Current and new strategies in therapy of neurodegenerative disorders: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis as a model

For years researchers have known that free radicals can cause cell degeneration, especially in the brain, so there is a role for the oxidative stress and free radicals in the chronic neurodegenerative disorders. Riluzole is recommended for improving the prognosis of patients suffering from the neurodegenerative disorder, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [ALS], and it thought to be acting as nueroprotective agent by the inhibition of glutamatergic transmission in the CNS. The familial [ALS], has been mapped to chromosome 2q33 and aldehyde oxidise enzyme has been mapped also with the same gene 2q33. So it noteworthy to make a link between Riluzol and aldehyde oxidase and the possible interaction between them in the CNS, which may contribute to the neuroprotective effect of Riluzole by inhibiting ROS production or altering the balance between hydrogen peroxide [H[2]O[2]] and superoxide anion [O[2]]

Azithromycin prophylaxis and treatment of murine toxoplasmosis

To evaluate the azithromycin effects alone and in combination with other agents in the prophylaxis and treatment of murine toxoplasmosis. A total of 280 BALB/c mice were included, and 2 x 103 Toxoplasma organisms of the RH strain Toxoplasma gondii strain ATCC50174 were given intraperitoneally to each mouse. In experiment one, 40 animals were given azithromycin 200 milligram/kilogram/daily for 3 days starting the day of inoculation, 40 mice were control. In experiment 2, the treatment was started 48 hours after inoculation and given daily for 3 days: one group received azithromycin 200 milligram/kilogram/day, the second group received pyrimethamine 25 milligram/kilogram/day, and the sulfadiazine 100 milligram/kilogram/day. The third group was control. In experiment 3, 7 groups of animals received one of the following [1] none, [2] azithromycin 200 milligram/kilogram/day, [3] pyrimethamine 25 milligram/kilogram/day and sulfadiazine 100 milligram/kilogram/day, [4] azithromycin and sulfadiazine, [5] azithromycin and pyrimethamine, [6] azithromycin with sulfadiazine and pyrimethamine, [7] sulfadiazine alone. Treatment was initiated 72 hours after inoculation for 3 days. The study was conducted at the Animal Care Facility of King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Animals that received azithromycin simultaneously with inoculation survived, and all control animals died. All animals died in groups receiving single drug therapy. Animals treated with azithromycin and sulfadiazine showed a survival rate of 40%, sulfadiazine and pyrimethamine 40%, or azithromycin with sulfadiazine and pyrimethamine 95% [p<0.0001]. Azithromycin alone was found to be effective in the prophylaxis of murine toxoplasmosis. Combination therapy was effective in the treatment of murine toxoplasmosis

Implementation of the national asthma management guidelines in the emergency department

The national protocol for asthma management was released in 1995. There has been no national investigation to compare the actual care delivered at the Emergency Department to those recommended by these guidelines: To compare the documented management of acute bronchial asthma at the Emergency Room [ER] with the Saudi National Guidelines Retrospective analyses of a total of 150 ER records, of patients with a diagnosis of asthma over a one year period [January through to December 2000], at King Abdul-Aziz Medical City, King Fahad National Guard Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Documentation of the history, indices of severity, treatment given, pre-discharge assessment and prescriptions were compared to the nationally recommended management. History of the present attack, its duration, frequency of b-agonist use and nocturnal symptoms were documented in less than 50% of patients. Previous ER visits and hospitalization, peak flow rate and accessory muscle use were similarly recorded in less than 50% of patients whereas intensive care unit admission and intubation were documented in less than 15% of asthmatics. Steroids were given to only 46% of patients with acute asthma who visited the Emergency Department. Pre-discharge clinical assessment and peak flow readings were documented in 48% and 29%. Only 64% of patients were given a follow up appointment. The documented treatment of patients with an acute asthmatic episode at the ER varies significantly from what is recommended by the National and International Asthma Management Guidelines. Failure to implement Asthma Guidelines probably results in an inadequate care of asthmatic patients and raises the urgent need for a National Physician Asthma Education Program

Polyspectran in the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis

Polyspectran[R] [Thilo, Munich, Germany] topical eye medication contains polymyxin B, neomycin, and gramicidin. The combination exhibits broad - spectrum antimicrobial activity. All three drugs are too toxic for systemic use. Our objective was to assess Polyspectran's[R] effectiveness in the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis, as well as patients' acceptance of and tolerance to this combination. Thirty-three patients with a clinical diagnosis of mucopurulent conjunctivitis who were also culture-positive for bacterial conjunctivitis were entered in the study. All received topical Polyspectran[R] eyedrops six times per day, and Polyspectran[R] eye ointment at bedtime. In two patients [6%], treatment had to be discontinued because of an allergic reaction, later found to be due to the neomycin component. The remaining 31 patients completed a one - week course of therapy. Clinical signs and symptoms were reduced by 50% or more within one week of cassation of therapy in 30 [97%] of these; 28 [90%] had a microbiological cure. The study suggests that topical Polyspectran[R] is a safe and effective therapeutic modality for the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis

Prevalence of toxoplasma antibodies among Saudi eye patients

Toxoplasmosis is a disease with variable frequency in different parts of the world. The prevalence of systemic toxoplasmosis may vary between 5 and 40% depending on the community. We selected at random 114 patients from an out-patient eye clinic in Saudi Arabia. None of the patients had clinical evidence of ocular toxoplasmosis. Serum toxoplasma antibody was determined by a solid phase enzyme immunoassay for the quantitative determination of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii. There were 86 male and 28 female patients with an age range of 10 months to 80 years, and a mean age of 45 years. A total of 18 [15.9%] out of 114 patients had evidence of IgG antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii. Seven [38%] of the 18 patients with positive antibodies to toxoplasma had cats at home compared with 13 [13.5%] of 96 patients with negative antibodies to toxoplasma [p<0.02]. The relative risk of developing toxoplasmosis among those who have cats is fourfold