni

A gave angustifolia [Agavaceae] has been studied for its potential effectiveness against Schistosoma mansoni and its intermediate snail host in Egypt Biomphalaria alexandrina. Thus, the methanolic extract of its leaves and the isolated saponins containing fraction were tested in vitro against the adult worms and the free living larval stages of the parasite. Both solutions were examined also on the survivorship of mature snails, egg production and hatchability. The results showed that the methanol extract of the leaves of Agave angustifolia had moderate molluscicidal effectiveness on B. alexandrina snails with LC50 =26.4 ppm after 24 hours at 25 +/- 1[0]C. While, the saponins containing fraction separated from the above extract showed much higher molluscicidal activity at the same conditions [LC50=5.9ppm]. Continuous exposure for 5 weeks to half the molluscicidal concentration [3ppm], showed a considerable effect on the survivorship of snails, and a decrease of egg production rate, being 16.9 eggs/snail vs 29 eggs/snail in control group. The egg masses of treated snails contain 20% less number of eggs/ egg mass than those of the control group and the total number of produced eggs is 52% less as a result of this exposure. Three different concentrations of the saponins fraction [the molluscicidal 0.1 LC50, 0.5 LLC50 and LC50] were tested on hatchability of B. alexandrina eggs and showed a sound reduction in hatchability being 56%, 77% and 82% respectively, compared to the control one [92%]. Saponins fraction of A. angustifolia leaves gave also marked miracidicidal and cercaricidal activities especially at the molluscicidal LC50 [5.9ppm] causing total death of these organisms after seven minutes and one minute, respectively. From this study, both methanol extract and saponins fraction of A. angustifolia leaves have in vitro marked schistosomicidal activity against S. mansoni adult worms with LC50 30 micro g/ml and 11.4 micro g/ ml respectively. Therefore, A. angustifolia may provide a potential source of effective compounds for the control of Schistosomiasis mansoni

Triterpenoid saponins from Polyscias paniculaia and their Schistosomicidal and Molluscicidal activities

Four triterpenoid saponins were isolated from the methanol extract of the leaves and stems of Polyscias paniculata Baker [Araliaceae]. They were identified as: 3-0[beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl oleanolic acid [1], 3-0-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl- [1-4] -beta- D-glucuronopyranosyl] oleanolic acid [2], 3 - O - beta - D-glucopyranosyl [l-4]. [beta-D-glucopyranosyl - [l-2]]- beta - D- glucuronopyranosyl oleanolic acid [3] and 3 - O - [beta D-glucopyranosyl-[l-4]-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl] oleanolic acid -28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester [4]. Their structures were established using one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy. Each pure saponin was tested for its molluscicidal and schistosomicidal activities. Saponins 2 and 3 showed a considerable schistosomicidal effect with LC[50] 14.4 and 35.7 micro g/ml, LC[90] 20.2 and 56.3 micro g/ml, respectively. Only saponin 2 showed a molluscicidal effect with a LC[50] 4.7 ppm and a LC[90] 6.6 ppm, whereas saponin the bidcsmosidic saponin 4 was inactive against the Shistosoma mansoni worms and the Biomlphalaria alexandrina snails

Maxillary denture displacement during functional relining impression procedure with tissue conditioner

This research was carried out on eight completely edentulous patients to study the effect of functional relining impression technique with tissue conditioner on maxillary denture displacement regard different time of keeping the impression in the patient mouth. Centric occlusion was used to seat the maxillary denture for 3 minutes. The patients were asked to mould the periphery by cheeks and lips movement and functionally recorded the impression by asking him to swallow, suck and talk for 15, 30, 45 or 60 minutes. Denture displacement was measured in three co-ordinates with modified measurescope. The results of this study revealed that 15 minutes for functional relining by the tissue conditioner exhibited a significant increase in vertical maxillary denture displacement than that for 30, 45 and 60 minutes. On comparing maxillary denture displacement in the three coordinates after functional relining impressions at 30, 45, 60 min, it was found that no one superior to other. This study concluded that 30 minutes was the time selected for functional relining impression making with tissue conditioner material regard less denture displacement and less time consuming

Conservative closed lateral internal sphincterotomy: local or general anaesthesia?

A prospective randomised study was carried out to compare conservative closed lateral internal sphincterotomy [CLIS] under general and local anaesthesia. Sixty patients with chronic anal fissure were randomised and equally subdivided into two groups. Local anaesthesia group: GLIS under local anaesthesia [LA] [mean age 31.6 years]. General anaesthesia group: CLIS under general anaesthesia [GA] [mean age 30.4 years]. Both groups were comparable regarding the age, sex, weight and duration of symptoms. There were no differences between the two groups in terms of actual time of surgery, mean pulse rate and mean oxygen saturation. However, there was a significant difference in the mean arterial pressure between the two groups. CLIS under LA was a shorter procedure as compared to GA. General anaesthesia was associated with postoperative nausea and vomiting in 20% of the patients. Postoperative analgesia requirements were greater in the GA group than in the LA group. Haematoma occurred in one patient in the general anaesthesia group. During the one-year interval of follow-up, healing of the fissure was 100% in both groups. The incidence of sphincter dysfunction and recurrence was similar in both groups [0%]. No other complications, like perianal fistula, were found during the follow-up period. The majority of patients expressed satisfaction with LA. Conservative closed lateral internal sphincterotomy under local anaesthesia is a simple, safe and effective procedure. Careful patient selection and meticulous surgical technique are necessary to achieve a very high success rate and a negligible rate of complications